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shall not materially vary from the average cost per pupil in schools having but one teacher. The superintendent shall have power to allow one teacher to every 50 educable children in a school district, but may grant an assistant in a school having more than 40 pupils in actual attendance, or two assistants if more than 80 pupils in actual attendance; but in schools of more than 100 pupils, only one teacher shall be allowed for every 35 pupils.

Duties. The principal teacher in a public school shall keep a daily record of such facts as the form of the register requires, and shall be responsible for the safe keeping and delivery of the register to the county superintendent at the end of the term, and the county superintendent shall not issue a pay certificate for the last month taught until the teacher shall have delivered such register in good order and properly filled out. The register shall show the name, age, and sex of each pupil attending, and the names of absentees for each day. At the end of each scholastic month the teacher shall report to the county superintendent the name, age, sex, and number of days' attendance of each pupil during the month. At least two trustees shall certify thereto, and upon receipt of same the county superintendent shall issue to the teacher and assistant, if any, a pay certificate. If the trustees, without good cause, refuse to sign the report, the teacher may appeal to the county superintendent, who may issue the certificate without the signature of the trustees. With the last monthly report of the session the teacher shall make a term report.

Preliminary training.-The Mississippi Industrial Institute and College, the purpose of which is the moral and intellectual advancement of the white girls of the State, maintains a department for training in normal school methods and kindergarten. The State normal school for colored youth is under the control of five trustees, appointed biennially by the governor and confirmed by the senate. The aim of the institution is the training of colored persons of both sexes as teachers in the common schools.

Institutes. In every county having more than fifteen school districts for either race there shall be held annually for each race a separate teachers' institute for a term of not less than five days. These institutes are under the direction of the State board of education, who may name a list of experienced and competent Institute conductors from which the board of examiners in each county shall select a conductor. Regulations and outlines of work shall be prescribed by the said State board, who shall determine the amount to be paid for conductors and incidental expenses, and shall require of the county superintendent full reports of the work, attendance, and expenses. A fee of 50 cents is paid by each applicant for examination for a teacher's certificate, and if license is issued for more than one year, 50 cents additional for each year's duration of the license. If the amount of the institute fund be insufficient, the State board of education may empower the county superintendent to draw on the county common school fund for not exceeding $40 in any scholastic year to make up the deficit. If there be a surplus in the institute fund the county superintendent may spend 20 per cent of such fund in the purchase of works on teaching, to be kept by him for the use of teachers.

3. SCHOOLS.

School terms-Attendance--Character of instruction-Text-books-Buildings. Schools shall be kept in continuous session four months, and as much longer as the school fund will maintain them; trustees may, however, with the consent of a majority of the patrons, divide the session and have a portion of it taught in either term. The county school board shall fix the day for the opening of the winter term between the first Monday in November and the second Monday in January, and the summer term on the first Monday in May, or as soon thereafter as they deem suitable, said action in all cases to be at least twenty days before the opening of the term, whereupon the county superintendent shall notify the secretary of the board of trustees of each school in the county. The trustees in city districts fix the dates for the opening and closing of their schools. Twenty days of actual teaching shall constitute a school month, and trustees shall determine the number of hours which shall constitute a school day-not less than five nor more than eight.

Attendance. The districts shall be so arranged as to place all children within reasonable distance of a schoolhouse, and one public school shall be maintained in each district, but may be discontinued at the end of any scholastic month when less than five attend. Children residing in one district may attend in another, with the written consent of the trustees of both districts and the county

superintendent; but pupils shall not be allowed to attend more than one term during the scholastic year. In districts containing not more than one chartered institution of learning the board may locate the public school at the site of same, and the public school shall be conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the chartered institution, and the trustees of the public school and the trustees of the chartered school shall in joint session elect teachers for the public school.

Character of instruction.--The branches of study upon which teachers are required to be examined (see Teachers-Certificates) constitute the curriculum of the free public schools.

Educable children may attend a high school or college in their county, and shall be enrolled, reported, and paid for as resident pupils of the district if the school has been established as a free public school of the county. A tuition fee may be charged all pupils who pursue studies beyond the public school curriculum.

A separate (city) school district may make its schools graded schools; and graded schools may be of two kinds-grammar schools and high schools. In every graded school there shall be a graded grammar school, including the common school curriculum; and the high school shall be composed of pupils who shall have passed through the grammar-school grades or shall have passed an examination therein. The course in such high school shall be completed in three years, and the trustees may fix reasonable tuition fees, or the same may be free; and they may prescribe what other studies may be taught in the high school. Text-books.-The county school board shall appoint five teachers of recognized ability, and the superintendent two, who shall constitute a committee for selecting a uniform series of text-books. They shall serve five years, and books shall be selected for five years. The county superintendent is ex officio secretary of the committee, shall record its proceedings, and shall fill any vacancy occurring in said committee. He shall contract with publishers for books adopted, the form of contract and amount of publishers' bond to be fixed by the State board of education, which contracts shall specify prices for exchange, introduction, and permanent supply. The books adopted shall be used by all schools in the county, except in city districts, the trustees of which shall adopt books for use therein. Instruction shall not be given in any branch to a pupil who is not supplied with the books adopted for that branch. The State board shall provide for the adoption of a text-book on any additional branch which may be added to the curriculum.

Buildings.—Any pupil who willfully defaces or injures any school property is liable to suspension or expulsion, and his parents or guardians shall be liable for all damages. Any one disturbing a public school shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $50.

4. FINANCES.

There shall be a common school fund, which shall consist of the poll tax (which is to be retained in the counties where collected) and an additional sum from the general fund in the State treasury, which together shall be sufficient to maintain the common schools for the term of four months of the year. The fund shall be distributed among the counties in proportion to the educable children in each. Any county or separate school district may levy an additional sum to keep the schools open for a longer period than four months.

MISSOURI.

1. ORGANIZATION OF THE SYSTEM.

State board-State superintendent—State library board-County commissioner of public schools-County superintendent-County board-District directors— City, town, and village directors.

State board. The State superintendent, governor, secretary of state, and attorney-general shall form the State board of education, which shall have general supervision over the entire educational interests of the State. The board shall report to the general assembly concerning its proceedings.

State superintendent.-There shall be elected by the qualified voters of this

State at the general election every four years a State superintendent of public schools, who shall give bond with sureties in the sum of $10,000. He shall reside at the seat of government and keep the records and other accumulations of his office in an office furnished by the State, where he shall be found when not called thence by public business. He shall exercise such supervision over the educational funds of the State as may be necessary to secure their safety and correct application and distribution according to law; require of county clerks or treasurers, boards of education or other school officers, recorders and treasurers of cities, towns, and villages copies of all records by them required to be made, and also such other information in relation to the funds and condition of schools and the management thereof as may be deemed important; cause copies of the law and instructions to be printed and distributed, as well as all blanks that may be necessary; examine teachers and grant certificates of qualification to those who pass a satisfactory examination, but the applicant shall not be charged a fee; may employ a chief clerk at a salary of $2,000; shall make an annual report to the general assembly when in session and on the following year to the governor, in which he shall present a statement of the condition and amount of all funds and property appropriated to purposes of education, the number of schools in the State, the number and sex of pupils attending the schools, the branches taught, the number of teachers employed, the average amount of wages paid to teachers, the number of teachers' institutes formed and their condition, the number of teachers engaged in teaching within the State who have been trained for not less than six months in either of the State normal schools, the estimates and accounts of the expenditures of public school funds of every description, plans for the improvement and management of public schools, and such other matters as he may deem important; but no such report shall exceed 200 pages of printed matter of ordinary book form. He shall annually spend at least five days in each Congressional district conferring with the board of education and other school officers, counseling teachers, visiting schools, and delivering lectures. All reasonable sums expended by him in the execution of his duties shall be allowed him on due proof.

State library board.-This board consists of the State superintendent of public schools and 4 other members appointed by the State board of education. The board compiles a list of school library and reference books, from which all school boards must supply their schools. The library board enters into contract with publishers as to prices and terms of supply, etc. Every district board and board of education shall spend out of the incidental funds annually not less than 5 cents and not more than 20 cents per pupil enumerated in the district each year in supplying and maintaining these supplementary and reference libraries. By vote of district this amount may be increased.

County commissioner of public schools.-There shall be elected every two years a county commissioner of public schools, who shall be at least 21 years of age, a resident of the county for at least one year prior to his election, and shall hold a first-grade county, normal, or State certificate entitling him to teach in the public schools of such county. The county commissioner is chairman ex officio of the county board of education. He shall condense and forward to the State superintendent the educational statistics of the county, and see that the local authorities are supplied with copies of the school law and blanks. He shall receive for making his reports and perfecting the record of his office, in counties of less than 10,000 inhabitants, $20; 10,000 to 15,000, $30; 15,000 to 20,000, $35; 20,000 or more, $40.

County superintendent.-Whenever the inhabitants of any county in this State may desire to establish county school supervision, the matter may be accomplished by 100 freeholders petitioning the county court for the same, and the court shall order an election. The county superintendent shall give bond, with sureties in double the amount of his salary, and shall keep his office and its records, etc., at the county seat, where a room shall be provided for him, with stationery, postage, etc. He shall have general supervision over all the schools of his county, except in cities having more than 1,000 children and organized as a city school district, and shall perform all the duties now required by the county commissioner and county board of education and receive like compensation therefor. He shall visit each school district in his county as often as practicable, examining the records, the character of instruction, and the condition of school property; and shall (privately) advise the teacher in matters calling therefor, consult with the district clerks and examine their accounts, organize a county teachers' association, hold public meetings in each township

in the county annually for the purpose of discussing educational questions of all kinds, formulate a course of study and a plan for grading the schools of his county, and require the same to be observed as nearly as practicable. His compensation shall be as follows: In counties wherein the number of children of school age is less than 2,000, he shall receive $200; from 2,000 to 3,000, $300; from 3,000 to 4,000, $400; from 4,000 to 5,000, $500; from 5,000 to 6,000, $600; from 6,000 to 7,000, $700; from 7,000 to 8.000, $800; from 8,000 to 9,000, $900; and for 9,000 or more, he shall receive $1,000.

County board.-The county board of education consists of the county commissioner of schools, one member appointed by the county court and one member appointed by the State board of education every two years. This board holds three regular teachers' examinations each year for certificates on fourth Saturdays and preceding Fridays in March, June, and August; questions furnished by the State superintendent. It adopts a course of study for all the rural and village schools in the county and has authority to enforce its use. It holds a three days teachers' association in September, October, or November of each year.

District school directors.-Each county is divided into districts, which may be modified by the voters of the locality interested. The qualified voters at the annual school meeting shall have power by a majority to choose by ballot one director, who shall hold his office for the term of three years; to fill vacancies caused by his death, resignation, removal, or change of residence; determine the length of term in excess of six months that the schools shall be taught; determine the rate of taxation; vote such sum as may be deemed necessary for the purchase of books for a district library; direct the sale of any school property; vote for county commissioner or superintendent; determine the amount to be levied to purchase school site and erect school buildings.

The government and control of the district shall be vested in a board of directors, composed of three members, who shall be citizens of the United States, resident taxpayers for one year, and qualified voters of the district. The directors shall be elected by the voters and shall hold for the term of three years, one retiring annually; vacancies are to be filled by the other members, but if they fail to agree or there is more than one vacancy, the county commissioner shall fill the vacancy or vacancies. The board shall annually take an accurate census of persons 6 to 20 years of age (by race and sex), with the full name and postoffice address of parent, on penalty of $100 for falsification; shall have the care and keeping of the schoolhouse and other property. It shall furnish libraries, maps, globes, and other necessary apparatus; regulate the organization and government of the schools; shall have power to employ legally qualified teachers; shall visit the schools; may remove the district clerk for dereliction of duty; shall annually estimate the amount of funds necessary to sustain the schools for the time required by law or by the district, together with the amount required for building and other expenses.

City, town, and village schools. Any city, town, or village having filed a plat in the recorder's office, or any districts having 200 or more children of school age, may be organized into a special or consolidated school district, to be governed by the same general laws as other school districts. Whenever it is desired to organize a city, town, village, special, or consolidated district the question shall be submitted to the voters; and if the vote is affirmative, six directors shall be elected, each for three years after the first election, two to retire annually. (Such directory is called the board of education. It has more authority than a district school board in levying higher rates of taxation, in maintaining longer terms of school, and in establishing and maintaining high schools.)

The school board of any city having more than 50,000 inhabitants may relieve itself of the duty of enumeration for four consecutive years by passing a resolution each year adopting the last enumeration.

2. TEACHERS.

Appointment-Certificates-Duties-Preliminary training-Associations. Appointment.-Boards of directors shall contract with persons holding teachers' certificates in full force for the time for which the contract is made, and anyone who shall enter a public school in this State to teach, govern, or discipline the same without being legally authorized shall be fined not exceeding

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$100, as shall also any director indorsing or encouraging such unlawful act. The board shall not appoint one of its members as teacher, nor shall a teacher serve as clerk to the board.

Certificates. It shall be the duty of the county board to examine all persons presenting themselves for examination at the regular times fixed by law, and, if found qualified, to grant them certificates good in the county; examination fee, $3. The State superintendent may examine teachers and grant certificates good anywhere in the State until revoked.

County superintendents and boards are authorized to issue three grades of certificates. Third-grade certificates, good for one year, shall be granted to persons of good moral character who shall pass a satisfactory examination, with a general average of 80, in arithmetic, language lessons, English grammar, geography, spelling, reading, penmanship, United States history, civil government, physiology and hygiene with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, and elementary pedagogy. For a second-grade certificate, valid for two years, the general average must be 85, including the following additional subjects: Elementary algebra and two years of high school English. For a first-grade certificate, valid for three years, the applicant is required to have had one year's experience and to make a general average of 90 on the aforementioned subjects, with the addition of one branch of science and one division of general history. No certificate shall be issued to an applicant failing to make 60 in any branch. Third-grade certificates may be renewed once, secondgrade twice, and first-grade an indefinite number of times, without reexamination or fee, on condition that the holder has taught the previous year and is a regular attendant at the county teachers' association.

Other duties. It shall be the duty of every teacher to keep a daily register and make monthly and term reports to the district clerk, giving the number of pupils (by sex) in attendance during the month, the average attendance, and such other statistics as the directors may require, and no warrant shall be ordered by the board for the month's salary until such reports have been filed when due. The term report must show list of pupils enrolled during the term, indicating the amount and character of work done by each in the official course of study. Every teacher shall attend the teachers' county association.

Preliminary training.-The following provisions apply to the normal departments of the University of Missouri and Lincoln Institute (for colored persons), as well as to the State normal schools proper: The normal diploma, conferred upon pupils completing the advanced course, shall entitle the holder to teach in any county in the State without further examination until revoked for cause. The normal certificate, granted upon completion of the elementary course, shall bear the names of the branches of study completed and the grade obtained in each, and shall entitle the holder to teach such branches for two years.

Grades made in the summer terms of State educational institutions and other summer schools approved by the State board shall be taken in lieu of examination by county boards and superintendents in such subjects as may be designated by the State superintendent.

Associations.-There shall be held in each county, in September, October, or November each year, a teachers' association, for three days, under the direction of the county board of education. (See also Certificates-Other duties.)

3. SCHOOLS.

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

Attendance.-Separate free schools shall be established for the education of children of African descent, and it shall be unlawful for any colored child to attend a public school for whites or for a white child to attend a school for colored children. When there are within any school district in this State 15 or more colored children of school age, the district board shall maintain a separate free school for such colored children, and the length of the school term for the colored school and their advantages and privileges shall be the same as those enjoyed by white children in schools of corresponding grade. The board shall in all cases conduct, manage, and control the school as other schools of the district are conducted, managed, and controlled; and all indebtedness incurred by the board in providing suitable buildings, employing teachers, and maintaining schools shall be paid out of the appropriate funds of the district.

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