§ 10. The administration of the pension fund and decision as to the use of its income under the preceding paragraphs shall be intrusted to a committee of the whole council under the chairmanship of the respective rector. This committee shall consist, in addition to the rector, of one member each of the theological, juridical, and medical faculties, and two members of the philosophical faculty, who shall be elected by the assembled council, by simple majority of votes, for five years. Annually, with the exception of the accountant, to be mentioned directly, one of the remaining four members shall retire according to a sequence to be decided by lot, but shall be again eligible. § 11. The valid passage of resolutions on the part of the committee shall require two-thirds of the votes. The accountant, however, shall be elected by simple majority of votes by the committee from its members. He shall administer his office, like the other members, without payment of an honorarium. The accountant shall close his account annually on June 30, and submit it within four weeks from this time to the rector, who subsequently shall submit it to the other members of the committee and then to the remaining council members for eventual correction; he also shall communicate it to the other persons entitled to participation in the advantages of the institute, and subsequently shall advise the accountant in the name of the rector and the council of his discharge from responsibility. The obligations concerning the invested capital funds shall be deposited in the archives. § 12. The grand-ducal ministry, department for educational affairs, shall have the supervision of the institute, and, therefore, report shall be made to it annually before Michaelmas Day concerning the administration of the fund and the use made of its income, with inclosure of a copy of the account, attested by the secretary of the university. § 13. From the said grand-ducal ministry, too, the confirmation of these regulations and the conferring of the rights of a charitable institution shall be requested by the rector and the concilium. § 14. Amendments of these regulations are not prohibited. They can, however, be adopted only in an assembly of the persons named in § 1, in whose convocation by the rector the object of the deliberations shall be stated, and in which (assembly) at least two-thirds of the interested parties shall be present, by unanimous consent of the persons present, and shall take effect only upon approval by the supervising ministry. CHAPTER IV. DIGEST OF SCHOOL LAWS. [The following digest was prepared, for the most part, under the direction of the various State superintendents In a few instances the work was done in the Bureau. Flor ida, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah. and Wyoming are not represented in the present revision, as it was found impossible to obtain a digest of their laws in time for publication herewith.] ALABAMA. 1. ORGANIZATION OF THE SYSTEM. State superintendent-County superintendents-School districts-Township ernor. trustees. State superintendent.—The superintendent of education is elected for two years at a salary of $2,250 a year. Vacancies filled by appointment of the govHe must furnish $15,000 bond; must have an office at the capitol, the books, papers, and records of which are open to persons interested; has four clerical assistants; shall devote his time to the care and improvement of the common schools and the promotion of public education, and exercise a general supervision over all educational interests of the State; has power to require from county superintendents, township trustees, and other school officers such reports as he may deem important, and may remove them from office for failure to make such report or to discharge any other official duty. Other duties are: To visit every county in the State annually, if practicable; to inspect schools and diffuse information as to best methods; make provision for instruction of all pupils in the constitutions of the United States and Alabama, and in hygiene and physiology, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics; apportion annually the public school fund to townships and school districts according to the number of children of school age, and see to the proper disbursement of same; print and distribute forms and blanks, his annual report to the governor, laws, and rules and regulations pertaining to the State school system, including therein the constitutions of the United States and Alabama; prescribe a uniform system of keeping accounts and records, and furnish county superintendents and other school officers necessary books for same; keep an account of sixteenth-section and other school funds, with each township or district; require and supervise the collection of poll taxes; elicit and disseminate useful information regarding the school systems of other States and countries; hold or arrange for one or more teachers' institutes in each Congressional district for a week or more during each summer, for which he may expend not exceeding $500 in any year in employing instructors. On or before October 10, biennially, he shall submit a report to the governor embracing the following: A brief history of his labors; abstract of reports from county superintendents showing condition of the schools; estimates and accounts of expenditures of school money itemized statements showing disbursement of contingent and all other special funds or appropriations under his control; other matters that he may deem expedient, with such recommendations as he may desire to make for the improvement of the schools. Should the trustees of any township fail to make their semiannual enumeration of children from 7 to 21 years (see Township trustees), or should the State superintendent have reason to believe such enumeration is fraudulent or greatly erroneous, he may have a new enumeration made at the expense of such township. County superintendents.-A county superintendent for each county is elected at each general election for a term of two years, beginning October 1 next after his election. Gives bond in amount fixed by State superintendent-not less than double the probable amount of money to be in his hands at any one time. Receives as compensation 4 per cent of all educational funds legally disbursed by him and approved by the State superintendent. Vacancies are filled by appointment of State superintendent, who may remove any county superintendent for cause, whether appointed or elected. He is president of the county board of education and of the teachers' institute (which see). Other duties are: To have an office at the county seat, where he must be present on the first Saturday of each month during the scholastic year to transact business with school officers and teachers; receive and faithfully keep all funds accruing by taxation or gift for use of public schools in his county; notify township trustees of the amount of the educational fund apportioned to their respective townships or districts as soon as he receives such apportionment; examine the condition of all county school funds, including sixteenth-section fund and sixteenth-section lands unsold in his county, bringing suits when necessary for recovery of such lands or against trespassers thereon; pay teachers' salaries (upon certificate of trusteees) quarterly or monthly in counties and districts so provided by special act; appoint 3 trustees for each township or school district and remove them from office when the interest of public education so demands; report by September 30 each year to State superintendent (per blanks furnished) a detailed statement of his official acts and accounts, under penalty of forfeiting his commissions for willfully failing to submit such report within ten days. His books, accounts, and vouchers are subject to examination at any time by the State superintendent or his agent. School districts.-(See Schools.) Township trustees.-Three trustees for each township or school district, who shall be freeholders and householders resident therein, shall be appointed by the county superintendent, to serve two years beginning October 1 each odd year. They have immediate supervision of the public schools in their township or district and are exempt from poll tax, jury and road duty. Their duties are: To visit each school at least once a year; to employ teachers, whom they may remove for cause; to inspect school registers kept by teachers; in July of each odd year the district trustees shall make an enumeration of children in their district, each sex, white and black, from 7 to 21 years, and report same to county superintendent by August 1 following; annually, on the last Monday in October, or within seven days thereafter, to call a meeting of parents and guardians of such aged children, advising with whom they shall determine: The number of schools to be established in their township for the current year; location of each school, time of opening and length of session, which shall not be less than five months (except in rare cases four months by approval of county and State superintendents); amount of money apportioned to each school; children to be transferred to other districts, and amount to be set apart for payment of their tuition, with such other business as may be necessary. Within ten days after such meeting they shall report to the county superintendent the number and location of schools, amount of money apportioned to each, and the names of teachers employed. 2. TEACHERS. Duties-Certificates-Contracts-Institutes. Duties. Every teacher must keep a register of pupils' daily attendance, and submit same to trustees for inspection; forward quarterly to county superintendent detailed report of all matters pertaining to the school, sworn to before and approved by trustees, prior to which report teacher can not draw pay; give instruction, in every grade and as regularly as any other subject, in the nature and effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics. Certificates.-Every one must obtain a certificate prior to employment as a teacher. State board of examiners, composed of State superintendent (as president) and two teachers of extensive experience and recognized ability appointed by him, have supervision of all examinations of candidates for teachers' certificates in the State. Said board shall meet in November and May each year and prepare questions, lists of which shall be printed by State superintendent and sent (by the 15th of December and June) to the several county superintendents, who shall not unseal the same except in the presence of the applicants at the hour and day of examination-namely, 10 a. m. on first Mondays in January and July, and for three consecutive days, if necessary. State board may hold special examinations at the department of education, Montgomery, for persons prevented by unavoidable cause from taking the regular examinations; and normal school students may be examined at times and places designated by the board. No candidate shall be examined who is not known to be of good moral character, and anyone who habitually uses profane language or intoxicants shall be deemed of immoral character. Applicants for third-grade certificates shall be examined in orthography, reading, penmanship, grammar, practical arithmetic through fractions, primary geography, and the elementary principles of physiology and hygiene; second grade, practical arithmetic complete, history of Alabama and United States, English grammar and composition, and intermediate geography, additional; first grade, algebra, natural philosophy, geometry, school laws of Alabama, and theory and practice of teaching, still additional. No certificate shall be issued to any candidate who falls below 50 per cent in any branch, and whose general average is less than 75. The State board examine and grade the papers and issue certificates, which are valid for periods as follows: Third grade, two years; second grade, four; first grade, six. No teacher shall be granted a third or second grade certificate more than twice. Anyone having taught ten years under first-grade certificates and showing a high degree of proficiency and professional attainment may be granted a life certificate, which, however, shall be forfeited if the business of teaching is left off for five consecutive years. Fees for regular and normal school examinations are: For thirdgrade certificates, $1; second grade, $1.50; first grade, $2; life, $3; special examinations, any grade, $5. The two State examiners appointed receive $5 per day while employed; county examiners, $10 per examination conducted by them. The State superintendent shall revoke the certificate of any teacher found guilty of immoral, indecent, or unbecoming conduct. A register of licensed teachers is kept in his office. Contracts. Are made with trustees, in writing, in duplicate; must specify monthly salary; one copy must be filed with county superintendent for his approval within ten days, without which it shall not be valid. Trustees shall not contract for a school of more than 50 pupils to one teacher, nor less than 10 if there are more than that number of each race in the district. Institutes. The county superintendent shall appoint two teachers in either public or private schools of the county who, with himself as president, shall constitute the county board of education. They shall meet at least quarterly, and shall organize and maintain teachers' institutes, one for white and one for colored teachers, if there be not less than 10 licensed teachers of that race in the county. Every licensed teacher in the county shall be a member of the institute organized for his race, but no fee shall be imposed on a member without his consent. Institutes shall hold not less than three annual meetings, and every licensed teacher shall attend at least one of them. One such meeting shall be in September, at which an address to the teachers shall be made by a person selected by the board. Institutes shall be devoted mainly to instruction and discussion in regard to methods of teaching and discipline, text-books, and other school matters. 3. SCHOOLS. School districts--Attendance-Studies-Location of buildings-Scholastic periods. School districts.-Every township, or fraction thereof, divided by a State or county line or any river, creek, mountain, or other barrier rendering intercourse between the different portions of the township difficult, and every incorporated town or city having 3,000 inhabitants or more shall constitute a separate school district, whose corporate representatives are the township trustees (which see, under Organization). In every district one or more schools for each race separately shall be established, unless the number of children within a reasonable distance be insufficient; in which latter event the trustees shall arrange for the tuition of such children in such manner as they deem proper, paying for same out of the school funds apportioned to such district, and if a transfer to another district can not be conveniently effected the parents or guardians of children that shall have attended some school in the State during a time equal to the |