The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1905-05-06
si.,s sshs.l Not,s

legislature pAsseu sOmo ohA hheCtihb
schools that It did not pass. Several
bills we're introduced touching changes
IN school district boundary lines. One
providing a means for changing
boundary lines Of city school districts
passed both houses, but 1t was vetoed
by the Governor.
A bill passed the house to compel
the county board Of education TO
endorse a certificate issued in any
other county. 1t failed to pass the
senate. There is no law authorizing
reciprocal recognition of certificates
between counties. The best that a
county board can do IN such matter is
to accept papers written at an examina-
ton in another county.
There was no legislation affecting
the election, duties or compensation
Of county school commissioners. A
bill providing for general county
supervision failed In the senate Ltter
having passed the house. A bill 10
increase the power, duties and com
pensaiion of the county commissioner
failed in the house after having passed
the senate.
The bill t o authorize city school
boards to employ superintendent of
schools for two years passed the senate,
but failed to pass the house. The
decision of the courts that n schoo.
board cannot bind its successor is
still the law and superintendent and
teachers cannot be employed Tor "a
Bpger term than one year.
Attorney General Haol-y's opinion
that county boards of education may
select the text hooks to be used in the
schools under their jurisdiction will
have The effect of continuing uniformity
by couuties and of preventing many
changes in books for two years at
lest. The county boards term is two
years, hence its selections will be for
that period.
The most important work of the
public schools is the line of English
and It has heen perhaps the poorest
work done in The schools of Missouri
for several years. The language
lessons, grammar and rhetoric that
have been used for eight years do not
axe a series IN any sense. Teachers
is 10 owing one text are continually
undoing what has been done. Above
everything Else, comfy boards Of
education should revise the course Of
study along tins line.
There is a demand for some change
IN text-books in Eogllsh (l1nguage
lessons and grammar and 10 U, s.
History. County boards will doubtless
hesitate TO make changes in those
III l-ss they can secure satisfactory
prices. SO far as prices are concerned
Missouri has had good contracts for
eight ye.rs. No state has had greater
, reduction from list prices Of books
county boards can continue these
VI ces by refusing to consider changes
At higher prices.
There is no certainty that the
: publishers aLd desl,rs will coLtlnue
present prices for the books now in
use unless the county boards see to il
t ot defnije arrangements are made
tor furnishing them Any arrange
n ment should include both publisher
j., and dealers. 1t IS hoped that th
repeal of the old t xt-book law vii
. give better books at about the sam
90 prices.
- The State superintendent OF School
has for four years urged the passage c
a law that would authorize a chang
not to exceed oue-third of the tex
: books. The teachers and peopI
generally have SAINT Toned his COZ
. tenlion so far as there has bee
= expression? County and city scbo,
boards now have it in their power
=, make these needed changes and at Il
- same time protect patrons fro
"a xcessiye prices in doing so.