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PUBLIC LAWS,
An act to provide more effectually for the Edu-
cation of the Poor gratis and for (eying the
foundation of a general system of education
throughout this commonwealth,
Section, 1. That the citizens of every town.
ship, ward and borough, within the respective
counties of this commonwealth, with the excep-
tions hereinafter mentiored, who are qualified
to vote for members of assembly, shali, on the
Friday preceding the third Saturday in the
mooth of March next ensuing the passage of
Lhis act, at the place where they vote for town-
}
i
der the penalty of ten dollars for every neglect
thereof, to be sued for by the said school men, in
ithe name of the proper county, and recovered
{as debts of like amount are recoverable before
an alderman or jestice of the peace, and to be
applied by the school men towards paying for
(the tuition of the poor children ; in which suit
any citizen of the borough, township, ward or
county shall bea competant wilness ; and the
school men ofeach and every township, ward
and borough, shall meet at the plice where
their township, ward or borough elections are
usually held, on the third Saturday of April, or
ther, That ifin any township, ward or borough, tached to the respective scheols, or in such oth-
the proper assessor shall fail to furnish thejer proportion as the school men of the respective
school men thereof with a correct list of theltownships shall agree upon. Provided, that the
names of the poor childrer: resident therein, onjschoo! men of the township in which the school
or beforé the first day of May next, pursuant tof is situated, shall be bound to visit and superia-
the provisions of this act, then the school men of tend the schoo) my the same manner as if the
such township, ward or borough, shall procure boundaries of the whole school district were in
irom the commissioners of the county a copy of their proper township: 5
the list of names of poor children of such town-| Section 15. That il it shall so happen, that
ship, ward or borough, last adjusted, by the said in the Jaying ofi of school districts agreeably to
commissioners under the provisions of ithe act|the provisions of this act, there should be any
entitled % Anact to provide for the education of family or families too remote from the schools
the poor gratis,” and with such list the sald to enjoy for their children or those under their
ToT
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on any subsequent day, in every year, of which
school men shall proceed in such manner as is cere the benefit and advantage of such school,
meeting they shall give ten days notice by ad: [prescribed by the provisions of this act, In re-ithe cckool men may at their discretion exempt
the family or families so situated from the pay-
vertisement put up in six or more of the most| lation to the list there directed to be furnished
public places within the said township, ward orjto them by the assessor of their townsuip, ward
shin, ward, or borough officers, elect three repu-
table citizehs to be called school men, to dis-
charge the duties hereinafter directed, within
the township, ward, or borough for which they
shall have been so elected. One of the said
school men shall be elected for the term of one
yearsanother for the term of two years, and an-
other for the term or three years, And every
citizea voting at such election, shall, at the
ttmo of votiog, designate the term that he in-|
teads each sci00! man by him voted for shall
serve. And annually thereafter the citizens of
each township, ward or borough, qualified as
aforesaid, shall, on the day and at the place
aforesaid, elect one such reputable citizen, in
borough, and they shall there hear all such per-
names in the aforesaid list of poor children, and
make all such alterations or additions as to them
shall appear just and reasonable, and agreeable
to the true intent and meaning of this act. The
said school men may also meet on their own |
adjournment, at such place and at such times
as they shall think necessary and most conven-
ient for the transaction of the business apper-
taining to their office.
Section 5. "That the said schvol men, after
having adjusted the list of the names of all such
poor children of their township, ward or bo-
rough, as shall, have come to their knowledge
ex- {or borough.
sons as shall apply for alterations or additions G7
Section 10. And Whereas a general system
of education and the diffusion of knowledge are
nccessary to the prosperity and happiness of
this commonweaith, Be it thercfore enacted &c.
That the citizens of every borough and township
throughout this commonwealth entitled to vote
for school men, agreeably to the first section of
this act, may on any day on which the election
shall be held, determine by a majority of votes
whether they will accept the provisions of this
act hereinafter mentioned and declared, notice
ment of taxes for the support of such schools.
Section 16. That the accounts and ex pendi-
tures of the school-men in each township and
borough shall be settled audited and adjusted
by the towaship auditcrs in the same manner
that other township accounts are settled, audits
ed and adjusted, and preparatory to the seitles
ment of their accounts, it shall be the duty of
the school men to make out duplicate accounts of
the monies received by them, arising fiom as-
sessment and collection, or otherwise, and of all
monies paid by them, and for what purpose,
stating particularly the children instructed du-
having been given by any six taxable inhabitants
of the proper borough or township, by six writ-|
ten or printed advertisements in public places,
that a vote will be taken for a gencral tax for!
the room of him whose term of office is about to
expire, to discharge the duties of a sc/ool man
under this act, who shall continue in office for
Le three gears: And the elections to be held by
virtue of this act, shall be conducted in the same
manner as the election of constables throughout
by information or otherwise, shall transmit a
correct copy of such list to the commissioners
of the proper county, on or before the first day
of June ; but the said school men, or a majority
of them may make alterations or additions to
the said list as ofien as they shall think neces.
HD
i
ring the preceding year, and the period of time
cach child attended, one copy thereof they shall
lay belore the auditors of their respective town =
ships, with their vouchers, for setilement, and
the support of schools in the said borough orithe other copy shall be filed among the papers
township, and for that purpose it shall and maylofl the schoo! men. As soor as the township
be lawful for all those in favor thereef to vote alauditors shall settle the accounts of the school
ticket with the word « schools’ written or print-{men, they shall- enter the same at length in. a
ed thereon, and for all those opposed thereto tojbook to be kept for that purpose, particularly
vote a ticket with the words ¢ no schools” writ-
the commonwealth 1s by law to be conducted
-and holded, by the same persons who may by
Jaw be authorised to bold the constables’ elec.
tion in each township, ward or borough : And
sary and proper, they giving the commissioners
of the proper county notice of such alterations
or additions, at any time within three months
from the time of making such alterations or ad.
it shall be the duty of the constable of each
township, ward or borough, to give at least ten
days notice of the time and place of holding
each and every election under this acty by writ-
ten or printed handbiils, put up at five or more
of the most public places in each township,
ward or borough: And the'judges of such elec.
tion shall make out a separate return of the per-
son or persons elected to the office of school men
which shall be delivered by the constable of the
township, ward or borough, to the county com.
missioners, at or belore the next regular county
court. And the said constable shall also within
five days alter such election, notify in writing
the person or persons who may have been elect-
ed of his or their election to the office of sc/ool
man. And on failure of the constable of any
ward, township or borough, to perform any of
the duties enjoined upon him by this act he
shall for each and every such offence forteit and
pay the sum of ten dollars, to be sued for by the
school men of such township, ward or borough in
the name of the proper county, and recovered
as debts of like amount are by law recoverable
before a justice of the peace or alderman, and to
be applied by them towards paying for the tui-
tion of the poor children in such township, ward
or borough. In which suit any citizen thereof
shall be a competant witness. And if any va-
cancy shall occur tn the office of school man by
the death or remoyal from the township, ward
or borough, of any person or persons who may
have been elected to that office, the next or any
subsequicnt court of quarter sessions shall ap-
point a reputable citizen to fill such vacancy,
went the: next election, when it shall be filled by
the citize ns of such township, ward or borough,
under. thiz provisions of this act.
Sectiorr 2. That if the »inhabitants of any
township , ward or borough, shall neglect to elect
school men pursuant to the first section of this
act, it shall be the duty of the judges of the
court of general quarter sessions of the peace,
at their fitst or any subsequent sessions, to ap-
point schwod men for such township, who shall be
subject to the same rules, regulations and pen-
aliies, and vested with the same power and au-
thority as if elected by the inhabitants of their
proper township.
Section. 3. That when any school man shall be
elected or appointed agreeably to the provisions
‘of this acty he shall without delay, take an oath
ot affirmation before a judge or justice of the
peace of the proper county, well and faithfully
to execute the duties of school man for his pro.
per district with fidelity. And if any school
man so elected or appointed, shall refuse to
serve as such, or having taken vpon himself the
office shall neglect or refuse to perform the du.
ties in this act enjoined upon him, such person
for every offence herein before mentioned shall
forfeit & pay the sum of 20 dollars, to be recov-
ered in the name of the proper county as debts
of equal amount are by law recoverable, and to be
paid to the treasurer of the county for the aid
of the education of the poor. Provided, That
when any township or borough which has a
school fund agreeably to the further provisions
of this act, the sum before mentioned shall be
paid to the proper school men of the township
or borough in aid of said fund. And provided
ditions.
Section 6. That the said school men shall su.
perintend the education of all such poor chile
dren as aforesaid, within the township, ward or
borough lor which they shall have been elected,
and direct their parents, guardians, or next
friend, to send them to the most convenient
school ; and the said school men shall furpish
the said children with all necessary books and
stationary ; they shall visit the said school or
schools as often as they shall think necessary,
and cause the said children to be properly
taught and treated as all other children are
treated at the said school, or cause them to be
sent to such other school as they may think
most proper, And every teacher of such poor
children as aforesaid, shall keep a correct ac-
count of the number of days such poor child or
children shall have been taught by him or her,
and once in every three months present the said
account to the sckool men of the township, ward
or borough in which such child or children re-
side, any two of whom may settle the said ac-
count, and if they believe it to be just and rea-
sonable, and agreeable to the usual rates of tu-
ition of the said school, they shall make out &
bill for the same, noting the names of the chil-
dren, and the number of days tuition of each,
and endorse on the samean order on the commis-
sioners of the county in favor of such teacher
for the amount of such bill ; And the said com-
missioners are hereby required, when the said
bill shall be presented to them, to grant an or.
der on the county treasurer for the amount.
Section7. That the accounts of the said
school men for hooks and stationary furnished
the poor children as aforesaid, and for the ex-
pences necessarily incurred by them in the dis-
charge of their trust shall be settled by the com:
missioners, and paid by the treasurer of the
county on orders drawn by the said commission-
ers. And the said school men shall perform
their duties without any pecuniary compensa.
tion ; and during their term of service shall not
be compelled to serve in any other city, borough
ward or township office, nor in the militia ex-
cept in time of war, insurrection or invasion.
Section 8. That the city and county of Phil-
agdlelphia, and the city of Lancaster, be and they
hereby are excepted out of the operation of this
acty and whenever the provisions of this act
hereinafter mentioned and declared shall be ac-
cepted by a majority of the boroughs and town-
ships in the county of Lancaster, it shall not be
lawful for the directors of the public schools, in
the first section of the second school district, to
draw any orders upon the treasurer of the coun-
ty of Lancaster, for any sum or sums of money
ter the support of the public scheol established
in the city of Lancaster, by virtue of an act
passed on the first day ot April 1822, entitled
‘“ An act to provide for the education of children
at the public expense within the city and in-
corporated boroughs of the county of Lancas.
ter” : But it shall be the duty of the select and
common councils of the city of Lancaster, to pro-
vide adequate funds for the future support and
maintenance of the said public school, and the
directors of the said school for the time being
shall have the same power to draw upon the
city treasury as by virtue of the last recited act,
Jurther, That no one person shall be compelled
to serve as schoo/ man more than one term in
any period ofnnine years.
Section 4 That it shall be the duty of the
commissioners of the several counties within
this commonwealth, at the time of issuing their
precepts to the assessor of each and every
township, ward or borough, to receive from the
parents, guardians or next friend, the names of]
all the childrem between the ages of six and
fourteen years who reside thereim, and whose
parents, guardian or next friend, are poor and
unable to pay for their education. And the said
assessors are hereby required to make out cor-
rect lists of the names of such poor children as
:
and a supplement thereto passed on the first of
April 1823, they now have and possess to draw
upon the county treasury for the support and
continuance of such school, and so much of the
acts aforesaid as is hereby altered or supplied
be and the same is hereby repealed.
Section 9. That from and after the first day
of May, 1825, the act entitled ¢ An act to pro-
vide for the education of the poor gratis,” pas-
sed the fourth day of April 1809, and the act
entitled ¢ An act for the more convenient edu-
cation of the poor gratis within the counties of
Cumberland, Dauphin and Lancaster,” passed
the 27th day of March -1821, shall be and the
same are hereby repealed. Provided however,
ten or printed thereon, and if, after ascertaining
the number of votes at any such election, it stall
appear that there is not a majority io favor of
accepting the further provisions of this act, then
and io that case the same shall not extend to]
such borough or township the year then oex!
ensuing,
Section 11, That whenever the citizens of
apy borough or township shall have determined
io the manner directed by the preceding sec-
tion of this act, for laying (he foundation of a
general system of education, it shall be the duty
of the sckool men of the proper towaship or bor-
ough to give notice therof in writing to the com-
missioners of the proper county, who shall oro-
ceed to make aut and deliver to the said sckool
men a duplicate of the assessment for the coun-
ty rates and levies, on the township or borough
so requiring it, and shall annually thereafter de-
liver the same ; whereupon the said school men
shall make out an assessment upon all taxable
property within their proper township or bor-
ough, sufficient to support the schools therein
for the current year, and cause the same to be
levied and collected by issuing their warrant to
some competent person, to levy. and collect the
same and make return to them in sixty days,
by virtue of such warrant, the person so appoint-
ed collector cf the school funds shall have the
stating the amount paid to each teacher, the ex-
penses for books and stationary, the number
and sex of the children taught, and the incident
al expenses attending each school. :
Section 17. That it shall be the duty of the
county Commissioners, in the month of April
in each year, when any borough or township
hasaccepted the general provisions of this act,
to make an equitable estimate of the proportion
of the moneys raised and expended off the bo-
rough or township so establishing schoo's for
the education of the poor, in the said county, for
the year preceding, and having made such esii-
mate and entered the same is a book, to be by
the said commissioners kept for that purpose,
they shall draw their order in favour ef the
school men of the borough or township so accepi~
ing the gencral provisions of this act, on the
county treasurer, for the said equitable propose
tion so paid to the county funds.
Section 18. Vbat it shall be the duty of the
commissioners of every county to muke a re-
port on or before the 1st day of December in
each and every year, 10 the Secretary of che
commonwealth, stating the names cof the town-
ships and boroughs in their respective counties,
which shall have elected school men and estab
lished schools agreeably to the provisions of this
act: And it shall be the daty of the Secretary
of the commonwealth to make report to the le-
gislature in the month of December in each and
every year of the number of counties, town-
ships or boroughs, which shall have established
schools under the said provisions. \
Section 19. That in any borough or township
in which the provisions of this act shall have
been adopted, at any election agreeably to the
provisions of the 10th section, the school men
in determining upon the location and establish
ment of school-houses, shall have due regard to
schoel-houses already erecied, and schools alt=
ready established, unless in their opinion the
public interest shall require a change. «And
whenever a school shall belong, or be under the
immediate direction and supervision of any re.
ligious society, the school men shall not employ
a teacher for such school, contrary to the wish-
¢s or consent of such religious socicty: And
such school shall be entitled to its proper share
of the funds raised by virtue ofthis act. Pro.
vided, That the trustees or society having the
control of such school as aforesaid, shall at al}
times admit into such school any children which
the schosi men shall direct to be taught at such
schools in the same manner as at other schools,
Approved, March 29, 1824,
—————
like compensation, and be entitled and bound to
proceed in all respects as directed by the laws
regulating the collection of county rates & lev-
ies, Provided, That the said school men shall,
in assessing the said tax,apportion it on the in-
habitants of the township or borough, and ow-
aers of property, precisely in the same ratio as
the county tax is assessed and apportioned.
Section 12. That it shall be the duty of the
school men in the township or borough wnich
shall have determined as before mentioned, to
accept the further provisions of this act, to di-
vide each township or borough into as many
school districts as may be found necessary, to
establish the site and provide for the erection of
school houses and cause the same to be erect-
ed where necessary, within their respective
townships or boroughs, to settle all disputes
which may arise respecting the same, and to!
furnish all necessary stationary and books for
the use of the schools so e$tablished. It shail
also be the duty of the school men to carefully
examine all teachers, and judge of their qualifi-
cations and character, and to contract with
teachers either by yearly salary or a certain sum
for each scholar. They shall also have a gener-
al supervision and control over the school or
schools in their respective township or borough! Miss Bennet was a great beauty in the days
with the right of visitation. Provided, That no/of Swilt and Arbuthnot. The latter speaking
child shall be taught at the public expense un-|of her presentation at the French court, says,
der the provisions of this act, for a longer peri-¢ amongst other things, I had the honor to car-
od than three years. And provided further that(ry ap Irish lady to court that was admired be-
the parents may send them for that length of yond all the ladies in France for her beauty:im
time, at such times between the ages of six and She had great honor done her : the hussar hime
fourteen years as will best suit their convenience. self was ordered to bring her the King’s cat to
Section 15. ‘That it shall be the duty of the kiss.” Perhaps kissing hands came into fash-
school-men of each borough and township, elec- ion after the saluting of tabbies went out.
ted or appointed in pursuance of the geveral ee
provisions of this act, to appoint one of their] A French author considers, that one nation
number treasurer, who shall continue in office ought to excuse another ; that an ancient and
for one year, and the treasurer so appointed, long custom may make a thing innecent in one
and each school-man wliose accounts are settled country, that is indecent in another. He instan~
in the manner hercinatier directed, shall be per-ices the case of English women walking with
sonally liable and chargeable with all moneyslother men than their husbands !
received by him in his official capacity, and an
action of debt may be instituted against the per- Patience and perseverence,
son in the name of the proper county, and tecov-{ Ina letter from Mr. Brune to Mr. Rawlins,
ered as debts of equal amount are by law recov-lJune 14,1735, in the Rodician collection, he
erable immediately after his accounts are set-'states, that one Mr. Vernon followed a butterfly
tled, or when he refuses to settle the same.inine miles before he could catch him !
Provided, That when judgment is obtained a.
gainst any detinquent under this act, there shall] At a banquet, when solving enigmas was one
be no stay of execution. of the amusements, Alexander said to his court-
Section 14. That it shall and may be lawfubiers—« What is that which did not come last
when two or more townships 2djoin, and the year, has not come this year, and will not come
lines of the said townships divide a population next year ?”’—¢ It certainly must be our arrears
that can be conveniently divided and united into of pay,” said a distressed officer, ;
one or more school districts, the sc ol men of time, standing up on his feet.
the townships so adjoining may meet and so pleased that he commande
lay off their school districts in such manner as up,and also increased his a
—————
——— 4 W—
at the same
The king wes
d bim to be paid
llowance,
That such repeal shall in no wise affect or im-|
pair any rights or interests that may at that
time be vested in any person under the said re-
cited acts, but all such rights and interests, and!
all remedies for the recovery thereof, shall be
they shall have received, noting the age of each,
and to deliver the same to one of the school men!
of their respective township, ward or borough,
on or before the first day of April in each and,
e very year, or as soon thereafter as any school
will suit the convenience of the population of
their respective townships, 2nd each township’
from which such districts shallbe formed shall
com ribute to the support of the schools, in a pro-
portion equal to the number of families belong-
man shall be appointed for such township, un-fand remain as theretofore,. nd provided fur-
. A
ing tothe townships or pati# of townships ate
d that the first meat he
was a boiled potatoe, which gd
that it any body doubted olf
ew them the potatoe for
ket,
An Irishman state
€at In America
Was roasted ; and
fact, he could sh
had it in bis poc