Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-03-06
SI0CkWELL

Continued from page ~
the committee in every way possible
to get at the facts in the case and
the exact amount fees received and
disbursed by him, and folling is let.
ter from him to the committee setting
forth his position in the matter:
Department of Public Instruction
Bismarck, N. D., March 4, 1909
Hon. L. A. Simpson, Hon. w. E.
Purcell, Hon. J. E. Davis, Commit
tee.
Gentlemen: In response to your
request for my statement relative to
the Interpretation placed by me upon
sections S69, S72 and S76 of the re-
vised codes of 1906, beg leave to
submit the following:
Section S72 fixes the payment OF
certain fees for state certificates.
These fees are paid to the superin-
tendent of public instruction, and,
quoting the words of the statute, shall
be used by him to aid in the estab-
lishment and maintenance of teach
ers' reading circles and in the pro-
fessionalizing of teaching in the
state, and in such other ways as he
may reem ADVISABLE
During the past six years this has
been done. These fees have been
covered into reading circle fund ana
paid out for any purpose that in our
judgment would raise the standard of
teaching or increase the efficiency of
teachers, or would raise the standard
or promote the cause of education in
the state. 49,. 81
IT Is quite possible for anyone mot
familiar with the intent OF the depart
ment to comment adversely upon the
disposition Of this reading circle
fund; however, we have not hesitated
to use it when it simulated any edu-
cational endeavor, whether it be for
the purpose of establishing coureses
of reading for teachers or of encour-
aging public speaking among our
younger people, or in placing in the
hands Of our teachers monthly bulle-
tins, course Of study, literary lists,
special day programmes or any other
material which enables a teacher to
be of more service to the children I'M
der their charge. { - ,
"As to sections 1853 and 876, which
relate to certain fees paid to the SUI
perintendent Of public instruction in
connection with the examination and
marking Of teachers answer papers, I
desire first to call your attention to
the fact that chapter 9 OF the political
code, article l, sections 748 to 760,
inclusive, fix the duties OF the super
intendent of public instruction and
section 763 fixes the compensation for
these duties. BY reference to section
752 you will note that originally the
superintendent of public instruction
was simply to prepare or cause to be
prepared all questions to be used in
the examination of applicants for
teachers certificates, prescribe the
rules and regulations for conducting
such examinations, etc." Later, in
1901, the legislature saw at by amend
ing sections $3.50, 1873, s74, S75 and 876
to place upon the department OF pub
lie instruction the heavy response
bility and arduous task OF the reading
and the marking Of All answer papers
of all teachers writing for certificates
and passing upon the qualifications oil
all teachers in this state. 4 In short,
the legislature doubled the work OF
the department of public instruction
without making any provision for ID
,ded clerical help or compensation
other than that fee Of one dollar
for each applicant should be- turned
over to theh superintendent OF public
Instruction for this purpose, which
fee 10 provided for In section SIG.
The oaly limitation upon the super.
intendent Of public instruction Ii
found In section s6s. which states
that the expenditures shall not. exceed
In the aggregate the sum annually
collected from applicants for county
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