"In reply to your circular in the Journal, I am willing to make the attempt to conduct a set of meteorological observations. I have a barometer and will get any other instruments that may be necessary. * * * As to the proposed cabinet, I shall endeavor to furnish at least one hundred specimens for deposit, and quantities of some kinds Bfor exchange, for the benefit of the cabinet.”—A. H., Marlboro, O. De "It is with no little degree of interest that I have been watching the course taken by the State Teachers' Association, in lending so potent a helping hand, for the advancement of Science; not less by investigation than by instruction. While all that has been done is praiseworthy and productive of most beneficial results, my partiality for the Natural Sciences finds for me peculiar gratification in the active endeavors, now making, to encourage among teachers original investigation, in this profitable, fruitful, and fascinating department of knowledge. I am not a member of the Association,' nor am I a teacher in a public school, yet engaged in teaching, and having at heart the educational interests of the people, I gladly respond to the circular contained in the March issue of the Journal of Education.

It is at present my intention to direct my attention to Meteorological phenomena and Geological investigation. To further the former object, I am about to purchase Barometer, Thermometer, Rain-gauge, etc. ** With deep and abiding interest in the great work now going on, I am, very truly yours."-W. H. Y., Worthington, O.

"Having read the articles in the Journal of Education on 'noting and recording Meteorological and Periodical Phenomena,' I have been induced to direct my attention, as circumstances will permit, to this method of obtaining useful and pleasing knowledge. I am convinced that if teachers would devote more time to the study of Nature they would be better prepared, both mentally and physically, for their arduous labors. If it will not be robbing Ohio Teachers, I would like a copy of Directions for collecting, preserving, and transporting specimens of Natural History.' * I hope that Illinois will soon follow her sister Ohio in her noble efforts to cultivate in her youth a love for the works of Nature."-N. F. A., Napierville, Ill.

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The undersigned has still on hand one hundred or more copies of the Smithsonian Pamphlet entitled "Directions for collecting, preserving, and Transporting Specimens of Natural History," which he will gladly mail to those who desire it, as follows: One copy for four letter stamps, or three for eight stamps. He has also a large number of

blanks for Meteorological and for Periodical Phenomena which he will mail to those who request it without charge. Address,-"S. N. Sanford, Granville, O."

Answers to Questions on the School Law.

BY THE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.

QUESTION 43.-The clerk of a board of school examiners in a certain county, presented to the county auditor, a bill for a number of days employed in discharging the duties of said office, under the 46th section of the school law, and declared to said auditor his readiness to substantiate the same by oath, if required to do so; but said auditor considered it necessary to go behind the account and inquire if any certificates were given by the board of examiners at any other times than the regular meetings, contending that said examiners were not entitled to compensation for services rendered at any other than the meetings regularly fixed upon by the examiners, and of which due notice had been published in some newspaper of general circulation in the county, according to the provisions of section 45 of the school law. What is the rule on this subject?

ANSWER-It is the intention of the law that no unnecessary meetings of the board of school examiners should be held, and that they should be paid only for the "time necessarily engaged in official service," as stated in section 46. In other States the custom is to appoint four regular meetings for the examination of teachers in each year, one just before the usual time of opening the winter schools, and another a few weeks later; and the same is done in regard to the summer schools. But it may happen that in some of the sub-districts teachers have not been engaged when such examinations are held, or that teachers have been prevented from being present by sudden illness or some other casualty. Now, in case the local directors are not willing to employ a person as teacher until he shall have first obtained a proper certificate, shall the opening of their schools be postponed until the next regularly appointed meeting of the examiners? Or shall they go in search of another person who holds a proper certifi cate? The rule on this subject, which I shall recognize and approve is, that school examiners may, for urgent reasons, hold a special meeting for the examination of such candidates as may have been prevented from attending the regular meetings of the board, by casualties beyond their control, and for the time thus employed they will be legally entitled to receive compensation at the rate of $1.50 per day.

QUESTION 44.-Is the township clerk authorized to draw an order on the township treasurer in favor of a teacher, for the whole amount certified to be due him by any two of the local directors of the proper school-district in which he had taught a school four months, although he did not receive his certificate till he had taught one month?

ANSWER. He is thus authorized for the teacher's certificate being in full force and vigor at the time he applies for his order on the treasurer, the clerk cannot disregard it, nor the certificate of the local directors. If, however, the

teacher's certificate should bear date at so late a period in the term, as to amount to prima facie evidence that all was not right, it would be very proper for the township clerk to investigate the facts in the case.

QUESTION 45.-When one local director only is to be elected at the annual subdistrict meeting, and two persons receive an equal number of votes for the office, how is the election to be decided?

QUESTION 46.-Does the sub-district clerk hold his office as such, during his continuance in office as director, or one year only?

ANSWERS.-A "tie vote" in such a case as the one submitted, is tantamount to a "failure to meet and elect," and the remedy for such an event, is provided for in section four of the school law.

After waiting a reasonable time for a special meeting of the voters to be called as prescribed in said section, if none be called, the township clerk may fill the vacancy by appointment, as provided in section three.

The clerk of a sub-district holds his office as such, for one year, or until a successor shall be elected.

The rule as well as the practice in boards of education, and all similar boards, so far as my information extends on this subject, is for such boards to re-organize annually in all cases where a part of their members are elected, and a part of them go out of office at the end of each year.

QUESTION 47.- Last October, our township board of education, at a regular session, detached James Douglas and David Mackey from district No. and attached them to district No. 3. The land of Douglas is in sight of the schoolhouse in district No. 1, and the land of Mackey joins that of Douglas. About a year and a half since, Douglas paid quite a heavy tax for building a school-house in district No. 1; indeed he has done more towards keeping up a school in said district than any other person in it. His residence is two miles and a half from the school-house in district No. 3, to which he has been recently attached by order of the board. Besides, district No. 3 has levied a tax this year of $400 for building a new school-house, of which Douglas and Mackey will be obliged to bear their proportion. Is the action of said board just and legal?

ANSWER. From the above facts, neither the reason nor the object of thus detaching Messrs. Douglas and Mackey from district No. 1 appears; or why the township board should compel them to send their children two and a half miles to school, when by remaining in district No. 1, they would be within a mile or a mile and a half of a school house. It is true that the new school law, in section 14, declares that no sub district shall contain less than sixty resident scholars by enumeration, except in cases where, in the opinion of the board, it is necessary to reduce the number. Surely such necessity does not exist in all cases where, in order to include sixty scholars, some would be compelled to walk two and a half miles or even two miles, unless the scholars were a dozen years old or more, and boys at that. Messrs. Douglas and Mackey ought not then to be detached for the mere purpose of increasing the enumeration in district No. 3. The framers of the law never contemplated that township boards should act in an arbitrary manner, but that they would do to others as they would deem it reasonable that others should do to them.

In dividing the proceeds of the township levy raised for the purpose of prolonging the sub-district schools, township boards may so distribute it as to give all the districts enough to keep their schools in session at least seven months in each year according to the last clause of section 24.

In order that a school may be continued seven months, it is not absolutely

necessary that it should have sixty scholars; for the township boards may assist the weak districts by giving them more than their pro rata share of the funds raised on the property of the township whenever there is a necessity for it; and there would be such a necessity in all cases where the district could not be enlarged without requiring the scholars to walk an unreasonable distance.

It is not understood how Messrs. Douglas and Mackey were obliged to pay their winter schooling, for the new school law does not authorize local directors, or township boards, to impose rate bills or tuition fees. See section 63 of the new school law.

It is stated in the case submitted, that sub-district No. 3 has levied a tax of some $400 for building a school house. It is not perceived how a sub-district or its directors can levy such a tax; for it is made the duty of township boards to include in their estimates, to be certified to the county auditor on or before the first Monday in June, the amount of money necessary for providing fuel, purchasing school house sites, erecting, repairing and furnishing school houses; and it is made the duty of said auditor to assess the same upon the taxable property of said township. The only exception to this rule is found in Sec. 23, which, in certain cases authorizes township boards to certify to the county auditor that a portion of the cost of a school house is to be assessed upon the property of the district in which the school house is to be erected, and the balance on the township at large.

Sec. 23 contains an exception to the general rule; but this exception must be for such reasons as are stated in Sec. 23. It is evident, from the numerous letters of which the department is in the almost daily reception, that in many cases township boards have mistaken the exception for the general rule in regard to the mode of providing for the cost of school houses, school house sites, fuel, repairs, school furniture and all school expenses other than the payment of teachers. The amount of money for defraying all such expenses should be assessed on the taxable property of the township, as provided in the first clause of Sec. 22, with the single exception of the cost of a new school house; and such exception should not be made unless there existed at the time the new school law took effect, a very great disparity among the several districts in regard to the burdens of taxation previously borne for the purpose of erecting school houses. This exception to the general rule was created for the sole purpose of preventing a transition from the old to the new law, from proving prejudicial to the interests of those who had, a short time previous, incurred heavy expenses for new school houses. These exceptions must wholly cease in a year or two; for they greatly increase the labor of township boards, produce an unnecessary complexity in our system of taxation, subject county auditors to a very great loss of time, seriously annoying and perplexing them. On this account many of them have determined not to regard this exception after the present year; and I am inclined to the opinion that they are justified by law in coming to such determination. By a continuance of these exceptions to the general rule, the equality of educational privileges among the several sub-districts at which the law aims, would be thwarted.

QUESTION 48.-The citizens of school district No. 7, Union township, Hancock county, state the subjoined facts, in relation to the above district, viz: Seveneighths of the population of said district are on the two south sections of said district in and near the village of Cannonsburg. The district has had a site which is central to the two south sections, and a school house on it for the last twelve or fourteen years. Five or six families, now residing on the east, west, and southwest sections of the present site, are obliged to send from one to one and

a half miles; and the two or three families residing on the north sections send an equal distance. The board of education have ordered the erection of the school houses at the geographical centers of the districts. What is the rule and the law on this subject?

ANSWER.-In section 14, of the new school act, it is declared that, "in the location of schools, the board shall have reference to population and neighborhood, paying due regard to any school house already built or site procured, as well as to all other circumstances proper to be considered, so as to promote the best interests of the schools. Hence it would seem it is not the intention of the Legislature to regard, in all cases, the geographical center of a district as the proper site for a school house; nor should the center as to population determine the site, for such a rule might oppress the minority.

Leaving out of consideration the school house already erected and the site procured, it might be a safe rule to regard as a suitable site some point nearly intermediate the geographical center, and the center as to population. It is better that half a dozen children should be required to walk a distance of somewhat more than a mile, than that fifty children should be compelled to walk that distance to school.

If the two northern sections of said district are rapidly increasing in population, or are likely to so increase in the course of a few years, that fact should be taken into the account in locating the site; or if there is a prospect that the two northern sections will soon have a population sufficient for a separate school, it would seem best not to change the old site in the southern sections. But if there is no probability that more than one school will be required for the population of the four sections, then regard should be paid to the present, as well as prospective distribution of the population of the entire district.

In adjusting this matter, the members of the board should, in imagination at least, endeavor to place themselves in the several situations and condition of the inhabitants of the entire district, and from these several points of view, carefully consider the interests of all, and then fix upon a site which will accommodate the greatest number, and, at the same time, seriously incommode none.

QUESTION 49.-Do township boards of education possess the legal power to distribute the proceeds of the State levy for schools, to the several districts of their townships, in any other manner than according to the enumeration of schools, as taken in the month of October, immediately preceding the time of such distribution? And does the subsequent transfer of scholars by the action of township boards of education from one district to another authorize said board to deviate from the rule of distribution as laid down in section 24 of the school law?

ANSWER. After a careful examination of the law, and of the decisions and practice in other States under similar laws, I am constrained to conclude that it was not the intention of the framers of our law that township boards of education should in any case deviate from the rule of enumeration as stated above, so far as the distribution of the money derived from the State levy is concerned. The sole object of taking such enumeration near the close of the school year, is, that township boards may have a uniform and fixed rule or mode of distributing the school moneys derived from the State, and that each sub-district may know what to rely on.

QUESTION 50.-Whose duty is it to determine what text books shall be used in the common schools ?

ANSWER.-In numerous instances I have been requested to recommend a series of text books for the common schools of this State. My uniform response to