The State board has also recognized and indorsed seventeen normal school diplomas or State certificates granted in other states and brought into Michigan by persons who desire to teach here.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.

The founders of the State of Michigan were wise enough to look into the future and see the necessity for an institution which should provide special training for the various professions, and our State University has grown to be one of the largest in the United States. The land grants set apart for the founding of a University were wise provisions for a permanent fund, and the legislature from time to time has made large appropriations for its support. At the present time a tax of three-eighths of a mill upon the valuation of the State is set apart for the support of the University and to this is added special legislative appropriations from time to time, and even these resources are not sufficient to provide buildings and equipment suitable for such a great institution. At the present time the attendance is in round numbers five thous and students, coming from all parts of the world. The reputation of this great University is not confined to our own State, but it is known the world over. Under the wise administration of President Angell it has moved steadily forward, doing its great work.

Тахев.

The library consists of about 225,000 volumes, and has special departments as follows: Law, medical, dental, homeopathic, engineering, and architectural.

The income from the three-eighths of a mill tax produces something over $300,000; the interest on land grants $38,524; Income. legislative appropriations and special sources increase the receipts

to $916,542.70. The expenditures during the past year have been about $350,000.

For the year ending September, 1907, the number of degrees conferred is as follows:

Of these the degree of bachelor of arts was conferred upon 297; bachelor of laws upon 206; bachelor of science, including all engineering courses, 149; medical degrees, 68.

Thus it will be seen that from this great institution a large number of men and women who are fitted for special work and special professions are annually being added to the intellectual wealth of the country. The purpose of a great educational institution is to add to the productive power of the country by increasing the number Purpose of those who through special training are fitted to become leaders of higher in business, art, literature, and science, as well as to furnish a stimulus to the great body of people who cannot secure University training.

education.

One of the prominent ideas presented in our ommon schools is the fact

that the University doors are open wide to all who may desire to enter them and who are willing to prepare themselves by taking a thorough course in the public schools. The general educational system of the State is indebted greatly to the work of the University, and the institution stands at the head of our educational system.

The law authorizing the board of regents to issue teachers' certificates to certain graduates of the literary department has been the means of providing specially trained teachers for the larger high schools of the State, and in this way we are continually strengthening the general teaching force. The State has always taken a great pride in its University and our citizens should stand ready to provide the necessary money to enable the University to retain its present proud position.

THE RURAL HIGH SCHOOL.

The legislature of 1901 authorized the establishment and maintenance of rural high schools in townships where no graded schools were already established. This law has been practically a dead letter until the year 1907. During this year the township of Excelsior in Kalkaska county voted for and established a rural high school. For the current year the pupils of the township from the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth grades are admitted, and as these pass on through the grades, the higher grades will be organized and established. Three townships in Genesee county have voted to establish rural high schools, and these will be organized for the next school year. In many townships of the State there are no graded school districts and therefore no high schools. If the plan suggested under the previous head of reorganizing the schools of a township were followed out the high school would be provided under general statute, and the rural high school law by itself would become useless, but the law is valuable and will meet those cases where the people do not deem it advisable to disorganize and consolidate their school districts. It is unnecessary in this day to argue that all school children should have high school privileges. This is an accepted fact by everybody, and therefore I will enter into no discussion of the subject.

I give herewith the contents of a bulletin published this year containing the general plan of organization, the course of study and the suggested reference library for the use of rural high schools. It will be seen that the course of study does not follow the course usually provided for graded school districts, but seeks to introduce those things that are vital in the life of our boys and girls. For instance, the subjects of the common branches together with careful work in business correspondence, arithmetic, bookkeeping, and commercial geography, a careful course in literature which should be a mine of wealth intellectually for all our children, and added to this is a carefully prepared course in agriculture, domestic science and manual training.

I most earnestly urge that every township shall take up the consideration of the question of the establishment of a high school for the especial benefit of our rural people.

BULLETIN NO. 25.

STATE OF MICHIGAN.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

LANSING, September 20, 1907.

To County Commissioners and all interested in rural high schools:

The legislature of 1901, by Act 144 of the Public Acts, authorized the establishment and maintenance of rural high schools in townships where no graded schools are already established. The reason for such a statute is that in many of our townships there are no opportunities for advanced instruction for children, and parents if they desire that their children receive such instruction must send them to some school miles away from home and pay their board and tuition. As a result, many of our bright young people who have completed the eighth grade are unable to attend high school because their parents are not in position to bear the extra expense. This makes an unfair discrimination in favor of the children of wealthy parents. But by the establishment of a rural high school in a township, all boys and girls will have equal educational privileges so far as the public schools are concerned. This is my idea of free public schools.

I most earnestly urge upon county commissioners and all interested in schools that rural high schools shall be established in every township where no graded school already exists, and it is my opinion that the law should be so amended that, even in townships where there are graded school districts, rural high schools may be established for the benefit of the rural communities.

I give in this bulletin the law governing rural high schools, together with a course of study, list of reference books, and some suggestions in regard to their organization and equipment. This course of study it seems to me will meet the needs of our rural young people.

Very respectfully,

L. L. Might

Superintendent of Public Instruction.

[Act 144, 1901]

An Act to provide for the establishment and maintenance of rural high schools.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

(297). SECTION 1. The township board of any township, not having within its limits an incorporated village or city, upon the petition of not less than one-third of the taxpayers of such township for the establishment of a rural high school, shall submit such question to a vote of the qualified electors of said township at a special election called for that purpose within sixty days from date of receipt of said petition.

(298). SEC.. 2. All elections ordered by any township board in pursuance of section one of this act shall be held at the usual place or places of holding township elections, and notice shall be given and the election conducted in all respects as provided by law for the election of township officers and the ballots shall have printed thereon, "For rural high school-yes." "For rural high school-no."

(299). SEC. 3. If more votes are cast in favor of such high school than against it at such election, the qualified electors of said township shall elect at their next annual election of township officers a board of trustees of three members, one for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, and on the expiration of their terms of office and regularly thereafter their several successors shall be elected in like manner for a term of three years each. The township clerk shall be ex officio member and the clerk of the board, and the township treasurer shall be ex officio member and treasurer of the board with the same power as other members of the board.

(300). SEC. 4. Said board of trustees shall meet on the third Monday in April of each year and organize by electing one of the trustees as president. Regular meetings of the board shall be held on the second Mondays of May, August, November, and February, in each year. Special meetings may be called upon five days' notice by the president or secretary. The board shall have power: (a) To supervise and visit the school;"

(b) To admit all children of the township above the sixth grade and to admit and provide rates of tuition for non-resident pupils if they so elect;

(c) To select and adopt text books;

(d) To appoint legally qualified teachers;

(e) To fix wages, make general rules and regulations for the control of the school, suspend or expel pupils, fix the time of school, which shall not be more than ten months nor less than seven in any one year;

(f) To rent or to purchase and hold real estate for such high school, build and furnish township schoolhouses, determine location of grounds and buildings, which shall be as near the center of the township as practicable, according to sanitary conditions, and to receive and hold bequests and gifts for the benefit of the school, and to dispose of property belonging to the district subject to the provisions hereinafter named;

(g) To provide a course of study which shall be approved by the superintendent of public instruction and the president of the Michigan Agricultural College, and shall not consist of more than four years' work. Said course of study may include instruction in manual training, domestic science, nature study and the elements of agriculture.

(h) To estimate and vote the amount of tax necessary to support the school at a meeting previous to October first in each year and report the same to the supervisors, which amount shall be spread upon the tax roll the same as other district taxes, and in their discretion borrow money for current expenses, which amount shall not exceed fifty per cent of the amount of tax voted.

(1) To publish annually in one newspaper of the township or county a statement of the proceedings of the board meetings and an itemized account of all receipts and expenses, and file a copy of the same in the office of the county school commissioner and State superintendent of public instruction within sixty days of the date of publication of the same.

(301). SEC. 5. The secretary of the board shall receive not to exceed fifty dollars per annum for his services. It shall be his duty to keep the records, provide supplies, visit the school and make annual reports to the school board, the county school commissioner and the State superintendent of public instruction, in such form as the superintendent of public instruction shall direct.

(302). SEC. 6. All orders on the treasurer for moneys shall be ordered by the board and signed by the secretary and president.

(303). SEC. 7. A majority of the taxpayers of the township shall determine the amount to be expended in the grounds and building of said school and may bond the township for such amount: Provided, That the amount of said bonds shall not exceed five thousand dollars, and that the period of such bonds shall not continue beyond ten years.

(304). SEC. 8. The high schools established under the provisions of this act shall be under the supervision of the county commissioner of schools, and all questions of management, support, and control arising under the provisions of this act and not expressly provided for therein shall be subject to the provisions of the general school laws of this State.

ORGANIZATION.

1. The township board of any township not having within its limits a high school is required, upon the petition of not less than one-third of the taxpayers of such township, to call a special election within sixty days from the receipt of said petition.

2. At such special election the question of the establishment of a rural high school will be voted upon. The election is to be held at the usual place or places of holding township elections.

3. If a majority of the votes cast are in favor of the establishment of a rural high school, the qualified electors of the township at the next annual meeting shall elect a board of trustees of three members who, with the township clerk and township treasurer, shall constitute the township board of education.

4. This board of trustees must meet on the third Monday of April of each year and organize by electing a president. The township clerk is ex officio clerk of the board and the township treasurer is ex officio treasurer of the board.

5. Regular meetings of the board are to be held on the second Mondays of May, August, November and February, and special meetings may be called upon five days' notice.

6. Section four of the original Act was amended by the legislature of 1907 in clause (b) by providing that all children above the sixth grade may be admitted if their parents desire to send them.

7. The powers and duties of the board of education are specified in the statute, and among them the board is authorized to purchase and hold such real estate as may be necessary, to determine the location of grounds and buildings, and to build and furnish a school house when authorized by the voters of the township.

8. They are to provide a course of study which must be approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the President of the Michigan Agricultural College, the course to consist of not more than four years.

9. They are to estimate and vote the necessary tax to support the school and report this tax before October first in each year. They may also borrow money for current expenses for an amount not to exceed fifty per cent of the tax.

10. The board is required to publish in a newspaper an annual statement of all receipts and expenses and make all necessary reports to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and county commissioner of schools.

11. The taxpayers of the township are authorized to determine and vote the amount of money to be expended in grounds and buildings and they may bond the township if they desire, the limit of the bond to be five thousand dollars.

12. High schools established under this Act are under the supervision of the county commissioner and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

SUGGESTIONS.

(a) It should be noted that the special election provided for in this Act may be held at any time during the year, but that the trustees or board of education can be elected only at the time of the annual township meeting.