Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-03-30
Review of School Legislation.

.
were OF great local importance but they
cover too wide diversity of matter 10 be
reviewed here.
2. A bill was passed enabling all dis
tricts which failed to vote for the regular
school levy last November to vote on the
question OF school levy on the third
Tuesday in May.
3. The acts passed enabling Clay and
Nicholas counties to establish high schools
AID levy for their support upon a vote o.
the people. This will make three county
hi Oh schools IN the State and will mean a
good deal not only to Clay aud Nicholas
counties, but through their influence they
will effect other counties in the central
section OF the State.
4. Several sections of the uniform eX-
animation law were amended making
material improvement in their provisions.
This new law reduces the ices OF appli-
Giants from one and two dollars to seventy
five cents and one dollar and fifty cents
for a part or all the examination branches,
respectively. 1t also provides severe
penalties for any kind OF cheating in con :
nection with the examination.
Number 5 is bill providing for emer-
gency certificates. This is TO help out in
cases of persons coming from other states
after the examinations are over or where
for other reasons they have not been able
to take an examination. The certificates
are issued upon the application OF the
county superintendent to the State Su
perintendent under regulations prescribed
by the State Board OF Education, and
good until the Both OF June following the
date OF their issues only.
6. A law was passed amending section
80 OF the school law so that any district
deciding to erect buildings may issue
bonds for the purpose, provided three
fifthS OF the votes cast on the question
are in favor OF the bond issue. This will
enable the smaller districts TO take ad-
vantage OF the bond issuing power to
secure proper building equipment if they
desire to do it.
7. A law was passed requiring boards
Of education in all independent districts
to appoint medical inspector, and au-
thorize boards in magIsteria districts to
appoint such an officer if they so desire.
This inspector is to examine all children
with reference to physical or mental de-
fects and TO contagious diseases. Pro-
vision is made also for regulating all
these matters.
Number raises the standard Of quail
fications for county superintendent and
increases the salary 5000 in each county.
Number 9, the JohnsonEdwards bill,
is another new departure in West Virgin
ia, The law provides an easier method
OF establishing district high schools and
also authorizes the State Superintendent
to list the high schools OF the State in
three classes and provides that the State
shall assist in the expense Of maintaining
all high schools which are I'D to the
standards required. High schools of the
first class will receive $500 annually,
those OF the second class $500, and those
OF the third class $500 This law is SIM
liar to the one which has worked so sue
cessfuly in certain other states and will
doubtless prove great stimulus to the
high school work in West Virginia.
Not for many years, if ever, have we
had as much and as valuable educational
legislation in single session of the leg
islature This result is due in large
measure TO the fact that superintendent,
principals and teachers everywhere took
an interest in the work and encouraged
their representatives to give these edu
cational matters attention While there
were two or three important things that
are seriously needed, yet with this legis-
lation and the generous appropriations
made for our schools, the coming year
ought to be by all odds the best in our
educational history.