the teacher may quit the school and maintain an action for the amount of his wages (46 Vt., 452; 27 Vt., 755). Generally, the power to suspend rests with the board alone. The rules of the board should not be unjust and require more than can legally be enforced. RULES MUST ABLE. Suspension should be the last resort. A pupil cannot be expelled or suspended for a careless act, no matter how negligent, if it is not wilful or malicious (77 Mich., 605). Method of Voting. The method of voting at district meetings, as well as the majority required, depends upon the question under discussion. Though referred to in Chapter IV, we herewith append a summary as follows: VOTING BY BALLOT. This is necessary in the following cases: 1. To elect all school officers (4666, 4746). 2. To bond the district (4717). A TWO-THIRDS VOTE.* At district meetings this is requisite, as follows: 1. To authorize the district board to use money for any other purpose than that for which it was raised (4676). 2. To raise money by issuing bonds (4717). 3. To designate sites for school houses (4728). 4. To request inspectors to alter location of school site (4728). 5. To organize as a graded school district (4746). 6. To unite two districts into one graded district (4750). 7. To change from graded district to primary district (4750). *NOTE.-A measure requiring a two-thirds vote of a district meeting cannot after adoption be rescinded by a mere majority vote. (10 N. W. 349. See 47 Mich. 226). 8. To establish a district library (4757). Course of Study. The arrangement of a course of study for the schools of the district is within the jurisdiction of the school STUDIES NOT board. The law is not very explicit as to what studies shall be included in established courses. The free text-book law and the law creating the office of commissioner of schools and defining his duties contain a mention of certain branches of study; and the law for the establishment of graded schools provides for high schools; but district boards must decide what branches shall be pursued in the schools of their districts. Having fixed a course of study, the board may require teachers and pupils to follow the same within reasonable limits. Music may be included in the adopted course of study of a public school, and necessary apparatus for teachBE INCLUDED. ing music may be purchased without a vote of MUSIC MAY the district (67 Mich. 262). Sectarian instruction is abolished from all public schools (4676); and, while the reading of the Bible may properly become a part OF BIBLE. of the daily program of the public school, the READING comment thereon by the teacher should be of such a character that pupils and parents of all religious faiths may not detect the slightest traces of sectarian prejudice. (35 Wis., 59; 79 Ill., 567; 87 Ill., 303; 38 Me., 379; 95 Ill., 263; 23 Ohio, 211.) APPENDIX. SUMMARY OF LAWS ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF 1899. [Act No. 176.] DAY SCHOOLS FOR DEAF CHILDREN. This law provides that any district of the State may, under certain conditions, maintain separate schools for deaf children. The conditions are as follows: The superintendent of public instruction, upon application of the school authorities, grants permission to such school authority to maintain a school. The average attendance in such school must be at least three pupils. The board maintaining such a school must report to the superintendent of public instruction annually such facts as he may require. The State treasurer is authorized to pay out of the general fund to the school board maintaining a school for deaf children one hundred fifty dollars for each deaf pupil instructed for a period of nine months, or a proportioned sum for a shorter period. The money received from the State treasurer must be kept as a separate fund and used for no other purpose than the payment of salaries of teachers of deaf children and for school appliances. Sums not expended as above must be returned to the State treasurer and by him credited to the primary school interest fund. Teachers having had special training for teaching deaf children must be employed, and in addition to this one year's experience as teacher in a school for the deaf. The so-called oral-system must be taught, and nine months considered a reasonable time for trial for a pupil to show an ability to learn. Any child of sound mind but who by reason of defective hearing cannot profitably be taught in the public schools may be considered deaf. This law provides a commission of four persons appointed by the governor who, with the State librarian, constitute a board of library commissioners. The term of office is four years, two being appointed every second year. Vacancies are also filled by appointment of the governor. The duty of this commission is to give advice and counsel to free libraries on such questions as the selection of books, cataloguing and details of library management. They must make a report to the governor in January of each year. All free libraries in the State must report to the library commission annually. The board is entitled to a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars in any one year for supplies and expenses of its members in the discharge of their duties. None of the members receive a salary, except the secretary, whose salary is limited to three hundred dollars in any one year. All expenses of the commission are paid out of the general fund of the State. [Act No. 250.] LOAN FUNDS FOR STUDENTS IN STATE INSTITUTIONS. The purpose of this law was to provide for the establishment of associations or corporations whose object shall be the loaning of money to students in the university, normal schools, agricultural, mining and manual training schools of the State. The manner of incorporation and general powers of the corporation are similar to those organized under the general law of the State. This law is printed in full in the General School Law for 1899. [Act No. 44] PRINTING OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. Sections eleven, thirty, and thirty-two of this act are of interest to school officers and teachers. Section eleven refers to the report of the superintendent of public instruction, and provides that there shall be printed one copy for each school library of the State, one to each superintendent of public instruction, State university and State normal school in the United States, one for each living ex-superintendent and ex-deputy superintendent in this State, one for each commissioner and school examiner, each city superinendent of schools and two hundred copies for deposit with the secretary of State for future distribution. The superintendent of public instruction may in his discretion order three hundred copies in addition to the above. The report is limited to three hundred pages and the amount expended for cuts and illustrations must not exceed fifty dollars. Section thirty provides a Legislative Manual (Red Book) for each district school, each graded and city school, each library other than school library and to each county commissioner of schools. Section thirty-two makes it the duty of the county commissioners of schools to distribute the Legislative Manual to all the schools in their respective counties, and also to see that the same are kept for the use of the schools. |