The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-19
EDUCATIONAL LEGISLATION
LIBERAL AND PROGRESSIVE
Am endments to School Law Enlarge and Strength
Ell the Work of the SChOOls---Large Number of
Local Measures Adopted.

educational spirit of the people of
North Carolina. No friend of educa-
ton can have any just reason for find
ing fault with the attitude of this Cen
eral Assembly toward all educational
questions that came before it. The
committees on education were COM
posed of as good and able men IS
were to be found in the General AS
sembly. Hon. A. NJ. Scales. of Gull
ford, Chairman of the Senate Com
mittee. and Hon. j. ID. Murphy. of
Buncombe, Chairman of the House
Committee were certainly among the
strongest. wisest. most influential and
most industrious members of the Cen
eral Assembly The onerous work of
unusual fidelity. conScientiouSnesS
courage and wisdom. Most OF it's
work was ratified by the General AS
sembly
No material or radical changes
were made in the school law. The
effect of such amendments as were
made to the law will be to improve IL
and TO enlarge and strengthen the
work of the public schools. The fol-
ant amendments to the public school,
law:
/. An amendment to section &c for
the better regulation and systemati-
cation of the work of county teachers
institutes and schools.
Z. An amendment to section 81 OF
the school law regulating the branches
taught in the public schools and pro
Viding for the examination and certifi.
cation of teachers limiting instruction
lii public schools employing only one
teacher TO the following branches
Spelling. Reading. Writing. Arithme
tic, Drawing, Language Lessons ant
Composition, English Grammar, Geog
raphy, the History and Constitution o
North Carolina and the United States
Elements of Agriculture ana Oral In
struction in Elementary Physiolog.
and Hygiene, the nature and effect
alcoholic drinks and narcotics. an,
providing for additional instruction il
public schools employing more than
one teacher in the following branches:
Elements of Civil Government. Physi-
ology and Hygiene. including the ma
ture and effect of alcoholic drinks and
narcotics and such other subjects of
study as the State Board of Education
may direct. The. purpose and effect
or this amendment will be to empha-
size thoroughneSS in the essential ele-
mentary English branches and to pre-
vent the neglect OF these branches tor
higher branches in schools not pre-
pared to give thorough instruction in
both. This amendment also provides
for two additional public examinations
Of teachers provided the County Board
OF Education shall deem these neces-
Sary, allowing four instead of two an
nual public examinations.
3. An amendment to section Go for
the better regulation of contracts with
teachers of private schools for the
teaching of the public school.
4. An amendment providing the
proper machinery for the establish
ment of public township high schools
by q township tax for that purpose
levied by a vote of the people and
providing also for the establishment of
such township high school without the
levying of tax where the public
school funds are sufficient for that
purpose.
8. An amendment making moder-
ate Increase in the salaries of the two
clerks and the stenographer of the
Department of Public Instruction and
in the allowance for travelling expenses
of the superintendent.
6. An amendment to the rural Ii
brary law improving it in several re-
spects and maxine the biennial appro-
priation of $500 for rural libraries
and supplementary libraries perma-
nent and taking the ten dollars for
new libraries OUT of the general coun-
ty fund instead Of the district fund.
z. Several minor amendments pro-
hibltirg the closing of schools for nom
attendance without the approval of
the County Superintendent of Schools,
making clearer the requirement of the
county superintendent to visit schools
while IN session, providing for the
payment of the expenses of special tax
elections out of the general school
fund, liking The per diem of members
or the Board of Education. prohibit
ing the formation of any more new
school districts with a census popula-
ton OF less than siXty-five children,
reqnirlng expenditures for incidentai
expenses to be made only upon order
of the County Beard of Educat ton. etc.
In addition 10 these amendments to
the school law, a number of bills pro-
Viding for the establishment of graded
schools AMI the issuance of bends for
the erection and Improvement of pub
lie school buildings in towns and for
the Incorporation of rural special tax
districts and elections in such districts
for the levying of special taxes for
public school purposes were passed. |
Thirty bills We're passed for the es-
Oh pubic schools by SDe-
cial taxation in towns and rural dis
tricts.
The appropriations to all the
States educational institutions were
increased as literally as the income
Of the State would allow.
Below will be found the titles of
bills relating to education that were
passed by the General Assembly of
] eos.
An act to amend chapter 4 of the
Public Laws of 1901 and chapter 4a5 |
Of the Public Laws of 1903. and other
laws relating TO the Public School
Law.
To establish graded school in town
Of Franklinton.
Establish Lucar1a graded schools.
To establish graded school in Kern
ersville.
TO establish graded school in North
To incorporate school district No. 5.
white: in which is situated town of