SPRING ARBOR SEMINARY.

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS.

TO HON. F. S. FITCH, Superintendent of Public Instruction:

Two of the three appointed as a Board of Visitors to Spring Arbor Seminary visited it, and learned much of the character and worth of the Institution.

Spring Arbor Seminary is beautifully located in a little village nine miles southwest of Jackson. The buildings stand in the center of a fine campus, on an elevated plateau, giving a fine view of the surrounding country. No place could be more inviting for quiet and study. The buildings are valued at $15,000, and consist of a Boarding Hall, Recitation Rooms and Chapel. There are 400 volumes in the Library. The School has an Academic, Intermediate and Primary department, and a Kindergarten department is to be added next year. The Seminary does not grant degrees, but a diploma is given after the completion of the three years' course of study. This would correspond very largely to the work done in our best high schools. The average attendance for the year has been 95, with a fine graduating class of 15. The graduating exercises were excellent. Indeed, the essays and papers presented by the students would rank well with institutions making much higher pretensions. The moral tone was also good, indicating the most careful intellectual and moral training. Rev. A. H. Stilwell, the Principal, is eminently fitted for the position he holds. He is a graduate of Rochester University. His address to the graduating class was one of the best we have heard. Professor Bratt from the State Normal School will be added to the staff of teachers. The School is doing a good work, but, like many others, is in great need of money.

J. VENNING,

M. E. PETERS, Board of Visitors.

28

DECISIONS

OF THE

SUPREME COURT OF MICHIGAN

ON MATTERS OF

EDUCATIONAL INTEREST.

FILED DURING 1891.

I. TAX INVALIDATED BY EXEMPTION OF PORTION OF TERRITORY OF

SCHOOL DISTRICT.

II. TEACHERS-WHEN MAY BE HIRED-ELECTION OF SCHOOL OFFICERS. III. SCHOOL DISTRICT-ISSUE OF BONDS-AUTHORITY.

IV. SCHOOLS-SELECTION OF BOOKS-RIGHT TO CHANGE.

V. ALTERATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.

I. TAX INVALIDATED BY EXEMPTION OF PORTION OF TERRITORY OF SCHOOL DISTRICT.

The Auditor General v. William McArthur and Archibald McArthur, Wilson H Tousey and Joseph Turner, and James H. Hurst (three cases).

1.

2.

3. The exemption of four surveyed townships in a school district from a general school tax levied upon the remaining territory is fatal to the validity of the tax levy, the law under which the district was organized requiring that all taxes should be spread upon all of the taxable property of the district.

The Union School tax of the township of Rogers is the only one not disposed of, and, as to this, it was void, for the reason that it was spread over but part of the territory comprised within the limits of the district. This district was organized by Act No. 148 of the Local Acts of 1871, and amended by Act No. 387 of the Local Acts of 1885. Section 1 of the amended act reads as follows:

"That township thirty-four north, of ranges four, five and six east, and township thirty-five north, of ranges four and five east, and township thirty-six north, of ranges two, three, four and five east, and township thirty-seven north, of range two east, which are now embraced in the limits of what is known as the "Township of Rogers,' in the county of Presque Isle, constitute one school district, which shall be a body corporate by the name and style of the 'Union School District of the Township of Rogers,' and by that name may sue and be sued, and shall be subject to all the general laws of this State relative to corporations, so far as the same may be applicable," etc.

The records of the proceedings of the board of trustees of the Union school district were offered in evidence, at a meeting held on the 28th day of July, 1888, which reads as follows:

"Meeting called to order by the President, and a full board found to be present. The following resolution was adopted:

"Resolved, That this board think it advisable and do hereby advise the annual school meeting to raise one per cent of the assessed valuation of said district for school purposes, and one-half of the same to be spread for teachers' wages, and one-half of one per cent for repairing."

The record of the annual meeting of the school electors of said district on August 6, 1888, was offered in evidence, and reads as follows:

"A motion was made by D. E. Gunn, and was duly seconded, that the district raise $500 for the purpose of building a suitable addition to the Rogers City school house. Motion was carried by a clear vote. Motion made and carried that the district raise one per cent of the assessed valuation for school purposes, one-half of said one per cent to be a special tax for teachers' wages."

This tax was not assessed upon all the property in the Union school district, none of said tax being spread upon any of the following territory within said district: Townships 35 north, range 4 east; 34 north, range 4 east; 34 north, range 6 east; and 35 north, range 5 east. The law organizing the Union school district requires all taxes to be spread upon all the taxable property in the district, and why such a large portion was omitted, including the township in which Rogers City is located, is not shown by this record. The whole act organizing this school district is a remarkable specimen of legislation, to