II. A teacher is deemed qualified by law, if he possesses a normal school diploma, or a State certificate (unannulled), or an unexpired certificate given by the school commissioner of the district in which he is to teach, or by the school officer of the city or village in which he is employed, authorized by special act to grant such certificate. III. No person shall be deemed to be qualified to teach public schools who is under the age of 16 years. IV. No legal contract can be made with a person to teach school, unless said person is duly qualified by law by holding a certificate of qualification. V. Trustees have sole power to hire teachers and determine the wages to be paid, without reference to a vote of the district. VI. Whenever the school commissioner of a district shall certify in writing, that more than $500 are necessary for building a new school house, the inhabitants may vote such sum as the commissioner approves of, and the trustees may legally levy the tax for the same. VII. Persons wilfully disturbing a school or school meeting or an assemblage of persons occupying a school house for the purpose of receiving instruction, shall forfeit $25.00. VIII. Trustees may permit the school house when unoccupied to be used for educational purposes, or for religious meetings; but if one of the three trustees objects to such use it can not be permitted. IX. Trustees alone have the power to expel a pupil from school for habitual misconduct, or when afflicted with a contagious disease. X. No school house is allowed to be built in this state until the plan, so far as ventilation, heating, and lighting is concerned, shall be approved in writing by the school commissioner in whose district such school house is to be built. XI. A sole trustee can hire a teacher for a term that commences before the expiration of his official term. XII. A school tax for building or repairing may be raised in equal instalments: but the last one shall not extend beyond ten years from the time the vote was taken. XIII. Trustees may be removed from office, for wilful neglect of duties, by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. XIV. Trustees have the custody of the school house or houses and appurtenances. XV. Trustees are authorized to prescribe a course of study in the school under their charge. XVI. The official acts of two trustees, without notifying or consulting the third, are illegal and void. SCHOOL MONEYS. I. The school commissioners must apportion the public money among their several districts, commencing on the third Tuesday of March in each year. II. The State school moneys apportioned in 1885, were derived from the following sources, and will not be changed much unless the Legislature should increase the State tax. For a full account of the sources and the distribution of these funds, see article in the SCHOOL BULLETIN for June, 1886. From the United States Deposit Fund.. $ 75,000. From the Common School Fund....... From the State School Tax.... 170,000. 2,839,600. $3,084,600 III. Thus the school moneys for the year ending July 31, 1895, were derived as follows: From the United States Deposit Fund.. $ 75,000. From the Common School Fund.. From the State School Tax... Total 170,000. 3,615,500. $3,860,500. IV. Every school district in the State now taught by a qualified teacher for 32 weeks (a school year), is entitled to a district quota of $100; and an additional quota of $100 for each additional teacher employed for 32 weeks in the district. There were in 1895 25,896 district quotas in the State. V. The balance of the public money is apportioned among the schools in proportion to aggregate attendance. The amount thus apportioned for 1894-5 was $1,015,300. LEGAL HOLIDAYS. By common consent and practice some important days have been recognized by the people of this State and other States of the Union as holidays. The following days show when holidays were recognized by the statute law in the State of New York. 1849. January 1 (New Year's day). December 25 (Christmas day). And any other day designated by the Governor of the State or the President of the United States for fasting or thanksgiving. 1895. Feb. 12 (Lincoln's birth day). 1865. February 22 (Washington's birth day). 1872. Any general State election day. 1873. May 30 (Decoration day). 1887. The first Monday in September (Labor day). Every Saturday from 12 o'clock noon till 12 o'clock midnight. TOWN. What is a Town? How many towns in your county? See page xiii.. ·How many towns in New York State? See page xiii. When is the annual Town Meeting held? See pages 39, 71.. What Officers preside at a town meeting, to take and deposit the ballots offered? A majority of the justices of the peace of the town and town clerk constitute the board for receiving and canvassing the votes at a town meeting. What are the Names of the officers in a town, the Number of officials in each, and their Terms of office? I. One Supervisor, elected for two years. II. One Town Clerk, elected for two years. III. Four Justices of the Peace, elected for four years. IV. Three Assessors, elected for three years. V. One or three Highway Commissioners, as the electors may determine; if one be elected, the term is two years; if three, the term is three years. VI. One or two Overseers of the Poor, as the electors may determine; term one year. VII. One Collector, elected for one year. VIII. Constables, not to exceed five; term one year. IX. One Game Constable; term one year. X. Three Excise Commissioners; term three years. XI. Three Inspectors of Election; term one year. XII. In some villages and cities a Sealer of Weights and Measures. DUTIES. What are some of their Duties? I. SUPERVISORS. I. To receive the school money belonging to the town, it out by order of the trustees. and pay II. To receive other money belonging to the town, and disburse the same according to law. III. To meet with the other supervisors of the county as a "Board of County Canvassers." IV. To meet with the other supervisors of the county as a "Board of Supervisors"; to audit all lawful accounts against the county, make out the tax lists and cause them to be collected; and perform such other acts of legislation as the constitution and statute laws have conferred upon them. II. TOWN CLERK. I. To keep the records of the town. II. To keep in his custody such books and papers as belong to the town. III. To act as clerk of the town meetings. IV. To file such papers as properly belong to his office; and to perform the general clerical duties for the town. III. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. I. To be the judicial officers for the town. II. To issue warrants for the arrest of persons accused of committing crimes, and also summonses for the purpose of bringing before them persons for trial in civil actions. III. To take acknowledgment of conveyances, administer oaths, act as inspectors at the town meeting, etc. IV. ASSESSORS. I. To make an inventory of the real estate in the town, naming the number of acres owned by each person, and fixing upon the same a valuation in proportion to its worth. II. To make an inventory of the personal property held by the several persons in the town, such as notes, mortgages, etc., which with the real estate forms the basis for taxes. V. HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS. I. To have the care and general supervision of the highways and bridges II. To lay out new roads, when directed by a jury legally called for that purpose, and discontinue others when directed by the same authority. III. To divide the town into districts, and appoint overseers for the same. VI. OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. To look after and provide for, either at home or in the county house, such as are in indigent circumstances. VII. COLLECTOR. I. To give a bond to the supervisor for double the amount to be collected, with one or more sureties for the faithful performance of his duties. II. To receive the tax list and warrant, and collect the tax and pay it over as directed. VIII. CONSTABLES. 1. To serve summonses issued by the justices. |