Arbor and labor day. Section 137b. The governor, by proclamation, may set apart one day each year to be designated as arbor and bird day, and may request its observance by all schools, colleges and other institutions by the planting of trees, the adornment of school and public grounds, and by suitable exercises having for their object the advancement of the study of arboriculture, the promotion of a spirit of protection to birds and trees, and the cultivation of an appreciative sentiment concerning them. He may also set apart, in said manner, one day in each year to be observed as labor day.

THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

(Chapter 11, Wisconsin Statutes.)

Qualifications; oath of office.

Section 164. No person shall be eligible to the office of state superintendent of public instruction, who shall not, at the time of his election thereto, have taught or supervised teaching in the state of Wisconsin, for a period of not less than five years, and who shall not, at such time, hold the highest grade of certificate which the state superintendent is by law empowered to issue. He shall, within twenty days after he receives notice of his election, and before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe the constitutional oath of office, which shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. (1903 c. 37)

Assistant superintendent. Section 165. The state superintendent may appoint under his hand an assistant, who shall take the constitutional oath of office, which with his appointment, shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. Such assistant shall perform such duties as the superintendent shall prescribe, not inconsistent with law; and the superintendent shall be responsible for all acts of such assistant.

High school inspector. Section 165a. He may also appoint, in like manner, an inspector of free high schools, who shall assist him in visiting, inspecting and supervising such schools and aid in giving information and assistance in the organization and maintenance thereof in towns where there are no graded schools. When he is not engaged in the performance of said duties said inspector may be assigned to such duties in the office of the state superintendent as the latter may designate.

Clerks, etc. Section 165b. The state superintendent may appoint a chief clerk, who shall, under his direction, have charge of the books and correspondence of the office, and who shall render such other assistance as the superintendent may direct. He may also appoint a library clerk, who shall, under his direction, aid in promoting the

establishment, maintenance and control of school libraries; an index and filing clerk and a person as clerk and stenographer. All such appointments shall be made by writing filed in the office of the secretary of state.

Supervisory duties generally. Section 166. He shall have general supervision over the common schools of the state, and it shall be his duty:

School work. 1. To ascertain, so far as practicable, the conditions of the public schools of the state; to stimulate interest in education; to spread as widely as possible, through public addresses, bulletins, and by conferences with school officers, teachers and parents, a knowledge of methods, which may be employed to introduce desirable improvements in the organization, government and instruction of the schools.

School books. 2. To prohibit the use of sectarian books and sectarian instruction in the public schools; to advise in the selection of books for school district libraries; to prepare as often as he shall deem necessary, a list of books suitable for school district libraries, and furnish copies of such list to each town, village or city clerk, or secretary of the board of education, and to each county or city superintendent, from which lists the above designated officers shall select and purchase all books for use in the school libraries of the state.

Educational meetings. 3. To attend such educational meetings and make such investigations as he may deem important, and such as may enable him to obtain information relating to the different systems of common schools in the United States, said information to be embodied in his biennial report to the state legislature.

Public sentiment. 4. To endeavor to arouse an intelligent interest among the people of the state in the general subject of industrial and commercial education, including manual training, agriculture, and domestic science, and to awaken and educate public sentiment for the suitable introduction of these subjects into the public schools, and to make such inspection and investigation as may be necessary for the intelligent supervision of the work therein.

Supervision. 5. To exercise general supervision over the establishment and management of county schools of agriculture and domestic science, manual training schools, county training schools for teachers, and the day schools for the deaf; to advise with the principals and local authorities thereof and to formulate courses of study for such schools, to embody in his biennial report or in special bulletins or circulars such statements, suggestions, and statistics, as

he may deem useful and for the information of the public. (1903 c.

87)

Publications.

6. To revise, codify and edit the school laws from time to time, as circumstances may make necessary, and by lectures, circulars, correspondence and public addresses, give the public informa tion bearing upon the different methods of school organization and management provided by law in this state; to prescribe rules and regulations for the management of township and school district libraries and the penalties which may be imposed upon district and town officers for any violation thereof; to prepare for the use of school officers suitable forms for making reports and suitable outlines as aids in conducting annual and special meetings; to prepare and publish from time to time as occasion may require courses of study for ungraded, state graded, and free high schools, and day schools for the deaf, with such comments and instructions as may be deemed essential for an intelligent understanding thereof; to compile, edit and distribute to the schools annually in pamphlet form matter adapted to and suitable for the intelligent observance of arbor and bird day, and memorial day; to provide the subject matter and statistics necessary for the printing of all reports, pamphlets, and circulars published for any and all of these purposes, and to furnish suitable material in the form of printed catalogue cards to enable teachers and pupils to make an intelligent use of the township school libraries, all such printing to be done by the state printer at the expense of the state. (1903 c. 37; Am. 1905 c. 241)

Appeals. 7. To examine and determine all appeals, which by law may be made to him according to the rules regulating such matters, and to prescribe rules of practice in respect thereto, not inconsistent with law. (1903 c. 37)

Educational works. 8. To collect in his office such school books, apparatus, maps and charts, as may be obtained without expense to the state; to purchase at an expense not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars in any one year, to be paid out of the state treasury, works and periodicals bearing upon the different phases of education. (1911 c. 253)

School fund income. 9. To apportion and distribute the school fund income as provided by law.

Copies of record. 10. To make copies when required by any person so to do, of any papers deposited or filed in his office and of any act or decision made by him, and to certify the same provided he may demand therefor twelve cents per folio, which fee shall be paid into the state treasury.

Report. 11. To prepare in each even numbered year a report to be delivered by him to the governor on or before the thirty-first day of December, containing:

1. An abstract of all the common school reports received by him from the several county and city superintendents.

2. A statement of the condition of the common schools, the state graded schools, the city graded schools, the free high schools and independent high schools, the manual training schools, the schools established for the purpose of giving instruction in agriculture and domestic science, the county training schools for teachers, the day schools for the deaf, the state normal schools and the state university, and such other schools as may hereafter be established by law. 3. Statements of the receipts and disbursements of all school moneys. 4. Plans for the improvement and better management and organization of all common and other schools.

5. A statement of his official visits to educatioĥal institutions of any kind, and of the work done by the different inspectors and officers provided for by law, and employed by him in the performance of the duties of the office, for the biennial period.

6. All such other matters relating to his office and the school system of the state, as he shall deem expedient to publish.

Teachers' institutes. 12. To exercise supervision over the teachers' institutes, held in the different counties of the state, and with the advice and consent of the institute committee of the board of regents of normal schools, publish from time to time a syllabus and outline of work suitable to be done therein.

Annual convention. 13. To hold at least one convention annually at a convenient and accessible point in the state, for the purpose of consulting and advising with the county superintendents in regard to the supervision and management of the public schools. (See section 461a)

13a. To hold one convention annually for the purpose of consulting and advising with the city superintendents of schools upon matters pertaining to supervision and management of city schools. (See section 926-117m)

Other duties. 14. To perform all other duties imposed upon him by law.

Office. Section 167. The state superintendent shall have an office at the capitol, where shall be deposited all papers and documents appertaining to the business of his office, and to which place communications on the subject of common schools may be addressed to him.