designated as "Appendix A” in previous editions is no longer necessary. We, however, print as an appendix what was known as "Appendix B." Attention is also called to the note regarding apportionment of the dog tax, and the printing and distribution of the legislative Manual and annual report of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Very respectfully yours,

JASON E. HAMMOND, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

N. B.-Inasmuch as following the Compiled Laws of 1897 necessitated so many changes from the order heretofore followed, we would suggest that all other editions of school law be discarded, and this substituted therefor.-J. E. H.

to be elected.

SECTION 1. There shall be elected at each biennial election, State officers a Secretary of State, a Superintendent of Public Instruction, a State Treasurer, Commissioner of the Land Office, an Auditor General, and an Attorney General, for the term of two years. They shall keep their offices at the seat of government, and Where to keep shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by law.

offices.

SEC. 2. Their term of office shall commence on the first day Term of office. of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, and of every second year thereafter.

filled.

SEC. 3. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any of the State Vacancy, how offices, the Governor shall fill the same by appointment, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, if in session.

ARTICLE XIII.

EDUCATION.

superintendent

SECTION. 1. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall Duties of have the general supervision of public instruction, and his of public induties shall be prescribed by law.

struction.

SEC. 2. The proceeds from the sales of all lands that have School fund. been or hereafter may be granted by the United States to the State for educational purposes, and the proceeds of all lands or other property given by individuals or appropriated by the State for like purposes, shall be and remain a perpetual fund, the interest and income of which, together with the rents of all such lands as may remain unsold, shall be inviolably appro

Escheats.

Free schools.

Instruction conducted in English lan

guage.

District

schools.

When de

prived of pub

lic money.

Election of regents of the university.

priated and annually applied to the specific objects of the original gift, grant, or appropriation.

SEC. 3. All lands, the titles to which shall fail from a defect of heirs, shall escheat to the State; and the interest on the clear proceeds from the sales thereof shall be appropriated exclusively to the support of primary schools.

SEC. 4. The Legislature shall, within five years from the adoption of this constitution, provide for and establish a system of primary schools, whereby a school shall be kept without charge for tuition, at least three months in each year, in every school district in the State; and all instruction in said schools shall be conducted in the English language.

SEC. 5. A school shall be maintained in each school district at least three months in each year. Any school district neglecting to maintain such school shall be deprived for the ensuing year of its proportion of the income of the primary school fund, and of all funds arising from taxes for the support of schools.

SEC. 6. There shall be elected in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-three, at the time of the election of a Justice of the Supreme Court, eight Regents of the University, two of whom shall hold their office for two years, two for four years, two for six years, and two for eight years. They shall enter upon the duties of their office on the first of January next succeeding their election. At every regular election of a justice of the Supreme Court thereafter, there shall be elected two Regents, whose terms of office shall be eight years. When a Vacancy, how vacancy shall occur in the office of Regent, it shall be filled by appointment of the Governor. The Regents thus elected shall constitute the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan. SEC. 7. The Regents of the University, and their successors in office, shall continue to constitute the body corporate known by the name and title of "The Regents of the University of Michigan."

filled.

Regents a

body corporate.

President of the university.

University interest fund.

State board of education.

Superintendent of public instruction a member.

SEC. 8. The Regents of the University shall, at their first annual meeting, or as soon thereafter as may be, elect a president of the University, who shall be ex officio a member of their board, with the privilege of speaking, but not of voting. He shall preside at the meetings of the Regents, and be the principal executive officer of the University. The Board of Regents shall have the general supervision of the University, and the direction and control of all expenditures from the University interest fund.

SEC. 9. There shall be elected at the general election in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, three members of the State Board of Education; one for two years, one for four years, and one for six years; and at each succeeding biennial election there shall be elected one member of such board, who shall hold his office for six years. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be ex officio a member and secretary of such board. The board shall have the general supervision.

mal school.

of the State Normal School, and their duties shall be pre- Care of norscribed by law.

SEC. 10. Institutions for the benefit of those inhabitants Asylums. who are deaf, dumb, blind, or insane, shall always be fostered and supported.

school.

SEC. 11. The Legislature shall encourage the promotion of intellectual, scientific, and agricultural improvement; and shall, as soon as practicable, provide for the establishment of an agricultural school. The Legislature may appropriate the Agricultural twenty-two sections of salt spring lands now unappropriated, or the money arising from the sale of the same, where such lands have already been sold, and any lands which may hereafter be granted or appropriated for such purpose, for the support and maintenance of such school, and may make the same a branch of the University, for instruction in agriculture and the natural sciences connected therewith, and place the same under the supervision of the Regents of the University.

SEC. 12. The Legislature shall also provide for the establishment of at least one library in each township and city; Libraries. and all fines assessed and collected in the several counties and Penal fines to be applied for townships for any breach of the penal laws, shall be exclu- libraries. sively applied to the support of such libraries, unless otherwise ordered by the township board of any township or the board of education of any city: Provided, That in no case Proviso. shall such fines be used for other than library or school purposes.

ARTICLE XIV.

FINANCE AND TAXATION.

SECTION 1. All specific State taxes, except those received Specific taxes. from the mining companies of the upper peninsula, shall be applied in paying the interest upon the primary school, university, and other educational funds, and the interest and principal of the State debt, in the order herein recited, until the extinguishment of the State debt, other than the amounts due to educational funds, when such specific taxes shall be added to and constitute a part of the primary school interest fund. The Legislature shall provide for an annual tax, suf- Tax for state ficient with other resources, to pay the estimated expenses of expenses. the State government, the interest of the State debt, and such deficiency as may occur in the resources.

2

STATUTORY PROVISIONS.

Act 164, 1881, p. 163; App. May 21; Eff. July 1.

Powers and duties of.

To make

annual report.

Contents of.

PART EIGHT-COMPILED LAWS OF 1897.
OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

CHAPTER CXVI.—THE PRIMARY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

An Act to revise and consolidate the laws relating to PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS, and to repeal all statutes and acts contravening the provisions of this act.

CHAPTER I-THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

(4639) SECTION 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the superintendent of public instruction shall have general supervision of public instruction and of all state institutions, other than the university, that are essentially educational in their character, and it shall be his duty, among other things, to visit the university, the agricultural college, the institution for the deaf and dumb, the school for the blind, the reform school, the reform school for girls, and the public school for dependent and neglected children, and to meet with the governing boards of each of said institutions at least once in each year. He shall also prepare annually, and transmit to the governor, to be by him transmitted to the legislature at each biennial session thereof, a report containing:

First, A statement of the condition of the university and of each of the several state educational institutions, all incorporated institutions of learning, and the primary, graded, and high schools;

Second, Estimates and amounts of expenditures of all educational funds;

Third, Plans for the management of all educational funds, and for the better organization of the educational system, if, in his opinion, the same be required;

Fourth, The annual reports and accompanying documents, so far as he shall deem the same of sufficient public interest, of all state institutions of educational character;

Fifth, Abstracts of the annual reports of the school inspectors of the several townships and cities of the state;

Sixth, All such other matter relating to his office and the subject of education generally as he shall deem expedient to communicate.

How. 5026.

As to superintendent of public instruction, see R. S. '38, ch. 1 of title 12; R. S. '46, ch. 56; laws of 1850, p. 181; laws of 1851, p. 116; C. L. '57, ch. 74; C. L. '71, ch. 131; Const. xiii, 1.