fee determined by board (see also Separate schools), otherwise tuition is free to pupils from 6 to 21 years of age. Exercises shall be held in all schools on Arbor Day (Friday following second Monday in March) such as to encourage the planting, protection, and preservation of trees. Studies. In every school district shall be taught (in the English language) orthography, reading, writing, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, and such other branches as may be determined by the district board. No sectarian or religious doctrine shall be taught, but this shall not be construed to prohibit the reading of the Holy Scripture. Physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, shall be included in the branches taught [U. S. Statute]. (See also Teachers-Certificates.) Buildings and grounds.-District boards shall purchase, lease, build, or sell houses, sites, or other school property when so directed by the voters of a district (see also Finances-Bonds); the board shall have the keeping of school property; may appoint some suitable person to take care of school apparatus, maps, charts, etc.; may open schoolhouses for business or public meetings of religious, political, literary, scientific, mechanical, or agricultural societies. Lands selected for location or enlargement of school sites, which can not be purchased by agreement with owners at reasonable price, may be condemned, such sites not to exceed a total area of 14 acres. When a schoolhouse has been located upon the claim of any settler upon public or Indian lands to which said settler had no title, district board may remove same within one year after his acquirement of title; or, if said house has been built of stone, brick, or lumber costing $500, and settler will not convey same to school board, 1 acre may be acquired by condemnation. A school site having thereon a house worth not less than $500 shall not be moved except by a three-fifths vote of the district. person who shall willfully destroy, injure, deface, mar, or disfigure any school building, furniture, fixture, or apparatus shall be fined $10 to $50. School property is exempt from taxation and shall not be taken for debt. A Union graded schools.-Two or more districts may unite in establishing a graded school for instruction in the higher branches, such action to be determined by a majority of the legal voters of such districts, who also shall elect a board of directors to control said school in like relation as district boards toward district schools. Such school shall be entitled to a share of the school fund in proportion to the number of pupils in attendance from each district so uniting, and the union district may levy taxes for providing a school building. No expenditure of more than $200 shall be made except by written contract, and no contract involving more than $500 shall be made except by award to the lowest responsible bidder after inviting sealed proposals. Any single district may establish a graded school on similar terms. Separate schools.-Separate schools for white and colored children shall be maintained in all counties, and no white child shall attend nor white teacher teach a colored school, and vice versa. Districts having less than 10 children of school age of either color are not required to maintain a school for such children, if they can be transferred to schools in adjoining districts. Children may be transferred to another district school without consent of parents, unless they should have to go more than 24 miles to reach such school. High schools.--Any county having 6,000 population may establish a high school by vote of a majority at any general or special election. The county commissioners shall appoint six resident freeholders of the county, not more than three of whom shall be residents of same township or city or members of same political party, who shall, with the county superintendent, constitute the board of trustees for such high school. The county superintendent shall be ex officio president of board; other members shall serve each one year, and give such bond as county commissioners may require; shall receive no compensation, except that secretary and treasurer of board may receive each not exceeding $50 a year. Prior to June 15 each year the trustees shall present to county commissioners a certified estimate of the rate of tax (not to exceed 3 mills on $1 of taxable property) required to raise the amount needed for payment of teachers' wages and contingent expenses, which the commissioners shall cause to be collected as other taxes. The trustees shall select the best site that can be procured without expense to the county for location of said school, shall erect building by contract, and purchase furniture, etc., if need be issuing warrants for payment of same in from five to twenty annual installments, so that no annual tax levy for payment of an installment shall exceed 3 mills on $1 of taxable property in the county. Total cost of said building and equipment shall not exceed 14 per cent of the assessed valuation of the county, and said war Tui rants shall not be sold at less than par. Trustees may rent suitable buildings until new ones are provided. No member of said board of trustees or the wife, son, or daughter of a member shall be employed as teacher in such school. tion shall be free to all eligible pupils residing in the county; if more can be accommodated, pupils from other counties may be admitted upon payment of tuition determined by trustees. Pupils graduating from the normal course in such high school shall be entitled to a second grade teacher's certificate and be admitted to the Territorial normal schools without examination; those completing the collegiate course may be admitted to the University of Oklahoma or the agricultural and mechanical college without examination. On July 1 annually the trustees shall make a complete report to county commissioners, covering all statistics regarding operations of such school for the year, which report shall be published in at least one paper in the county and a copy sent to the Territorial superintendent. Kindergartens.-The school board of any city or district having 2,500 population may establish kindergartens for children between 4 and 6 years of age. By kindergarten shall be understood the application of the methods of Froebel, or some American development thereof, and not merely subprimary grades for children under 6 years of age. The Territorial normal schools shall establish and maintain a department for training kindergarten teachers. All teachers in kindergartens shall be graduates of an accredited kindergarten normal school, and all applications for positions as such teachers shall be subject to an examination instituted by the Territorial superintendent. An enumeration of children from 4 to 6 years of age shall be made in districts establishing kindergartens, in like manner as the enumeration of children from 6 to 21 years of age, and reported to the Territorial superintendent, who shall apportion to such districts a corresponding amount of school funds therefor. 4. FINANCES. Territorial school fund-County taxes-Bonds. Territorial school fund.-The Territorial superintendent shall apportion the income of the Territorial school fund and the annual taxes collected by the Territory for the support of public schools to those counties from which proper reports have been received from county superintendents, as follows: All such moneys remaining in the Territorial treasury on January 15 shall be apportioned between January 15 and 31, and all remaining July 15, between July 15 and 31, to each county in proportion to the number of children between 6 and 21 years of age resident therein, as shown by the last annual report of the county superintendent. Within five days after receiving the certificate of the Territorial superintendent informing him of the amount of such school fund which has been apportioned to his county, the county superintendent shall apportion the same (together with any unapportioned county school fund in the treasury) among the school districts and parts of districts in his county according to scholastic population as shown by the last annual reports of the respective district clerks, drawing his order on the county treasurer in favor of the respective district treasurers: Provided, That no district which has not maintained a common school for at least three months in the year last preceding shall be entitled to receive any portion of said funds. County taxes.-The district clerk shall within five days report to the county clerk the amount of tax levied at the annual meeting, and for what purpose same was levied. By May 25 he shall certify to county clerk a list of all persons residing within the district liable to pay taxes. By August 25 he shall certify to the county clerk the aggregate percentage levied by the district school board on the real and personal property in the district as returned on the assessment roll of the county; and the county clerk shall place the same on the tax roll of the county, designating purpose for which said taxes were levied; and said taxes shall be collected as other taxes by the county treasurer and paid over to the treasurers of the respective school districts in the county. The board of county commissioners of each county shall levy annually upon all the taxable property in each district a tax sufficient to pay the interest accruing upon the bonds (which see) issued by such district and to provide a sinking fund for the redemption of such bonds. No fund in the hands of the county treasurer belonging to a school district shall be diverted from the object for which such fund was raised. All fines collected for viola tions of school laws shall be paid to the treasurer of the county wherein the suit is brought for the support of the common schools. Bonds.--For the purpose of providing school sites and houses, the boards of directors shall have power to issue the bonds of the district in an amount not to exceed, with all outstanding indebtedness, 4 per cent of its taxable property as shown by the last assessment; and for the purpose of extending the time of payment of the school district indebtedness, they shall have power to issue bonds in a sum not to exceed its outstanding indebtedness, including bonded indebtedness; but no bonds shall be issued until, at an election called for that purpose, two-thirds of the qualified electors (women may vote) shall have so declared by ballot; and such election shall not be called except upon petition of at least one-third of such electors in the district. Bonded indebtedness shall not be created in any district wherein reside less than 8 children between 6 and 21 years of age. Bonds shall be issued in denominations of not less than $100 nor more than $500, bearing interest not to exceed 7 per cent, payable semiannually. OREGON. 1. ORGANIZATION OF THE SYSTEM. State superintendent—State board of education-State and county boards of examiners-County superintendents — School districts - District boards School clerks-District boundary board. State superintendent.—A superintendent of public instruction shall be elected every four years, entering upon his duties the second Monday in January following his election; shall receive a salary of $3,000 a year (and not exceeding $900 traveling expenses), and be provided with an office at the State capitol. He shall exercise a general superintendence over the county and district school officers and the public schools of the State; visit, as far as practicable, every county annually in the interest of education; visit as often as practicable the principal schools of the State for the purpose of inspection and supervision; gather statistics relative to the conditions of schools, buildings, grounds, appurtenances, apparatus, libraries, conduct and standing of pupils, methods of instruction and discipline, number of pupils, teachers, salaries, courses of study, and such other data as he may deem advisable for the advancement of education and for the information of the legislature; assist in the organization and development of institute work in each county, attending county institutes within the State and educational meetings out of the State when practicable; prepare and distribute to county superintendents a uniform series of blanks, registers, forms, rules, and regulations, such as he may deem necessary for the administration of the school laws, and the secretary of state shall cause the same to be printed; act as secretary of the State board of education; annotate and compile all school laws ordered published by State board; decide questions or appeals arising under the State school laws or the rules and regulations of the State board, but he may submit the same to State board for decision or to the attorney-general for his opinion; cause to be held once a year a State teachers' association, at such time and place as will best promote the interests of education. Whenever he may deem it expedient he may issue printed letters to school officers on any subject relative to the duties of teachers, directors, pupils, parents, or guardians, the management of schools, or any other question of general or special educational interest. Biennially he shall report to the legislature, covering the following items: (1) General condition of the public schools; (2) amount of school money apportioned among the counties, and sources whence such was derived; (3) amounts raised by county and district taxes, and amounts paid for teachers' salaries, buildings, furniture, etc.; (4) text-books authorized in accordance with law; (5) rules and regulations of State board; (6) number and grade of schools in each county; (7) the number of persons in the State between the ages of 4 and 20, number attending public schools, number attending private schools, and number not attending any school; (8) any other relevant information that he may think of use to the public. State board of education.—The governor, secretary of state, and superintendent of public instruction shall constitute the State board of education, which shall meet at the capitol on the first Monday in January and July of each year. They shall authorize such series of text-books as shall be adopted by the textbook commission; prepare a course of study for schools in districts of the second and third classes, which shall be printed by the secretary of state and distributed by the State superintendent; order other necessary printing done by State printer; prescribe rules and regulations for the government of schools; grant State certificates and diplomas to candidates passing examinations before the State board. (See Teachers-State certificates.) The proceedings of each session of the State board shall be printed for general distribution, including the names of applicants receiving certificates. State and county boards of examiners.-(See Teachers-County and State certificates.) County superintendents.—Elected for four years, vacancies filled by county court; must have taught nine school months in the State and hold a first-grade or State certificate or State diploma. Salary of superintendent is specified for each county, from $300 to $1,500 a year. Must furnish bond in such sum as county court may direct. He shall be ex officio secretary of the district boundary board (consisting of the county court, or commissioners where the latter are a separate body), which board may make changes in district boundaries when petitioned to do so. On the first Monday in October, and at such other times during the year as he may deem advisable, he shall apportion the entire school fund in the county treasury. (See Finances-Apportionment.) He shall visit each school in his county at least once a year and seek to aid teachers toward the best methods of teaching and government, and shall secure the proper classification of pupils, enforcement of course of study, and the care and protection of school property; study to awaken among parents and children a deeper interest in the public schools; notify board of directors of any defect in schoolhouses or surroundings; and by the fourth Monday in July shall report to the State superintendent an abstract of the reports received from the several districts, adding thereto such suggestions as he may deem important, and shall make special report concerning important matters relative to the schools of his county whenever necessary or when required by the State superintendent. He shall keep a record of all persons under contract to teach in his county, with data relating to such contracts; advise and consult with boards with reference to the construction of schoolhouses and improvement of grounds; organize and hold at least three local institutes and educational meetings at such times and places in the county as he may deem most expedient, securing as far as practicable the attendance and cooperation of teachers, school officers, and parents; hold annually a county teachers' institute three days or longer for the instruction of teachers and those desiring to teach (at which attendance of teachers is compulsory); examine into correctness of reports of district clerks (which see) and correct same when necessary; report to State superintendent the post-office address of every . deaf-mute or blind person in the county between the ages of 5 and 25; examine and decide appeals from district officers and teachers, subject to appeal to State superintendent. School districts.- Each county shall be divided into convenient school districts, classified as follows: Districts having 1,000 or more children of school age (6 to 21) shall be known as districts of the first class; more than 200 and less than 1,000, second class; less than 200, third class. Boundaries may be changed by the boundary board (see County Superintendent) and new districts established on petition of three legal voters of proposed new district; but no district shall be organized unless it contains at least 10 children of school age, and none shall continue unless it has at least 6 of school age. The legal school voters of every district shall meet on the third Monday in June every year, which shall be known as the annual school meeting, and shall hold special meetings whenever required; the director oldest in service shall be chairman, and the meeting shall have power to levy a tax upon all real and personal property in the district, and make all necessary appropriations for the support and benefit of public schools. Women may vote on school questions and be elected to all educational offices within the State. Districts shall maintain a school at least three months a year or else forfeit their share of the next annual apportionment of school funds. (See Finances-Apportionment.) District boards.-Districts of the first class shall elect five directors, other districts three. One director shall be elected each year on the day of the annual school meeting, to serve five years in first-class districts, three years in other districts. Of the directors present at a meeting, the one oldest in service shall be chairman. Vacancies in the office of director shall be filled by the remaining directors. It shall be the duty of the board to visit and inspect their schools; to furnish fuel (ready for use), janitor, blackboards, chalk, erasers, brooms, stoves, window curtains, reference and library books, and other apparatus, not to exceed 15 per cent of the county school-tax fund and the irreducible school fund apportioned to the district; to audit all the claims against the district. They may exclude any refractory pupil from school for the current term. When authorized by a majority vote of the school meeting, they shall purchase, lease, or build schoolhouses, buy or lease land for school purposes, furnish schoolhouses with furniture, lights, and apparatus, and, when so authorized for such purpose, may levy and collect a tax or contract a debt not exceeding 5 per cent of the taxable values of the district, or may issue or sell bonds (see Finances-Bonds); also, may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of property belonging to the district. The board shall employ teachers, and make such rules and regulations for the government of teachers and pupils as are required and consistent with those of State board; shall require parents or guardians to provide pupils with books prescribed by law, but shall loan textbooks to indigent pupils when so directed by vote of the district. The board shall have entire control of public schools in their district. Any duty imposed upon them must be performed at a regular or special meeting and be made a matter of record. Consent to a measure by individual members when not in session is not an act of the board and is not binding upon the district. District school clerks.-At the regular annual meeting each school district shall elect a school clerk, who shall give such bond and receive such compensation as the board may determine, provided that clerks of third-class districts shall not receive exceeding $25. The clerk shall act as secretary of board and district meetings, keep records and accounts of the board, send list of district officers to county superintendent after annual school meeting, giving length of term and post-office address of each director. During the last week in February the district school clerk shall make an enumeration of children in his district between 4 and 20 years old, make an annual report to his district and forward certified copy of same to county superintendent by July 10, including scholastic census, daily attendance at all schools in district, and a list of children deaf or blind to such degree as to be unable to acquire an education in the common schools. Clerks of districts which lie in two or more counties shall report to each county superintendent data pertaining to his county. District boundary board.—(See County superintendent - School districts.) 2. TEACHERS. Certificates, county-State certificates and diplomas-Duties--Contracts-Institutes. Certificates, county.-Beginning the second Wednesday of February and August and continuing three days the county board of examiners (superintendent and two others appointed by him) shall hold public examinations of applicants for teachers' county certificates, using questions prepared by State board, place to be designated by county superintendent. Every applicant shall furnish evidence of good moral character and be examined in orthography, reading, writing, mental and written arithmetic, English grammar, geography, United States history, theory of teaching, physiology and hygiene, civil government, and Oregon school law. (1) First-grade certificates, which are good in the county for three years, shall be granted to those who are 18 years of age and have taught twelve school months with success, whose general average on examination is not less than 90 per cent and not less than 70 per cent in any branch. Whenever an applicant receives on two successive examinations 90 per cent on any subject, at the next examination he shall be excused on such subjects and credited with the standing so earned. Superintendents of other counties may indorse first-grade certificates and register the same, and thus validate the same for their counties. (2) For second-grade certificates applicant must be 18 years old, have three months' successful experience teaching, and make a general average grade of 80 per cent (in no branch less than 60), certificate valid two years. No person shall receive more than one second-grade certificate in any one county unless he be ineligible to a first-grade for want of twelve months' teaching experience. (3) For a third-grade certificate applicants shall have attained the age of 18 and an average of 75 on examination; not less than 60 in any branch. Certificate is valid for one year and is not issued twice to the same person unless he lack the three months' experience in teaching requisite for a second-grade certificate. (4) A primary certificate, authorizing the holder to teach in the primary |