duties of his office, shall make a written report, which he shall submit and read to the legal voters of the district at the annual meeting, which shall be forwarded to the county superintendent. The report shall contain the following matters: Number of children (by sex) 5 to 21 years of age, name and residence of each, date of birth, parents' name, affidavits that enumeration of each family has been sworn to by parent or guardian, number attending school (by sex), and branches studied; length of time a school has been taught by a qualified teacher, name of the teacher or teachers, length of service of and wages paid each teacher; amount of money received from the county treasurer, amount arising from disbursement of the State annual school fund, from district taxes, and from all other sources during the year, and the manner in which the same has been expended; the amount raised by the district each year, and the purposes for which it was raised; the kind of books used in the schools, and such other facts and statistics in regard to the district school as the county superintendent may require. Every school district clerk or treasurer who shall neglect or refuse to deliver to his successor in office all records, books, and papers belonging to his office shall be fined not more than $50. The district board shall purchase or lease such site for a schoolhouse as shall have been designated, shall have the care and keeping of the same and of the other school property belonging to the district, shall have power to make such rules and regulations relating to the district library as they may deem proper, and to appoint some suitable person to act as librarian and to take charge of the school apparatus belonging to the district. The board shall contract with and hire qualified teachers for and in the name of the district, which contract shall be in writing and shall specify the wages per week or month, as agreed upon by the parties, and, in conjunction with the county superintendent, may dismiss for incompetency, cruelty. negligence, or immorality. They may suspend pupils for cause, but the suspended person may appeal to the county superintendent. The board shall either severally or jointly visit all the schools of their district at least once a term, making a thorough investigation into the character and results of instruction, and into the condition of the buildings and appliances, and shall make suggestions for the improvement of the same.

Truant officers.-(See Schools-Attendance.)

Boards of education of cities. In all cities of more than 15,000 inhabitants and having not more than 4 wards there shall be a board of education consisting of 3 members from each ward, who shall be and remain residents of the wards from which they are elected during their term of office, to be elected by the qualified voters of the city at large for terms of three years, 1 to retire annually. In cities of 15,000 having more than 4 wards the board of education shall consist of 2 members from each ward, each to hold office for two years. In cities of 35,000 or more inhabitants the board of education shall consist of 6 members, 1 from each ward. The board shall make all necessary rules and regulations for the government of the schools, exercise sole control over the public schools and school property, and shall have power to establish a high school, examine teachers, and appoint a superintendent.

All cities organized as cities of the second class, and all cities attaining a population of from 2,000 to 15,000, shall maintain a system of free common schools. At each annual city election there shall be a board of education, consisting of 2 members from each ward, elected by the qualified voters thereof, each for a term of two years. The powers of the board of cities of the second class are, in general, those of cities of the first class.

Cities of 250 to 2,000 (third class), if not otherwise governed, shall be subject to the provisions laid down for district schools.

2. TEACHERS.

Appointment, qualifications, and duties-Preliminary training-Institutes. Appointment, qualifications, and duties.-The district board in each district shall contract with and hire qualified teachers, and shall, in the written contract, specify the wages per week or month as agreed upon by the parties. No person shall be elected teacher who can not produce a certificate from the examining committee or the State board setting forth that the holder is competent to teach in a specified department of the public schools and is of good moral character. The county board shall publicly examine all persons proposing to teach in the common schools of the county as to their competency to teach the branches prescribed by law.

There shall be a State board of education, consisting of the State superintendent, the chancellor of the State university, the president of the State agricultural college, the president of the State normal school, and 3 others to be appointed with the concurrence of the senate, selected from among those engaged in school work in the schools of the State, who shall have office for two years. The board is authorized to issue State diplomas to such professional teachers as may be found upon critical examination to possess the requisite scholarship and culture and produce satisfactory evidence of unexceptionable moral character, eminent professional experience and ability, and have taught for two years in the State. All such diplomas shall be countersigned by the State superintendent and are valid anywhere. The actual expenses of the mem bers of the board, and of holding such examinations as it may appoint, shall be paid from the State treasury; but the sum total shall not exceed $300 per annum. Upon the application of any institution of higher education in Kansas, the State board shall examine its course of study, and, if it appear to be as efficient as the four year courses of study in the State normal school, the marking of such institution on academic subjects completed shall be adopted by the board as the standing of candidates coming before it on the subjects specified; but the candidate shall be examined upon the professional subjects of the normal-school course, to wit: Philosophy of education, history of education, school laws, methods of teaching, school management, and upon other required subjects; and to those successfully filling all requirements a three year certificate shall be issued, and if, at the expiration of that time, the holder satisfies the board that he has taught successfully at least two years and has kept himself well informed in the general literature of his profession, a life certificate shall be granted. The State certificates of other States shall be recognized if testifying to a grade of scholarship equal to that required by the State board of Kansas. All life certificates are void if the holder shall not engage in school work for three consecutive years, but may be renewed to graduates of the State university and of other colleges maintaining an equivalent arts course and course in education, approved by the State board of education. The State board may issue a three-year renewable State certificate, subject to limits of the above-mentioned certificates.

In each county there shall be a board of county examiners, composed of the county superintendent, who shall be chairman of the board, and two competent persons, holders of first-grade or State certificates, or of diplomas from the State university, State normal school, or State agricultural college, who shall be appointed by the county commissioners on the nomination of the county superintendent, and shall serve for one year and receive $3 per diem for not more than twenty-four days in any one year. The board shall, on the last Saturday of January and October, and at the close of the county normal institute, only at such places as may be designated by the chairman, after ten days' notice, publicly examine all persons proposing to teach in the common schools of the County (cities of the first and second class excepted) as to their competency to teach the branches prescribed by law, and such board of examiners shall issue certificates to all applicants who shall pass the required examination and satisfy the board as to their good moral character and ability to teach and govern schools.

The State board shall prepare a series of questions for each examination, to be used in each county, which shall be printed and forwarded to the county superintendents so as to reach them at least two days before the examination in each county, respectively, but shall not be opened except by the board on the day and hour of examination.

Certificates issued by county boards are of four grades: Professional, first. second, and third grades, which shall continue in force one, three, two, and one years, respectively. Professional certificates shall certify that the holder is of good moral character and is fully qualified to teach orthography, reading, writing, English grammar, geography, arithemetic, history of Kansas, history and Constitution of the United States, bookkeeping, physiology and hygiene, theory and practice of teaching, elements of natural philosophy, algebra, English literature, and general history, and shall not be issued to persons under 21 years of age or who have not taught successfully thirty-two school months, or who fall below 90 per cent on a general average in the examination or 85 per cent on any subject. Any person who shall receive 90 per cent or higher on any branch at any regular examination may have such grade credited to him (not beyond two years) on a professional certificate if his general average does not fall below 75 per cent. Professional certificates are renewable

without examination upon payment of $1 fee, unless applicant shall have discontinued teaching for a period longer than two years, if he was a regular member and attended at least 90 per cent of the time of the county institute preceding issuance of said certificate, was a member and attended meetings of the county association, is a subscriber to some standard educational journal, and shall perform such other professional work as the State or county superintendent may direct.

Certificates of the first grade may be issued to persons not less than 19 years of age who have taught successfully twelve school months, and who shall satisfy the board of their ability to teach all the branches prescribed for a professional certificate except general history and natural philosophy. Their general average on examination shall not be less than 90 per cent and not below 75 per cent in any branch.

For certificates of the second grade persons shall be not less than 18 years of age, shall have taught successfully at least three school months, and shall satisfy the board as to their ability to teach all the branches prescribed for first-grade certificates except bookkeeping and literature. They shall make a general average of 80 per cent, and not less than 60 per cent in any branch.

Third-grade certificates may be issued to persons not less than 18 years of age who shall satisfy the board as to their ability to teach all the branches prescribed for second-grade certificates except algebra, and who shall make a general average not less than 75 per cent, and in no branch less than 60 per cent. Preliminary training.-When anyone has attended the State normal school twenty-two weeks, if it appear upon examination that he possess the learning and other qualifications necessary to teach a common school, he shall receive a certificate to that effect from the principal, to be approved by the superintendent of public instruction; and when anyone shall have completed the full course in said normal school, he shall receive a diploma, which shall serve as a legal certificate of qualification to teach in the common schools throughout the State.

Institutes.—County superintendents shall hold for not less than four weeks annually in their respective counties a normal institute for the instruction of teachers and those desiring to teach, but in sparsely settled portions of the State two or more counties may unite in holding one institute. The county superintendent shall select the time and place for holding such institutes, as well as a conductor and instructor for the same, each of whom shall hold a certificate from the State board as to his special qualifications therefor. defray the expenses of the institute each candidate for a teacher's certificate shall be required to pay $1, and each person attending shall pay $1 for registration. The county commissioners may make a further appropriation, not to exceed $100, and when 35 members shall have registered and paid their registration fee the State superintendent shall certify the fact to the State auditor, who shall draw on the State treasurer for $50 in favor of such institute.

3. SCHOOLS.

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

To

Attendance.-Every parent, guardian, or other person in the State of Kansas having control of any child between the ages of 8 and 15 shall be required to send such child to a public school, or to a private school taught by a competent instructor, for such period each school year as said school is in session; but any child 14 or older who is able to read and write English and who is actively and regularly employed for the support of himself or those dependent upon him shall not be required to attend school longer than eight consecutive weeks. Children that have received a certificate of graduation from any county common school or a certificate of admission into any city high school shall be exempt from this law; also children physically or mentally incapacitated for the work of the common schools, but school authorities shall have the right to have such children examined by a physician when exemption is claimed hereunder.

County superintendents shall divide their counties into from one to five truant districts, and the county commissioners shall, upon nomination of the county superintendent, appoint a truant officer for each district, who shall hold office at the will of the county superintendent and shall receive $2 a day while actually employed. When any truant officer believes from personal knowledge or from information that any child is violating the provisions of this law, he shall immediately give written notice to the parent or other per

son having control of such child; and if within five days the requirements of law are not met, the truant officer shall make complaint in the name of the State of Kansas against such parent or other person, who, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $5 nor more than $25, to be paid into the county treasury for the benefit of the common schools. In case any pupil becomes a habitual truant, or becomes a menace to the best interests of the school which he is attending, the truant officer shall report such facts to the parent or guardian, who shall be held liable for the regular attendance and good conduct of said child, unless such parent or guardian shall state in writing that said child is beyond his control, whereupon the truant officer shall proceed under the law governing juvenile disorderly persons.

Cities of the first and second class shall constitute each a separate district for the administration of this law, but there shall be but one truant officer (appointed by the board of education) for each 10,000 children or fraction thereof and no city shall have more than five truant officers.

Every teacher is required, before receiving each month's salary, to make a report to his county or city superintendent, showing names and addresses of children who have been truant or habitually absent during the previous month and stating reasons therefor in each case if known; and all such cases shall be brought to the attention of the proper truant officer by such superintendent. In taking the annual school census, enumerators shall record the name and place and date of birth of every child enumerated, and the parent or guardian shall make oath that such record is true.

In every school district wherein there is a good school building a school shall be maintained at least four months each year, between October 1 and June 1; and [according to the State constitution] no district in which a common school has not been taught at least three months each year shall be entitled to receive any portion of the State school fund.

Character of instruction.--In every school district there shall be taught orthography, reading, writing, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, United States and Kansas history, physiology and hygiene with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, and such other branches as may be determined by the district board. The instruction in the several branches shall be in the English language.

Any county may establish a high school by a majority vote, and the principal of same shall, with the approval of the board of high school trustees, make such rules and regulations as he may deem proper in regard to the studies, conduct, and government of the pupils under his charge. City boards of education may establish high schools.

Text-books.-The State text-book commission shall consist of the State superintendent as chairman ex officio and eight members to be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate for terms of four years, who shall receive $5 per day of actual service (unless already receiving some stated salary from State, county, or city) and actual expenses going and coming. Said commission shall select and adopt a uniform series of text-books for use in the public schools of the State. Bids must be accompanied by certified check for $1,000, to be forfeited to the State in case of failure to enter into proper bond and contract if awarded. Contracting publishers shall arrange with at least one dealer or agent at each county seat, who may charge a commission not exceeding 10 per cent on the contract prices; but contractors shall furnish any citizen books at contract prices and deliver same to any railroad station in the State upon receipt of cash orders of not less than $10. Upon a vote of two-thirds majority, any district or city may purchase text-books out of incidental funds and furnish same to pupils free. Contracts shall be entered into for periods of five years, and to use any other book than those adopted, except as a reference book or in a branch not covered by books adopted, is punishable by a fine of from $25 to $100, or imprisonment not to exceed ninety days, or both. It shall be unlawful for any school board to purchase or contract for any map, chart, globe, or other school apparatus, except scientific apparatus for high schools, unless same shall have been submitted to the text-book commission at a regular or special session and by them approved and a maximum price therefor fixed by said commission.

Buildings. The district meeting shall have power to designate a site for a schoolhouse, which, when not included within the limits of a town or village, shall contain not less than 1 acre; to build, hire, or purchase a schoolhouse, to keep it in repair and furnish the same with the necessary fuel and appendages, or may authorize the sale thereof. In cities the board of education exercises sole control over school property.

4. FINANCES.

Funds (permanent and special)-Taxation.

Funds (permanent and special).—The proceeds of all lands granted or to be granted by the United States for the support of schools, and the 500,000 acres of land granted to the new States under an act of Congress distributing the proceeds of public lands among the several States, approved September 4, 1841, and all estates of persons dying without will or heir, and such per cent as may be granted by Congress on the sale of lands in this State shall be the common property of the State, and shall be a perpetual school fund, which shall not be diminished, but the interest of which, with all the rents of school lands and such other means as the legislature may provide by tax or otherwise, shall be inviolably appropriated to the support of common schools.

The

The State superintendent, secretary of state, and attorney-general shall constitute a board of commissioners for the management and investment of the State permanent school, State Normal School, and State University funds. board shall invest moneys belonging to the permanent school fund, the State Normal, and State University funds in the bonds of the State of Kansas or of the United States, bonds of the several school districts of the State, bridge bonds, court-house bonds, or in county, township, or city refunding bonds of the State, provided that the indebtedness of the locality issuing bonds shall not exceed 15 per cent of its assessed valuation.

The income of the State school funds shall be disbursed semiannually (in February and August) by order of the State superintendent to the several county treasurers and thence to the school districts in equitable proportion to the number of children 5 to 21 years of age, provided each school district has maintained a common school at least three months in each year.

All moneys paid by persons for exemption from military duty, the clear proceeds of estrays, and the proceeds of fines for any breach of the penal laws shall be exclusively applied in each county to the support of its common schools. Every insurance company doing business in the State shall, in addition to other charges, pay into the State treasury for the benefit of the annual school fund the sum of $50.

For the purpose of affording the advantages of a free education to the children of the State, the State annual school fund shall consist of the annual income derived from the interest and rents of the perpetual school fund.

Taxation. It is within the power of the school district to vote a tax annually for school purposes, not exceeding 2 per cent on the taxable property in the district, which shall be distributed as the meeting shall deem proper in the payment of teachers' wages, to purchase or lease a site and to provide buildings and incidentals.

The board of high school trustees shall estimate the amount needed for building purposes, for payment of teachers' wages, and building and contingent expenses, and the county commissioners shall levy a tax not to exceed 6 mills on the dollar for the purpose.

Cities of the first class (over 15,000 inhabitants) shall levy, for teachers' wages, repairs, incidental expenses, and maintenance of schools, not more than 8 mills on the dollar where the assessed value is greater than $3,000,000; but in cities of 30,000 inhabitants or more, not to exceed 12 mills and an additional 3 mills for building purposes. Where the assessed valuation is less than $3,000,000, the board of education may levy not to exceed 10 mills on the dollar.

KENTUCKY.

1. ORGANIZATION OF THE SYSTEM.

State board of education-State board of examiners-State superintendentCounty superintendent-County board of examiners-District trustees-City school board.

State board of education.-The State superintendent, together with the secretary of state and attorney-general shall constitute the state board of education, which shall take, hold, and dispose of real or personal estate for the benefit of the common schools, the bonds, certificates, and other evidences of indebted