Year: 1866




Mn Ep1roR:-As some attention should
he maid to the interest of oor schools, it
would be we'll to remind the people at large
of extravagances in the disbursement of their
school fund. tits conceded principle that
it. is the best policy for ali school districts
to bear as much of the burden Of support.
ing their schools as possible, in order that
they may induce qualified teachers to embark
in the business of teaching, by paying them
literally for their services. Payment for
other services in q district should not rank
above that of the teacher. The cause for
complaint at present is, that in some dis
tricts an exorbitant sum has been paid for
the services Of School Census Marshals. 1t
is true that every district has the right of
expending its own money as it sees ft but
then there should be some regard paid to
economy. By the old law, School Census
Marshals received their pay out Of the Gen.
eral Fund, their salary being fixed by the
Board of Supervisors. The Boards of Trus
tees of the several districts then reasoned
thus: As the Marshal receives his pay from
the General County Fund, and not from the
District School Fund, therefore let us pay
him well. As a consequence. heavy bills
were sent in, to be modified by the Board
of Supervisors That Board not knowing
the real amount of service to be performed
in each separate district fixed upon a uni
e,la of G.
the Marshal of each district. As county
scrip was then worth but Fl fly cents on the
dollar, the cash realized was nine dollars.
Scrip, however, soon advanced to seventy
five cents on the dollar, and it became evil
dent that the pay was too great


By the action of the last Legislature the
law was so framed that the Boards of Trus-
tees should draw their orders upon the
School Fund credited to their respective
districts. None can say but that the law is
good one; for if Trustees violate thi law
they DO so against their own interests, un-
less they take the census themselves, and
then draw their order for the full amount of
money to the credit of their district, in
which case they will have performed pal
pabe perjury.


To show that there has been extrava gance
in some places, will make comparison of
four districts in the county. giving their
comparative census, times of service, and
orders: Sierra, about 45 children, 8 days,
$50; Texas Springs, about SO children,
day, SIS; Buckeye. Is children, day. Sl0
Clear Creek, 50 children, l day. SO. Now,
I ask, which Board of Trustees has been
the most prudent in expending its school
Fund?


Complaints are often made against the
Legislature for tampering continually with
the school law; but. good and wholesome as
the law is, it is violated in many instances
There could be still another improvement
made upon that part of the law which per
tains to the taking of the school census. The
employment of Marshals couid be abolished |
altogether. and that service throw n into the |
hands of the County superintendent. BY |
adding decent Marshal's wages to the salary |
of the Superintendent, and requiring him to
take the census each year in june it is cvi |
dent that it would enforce more rigidlv the !
duties of that officer. Some may say that he |
would not have time enough inside of a |
month. but any nne of reason knows that it |
is ample time to travel over the county. As
the salary of the Superintendent is small the
additional pay would encourage him to at
tend more promptly to visiting the several
school districts. Moreover. he would 90
about the county just in the right time to
distribute all necessary blanks for the use o.
teachers and trustees at the end of the school
year Not only this. but he could impars
all instructions to the trustees Just at the
time when they are Giost needed. l..