STATE.-BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Composed of the Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Attorney-General, three experienced educators elected from the faculties of certain State institutions, one City Superintendent of Schools, and one County Superintendent of Schools. These eight constitute the State Board of Education, and their several powers and duties as members of the Board are identical except that the two division superintendents shall not participate in the appointment of any public school official.
This Board shall have the management and investment of school funds; make by-laws for its own government, and for carrying into effect the school laws; audit claims payable out of State funds; arrange for summer normal schools of teachers for instruction in processes of school organization, discipline, and management; select text-books and educational appliances for use in the public schools of the State; appoint (and remove), subject to confirmation by the Senate, all county and city superintendents, and regulate all matters arising in the practical administration of the school system not otherwise provided for.
The three State officers are ex officio members of the Board. The three experienced educators are elected quadrennially by the Senate from a list of eligibles consisting of one from each of the faculties and nominated by the respective boards of visitors or trustees of the University of Virginia, the Virginia Military Institute, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, the State Female Normal School at Danville, the School for the Deaf and Blind, and also of the College of William and Mary so long as the State continues its annual appropriation to the last-named institution. The city and county superintendents are selected by the other six members for terms of two years each.
School funds are moneys set apart or provided for the support of schools. In Virginia, school funds are provided by the State, the counties, and the districts (see under School Funds).
By-laws are laws or rules made by any association for the management of its affairs. The Board of Education makes by-laws for its own government and for administering the laws relating to the schools.
Claims payable out of State funds are claims which by law are to be paid out of the State funds. Such claims must be audited by the Board of Education. The salaries and expenses of State education officers are paid out of the State fund, and portions of the fund are divided among the counties and cities for the support of schools.
By arranging for meetings of teachers for instruction in the processes of school organization, discipline, and instruction, the State Board of Education does much to improve the schools of the State, and the great yearly institutes are of the highest value to the schools.
One of the most important duties of the State Board is in connection with the selection of text-books and the approval of educational appliances for the equipment of schools.
The general duties of the State Board of Education consist in regulating all matters arising in the practical administration of the school system not otherwise provided for. Uniformity of practice throughout the schools of the State is of the greatest importance, and the State Board wisely secures this by keeping in constant correspondence with officers and teachers throughout the system.
The State Board of Education chooses its own secretary, who is entrusted with many important duties in carrying out the plans and work of the board.
As all division superintendents are appointees of the State Board, it is provided in the Constitution that the two who are members of the State Board shall not participate in the election of school officers.
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
Elected by the people of the State for four years; salary, $2,000, and necessary traveling expenses; shall have his office at the capital; shall be the chief executive of the public free school system; shall determine the true intent and meaning of the school laws; shall receive reports from school officers; inspect schools, and decide appeals from the decisions of county superintendents; apportion State funds among the counties and cities of the State.
The public free school system is the system under which, as required by the law of Virginia, the public schools are free to all persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years residing within the school districts.
The superintendent of public instruction is the chief executive officer of the system, and when any dispute arises among school officers as to the meaning or application of school laws, it is his duty to determine—that is, to decide—it.
The superintendent of public instruction is also to a large extent a judicial officer, and his decisions as to the true intent and meaning of the school laws have very nearly as much force as the decisions of the courts.
The reports received from school officers by the State superintendent are embodied in his report made every two years to the governor, and by him transmitted to the General Assembly.
This report, in addition to the information received from the county and city superintendents, contains a large amount of statistics and reports in regard to private schools, colleges, and other institutions which are more or less under the care and subject to the control of the State.
COUNTY.—COUNTY AND CITY SUPERINTENDENTS.
Term, four years, beginning July 1st after appointment; must reside in the county or city for which he is elected, and shall hold no elective office; shall explain the school system, examine teachers and grant certificates, promote the improvement and efficiency of teachers, advise with and counsel trustees and teachers, visit and examine schools under his care and inquire into whatever concerns their usefulness and perfection; decide appeals and complaints; administer oaths and take testimony; apportion the school funds among the districts.
The county and city superintendents must hold examinations at certain times in their counties or cities to examine persons desiring to become teachers, and if, after examination, such persons are found qualified, they receive certificates as teachers.
In any case of appeal or complaint against any person connected with the schools in their districts the county or city superintendents must hold inquiry into the matter and give decision upon it. In making such inquiry they can call witnesses and administer oaths to such witnesses before taking their testimony.
It is also the duty of the superintendents to prepare annually a scheme or plan for apportioning the State and county school funds among the school districts under their supervision.
SCHOOL TRUSTEE ELECTORAL BOARD.
Composed of the County Superintendent of Schools, the Commonwealth's Attorney, and a resident qualified voter, not a county or state officer, to be appointed by the Judge of the Circuit Court; shall fill all vacancies in the district boards of school trustees. In cities and towns school trustees are appointed by municipal councils.
A vacancy occurs every year in each district board. The district board when first formed was composed of three members, one to serve three years, one to serve two years, and the other to serve one year, all appointments afterwards to be for three years each. Thus there is one vacancy every year in the board, and it is the duty of the School Trustee Electoral Board to appoint a new trustee to fill the vacancy.
County School Board.
Composed of the County Superintendent (who is ex officio president) and the District School Trustees of the county—"a body corporate"; shall make necessary bylaws and regulations, shall have a regular annual meeting between the 1st and 15th of August; shall prepare and file with the Superintendent before July 15th an estimate of the amount of money that will be needed for public school purposes in the county for the next year, also a similar list for each school district based on the estimate of the District Board, which lists the Superintendent shall lay before the Board of Supervisors; shall make settlement with treasurers and school officers; shall administer certain properties devoted to school purposes.
Ex officio is a Latin phrase meaning by virtue of office. The county superintendent is president of the County School Board, not by election or appointment, but because of his office as county superintendent.
A body corporate is a corporation, the meaning of which term is explained on page 14.
Property of any kind, either public funds or donations from private persons, set apart or devoted to school purposes in the county is administered by the County School Board—that is, managed and used by the board for the support of schools in the county.
District.—School Districts.
Each county shall be divided into compactly located school districts, which shall correspond with the magisterial districts, unless specially subdivided; except that a town of five hundred or more inhabitants may form a separate school district.
School Trustees.
One shall be appointed annually for each district for a term of three years; must be able to read and write.
School trustees are appointed annually by the School Trustee
Electoral Board, as explained above.
District Board of School Trustees.
"A body corporate"—composed of the three trustees of the district; shall hold and manage the school property of the district; provide suitable school houses, etc.; enforce school laws; employ and dismiss teachers; suspend and dismiss pupils; see that census of children of school age (5 to 21) is taken every five years; submit to the County School Board annually an estimate of the amount of money needed for public school purposes in the district for the next scholastic year.
In cities the Board is composed of all the trustees in the city, and its duties and powers are modified and enlarged.
The census of children is the numbering or counting of the children residing in the district.
The scholastic year is the part of the year during which the schools are open.
The District Board of School Trustees has the whole care and administration of the schools in its charge, and is thus the most important local body in the civil government of the State.
School Funds.
1. State Funds. The interest on the literary fund, the capitation tax, and a tax on property of one mill on the dollar.
2. County Funds. Such tax as the Board of Supervisors may levy for county school purposes; fines and penalties imposed on the Superintendent; donations, or the income arising therefrom.
3. District Funds. Such tax as the Board of Supervisors may levy for the purposes of the school district; fines and penalties imposed on district school officers and teachers; donations, or income arising therefrom.
The County or City Treasurer receives and pays out all school funds.
For explanation of literary fund, see page 37, and for capitation tax, see page 82. The tax of one mill on the dollar means a tax of one mill on each dollar of the assessed valuation of the property.
Certain fines and other money penalties may be imposed by the Board of Education or by the courts or county superintendents for failing or refusing to perform certain duties Such fines and penalties are added to the school fund for the county
When district school officers or teachers are fined for neglect of duty the money goes to the district fund. Donations are contributions or gifts from private individuals. If such gifts are real estate, the income arising therefrom is the rent of such real estate or the interest on the amount realized by its sale.
Teachers.
Must hold a certificate of qualification in full force, issued or approved by the Superintendent of Schools of the county or city within which he proposes to teach.
The law requires that a teacher must be at least eighteen years of age. If the teacher has the necessary education to pass the required examination, a certain maturity is necessary to insure good judgment in the government and discipline of the school.
The value and success of all government depend largely upon the character and ability of those in authority, and this is especially true in the government of the school.
For teachers' certificates of qualification, see above under
County and City Superintendents.
QUESTIONS.
1. Who compose the Board of Education?
2. Name some of the duties of this board.
3. What is meant by nomination being subject to confirmation by the Senate?
4. What are school funds?
5. What are by-laws?
6. What are claims payable out of State Funds?
7. What important work is done at the meetings of teachers arranged by the State board of Education?
8. What very important duty has the State Board to perform in reference to books?
9. What are the general duties of the board?
10. How is the superintendent of public instruction chosen?
11. What is his salary?
12. What are his duties?
13. What is the public free school system?
14. What is the extent of the power of the superintendent of public instruction?
15. How often does the superintendent report to the General Assembly, and what information does his report contain?
16. Who appoints county and city superintendents, and what is their term of office?
17. Name some of the duties of these officers.
18. Who compose the School Trustee Electoral Board?
19. What are their duties?
20. Who compose the County School Board?
21. Name some of the duties of this board.
22. How are school districts laid out?
23. How are school trustees chosen, and what is their terra of office?
24. Of whom is the District Board of School Trustees composed?
25. Name some of the powers of this board.
26. Of whom is the City Board of Trustees composed?
27. What is the census of children?
28. What is a scholastic year?
29. Tell what State funds, county funds, and district funds are.
30. Who receives and pays out all school funds?
31. What does the tax of one mill on the dollar mean?
32. From what sources besides the tax on property are school funds obtained?
33. What are the qualifications of teachers?