The Alaska daily empire., 1919-04-05
Legislature and Territorial School Board Advancing Many Improvements in
 School System.
MAY EXTEND THE WORK
Plan to Have Uniform Text Books; Normal Training Suggested for Those
 Who Would Teach.

l giving serious attention to the de- velopment of the Alaska Public school system, and legislation has already been initiated, and more is in process of formation, designed to better educational conditions in Alaska. Among the things provided for in the proposed legislation are: The adoption of uniform text books; the extension of high school work to include a special course of two years in normal training, which would make five years of high school work for those taking this special course "a first step toward Introducing technical or vocational work and higher education in Alaska public schools; the enactment of compul- sorry attendance law; and improve ments in the details of school ad- ministration.
 This proposed legislation and una nimous re-appointment of l.. D Henderson as Commissioner of Edu- cation, indicates that the Board of Education is strongly behind MT Henderson's plans for the develop ment of the Alaska Public School system and the making of it one ot the very important factors in the erection of the permanent Common wealth of Alaska.
 A brief summary of the bills in troduced touching Alaska school matters follows:
 A bill creating a textbook com mission to be composed of the Com missioner of Education and two le- gally qualified teachers of Alaska to be appointed by him with the advise and consent of the Governor. The duty of this commission is to se- lect a uniform set of textbooks for use in the elementary schools of the Territory and an approved list of Textbooks in the various subjects for use in high schools. The bill provides that after the original adoption, which is for a period Of four years, no more than one-third of the textbooks may be changed in any one year It makes 1t unlawful for any school board to use text books other than those adopted, after September 1, 1921.
 A bill empowering school boards in incorporated towns, cities, or dis tricts having four-year accredited high schools to organize teachers training courses in connection with the high school. Such courses are to begin in the fourth year or twelfth grade and to continue through this year and through an additional or fifth year of work. The course Of study in the two years of work pro- vided is to be prepared by the Com missioner of Education and such teachers training courses are to be conducted in accord with regula- tions imposed by him with the ap- proval of the Territorial Board of Education. Graduates of such teach CTS training courses who are at least eighteen years of age are to be entitled to a teachers certificate which will entitle the holder tc teach in the elementary schools of the Territory for a period of three years.
 A bill making additions to the Uniform School Act, Chapter GA, 1917 Session Laws. The bill out lines the minimum school day in the various grades; defines a school day and school month; provides for an annual school census by the school board in each school district; enumerates the school holidays and prescribes the work to be performed in schools on legal holidays which are not school holidays; provides that regular fire drills shall be held in all public or private schools in the Territory; and makes amend ments and additions to the teachers certification laws of Alaska.
 bill amending Chapter 28, 1917 Session Laws, by requiring that all school boards in incorporated towns, cities or districts shall before July submit to the Commissioner of Education a budget of proposed ex- penditures for the following school year; making it his duty to approve such parts as seem to be proper ex- penditures under the meaning of the act: listing items which shall not be considered as expenditures with in the meaning of the act; and providing that expenditures for | teachers training courses shall be | the subject of Territorial refund. | A bill to enact compulsory edu- cation law requiring the attendance of all pupils between the ages of seven and seventeen years unless they shall have completed the work of the highest grade in the school which they are entitled to attend, or have been excused from such at l tendance by the school board. Par | ents or guardians not requiring such children to attend school during the entire school year are guilty of 2