Laboratory manual of organic chemistry. Wiley & Sons.

Working tools and how to use them....D. C. Heath & Co.

Dopp, Katherine,

Industries in elementary education. . . . . . University of Chicago Press.

Ham, Charles H.,

Mind and hand...

American Book Co.

Rouillion,

Economics of manual training.

Summers,

First lessons in handicraft.

Woodward, C. M.,

The manual training school....

.D. C. Heath & Co.

Teachers' handbook of manual training... The Macmillan Co.

School and home sanitation and decoration. D. C. Heath & Co.

I give herewith a bulletin prepared during the current year giving the plan of organization, the course of study and a reference library list for county schools of agriculture. These schools were authoized by the legislature of 1907 and Menominee county at once began preparations for the establishment of such a school. The county voted $20,000 for building and equipment. The city of Menominee gave a tract of land containing one hundred fifteen acres. The board of education was elected and organized and the work begun. The building has been constructed and the school will open early in the first of the year 1908.

It will be noted that the course of study covers two years, its aim being to take up the work at the close of the eighth grade and Course of to combine in the succeeding two years a practical business course study. together with elementary work in the subjects pursued in schools of agriculture.

It is too early to pass any positive opinion as to the value and results of the organization of such schools, and I shall watch the progress of the institution at Menominee with great interest. The purpose of this article in

this report is to call the attention of our people to the institution in order that they may carefully study it and investigate it in all the phases of its work.

BULLETIN NO. 24.

STATE OF MICHIGAN,

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

Lansing, Michigan, August 12, 1907.

To County School Boards and Instructors in County Schools of Agriculture:

The legislature of 1907 by Act 38 of the Public Acts of 1907 made it possible to establish county schools of agriculture, manual training and domestic economy.

These institutions are to be established for the special purpose of training the farmers and farmers' wives of the future and thus improve the social conditions of rural communities in general and uplift the farm home.

I give herewith the Act in full and some general suggestions in regard to the organization of these schools, the course of study and list of reference books. It is to be hoped that the people of the several counties of the State will avail themselves of this great educational opportunity and that many schools of this kind will be established in the comparatively near future. Very respectfully,

L. L. Might

Superintendent of Public Instruction.

[ACT NO. 38 OF 1907.]

AN ACT to provide for the establishment of county schools of agriculture, manual training and domestic economy.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

SECTION 1. The board of supervisors of any county is hereby authorized to appropriate money for the organization, equipment and maintenance of a county school of agriculture and domestic economy. The board of supervisors of two or more counties may unite in establishing such a school, and may appropriate money for its organization, equipment and maintenance: Provided, That whenever the board of supervisors of the county shall by a two-thirds vote of all members elect, resolve to contract indebtedness or issue bonds to raise money for the organization, equipment and maintenance of such school, the question shall be submitted to the vote of the electors of the county at a general or special election to be called for that purpose. Notice of the submission of such resolution to the vote of the electors and in case a special election is called, notice of the calling of such special election shall be given in the same manner and for the same length of time as is now prescribed by law for general elections. If a majority of the electors of each county, voting on such resolution, shall vote in favor thereof it shall be deemed to have carried. The returns of the election herein provided for shall be canvassed and the results declared in the same manner and by the same officers as is provided by general law for canvassing the returns of and declaring the results in city, county and district elections. The manner of stating the question upon the ballots shall be prescribed by the resolution of the board of supervisors.

SEC. 2. A board to be known as the county school board is hereby created, which shall have charge and control of all matters pertaining to the organization, equipment and maintenance of such schools, except as otherwise provided by law. Said board shall consist of five members, one of whom shall be the county commissioner of schools of the county or district in which the school is located. The other members of the board shall be elected by the board of supervisors, one for one year, one for two years, one for three years and one for four years, and thereafter one member of the board shall be elected annually for the full term of four years from the date of the expiration of the term about

to become vacant, but no member of the board of supervisors shall be eligible. Vacancies existing in the board from whatever cause, except in the case of the county commissioner, shall be filled by appointment made by the chairman of the board of supervisors, if the board of supervisors is not in session when such vacancy occurs. If the board of supervisors is in session, vacancies should be filled by election by said board for the unexpired term. Appointments made by the chairman of the board of supervisors, as herein before specified, shall be for the period of time until the next regular meeting of the board of supervisors. Each person appointed or created a member of the county school board shall, within ten days after the notice of such appointment, take and subscribe an oath to support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of Michigan, and honestly, faithfully and impartially to discharge his duties as a member of said board, to the best of his ability, which oath shall be filed in the office of the county clerk. He shall also, within the same time, file a bond in such sum as may be fixed by the board of supervisors, which bond shall be filed in the office of the county clerk. Within fifteen days, after the appointment of said board, the members thereof shall meet and organize by electing one of their number as president. The county commissioner of schools shall be ex officio secretary of the said board. The board hereafter created shall prescribe the duties of the several officers except as fixed by law.

SEC. 3. Whenever two or more counties unite in establishing such a school, the provisions of section two of this act shall apply to the organization of the county school board, and to filling vacancies therein: Provided, That the county commissioner of the county in which the school is located shall be a member of the board and ex officio its secretary; and two members shall also be elected from each county by the board of supervisors thereof, one for one year and one for two years, and thereafter one member of the board shall be elected annually in each county for the full term of two years, but no member of the county board of supervisors shall be eligible.

SEC. 4. Whenever two or more counties shall unite in establishing and maintaining a school under the provisions of this act, the county school board herein provided shall, on or before the first day of October in each year, determine the amount of money necessary for the equipment and maintenance of said school for the ensuing year, which said amount they shall apportion among the counties in proportion to the assessed valuation of each county as last fixed by the State Board of Equalization, and shall report their estimate and apportionment to the county clerk of each county, who shall lay said report before the board of supervisors at its annual meeting. The amount so apportioned to each county shall be levied by the board of supervisors of such county, as a portion of the county tax for the ensuing year, for the support of the said school.

SEC. 5. The county treasurer of the county in which said school is located shall be ex officio treasurer of said board; all moneys appropriated and expended under the provisions of this act shall be expended by the county school board and shall be paid by the said county treasurer on orders issued by said board or in counties having a board of county auditors, by such auditors, and all moneys received by said board shall be paid to the said county treasurer for the fund of the county school board. SEC. 6. In the county schools of agriculture and domestic science organized under the provisions of this act, instruction shall be given in the elements of agriculture including instruction concerning the soil, the plant life, and the animal life of the farm; a system of farm accounts shall also be taught; instruction shall also be given in manual training and domestic economy and such other related subjects as may be prescribed.

SEC. 7. Each such school shall have connected with it a tract of land suitable for purposes of experiment and demonstration, of not less than ten acres in area.

SEC. 8. The schools organized under the provisons of this act shall be free to the inhabitants of the county or counties contributing to their support, who shall be qualified to pursue the course of study as prescribed by the school board. Whenever students of advanced age desire admission to the school during the winter months in sufficient number to warrant the organization of special classes for their instruction, such classes shall be organized and continued for such time as their attendance may make necessary.

SEC. 9. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall give such information and assistance and establish such requirements as may seem necessary for the proper organization and maintenance of such schools, and with the advice of the president of the Michigan State Agricultural College determine the qualifications required of teachers employed in such schools: Provided, That no person shall be eligible to a position as superintendent of any school established under this act who is not a graduate of a state college of agriculture. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall have the general supervision of all schools established under this act; shall from time to time inspect the same, make such recommendations relating to their management as he may deem necessary, and make such report thereon to said schools as shall give full information concerning their number, character and efficiency.

ORGANIZATION.

1. County schools of agriculture are under the direct control of a board known as the county school board, consisting of five members, four of whom are appointed by the board of supervisors, and the county commissioner of schools is ex officio member and secretary with the same powers as other members.

2. Each member of the board is required within ten days after notice of appointment to take the usual constitutional oath of office and file a bond with the county clerk in such sum as the board of supervisors may direct and within fifteen days thereafter the board shall organize by electing one of their own number as president.

3. The board has authority to prescribe the duties of its officers, except

as fixed by law, and to have immediate supervision and control over the school. 4. The county treasurer is ex officio treasurer of the board, but is not a member of the board and has no vote.

5. All funds voted by the board of supervisors shall be kept separate and distinct from all other county funds and known as the fund of the county school board.

6.

All orders drawn on this fund must be drawn and signed by the secretary of the board and countersigned by the president.

7. The county treasurer should keep a special set of books for the record of the county school fund, and he should pay no orders except such as are drawn on the county school fund for purposes specified by law and signed as above stated.

8. The secretary of the board should provide and keep suitable records of all meeting and transactions of the board, also a record of all orders drawn.

9. The secretary should prepare and have printed proper receipts, orders and vouchers necessary for the proper accounting of all moneys expended for the county school of agriculture and domestic science.

10. The school year should consist of not less than thirty-six weeks. 11. The minimum qualification of students for entrance will be the completion of the first eight grades in the public schools or other schools. Holders of eighth grade diplomas should be admitted and those who are not holders of such diplomas may be admitted upon examination.

12. The course of study as arranged covers a period of two years. 13. Upon completion of this course of study the county school board should issue to the graduates a suitable diploma signed by the superintendent of the school and the members of the county school board.

14. Instructors in manual training, domestic science, agriculture, and the specified academic subjects should be provided.

QUALIFICATIONS OF INSTRUCTORS.

1. The minimum qualifications of the superintendent of the school, as fixed by law, is that he must be at least a graduate of a state college of agriculture.

2. The instructors in manual training, domestic science and agriculture must be graduates of at least reputable institutions giving special instruction in these subjects. The teacher of the academic subjects should be a graduate of a university, college or normal school and have had experience in teaching.

3. It is possible that suitable instructors can be found who can teach two or more of these lines of work. This matter will be left to the discretion of the county school board.