The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-22

first Saturday in July. This is July l. The Department of Education, for this reason, Is making a special request that the pleasures of the holiday be suspended long enough for citizens to make Judicious choices of trustees. Much devolves upon the trustees. There are three of them in each district. They are to be elected by the qualified vot- CTS who assemble in public scchool building ory convenient place in each district and register their choice.
 The trustees. within ten days after their election, are required to meet for the purpose of selecting a chairman. The chairmen of the several districts are required to meet on the second Sat- urday in August. which Is this year August 8. at the court house of .theIr County and elect four members of the County Board of Education. These four members together with the Coun- ty Superintendent of Education con stitute the full board of five members.
 The district trustees hold office for four years and the members of the County boards for a like term. begin ming on the dates of their election al- ready specified.
 Care in Election.
 Those interested in the education of the State are especially desirous that great care be exercised in the selection of the trustees and the county boards this year. These county boards are more or less sovereign bodies in their sphere. They are charged with the apportionment of all the funds appro- priated for the public schools In their counties. They are charged with the discipline and general government of the public schools throughout the counties. They have. too. wide range of discretion In the matter of appor- tionment of funds. which is not neces- sarily done on a per capita basis. ln- deed, their chief aim is to apportion with the view of equaliziag tho length of the school terms.
 Tn line with their general adminis- trative duties, the county boards or ed- ucation have. too. the power or electlng the teachers for the public schools. Tae selection is usually from the nomina- tions made by the district trustees. There will be. moreover. the added power of the county boards in the con- trol of the new county high schools that are to be built at once In several of the counties. Under the law pro- yiding for the creation of the high schools. the county boards are Jointly with the High School Commission giv- en the authority to look after the In stitutions. In view Of the 1act tnat there are only three members of the High school Commission. the Governor, the State Auditor and the State Super intendent of Education. the responsi- bIlity of the i've members of the local county boards can be readily appreel- ated.
 In view of these many powers. the Department of Education of the State Is anxious that wise selections be made of both trustees in the districts and or the county boards.
 New Trustees Nominated.
 5v a recent ruling of the Attorney General. the district trustees that are to be elected in July, must nominate the teachers rather than the present district trustees.s This is the way that the new code operates. Also these trustees. when they have scarcely ta- ken their oaths of office. must plunge into the business of securing the enum- eratlon of the county. This enumera- ton must be made in the month of July and must be reported to the county boards by August IS. The latter in turn must report the general results to the Departnent of Education not later than September 1.
 The new cnde Is going to operate in A new way this year in the matter of regulating the disbursement of the poll fax funds for the various counties. The fund la no longer a district fund as hAretofore but a county fund. This means that the county board may, In its discretion, apportion to the several dIstrIcts more or less than the exact amount of poll taxes known to have been collected therefrom.
 There are apr roximately $500 school districts in the State, wRich means that July 4 nearly 1l,To0 trustees are to be elected