PAR T II. CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROVISIONS FOR LIBRARIES AND LYCEUMS; TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONS AND TEACHERS' INSTITUTES; THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL; THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN; AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN; INCORPORATED INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING; INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONDUCTING PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE PRIMARY SCHOOL LAWS. PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION RELATIVE TO EDUCATION. Article Thirteen of the Constitution of Michigan, under the head "Education," makes the following provisions: dent. Section 1. The Superintendent of Public Instruction Superintenshall have the general supervision of public instruction, and his duties shall be prescribed by law. Sec. 2. The proceeds from the sales of all lands that School Fund have 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 Perpetual. which, together with the rents of all such lands as may remain unsold, shall be inviolably appropriated 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 de- Escheats. fect 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 Législature shall, within five years from the Free schools 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.(1) (1) The Legislature has not, as yet, fully complied with the requirements of this Section. Dist. schools Sec. 5. A School shall be maintained in each School District at least three months in each year. Any School DisPenalty. trict 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. Election of Sec. 6. There shall be elected in each judicial circuit, University at the time of the election of the Judge of such circuit, a Regent of the University, whose term of office shall be the same as that of such Judge. The Regents thus elected shall constitute the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan. Regents a body corpo Sec. 7. The Regents of the University, and their sucrate. cessors in office, shall continue to constitute the body corporate, known by the name and title of "The Regents of the University of Michigan." Reg'ts elect Sec. 8. The Regents of the University shall, at their University. 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 UniSupervison. versity. 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. State Board Sec. 9. There shall be elected at the general election in of Education the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, three members of a 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 of the State Normal School, and their duties shall be prescribed by law. 1 Sec. 10. Institutions for the benefit of those inhabitants Asylums. who are deaf, dumb, blind or insane. shall always be fos-tered and supported. School. Sec. 11. The Legislature shall encourage the promotion Agricultural 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 twenty-two sections of salt spring lands now unappropriated, or the money arising from the sale of the same, where such lands have been already sold, and any land 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.(1) Libraries. Sec. 12. The Legislature shall also provide for the es- Township tablishment of at least one library in each township; and all fines assessed and collected in the several counties and townships for any breach of the penal laws, shall be exclusively applied to the support of such libraries. (1) The Agricultural College, as organized, is entirely distinct from the State University. |