The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-19
THAT TEXT BOOK ISSUE

THAT TEXT BOOK ISSUE
Now that Assistant Attorney General Kampn has ruled
that the board of education has the authority to rescnd its
policy of free text books without petition from school pat
there nothing left for the school patrons to do but
to the assessment levied There should be- however, an
accounting the patrons of the schools through the proper
school officials of the books purchased what amounts have
been collected and where purchases were made
Action Of the board however does not prevent the school
patrons they desire to force adoption of free text books
fall by petition The law covering free text books in
the state poorly drawn and difficult of hence
what the intent the legislature 1t clearly in
tended that changes should be made from scheme of
text book policy to another without consulting the school
patrons and taxpayers.
The Attorney General in his opinion has protected the
books this fall they so by ruling the
prohibition in the law does not apply to the Bismarck school
situation.
reading of the law which follows implies at least that
before there changes text book policies the voters
should have ample opportunity to endorse new policy or
insist upon retention OF the old policy:
Section 1898. FREE TEXT BOOKS PROVID-
ED. WHEN.) Whenever in the judgment of the
board it is desirable necessary to the welfare Of
the schools in the district to provide for the chill
dren therein better school privileges whenever
petitioned to do by two-thrds of the voters of
the district the board shall provide free text books
and supplies for all schools under it's charge, in such
hereinbefore provided. All books pur
chased in accordance with the provisions of this
tcle shall be paid for out of the school funds of the
respective districts, and it shall be the duty of
school boards and boards of education to see that
sufficient funds raised and set aside for the pur
of this article The clerk of each district shall
also keep record of all books furnished the schools
in the district and any schooboard in this state
that has adopted the free text book system here
inbefore provided, must dispense with the free text
: book system if petitioned to do by two-thrds
of the voters of such district, provided, however,
that after the free text book system is adopted
petition to dispense with the said text book system
shall be acted upon by the board of education within
period of four years after the free text book
Z tenn has been adopted under the provisions of this
section; and after the free text book system has
= been dispensed with, the free text book system can
be installed until the expiration of four years
If the school patrons not pleased with the present
arrangement they circulate petitions this and
signed twohrds of the voters the board must return
z to the old system of free text books
The Attorney Generals opinion which is printed in full
in another column holds rule of law that the board has
the right rescnd by resolution policy that instituted
: by resolution.
In view of the fact that school officials conducting
book and supply business complete report OF collections
and disbursements should be made for the benefit OF the
school patrons and payers Some saving may be effected
by authorities acting book agents. but If such
saving is material local merchants in this kind OF bus'
should have the opportunity to meet at least the com
: petition established by the school authorities
complete report of the school boards book and supply
business would show what the school patrons saving
land where the This report the school auhor
ties doubtless will be anxious to get the people no"
that controversy has been settled and the rights of the
s school patrons clearly outlined.