The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-24
THE NEW SCHOOL LAW.

Its Leading Provisions Cuccinctly Stated
Good Points and Weak Ones-The
Local Taxation Law.
prof. c. l.. Coon, in Lincolnton Journal.)
The General Assembly of 1897 made a
number of changes in our public school
system. / write this that those who are
interested in our public schools may I'M
derstand the nature of the changes made.
l. All the powers and duties. which the
county commissioners now have over the
public schools, are hereafter to be ex-
ercised by a county board of education
of three members, elected by the board
of county commissioners and clerk Of
the court and register of deeds. This
board of education holds Office for term
of three years and is to be elected on
the first Monday in June, 1897. The
board will begin their duties on the first
Monday in July, 1897, and four annual
meetings Of the board must be held, and
more be held. if necessary.
>. On the first Monday in July, 1897,
the board of education, the clerk of the
court. and the register of deeds will elect
a county supervisor Tor superintendent
of schools, to serve two years. This SUI
pervisor must be a practical teacher at
the time of his election, or have had one
years experience in teaching.
3. The county board of education will
elect five school committeeman for each
township at their July meeting. These
committeeman are to have power to las
off the townships into school districts,
employ all teachers in the townships, and
apportion the school funds of the town
ships. The township committees have all
the powers of the present local committees
in addition to the foregoing powers.
f. The third grade certificate is abolish
ed, as well as the office of county ex-
aminer. The present county examiners
duties will be performed by the county
supervisor In addition to these duties
which the county examiner now performs,
the new law makes the county supervi-
sor the clerk of the board of education
with the power to suspend
teachers. the local committee
concurring: also the duties of
visiting schools. holding institutes, etc
The salary of the supervisor is fixed at
not less than $500 nor more than So
per day for the number of days actually
employed.
). There is a provision also for a STATE
Board of School Examiners who can
grant life certificates to teachers under
certain restrictions, good anywhere in the
State. All applicants for such certifi-
Gates must pay $500 when they make
application for examination. This fee
goes into the county school fund.
g. The most important change. in
some respects, is what is called the
Local Taxation Law" part of the pres
ent school law. Section reads thus:
''On Tuesday after the second Monday
in August, within the year 1897, the
Board of County Commissioners Of every
county shall cause an election to be held
in every school district township in
their respective counties upon the ques
ton of levying a special district town
ship tax for the public schools of said
district township and notice of this
election shall be given by the County
Commissioners at their regular June
meeting, and such notice shall be pub
lished in the county papers and posted
on the school houses of said districts"
township.
This election must be held. AS much
as so cents on the one hundred dollars
worth of property may be levied under
this law, and no less than 10 cents on
the one hundred dollars worth Of prop
erty can be levied. The poll tax ranges
from 80 cents to 80 cents.
The law has its good points and its
weakness. In the hands Of a partisan
board of education and local school COM
mitteemen the law can be used as po-
litcal machine. If good men are appoint
ed to fill these offices, men who have the
schools at heart, the law will improve our
nresent system. The local taxation
feature is commendable. 1t allows a re-
districting of the townships to the best
advantages and all the money a township
raises i'm this way will be divided pro
rata between the races.
The State superintendent has issued
a circular to the county commissioners,
calling their attention to the Importance
of leaving politics out of their selection
of the boards of education and urging
that only good true men and friends of
the public schools be put on these boards.
The schools should be taken out of poll
tics and will be sooner or later. The sug-
gestion of the State Superintendent is
| timely.