網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

tute, unless the superintendent shall be fully satisfied that such failure has been caused by actual sickness or other disability, and after the institute has been held it shall be unlawful to grant any person a certificate to teach at any time during that school year unless the person has attended the full session of the institute. During the institute there shall be a suspension of such other schools as are in session. At the close of the institute a certificate of attendance shall be given to the teacher, who shall file it with the board of trustees, which shall report the fact. Any four or fewer counties may hold a joint institute. The county superintendent shall collect from $1 to $2 from each person in attendance, 25 cents of which shall be paid into the county library fund and the rest shall be applied to meeting the necessary expenses of the institute.

At each session of the institute every subject embraced in the common school course shall be brought before the institute, illustrated and described, and every feature of school organization and school management, together with the whole work of the teacher, shall be considered, and the common school laws of the State read and expounded.

During the session of the institute there shall be held a county teachers' association, and one hour in the afternoon or the night meeting shall be daily set apart for this purpose. The object of the association shall be primarily to discuss and devise the best ways and means of promoting the interests of education, the improvement of teachers, and the methods of teaching, and especially to devise means for securing better schoolhouses, better attendance, and local aid for common schools.

3. SCHOOLS.

Attendance-Character of instruction-Text-books-Buildings.

Attendance.-No school shall be deemed entitled to any contribution out of the school fund unless the same has been actually kept, or is under contract to be kept, by a qualified teacher for five months during the same school year, and at which every child residing in the district between the ages of 6 and 20 has had the privilege of attending free of expense, but it shall not be lawful for any white child to attend any common school provided for colored children or any colored child to attend any common school provided for white children. (For the source of support of colored schools see Finances-Taxation. In cities of the first, second, third, and fourth classes the city board of education has complete control of colored schools.)

No point in the boundary of any proposed graded common school district shall be more than 24 miles from the site of its proposed schoolhouse.

Character of instruction.-The State board of education shall prescribe and publish a public graded course of study for the common schools, specifying the order of studies and the time to be allotted to each, but the course shall embrace spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, English composition, geography, physiology, and hygiene and the effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, civil government, United States history, and the history of Kentucky. The majority of the white voters of a locality may establish a graded-school district for white persons, and a majority of the colored voters may establish a graded-school district for colored persons. In cities of the first class the board of education shall prescribe the branches of education, other than those required by law, to be taught, and the text-books used, but no catechism or other formula of religious belief shall be taught or inculcated. In cities of the second class children from 4 to 6 years of age may be instructed by kindergarten methods, and the board of education may extend the required curriculum, establishing high schools. In cities of the third and fourth classes the board of education may extend the required curriculum, establishing high schools and maintaining kindergarten and manual-training schools.

Text-books.-The county board of examiners in each county shall adopt, on penalty of a fine of $200, a list of text-books on the subjects taught in the common schools, which shall be used in the common schools for five years. Any county board of examiners, whenever any publisher or person selling textbooks desires to have his books adopted in the common schools in any county, shall require to be filed a sample copy of each, with its lowest retail price (which shall not be higher than the price obtained in any other section of the United States) at which it is to be sold to patrons and pupils, and shall execute a bond of $10,000, with good security within the State. In cities of the

first, second, third, and fourth classes the board of education select the textbooks.

Buildings. The district trustees, with the consent of the county superintendent, may take land for the purpose of erecting thereon a schoolhouse, provide for and secure the erection of the same, construct such outbuildings and inclosures as shall be conducive to the protection of the property and the comfort and decency of the pupils and teachers. They shall have power to recover for damage done. The county superintendent may condemn a school building as unfit for use, and if the trustees have no funds to put the condemned property in a habitable condition a capitation tax shall be levied not exceeding $1 a year for four years and an ad valorem tax not exceeding 25 cents on the $100 property. Trustees may borrow money to build if it can be repaid in four years at rate of taxation provided. In cities the board of education has control. In graded common school districts no building shall cost more than $15,000, unless it be a city of the first to fourth class, having adopted the provisions governing graded common school districts, when the maximum shall be $100,000.

4. FINANCES.

Funds (permanent or special)—Taxation.

Funds (permanent or special).—The school fund shall consist of the interest on the bonds of the Commonwealth for $1,327,000 in aid of common schools, at the rate of 6 per cent per annum, payable semiannually; the dividends on 798 shares of the capital stock of the Bank of Kentucky, representing a par value of $79,800, owned by the State; the interest, at the rate of 6 per cent, payable annually, on the surplus of $381,986.08 now due the several counties and remaining a perpetual obligation against the Commonwealth for their benefit; the interest, at 6 per cent per annum, payable semiannually, on $606,641 received from the United States under act of March 2, 1891; such proportions of fines, forfeitures, and licenses which may be realized by the State as the amount of taxes for common school purposes bears to the whole State tax other than for the benefit of the agricultural and mechanical college. The fund shall be used to pay the expenses of the State department of education and the payment of teachers of the common schools. The fund shall be distributed annually by the State superintendent according to the pupil children in each county and school district.

[ocr errors]

Taxation. There shall be an annual tax of 22 cents on each $100 of value of all real and personal estate and corporate franchises directed to be assessed for taxation, which shall be distributed as stated under "Funds above. Whenever there shall be a tax in any common school district or graded school district it shall be the duty of the trustees to appoint a district treasurer. The tax shall be levied on the property of the district immediately preceding the levy by the trustees, which the treasurer shall collect. Unless there are sufficient funds on hand which may be used to pay the contingent expenses incident to rendering the schools comfortable, the trustees shall assess and the treasurer of the district shall collect a capitation tax of $1.50 or less on all persons having children attending the common school of the district, and shall be used to pay for fuel and other things needful to keep the schoolhouse warm, clean, and comfortable. In the establishment of a graded common school, a minimum tax is fixed. (See Organization-District trustees.) In case of cities taking advantage of the law regarding the organization of a graded common school district, bonds may be issued to 2 per cent of the taxable property of the city instead of being limited to $15,000, as in the case of the ordinary graded common school district.

In cities of the first class, organized under the general act for them, the board of education collect a tax of not less than 33 cents on the $100 of property assessed for city taxation. In cities of the second class the general council shall be requested by the board of education to collect the amount required to defray the expenses of maintaining schools, improving or constructing buildings, etc. In cities of the third and fourth classes the board of education shall estimate the amount necessary, as in the case of cities of the second class, and the general council shall collect the amount, provided that in any one year it shall not exceed 50 cents on each $100 of assessed city property.

LOUISIANA.

1. ORGANIZATION OF SYSTEM.

State board-State superintendent-State institute conductor-Parish school board-Parish superintendent—District board of directors—Parish of Orleans. State board. The governor, State superintendent, attorney-general, and seven members, one from each Congressional district, appointed by the governor, shall compose the State board of education. The appointed members shall receive as compensation for their services a per diem for actual service and their traveling expenses equal to that paid members of the legislature. They may require reports from the parish superintendent, and shall appoint for each parish, with the exception of Orleans, a board of school directors. The board shall prepare rules for the government of the common schools (which shall be enforced by the parish superintendent and school boards), give such directions as it may deem proper concerning the branches to be taught, and strictly enforce uniformity of textbooks.

State superintendent.—There shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State a superintendent of public education, who shall hold office for four years, at an annual salary of $2,000; a vacancy to be filled by the governor, with advice of senate. He shall be provided with an office at the seat of government and allowed such incidental and clerical expenses as may be appropriated by the legislature. His duties are to supervise all boards of education and all State, common, high, or normal schools, visit the parishes at least once a year, make a biennial report upon the condition and progress made and possible improvements to be made in the common schools, the amount and condition of the school funds and their distribution, the amount and disbursement of local taxes and other sources of revenue, an abstract of the parish and city superintendent's reports, and all facts of interest to the public schools. He shall have printed a copy of his report for each school district, 200 copies for the legislature and for exchanges, and 300 copies for distribution. He shall decide all controversies among school officers or teachers, from which decision an appeal may be taken to the State board.

State institute conductor.-(See Teachers, Institutes.)

Parish school board.--The State board shall appoint a board of school directors, consisting of not less than five nor more than one from each ward, to serve four years. The parish board shall elect a superintendent, and may appoint auxiliary visiting trustees for each ward or school district, report all deficiencies in the schools and neglect of duty by officers or teachers, visit the schools, apportion the school fund among the districts, determine the number of schools to be opened, the location of the schoolhouses, the number of teachers to be employed and their salary, and in general to enforce the law. The board holds four regular meetings during the year, and its members receive a compensation of not more than $2 per diem, also mileage not to exceed 5 cents per mile. By a twothirds vote they may change the location of a schoolhouse.

The president of the board, a person appointed by said board, and the parish superintendent form the committee for appointing teachers.

Parish superintendent.—The parish school board elect a parish superintendent, who shall be of age and possessed of moral character and ability to manage the common school interests. His salary shall not exceed $1,200 per annum. He shall visit at least once each school in the parish, and whenever his services are quite efficient and highly satisfactory to the school board they may grant him his traveling expenses, not to exceed $125 per annum, and his expenses to the convention of superintendents. He is a member of the committee for appointing teachers. He shall make an annual report to the State superintendent, showing in tables an aggregate of the school districts, the districts in which schools were taught, and the length of time taught, the highest, the lowest, and the average number of children at school, the cost of tuition of each child for the session and month; number of private schools, academies, and colleges taught in the parish, and the length of session of the same; the number of teachers employed, male and female, and their average wages; the sum raised by local tax or otherwise, and the purpose for which disbursed; the number, increase, kind, and value of schoolhouses; number of district libraries, volumes in each, and the increase during the year; and the sums received and expended. Failure to comply causes him to lose $10 per week for the full time of his delinquency. He shall be at his office at the parish seat on the first

Saturdays of January, April, July, and October and at such other times as may be necessary.

District board of directors.-The parish board of directors are authorized to appoint auxiliary visiting trustees for each ward or school district or school in the parish. Such trustees shall make quarterly reports to the parish boards concerning the scholastic and material condition of their charges.

Parish of Orleans.—All the public schools of the parish of Orleans shall be under the direction and control of a board of directors of 20, 8 of whom shall be appointed by the governor, with the approval of the State board, and 12 by the city council of New Orleans, who shall hold for four years, one-fourth to retire annually. The board fixes the salaries of teachers, limits the expenditure to one-ninth of the whole amount provided for the schools, provides rules for examining teachers, and elects them from those passing and from graduates of the normal schools, may establish night and normal schools, appoint a superintendent, and shall make a full report to the common council of New Orleans.

The superintendent shall receive an annual salary of $2,500, hold office on good behavior for four years, is ex officio member of the board who have elected him to assist them in organizing and improving the city system of schools.

2. TEACHERS.

Appointment-Certificates—Duties—Preliminary training—Institutes.

Appointment, qualifications, and duties.-The president of the parish school board, a member appointed by that board, and the parish superintendent shall constitute a committee to appoint the teachers in the common schools of the parish and fill vacancies in the order of merit, and no person may be employed who has not obtained a license for the year in which the school is to be taught, of a grade sufficient to cover the requirements of the school to which he may be appointed.

Certificates.-The examinations to ascertain the fitness of candidates are under the control of the parish superintendent, who is assisted by two persons appointed by the school board of the parish, all of whom must agree before a certificate may be issued. The applicants must pay a fee of $1 and satisfy the examiners of their good character. To obtain a third-grade certificate the applicant must be found competent to teach spelling, reading, penmanship, drawing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history and Constitution of the United States, constitution of the State of Louisiana, physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of stimulants and narcotics, and the theory and art of teaching. To obtain a second-grade certificate the applicant must be found competent to teach all the foregoing branches, and also grammatical analysis, physical geography, and elementary algebra. To obtain a first-grade certificate the applicant must be found competent to teach all the branches required for a second-grade certificate, and also higher algebra, natural philosophy, and geometry. A special certificate of this grade may issue on a satisfactory examination in the study or studies to be taught in any special academic department, which shall entitle the holder to special appointment in a department where such studies may be taught. Those holding the diploma of the Peabody Normal College or of the Louisiana State Normal School shall be entitled to a first-grade certificate, good for four years and renewable at the option of the State board.

A third-grade certificate shall entitle the holder to teach for one year; a second-grade certificate, three years; a first-grade certificate, five years. If a person pass a satisfactory examination before any parish superintendent, obtain a certificate of any grade, and purpose to teach in another parish, it shall be lawful for the superintendent holding the papers written at the examination for such certificate, upon the request of any parish superintendent, to transfer such papers to him; and if found satisfactory, a certificate thereon of the proper grade and for the same length of time as the original certificate may be issued by him to the same effect as though he had examined the applicant himself.

Duties. It shall be the duty of each teacher to keep a register as the parish superintendent may require, and to make a report of enrollment, the highest, the lowest, and the average attendance, the books used, branches taught, number of pay pupils, if any, and such other statistical information as may be required. For failure the parish superintendent shall withhold $2. The course of study must be faithfully enforced and the rules and regulations obeyed, and failure of the teacher to comply with these provisions may, on complaint,

cause his or her removal. The teacher shall have the power to hold every pupil accountable in school for disorderly conduct on the playgrounds or to suspend pupils. The teacher must attend State and county institutes.

Preliminary training.—The State normal school shall have for its object the training of teachers for the public schools of Louisiana, and shall be open to white persons of either sex of 15 (women) or 16 (men) years of age, of good moral character and proficiency in the common school branches, provided they give assurance in writing of intention to teach in the schools of the State one year after graduation. Tuition is free. The board of administrators is empowered to confer diplomas upon the graduates entitling them to a first-grade teacher's certificate, valid for four years in any town or county, subject to renewal at the option of the board; in addition, the diploma gives precedence if the board so order.

Institutes. The parish superintendent may devote the first Saturday of each month during the time the common schools are in session in the parish to holding institutes for the improvement of teachers in their calling. Three hours constitute a legal session. Teachers failing to avail themselves of this opportunity shall forfeit one day's pay, unless excused, or living 10 miles away from place of meeting, or having to cross water; and a parish superintendent shall forfeit $5 for failure to comply with the provisions regarding them, unless physically unable to comply. The superintendent shall appoint one of the best qualified teachers as institute manager, who shall receive $2.50 per day. The school board of the parish of Orleans may inaugurate institutes as set forth above.

State institutes shall be held in the aggregate for twenty weeks, at such places and times as may be decided upon by the State superintendent and the president of the State normal school, in conjunction with the respective parish superintendents. The State superintendent and the president of the normal school shall select a State institute conductor, who shall have immediate charge of the State institutes, and his salary shall be payable from any funds donated by the board of trustees of the Peabody fund or appropriated by the general assembly.

3. SCHOOLS.

Attendance-Character of instruction-Text-books.

Attendance.-White and colored persons are taught in different schools. The school age is from 6 to 18. The school boards may assess and collect $1 per annum from each family which sends a child to the common schools, to be used in purchasing fuel and other things conducive to the comfort of the pupils.

Character of instruction.-The branches required to be taught are orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, grammar, United States history, laws of health and the injurious effects of narcotics and stimulants, physical education, and such other branches as the State or parish school board may require; and these elementary branches may be taught in the French language in the localities where that language predominates, if no additional expense is incurred. The parish school board shall have authority to establish graded schools and central or high schools under the sanction of the State board, provided site and buildings are not paid for from the school fund; but the parish of Orleans shall not require the sanction of the State board.

Tert-books.-The State board shall strictly enforce a uniformity of text-books and shall adopt a list, which shall not be changed for four years.

4. FINANCES.

Funds (permanent and special)—Taxation.

Funds (permanent and special).—The school fund of the State shall consist of the interest on the proceeds of all public lands heretofore granted by the United States for the use and support of the public schools; of all lands and other property which may hereafter be bequeathed or donated to the State or generally for school purposes; all funds or property other than unimproved lands bequeathed or granted to the State not designated for other purposes, and the proceeds of vacant estates. The legislature may (by the constitution) also appropriate, in whole or in part, the proceeds of the public lands not designated for any other purpose. This fund is distributed among the parishes according to the number of children from 6 to 18 years of age.

All fines imposed by the several district courts for violation of the law and all

« 上一頁繼續 »