ized. hundred and thirty-six acres of land, located in Coch- lands authorran and Hockley counties, Texas, and belonging to Greer county, Oklahoma Territory, for school purposes, as follows: They may sell for cash, or on time, or part cash and part time: Provided, That they shall not sell until they can get one dollar per acre. Should they be unable to sell for one dollar per acre, they may lease such lands for three cents per acre until they can sell for one dollar per acre. of sale shall SECTION 2. When the commissioners of Greer How proceeas county sell the hereinbefore stated lands, they shall be used. invest the proceeds in bonds of the Territory of Oklahoma, or bonds of the United States, [and] the interest accruing from those bonds shall be used with the general school fund of Greer county, Oklahoma Territory: Provided, That should they sell on time, or part time, they shall have the debt made secure, and charge not less than six per centum interest, the same being used in the general school fund as hereinbefore provided: Provided, further, That the principal shall not be used for any other purpose except for a permanent school fund to be kept invested in bonds as herein before provided for, and the interest only used in the general school fund. The bondsmen of those who handle the funds shall be responsible for the safe investment thereof. SECTION 3. This act shall be in force and effect from and after its passage and approval. AN ACT relating to schools, and amendatory of section 12, article 1, chapter Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of county into SECTION 1. That section 12, of article 1, chapter 73, Division of of the statutes of Oklahoma, be, and the same is school hereby amended to read as follows: Section 12. It districts shall be the duty of the county superintendent of public instruction to divide the county into a convenient number of school districts and to change such districts when the interests of the people may require it, by making them conform to existing topographical or physical conditions; but only after twenty days notice thereof, by written notice posted in at least five public places in the district or districts so affected; but no district shall be formed containing less than eight persons of school age, and no district having a bonded indebtedness shall be so changed that such indebtedness shall exceed four per cent. of the assessed property valuation of such district: Provided, That no district shall be changed under the provisions of this act, except upon a petition to the county superintendent, signed by at least one third of the qualified electors of such district: Provided further, That one-fourth of the qualified electors of any district affected by such change may join in appeal to the board of county commissioners from the action of the county superintendent, and their decision shall be final: Provided, That notice of such appeal shall be served on the county superintendent within ten days after the time of posting the formation or alteration of such district. Such notice shall be in writing and shall state fully the objections to the action of the county superintendent, a copy of which shall be filed with the county clerk and also with the clerks of all the districts affected by such alteration: Provided, also, That such appeal shall be heard and decided by a majority of the board of county commissioners at their next regular meeting, and, if such appeal is not sustained by them, the county superintendent shall proceed to appoint the time and place for said first district meeting, which shall then proceed as by law required. Such superintendent shall number school districts when they are formed, and he shall keep in a book for that purpose, a description of the boundaries of each school district and part of district in his county with a plat of same, date of organization, date and full record of all changes of boundaries, and a list of district officers in his county, the date of election or appointment and and the time the term of each is to expire. formation of colored SECTION 2. The provisions of this act shall not be Not to affect construed as limiting the operation of any act or parts white and of acts providing for the formation of separate dis- districts. tricts for white and colored children, but the formation of any district under such act shall be construed to be the formation of a new district with like effect as though such new district was formed in territory unorganized for school purposes. SECTION 3. All acts and parts of acts so far as they conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval. Approved March 11, 1897. AN ACT relating to teachers' certificates and amendatory of sections 4, 5, 6 and 8, article 5, chapter 73, statutes of Oklahoma. Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Oklahoma: first grade. SECTION 1. That section 4, of article 5, of chapter Certificates, 73, statutes of Oklahoma Territory, 1893, be, and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: Section 4. Certificates of the first grade shall certify that the person to whom issued is proficient in and fully qualified to teach orthography, reading, writing, English, grammar, composition, geography, arithmetic, United States history, book-keeping, physiology and hygeine, the theory and practice of teaching, civil government, elements of natural philosophy; and shall not be issued to persons under twenty years of age, nor to such as have not taught successfully twelve school months: Provided, That no person who receives a first grade certificate shall make a general average of less than ninety per cent., and in no case shall a person receive a certificate of the first grade who shall fall below seventy per cent. in any one branch. S. L,- -18 Certificates, second grade. Certificates, third grade. Temporary certificates, when granted. Repeal. SECTION 2. That section 5, of article 5, of chapter 73, statutes of Oklahoma Territory, 1893, be, and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: Section 5. Certificates of the second grade may be issued to persons not less than eighteen years of age, who shall fully satisfy the board as to their ability to teach all the branches prescribed for first grade certificates, except book-keeping, and the elements of natural philosophy, and who have taught successfully three school months: Provided, That no person who receives a second grade certificate shall make a general average of less than eighty per cent., and in no case shall a person receive a certificate of the second grade who falls below sixty per cent. in any one branch. SECTION 3. That section 6, of article 5, of chapter 73, statutes of Oklahoma Territory, 1893, be, and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: Section 6. Certificates of the third grade shall certify that the person to whom issued is not under sixteen years of age and is proficient in and fully qualified to teach all the branches prescribed for a second grade certificate, except civil government, and made an average of not less than seventy per cent., and not below fifty per cent., in any one branch, and no third grade certificate shall be issued more than twice to the same person. SECTION 4. That section 8, of article 5, of chapter 73, be amended to read as follows: [Section 8.] The county superintendent, upon request made in writing by any district board, and after satisfying himself by examination of the ability or proficiency of the applicant, may grant a temporary certificate in case of necessity, valid only in the designated district, and valid only until the next regular examination by the county board of examiners: Provided, That no such temporary certificate shall be granted to any applicant who has failed in examination at any such regular meeting of the board, nor shall such certificate be granted twice to the same person: Provided, further, That the county superintendent shall not be compelled to charge for the issuance of temporary certificates. SECTION 5. All laws in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval. Approved March 12, 1897. ARTICLE 7.-SCHOOL TAX LEVIES BY CITIES. SECTION. SECTION. 1. School boards to make levies 2. Time of taking effect. and certify same to county AN ACT to amend section 15, of article 7, of chapter 73, of the statutes of Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Oklahoma. to make SECTION 1. That section 15, of article 7, of chapter School boards 73, of the statutes of Oklahoma, of 1893, be amended levies, and to certify to read as follows: Section 15. That the board of same to education shall, on or before the 15th day of June of county clerk. each year, levy a tax for the support of the schools of the first class for the fiscal year next ensuing, not exceeding in any one year fifteen mills on the dollar on all taxable property within the school district which is taxable according to the laws of the Territory of Oklahoma. That such levy shall be certified by the clerk of the board of education to the county clerk who is hereby authorized and required to place the same on the tax roll of said county to be collected by the treasurer of the county as are other taxes, and paid over by him. That the tax so levied shall be a separate, distinct and specific fund for the support of the schools for the fiscal year for which such tax is levied. That all debts, contracts and obligations made and entered into by the board of education in excess of eighty per cent. of the tax so levied shall be illegal and shall not be charged against the school district. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval. Approved March 12, 1897. |