the legislature as in Connecticut. The powers of these boards vary greatly. The board has but little power in Kentucky or Colorado where the first type is found. In New York, New Jersey, and Indiana, however, large powers are vested in the board, and very important functions are exercised by it. In Montana and Oklahoma, in addition to power over the lower schools, the same board acts as the board of control for the state university, the agricultural and mechanical colleges, and other state institutions. The tendency has been gradually to centralise power in the board of education. Educational conditions vary widely in the individual states and from state to state. State control of education varies widely also. The very brief digest of the school laws of New York and Colorado which follows shows the type of state control found in each of these two states. DIGEST OF THE STATE LAWS OF NEW YORK AND COLORADO, 1912 III. METHODS OF ADMINISTRATION A. Levy, Custody, and Distribution of School Funds Assessment and collection of taxes: meeting. Collected by county treasurer who is custodian. Legislative apportionment: Appropriated annually by legislature. Applies exclusively to teachers' salaries. Commissioner first sets aside $10,000 for contingencies. Then apportions according to the number of teachers, except in Icities and districts of less than 5000 population, where there is a flat rate of $800. District of valuation up to $20,000 receives $200 per teacher; up to $40,000, $175 per teacher; up to $60,000, $150 per teacher; other districts and cities, $125. This is paid, provided there is a superintendent, enforcement of compulsory education law, provision for teachers' institute, and 160 days of school. County school fund: Levied by county commissioners, Public school fund: Proceeds of sale of state lands. Inviolate, interest only to be expended. State treasurer custodian. Apportioned to counties according to the number of children of school age. County treasurer custodian, after apportionment. Normal Schools: Brockport, Buffalo, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburg, and Potsdam. State Normal College, Albany. One in each district each year. If teacher does not attend if possible to attend, licence revoked. Public money must be refunded if opportunity is not given teacher to attend. Teacher is entitled to salary dur, ing attendance upon institute. Normal schools: State Teachers' College, Greeley. State divided into 13 districts. Later Institute Act, providing for six weeks' institutes for all teachers, taken up under referendum and vetoed. Children 7-14 shall go to school 160 days per year. Children 14-16 shall attend school if they are not working. Boys 14-16 who have not finished the eighth grade, and who are working, shall attend night school. Enforcement: Teachers must keep accurate records. School record certificate. If law is not complied with, one half of public money is withheld, and if not complied with within a year the money is not turned back. Children shall be sent to school, public, private, parochial, between the ages of 8 and 16, except when the child has completed the eighth grade and is 14. Child exempt: On physician's certificate. No child under 14 shall be em- Fines, on parents and employers. B |