Year: 1871

Our agitation of the public school question in last issue, has had the effect of bringing few important facts to ouT notice; and these xs now propose to submit to the public.

 Notwithstanding that VIC have reliable in- formation from Tucson which states that no report of the proceedings of the County Board of Trustees of Iayapai county had been received by The Territorial Board of Public Instruction, the Trustees and County Superintendent assure us that, So fur as prdc- ticdble under the provisions of the school act, no duty required of them has been over looked.

 But, that the school act is defective and that, although school system once in opera tion may be continued under its provisions, it fails to provide for the starting, or putting into operation, of the school, there can hard ly be question. The 33d section provides, That,

 The public school year shall commence on the frt day of January and end on the last day of December. No school district shall be entitled to receive any portion of the pub lie school moneys, in which there shall not have been taught public school for at least three months within the year ending the last day of December previous, and no public school shall receive any moneys, benefits or immunfties, under the provisions of this Act unless such school shall have been instructed by teacher or teachers. duly examined, ap- proved and employed by legal authority as herein provided.

 Now, the 18th section provides that all school money due each county shall be paid over to the County Treasurer on the 3Oth day of June, the Both day of September, the 3lst day of December and the 3l,t day of March, of each year ;--and this much to- ward the distribution of the school fund is practicable; and no more-as will be seen by reference to the second clause of section g., quoted above. This clause says, in short, that unless school has been in operation three months prior to the first distribution of the public school moneys, it shall not be en- titled to any part thereof.

 In this connection let us examine the eth section; Here it is made the duty of the Board of Trustees to provide school houses {; and they "may provide books for indigent children" etc, "and pay for the same out of the county school moneys belonging to their district. They may also ap- portion the school funds apong the several schools within their district" etc

 Now, as the operation of school for three months, in any district, is made the provision by which any such school shall be entitled to part of the public school moneys, the ex- penses of fitting up school house, providing books for indigent children, tutorage, etc. must rest upon the School Trustees, who arc. actually, solicited to defray the same at their private expense.

 It Is plainly expressed that the several school districts must conduct their schools for three months without receiving any pnb- lie aid; plainly it is made the duty of the Board of Trustees to see that the school is put in operation; and cestainly there is no provision made to reimburse the Board even If the members thereof were to settle this ugly difficulty by supporting the school for three months-which is extremely improba- ble.

 We can therefore discover but little hone for the establishment of school under the existing law, unless, indeed, that all persons interested will agree among themselves to ip- nore the existence of the objectionable sec- tion o3 This would be loose way of doing business; yet would it be better than that the Territory should remain without q pub- lie school system because of trifing tech