The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-17
The NEWSCHOOL LAW
Many RADICAL Differences
From the Old.
TOWNSHIPS RETAINED
BUT LOCAL CONTRACT BY DIS
TRICTS RESTORED.
HOW TIE MONEY IS PR0P0R TONED
\ New System If Public Ugh Schools and Of
Town and Graded Schools Provided
for. Senator Smith Dis
cusses it.

The bill. rather n yolumnouS one. 10
codify and amend the public school laws
of the State. was introduced by Senator
Smith yesterday. For weeks the Com
mittee on Education. which Senator
Smith is chairman, has had the bill III
process of evolution, and it is believed
that it will fit in we'll with the necess-
ties and more or less vexatious condi-
tons of public schools in this State
The main provisions of the new law
MS given me by Senator Smith are as
follows:
beginning with the counties, the law
aboiishes the county board of educa-
ton and puts in Its stead county board
of school-three directors who will be
chosen by this General Assembly to
serve for n period of two years or until
their successors are elected in 1901.
Their successors will be chosen NOT by
the Legislature but by the board OF
county commissioners.
The county board of directors will
elect the superintendent of schools, for
the county, whose powers and duties will
be much the same as heretofore per-
formed by that official
The township system will be maintain
ed, but there will be material changes
made.
The county board of directors will
elect for each township board of three
directors. The township board of three
will elect for each school district board
of three committeeman. This will com
bine the advantages of the township sys-
tenn with the benefit of local control.
The district committee men will fix the
salaries of teachers and have general
supervision and control of school pro
perty.
The public school money will be dis
tributed among the townships according
to the per capita of children of school
age living in them. The board of town
ship directors will divide the money
among the schools, not according to the
per capita necessarily, but according to
the needs of each district This vii
give to the proportionment a fiexibility
sometimes needed. The township hoart
of directors are also entrusted with the
duties of districting the Townships
Each township is a unit for purposes
of local taxation, and on petition of one
fourth Of the qualified electors the
county commissioners shall call an eiec-
ton for the purpose of levying a spe-
cial tax for school purposes. The spe-
cial tax must not exceed 80 cents on
the 500 of property nor so cents on
the poll.
Eacu town of not less than 1000 in
habitants is made a school district, and
upon petition Of one-fourth of the cleo
tors the aldermen are required to call
IN election for the purpose of voting spe-
cial taxes for school purposes. the limit
being the same as for townships The
aldermen may appoint board of not
less than nor more than seven school
directors for the town. This clause OF
the law enables towns to establish
graded schools without the necessity of
a special act.
The law provides also for State
board of three examiners who shall be
elected by the General Assembly. The
board of examiners, beside the usual du-
tics are given control of the colored
normal schools with the power to pre-
scribe courses of study, appoint the local
board of trustees and visit them for
purposes of inspection.
A feature of the law that is entirely
new to this State is the provision for
nublic high schools in each township.
On petition of a majority of the electors
the ,oard of directors for the township
are required to set apart funds to main
tain high school to teach more a.
vanced branches than are usually taught
in public schools. TO this school all
children of the township of a certain
advancement are eligible. separate
schools for the races being provided
for
One section of the law provides that
the text books adopted and now in use
in the public schools shall continue in
use until 1902
The faculty of the State Normal
Schools and A. and NJ. Colleges are re-
quired TO hold county institutes. funds
being set aside for their payment.