Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1903 — Some Important Educational Bills. [ARTICLE]

Some Important Educational Bills.

Senator Wolcott introduced two bills which were referred to the committee on education. One bill authorizes a new state offioer, a high school inspector, who shall draw a salary of $2,500 a year. It shall be his duty to inspect the high sohools of the state, to system* atize their courses and to make them more nniform. The bill is indorsed by the State Board of Education, the State Teachers’ association and by the County Superintendents’ association. The other bill authorizes the State Board of Education to contract with publishing companies for primers to be famished at a cost of not more than 10 cents eaoh and and their nse to be optional in cities of more than 5,000 Emulation. Senator Woloott saysthere is a demand among teachers Tor another book a grade below the present first reader. Senator Davis of Bloomfield introduced a bill to repeal the truanoy law. The bill vests the duties of the truant officer in the township trustees. It provides that parents may teach their children the rudiments and that these children need not be sent to school- The bill specifies that if parents fail to teaoh their children and also fail to send them to school they shall be gnilty of a misdemeanor and suit may be brought by the township trustee on ten days’ notice. Senator Davis declares that the truant officers in most oases is a tyrant who exeroises the fnnotions of his office without regard to oironmstances.