have the general supervision of the State normal schools, and shall grant teachers' certificates to certain persons, as hereinafter set forth.

State superintendent.-At each biennial election there shall be elected a superintendent of public instruction, who shall have his office at the seat of government. A vacancy shall be filled by the governor, by and with the advice of the senate. The State superintendent shall have general supervision of public instruction and of all the State institutions, other than the university, that are essentially educational in their character; and he shall visit the university, the agricultural college, the institutions for the deaf, for the blind, the industrial school for boys and for girls, the school for dependent and neglected children, and meet with the governing boards of each institution at least once in each year. He shall biennially report to the governor the following: The condition of the university and of each of the other State educational institutions, all incorporated institutions of learning, and the primary, graded, and high schools; the estimated cost of the system and amount of expenditures from all educational funds and plans for their better management; plans for the better organization of the educational system; the annual reports and accompanying documents, so far as he shall deem the same of sufficient public interest, of all the State institutions of educational character; abstracts of the annual reports of the school inspectors of the several townships and cities of the State, and all such other matters relating to his office and to the subject of education in general as he may deem expedient to communicate. The State superintendent shall semiannually apportion the primary school interest fund among the several townships and cities of the State in proportion to the number of children in each between the ages of 5 and 20 years, as the same shall be reported to him by the board of school inspectors made to him for the school year closing prior to the May apportionment, drawing on the State treasurer in favor of the treasurer of each county.

County board of examiners.--The board of supervisors of each county shall biennially appoint two persons as school examiners, who, together with the county commissioner shall constitute a board of school examiners who shall examine all persons who offer themselves at two regular public examinations at the county seat; and shall also hold, for the same purpose, not more than two special public examinations as the interests of the schools may demand. The board shall grant certificates to those found qualified. The appointed members shall receive $4 per diem for each day actually employed in performance of duty.

County commissioner of schools. There shall be elected every fourth year, beginning April, 1903, a county commissioner of schools, and in case of vacancy the judge of probate, together with the county board, shall appoint some suitable person to the office. The person so elected or appointed shall execute a bond in the sum of $1,000 for the faithful performance of fiscal duties. No person shall be eligible to the office of county commissioner who shall not be a graduate in. the literary department of some reputable college, university, or State normal school, or hold a State teacher's certificate, or hold a first-grade certificate: Provided, That in counties having less than 50 schools subject to the supervision of the county commissioner a person holding at the time of election a second-grade certificate shall be eligible. It shall be the duty of the county commissioner to notify the superintendent of public instruction and the chairman of each township board of school inspectors of the county of his election; keep a record of all examinations held by the board of school examiners, and sign all certificates and other papers and reports issued by the board; receive the institute fees provided by law, and pay the same to the county treasurer quarterly; keep a record of all certificates granted, suspended, or revoked by the board or himself, showing to whom issued, with the date, grade, and duration of each certificate, and if suspended or revoked, with the date and reason therefor; furnish to each township clerk a list of persons, with data, legally authorized to teach in the county at large and in the township; to visit each of the schools in the county at least once in each year, and examine carefully the discipline, mode of instruction, progress, and proficiency of the pupils, provided that in counties having 120 or more districts he may appoint such assistants as may be necessary, who shall perform such duties as the commissioner shall direct, but their expenses shall not in any one year exceed $90; counsel with the teachers and school boards as to the courses of study to be pursued and as to any improvement in the discipline and instruction in the schools; promote the improvement of the schools in the county, and of the teachers and officers, and act as assistant conductor of institutes appointed by the superintendent of public instruction; receive the triplicate

annual reports of the several boards of school inspectors, examine into the correctness of the same, and, when approved, forward one copy of each to the State superintendent and the other to the county clerk; make an annual report to the State superintendent, and obey all instructions from him, and distribute the blanks and communications forwarded by him. His compensation shall be not less than $500 in a county having 50 schools, not less than $1,000 where there are 100 schools under such supervision, and not less than $1,200 where there are 125 schools under supervision, but in no case shall it exceed $1,500 per annum. The necessary contingent expenses of the commissioner for printing, postage, stationery, record books, and room rent for public examinations shall be allowed by the county supervisors to the sum of $200. No traveling expenses shall be allowed either to a commissioner or any assistant visitor or school examiner. No commissioner shall receive an order for compensation until he shall have filed with the county clerk, first, a certified statement from the State superintendent that all reports required of him have been properly made and filed; and, second, a detailed statement, made under oath, showing what schools have been visited by him during the preceding quarter and what amount of time was consumed in each school, naming township and school district. No commissioner shall act as agent for the sale of any school furniture, text-books, maps, charts, or other school apparatus, nor be interested financially in any summer, normal, or teachers' training class in the county for which he was elected. In case of vacancy, the office shall be filled by the chairmen of the township boards of school inspectors in joint session.

Township board of school inspectors.-At the annual meeting of each township there shall be elected one school inspector, who shall hold office for two years and be an elector of the district, or a woman 21 years of age who has resided in the State three months and in the township ten days. The school inspectors of each township, together with the township clerk, shall constitute the township board of school inspectors. The township clerk shall be clerk of the board, and the other members shall be elected chairman and treasurer, and shall give bond to double the amount of moneys to come into his hands.

The said board shall annually make in triplicate a report setting forth the whole number of districts in their townships, the amount of money raised and received for township and district libraries, and such other items as are given in the reports of the district school directors for the preceding year or as may be required by the State superintendent. Two copies of the report shall be forwarded to the commissioner and one filed in the office of the township clerk. Before making their annual report, it shall be the duty of the board to examine the list of legally qualified teachers on file in the office of the township clerk, and if the examination shows school has not been taught for the legal period, the board shall certify to the facts in the case in the annual report. It shall be their duty also to render to the township board [not school inspectors] a full account of all moneys received and disbursed by them. The whole number of meetings of the township board of school inspectors at the expense of the township during any one school year shall not exceed eight.

The chairman of the township board of school inspectors shall have general supervisory charge of the schools of his township, subject to such advice and direction as the county commissioner may give, and shall make such reports of his official labors and of the condition of the schools as the State superintendent may direct or the commissioner request.

The board shall divide the township into school districts, which they may from time to time alter and regulate, and the districts shall be as compact as practicable.

District board of directors.-At the first meeting in each school district there shall be elected by ballot a moderator for the term of three years, a director for two years, and a treasurer for one year; and on the expiration of their respective terms and annually thereafter their successors shall be elected in like manner for a term of three years. Removal from the district, neglect to file his acceptance or renew any official bond, or other vacancy, however caused, shall be filled by the board thus created; or, in case of two vacancies, by the district, in special meeting; or in case of the entire board being vacant, or if any vacancy is unfilled for twenty days, then the township board of school inspectors shall appoint a new board or fill the vacancy, as the case may be. Any qualified voter in a school district who has property assessed for school tax shall be eligible to office in such school district, unless an alien. Meetings may be called by one member serving the other with notice twenty-four hours in advance, but a majority shall constitute a quorum.

The board shall purchase the necessary books and stationery for doing and recording the business of the district in an orderly manner; shall have the general care of the schools, make and enforce suitable rules and regulations for their government and management and for the care and preservation of school property which is under their care, if not specially confided to the custody of the director; lease or purchase sites and build or rent schoolhouses; sell sites and other property when directed by the district meeting; estimate the amount to be raised which, in addition to other school funds, is necessary for the entire support of the schools and to meet the deficit of the previous year; report to the township clerk the amount of taxes voted and the character of all taxes which the board is authorized to impose on the taxable property of the district, and present to the district in writing an accurate statement of all moneys of the district received and disbursed by it; contract in writing with duly qualified persons who desire to teach in the public schools, and specify what studies shall be taught in the public schools other than those required by law, and may purchase text-books for impecunious pupils.

The moderator shall preside at all meetings of the district and board, countersign all orders legally drawn by the director, prosecute for the district on the treasurer's bond, and perform such other duties as may be required.

The director shall act as clerk to the district and board meetings, draw and sign warrants upon the township treasurer and the district treasurer, provide the necessary appendages for the schoolhouse and keep the same in repair, present at each annual meeting an estimate of the expenses necessary to be incurred by the director and for the payment of any district officers, preserve and file copies of all reports made to the school inspectors, and safely preserve and keep all books, etc., belonging to his office or to the district when not otherwise provided for; take the census of the district, making a list of the names and ages of all the children from 5 to 20 years of age, verified by oath, but children in almshouses, prisons, or asylums not residents of the district or attending the schools shall be omitted, as also Indian children. He shall report to the board of school inspectors at the close of each school year the whole number of children belonging to the district between the ages of 5 and 20 years, the number attending school during the year under 5 or over 20 years of age, the number of nonresident pupils of the district that have attended school during the year, the whole number that have attended school during the year, the length of time the schools have been taught during the year by qualified teachers, the teachers' names, wages, and duration of service, the average time pupils 5 to 20 years of age have attended school during the year, percentage of attendance, the amount of money received from the township treasurer, the amount raised by the district and the purpose for which intended, the kind of books used, and such other facts as may be required. The director of a fractional district shall make his annual report to the clerk of the township in which the schoolhouse is situated, and also to the clerk of the other township in which the fractional district is situated.

The treasurer of each school district shall give bond in double the amount probably coming into his hands, pay all orders of the director, report to the district board in writing concerning the receipts and expenditures, and shall appear for the district when directed by it, except in cases in which he is interested adversely to the district.

Any school district containing more than 100 children between the ages of 5 and 20 years may, by a two-thirds vote of the qualified electors present at any annual or special meeting, organize as a graded district, and shall elect by ballot from the qualified voters of the district a trustee for one year, two for two years, and two for three years, and annually thereafter their successors for three years, who shall select from among themselves a moderator, director, and treasurer, and for cause shall remove any of them, and shall fill vacancies until the next meeting of the district, and twenty days after the meeting the vacancies left by it unfilled shall be filled by the school inspectors of the township or city. The board of trustees shall classify and grade the pupils attending schools in their district, and shall cause them to be taught in such schools or departments as they may deem expedient (including a high school, if ordered at the annual district meeting to establish a high school). When ordered at annual district meeting, the board shall fix the requisites for admission to and the fees to be paid in such high school, shall audit the accounts of the director, who shall be limited to an expenditure of $50 annually upon the school property of the district, unless authorized by the board to exceed that amount; shall employ the teachers and other necessary employees and determine the amount of their compensation: Provided. That when nonresident pupils, their parents or

guardians, shall pay a school tax in the district, they shall be required to pay only a sum equal to the difference between the amount of the tax and the amount charged for tuition in the high school.

2. TEACHERS.

Appointment, qualifications, and duties—Preliminary training—Institutes—

Associations.

Appointment, qualifications, and duties.-No contract with any person not holding a legal certificate of qualification shall be made by a district board. The board of school examiners shall meet at the county seat on the second Thursdays in March and August, and upon not more than two other occasions, for the purpose of examining all persons who may offer themselves as teachers of the public schools. First, second, and third grade certificates shall be granted only at the regular public examinations. The board of school examiners shall meet on the Saturday following each public examination. The board shall grant certificates to persons in such form as the State superintendent shall prescribe, licensing as teachers all persons 18 years of age who have attended the public examinations and who shall be found qualified in respect to good moral character, learning, and ability to instruct and govern a school; but no certificate shall be granted to any person who shall not have passed a satisfactory examination in orthography, reading, writing, gramuar, geography, arithmetic, theory and art of teaching, United States history, civil government, and physiology and hygiene, with reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants, and narcotics. The board of examiners shall have the right, however, to renew without examination the certificates of persons who shall have previously obtained an average standing of at least 85 per cent in all studies covered in two or more previous examinations and who shall have been since the examination continuously and successfully teaching in the same county. All certificates shall be signed by the county commissioner and at least one other member of the board of examiners. All examination papers shall be prepared by the State superintendent and be furnished by him to the county commissioner under seal, only to be broken in the presence of the persons to be examined and on the day of examination. There shall be three grades of certificates granted. The certificate of the first grade shall be issued only to those who have taught at least one year with ability and success, and shall be valid for four years. When granted, however, the examination papers and certificate shall be, within ten days, forwarded to the State superintendent for inspection, and if countersigned by him shall be good in any county in the State. A certificate of the second grade shall be granted only to those who shall have taught at least seven months with ability and success, and it shall be valid throughout the county in which issued. A certificate of the third grade shall be either of two classes, to wit: Third-grade certificates of class A shall be granted only to persons who have taught successfully and continuously in primary departments of graded schools for at least three years next preceding the examination, and such certificate shall entitle the holder to teach in primary departments of graded schools only. Third-grade certificates of class B shall license the holder to teach in any school of the county in which it shall be granted for one year, but no more than three certificates of this class shall be granted to the same person. The county commissioner, however, shall have power, upon the results of an examination satisfactory to himself, to grant certificates licensing the holder thereof to teach in a specified district, but a second special certificate shall not be granted the same person, nor shall it continue in force longer than the next public examination. Any certificate may be revoked for cause. [The force of normal-school certificates is given below.]

The teacher shall keep a correct list of the pupils and their age, number of days each pupil attends, average attendance, and percentage of attendance, and shall furnish the director a correct copy of the same at the close of school.

Preliminary training.—The purpose of the State normal schools shall be the instruction of persons in the art of teaching and in all the various branches pertaining to the public schools of Michigan, and the schools shall have a course of study intended specially to prepare students for the rural and the elementary graded schools, giving not less than twenty weeks of professional instruction. The State board of education shall provide the necessary rules for the government of the schools, the courses of study, a fully equipped training school as a school of observation and practice, grant diplomas, and upon the completion of the course specially prescribed for rural and elementary graded schools shall

grant, upon the recommendation of the principal and a majority of the heads of departments of the school, a certificate, which shall be signed by the board and the principal of the normal school, and shall contain a list of the studies included in the course. This certificate shall entitle the holder to teach in any of the appropriate schools of the State for five years. Upon the completion of either of the four years' advanced courses of study prescribed by the board it may grant, upon recommendation of the principal and a majority of the heads of the departments, a certificate, which shall set forth the studies completed, and shall be a life certificate. Training classes for teachers in rural schools may be established in connection with some high school in any county upon application by the board of supervisors of the county and the voters of the district in which the high school is situated to the State superintendent. The State superintendent, the county commissioners, and the superintendent of the high school constitute the county normal board, and may fix courses of study and grant certificates for five years upon completion of a two years' course of study. One-half the expense of these classes is borne by the State; whole expense not to exceed $2,000 in any

year.

Institutes.-The State superintendent is authorized to hold annually an institute for the State at large, the cost of which shall not exceed $400, to be paid out of the general fund.

The superintendent shall annually appoint a time and place in each county for holding a teachers' institute unless there are less than 1,000 children between the ages of 5 and 20 years, when it may be held at the option of the State superintendent, and if 15 teachers interested do not request that an institute be held the superintendent may hold a joint county institute for several counties, drawing from the institute fund the amount to the credit of each county. Inability of the State superintendent to conduct an institute warrants him in appointing a conductor to act under his supervision. Every teacher attending an institute thus provided for shall be given a certificate setting forth the fact, and no teacher shall be deprived of pay for the time lost in attending.

Associations.-Any 15 or more teachers or other persons residing in the State who shall associate for the purpose of promoting education and science and improvements in the theory and practice of teaching may form themselves into a corporation under such name as they may choose, providing they shall have published in some newspaper published at Lansing, or in the county in which the association is to be located, for at least one month previous to its organization, and shall file in the office of the secretary of state, a copy of the constitution and by-laws of said association. The association may hold and possess real and personal property to the amount of $5,000, but the funds or property thereof shall not be used for any other purpose than for the legitimate business of the association in securing the objects of its incorporation. It shall have all the powers and duties of a corporation.

3. SCHOOLS.

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

Attendance. All persons resident in any school district and 5 years of age shall have an equal right to attend any school therein, and no separate school or department shall be kept for any persons on account of race or color, but this shall not prevent the grading of the schools according to the intellectual progress of the pupil, said schools of different grades to be taught in separate places if deemed expedient. The district meeting shall determine the length of time school shall be taught, which shall not be less than nine months in districts having 800 children 5 to 20 years of age nor less than five months in all other districts on pain of forfeiture of their share of the primary-school interest fund.

Every parent, guardian, or other person having control of any child between the ages of 8 and 15 years shall be required to send such child to a public school for a period of at least four months in each school year, at least six weeks of which shall be consecutive, unless such child be excused from such attendance by the board of the school district in which such parents or guardians reside, upon its being shown to the board's satisfaction that the child's bodily or mental condition has been such as to prevent its attendance at school or application to study for the period, or that such child is taught in a private school or at home in such branches as are usually taught in primary schools or has already acquired the ordinary branches of learning taught in public