WAGES OF TEACHERS

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the law be such that no township shall be entitled to any portion of the income of the public fund, which does not employ thoroughly educated teachers. It has been suggested that no man ought ever to be considered as qualified to teach a school, whose time is not worth at least thirty dollars a month; and that no female ought to be engaged in this work whose services are not worth fifteen dollars per month. This suggestion is certainly worthy of consideration; and it is also worthy of consideration whether it will not be expedient to fix on a minimum price, below which no teacher shall be entitled to receive aid from the avails of the public fund; and to provide prospectively that every teacher of the public schools shall have been through a regular course of training, and received from the academic board a diploma, setting forth his qualifications as a teacher. * * * The almost universal employment of incompetent teachers is a waste of money, a waste of time, and a waste of intellect; the greatest conceivable outrage under the name of benevolence and duty, that can be perpetrated upon the rights and dearest interests of the rising generation, tending directly to moral as well as political degradation and slavery. Whatever system may be adopted, and however perfect in form, it will prove itself essentially defective, unless it provides a sufficient number of teachers, well educated and bred to the profession, men qualified and competent, men who can elevate and leave their mark upon their pupils."

These excerpts present a tolerably completed outline of the general principles upon which Superintendent Pierce based his common school system and his plan for a university and its branches. Some of his more special suggestions

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WAGES OF TEACHERS

and recommendations will be noticed in other connections, and also his recommendations in relation to the management of educational funds and lands granted for educational purposes.

CHAPTER IV.

ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

The report and recommendations of Superintendent Pierce were followed by the passage of .three legislative acts, prepared under his direction, during the session commencing in January, 1837. Some changes were made in the act providing for the organization of primary schools, when the statutes were revised in 1838. As revised, it was published by order of the Legislature under the title “School Law of the State of Michigan."

Mr. Pierce says in his report: "These several acts constitute what may be termed the Michigan School System." One act provided "for the organization and support of Primary Schools;" one "for the organization and government of the University of Michigan;" and one "for the disposition of the University and Primary school lands, and for other purposes." The provisions of these acts make us acquainted with the original educational system of the State.

THE PRIMARY SCHOOL, SYSTEM.

The unit of this system was, as it still is, the subdivision of the township known as the school district, not to exceed nine sections or one-fourth of the township. This limit was not removed until the opening year of the twentieth century. This small subdivision of the State was made practically almost independent in the management of its

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THE SCHOOL DISTRICT

educational affairs. Its internal organization was essentially the same as in the later years of the Territorial period. The right of suffrage upon all matters was given to all white male inhabitants over twenty-one years of age residing in the district and liable to be taxed for school purposes. Citizenship at that time was not of as much importance as the color of the skin.

POWERS OF THE DISTRICT.

The district was empowered to levy a tax, not exceeding five hundred dollars in any one year to provide a school house; to raise by tax ten dollars a year for the purchase of library books; to determine, by vote, if it choose to do so, the books to be used in the school or leave the selection to the district board; to determine the length of time the school should be kept, which should not be less than three months in each year; and to fix the amount of money to be raised by tax to pay the wages of teachers, the sum not to exceed ninety dollars in any one year.

The expense for fuel was to be paid by "the inhabitants sending pupils to school in proportion to the number of pupils and the time they shall attend." In case the apportionment of public money and the amount raised by district tax for teachers' wages were not sufficient for that purpose, the necessary additional sum was to be assessed upon the parents or guardians of the children in proportion to the number of children sent to the school and the time of attendThis was a provision for the "rate-bill" which became the subject of so much debate in subsequent years.

ance.

DISTRICT OFFICERS

DISTRICT. OFFICERS.

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The district officers were a moderator, an assessor, and a director, all elected for one year, and, when acting together, constituting a district board. The almost autonomous character of the district necessarily made the powers of these officers more extensive, and their duties more responsible than those of the same officers at the present time. They levied and collected taxes voted by the district, the assessor being in reality an assessor and also collector as well as treasurer. The moderator was, as now, a presiding officer. The director performed the usual duties of a clerk; with the advice and consent of the moderator and assessor, or either of them, employed teachers and paid them; took a census of the school children of the district; and made a full annual report to the board of township school inspectors. The board filled vacancies in its own membership, made a detailed report at the annual district meeting, and received such compensation as the district voted.

TOWNSHIP SCHOOL OFFICERS.

Under the State system the township school officers were less in number than under the previous Territorial system. The changes, on the admission of the State into the Union, in respect to the management of school lands made a reduction possible and desirable. A board of three school inspectors was chosen annually in the same manner as other township officers. The township clerk was ex-officio clerk of this board, but not a member; he kept the records, books, and papers of the board, received communications