LB SB ED /0/O GIFT OF Rhode Island Education Circulars LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND RELATING TO EDUCATION IN FORCE JANUARY FIRST 1910 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STATE OF RHODE ISLAND 1910 Rhode Island Education Circulars LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND RELATING TO EDUCATION BEING EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION, GENERAL LAWS, REVISION OF 1909, and PUBLIC LAWS of the STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, PROVID- ING FOR STATE AND LOCAL SUPPORT AND CONTROL OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC LIBRA- RIES, and OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN FORCE JANUARY FIRST 1910 COMPILED BY WALTER E. RANGER Commissioner of Public Schools PROVIDENCE E. L. FREEMAN COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS 1910 1 V CONTENTS. PART I. EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF RHODE^ISLAND. PART II. TITLE X, OF THE GENERAL LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND, REVISION OF 1909, OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. CHAPTER 63. Of the board of education. CHAPTER 64. Of the commissioner of public schools. CHAPTER 65. Of the appropriation for public schools. CHAPTER 66. Of the powers and duties of towns and of the town treasurer and town clerk, relating to public schools. CHAPTER 67. Of the powers and duties of school committees. CHAPTER 68. Of teachers. CHAPTER 69. Of the pensioning of school teachers in this state. CHAPTER 70. Of legal proceedings relating to public schools. CHAPTER 71. Of the normal school, teachers' institutes and lectures. CHAPTER 72. Of truant children and of the attendance of children in the public schools. CHAPTER 73. General provisions relating to public schools. CHAPTER 74. General provisions to secure a more uniform high standard, in the public schools of this state. CHAPTER 75. Of enabling towns to condemn land for school purposes. CHAPTER 76. Of the Rhode Island College, of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. CHAPTER 77. Of state beneficiaries at the Rhode Island School of Design. CHAPTER 78. Of factory inspection. PART III. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS OF THE GENERAL LAWS, REVISION OF 1909, RELATING TO EDUCATION. CHAPTER 32. Of the construction of statutes. CHAPTER 40. Of the permanent school fund. CHAPTER 41. Of the public records. 247910 4 " ' 'CONTENTS. CHAPTER 46. Of the powers of ... towns. (Schools and libraries.) CHAPTER 53. Of the establishment and control of free public libraries by towns . CHAPTER 56. Of property liable to, and exempt from, taxation. CHAPTER 59. Of assessing and collecting poll taxes. (Applied to schools.) CHAPTER 100. Of provision for the education of deaf, blind, and imbecile children. CHAPTER 101. Of the Rhode Island Institute for the Deaf. CHAPTER 102. Of the State Home and School for Children. CHAPTER 103. Of the establishment, maintenance, management and control of the Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded. CHAPTER 123. Of the suppression of intemperance. CHAPTER 129. Of protection to life from fire in certain buildings. CHAPTER 131. Of diminishing danger to life in case of fire. CHAPTER 135. Of dogs (license fees applied to schools). CHAPTER 201. Of bills of exchange and promissory notes, and of legal interest (legal holidays). CHAPTER 212. Of incorporation. CHAPTER 344. Of offences against the public peace and property. CHAPTER 345. Of offences against private property. CHAPTER 349. Of offences against public policy. PART IV. PUBLIC LAWS, RELATING TO EDUCATION, ENACTED IN 1909. CHAPTER 383. Of the Rhode Island State College. CHAPTER 401. Of the pensioning of school teachers in this state. CHAPTER 417. Of the Rhode Island State College. CHAPTER 431. Of offences against the person. CHAPTER 446. Of high schools. CHAPTER 458. Of teachers. PART I, EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF RHODE ISLAND. ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS. SECTION 2. Object of government. How laws should be made and burdens dis- tributed. 3. Religious freedom secured. ARTICLE IX. QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE. SECTION 1. Qualified electors only eligible. ARTICLE XII. EDUCATION. SECTION 1. Duty of general assembly to pro- mote public schools, etc. 2. The permanent public school fund. 3. Donations for support of public schools. 4. Powers of general assembly under this article. PREAMBLE. WE, the people of the State of Rhode Island and Provi- Preamble, dence Plantations, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and to transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding genera- tions, do ordain and establish this constitution of government. ARTICLE I. Declaration of Certain Constitutional Rights and Principles. In order effectually to secure the religious and political free- Declaration, dom established by our venerated ancestors, and to preserve the same for our posterity, we do declare that the essential and LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Objects of free governments. How laws should be made. Religious free- dom secured. unquestionable rights and principles hereinafter mentioned shall be established, maintained and preserved, and shall be of para- mount obligation in all legislative, judicial, and executive pro- ceedings. SECTION 2. All free governments are instituted for the pro- tection, safety and happiness of the people. All laws, therefore, should be made for the good of the whole; and the burdens of the state ought to be fairly distributed among its citizens. SEC. 3. Whereas Almighty God hath created the mind free; and all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burdens, or by civil incapacitations, tend to beget habits of hy- pocrisy and meanness; and whereas a principal object of our venerable ancestors, in their migration to this country and their settlement of this state, was, as they expressed it, to hold forth a lively experiment, that a flourishing civil state may stand and be best maintained with full liberty in religious concernments: we, therefore, declare that no man shall be compelled to fre- quent or to support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatever, except in fulfillment of his own voluntary contract ;. nor enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods; nor disqualified from holding any office; nor otherwise suffer on account of his religious belief; and that every man shall be free to worship God according to the dictates of his own con- science, and to profess and by argument to maintain his opin- ion in matters of religion ; and that the same shall in no wise di- minish, enlarge, or affect his civil capacity. ARTICLE IX. Of Qualifications for Office. Qualified SECTION 1. No person shall be eligible to any civil office, electors only eligible. (except the office of school committee), unless he be a quali- fied elector for such office. FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF RHODE ISLAND. 7 ARTICLE XII. Of Education. SECTION 1. The diffusion of knowledge, as well as of virtue, Duty of the 1 general as- among the people, being essential to the preservation of their mSepubiS"*" rights and liberties, it shall be the duty of the general assembly ucation. and to promote public schools, and to adopt all means which they may deem necessary and proper to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education. SEC. 2. The money which now is or which may hereafter The permanent public school be appropriated by law for the establishment of a permanent fund - fund for the support of public schools, shall be securely in- vested, and remain a perpetual fund for that purpose. SEC. 3. All donations for the support of public schools, or Donations for support of for other purposes of education, which may be received by the P ublic schools. general assembly, shall be applied according to the terms pre- scribed by the donors. SEC. 4. The general assembly shall make all necessary pro- p **\ of the visions by law for carrying this article into effect. They shall th b lrtiTe der not divert said money or fund from the aforesaid uses, nor borrow, appropriate, or use the same, or any part thereof, for any other purpose, Under any pretence whatsoever. PART II. TITLE X OF THE GENERAL LAWS, OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 51. 13 R. I. 454. Constitution and duty of the board. 22 R. I. 658. Division and term of office of members. CHAPTER 63. Of the Board of Education. SECTION 1. Board of education, how consti- tuted, and duties of. 2. How divided, and term of office of members. 3. Vacancies, how filled. 4. Officers of the board. 5. To hold quarterly meetings, and prescribe rules. 6. Appropriation for free public libra- ries. 7. Board to prescribe conditions on which libraries may receive aid. 8. Travelling libraries, how established. SECTION 9. Payments, how to be made. 10. Annual reports by officers of schools^ receiving state aid. 11. Private schools are to be registered. 12. Registers and blanks. 13. Chapter 101 unaffected. 14. Annual report. 15. Members and secretary of state board of education to be paid necessary expenses incurred in discharge of official duties. 16. Provision for the instruction of adult blind residents of this state. SECTION 1. The general supervision and control of the public schools of the state, with such high schools, normal schools and normal institutes, as are or may be established and maintained wholly or in part by the state, shall be vested in a state board of education, which shall consist of the governor and the lieutenant- governor, as members by virtue of their office, and of one other member from each of the counties of the state, with the excep- tion of Providence county, which shall have two other members. The board of education shall elect the commissioner of public schools. SEC. 2. The members of the board of education shall con- tinue to be divided into three classes, and to hold their offices until the terms for which they were respectively elected shall have expired. BOARD OF EDUCATION. 9 SEC. 3. Two members of the board of education shall be Y,t c 5 ncies - how ruled. elected annually by the general assembly in grand committee, at j^^Too? 9 ' the January session, from the counties represented on the board by the members whose terms of office will next expire to succeed such members. The members so elected shall hold their offices until the first day of February in the third year after their election. Any vacancy which may occur in said board shall be filled by the general assembly for any unexpired term by the election of some person from the county then lacking its repre- sentation on said board. SEC. 4. The governor shall be president, and the commis- officers, sioner of public schools shall be secretary of the board of educa- tion. SEC. 5. The board of education shall hold quarterly meet- Meetings, ings in the first week of March, June, September and December of each year, at the office of the commissioner of public schools, and may hold special meetings at the call of the president or secretary. They shall prescribe, and cause to be enforced, all rules and regulations necessary for carrying into effect the laws in relation to public schools. SEC. 6. The board of education may cause to be paid an- Free public nually to and for the use of each free public library established be aided, and maintained in the state, and to be expended in the purchase of books therefor, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars for the first five hundred volumes included in such library, and twenty-five dollars for every additional five hundred volumes therein: Provided, that the annual payment for the benefit of any one such library shall not exceed the sum of five hundred dollars. SEC. 7. The board of education shall from time to time estab- B F d to pre- scribe condi- lish rules prescribing the character of the books which shall con- }!? mjy h stitute such a library as will be entitled to the benefits conferred by the preceding section, regulating the management of such library so as to secure the free use of the same to the people of the town and neighborhood in which it shall be established, and 10 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. directing the mode in which the sums paid in pursuance of this chapter shall be expended. No library shall receive any benefit under the foregoing provisions, unless such rules shall have been complied with by those in charge thereof, nor until they shall have furnished to said board satisfactory evidence of the num- ber and character of the books contained in said library. board of education is hereby authorized and ed andmain- h ~ empowered to establish and maintain a system of travelling Pub. Laws, libraries within the state, to render aid to libraries which estab- 1451, April 19, lish branch or visiting libraries in schools or places approved by said board, and to render aid to associations which operate n ' travelling libraries. The sum of one thousand dollars is hereby annually appropriated to carry into effect the provisions of this section, to be paid by the general treasurer on the order of the state auditor upon the presentation of vouchers approved by said board. u> a be a Sa t de how SEC. 9. Every payment herein authorized shall be made by the general treasurer upon the order of the commissioner of pub- lic schools, approved by the board of education, and payable to the librarian or other person having charge of such library or of the funds applied to its support designated by said board. b nn officerfo r f s ^ EC< 10. The omcers > or persons in charge of all schools fng8?ate e Jfd! v " and educational institutions supported wholly or in part by this state, whether entirely devoted to education or only partially so, shall make a report annually in the month of July to the state board of education, of such facts as shall show the number of pupils and instructors, the courses of study, cost of maintenance, and general needs and conditions of the school or institution. are V to be C regis- ^ EC * **' ^ private schools or institutions of learning in this state shall be registered at the office of the state board of educa- tion, said registry showing location, name, officers or persons in charge, grade of instruction, and common language used in teaching. They shall also make a report annually in the month of July, to the state board of education, showing the number of BOARD OF EDUCATION. 11 different pupils enrolled, the average attendance, and the num- ber of teachers employed. SEC. 12. The board shall provide registers for all such biSs ersand schools and institutions, and shall prepare blank forms of in- quiry for the facts called for in the two sections next preceding, and in doing so shall have special reference to the requirements of the bureau of education at Washington. SEC. 13. Nothing in the three sections next preceding shall Unaffected 01 be so construed as to repeal, effect, or modify the provisions of chapter one hundred and one. SEC. 14. The board of education shall make an annual report pub U Laws P 809 to the general assembly at its January session. Jan * 29> 1J SEC. 15. The members of said board shall receive no com- O a f nd pensation for their services, but the general treasurer shall pay, Id^JatkSto be paid necessary upon the order of the state auditor, the necessary expenses of expenses in- curred in dis- the members and secretary of the board, incurred in the dis- ciS r SSt? e f s ffi " charge of their official duties, from any moneys in the treasury 1534, ApTu 21, 1 Qf)Q not otherwise appropriated, upon the receipt of properly au- thenticated vouchers. SEC. 16. The state board of education is hereby authorized Provision for the instruction and empowered to provide for the instruction, at their homes, of of ?duit blind residents of this adult blind residents of this state, upon such conditions and in p ta b e ' Lawg . such manner as may seem proper to said board; and the sum ilos! A of twenty-five hundred dollars is hereby annually appropriated for the purpose of carrying the provisions of this section into effect; and the state auditor is hereby directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer to pay the bills created hereunder, when properly authenticated by said board. 12 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 52. 13 R. I. 454. CHAPTER 64. Of the Commissioner of Public Schools. SECTION 1. Commissioner, how elected. 2. May employ clerical assistance. 3. Duties of the commissioner. 4. To secure uniformity of text-books. 5. To prepare and distribute pro- gramme for Arbor Day. . 6. To report to the general assembly. 7. Commissioner of public schools to prepare programme of exercises for Grand Army Flag Day. 8. Fourth day of May established as "Rhode Island Independence Day." SECTION 9. On each fourth day of May, a salute of 13 guns is to be fired, and state and national flags shall be dis- played on all armories and state buildings. 10. To be observed with patriotic ex- ercises in all public schools. 11. Commissioner of public schools to prepare a programme of patriotic exercises for the public schools. 12. Not to be construed as a holiday. To be elected by the board of education. Allowance for clerical assist- ance. Pub. Laws, SECTION 1. There shall be annually elected a commissioner of public schools in che manner prescribed in the preceding chapter, who shall devote his time exclusively to the duties of his office. In case of sickness, temporary absence, or other dis- ability, the governor may appoint a person to act as commis- sioner during such absence, sickness or disability. SEC. 2. The commissioner of public schools, with the ap- proval of the board of education, is hereby authorized and em- 190?.' Apni 23> powered to employ clerical assistance to aid him in his duties as such school commissioner in a sum not exceeding sixteen hun- dred dollars annually, which said sum of sixteen hundred dol- lars is hereby annually appropriated from any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated; and the state auditor is authorized to draw his order upon the general treasurer to pay the same upon receipt by him of properly authenticated vouchers. General duties SEC. 3. The commissioner of public schools shall visit, as of the commis- sioner, often as practicable, every town in the state, for the purpose of inspecting the schools, and diffusing as widely as possible, by COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 13 public addresses and personal communications with school officers, teachers and parents, a knowledge of the defects, and of any desirable improvements, in the administration of the system and the government and instruction of the schools. SEC. 4. He shall, under the direction of the board of educa- Text-books. tion, recommend and bring about, as far as practicable, a uni- formity of text-books in the schools of all the towns; and shall assist in the establishment of, and selection of books for, school libraries. SEC. 5. The commissioner of public schools shall prepare Arbor Day. each year a programme of exercises suitable for the observance of Arbor Day, and shall distribute the same among all of the public schools of the state at least four weeks previous to said day. SEC. 6. He shall annually, in December, make a report to the Annual report. board of education, upon the state and condition of the schools and of education, with plans and suggestions for the improve- ment of said schools. SEC. 7. It shall be the duty of the commissioner of public commissioner . . of public schools schools to prepare a programme of patriotic exercises for the to prepare a programmelof proper observance of Grand Army Flag Day, and to furnish g^J Amy printed copies of the same to the school committees of the several plfif. Laws, sis. cities and towns at least four weeks previous to the twelfth day of February in each year. He shall also prepare for the use of the schools a printed programme providing for a uniform salute to the flag, to be used daily during the session of the school. SEC. 8. The fourth day of May in each and every year here- Fourth ^bfish f after is hereby established, in this state, as "Rhode Island In- dependence Day:" being a just tribute to the memory of the KS>. Laws, 1591, May 26, members of our general assembly, who, on the fourth day of 1908. May, 1776 in the state house at Providence, passed an act renouncing allegiance of the colony to the British crown, and by the provisions of that act declaring it sovereign and independ- 14 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. ent; the first official act of its kind by any of the thirteen American colonies. S]EC - 9 ' On each and ever ^ four th day of May hereafter, except when said day falls on the first day of the week (corn- fired, and state _ and national monly called Sunday), then on the day following, the governor flags shall be S!me e s d and a11 sna1 ^ cause salutes of thirteen guns to be fired, at 12 o'clock, lmg3 ' noon, by detachments of the state artillery, at all places in the state where stationed, and shall cause a display of state and national flags on all armories and other state buildings from sunrise to sunset, in honor of "Rhode Island Independence Day." TO be observed g EC> iQ. The fourth day of May in each and every year here- with patriotic * after is hereby established in the annual school calendar to be known as " Rhode Island Independence Day," and shall be observed with patriotic exercises in all the public schools of the state, as hereinafter named. It is also provided that when such day shall fall on Saturday, or on Sunday, such patriotic school exercises shall be on the preceding or following days, respectively, as the case may be. SEC. 11. The state commissioner of public schools shall an- nually prepare a programme of patriotic exercises for the proper cfiea fo?t?e er observance of " Rhode Island Independence Day" in the schools, public schools. and shall furnish printed copies of the same to the school com- mittees of the several cities and towns of the state, at least four weeks previous to the fourth day of May in each year. Not to be con- g E c. 12. The fourth day of May as herein named, shall in strued as a holi- day - nowise be construed as a holiday. APPROPRIATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. CHAPTER 65. Of the Appropriation for Public Schools. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 53. 13 R. I. 454. SECTION 1. Appropriation from treasury to be paid annually. 2. How apportioned. 3. How expended. 4. Conditions upon which towns shall receive their proportion. 5. Forfeiture of town's proportion, when. SECTION 6. Orders on the general treasurer. 7, 8. Appropriation for reference-books and illustrative apparatus. How apportioned. 9. Of future apportionments in case applications exceed amount of ' appropriation. 10. Evening schools. SECTION 1. The sum of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars shall be annually paid out of the income of the per- manent school fund, and from other money in the treasury, for the support of public schools in the several towns, on the order of the commissioner of public schools. SEC. 2. This sum of one hundred and twenty thousand dol- Jf, w 3( f ppor ~ lars shall be apportioned by the commissioner of public schools among the several towns, as follows : The sum of one hundred dollars shall be apportioned for each school, not to exceed fifteen in number in any one town; the remainder shall be apportioned in proportion to the number of children from five to fifteen years of age, inclusive, in the several towns, according to the school census then last preceding. SEC. 3. The money appropriated from the state as aforesaid HOW expended. shall be denominated " teachers' money," and shall be applied to the wages of teachers, and to no other purpose. SEC. 4. No town shall receive any part of such state appro- Towns to re- ceive, on condi- priation, unless it shall raise by tax, for the support of public appropriatSri al schools, a sum equal to the amount it may receive from the treasury for the support of public schools. SEC. 5. If any town shall neglect or refuse to raise or appro- priate the sum required in the preceding section, on or before the first day of July, in any year, its proportion of the public money for . 16 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. shall be forfeited, and the general treasurer, on being informed thereof in writing by the commissioner of public schools, shall add it to the permanent school fund. Sone C r to 1 d 1 raw SEC. 6. The commissioner of public schools shall draw orders on general treas- . . urer in favor of on the general treasurer for their proportion of the appropriation for public schools, in favor of all such towns as shall on or before the first day of July, annually comply with the conditions of section four of this chapter. SEC. 7 * Tne sum of four thousand dollars shall be annually - appropriated for the purchase of dictionaries, encyclopedias and otner wor ks of reference, maps, globes, and other apparatus, for the use of the public schools of the state. SEC. 8 - Said sum of four thousand dollars shall be appor- Pub. Laws,540, tioned among the several towns as follows: Every town desiring to avail itself of this appropriation shall make application there- for to the commissioner of public schools, with vouchers for the amount actually expended. Upon receipt of said application Order on state an< ^ voucners the commissioner of public schools may draw his same rfor order on the general treasurer in behalf of said applicant, for half the amount of said vouchers, at the rate of ten dollars for each school, to an amount not exceeding two hundred dollars in any one year for any town : Provided, that the gross amount in any one year shall not exceed four thousand dollars. Senfs P when n " ^ EC - ^- n case ^ ne number and amount of applications in one fiscal year shall exceed the limit of the appropriation, the commissioner of public schools shall record the date of each application, and in the apportionment for the following year such recorded applications shall have the preference in the order of their dates. Annual appro- SEC. 10. There shall be an annual appropriation for the priation for . evening schools support and maintenance of evening schools in the several towns of this state, under the general supervision of the state board of education, who shall apportion said appropriation annually DUTIES OF TOWNS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 17 among the several towns and draw orders therefor on the general treasurer. CHAPTER 66. Of the Powers and Duties of Towns and of the Town Treasurer and Town Clerk relative to Public Schools. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 54. , 2 R. I. 120 13 R. I. 454 SECTION 1. Town to maintain its schools. 2. School -houses, how to be provided. 3. Corporate powers of any school dis- trict, to continue how. 4. School committee, how and when chosen. 5. Superintendent of schools, how elected. 6. Certain towns may unite for em- ployment of superintendent. 7. School committees of towns to form joint committee, when. 8. Action of commissioner of public schools on receipt of notice that union has been effected. SECTION 9. Town or city, not united, to be en- titled to certain moneys. 10. Appropriation. 11. Town treasurer to receive school money. 12. To submit statement to school com- mittee. 13. Also to commissioner of public schools. 14. Town clerk to distribute school documents. 15. School census to be taken annually. 16. Census -forms furnished by schoo commissioner. 17. Census returns deposited, where. SECTION 1. Every town shall establish and maintain a sufficient number of public schools, at convenient places, under the management of the school committee, subject to the super- vision of the commissioner of public schools as provided by this title. SEC. 2. Any town may vote, in a meeting notified for that purpose, to provide school-houses, together with the necessary fixtures and appendages thereof. SEC. 3. The corporate powers and liabilities of any school district heretofore existing shall continue and remain so far as may be necessary for the enforcement of its rights and duties. SEC. 4. The school committee of each town shall consist of three residents of the town, or of such number as at the present Town to main- tain its schools. School-houses, how to be pro- vided. Powers and lia- bilities of a dis- continued dis- trict. School com- mittee, how and when chosen. 18 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. time constitute the committee, and they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes, whose several terms of office shall expire at the end of three years from the dates of their respective elections. As the office of each class shall become vacant, such vacancy or vancancies shall be filled by the town at its annual town meeting for the election of state or town officers, or by the town council at its next meeting thereafter. In case of a vacancy by death, resignation, or otherwise than as is above provided, such vacancy shall be filled by the town council until the next annual town meeting for state or town officers, when it shall be filled for the unexpired term thereof as is above pro- vided. Superintendent SEC. 5. The school committee of each town shall eleet a of schools, how Pub te Laws 989 superintendent of the public schools of the town, to perform, un- A 2 P 7 ri R 4 'L 9 596. der the advice and direction of the committee, such duties, and Saiar of how ^ exerc i se suc ^ powers, as the committee shall assign him; and IScted. en ^ receive such compensation out of the town appropriation for public schools as the committee shall vote. Said superintend- ent shall be elected at the first regular meeting of the school com- mittee succeeding the annual election of school committee; but the committee shall have power to fill a vacancy at any meeting duly called. SEC. 6. Any two or more towns in which the aggregate num- ber of schools shall not be more than sixty, may by vote of the Pub. Laws, qualified electors of said several towns unite for the purpose of 1101, April 17, the employment of a superintendent of schools. School commit- SEC. 7. ' The school committees of the respective towns vot- tees of towns . uniting to form ing theretor, as prescribed in the preceding section, shall lorm a joint commit- pu e rposes certain a j om t committee, for the purposes of this chapter; said joint 1147 Mairfbs committee shall be the agents of each town comprising such 1904. union. Said school committees shall meet annually in joint con- vention, on the last Friday in June, at a place and hour agreed upon by the chairman of the respective school committees, and shall organize by the choice of a chairman and secretary. They DUTIES OF TOWNS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 19 shall choose by ballot a superintendent of schools, fix his salary and apportion the amount thereof to be paid by each of the towns, approximately according to the next preceding school census in said town. Such union shall not be dissolved be- cause the number of schools shall have increased beyond the number of sixty, nor, for any reason, for the period of three years from the date of the formation of such union, except by vote of a majority of the towns constituting such union. SEC. 8. Whenever the chairman and secretary of such joint misSoner C of m " . ,, , . , , . , , public schools committee shall certify to the commissioner of public schools upon receipt of notice that said that a union has been effected as herein provided together with u g^ e jj as been the amount of salary to be paid to the superintendent of schools and the proportional amount to be paid by each town forming said union, then upon the receipt of said certificate by the com- missioner of public schools said commissioner shall draw his order upon the general treasurer in favor of each town in said union for the payment of one-half the proportional amount so certified: Provided, the amount paid to any one union shall not exceed seven hundred fifty dollars, which amount shall be paid for the salary of said superintendent. SEC. 9. In case any town or city not united with any other town or city as provided in section six shall annually pay at least tciin mon6ys. fifteen hundred dollars for the salary of a superintendent of schools, such town or city shall be entitled to seven hundred and fifty dollars from the state treasury, which amount shall be paid toward the salary of said superintendent; and the commissioner of public schools shall draw his order for said amount upon re- ceipt of the proper certificate from the chairman and clerk of the school committee of said town. SEC. 10. There shall be appropriated annually such sum as Appropria- tions, may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the two pre- Pub. ceding sections. No person shall be employed as superintend- 1903> ent of schools under the provisions of this chapter unless such person holds a certificate of qualification issued by or under the 20 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Superintendent of schools to hold certificate of qualification issued by state board of educa- tion. Pub. Laws, 1560, May 1, 1908. Town treasurer to receive school-money and account therefor. 11 R. I. 537. 23 R. I. 337. To submit statement thereof to school com- mittee. Also to com- missioner of public schools. Town clerk to distribute school docu- ments. School census to be taken an- nually, under the direction of the school com- mittee. Pub. Laws, 739, April 24, 1900. authority of the state board of education; and no town or city employing a superintendent not certified as herein provided shall be entitled to any share in the state appropriation for super- vision of schools. SEC. 11. The town treasurer shall receive the money due the town from the state for public schools, and shall keep a separate account of all money appropriated by the state or town or other- wise for public schools in the town, and shall pay the same to the order of the school committee, and he shall credit the public school account, on the first Monday of May in each year, with the total amount of money received by him for poll-taxes during the year ending the thirtieth day of April last preceding. SEC. 12. The town treasurer shall, before the first day of July in each year, submit to the school committee a statement of all moneys applicable to the support of public schools for the current school year, specifying the sources of the same. SEC. 13. The town treasurer shall, on or before the first day of July, annually, transmit to the commissioner of public schools a certificate of the amount which the town has voted to raise by tax for the support of public schools for the current year; and also a statement of the amount paid out to the order of the school committee, and from what sources it was derived, for the year ending the thirtieth day of April next preceding; and until such return is made to the commissioner, he may, in his discre- tion, withhold the order for the money in the state treasury be- longing to such town. SEC. 14. The town clerk shall distribute such school docu- ments and blanks as shall be sent to him, to the persons for whom they are intended. SEC. 15. The school committee of each town or city, or some person or persons whom they shall appoint for the purpose, shall annually in the month of January take a census of all per- sons between the ages of five and fifteen years, inclusive, residing within the limits of their respective towns on the first day of said POWERS AND DUTIES OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES. 21 January; and said school committee shall fix the compensation for the above service, which shall be payable from the appro- priation for public schools. SEC. 16. The blank forms required to carry out the require- ments of the preceding section shall be furnished by the com- missioner of public schools to each town on or before the first day of December in each year, and they shall call in substance for the following information, namely, the name, age, number of weeks' attendance upon any school, parents' name and residence, of each person enumerated ; and if any parent or guardian shall Penalty for re- fusal to give refuse to give the above information in regard to his children or mformatlon - wards, or shall knowingly and wilfully falsify such information, he shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars. SEC. 17. The returns of said census shall be alphabeticallv Census returns J to be deposited arranged and deposited in the hands of the school committees of the several towns on or before the first day of March in each year ; and the receipt of the chairman or clerk of the school com- mittee to the effect that the above returns have been so received by him, shall be forwarded to the commissioner of public schools before he shall draw his order for the payment of any portion of the public money to that town. commissioner. fJHAPTF/R fi7 Gen. Laws, L i^n D / . 18g6 ch 60 13 R. I. 454. Of the Powers and Duties of School Committees. SECTION 1. Officers of school committee. 2. Meetings of school committee. SECTION of superintendent in towns not uniting. 3. Location of school-houses. 10. Annual report of school committee. 4. Instruction in physiology and hy- j 11. Printing report, how paid for. giene. 12. School committee to furnish books 5. Committee to visit the schools. and supplies. 6. To make rules. 7. May authorize children to attend school in adjoining towns. 8. May suspend pupils. 9. Selection of teachers and election 13. Change in school books, how made- 14. Public school to be provided with United States flag. 15. Flag to be displayed, when. 16. Grand Army Flag Day established. 22 LAWS KELATING TO EDUCATION. ?c?ooY 8 commit- SECTION 1. The school committee of each town shall choose a chairman and clerk, either of whom may sign any orders or official papers, and may be removed at the pleasure of said com- mittee. ^ EC> 2> Tne scno l committee of each town shall hold at least four regular meetings in every year, at such time and place within the town as the committee shall by general order fix and determine. ^ EC * ^' ^ e scno l committee shall locate all school-houses, I? R.' L ii5.' an d shall not abandon or change the location of any without good cause, instruction in g EC 4 The school committees of the several towns shall physiology and make provision for the instruction of the pupils in all schools supported wholly, or in part, by public money, in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic liquors, stimulants and narcotics upon the human system. TO visit the SEC. 5. The school committee shall visit, by one or more of schools. their number, every public school in the town at least twice during each term, once within two weeks of its opening and once within two weeks of its close; at which visits they shall examine the register and matters touching the school-house, library, studies, books, discipline, modes of teaching and improvement of the school. for Se^cho" 1 !? SEC. 6. The school committee shall make and cause to be put up in each school-house, rules and regulations for the at- tendance and classification of the pupils, for the introduction and use of text-books and works of reference, and for the instruc- tion, government and discipline of the public schools, and shall prescribe the studies to be pursued therein, under the direction of the commissioner of public schools. May authorize SEC. 7. Whenever the school committee of any town shall children to at- adjoining to^n nn( * "that it is more convenient or expedient for any child residing in said town to attend school in an adjoining town, said com- mittee may arrange with the school authorities of such town for POWERS AND DUTIES OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES. 23 the attendance of such child at their schools, and may pay for such tuition out of the town appropriation for public schools. The amount so paid shall be used for school purposes only. SEC. 8. The school committee may suspend during pleasure May suspend pupils. all pupils found guilty of incorrigibly bad conduct or of violation of the school regulations. SEC. 9. The selection of teachers, and election of superin- Pub Laws tendent, in such towns as do not unite for the employment of a 1903! pn 26 R. I. 165. superintendent, and the entire care, control, and management Selection of of all the public school interests of the several towns, shall be vested in the school committee of the several towns, and they shall also draw all orders for the payment of their expenses. SEC. 10. The school committee shall prepare and submit Annual report of the school annually to the commissioner of public schools, on or before the committee, first day of July, a report in manner and form by him prescribed; and until such report is made to the commissioner, he may refuse to draw his order for the money in the state treasury belonging to such town : Provided, that the necessary blank for said report has been furnished by the commissioner on or before the first day of May next preceding; they shall also prepare and submit annually, at the annual town meeting, a report to the town, set- ting forth their doings, the state and condition of the schools and plans for their improvement, which report, unless printed, shall be read in open town meeting; and if printed, at least three copies shall be transmitted to the commissioner on or before the first day of July in each year. SEC. 11. The school committee may reserve annually out of printing report, , , . . how paid for. the public appropriation, a sum not exceeding forty dollars to defray the expense of printing their annual report. SEC. 12. The school committee of every city and town shall school commit- tee to furnish purchase, at the expense of such city or town, text-books and books and sup- plies. other school supplies used in the public schools; and said text- books and supplies shall be loaned to the pupils of said public 24 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. fo u beprovided states flag, flag- staff, and ap- piiances there- Pub. United states flag to be dis- Grand Army Flag Day es- tablished. schools free of charge, subject to such rules and regulations as to care and custody as the school committee may prescribe. SEC. 13. A change may be made in the school books in the public schools of any town by a vote of two-thirds of the whole school committee; and in the city of Providence by a vote of a majority of all the members elected to the school committee, notice of the proposed change having been given in writing at a previous regular meeting of said committee: Provided, that no change be made in any text-book in the public schools of any town oftener than once in three years, unless by the consent of the board of education. SEC - 14 - Tne school committees of the several cities and towns of the state shall, in the same manner as now provided by law for the purchase of supplies for public schools by such com- mittees, purchase for every such school in their respective cities and towns not now provided therewith, a United States flag, flagstaff, and the necessary appliances therefor; and thereafter whenever the flag, flagstaff, or the necessary appliances there- for of any such school shall from any cause become unsuitable for further use, such school committee shall in the same manner purchase others in place thereof. g EC 15. The school committees of the several cities and towns shall cause the United States flag to be displayed upon the public school buildings or premises therein during school hours if in their best judgment it be practicable, otherwise at such times as they may direct, and such committees shall also establish rules and regulations for the proper care, custody, and display of the flag; and when, for any cause, it is not displayed it shall be placed conspicuously in the principal room of the school building. g E c. 16. The twelfth day of February in each and every vear nerea fter is hereby established in the annual school calendar to be known as Grand Army Flag Day, in honor of the birthday TEACHERS. 25 of Abraham Lincoln, and shall be observed with patriotic exercises in the public schools; but such day shall in nowise be construed to be a holiday. It is also provided that when such day shall fall on Sunday or on Saturday, the following or pre- ceding days respectively, as the case may be, shall be observed. CHAPTER 68. Of Teachers. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 61. 13 R. I. 454. SECTION. 1. Certificate of qualification required- 2. State board of education to cause examinations to be held. 3. State board of education may issue certificates without examination, when. 4. May annul certificates for cause. SECTION 5. Teachers may be dismissed, when. 6. Teachers to keep register of scholars and certain records, and make re- port. 7. School officers ineligible to teach in public schools. 8. Moral instruction. SECTION 1. No person shall be employed to teach, as princi- NO person to teach without pal or assistant, in any school supported wholly or in part by public money unless such person shall have a certificate of qualification issued by or under the authority of the state board of education. And in case any city or town shall pay or cause to be paid any of the public money to any person for teaching as Swns* o? n c ities aforesaid who did not, at the time of such teaching, hold such teachers not holding such certificate, then the commissioner of public schools shall deduct certificates. Pub. Laws, a sum equal to the amount so paid from the amount of the state's JJJ|- A P ril 17 ' money due, or which may thereafter become due, such city or town before giving his order in favor of such city or town for for any of the public money under the provisions of chapter sixty-five. SEC. 2. The state board of education shall hold, or cause to state board of education to be held, in such places in different parts of the state, and at such tfon^t^be" times as they may determine, examinations for the position of p^' LawSi 544 teacher in the public schools of this state ; and said board of ISQS! ' ay 4> 26 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. education is hereby authorized to issue certificates of qualifica- tion which shall be valid throughout the state for the grade and time specified therein. r " ^ EC< 3- Said state board of education may, in their dis- 4 ,' cretion, issue certificates of qualification without examination to persons who may present evidence of qualification and shall comply with the regulations of said board. them annul SEC. 4. Said board of education may at any time annul for cause any certificate issued by them, after due notice to the 1898 holder thereof, and an opportunity for a hearing if desired. bl a dSmisSd y SEC. 5. The school committee of any town may, on reason- able notice and a hearing of such teacher, dismiss any teacher for refusal to conform to the regulations by them made, or for other just cause. kSp h a r regtster SEC. 6. Every teacher in any public school shall keep a regis- certain re C S o a ds. ter of the names of all the scholars attending said school, their and make re- port. sex, age, names of parents or guardians, the time when each scholar enters and leaves the school, the daily attendance, to- gether with the days of the month on which the school is visited by any officer connected with public schools, and shall prepare any report required by the school committee or commissioner of public schools. Members of SEC. 7. No member of the school committee of any town, school commit- geoeac shall, so long as he continues in said office of member of the schools! school committee, be eligible or employed to teach as principal Pub Laws 620 or ass i s t an< k m an y scno l supported entirely or in part by the Mar. 3, 1899. public money, within the town where said member of the school committee resides. Moral instruc- SEC. 8. Every teacher shall aim to implant and cultivate in tion. the minds of all children committed to his care the principles of morality and virtue. PENSIONING OF SCHOOL TEACHERS. 27 CHAPTER 69. Of the Pensioning of School Teachers in this State. Pub. Laws, 1468, April 23, 1907. SECTION 1. Provision for pensioning of school teachers. SECTION 2. Duty of state board of education. 3. Appropriation. SECTION 1. Any person of either sex who on the 23d day of Provision for April, 1907, or thereafter shall have reached the age of sixty of school teach- crs. years, and who for thirty-five years shall have been engaged in teaching as his principal occupation and have been regularly employed as a teacher in the public schools or in such other schools within this state as are supported wholly or in part by state appropriation and are entirely managed and controlled by the state, twenty-five years of which employment, including the fifteen years immediately preceding retirement, shall have been in this state, may at the expiration of a school year, unless his private contract with his employer shall otherwise provide, be retired by his employer or voluntarily retire from active service, and on his formal application shall receive from the state for the remainder of his life an annual pension equal to one-half of his average contractual salary during the last five years before retiring, but in no case shall such annual pension be more than five hundred dollars: Provided, however, that no such employ- ment as teacher within this state after said twenty-third day of April, nineteen hundred seven, shall be included within its provisions, unless the teacher shall hold a certificate of qualifi- cation issued by or under the authority of the state board of education. (See Chap. 401, Pub. Laws.) SEC. 2. The state board of education shall make all needful Duty of the . state board of regulations for issuing certificates of qualification and carrying ^^Jji^^ into effect the other provisions of this chapter, and shall examine is cha P ter - into and determine the eligibility of each and every applicant to receive a pension under the provisions of this chapter. 28 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Appro priation. g Ea % -p OY the purpose of carrying this chapter into effect the sum of ten thousand dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby appropriated out of any money in the trea- sury not otherwise appropriated, and the state auditor is hereby directed to draw his orders on the general treasurer in favor of such persons and for such sums as shall be certified to him by the state board of education, according to the provisions of this chapter. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 62. 13 R. I. 454. Appeals to school com- sioner. 6 R. I. 144. 10 R. I. 616. 11 R. I. 596. To justice of supreme court, when. 6 R. I. 144. Rules of appeals. CHAPTER 70. Of Legal Proceedings Relating to Public Schools. SECTION 1. Appeals to school commissioner. 2. To justice of supreme court. 3. Rules of appeals. 4. Submissions to commissioner by agreement to be final. SECTION 5. Costs not taxed, when. 6. School commissioner may remit fines, when. SECTION 1. Any person aggrieved by any decision or doings of any school committee, or in any other matter arising under this title, may appeal to the commissioner of public schools who, after notice to the party interested of the time and place of hear- ing, shall examine and decide the same without cost to the parties: Provided, that nothing contained in this section shall be so construed as to deprive such aggrieved party of any legal remedy. SEC. 2. The commissioner of public schools may, and if requested on hearing such appeal by either party shall, lay a statement of the facts of the case before one of the justices of the supreme court, whose decision shall be final. SEC. 3. The commissioner of public schools may from time to time prescribe rules regulating the time and manner of taking such appeals, and rules to prevent appeals for trifling and frivolous causes. NORMAL SCHOOL, INSTITUTES AND LECTURES. 29 SEC. 4. Parties having any matter of dispute between them submissions to commissioner arising under this title, may agree in writing to submit the same by agreement, to be final. to the adjudication of said commissioner, and his decision there- in shall be final. SEC. 5. In any civil suit before any court against any school Costs not taxed, when. officer for any matter which might by this chapter have been n R- 1. 596. heard and decided by the commissioner of public schools, no costs shall be taxed for the plaintiff if the court is of opinion that such officer acted in good faith. SEC. 6. The commissioner of public schools may, by and with School com- missioner may fines, the advice and consent of the board of education, remit all fines, when penalties and forfeitures incurred by any town, or person, under any of the provisions of this title, except the forfeiture incurred by any town for not raising its proportion of money. CHAPTER 71. Of the Normal School, Teachers 1 Institutes and Lectures. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 63. 13 R. I. 454. SECTION 1. Normal school, how managed. 2. Qualification for free tuition. 3. Admission of pupils to normal school. 4. Diplomas to whom. SECTION 5. Travelling expenses of pupils. 6. Appropriation for institutes and lectures. 7. Annual account of commissioner of public schools. SECTION 1. The normal school shall be under the manage- Normal school how to be man- ment of the board of education and the commissioner of public schools as a board of trustees. T 602 SEC. 2. All applicants from the several towns in the state Qualification for free tuition. shall be admitted to free tuition in said school, after having 4 R - L 590> passed such an examination as may be prescribed by the board of trustees, and after having given to such board satisfactory evidence of their intention to teach in the public schools of this state for at least one year after leaving the said school. 30 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Of the admis- sion of certain pupils to the normal school. Pub. Laws, 861, Mar. 29, 1901. Diplomas, to whom. Pub. Laws, 779, May 30, 1900. Travelling ex- penses of pupils may be paid. When. Pub. Laws, 719, Feb. 9, 1900. Amended by Pub. Laws, 960, Mar. 27, 1902. Appropriation for institutes and lectures. Annual account of commis- sioner of pub- lic schools. SEC. 3. The trustees may admit to the classes of said school persons not intending to teach in the public schools of the state upon the payment by them of such tuition fees as may be deter- mined by the trustees. They shall make, each term, a return to the general treasurer of all moneys received by them in pursu- ance of the aforesaid authority. SEC. 4. Persons who shall have passed the regular course of studies at the normal school shall on the written recommenda- tion of the principal receive a diploma issued by the trustees of the school. SEC. 5. The trustees of the normal school may pay to each pupil who shall reside within the state who shall have been duly admitted thereto, and who shall have attended the regular ses- sions of said school and complied with the regulations thereof during the term next preceding such payments, not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each quarter-year for travelling expenses; but such payments in the aggregate for such travelling expenses shall not exceed the sum of four thousand dollars in any one year, and shall be made to the respective pupils entitled to the same in proportion to the distance they may reside from said school. SEC. 6. A sum not exceeding five hundred dollars shall be annually paid for defraying the necessary expenses and charges for teachers and lecturers for teachers' institutes, to be holden under the direction of the commissioner of public schools; and a sum not exceeding three hundred dollars shall be annually paid under the direction of the board of education for publishing and distributing among the several towns educational publications, providing lectures on educational topics and otherwise pro- moting the interests of education in the state. SEC. 7. The commissioner of public schools shall render an annual account to the state auditor of his expenditures under the provisions of this chapter with his vouchers therefor. ATTENDANCE OF CHILDREN IN PUBLIC CHAPTER 72. Of Truant Children, and of the Attendance of Children in the Public Schools. 31 Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 64. 13 R. I. 299. 13 R. I. 454. SECTION 1. Attendance at day schools required. 2. Private schools may be approved. 3. Truant officers, how appointed. 4. Truant officers to visit places of employment. SECTION 5. Truant officers may complain of habitual truants. Court may place on probation. 6. Fines, how to inure. 7. Jurisdiction of district courts. 8. Truant officers not required to give surety for costs. SECTION 1. Every child who has completed seven years of children to at- tend a public life and has not completed fifteen years of life, unless he has com- ^^t^in 01 " pleted in the public schools the elementary studies taught in the f> a u c i?aw>, first eight years of school attendance, exclusive of kindergarten 1902'. * instruction, provided for in the course of study adopted by the school committee of the city or town wherein such child resides, or unless he shall have completed fourteen years of life and shall be lawfully employed at labor or at service or engaged in busi- ness, shall regularly attend some public day-school during all the days and hours that the public schools are in session in the city or town, wherein he resides; and every person having under his control a child as above described in this section, shall cause such child to attend school as required by the above-stated provisions of this section, and for every neglect of such duty the person having control of such child shall be fined not exceeding twenty S^for' certain dollars : Provided, that if the person so charged shall prove or shall present a certificate, made by or under the direction of the school committee of the city or town wherein he resides, setting forth that the child has already completed the elementary studies above mentioned; or that the child has attended for the required period of time a private day school, or upon private instruction, approved by the school committee of the city or town where said private school was located or said private instruction was given; 32 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. and duties of. or that the physical or mental condition of the child was such as to render his attendance at school inexpedient or impracticable ; or that the child was destitute of clothing suitable for attending school and that the person having control of said child was un- able to provide suitable clothing; or that the child was excluded from school by virtue of some general law or regulation then such attendance shall not be obligatory nor shall such penalty be incurred; but nothing in this section shall be construed to allow the absence or irregular attendance of any child who is enrolled as a member of any school, or of any child sent to school by the person having control of such child. SEC. 2. For the purposes of this chapter the school com- mittee shall approve a private school or private instruction only when they are satisfied that the period of attendance of the pupil in such school or upon such instruction is substantially equal to that required by law of a child attending a public school in the same city or town; that the teaching in such school or such in- struction in all studies except foreign languages, and any studies not taught in the public schools, is in the English language; that such teaching or instruction is thorough and efficient ; and that registers are kept and returns to the school committee and truant officers in relation to the attendance of pupils are made the same as by the public schools. ^ EC * 3- The school committee of each city or town shall annua iiy in the month of December appoint one or more persons as truant officers, who shall by virtue of said appointment be clothed with the power of special constables, and fix their com- pensation, which shall be payable from the appropriation for public schools. The school committee may also furnish all necessary supplies and clerical assistance for the proper and efficient performance of the duties of the truant officer. The school committee of two or more cities or towns may appoint the same truant officer or officers, and any school committee that appoints teachers or other employees on a different tenure ATTENDANCE OF CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 33 of office than annual appointments, may appoint truant officers on a similar tenure in lieu of the annual appointment above mentioned in this section and may fix their compensation from time to time. Said truant officers shall under the direction of the school committee inquire into all cases arising under pro- visions of this chapter, and shall alone be authorized, in case of violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, to make com- plaint therefor: they may also serve all legal processes issued in pursuance of this chapter, but shall not be entitled to receive any fees for such service: Provided, however, that in case of the commitment of any person under the provisions of any section of this chapter, or for default of payment of any fine and costs imposed thereunder, such officer shall be entitled to the regular fees allowed by law for similar service. SEC. 4. The truant officers may visit any places or establish- Truant officers ments where such minor children as are described in the pre- places of em- ployment and ceding sections of this chapter are employed, to ascertain JJJ 8 * 1 "^ * ^Jj whether the provisions of this chapter are duly complied with, 2 children 61 " and may as often as twice in every year demand from all em- ployers of such children a report containing the names of all children who have not completed sixteen years of life that are employed by them, such report to give the names, ages, and residences of all such children ; and all employers of such children shall, upon request, produce for the inspection of the truant officer the certificates prescribed in chapter seventy-eight ; and for any refusal to make such reports as are above provided for, or for any refusal to produce the above-mentioned certificates, any employer of such children shall be fined not exceeding ten dollars. SEC. 5. Every habitual truant, that is, every child who is re- Truant officer may complain quired under section one of this chapter to attend school and of an habitual truant or habit- who wilfully and habitually absents himself therefrom; and every habitual school offender, that is, every child who is re- mitted, where. quired to attend school under the provisions of section one of 34 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Court may place such of- fender on pro- bation. Fines, how to inure. Jurisdiction of district courts. this chapter, but who persistently violates the rules and regula- tions of the school which he attends, or otherwise persistently misbehaves therein, so as to render himself a fit subject for exclusion therefrom, may be complained of by the truant officer for being an habitual truant, or habitual school offender, as the case may be, and upon such complaint and conviction of the offence charged in such complaint, shall be committed to the Sockanosset School for Boys, or to the Oaklawn School for Girls, for a period not exceeding his minority: Provided, how- ever, that any court or magistrate by whom a child has been con- victed of an offence under this chapter may in his discretion defer sentence and place such child on probation in the custody and control of a truant officer of the city or town wherein such child resides, or of a probation officer, for such period of time and upon such conditions as said court or magistrate may deem best; and whenever within such period the child violates the conditions of his probation, he shall be brought into court and said court or magistrate may in his discretion place such child on further probation in the custody and control of the state board of charities and corrections for such period of time and upon such conditions as said court or magistrate may deem best ; and whenever within such period the child violates the condition of his further probation, he shall be brought into court and receive sentence for the offence of which he was convicted when he was placed on probation: Provided, however, that the child may at any time demand that sentence be passed upon him; and also provided, that the court or magistrate, whenever con- vinced that the child has reformed, may discontinue the com- plaint without sentence. SEC. 6. All fines under the provisions of this chapter shall inure and be applied to the support of the public schools in the city or town where the offence was committed. SEC. 7. The district courts of the state shall have juris- GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO SCHOOLS. 35 diction in their respective districts of all cases arising under this chapter. SEC. 8. No officer complaining under any of the provisions Truant officer . , - i complaining, of this chapter shall be required to give surety for costs; and not required to give surety for such officer shall not in anywise become liable for any costs costs. that may accrue on such complaint. CHAPTER 73. General Provisions Relating to Public Schools. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 65. 13 R. I. 454. SECTION 1. Exclusion from school by general rule. 2. Penalty for neglect of duties. 3. Schools aided by state to be visited. 4. Penalty for refusal. 5. Nuisances prohibited near school- house. 6. School committee of city of Provi- dence. SECTION 7. Fees prohibited to school officers. 8. Offering of fees prohibited. 9. Children of deceased soldiers and sailors admitted free, when. 10. No pupil allowed to attend school without certificate of vaccina- tion. 11. Penalty. 12. Special statutes to prevail. SECTION 1. No person shall be excluded from any public Exclusion to be school on account of race or color, or for being over fifteen years ruie 8 ^' of age, nor except by force of some general regulation applicable to all persons under the same circumstances. SEC. 2. Every school officer who shall make any false cer- Penalty for ne _ tificate, or appropriate any public school money to any purpose glec not authorized by law, or who shall refuse for a reasonable charge to give certified copies of any official paper, or to account for or deliver to his successor any accounts, papers or moneys in his hands, or shall wilfully or knowingly refuse to perform any duty of his office, or violate any provisions of any law regulating public schools, except where a particular penalty may be pre- scribed, shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars or be imprisoned not exceeding six months, and shall be liable to an 36 LAWS RELATIXG TO EDUCATION. Schools aided by state to be visited. Penalty for re- fusal. Nuisances pro- hibited near school-houses. Pub. Laws, 420, Oct. 2, 1896. School com- mittee, city of Providence. Fees, or pecu- niary interest in supplies, prohibited to the school offi- cers. action of the case for damages to be brought by any person in- jured thereby. SEC. 3. Any school receiving aid from the state, either by direct grant or by exemption from taxation, may be visited and examined by the school committee of the town in which such school is situated, and by the members of the board of education and the commissioner of public schools, whenever they shall deem it advisable. SEC. 4. Whenever such school shall refuse to permit such visitation, when requested, its exemption from taxation shall thereafter cease and be determined. SEC. 5. No person shall keep any swine in any pen or other enclosure, or shall keep or suffer to be kept any other nuisance, within one hundred feet of any school-house or within one hundred feet of any fence enclosing the yard of any such school- house. SEC. 6. In the city of Providence the school committee of said city shall hereafter employ the superintendent and teachers, have charge and custody of all school buildings and school property, manage and regulate the schools, and draw all orders for the payment of their expenses from the money appropriated by the city council for the support of public schools: Provided, however, that the city council of said city shall have the expendi- ture of all sums appropriated for the purchase of land for school purposes or for the improvement of the same or for the con- struction or repair of school buildings. SEC. 7. No superintendent or school committee of any town, or any person officially connected with the government or direc- tion of the public schools, shall receive any private fee, gratuity, donation or compensation in any manner whatsoever for pro- moting the sale or the exchange of any school-book, map or chart in any public school, or be an agent for the sale or the publisher of any school text-book, or be directly or indirectly pecuniarily interested in the introduction of any school text- GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO SCHOOLS. 37 l>ook; and any such agency or interest shall disqualify any per- son so acting or interested from holding any school office what- soever. SEC. 8. No person shall offer to any public school officer any Offering of fees, etc., pro- fee, commission or compensation whatsoever, as an inducement '"bited. to effect through such officer any sale or promotion of sale, or exchange, of any school-book, map, chart or school-apparatus. SEC. 9. All the public schools in the state, including the children of de- State Normal School, shall be open to the children of officers and sailors ad- mitted free, -and soldiers belonging; to the state, mustered into the service of when - 12 R. I. 574 the United States, and of those persons belonging to the state, and serving in the navy of the United States, who died in said service during the late rebellion against the authority of the United States, or who were discharged from said service in con- sequence of wounds or disease contracted in said service, or who were killed in battle, without any cost or expense for taxes or other charges imposed for purposes of public education. SEC. 10. No person shall be permitted to attend any public N O pupu al- lowed to attend school in this state as a pupil, unless such person shall furnish to a public school the teacher of such school a certificate of some practising physi- tifica . te 9 f without a cer tificate of vaccination. cian that such person has been properly vaccinated as a pro- tection from small-pox; and every teacher in the public schools shall keep a record of the names of such pupils in their respective schools as have presented such certificate. SEC. 11. Every person violating any provision of this chap- Penalty for violating this ter shall be fined not exceeding fifty dollars or be imprisoned not chapter, exceeding thirty days, unless herein otherwise provided. SEC. 12. The foregoing provisions of this title are subject to the provisions of any special statutes respecting schools, or the management of schools, in any particular town or city, none of which are repealed hereby. 38 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Pub. Laws, 544, Ma,y 4, 1898. Consolidation of ungraded schools. Town main- taining high school entitled to allowance. CHAPTER 74. General Provisions to Secure a. Uniform High Standard in the Public Schools of the State. SKCTICW 1. Consolidation of ungraded schools. 2. Town maintaining high school en- titled to allowance. 3. Applications for aid under this chapter. SECTION 4. Forfeiture of claim to state assist- ance, when. 5. Annual appropriation. 6. How apportioned. 7. School committee may consolidate schools, when. SECTION 1 . In case any town shall consolidate three or more ungraded schools, and instead thereof shall establish and main- tain a graded school of two or more departments with an " aver- age number belonging'' of not less than twenty pupils for each department, the state shall pay to such town one hundred dollars annually for each department of said schools towards the support thereof. Two or more towns may unite in the estab- lishment and maintenance of such graded school, and in such cases the money paid by the state towards the support thereof shall be divided between the towns thus maintaining said school according to the number of pupils contributed by each town to the whole ''average number belonging.'' SEC. 2. Any to\vn maintaining a high school having a course of study approved by the state board of education, shall be en- titled to receive annually from the state twenty dollars for each pupil in average attendance for the first twenty-five pupils, and ten dollars for each pupil in average attendance for the second twenty-five pupils. Any town not maintaining a high school, which shall make provision for the free attendance of its children at some high school or academy approved by the state board of education, shall be entitled to receive aid from the state for each pupil in such attendance upon the same basis and to the same extent as if it maintained a high school by itself. (See Chap. 446, Pub. Laws.) UNIFORM HIGH STANDARD IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 39 SEC. 3. All applications for aid under this chapter shall be made to the commissioner of public schools by the school com- mittee of the town; and said application must be accompanied by the certificate of the principal teacher of the school on account of which the application is made, setting forth the facts relating to the attendance which is made the basis of the application. SEC. 4. After anv school, such as is provided for in section Forfeiture of claim to state one of this chapter, has been established it shall not forfeit its assistance - claim to its share of the state aid for a failure to maintain the required " average number belonging' 7 unless said "average number belonging" falls below fifteen for the several depart- ments. SEC. 5. The sum of twenty thousand dollars, or so much Annual appro- thereof as may be needed, shall be annually appropriated for the payment of the several sums which may become due and payable under the provisions of this chapter; and the state audi- tor is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders on the general treasurer in favor of such towns for such sums as shall be certified to him by the commissioner of public schools as due to said tow r ns under the provisions of this chapter. SEC. 6. In the apportionment of the annual appropriation of HOW appor- tioned. one hundred and twenty thousand dollars provided by law for the support of public schools, no town shall forfeit any portion thereof hereafter on account of any reduction in the number of its schools, by reason of the consolidation thereof in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, but each town shall continue to be entitled to the same amount from said annual appropriation upon the basis of the number of schools prior to such consoli- dation. SEC. 7. The school committee of any town may, subject to School com- naittee may the approval of the commissioner of public schools, consolidate consolidate schools, when. any schools the average number belonging to each of which is less than twelve, or may unite such school or schools with some other school in order to establish a graded school or to secure 40 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. greater efficiency of the schools; and said committee shall have authority to provide, in their discretion, transportation for pu- pils to and from school. Pub. Laws, 1306, Mar. 9, 1906. Towns may take and con- demn land for school pur- Condemnation proceedings. CHAPTER 75. Of Enabling Towns to Condemn Land for School Purposes. SECTION 1. Towns may condemn land for school purposes. 2. Condemnation proceedings. SECTION 3. Persons aggrieved to claim jury trial. 4. Remedy of person failing to receive personal notice. SECTION 1. Any town, from time to time, may take lands therein, improved or unimproved, for the location of school- houses, the enlargement of school-house lots, and for school pur- poses, provided that the amount of the same at any one taking shall not exceed one acre. SEC. 2. If any town has already passed or shall hereafter pass a vote to erect a school-house or to enlarge a school-house lot, and the school committee shall fix upon a location for such school-house in said town or shall determine that a school-lot ought to be enlarged, the said school committee of said town shall, within six months from the date of the passage of a resolu- tion by said school committee to take any land for such purpose or purposes, file in the records of land evidence for said town a description of the land, and also a plat thereof, and a state- ment that the same is taken pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, which description and statement shall be signed by the chairman or president of the said school committee, and upon the filing of such description, statement, and plat, the title in fee- simple of such land shall vest in said town; and after the filing of such description, statement, and plat, notice of the taking of such land shall be served upon the owners of and persons having TO CONDEMN LAND FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES. 41 an estate in and interested in such land by the town sergeant of said town leaving a true and attested copy of such description and statement with each of such persons personally, or at their last and usual place of abode in this state with some person living there, and, in case any of such persons are absent from this state and have no last and usual place of abode therein occupied by any person, or in case the -whereabouts of any of such persons are unknown to said town sergeant, such copy shall be left with the persons, if any, in charge of or having possession of such land taken of such absent person and persons whose whereabouts are unknown, and another copy thereof shall be mailed to the address of such absent persons if the same is known to said officer; and after the filing of such description and statement, the town clerk of said town shall cause a copy of such description and statement to be published in, some newspaper published in the county in which said town is located at least twice a week for three successive weeks; and if any party shall agree with said school committee for the price of the land so taken, the same shall be paid to him forthwith by said town. SEC. 3. Any owner of or person entitled to any estate in or Any person ag- grieved at interested in any part of the land so taken, who cannot agree award of dam- ages may claim with said school committee for the price of the land so taken in jury tr which he is interested as aforesaid, may, within three months after personal notice of said taking, or, if he have no personal notice, may, within one year from the filing of the description, statement, and plat referred to in section two of this chapter, apply by petition to the superior court held for the county where said land is located, setting forth the taking of his land and praying for an assessment of damages by a jury. Upon the filing of said petition the said court shall cause twenty days' notice of the pendency thereof to be given to said town by serving the town treasurer of said town with a certified copy thereof, and may proceed after such notice to the trial thereof; and such trial shall determine all questions of fact relating to the value of 42 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Remedy of person failing to receive per- sonal notice of the taking of kis land. such land and the amount thereof; and shall be conducted in every respect as other civil cases are tried, including the right to except to rulings and apply for new trial for cause. In case of conflicting claims to such land by any two or more petitioners,, said court may set down the petitions of such petitioners for trial at the same time by the same jury, and may frame all necessary issues for the trial thereof. SEC. 4. In case any owner of or person having an estate in or interested in such land shall fail to receive personal notice of the taking of such land, and shall fail to file his petition as provided in section three of this chapter, said court in its discretion may permit the filing of such petition subsequent to said period of one year from the filing of such description and statement : Provided, such person shall have had no actual knowledge of the taking of such land in season to file such petition; and pro- vided, said town, after the filing of such description and state- ment, shall not have paid any other persons claiming to own such land the price or value of the same, or be liable to pay for the same under any judgment rendered against said town under the provisions of this chapter. Gen. Laws. 1896, Ch. 66. 17 R. I. 815. CHAPTER 76. Of the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts*' SECTION ' 1. Continued a body corporate for what purposes. 2. Location. To have moneys re- ceived from the United States. 3. Board of managers; term of office, vacancies, and residence. SECTILON 4. Officers of the board. 5. Duties of officers and teachers. 6. May summon witnesses. 7. Expenses of members of board. R. I. College SECTION 1. The present board of managers of the Rhode of Agriculture .. and Mechanic island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and their Arts, is to con- co"porate dy successors, for the terms for which they have been or for which * Name changed to Rhode Island College in 1909. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS. 43 they hereafter may be appointed or elected as such managers, shall continue to be a body politic and corporate for the purpose Leading object. of continuing and maintaining said college corporation as a college where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life, as provided in the act of the Congress of the United States approved July two, eighteen hundred sixty-two, entitled "An act donating public lands to the several states and territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts/ 7 and for the purpose of continuing and maintaining an agricultural ex- periment-station as a department of said college under and in station, accordance with, and to carry out the purposes of, the act of Congress approved March two, eighteen hundred eighty-seven, entitled "An act to establish agricultural experiment-stations in connection with the colleges established in the several states under the provisions of an act approved July two, eighteen hundred sixty-two, and of the acts supplementary thereto/' by the said name of "Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts/ 7 with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties and liabilities set forth in chapter two hundred thirteen. (See Chap. 417, Pub. Laws.) SEC. 2. Said college and experiment-station shall, until p u b. Laws, 1353, April 20, otherwise ordered, continue to be located in the town of South isoe. Kingstown upon the estate now occupied by them, and all moneys hereafter received under said act of Congress, approved March two, eighteen hundred eighty-seven, and under the act of Congress approved August thirty, eighteen hundred ninety, entitled "An act to apply a portion of the proceeds of the public lands to the more complete endowment and support of the col- lege for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts, es- 44 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. To have money received from U. S. Annual appro- priation. Term of office and appoint- . ment of man- agers. Pub. Laws, 809, Jan. 29, 1901. tablished under the provisions of an act of Congress approved July two, eighteen hundred sixty-two," and all other moneys which shall be received by the state for the promotion of agri- culture or the mechanic arts under or by virtue of an act of Congress shall, as and when received, be paid over to the treas- urer for the time being of said college corporation, to be used and applied and accounted for by the managers and officers of said corporation for the time being, as required by the re- spective acts of Congress under which the same are received, and the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars is hereby annually ap- propriated for the purpose of defraying the expenses of said college corporation, the same to be expended under the direc- tion of the managers and officers of said corporation for the time being. And the managers and officers of said corporation shall perform all the duties and make and publish, distribute and render all bulletins and reports required by said acts of Congress or by any acts in amendment thereof or supplementary thereto ; and shall also report to the general assembly annually at its January session. SEC. 3. The board of managers of said college corporation shall consist of five members. The members of said board now in office shall continue to hold their offices until the expiration of the terms for which they were respectively appointed. At the January session of the general assembly in each year the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall ap- point one member of said board to succeed the member whose term will next expire; and the member so appointed shall hold his office until the first day of February in the fifth year after his appointment. Any vacancy which may occur in said board when the senate is not in session shall be filled by the governor until the next session thereof, when he shall, with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint some person to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term. Every future member of said board shall be a domiciled inhabitant of the same county as was COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS. 45 the retiring member of the board whose place he is appointed to fill. (See Chap. 383, Pub. Laws.) SEC. 4. Said board of managers shall annually elect one of Board of mana- gers, officers of. their own number to be president of the board, who shall also be the president of the corporation and shall continue in office until his successor is elected. They shall also from time to time appoint a treasurer and a clerk, w T ho shall also be officers of the corporation, and who may be, but need not necessarily be, the same person or members of the board, and who shall hold their respective offices at the pleasure of the board. The treasurer before entering upon his office shall give bond to the state for g^f bond.* the faithful discharge of his duties, in form to be approved by the attorney-general, in a penal sum to be fixed by the said board of managers and with surety or sureties to be approved by the governor; such bond to be filed and to be kept on file in the office of the secretary of state, and which bond shall be renewed whenever required by the board of managers or by the governor. And the treasurer shall make a full detailed report annually Treasurerto to the general assembly, at its January session, of all his receipts port an annual and expenditures, properly audited by the board of managers or a committee thereof. SEC. 5. Said board of managers shall have the general care Managers to o, T ^. ,. . employ profes- and management ol said estate in south Kingstown and of said sors, make rules, and ap- college and experiment station, and may employ professors, point a faculty. teachers and other persons in and about the same and prescribe their duties and fix their compensation, and from time to time make rules and regulations for their government; and may also make by-laws, rules, and regulations to govern their own meet- ings and proceedings. Said board of managers shall from time _ Faculty to to time appoint the faculty of said college; and such faculty shall f .. ,, c i f studies, and to- from time to time arrange the courses of study, conforming to award degrees and diplomas. said acts of Congress in this behalf, and prescribe such qualifica- tions for admission of students, and such rules of study, exercise, discipline, and government, as they shall deem proper; they 46 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. May summon witnesses, com- pel attendance, and administer oaths. Pub. Laws, 958, Mar. 21, 1902. Expenses of members of board to be al- lowed. Pub. Laws, 1352, April 20, 1906. may also grant academical degrees and diplomas appropriate to the courses of study to those students of good moral character who shall have pursued the prescribed courses and passed satis- factory examinations. SEC. 6. The board of managers of the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts are hereby empowered, when- ever in their discretion the circumstances may require, to sum- mon witnesses, compel attendance, and administer oaths. SEC. 7. All necessary expenses incurred by each member of the board of managers of the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in the discharge of his duties shall be paid from the funds of the state, upon the presentation of proper vouchers for the same approved by the governor. <5en. Laws, 1896, Ch. 67. Appropriation for the R. I. School of De- sign, how paid; powers of board of edu- cation. Annual report. Ex-officio di- rectors. CHAPTER 77. Of State Beneficiaries at the Rhode Island School of Design. SECTION 1. Appropriation for. 2. Annual report. 3. Ex-officio directors. SECTION 4, 5. State beneficiaries, and hov pointed. 6. Tuition fees, how paid. ap- SECTION 1. Such sums as shall be from time to time appro- priated by the general assembly to the Rhode Island School of Design, shall be paid by the general treasurer upon the orders of the state board of education, who are hereby empowered and authorized to visit and examine said school at their pleasure. SEC. 2. The directors of the above named school of design shall make an annual report to the state board of education in manner and form prescribed by said board of education. SEC. 3. The state board of education are hereby authorized and empowered to elect two of their number who, by virtue of said election, shall be members of the board of directors of said school of design. FACTORY INSPECTION. 47 SEC. 4. The state board of education are hereby authorized Appointment of state bene- to appoint as state beneficiaries at the Rhode Island School of Design, persons of proper age, character and acquirements, who have not the means of defraying the expenses of instruction in said school themselves. SEC. 5. The secretary of the board of education shall receive Appointments, how to be made. and file in their order the applications of all persons who desire to receive such appointment; and in making their appoint- ments the board shall, as far as practicable, make them so that the people of the several counties may participate in the ad- vantages as nearly as possible in proportion to the respective populations of the counties according to the last United States census. SEC. 6. For the purposes of this chapter the sum of eight Appropriation for tuition fees. thousand dollars or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby Pub. Laws, J 1445, April 19, annually appropriated from any money in the treasury not 1907> otherwise appropriated, to be paid by the general treasurer upon the order of the state auditor upon the presentation of proper vouchers approved by the board of education. CHAPTER 78. Of Factory Inspection. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 68. SECTION 1. Children under fourteen years of age, not to be employed, where. 2. Penalty for employing child. 3. Factory inspectors, how appointed. 4. Expenses. 5. Hoisting-shafts, etc., to be inclosed. 6. Minor under sixteen not to clean ma- chinery. 7. Accidents reported, when. 8. Separate dressing-rooms to be pro- vided for women. 9. Duties of inspectors. SECTION 10. Appeal from order of inspectors. 11. Factory inspectors to have office. 12. Penalties. 13. Printed copies of this chapter to be posted, where. 14. Inspectors not required to give surety for costs. 15. Factory inspectors, additional du- ties of. 16. Fresh drinking-water to be supplied to employees. 17. Penalty. LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. SECTION 1. No child under fourteen years of age shall be pfoyed, wheVe. employed or permitted or suffered to work in any factory, manu- Pub. Laws, | sis, Mar 9, tacturmg or business establishment within this state, and no 1905. child under sixteen years of age shall be employed or permitted 16 years of^e or sun?ere( ^ * work in any factory or manufacturing or business work between establishment within this state between the hours of eight p. M. and 6 o'clock in the afternoon of any day and six o'clock in the fore- A. M., where. noon of the following day: Provided, however, that this restric- Exceptions. tion as to hours of work shall not apply to mercantile estab- lishments on Saturdays, or on either of the four days immedi- 16 yS oTagl ate lj preceding Christmas in each year. No child under sixteen uniessTLrtifi- years of age shall be employed or permitted or suffered to work cate is pre- tSwIromTh? m an y ^ ac t ol T or manufacturing or business establishment unless school commit- ^-^ faild shall present to the person or corporation employing Certificate, hi m or her a certificate, given by or under the direction of the tain. school committee of the city or town in which said child resides, certifying that said child has completed fourteen years of age, and stating the name, date and place of birth of such child, which facts shall be substantiated by a duly attested copy of birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or passport, stating also the name and place of residence of the person having control of bBkept a by 8 n- sucn child. All certificates required by this chapter relating to shaFbe a sh9wn the qualification of children employed in any factory or manu- to factory in- . . . i i spectors on de- facturing or business establishment coming under the provisions of this chapter shall be kept by the employer at the place where such child is employed, and shall be shown to the factory in- spectors provided for in this chapter, or either or any of them, Penalty for re- on demand by said inspector or inspectors; and the proprietor an S y sucifcerd- or manager of any such factory or manufacturing or business establishment who shall refuse to show to any factory inspector any such certificate when demand is made therefor shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars. When any child employed under the provisions of this section FACTORY INSPECTION. 49 leaves his employment, the person or corporation by whom such Certificate to child has been employed shall, on demand by said child, deliver JerS2t?on of to him (or her) the certificate on the authority of which such child has been employed or, if such certificate is not demanded by said child, shall within two weeks after said child has left the employment of said person or corporation send said certificate to the school committee which issued it, or such person as the school committee may designate. The school committee of each c opy of certi . - , ficates to be on town, or such person as the school committee may designate to file with school committee. issue the certificates provided for in this section, shall keep on file a copy of each certificate granted, together with the evidence of the date of birth on the basis of which such certificate is granted. The certificates provided for in this section shall .be uniform throughout the state and in the following form or such substantially similar form as may be approved by the secretary of the state board of education. The person authorized to issue such certificate may administer the oath required by such cer- tificate. AGE AND SCHOOLING CERTIFICATE. Form of cert j. ficate. This certifies that I am the (father, mother, guardian, or custodian) of (name of child) and that (he or she) was born at (name of town or city) in the county (name of county, if known) and state (or country) of on the (day and year of birth) and is now (number of years and months) old. Signature of (father, mother, guardian, or custodian.) (Town or city and date.) There personally appeared before me the above-named (name of person signing) , and made oath that the foregoing certificate by (him or her) signed is true to the best of (his or her) knowledge and belief. I hereby approve the fore- going certificate of (name of child) height (feet and 50 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Penalty for employing chid under 16 years of age. Pub. Laws, 1458, April 23, 1907. Exceptions. Factory in- spectors, how appointed and term of. inches) eyes (color) complexion (fair or dark) hair (color) having no sufficient reason to doubt that (he or she) is of the age therein certified, and is apparently in sound health and physically able to perform the work which (he or she) intends to do. This certificate belongs to (name of child in whose behalf it is drawn), and is to be surrendered to (him or her) whenever (he or she) leaves the service of the corporation or employer holding the same; but if not claimed by said child within two weeks from such time it shall be returned to the school committee or such person as such committee may desig- nate. (Signature of person authorized to approve and sign, with official character or authority.) (Town or city, and date.) SEC. 2. Every person, firm, or corporation doing business within this state employing five or more persons, or employing any child under sixteen years of age, shall be subject to the pro- visions of this chapter, whatever shall be the business conducted by said person, firm, or corporation: Provided, however , that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to children em- ployed in household service or in agricultural pursuits; and pro- vided, further, that said provisions shall not apply to the employ- ment of children in the vocation, occupation, or service of rope or wire-walking, or as gymnasts, wrestlers, contortionists, eques- trian performers, or acrobats, riders upon bycicles or mechani- cal contrivances, or in any dancing, theatrical, or musical ex- hibition, but the employment of children in any vocation, occu- pation, or service enumerated in this proviso shall continue to be governed by the provisions of the General Laws, chapter one hundred thirty-nine. SEC. 3. The governor shall, in the year nineteen hundred eleven, and in the month of January of every third year here- after, appoint, with the advice and consent of the senate, one chief FACTORY INSPECTION. 51 and two assistant factory inspectors, one of whom shall be a wo- man, whose term of office shall be three years and until their suc- cessors shall be so appointed and qualified. Any vacancy which Vacancies, how filled. may occur in said offices when the senate is not in session shall be filled by the governor until the next session thereof, w r hen he shall, with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint some person to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term. Said Duties of inspector shall be empowered to visit and inspect at all reason- ^15, M^'Q, able hours and as often as practicable the factories, workshops, and other establishments in this state subject to the provisions of this chapter, and shall report to the general assembly of this state at its January session in each year, including in said reports the name of the factories, the number of such hands employed, and the number of hours of work performed in each week. It shall also be the duty of said inspectors to enforce the provisions of this chapter and prosecute all violations of the same before any court of competent jurisdiction in the state. The name and residence of any child found working without the certificate pro- vided for in section one of this chapter shall be reported by the chief factory inspector to the school committee in the city or town where such child resides. Said inspectors shall devote their whole time and attention to the duties of their respective offices, under the direction of the chief inspector. The annual salary salary of. of the chief inspector shall be two thousand dollars, and each of the assistant inspectors fifteen hundred dollars. SEC. 4. All necessary expenses incurred by such inspectors Expenses. Pub. Laws, the discharge of their duty shall be paid from the funds of the 1215, Mar. 9, state, upon the presentation of proper vouchers for the same approved by the governor: Provided, that not more than two thousand dollars in the aggregate shall be expended by the said inspectors in any one year. SEC. 5. It shall be the duty of the owner, agent or lessee of Hoisting- J shafts and well- any such factory, manufacturing or mercantile establishment, prop S e Jiy b in- where hoisting-shafts or w r ell-holes are used, to cause the same 52 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. to be properly and substantially inclosed or secured if, in the opinion of the inspectors, it is necessary to protect the life or limbs of those employed in such establishments. It shall be the duty of the owners, agent or lessee to provide or to cause to be provided such proper trap or automatic doors, so fastened in or at all elevator-ways as to form substantial surfaces when closed, and so constructed as to open and close by action of the elevator in its passage either ascending or descending, if so directed by said factory inspectors or either one of them. Minor under SEC. 6. No minor under sixteen years of age shall be allowed sixteen years cLa^machin- to c l ean machinery while in motion, unless the same is necessary mXtion^Beh- and is approved by said inspectors as not dangerous. All to be guarded, belting and gearing shall be provided with proper safeguard. 21 Iv. I. ool. 25 R! L tis! SEC. 7. It shall be the duty of the owners or superintendent 25 R. I. 649. to report in writing to the factory inspectors all fatal accidents Accidents to be . -IT reported, with- within forty-eight hours after their occurrence ; and all accidents in what time. which prevent the injured person or persons from returning to work within two weeks after the injury shall, within one week after the expiration of such two weeks, be reported in writing by the person in charge of such establishment or place to the said inspectors, stating as fully as possible the cause of such accidents. Water closets SEC. 8. Water-closets, earth-closets or privies shall be pro- dressing-rooms vided in all places where women and children are employed, in to be provided lndlS?s en sucn manner as shall, in the judgment of said inspectors, meet the demands of health and propriety. Separate dressing-rooms for women and girls shall be provided in all establishments where such are deemed a necessity by said factory inspectors; and in every manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishment in which women and girls are employed, there shall be provided, conveniently located, seats for such women and girls, and they shall be permitted to use them when their duties do not require their standing. FACTORY INSPECTION. 53 SEC. 9. If the factory inspectors, or either one of them, find Duties of in- spectors, that the heating, lighting, ventilation or sanitary arrangement of any shop or factory is such as to be injurious to the health of the persons employed therein, or that the means of egress in case of fire or other disaster is not sufficient, or in accordance with all the requirements of law, or that the belting, shafting, gearing, elevators, drums and machinery in shops and factories are located to as to be dangerous to employees, and not suffi- ciently guarded, or that the vats, pans or structures filled with molten metal or hot liquid are not surrounded with proper safe- guard for preventing accident or injury to those employed at or near them, either or both shall notify the proprietor of such factory or workshop to make the alterations or additions neces- sary within ninety days; and if such alterations or additions are not made within ninety days from the day of such notice, or within such time as such alterations can be made with proper diligence upon the part of said proprietors, said proprietors or agents shall be deemed guilty of violating the provisions of this chapter, subject, however, to the right of appeal as hereinafter provided. SEC. 10. Any person who is aggrieved bv any order of said Appeal from order of fac- inspectors may appeal therefrom to the district court of the judicial district in which the building which is the subject of the order is situated, by filing his reasons of appeal within seven days after the date of the order appealed from, and by giving notice thereof to the inspector who made the order within forty-eight hours after filing said reasons of appeal; and said court shall proceed to hear the said appeal at its first session after such notice shall have been given, and shall approve, modify, or revoke said order as it may deem right, subject, however, to the right of a jury trial after decision as prescribed for the claim- ing of a jury trial in civil actions. And any such decision of said court from which a jury trial is not claimed shall be final and conclusive. 54 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Factory in- spectors to have an office. May adminis- ter oaths. Penalty for the violation of the provisions of this chapter. Pub. Laws, 1215, Mar. 9, 1905. Printed copies of this chapter, to be posted, where. Inspectors are not required to give recog- nizance for costs. Factory in- spectors; ad- ditional duties and powers of. Pub. Laws, 708, Sept. 20, Fresh drink- ing-water to be supplied to em- ployees of cor- porations, 6rms, etc. SEC. 11. The state shall provide a suitable office for the use of said factory inspectors; and said factory inspectors shall have the power to administer oaths or affirmations in cases where persons desire to verify documents connected with the proper enforcement of this chapter. SEC. 12. Any person or corporation who employs a child under sixteen years of age without the certificate required by section one of this chapter, or who makes a false statement in regard to any part required by such certificate or who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, or who suffers or permits any child or woman to be employed in violation of its provisions, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction r shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dol- lars : Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to that portion of section one of this chapter which fixes the penalty for the refusal to show to the inspector any certificate provided for in that section. SEC. 13. A printed copy of this chapter shall be posted by the inspectors in each workroom of every factory, manufactur- ing or mercantile establishment where persons are employed who are affected by the provisions of this chapter. SEC. 14. The inspectors created by section three of this chapter shall not be required to give surety nor personal recogni- zance for costs. SEC. 15. The factory inspectors shall, in addition to their duties otherwise provided, enforce the provisions of section twenty-two, chapter two hundred forty-nine and may prosecute all violations of the same before any court of competent juris- diction in the state. SEC. 16. All manufacturing establishments in this state shall provide fresh drinking-water, of good quality, to which their employees shall have access during working hours. SEC. 17. Any corporation, association, firm or person owning, in whole or in part, managing, controlling, or superintending FACTORY INSPECTION. 55 .any manufacturing establishment in which the provision of the Pub - 1429, April 5, preceding section is violated shall, upon complaint of the board l of health of the city or town, or the town council of the town, in which the establishment is located, be liable to a fine of one Penalty. hundred dollars for each offence. PART III. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS OF THE GENERAL LAWS, REVISION OF 1909, RELATING TO EDUCATION. Gen. Laws. 1896, Ch. 26. Rules of con- struction, when to be applied. Genders. Numbers. 24 R. I. 274. CHAPTER 32. Of the Construction of Statutes. SECTION 1. Rules of construction, when to be applied. Genders. Numbers. 4. Joint authority of three or more, authorizes a majority. 5. "Person." 6. " Insane person!" 7. "United States." 8. "Town," "town council," "town clerk," "ward clerk," "town treasurer," "town sergeant." 9. "Land" or "lands," "real estate." SECTION 10. "Oath," "sworn," "engaged." 11. "Month," "year." 12. Computation of time. 13. "Justice of the peace," "district court." 14. "Seal." 15. Acts of incorporation are public acts for purposes of pleading. 16. Repeal, effect of, in civil cases. 18. Repeal not to revive statutes re- pealed. 19. Statutes, when to take effect. 21. General and special provisions in conflict, how construed. SECTION 1. In the construction of statutes the provisions of this chapter shall be observed, unless the observance of them would lead to a construction inconsistent with the mani- fest intent of the general assembly, or be repugnant to some other part of the same statute. SEC. 2. Every word importing the masculine gender only, may be construed to extend to and to include females as well as males. SEC. 3. Every word importing the singular number only, may be construed to extend to and to include the plural number CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES. 57 also ; and every word importing the plural number only, may be construed to extend to and to embrace the singular number also. SEC. 4. All words purporting to give a joint authority to Joint authority three or more officers or persons shall be so construed as to give thority to the such authority to a majority of them. majority. SEC. 5. The word " person" may be construed to extend "Person." to and include copartnerships and bodies corporate and politic. SEC. 6. The words " insane person" shall be construed to "insane per- son. include every idiot, person of unsound mind, lunatic and dis- 23 R- L 513 - tracted person. SEC. 7. The words "United States" shall be construed to include the several states and the territories of the United States. SEC. 8. The word " town" may be construed to include city; the words "town council," board of aldermen; the words "town -Town clerk." clerk," city clerk; the words "ward clerk," clerk of election "Town ' treasurer." district; the words "town treasurer," city treasurer; and the ,, words "town sergeant," city sergeant. . fij g; 3 | SEC. 9. The word "land" or "lands," and the words "real ' 6 ' o estate " may be construed to include lands, tenements and - Reafestate," 11 R. I. 258. hereditaments, and rights thereto and interests therein. 15 R. i. 350. SEC. 10. The word "oath" shall be construed to include ;; Oath -" M sworn, affirmation; the word "sworn," affirmed; and the word "en- " en s a e ed -" gaged," either sworn or affirmed. SEC. 11. The words "month" and "year" shall be con- " Mont h." " Year "' strued to mean a calendar month and year. SEC. 12. Whenever time is to be reckoned from any day, Computation of time. date, or act done, or the time of any act done, such day, date, ^ g- J- 1^ or the day when such act is done, shall not be included in such 2S R - L 18- computation. SEC. 13. The words "justice of the peace" may be con- justice of the peace." strued to include warden of the peace, and the words "dis- trict court" to include warden's court. 58 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Acts of incor- poration are public acts for purposes of 27 R. I. 37. 27 R. I. 129. Repeal, effect of, in civil 9 R. I. 26. 11 R, I. 166. 25 R. I. 72. Repeal not to revive statutes repealed. Statutes, when to take effect. 12 R. I. 18. General and special pro- visions in con- flict, how to be construed . SEC. 14. Whenever a seal is required to be affixed to any paper, the word "seal" shall be construed to include an im- pression of such seal made with or without the use of wax or wafer on the paper. SEC. 15. Every act of incorporation shall be so far deemed a public act, that the same may be declared on and given in evidence, without specially pleading the same. SEC. 16. The repeal of any statute shall in no case affect any act done, or any right accrued, acquired or established, or any suit or proceeding had or commenced in any civil case before the time when such repeal shall take effect. * SEC. 18. The repeal of any statute shall not be construed to revive any other statute which has been repealed. SEC. 19. Every statute which does not expressly prescribe the time when it shall go into operation, shall take effect on the tenth day next after the rising of the general assembly at the session thereof at which the same shall be passed. SEC. 21. Wherever a general provision shall be in conflict with a special provision relating to the same or to a similar subject, the two provisions shall be construed, if possible, so that effect may be given to both; and in such cases, if effect cannot be given to both, the special provision shall prevail and shall be construed as an exception to the general provision. Gen. Laws. 1896, Ch. 30. CHAPTER 40. Of the Permanent School Fund. SECTION 1. Custody and investment. 2. Money from auctioneers to be added to the fund. 3. School money forfeited by towns, t be added to the fund. SECTION 4. Additions, how to be invested. 5. Income to be appropriated for sup- port of public schools. PUBLIC RECORDS. 59 SECTION 1. The general treasurer, with the advice of the governor, shall have full power to regulate the custody and .safe keeping of the fund now constituting the permanent fund for the support of public schools, and shall beep the same securely invested in the capital stock of some safe and respon- sible bank or banks or in bonds of towns or cities within this state. SEC. 2. The money that shall be paid into the state treasury Money paid to .the state by by auctioneers, for duties accruing to the use of the state, is appropriated, and the same shall annually be added to said fund - school fund, for the permanent increase thereof. SEC. 3. Whenever any money appropriated to any town Scho oi mon ey from the state treasury, for the support of public schools there- the towns to be added to the in, shall have been forfeited by such town, the same shall be fund. added to said school fund, and shall forever remain a part thereof. SEC. 4. The general treasurer, with the advice of the gov- Additions, how to be invested. ernor, shall from time to time securely invest all sums of money hereby directed to be added to said fund, in the capital stock of some safe and responsible bank or banks or in bonds of any town or city within this state. SEC. 5. The income arising from said fund so invested income to be appropriated shall annually be appropriated for the support of public schools for support of in the several towns. CHAPTER 41. Gen. Laws, 18%, Ch. 31. Of the Public Records. SECTION 1. Officers to deliver official records, etc., to their successors in office, or to secretary of state, when. Penalty for neglect. SECTION 2. Penalty for neglect by other than the lawful custodian, to deliver official records, etc. 60 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Officers to de- liver official records, etc., to their successors in office, or to secretary of state, when Penalty, for neglect , etc. , without cause. Penalty for neglect by other than law- ful custodian , t9 deliver offi- cial records, etc. SECTION 1. Every person who shall hold a public office shall, upon leaving the same, deliver to his successor in office,, or, if there be no successor, to the secretary of state, all records, books, writings, letters and documents, kept or received by him in the transaction of his official business, and all moneys in his hands which he shall have received as trust funds from any person or otherwise in the course of his official business; and every such person who shall, without just cause, refuse or neglect for the space of ten days after request made in writing by any citizen of the state, to deliver as herein required such records, books, writings, letters or documents, or to pay over such moneys, to the person authorized to receive the same, shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars and be imprisoned not exceeding five years. SEC. 2. Every person, other than the lawful custodian thereof, who shall have in his possession, or under his control r any such record, book, writing, letter or document as is desig- nated in section one of this chapter, and who shall, without just cause, refuse or neglect for the space of ten days after request made in writing by any citizen of the state, to deliver such record, book, writing, letter or document to the lawful custodian of the same, shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars and be imprisoned not exceeding five years. Gen. Laws. 1896, Ch. 36. CHAPTER 46. Of the Powers of, and of Suits by and against, Towns. SECTION . 4. Towns may vote and grant money for schools, schoolhouses and school libraries. 5. Towns may establish free public libraries. 6. May appropriate money for the maintenance, etc., of such li- braries. SECTION 7. May appropriate money for free public library not its own. 21. Town indebtedness limited to three per centum of taxable property. 22. Town taxes limited to one per centum of ratable property. POWERS OF, SUITS BY AXD AGAINST, TOWNS. 61 SECTION 4. Towns may, at any legal meeting, grant and Towns may grant money vote such sums of money as they shall judge necessary: schoommlles, ********* iSri TOl ' For the support of schools, purchase of sites for and the building and repair of school-houses; and for the establishing and maintaining of school libraries; SEC. 5. The electors in any town or city qualified to vote upon any proposition to impose a tax, or for the expenditure pubh of money in such town or city, may, by a majority vote of such electors voting at the annual meeting for the election of town officers, or members of the city council therein, appro- priate a sum not exceeding twenty-five cents on each one hundred dollars of the ratable property of such city or town in the year next preceding such appropriation, for the founda- tion therein of a free public library, with or without branches, for all the inhabitants thereof, and to provide suitable rooms for such library, which shall be used under such regulations as may from time to time be prescribed by the town council of such town, or city council of such city. SEC. 6. Any town or city having established a free public May appro- priate for library therein, in manner as aforesaid, may annually, by the majority vote of the electors of said town, qualified as afore- said and voting on the proposition, or by vote of the city council of said city, appropriate a sum not exceeding thirty cents on each one thousand dollars of its ratable property, in the year next preceding such appropriation, for the maintenance and increase of such library therein, and may take, receive, hold and manage any devise, bequest or donation for the establish- ment, increase or maintenance of a public library therein, to be under such regulations for its government, when they are not prescribed by its donor, as may from time to time be prescribed by the town council of such town, or the city council of such city. 62 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. May appro- priate for free public library not its own. Limitation of town's in- debtedness. 19 R. I. 692. 20 R. I. 390. 20 R. I. 179. Limitation of town taxes. Pub. Laws, 953, Feb. 25, 1902. 23 R. I. 115. 24 R, I. 232. SEC. 7. Every town not owning a free public library may, at the annual town meeting, appropriate a sum not exceeding thirty cents on each one thousand dollars of its ratable property in the year next preceding such appropriation, for the main- tenance and increase of any free library therein. SEC. 21. No town shall, without special statutory au- thority therefor, incur any debt in excess of three per centum of the taxable property of such town, including the indebted- ness of such town on the tenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred seventy-eight, but the giving of a new note or bond for a pre-existing debt, or for money borrowed and applied to the payment of such pre-existing debt, is excepted from the pro- visions of this section, and the amount of any sinking fund shall be deducted in computing such indebtdeness. SEC. 22. No town shall assess its ratable property in any one year in excess of one and one-half per centum of its ratable value, except for the purpose of paying the indebtedness of such town or the interest thereon, or for appropriations to any of the sinking funds, or for extraordinary repairs for damages caused by the elements; but assessments for specific benefits conferred by the opening or improving of any public highway, or for any public sewer, shall not be taken to be within the provisions of this section. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 43. CHAPTER 53. Of the Establishment and Control of Free Public Libraries by Towns. SECTION 1. Town or city council may accept gift of public library, or funds for. 2. Town or city council to elect trus- tees, and may fill vacancies. SECTION- 3. Duties and powers of trustees. 4. Appropriation for support of library to be made annually. 5. Trustees to accept and receipt for legacies. TOWN LIBRARIES. 63 SECTION 1. In case any library, or funds for the establish- Town or city council may ment thereof, may be offered to any city or town on the con- Jub e i?c ifbra?y dition that said library shall be maintained as a free public library, the city council of. any city, or town council of any town, is hereby authorized to accept such gift in behalf of the city or town. SEC. 2. Whenever any city or town shall establish a free Town or city council to public library, or shall become possessed, as above provided, elect trustees. of any such library, the aforesaid city council or town council, as the case may be, shall proceed to elect a board of trustees, to consist of not less than three members nor more than seven. As soon as possible after the election of the first board the mem- trustees. f bers thereof shall meet and be divided by lot into three groups or classes, the terms of office of one group expiring in one year from the date of their election, those of another group in two years, and those of the remaining group in three years. With the Vacancies, how filled. expiration of the term of office of any member the vacancy shall be filled by the city council or town council, as the case may be, for the term of three years. Vacancies occurring by resignation, removal, death, or otherwise, shall be filled as above for the un- expired term thereof. SEC. 3. The aforesaid trustees shall take possession of said Trustees to provide for library, and shall thereafter be the legal guardians and custo- care of library, dians of the same. They shall provide suitable rooms for the library, arrange for the p.-oper care of the same, choose one or more competent persons as Ubrarians and fix their compensa- tion, and make all needful rules and regulations for the govern- ment of the library and the use of the books: provided, that no fee for the use of the books shall ever be exacted, SEC. 4. Each city or town acting under this chapter shall Appropriation for, by town. annually appropriate for the support of the public library an amount at least as much as that which the library shall receive from the state. All appropriations from the city or town and state, and the income of all funds belonging to the library, shall 64 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION Trustees to ac- cept and re- ceipt for 'lega- cies. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 44. All property is liable, unless exempted. Pub. Laws, 1246, May 11, 1905. 2 R. I. 459. 8 R. I. 15. 11 R. I. 321. 12 R. I. 435. 15 R. I. 159. Property ex- empt from tax- ation. Pub. Laws, 844, Mar. 28, 1901. 6 R. I. 235. 8 R. I. 474. 9 R. I. 559. 12 R. I. 19. 14 R. I. 307. 19 R. I. 710. 21 R. I. 34. 24 R. I. 87. School prop- erty. be subject to the exclusive control of the trustees, and the several city and town treasurers shall pay, within the limits of the appropriations and other library funds in their hands, all bills properly certified by the said trustees. SEC. 5. In case of any bequest, legacy, or gift to, or in favor of, a public library, the trustees thereof are hereby authorized and empowered to accept the same in behalf of, and for the use of, the library, and their receipt shall be a full and sufficient dis- charge and release to any executor, administrator, or other person authorized to make the payment thereof. CHAPTER 56. Of Property Liable to, and Exempt from, Taxation. SECTION 1, Property liable to taxation. SECTION 2. Property exempt from taxation. SECTION 1. All real property in the state, and all personal property belonging to the inhabitants thereof, whether individ- uals, copartnerships, or corporations, and all tangible personal property located in the state belonging to non-residents, shall be liable to taxation unless otherwise specially provided. SEC. 2. The following property and no other, shall be ex- empt from taxation: Property belonging to the state; lands ceded or belonging to the United States; buildings for free public schools ; buildings for religious worship and the land upon which they stand and immediately surrounding the same, to an extent not exceeding one acre, so far as said buildings and land are occupied and used exclusively for religious or educational purposes; the buildings and personal estate owned by any cor- poration used for a school, academy or seminary of learning, and of any incorporated public charitable institution, and the land upon which said buildings stand and immediately surrounding the same, to an extent not'exceeding one acre, so far as the same ASSESSING AND COLLECTING POLL TAXES. 65 is used exclusively for educational purposes, but no property or estate whatever shall hereafter be exempt from taxation, in any case where any part of the income or profits thereof or of the business carried on thereon is divided among its owners or stockholders; the estates, persons, and families of the president and professors, for the time being, of Brown University, for not more than ten thousand dollars for each such officer, his estate, person, and family included; property specially exempt by charter unless such exemption shall have been waived in whole or in part; lots of land used exclusively for burial grounds; the property, real and personal, held for or by any incorporated library, society, or any free public library, or any free public library society, so far as said property shall be held exclusively for library purposes, or for the aid or support of the aged poor, or for the aid or support of poor friendless children, or for the aid or support of the poor generally; or for a hospital for the sick or disabled; and any fund given or held for the purpose of public education; almshouses and the land and buildings used in connection therewith; the real and personal estate of any incorporated volunteer fire-engine company in active service; the estate of any person who in the judgment of the assessors is unable from infirmity or poverty to pay the tax; the bonds and other securities issued and exempted from taxation by the government of the United States. CHAPTER 59. Gen.La, 1896, Ch. 47. Of Assessing and Collecting Poll-Taxes. 3. Tax to be applied to public schools. SECTION 3. The assessors of taxes on completing the assess- collection of ment of taxes as prescribed in this chapter, shall date and P 2i R X i- 582. sign, and within three days thereafter deposit the same in the office of the town clerk, except in the city of Providence, and in 66 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. the city of Providence deposit the same with the city treasurer thereof. The town clerk shall forthwith make a copy of the same and deliver it to the town treasurer, and the town treasurer shall forthwith issue and affix to said copy a warrant under his hand, and which need not be under seal, directed to the collector of taxes of the town commanding him to proceed and collect the several sums of money therein expressed, of the per- sons liable therefor, by the time directed by the town, and to pay over the same to him or to his successor in office. Whenever any town shall elect its town treasurer collector of taxes for such town, such warrant shall be issued to the town treasurer as collector of taxes by the town clerk. The tax assessed ac- cording to the provisions of this chapter, shall be applied to the support of the public schools in such town or city. Gen. Laws, 1896. Ch. 85. Deaf, blind, imbecile chil- dren as state beneficiaries. Pub. Laws, 322, April 29, 1896. CHAPTER 100. Of Provision for the Education of Deaf, Blind and Imbecile Children. SECTION 1. State beneficiaries. 2. Supervision, and annual report. SECTION 3. Clothing, how furnished. 4. Bills, how approved and paid. SECTION 1. The governor, on recommendation of the state board of education, upon application of the parent or guar- dian, may appoint any deaf, blind or imbecile child, being a legal resident of this state, who shall appear to said board to be a fit subject for education, as a state beneficiary at any suitable institution or school now established, or that may be estab- lished, either within or without the state, for such period as he may determine, within the limit of ten years: Provided, that he may, upon the special recommendation of the state board of education, extend the period and that he shall have the power to revoke any appointment at any time for cause. RHODE ISLAND INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF. 67 SEC. 2. The board of education are hereby clothed with the duty and responsibility of supervising the education of all such su P ervislon - beneficiaries, and no child appointed as above shall be with- drawn from any institution or school except with their consent, or the consent of the governor; and said board shall annually ,,,.-,. n i i Annual report. report to the general assembly their doings under this chapter, with such further information in relaton to the several institu- tions at which these beneficiaries have been placed as may be deemed desirable. SEC. 3. The board of education may expend in the pur- clothing. chase of necessary clothing for such beneficiaries a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, in any calendar year, for a single child. SEC. 4. All bills arising under this chapter shall be ex- Annual appro- priation for ed- amined and approved by the board of education, and the Sfhfd? and k?- f ' state auditor is hereby authorized to draw his orders on the 1048, Dec. 10, general treasurer for the payment thereof when properly 1902. certified by the secretary of the board and approved by the governor ; and a sum not to exceed seventeen thousand dollars or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby annually ap- propriated therefor out of any money in the treasury not other- wise appropriated. CHAPTER 101. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 86. Of the Rhode Island Institute for the Deaf. SECTION 1. Management and control vested in trustees. 2. Trustees, how appointed and term of office. 3. Power of board of trustees to admit. 4. Who may be admitted. Objects of the institute, and how managed. SECTION 5. Trustees to report annually to general assembly. 6. AVho may attend. 7. Compulsory attendance. S. Certificate. 9. This chapter jiot affected by chap- ter 63, sections 10, 11 and 12. SECTION 1. The governor and lieutenant-governor, to- gether with nine citizens of this state, of whom six shall be 68 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. R. I. Institute for the Deaf to be managed and controlled by trustees. Trustees, how appointed and term of office. Pub. Laws, 809, Jan. 29, 1901. Power of the board of trustees to admit. Who may be admitted. Object of in- stitute. men and three women, to be appointed as hereinafter pro- vided, shall constitute a board of trustees in whom shall be vested the management and control of a state institution for the instruction and maintenance of deaf children in accord- ance with the provisions of this chapter. Such institution shall be known as the Rhode Island Institute for the Deaf. SEC. 2. At the January session of the general assembly in the year A. D. nineteen hundred nine, and in each second year thereafter, the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint three persons to be members of said board to succeed the members then in office whose terms will next expire; and the persons so appointed shall hold their offices until .the first day of February in the sixth year after their appoint- ment. Any vacancy which may occur in said board when the senate is not in session shall be filled by the governor until the next session thereof, when he shall, with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint some person to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term. The members of said board shall receive no compensation for their services. SEC. 3. The board of trustees may admit such persons there- in as hereinafter is provided. SEC. 4. Deaf persons between the ages of three and twenty years, and of sufficient capacity for instruction, who are legal residents of the state, shall be entitled to the privilege of the school without charge, and for such period of time in each individual case as may be deemed expedient by the board of trustees; residents of other states may be admitted upon the payment of such rates of board and tuition as may be fixed by the board of trustees. The primary object of the school shall be to furnish to the deaf children of this state, oral instruc- tion, and the best known facilities for the enjoyment of such a share of the benefits of the system of free public education as their afflicted condition will admit of. The board of trustees shall have charge of the affairs of the institution, with power to RHODE ISLAND INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF. 69 make such by-laws and regulations for the government thereof (not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter) as they may deem expedient. They shall elect from their own number Management. a, president and secretary, together with such standing com- mittees as they may deem necessary. They shall appoint a principal who shall be the chief executive officer of the institu- tion, and shall have charge of the educational and internal affairs of the institution, and shall also, upon the nomination of the principal, appoint teachers and subordinate officers, prescribe the duties and terms of service of the same, and fix their salaries, .and for just cause remove any or all of them. They shall like- wise employ the requisite number of servants and other as- sistants, and fix the wages of the same, and shall purchase all furniture, school-books, school-apparatus and other supplies necessary to the equipment and carrying-on such institution. SEC. 5. The board of trustees shall annually in the month Board of trus- tees are to re- of January make a report to the general assembly, of the p rt annually, state and condition of the school, and a statement of all ex- penses incurred for salaries, maintenance, tuition and other items of current expense, together with an estimate of the amount of money necessary to meet the current expenses of the next year. SEC. 6. All children of parents, or under the control of who may at- guardians or other persons, legal residents of this state, between stitute 'for the the ages of three and twenty years, whose hearing or speech, ^'May^ia or both, are so defective as to make it inexpedient or imprac- l ticable to attend the public schools to advantage, not being mentally or otherwise incapable, may attend the Rhode Island Institute for the Deaf, without charge, under such rules and regulations as the board of trustees of said institute may es- tablish. SEC. 7. Every person having under his control any such compulsory attendance. child between the ages of seven and eighteen years shall cause ^P. A., sec. such child to attend school at said institute for such period of 70 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Certificate. Pub. Laws, 332, May 13, 1896. This chapter is not affected 63, sees. 10, 11, and 12. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 87. time or such prescribed course, in each individual case, as may be deemed expedient by the board of trustees, and for any neglect of such duty the person so offending shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars : Provided, that if the person so charged shall prove to the satisfaction of said board that the child has received or is receiving, under private or other instruction, an education suitable to his condition, in the judgment of said board, then such penalty shall not be incurred; provided further, that no child shall be removed to said institution or taken from the custody of its parent or guardian except as a day scholar, unless such parent or guardian is an improper person to have such custody, and the supreme court shall have jurisdiction in habeas corpus proceedings to examine into and revise all find- ings of said board of trustees under this chapter. SEC. 8. Any child having attended said institute a time or course prescribed by said board, upon leaving the institute shall be entitled to receive a certificate of his proficiency from said board. SEC. 9. The provisions of this chapter are not repealed, affected or modified by the provisions of sections ten, eleven, and twelve of chapter sixty-three. CHAPTER 102. Of the State Home and School for Children. SECTTOX 1-3. Board of control; number, term of office, and how appointed. 4. Secretary, duties and term of office. 5. Compensation to secretary only, but travelling expenses to all. 6. Government of the school. 7. What children to be received; what may be returned, when, to authorities. SECTION 8. Object of school, and duty of the board. 9. Jurisdiction of probate courts. 10. Board to keep a register of the children in the school. 11. To make annual report to general assembly. Board of con- trol. SECTION. 1 The control and maintenance of the state home and school for dependent and neglected children shall con- STATE HOME AND SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN. 71 tinue to be vested in a board of control, to be called the "board of control of the state home and school." Said school shall be known as the State Home and School for Children. SEC. 2. The said board shall consist of seven persons four Number of board. of whom shall be men and three women. The terms of office Term of office. of the members of said board shall begin on the first day of Pub. Laws, o09, J3,n. 2i7 f February. SEC. 3. The governor, by and with the advice and con- sent of the senate, shall appoint the members of said board other than the secretary. He shall annually at the January ] session of the general assembly so appoint persons to be mem- bers of said board to succeed those whose terms will next ex- pire; and the persons so appointed shall hold their offices until the first day of February in the third year after their appoint- ment. Any vacancy which may occur in said board when the senate is not in session shall be filled by the governor until the next session thereof, when he shall, with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint some person to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term. SEC. 4. Said board mav appoint a secretarv, who shall by Secretary, du- * * ' J ties and term virtue of his office be a member of the board; he shall give of( bond to the state in such sum as the board may require, for the faithful performance of his duties; he shall keep a record of all the doings of said board, and shall perform such other duties as may be by them required. Such secretary shall hold his office during the pleasure of the board. SEC. 5. No member of the board, except the secretary, shall Compensation to the secretary receive any compensation for his services, but ever}' member expenses shall be paid out of the state treasury his necessary travelling expenses. SEC. 6. The said board shall establish a system of govern- Government of the school. ment for the institution, and shall make all necessary rules and regulations for imparting instruction, and for the proper training of the children. They shall appoint such officers, 72 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. What children are to be re- ceived. Children re- ceived, to be returned, when, to authorities. Object of the school and duty of the board to carry out the pur- poses of this chapter. teachers and employees as shall be necessary, and prescribe their duties and fix their salaries. SEC. 7. They shall receive, in accordance with rules by them established, such children as may be declared vagrant, neglected and dependent on the public for support, as pro- vided in this chapter, who are over four and under fourteen years of age, and who are in a suitable condition of mind and body to be instructed; for exceptional reasons, children under four years may be received, should the board deem it advis- able. Any child who shall be found by the board to be of unsound mind, or who may be considered by the board an improper inmate of said institution, shall be forthwith re- turned by them to the authorities from whom said child was received, who are hereby required to receive the same; and all children admitted shall remain until they are eighteen years of age, unless otherwise ordered by the board. SEC. 8. It is declared to be the object of this chapter to- provide for neglected and dependent children, not recognized as vicious or criminal, such influences as will lead toward an honest, intelligent and self-supporting manhood and woman- hood, the state, so far as possible, holding to them the paren- tal relation. But if at any time, in the discretion of the board, this object can be better attained by placing a child in a good family, they shall have the power to do so on condition that its education shall be provided for by such family in the public schools of the town or city where they may reside. The board are hereby made the legal guardians of all the children who- may become inmates of the home and school, and charged with the duty of following such children as may be placed in families, with watchful care, and of taking them back to their own im- mediate supervision if at any time they fail to receive kind and proper treatment and a fair elementary education; and in case any child shall leave without permission, or be taken by any person unauthorized from said institution or from any family STATE HOME AND SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN. 73 where it shall have been placed by said board, then said board is hereby authorized to take and restore said child to said in^ stitution or to the family. SEC. 9. It shall be the duty of the superintendents or overseers of the poor in the several towns to, and any agent of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to before court' of probate. Children may, bring before the courts of probate of such towns 21 R. i. 52. for examination, children supported in poor-houses or other- wise dependent on the public for support, or other children found to be in a state of vagrancy, want, or suffering, or aban- doned by their parents or guardians, or not having any home or settled abpde or proper guardianship; and thereupon it shall be the duty of the court of probate before whom any such child is brought, to investigate the facts and ascertain if the child is so supported, or is in a state of vagrancy, want, and suffer- ing, or is abandoned by its parents or guardians, or is with- out home or settled abode or proper guardianship, and also .... , , ,. , . , . Jurisdiction of to ascertain its name, age and place of birth, and the names courts of pro- bate herein. and residence of its parents or guardians, if it have any, and where and for what length of time, if at all, it has been supported at the expense of the town or state; and said courts of probate shall have power to compel attendance of witnesses. The par- ents or any friend may appear in behalf of any child, and the ( r j^ s r for Parents or friends appear court of probate in its discretion may request some suitable per- chlld< son to appear in behalf of any child; and if on such examination the court shall find that such child is so supported or dependent, or is in a state of vagrancy, want, and suffering, or is so aban- doned, or without home or settled abode or proper guardianship, it shall make a proper order containing a statement of the facts ascertained as to said child, and entrusting said child to the care, and custody of the said board, together with a direction to the superintendent or overseer of the poor to take said child to the state home and school, and shall deliver to the superintendent or overseer of the poor, or other person procuring such exami- 10 74 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Order of court, and execution thereof. Expenses to be paid by the town. Proviso as to children in state alms- house. Expenses to be paid by the state. Register of children. To report an- nually to the general assem- By. Pub. Laws, 720, Feb. 9, 1900. nation, a certified copy thereof. Such certified copy of such order shall then be delivered with the child at the home and school, to the presiding officer thereof. All expenses attend- ing the foregoing proceedings shall be paid by the town or city in which the child belongs: Provided, that children between the ages of four and fourteen supported in the state almshouse may be brought before the probate court of the town of Cranston by the agent of the board of state charities and corrections, and said court is hereby clothed with the same power over such children, and such proceedings may be had, as if they were regularly domiciled in said town; and all expenses incident to the hearings in said cases before said probate court shall be paid by the state, and the state auditor is hereby authorized to draw his orders for the payment of all such bills, when certified by the secretary of the board of control of the state home and school, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appro- priated. SEC. 10. The board shall provide a book in which shall be registered the names, ages and places of birth of the children under their care; the residence of the parents or guardians as nearly as can be ascertained; the date when each child is received and from what town, and when he leaves the school; and whenever a child is placed in a family, the name, residence and occupation of such family; and such book shall be open at all times for the inspection of the probate clerks and the over- seers of the poor of the several cities and towns of the state. SEC. 11. The said board of control shall annually report to the general assembly at its January session, upon the con- dition of the school, the number of inmates thereof, the ex- penditures for the year, and their estimates for the year ensuing,, together with such other matters as may seem desirable. RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL FOR THE FEEBLE-MINDED. 75 CHAPTER 103. Of the Establishment, Maintenance, Management, and Control of the Rhode Island School for the Feeble- Minded. Pub. Laws, Ch. 1470, April 23. 1907 SECTION 1. School established. 2. Under the control of state board of education. 3. School department to be main- tained. SECTIOX 4. What children are to be transferred to and received into. 5. Who may be received in said school- 6. Person may be committed to, when. 7. Board to make annual report. SECTION 1. A school to be known as the Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded shall be established and shall be under the management and control of the state board of education. SEC. 2. Said board is empowered to lease necessary land T h e 1 ^ a ' n 1 a d g r and buildings for said school, the expense thereof to be paid out F f a the C n ~ of any moneys appropriated for the maintenance of said school, education 1 . and to purchase land and erect buildings for the use of said school, the expense thereof to be paid out of any moneys ap- propriated for that purpose. Said board shall have power to Powers and du- make such by-laws and regulations for the government thereof, board. not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, as they may deem expedient. They shall appoint such officers, teach- ers, and employees as shall be necessary, and prescribe their duties and fix their salaries and compensation, and shall pur- chase such furniture, books, school apparatus, and other sup- plies necessary to the equipment and carrying on of said school. SEC. 3. In said school shall be maintained a school depart- school de- partment to be ment for the instruction and education of feeble-minded per- maintained. sons who are within school age, or who are in the judgment of said board capable of being benefited by school instruction; and a custodial department for the care and custody of feeble- minded persons beyond school age, or who are not capable of being benefited by school instruction. SEC. 4. All feeble-minded persons in the care and custody Wh *t per are to be of the state, or of any town in this state, capable of being bene- sons trans- 76 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Who may be received in said school. Person may be committed to said school, when. fited by school instruction shall be transferred to and received into said school whenever said board considers the conditions in said school suitable and the accommodations in said school ample for the proper care and instruction of such persons. SEC. 5. Said board may gratuitously receive, maintain, and educate in said school such feeble-minded persons, residents of this state, as they, upon investigation, believe are without means of support, and whose lawful guardians are unable to pay for such maintenance and education or are not liable for the same. Other pupils may be received from this state or elsewhere, at such a charge as said board may in their discretion fix. Over- seers of the poor in all the towns of this state shall receive and forward to said board any applications that may be brought to their attention for the admission to said school of any feeble- minded persons residing in their respective towns. All applica- tions for admission of any feeble-minded person to said school, under the provisions of this section, shall be made in writing, to said board, by the parent or parents, guardian, or the person having the care and custody of such feeble-minded person, and each such application shall be accompanied by the certificate of two practicing physicians in good standing, that such person, whose admission is sought into said school, is feeble-minded and a proper subject for admission to said school. Said board shall have full control and authority over the inmates of the school, and may, whenever they consider it necessary or expedient discharge any pupil of said school, delivering said discharged pu- pil to the person or place liable for his support, and in default of such liability, to the state almshouse. SEC. 6. Whenever complaint in writing and under oath shall be made to any justice or clerk of the district court that any person within the district wherein such court is established is feeble-minded, so as to require restraint for his own welfare or for the welfare of the public, such justice or clerk shall issue his warrant under his hand and seal, returnable forthwith, di- RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL FOR THE FEEBLE-MINDED. 77 reeled to the sheriff, deputy-sheriffs, chiefs of police, town ser- geants, or constables in the county wherein such district is situated, requiring the officer charged therewith to apprehend such person and have him with such warrant before such district court for examination relative to such complaint at such time and place within the district as shall be named in the warrant. Such court may continue or .adjourn any such hearing or exam- ination pending before it from time to time and to the same or to a different place in the same district, and may pending the hearing or examination order the person so apprehended to be detained in the Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded, or may, if it deem proper, require him to enter into recognizance in such sum as the court shall direct, with sufficient surety or sureties satisfactory to said court, with condition that the person so apprehended shall appear before such court at the time and place of such examination or hearing, and for want of such recognizance such person shall be committed to the Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded. If the court on such examina- tion and upon the testimony of two practicing physicians in good standing shall adjudge such complaint to be true, it shall, unless some provision for the adequate restraint of such person satisfactory to said court shall be made, commit such person by warrant under its hand and seal to the Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded, there to be detained until in the judgment of the state board of education such person shall be no longer under the necessity of restraint, or until adequate provision satisfactory to such district court for the restraint of such per- son shall be made before it. Application for the discharge from the Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded of any person so committed may be made by him, or by some person in his be- half, to the district court by which such person was committed, and a time and place for the hearing of such application shall be appointed by such court to whom such application shall have been made, and such court shall have the power to order the 78 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Board to make an annual re- port to the general assem- bly. discharge of such person. Any person aggrieved by the order of any district court committing such person to such school for the feeble-minded or refusing to discharge such person therefrom shall have the same right of appeal as is provided from the judgment of a district court in criminal cases. SEC. 7. Said board shall annually in the month of January prepare and present to the general assembly a written or printed report of said school, including therein statements of its work, its expenditures and income, the amounts appropriated for its support and the amount expended under each appropriation, the whole and average number of its inmates, the number of inmates received and discharged, the number of beneficiaries supported by the state in said school, the number and salary of officers and employees, and such other information as in their opinion will be of value, said report to be for the year ending on the 30th day of September next preceding the date of said report. SSJSTW CHAPTER 123. Of the Suppression of Intemperance. SECTION 2. Licenses, by whom and how granted. begrante s d to SECTION 2. Nor shall any of a h n y pubifc et license be granted for the sale of such liquors in any building or place, except taverns that were licensed on the twenty-second day of May, nineteen hundred eight, within two hundred feet, measured by any public travelled way, of the premises of any public or parochial school. Gen. Laws, 1896, Ch. 108. CHAPTER 129. Of Protection to Life from Fire in Certain Buildings. SECTION 1. Building three or more stories in height to have means of escape from fire. 8. Liability of owner for neglect to SECTION provide fire-escapes, if death en- sues. 9. Penalty for non-compliance with the requirements of this chapter. PROTECTION TO LIFE FROM FIRE IX CERTAIN BUILDINGS. 79 SECTION 1. Every building three or more stories in height, now or hereafter used wholly or in part as a seminary, college, ^vSed with 6 academy, school-house, hospital, asylum, hotel, lodging-house fire?ro C of P 3afr- for the accommodation of transient guests, factory or workshop in which employees are usually working in the third or any higher story thereof, and every building used for office pur- poses three or more stories in height, shall be provided by the owner or owners thereof either with proper and sufficient strong and durable, metallic fire-escapes upon the external walls, suffi- cient in number, which fire-escapes shall extend from the high- est occupied story to the top of the first story of said building, or with proper and sufficient incumbustible stairs and stairways at opposite ends of the building, extending from the highest occupied story to the ground ; said stairs and stairways shall be connected by open passageways of suitable width; said fire-es- capes, stairs and stairways to be suitable and sufficient to af- ford to persons within said building proper egress from said building in case of fire therein, and to be kept in repair by said owner or owners. SEC. 8. In all cases in which any person shall suffer injury Liability of owners for ne- or in which the death of any person shall ensue in consequence of the failure of the owner or owners of any building to provide the same with fire-escapes or stairs or stairways, as required by 1120. A " se the provisions of this chapter, or in consequence of the failure of said owner or owners to comply with the written notice and requirement of any inspector of buildings, when made in con- formity to the provisions of this chapter, such owner or owners shall be jointly and severally liable, to any person so injured, in an action of trespass on the case for damages for such injury; and in case of death such owner or owners shall be jointly and severally liable in damages for the injury caused by the death of such person, to be recovered, by action of trespass on the case, in the same manner and for the benefit of the same persons as is provided in sections fourteen and fifteen of chapter two 80 Penalty for non-compli- ance. LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. hundred eighty-three; which action, when the owners are non- residents, may be commenced by attachment. It shall be no defence to said action that the person injured, or whose death ensued as aforesaid, had knowledge that any such building was not provided with fire-escapes or stairs and stairways as required by the provisions of this chapter, or that such person continued to work in or to occupy said building with said knowledge. SEC. 9. The owner or owners of any building, o in case such owners, or any of them, be non compos mentis, or a minor, the guardian of any such owner, or in case such owners, or any of them, be non-resident, the agent of any such owner having charge of such property, who shall neglect or fail to comply with the foregoing provisions of this chapter shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars. In case there shall be several owners of any building, which shall be continued in violation of said provisions of this chapter, proceedings may be had against any or all of them jointly, or against any one of them, for the recovery of such fine. Pub. Laws. Ch. 1536, April 22, 1908. CHAPTER 131. Of Diminishing Danger to Life in Case of Fire. SECTION 2. Doors or windows of or to any exit or fire escape to be so arranged as to swing outward. 6. Aisles or passageways not to be obstructed. 7. Certain houses having accommo- dations for 25 or more persons. SECTION subject to provisions of section 2 of this chapter. 9. Duties of city and town officers un- der this chapter. 10. Penalties for not complying with provisions of this chapter. Doors or win- dows of or to SECTION 2. All theatres, halls, churches, and school houses sna11 nave tne doors or windows of or to any exit or fire escape, JSg g out a ward. and of any opening thereto, so arranged as to swing outward; and at no time when any show, performance, exhibition, dance, ball, fair, service, or session is being given or held therein, or DIMINISHING DANGER TO LIFE IN CASE OF FIRE. 81 any audience shall be present therein, shall said doors or win- dows be locked. SEC. 6. No obstruction of any kind shall be placed in the 4 isl e e way S P not aisles or passageways leading to any exit or fire escape, or any l d be obstruct - openings thereto, of any theatre, hall, church, or school while any show, performance, exhibition, dance, ball, fair, service, or session is being given or held therein, or while any audience is present therein. SEC. 7. All poorhouses, orphan asylums, homes maintained having a h ccom- in whole or part by any public, religious, charitable or benev- 25 or more per- olent institution, hospitals, hotels, and licensed lodging houses, to provisions 7 of section 2 of which severally have twenty-five or more inmates, or permanent this cha P ter - accommodations for twenty-five or more persons, shall have the doors or windows of or to any exit or fire escape so arranged as to swing outward. All buildings used as factories, laundries, or workshops, in whole or in part, in which buildings severally twenty-five or more persons are employed, shall have the doors or windows of or to any exit or fire escape so arranged as to swing outward. All factories, laundries, workshops, or rooms in any building where the entrance thereto is from a corridor or J^g outward hallway, and in which factories, laundries, workshops, or rooms, severally, twenty-five or more persons are employed, shall have the doors of entrance thereto so arranged as to swing outward. If any such door or window of such factory, laundry, workshop Doors or win- dows in fac- or room shall be locked or fastened during working hours the lock or fastening shall be such, and kept in such condition, hours g soTh k a? g that the same can be easily and quickly unlocked or unfastened un!ocked n from e . inside. by any person from the inside. SEC. 9. In every city or town, the inspector of buildings, STd^town offi y - .... / i -i T i cers under this any assistant inspector of buildings, any member of the board chapter. of police commissioners, the chief of police, any member of the board of fire commissioners if any, the chief of the fire depart- ment, and any person charged hereunder with the enforcement 82 Penalties for not complying with provis- sions of this chapter. LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. of the provisions hereof, shall be at all reasonable times admit- ted free of charge into all parts of every theatre, hall, church, school, or other building, factory, laundry, or shop included within the provisions hereof, to ascertain whether the require- ments of this chapter are complied with. SEC. 10. Any person, whose duty it is to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter, who shall neglect or refuse to comply with the same, shall be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars for each offence, and every day of such neglect or failure shall constitute a separate offence. The supreme court and the superior court within their respective jurisdictions shall have power to issue any extraordinary writs, or to proceed according to the course of equity, or both, to secure the fulfillment and execution of the provisions hereof. If any such remedy or proceeding is sought or brought in the superior court, it shall be in the court for the county in which the building is located. 'Gen. Laws, 1896. Ch. 111. CHAPTER 135. Dogs to be li- censed, etc., in April; 27 R. I. 145. fees therefor. SECTION 10. Dogs to be licensed in April; fees therefor. May be licensed in May; fee therefor. Penalty. 15, 16. Appraisers of damage done by Of Dogs. SECTION dogs; mode of appraising; dam- ages, how recovered. Balance to be applied for support of public schools. SECTION 10. Every owner or keeper of a dog, of what age soever, shall annually in the month of April cause such dog to be registered, numbered, described and licensed from the first day of the ensuing June, in the office of the town clerk of the town wherein such owner or keeper resides; and shall cause it to wear a collar around its neck distinctly marked with its owner's name and with its registered number; and shall pay to such clerk, for such license, one dollar and fifteen cents for a male dog and five dollars and fifteen cents for a female dog; DOGS. 83 and all licenses granted under the provisions of this chapter shall be valid in every town during the then current year: Provided, ctnLcTin" however, that any owner or keeper of a dog, of what age soever therefor. 68 may, in the month of May in any year, have such dog licensed as aforesaid, upon paying to such clerk two dollars and fifteen cents for a male dog and six dollars and fifteen cents for a female dog; and provided further, that any person who shall become the when to be owner or keeper of a dog, of what age soever, after the last day 3o e dlys. withm of May in each year, and prior to the first day of April follow- ing, shall cause the same to be registered, numbered, collared and licensed, within thirty days after he becomes such owner or keeper, upon the payment of one dollar and fifteen cents for a male dog and five dollars and fifteen cents for a female dog. Every person owning or keeping a dog not registered, licensed Penalty. and collared according to the provisions of this section shall be fined ten dollars, one-half thereof to the use of the complainant and one-half thereof to the use of the town wherein such dog shall have been kept, to be applied by the said town to the sup- For support of public schools. port of public schools therein. SEC. 15. Each town or city council, excepting town and Appraisers of ., , T damage done city councils in the county of Newport, shall annually in the bydo gs . month of April appoint one or more suitable persons appraisers, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties, to appraise the damage that may be done to any owner of any sheep or lambs, cattle or horses, hogs or fowls, suffering loss by reason Jg of the biting, maining or killing thereof by any dog or dogs, and to give a statement thereof in writing to the owner suffering such loss; and such owner, suffering loss as aforesaid, shall, with- in two days after such loss shall come to his knowledge, notify the appraiser, so appointed and sworn, living nearest to him in the town wherein such owner resides, of such loss; and said ap- praiser shall, on receipt of twenty-five cents for each mile's travel and the sum of one dollar from such owner, appraise the damage and give a statement thereof in writing, with his lawful 84 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Balance to be applied to school-fund, except when. Same subject; in Newport county. Mode of ap- praising dam- age; damages how paid. fees taxed thereon, to such owner; and said owner shall, within sixty days thereafter, present the same to the town council of such town, who shall draw an order on the town treasurer for the amount of such appraisal and fees, or for such other amount as they, in their discretion, after careful examination, shall deem just; and said order, when presented to the town treas- urer, shall be paid in the same manner as any other order made by the town council upon the town treasurer; and should any money, received under the provisions of this chapter, remain in the town treasury after April first, the town treasurer shall, on the first Monday in May following, pay over the whole of such money so remaining to the school-fund of such town for the sup- port of the public schools therein: Provided, however, that any town, at its annual meeting or at a town meeting specially called for that purpose, may vote to retain such money as a separate fund for the payment of damages done as aforesaid. SEC. 16. Each town or city council in the county of New- port shall annually in the month of April appoint one or more suitable persons appraisers, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties, to appraise the damage that may be done to any owner of any sheep or lambs, cattle, horses, hogs or fowls, suffering loss by reason of the biting, maiming or killing thereof by any dog, and to give a statement thereof in writing to the owner suffering loss; and such owner, suffering loss as aforesaid, shall, within two days after such loss shall come to his knowledge, notify the appraiser, so appointed and sworn, living nearest to him in the town wherein such owner resides, of such loss; and said appraiser shall, on receipt of twenty cents for each mile's travel and the sum of one dollar from such owner, appraise the damage and give a statement thereof in writing, with his lawful fees taxed thereon, to such owner; and said owner shall, within sixty days thereafter, present to the town or city council of the town or city where such damage is done the appraisal thereof, and thereupon the town or city council of such town LEGAL HOLIDAYS. 85 or city shall draw an order on the town or city treasurer for the .amount of such appraisal and fees, or for such other amount as they, in their discretion, after careful examination, shall deem just. And such town or city treasurer shall annually, on the last Monday in March, pay all such orders in full, if the gross amount thus received by such town or city under the provisions of this chapter, after deducting all sums previously laid out under such provisions, is sufficient therefor; otherwise the town or city treasurer shall divide such amount, after deducting as .aforesaid, pro rata among said orders, and the payment thereof shall be in full discharge of such orders; and should any money, Balance to be applied to received under the provisions of this chapter, remain in the |^ o1 ~ f ^P d> town treasury after payment provided for herein, the town or city treasurer shall, on the first Monday in May following, pay over the whole of such money so remaining to the school-fund of such town or city for the town or city for the support of the public schools therein: Provided, however, that any town in said county at its annual meeting, or at a town meeting specially called for that purpose, or any city in said county by its city council, may vote to retain such money as a separate fund for the payment of damages done as aforesaid. CHAPTER 201. VI& chTVee. 2 R. I. 385. Of Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes, and of Legal In- terest (Legal Holidays). SECTION 5. Legal holidays. SECTION 5. The first day of January (as new year's day), Legal holidays, the twenty-second day of February (as Washington's birthday), 809,'jan. 29, the second Friday in May (as Arbor day), the thirtieth day of May (as Memorial day), the fourth day of July (as Independence day), the first Monday of September (as Labor day), the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November (as state election day), 86 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. the twenty-fifth day of December (as Christmas day), and each of said days in every year, or when either of the said days fall on the first day of the week then the day following it, the first day of every week (commonly called Sunday), and such other days as the governor or general assembly of this state or the president or the congress of the United States shall appoint as holidays for any purpose, days of thanksgiving, or days of sol- emn fast, shall be holidays. Gen. Laws, 1896, ch. 176. Miscellaneous corporations, how formed. Agreement. Name. 18 R I. 165. Purpose. Location. 21 R. I. 444. 21 R. I. 498. CHAPTER 212. Of Incorporation. SECTION 11. Miscellaneous corporations are formed by what articles of agree- ment, how executed, and, with certificate of fee paid, where filed. Form of certificate of incorpora- tion. 12. Certificate of incorporation confers what powers. SECTION 13. Such corporation may hold prop- erty to what amount. 14. Articles of agreement may be amended, how. 15. Certified copies of incorporations are admissible in evidence. SECTION 11. All libraries, lyceums, fire-engine companies, and corporations formed for religious, charitable, literary, scien- tific, artistic, social, musical, agricultural or sporting purposes^ not organized for business purposes, and all other corporations of like nature not hereinbefore otherwise provided for, shall be created in the following manner, viz. : Five or more persons of lawful age shall associate by written articles which shall express : First. Their agreement to form said corporation; Second. The name by which it shall be known, which name shall not then be in use by any existing corporation of the state ; Third. The purpose for which it is constituted; Fourth. The town or city in which it is to be located. Said agreement shall be signed and acknowledged by all the members named therein. Said agreement shall be filed in the INCORPORATION. 87 office of the secretary of state, and said persons shall pay a fee Agreement must be signed, of five dollars into the general treasury of the state. When said SafiSdJf 8 * agreement has been so filed, together with the certificate of the sectary O e f general treasurer that the fee of five dollars has been paid, and certificate of the payment of the sum of one dollar has been paid to said secretary of state ^ e> ... Certificates of for the certificate hereinafter required, the secretary of state shall thereupon issue to said corporation his certificate, under the seal of the state, substantially in the following form: STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS. I, secretary of state, hereby certify that [here insert Form of cer- tificate. names of all the corporators] have filed in the office of secre- Pub. Laws, 1459, April 23, tary of state their agreement to form a corporation under the 1907> name of [here insert name of corporation] for the purpose [here insert purpose] in accordance with law, and have also filed the certificate of the general treasurer that they have paid into the general treasury of the state the fee required by law. Witness my hand and the seal of the state of Rhode Island this day of in the year The meeting of said corporators to form said corporation shall be called and held in accordance with the provisions of section six of this chapter. SEC. 12. When said certificate has been issued as aforesaid SSS^&t said corporators shall be authorized to carry out the purpose of l such agreement with all the powers and subject to all the duties and liabilities as provided herein and in chapter two hundred thirteen and all amendments thereof and additions thereto, so far as not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, and so far as the provisions of said chapter two hundred thirteen shall be applicable to such corporation. SEC. 13. Said corporation shall.be entitled to take, hold, May hold property to transmit and convey real and personal estate to an amount not |jJJ > U QQ ? f in exceeding in all one hundred thousand dollars. But if such ,. , , charter only. corporation desires to take and hold property to an amount 88 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Articles of agreement may be amended, how, except- ing as provided in section 13. Copies, when certified by secretary of state, to be taken in evidence. exceeding one hundred thousand dollars either originally or by amendment, such privilege shall be granted only by the general assembly on petition thereto. SEC. 14. Such agreement may be amended in any partic- ular not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, ex- cepting as provided in the preceding section, by vote of the corporation and the filing in the office of the secretary of state of a copy of such vote duly attested by the president and sec- retary of said corporation. SEC. 15. Copies of agreements to form corporations, when formed by agreement, or of any amendment thereof, and the fact of their being filed in the office of the secretary of state and the date of such filing, and the filing of the certificate of the general treasurer, shall, when certified to by the secretary of state, be received in evidence before any court, tribunal or authority. Gen. Laws, 1896, ch. 278. 18 R. I. 416. 18 R. I. 483. Penalty for wilful injury to public property. Penalty for wilfully dis- turbing meet- ings. 18 R. I. 459. CHAPTER 344. Of Offences Against Public Peace and Property. SECTION 4. Penalty for wilful injury to public property. SECTION 8. Penalty for wilfully disturbing meetings. SECTION 4. Every person who shall wilfully cut or deface or otherwise injure any public building or fence or other property belonging to this state, shall be fined not less than twice the amount of the damage done, unless that amount shall exceed twenty dollars; and if that amount shall exceed twenty dollars, he shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year. SEC. 8. Every person who shall wilfully interrupt or dis- turb any town or ward meeting, any assembly or people met for religious worship, any public or private school, any meet- ing lawfully and peaceably held for purposes of moral, liter- OFFENCES AGAINST PRIVATE PROPERTY. 89 ary or scientific improvement, or any other lawful meeting, exhibition or entertainment, either within or without the place where such meeting or school is held, shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year or be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars. CHAPTER 345. Of Offences Against Private Property. Gen. Laws, 1896, ch. 297. 14 R. I. SECTION 8. Breaking and entering other than a dwelling-house, with intent to commit certain crimes, how punished. SECTION 55. Penalty for malicious mischief to books of library. 56. Same for neglecting to return li- brary books. SECTION 8. Every person who shall break or enter any bank, . . than a dwelling shop, office or warehouse, not adjoining to or occupied with a house, with the intent to dwelling-house, any meeting-house, church, chapel, court-house, town-house, college, academy, school-house, library or other. how pur building erected for public use or occupied for any public pur- pose, or any ship or vessel, in the night-time, with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery or larceny, shall be imprisoned not exceeding ten years. SEC. 55. Every person who wilfully and maliciously or , 1463, April 23, any law, town, 1907. chief to books, wantonly and without cause writes upon, injures, defaces, etc., of free public or refer- tears, or destroys any book, pamphlet, plate, picture, engrav- ing, statue, or other property belonging to city, or other free public or reference library, or suffers such in- jury to be inflicted while said property is in his custody, shall be fined not more than twenty dollars, the same to be for the use of the library. SEC. 56. Every person who shall take or borrow from any public or reference library any book, pamphlet, periodical, pa- per, or other piece of property of said library, and who, upon neglect to return the same within the time required and specified 12 1907. 90 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. in the by-laws, rules, or regulations of the library owning the property, has been notified by the librarian or other proper custodian of the property that the same is overdue, shall upon further neglect to return the same within two months from the date of such notice, or upon neglect to pay the charges on the book, or other article, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than ten dollars, the same to be for the use of the library. A written or printed notice given personally or sent by mail to a last known or registered place of residence shall be considered a sufficient notice. Gen. Laws, 1896, ch. 283. 1 R. I. 1. Corruptly ac- cepting or at- tempting to obtain by any employee or public official any gift for dishonest practice for- bidden. Pub. Laws, 1219, April 11, 190.5. CHAPTER 349. Of Offences Against Public Policy. SECTION 21. Corruptly accepting or attempting to obtain by any employee or public official, any gift for dis- honest practice, forbidden. 22. No person to corruptly give or offer any gift to any employee or public official as a reward for dis- honest practice. 23. No document containing any false SECTION statement intended to deceive an employer to be given to any employee. 24. Penalty. 25. Remedy for person injured. 38. Flags or emblems of foreign coun- tries not to be displayed upon public buildings and school- houses. SECTION 21. No agent, employee, or servant in public or private employ, or public official shall corruptly accept, or ob- tain or agree to accept, or attempt to obtain from any person, for himself or for any other person, any gift or valuable con- sideration as an inducement or reward for doing or forbearing to do, or for having done or forborne to do, any act in relation to the business of his principal, master, employer, or state, city, or town of which he is an official, or for showing or forbearing to show favor or disfavor to any person in relation to the busi- ness of his principal, master, employer, or state, city or town of which he is an official. SEC. 22. No person shall corruptly give or offer any gift OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY. 91 or valuable consideration to any such agent, employee, servant, or public official as an inducement or reward for doing or for- Jo any r e a m- glft bearing to do, or for having done or forborne to do, any act in H C offic?ai P a* a reward for dis- relation to the business of his principal, master, or employer, or gjj** PC- the state, city, or town of which he is an official, or for showing or forbearing to show favor or disfavor to any person in relation to the business of his principal, master, employer, or state, city, or town of which he is an official. SEC. 23. No person shall knowingly give to any such agent, NO document containing any employee, servant, or public official any receipt, account, or other document in respect of which the principal, master, or employer, or state, city, or town of which he is an official is inter- fmpioyee an ested which contains any statement which is false or erroneous, or defective in any important particular, and which, to his knowledge, is intended to mislead the principal, master, em- ployer, or state, city, or town of which he is an official. SEC. 24. Any person who violates any of the provisions of penalty. sections twenty-one to twenty-six of this chapter shall be deemed : guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction thereof, be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for a term not exceeding one year, or be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars. SEC. 25. Any person injured by any violation of the pro- Remedy for person injured visions of sections twenty-one and twenty-two of this chapter may recover from the person or persons inflicting such injury a:id ' twice the amount of such injury. SEC. 38. It shall be unlawful to display the flag or em- Flags or em- blems of for- blem of any foreign country upon the flagstaff of any state? county, city or town building or public school-house within this jic bm?d- ings and .state: Provided, however, that when any foreigner shall become school-houses. the guest of the United States, or of this state, the flag of the country of which such public guest shall be a citizen or subject may be displayed upon public buildings, except public school- houses. Every person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars. PART IV PUBLIC LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION, ENACTED IN 1909. CHAPTER 383. 7*1909 April AN ACT IN FURTHER AMENDMENT OF SECTION 3 OF CHAPTER 66 OF THE GENERAL LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND, 1896, AS AMENDED IN SECTION 11 OF CHAPTER 809 OF THE PUBLIC LAWS, PASSED JANUARY 29, 1901, TO PROVIDE FOR INCREAS- ING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND ME CHANIC ARTS. It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 3 of Chapter 66 of the General Laws, as amended in section 11, Chapter 809, acts and resolves of January session, 1901, is hereby further amended to read as follows: Term of office " g EC 3 The board of managers of said college corporation and appomt- TmantgeTof shall consist of five members appointed by the governor and ie g e e of Agrcui- two additional members who shall be determined in the manner ture and Me- chanic Arts. hereinafter mentioned. The members of said board in office at the passage of this act shall continue to hold their offices until the expiration of the terms for which they were respectively appointed. At the January session of the general assembly in each year the governor, with the advice and consent of the sen- ate, shall appoint one member of said board to succeed the mem- ber whose term will next expire; and the member so appointed shall hold his office until the first day of February in the fifth COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS. 93 year after his appointment. Any vacancy in the membership of said board thus appointed by the governor, when the senate is not in session, shall be filled by the governor until the next session thereof, when he shall, with the advice and con- sent of the senate, appoint some person to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term. And every future member so appointed by the governor shall be a domiciled inhabitant of the same county as was the retiring member of the board whose place he is appointed to fill. In addition to the five members, one from each county, appointed as hereinbefore mentioned, the said board shall be constituted of two other members. One of these shall be, ex-officio, the state commissioner of public schools; the other shall be appointed by and from the state board of agriculture, on the passage of this act and biennially thereafter. The term of office of the state commissioner of public schools as a member of the said board shall begin from the time of the passage of this act and continue during his in- cumbency as state commissioner of public schools, his successors each in turn coming into office as such member upon qualifying for office as state commissioner of public schools. The term of office of the member appointed by the state board of agriculture shall be two years from the first day of July of the year of such appointment. Any vacancy that shall occur during the term of office of the said member appointed from the state board of agriculture, whether by death, resignation, or otherwise, shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as herein provided for the original appointment." SEC. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage, and all provisions of the General Laws and of the Public Laws incon- sistent herewith, and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed. 94 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. CHAPTER 401. 29 aS i909 April Provision for the pension- AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 1468 OF THE PUBLIC LAWS, ENTITLED "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PENSION- ING OF SCHOOL TEACHERS IN THIS STATE," PASSED AT THE JANUARY SESSION, 1907. It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 1468 of the Public Laws, entitled " An act providing for the pensioning of school teachers in this state," passed at the January session, 1907, is hereby amended so as to read as follows: " SECTION 1. Any person of either sex who for thirty- five years has or shall have been engaged in teaching as his principal occupation, and has or shall have been regularly employed as a teacher in the public schools ' or in such other schools within this state as are supported wholly or in part by state appropriation, and are entirely managed and controlled by the state, twenty-five years of which employment, including the fifteen years immedi- ately preceding retirement, has or shall have been in this state, and who, at the expiration of the school year in June, has been or shall have been retired by his employer or has, or shall have voluntarily retired from active service, shall, on his formal ap- plication, receive from the state for the remainder of his life an annual pension equal to one-half of his average contractual salary during the last five years before retiring, but in no case shall such annual pension be more than five hundred dollars: Provided, however, that no such employment as teacher within this state after this act shall be included within its provisions, unless the teacher shall hold a certificate of qualification issued by or under the authority of the state board of education." SEC. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. RHODE ISLAND STATE COLLEGE. 95 CHAPTER 417. AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF SECTION 1 OF CHAPTER 66 OF THE Passed May 4, GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED "OF THE RHODE ISLAND COL- LEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 66 of the General Laws is hereby amended so as to read as follows: "SECTION 1. The board of managers of the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts as constituted by act of the general assembly passed at the January session, 1909, and body corpor- their successors, for the terms for which they have been or for which they hereafter may be appointed or elected as such mana- gers, shall continue to be a body politic and corporate for the purpose of continuing and maintaining said college corporation as a college where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life, as provided in the act of the con- gress of the United States approved July 2, 1862, entitled 'An act donating public lands to the several states and territories which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts/ and for the purpose of continuing and maintaining an agricultural experiment-station as a department of said college under and in accordance with, and to carry out the purposes of, the act of congress approved March 2, 1887, entitled 'An act to establish agricultural experiment-stations in connection with the colleges established in the several states un- der the provisions of an act approved July 2, 1862, and of the acts supplementary thereto/ by the name of 'Rhode Island State College/ with all the powers and privileges and subject 96 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. to all the duties and liabilities set forth in chapter one hundred seventy-seven." SEC. 2. All acts and parts of acts inonsistent herewith are hereby repealed and this act shall take effect from and after its passage. CHAPTER 431. Passed May 7, AN ACT IN ADDITION TO CHAPTER 277 OF THE GENERAL LAWS, 1909 "OF OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 277 of the General Laws, entitled "Of offences against the person" is hereby amended by adding the following section thereto; viz.: Every person " SEC. 29. Every person, being a student, or being a person being a student * n attendance at any public, private, parochial, or military school, college, or other educational institution, who shall that willfully . . . commits any knowingly and wilfully commit any act that injures, frightens, act that in- g'racfeJany "fei- degrades, or disgraces, or tends to injure, frighten, degrade, or KuTit^lT mL- disgrace, any fellow student or person attending such institution shall be held guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shal be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundrec dollars or imprisonment not less than thirty days nor more than one year, or both." Every teacher "SEC. 30. Every person, being a teacher, superintendent, or superintend- ent of a school commandant, or other person in charge of any public, private, who injures or son^guiiVof" parochial, or military school, college, or other educational in- mSinor." stitution, who shall knowingly permit any act which shall injure, frighten, degrade, or disgrace any person attending the institu- tion in which he is in charge or with which he may be connected, as aforesaid, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars." HIGH STANDARD IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 97 "SEC. 31. Every person, being a student, or being a person Penalty for^ in attendance at any public, private, parochial, or military jf e * t any stu ' school, college or other educational institution, who shall tattoo or knowingly and willfully permanently disfigure the body, limbs, or features of any fellow student or person attending such institution, by the use of nitrate of silver or any like substance, or by any other means, shall be held guilty of a crime of the degree of mayhem, and any person guilty of the same shall upon conviction be imprisoned not exceeding ten years nor less than one year." SEC. 4. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. CHAPTER 446. AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 544 OF THE PUBLIC Passed May 7, LAWS, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO SECURE A MORE UNIFORM HIGH STANDARD IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE STATE." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 3 of Chapter 544 of the Public Laws is hereby amended so as to read as follows : "SEC. 3. Any town maintaining a high school having a Any town maintaining a course of study approved by the state board of education shall be entitled to receive annually from the state twenty-five dollars shall be en- for each pupil in average attendance for the first twenty-five pupils, and fifteen dollars for each pupil in average attendance for the second twenty-five pupils: Provided, such town shall Sndancefor the first 25 admit pupils from other towns, to the extent of the capacity of P u P ils and $15 for each pupil its high school or schools, at a rate of tuition not to exceed the average cost per capita of maintaining its high school or schools, pupils. The school committee of any town not maintaining a high school shall make provision, at the expense of such town, for the free attendance of its children at some high school or academy ap- is LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. proved by the state board of education, and the town shall be entitled to receive aid from the state for each pupil in such attendance upon the same basis and to the same extent as if it maintained a high school by itself." SEC. 2. This act shall take effect on and after July 1st, 1909. CHAPTER 458. f9 a 09? d May 7 * AN ACT TO SECURE GREATER EFFICIENCY IN TEACHING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THIS STATE. It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: Public schools, SECTION 1. The annual salary of a teacher regularly em- provision for |reatS g effi- ployed in any public school of this state, except in cases of per- ciencym t- gong en g a g e( j m practice-teaching in the state or city training schools, on and after the first of September in the year one thou sand nine hundred and ten, shall not be less than four hundrec dollars. SEC. 2. Any town conforming to the provisions of section one of this act shall be entitled to receive from the state, an nually, for each teacher employed for a school year, a sum equa to one-half of the excess four hundred dollars is over the averag salary paid to any teacher for the school year of such town ending in the year one thousand nine hundred and nine. INDEX. Accidents to be reported to factory inspectors, 52. Account of school commissioner to State auditor, 30. of school moneys, penalty for neglect to deliver to successor, 35. Acts of incorporation, public acts, 58. Adult blind, instruction of, 11. Admission to R. I. School for Deaf, by trustees, 68. Age and schooling certificate, 48, 49. Agency or interest in text-books disqualifies school officer, 36. Agreement to submit dispute to commissioner, when, 29. Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, R. I. College of (R. I. State College), 42, 92, 95. Aisle and passageways to be unobstructed, 81. Alcohol, instruction as to effect of, upon human system, 22. Aldermen, Board of, words "town council " construed to include, 57. Annual reports, of board of control of State Home and School, 74. of board of education, 11. of R. I. School for Feeble-Minded, 78. of commissioner of public schools, 13. of directors of R. I. School of Design, 46. of factory inspectors, 51. of private schools, 10. of schools aided by State, 10. of school committee, 23. of treasurer of R. I. College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (R. I. State College), 45. of town treasurer, 20. of trustees of R. I. Institute for the Deaf, 69. Apparatus, appropriation for, 16. applications therefor to be recorded, 16. how apportioned, 16. Appeals from condemnation proceedings, 41. to school commissioner, 28. Apportionment of State appropriation for libraries, 9. for public schools, 15. 100 .LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Appropriation, State, for apparatus and reference books, 16. for clerical assistance, 12. for education of deaf, blind, and imbecile, 67. for evening schools, 16. for graded schools, 39. for high schools, 39, 97. for instruction of adult blind, 11. for lectures and teachers' institutes, 30. for libraries, 9, 10. for public schools, 15. for supervision, 19. for teachers' pensions, 28. for travelling expenses of pupils of Normal school, 30. to School of Design, 46, 47. town, for libraries, 61, 63. for schools, 61. Arbor Day, programme for, 13. to be a legal holiday, 85. Assessing and collecting poll taxes, 65. Attendance at school in adjoining town, 22. required of what children, 31, 69. rules for, made by school committee, 22. with reference to State aid for high and graded schools, 38, 97. Auctioneers, duties paid by, added to school fund, 59. Baptismal certificate, 48. Beneficiaries at School of Design, 46. blind, deaf, and imbecile, 66. bills for, how paid, 67. Bequests and legacies to libraries, how treated, 64. Birth certificates, 48. Blanks and registers to be provided, 11. for school census, 21. for report of school committee, 23. Blind adults, instruction of, 11. imbecile, and deaf children, education of, 66, 67. Board of Education, State, 8. compensation of, 11. constitution of, 8. duties of, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19, 25, 27, 29, 38, 46, 67, 75. INDEX. 101 Board of Education, State, how divided, 8. how elected, 9. may annul teachers' certificates, 26. may appoint beneficiaries, 47. may visit schools aided by State, 36. meetings of, 9. officers of, 9. secretary of, to receive applications for appointments to R. I. School of Design, 47. terms of office of, 8, 9. to appropriate money and make rules for libraries, 9. to approve high schools, 38. payments to libraries, 10. remission of fines, 29. to be members of board of trustees of R. I. Normal School, 29. to determine eligibility of applicants for teachers' pensions, 27. to elect commissioner of public schools, 8. to establish and maintain travelling libraries, 10. to have control of R. I. School for the Feeble-Minded, 75. to have general control and supervision of public schools of the state, 8. to hold examinations for teachers, 25. to issue certificates of qualification for teachers' pensions, 27. of superintendents, 19. of teachers, 25. to make report to general assembly annually, 11. to prescribe and enforce rules and regulations to render effective laws in regard to public schools, 9. to provide for instruction of adult blind, 11. registers for private schools, 11. to receive reports, 10, 46, 78. to supervise education of deaf, blind, and imbecile children, 67. and make report, 67. and provide clothing for, 67. travelling expenses of, how paid, 11. two members of, to be directors of R. I. School of Design, 46. vacancies in, how filled, 9. Bribery of schools officers prohibited, and penalty for, 36. Buildings to be provided with fire-escapes, 79. 102 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Census of children of school age, 20. returns of, certified to school commissioner, 21. deposited with school committee, 21. Certificates, age and schooling, 48, 49. baptismal, 48. birth, 48. of children attending R. I. Institute for the Deaf, 70. of children employed, 48, 49. copy of, to be kept on file by committee, 49. form of, 49. penalty for refusing to show, 48. to be kept by employer, 48. to be surrendered to child, when, 49. of children not attending school, 31, 48, 49. of incorporation, confer what powers, 87. form of, 87. issued by secretary of state, 87. of school teachers, 25. of superintendents, 19. of vaccination* required when, 37. Change in text-books by committee, how made, 24. Children, employment of, prohibited when, 48. See Education of Deaf, Blind and Imbecile Children Rhode Island Institute for the Deaf. Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded. State Home and School for Children. Christmas Day, to be a legal holiday, 85. City, word "town" construed to include, 57. clerk, words "town clerk" construed to include, 57. Clerical assistance, commissioner may employ, 12. Clerk, of school committee, 22. See Town Clerk. Clothing for blind, deaf, and imbecile children, 67. Collection of poll taxes, 65. College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (R. I, State College), 42, 92, 95. Commissioner of public schools, 12. decision of, final, when, 28. duties of, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 28, 29, 30, 39, 93. election of, 8, 12. may employ clerical assistance, 12. INDEX. 103 Commissioner may visit schools receiving aid from State, 36. may withhold school money from town, when, 20, 23 . powers of, to remit fines, 29. pro tempore, may be appointed by the governor, 12. school committee to prescribe rules and studies under direction of, 22. term of office of, 12. to aid in establishment of school libraries, 13. to apportion appropriation for public schools, 15. to approve consolidation of schools, 39. to be member of board of managers of R. I. College of Agriculture, 93. secretary of Board of Education, 9. trustee of Normal School, 29. to deduct portion of school money, when, 25. to draw appropriation for apparatus, 16. for free libraries, 10. for public schools, 16. for supervision, 19. to furnish blanks, 21, 23. to hear appeals and decide on matters of dispute, when, 28. to hold teacher's institutes, 30. to notify general treasurer of forfeiture of school money, 16. to prepare programme for Arbor Day, 13. for daily salute to flag, 13. for Grand Army Flag Day, 13. for R. I. Independence Day, 14. to prescribe rules regulating appeals, 28. to receive applications for aid for high and consolidated schools, 39. to receive reports, 20, 21, 23. to render account to state auditor, 30. to report annually to Board of Education, 13. to secure uniformity of text-books, 13. to submit statement to justice of supreme court, when, 28. to visit schools, 12. Committee. See School Committee. Compensation of members of board of education, 11. of superintendent of schools, 18, 19. Complainant in case of truancy, 33. Compulsory attendance, 31, 69. Computation of time, 57. Condemnation of land for school purposes, how made, 40. 104 LAWS EELATING TO EDUCATION. Condition of aid to free public libraries, 9. of employment of children, 48. of receiving teachers' money, 15. Consolidation of schools, 38, 39. by school committee, when, 39. Constitution of the State, extract from, 5. declaration of rights in, 5. educational provisions of, 7. objects of government under, 6. qualifications for office under, 6. religious freedom secured by, 6. Construction of statutes, 56. of word "engaged," 57. importing masculine gender only, 56. singular number only, 56. plural number only, 56. "land" or "lands," 57. "oath," 57. "person," 57. "seal," 58. "sworn," 57. "town," 57. of words giving joint authority, 57. "insane person," 57. "justice of peace," 57. "month" and "year," 57. "real estate," 57. "town clerk," 57. "town council," 57. "town sergeant," 57. "town treasurer," 57. "United States," 57. "ward clerk," 57. Corporations, literary and scientific, how formed, 86.. powers of, 87. Costs not taxed to school officers, when, 29. Court, district, has jurisdiction under truant law, 34. Deaf, blind, and imbecile, period of education of, may be extended, 66 provision for education of, 66, 67, 75. INDEX. 105 Decision of commissioner final, when, 29. of justice of supreme court final, 28. Dependent children. See State Home and Softool. Diminishing danger in case of fire, 78, 80. Diplomas, Normal School, condition for receiving, 30. R. I. College, 45. Discontinuance for truancy and for being habitual truant, 34. Discontinued districts, powers and duties of, 17. Dismissal of teacher, when and how, 26. Dispute may be submitted to commissioner, when, 29. Distribution of educational pamphlets, 30. Disturbance of school or any public meeting, 95. Documents, penalty for neglect or refusal to deliver official, 60. Dogs, 82. to be licensed, 82. Dog tax in Newport county, 84. to be added to school fund, when, 84, 85. Donations for support of public schools, 7. Doors and windows to swing outward, when, 80, 81. not to be locked, 81. Education of deaf, blind, and imbecile, 11, 66, 67, 75. provisions of constitution for, 7. Election Day, national, to be legal holiday, 85. state, to be legal holiday, 85. Election of commissioner of public schools, 8, 12. school committee, 17. State Board of Education, 9. superintendent of schools, 18. truant officer, 32. Employer to keep certificate of children employed, 48. list of children employed, 33. to show same to factory inspector on demand, 48. to surrender certificate to child, when, 49. Employment of children forbidden, when, 48. Evening school appropriation, 16. Examination of pupils for Normal School, 29. of teachers, 25. Exclusion from school must be by general rule, 35. 14 106 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Exemption from liability to send child to school, 31. from taxation, 64. Experiment station, 43, 95. Expenses of State board of education, 11. Factory and manufacturing establishments denned, 50. inspection act, 47 . penalty for violation of, 48, 54. printed copy of, to be posted, where, 54. inspectors, 50. duties of, 51, 53, 54. how appointed, 50. Feeble-minded, provisions for, 66, 75. Fees allowed truant officer, when, 33. for books in free public library not to be exacted, 63. not to be offered to school officers, 37. not to be received by school officers, 36. Fines for disturbing meetings or schools, 88. for employment of children in factories, 31, 54. for injury to property of libraries, 89. for neglect of duty, 35. for violation of chapter 73, 37. in school matters, commissioner may remit, 29. under factory inspection act, 54, 55. under truant law, how used, 34. Fire escapes to be provided, when, 79. penalty for neglect to provide, 86. Flag Day, 24. Flags, foreign, not to be put up on schoolhouses, 91. United States, to be displayed on school buildings, 24. to be furnished by school committee, 24. daily salute to, 13. Forfeited or unexpended money, how treated, 15. Forfeiture of teachers' money, 15, 25. Fourth of May, R. I. Independence Day, 13. of July, to be legal holiday, 85. Free public libraries, aid for, 9. how established, 61, 63. how maintained, 63. incorporation of, 86. legacies or gifts to, 64. INDEX. 107 Free public libraries, payments to, how made, 10. penalty for malicious mischief to, 89. for neglect to return books to, 89. powers of towns to appropriate money for, 61, 63. to comply with rules of board of education, 9. to report to board of education, 9. trustees of, election and duties, 63. Free text-books to be supplied by school committee, 23. Fund, permanent. See Permanent School Fund. for free public libraries may be accepted by town or city council, 63. Gender, how construed, 56. General provisions concerning taxes, 64. relating to public schools, 35. General Treasurer to have custody of school fund, 59. Gift to free public library, how receipted for, 64. Governor, member and president of State board of education, 9. of board of trustees of R. I. Institute for the deaf, 67. of R. I. Normal School, 29. to advise as to investment of permanent school fund, 59. to appoint board of control for State Home and School, 71. board of managers of R. I. College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (R. I. State College), 44. commissioner of public schools, pro tempore, 12. factory inspectors, 50. State beneficiaries, blind, deaf, etc , 66. trustees of R. I. Institute for the Deaf, 68. Grand Army Flag Day established, 24. not a holiday, 25 observance of, 25. programme for, 13. Habitual truant, how treated, 33. High Schools, State aid for, 38, 97. Holidays, legal, what are, 85. Hygiene, instruction in, to be provided, 22. Idiot, provisions for education of, 66, 75. Imbecile, deaf, and blind children, 66, 67, 75. Improper children at State Home and School may be returned, 72. Income of school fund, how to be used, 59. 108 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Indebtedness of town, limit of, 62. Incorporation, 86. certificate of, 87. Incorrigible pupils may be suspended, 23. Injuring student, penalty for, 96 . Insane person, how construed, 57. Institutes and lectures for teachers provided for, 30 . Joint authority, how exercised, 57. may be exercised by whom, 57. Joint school committee of towns, 18. how formed, 18. organization of, 18. powers of, 18. to elect superintendent, 18. Jurisdiction, justice courts to have ; in truant cases, 34. over State Home and School cases, with probate court, 73. Justice of peace, how construed, 57. of supreme court, when may be appealed to, 28. Kindergarten instruction, not included in what elementary studies, 31 Labor Day, to be legal holiday, 85. Land, or lands, how construed, 57. how condemned for school purposes, 40 . Lectures on subjects of education, how provided, 30. Legacy to free public library, how discharged, 64 . Legal proceedings relating to public schools, 28. Letters, retiring officer to deliver official, to whom, 60. Libraries, free public, establishment and control of, by towns, 62. how aided, 9. how incorporated under general law, 86. legacies and gifts to, 64. malicious mischief to, 89. neglect to return books to, 89. powers of town to appropriate money for, 61, 63. to report to board of education, 9. trustees of, election and duties, 63. school, powers of town to vote money for, 61. commissioner to aid in establishing, 13. INDEX. 109 Libraries, travelling, 10. License to sell liquor not to be granted within 200 feet of any school, 78 Lieutenant-Governor, ex-officio member of State board of education, 31. of board of trustees of R. I. Institute for the Deaf, 67. of R. I. Normal School, 29. Limitations of town indebtedness, 62. of town taxes, 62. Lincoln's Birthday, how honored, 24, Liquor, not to be sold near school, 78. Literary associations, how organized as corporations, 86. Location of R. I. College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (R. I State College), 43. of schoolhouses, 22. Malicious mischief to libraries, 89. Manufacturing establishments, employment of minors in, 48. Maps and other school apparatus, provision for, 16. Masculine gender includes feminine, 56. Meetings, fine for disturbing, 88. of school committee, 18, 22. of state board of education, 9. Memorial Day, to be legal holiday, 85. Mercantile establishments, employment of minors in, 48. Mileage for Normal pupils, provision for, 30. Minors convicted under truant law, commitment of, 33. employment of, prohibited when, 48. to attend school, 31. Miscellaneous corporations, as libraries, how formed, 86. limited as to property, 87. may amend agreement, 88. Misdemeanor defined, 96. penalties for, 99. Money for schools, distributed how and when, 15. statements of, to be made by town treasurer, 20. to be received and paid out by town treasurer, 20. ' unexpended or forfeited, how treated, 15, 59. Month and year, how construed, 57. Moral instruction must be given, 26. Neglect of duties by officers, 35. to return books to libraries, 89. to send children to school, to be inquired into, 33. 110 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. No person to be excluded from school save by general rule, 35. Normal School, 29. See Rhode Island Normal School .Number, singular and plural, how construed, 56. Nuisances prohibited near schoolhouse, 36. Oath, how construed, 57. board of managers of R. I. College of Agriculture may administer, 46. factory inspectors may administer, 54. person authorized to issue age and schooling certificate may administer, 40. -Offences, against private property, 89. against public peace, 88. against public policy, 90. against the person, 96. Officers, joint authority to three or more, how construed, 57. liability of, for neglect of duty, 60. offering of fees to, forbidden, 37, 91. of public schools, forbidden to receive fees, etc., 36. of schools receiving State aid to report annually, 10. to surrender official records, when and to whom, 60. Overseers of the poor, duties of, in regard to R. I. School for the Feeble-Minded, 76. in regard to State Home and School, 73. Parents to cause child to attend school, 31. penalty on, for non-compliance with truant law, 31. ^Penalty for bribery of school officer, 36. for defacing property, 88, 89. for degrading fellow student, 96. for disturbing meetings or schools, 88. for employing child contrary to law, 48. for employing teachers without certificate, 25. for failure to comply with vaccination law, 37. to deliver official records, 60. to provide fire-escapes, 80. to send children to school, 31. for making false registry. 35. false returns or other neglect of duty, 35, 91. for malicious mischief to property of libraries, 89. for misappropriating moneys, 35. for neglect to return books to library, 89. rf or non-remittance of returns, 20, 21, 23. INDEX. 111? Penalty for refusal to give information, in school census, 21. to permit schools to be visited by school committee, 36: to show certificates and list of children employed, 33,. 48.. for truancy, 33. general, 37. Penalties, etc., school commissioner may remit what, 29. Pensions, teachers', 27, 94. appropriation for, 28. who may receive, 27, 94. Permanent school fund, 7, 15, 58, 84. additions to, 15, 59, 84. auctioneers' fees to be added to, 59. custodian of, 59. investments for, 59. not to be diverted by General Assembly, 7. town share of school money, when to be added to,. 15, 59.. uses of income of, 59. Person, how to be construed, 57. Physiology and hygiene, instruction in, to be given, 22. Places of employment to be visited by factory inspectors, 51.. by truant officers, 33. Plural number includes singular, 56. Poll taxes, collection of, 65. for support of public schools, 66. method of assessing, 65. to be credited to school account, when, 20. when and on whom assessed, 65. Powers of school committees, 18, 20, 21, 26, 32, 36, 39. of towns and town officers, 17, 38, 40, 61. of, and suits by and against, towns, 60. Printing report, money reserved for, 23. Private schools, may be approved when, 32. to be registered and report, 10. Proceedings in case of children in State almshouse, 73. Proceeds of dog licenses to be used for schools, 84. Process under truant law, by whom served, 33. Programme for Arbor Day, 13. for daily salute to the flag, 13. for Grand Army Flag Day, 13. for Rhode Island Independence Day, 14- 112 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Property liable to, and exempt from, taxation, 64. penalty for injury to, 88, 89. Providence, schools of, how to be governed, 36. Public libraries. See Libraries Public money apportioned to towns, 15. Public records, 59. Public schools. See Schools. Pupils. See Scholars. Qualifications for free tuition in Normal School, 29. required of teachers, 25. of superintendents, 18. Real estate, corporations may hold, 87. how condemned for school purposes, 40. Reference books, appropriation for, 16. Refusal to allow visitation forfeits State aid, 36. Register of scholars to be kept by teachers, 26. to be provided for private schools, 11. Regular appropriations for support of schools, 15. Religious purposes, buildings and land held for, exempt from taxation, 64. Religious societies, what property of, exempt from taxation, 64. Remission of fines and forfeitures, how done, 29. Repeal of statutes, effect of, 58. Report of Board of Control of State Home and School, 74. of board of education, 11. of commissioner of public schools, 13. of factory inspectors, 51. of private schools, 10. of school committee to commissioner, 23. to town meeting, 23. of schools aided by State, 10. of town treasurer, 20. of treasurer of R. I. College of Agriculture (R. I. State College), 45. of trustees of R. I. Institute for the Deaf, 69. Returns of school census, where deposited, etc., 21. Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (R. I. State College), 42, 92, 95. a body corporate, 42, 95. appropriation for, 44. INDEX. 113 Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (R. I. State College), acts of congress relating thereto, 43, 95. board of managers of, 42, 92, 95. duty of, 44. employ faculty, 45. expenses of, 46. officers of, 45. change of name of, 95. experiment station in, 43, 95. location of, 43. object of, 43, 95. terms of office of members of board of managers of, 44, 92, 95. to have moneys received from United States, 43. treasurer of, to give bond, 45. to make annual report to general assmbly, 45. vacancies in board of managers of, how filled, 44, 93. Rhode Island Institute for the Deaf, 67. management of, 67. may issue certificates, 70. object of, 68. who may attend, 69. who may be admitted to, 68. who must attend, 69. Rhode Island Normal School, 29. graduates from, entitled to diploma, 30. qualifications for free tuition in, 29. to be open to children of deceased soldiers and sailors, 37. travelling expenses of pupils in, 30. trustees of, how constituted, 29. may admit certain pupils for tuition, 30. to prescribe examination of applicants for admission, 29. Rhode Island School of Design, 46. board of education, how appoint beneficiaries at, 47. how pay tuition fees, 47. to elect two directors of, 46. State beneficiaries at, 47. to make annual report, 46. Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded, 75. board of education may provide buildings for, 75. 15 114 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Bhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded, board of education to have control of, 75. to make report of, to general assembly, 78. establishment and maintenance of, 75. method of commitment to, 76. overseers of poor to receive applications for admission to, 76. school department to be maintained in, 75. who may be received, 76. Rhode Island State College, 95. Rules and regulations, for appeals, 24, 28. for libraries, 9, 63. for schools, to be made by committee, 22. Sailors, children of dead or invalided, schools free to, 37. Salute to the flag in schools, 13. Scholars authorized to attend in adjoining town, when, 22. may be suspended, when, 23. not to attend school unless vaccinated, 37. register of, to be kept by teacher, 26. school committee to make rules for classification of, 22. text-books and supplies to be loaned to, 23. to be taught principles of morality and virtue, 26. transportation of, 39. Schoolbooks. Text-Books. School census, returns of, made to whom, 20. taken when, 20. School Commissioner. See Commissioner of Public Schools. School Committee, appeal from, how taken, proceedings thereon, 28. choice of, 17. election of, 18. fees to, prohibited, 36. may consolidate schools, when, 39. may dismiss teachers, when, 26. may pay tuition, 23. may reserve money for printing report, 23. may suspend pupils, when, 23. may unite with committees of other towns for election of superintendent, 18. members of, ineligible to teach public school, 26. meetings of, 18, 22. number of, 17. INDEX. 115 School Committee, officers of, 22. of Providence, 36. power of, to change text-books, 24. schools to be under care of, 17, 22. to approve private schools, when, 32. to cause flags to be displayed, 24. to draw orders, when, 22. to elect superintendent of schools, 18. to furnish free books and supplies, 23. to issue age certificates, 48. to locate schoolhouses, 22. to make rules and regulations, 22, 24. to manage schools wholly, 23. to prescribe course of study, 22. to provide for attendance of children in adjoining town, 22. to provide instruction in physiology, etc., 22. to report to commissioner, 23. to town, 23. to select teachers, 23. to take school census, 20. to visit schools, 23, 36. vacancy in membership of, how filled by town council, 18. School district, what powers remain to discontinued, 17. School fund. See Permanent School Fund. Schoolhouses, foreign flags not to be raised over, 91. how supplied with furniture, fixtures, etc., 17. land for, how condemned, 40. may be built by town, 17. nuisances near, prohibited, 36. sale of liquor near, prohibited, 78. to be located by school committee, 22. to be provided with fire-escapes, 79. School libraries, power of town to vote money for, 61. State appropriation for works of reference, etc., for, 16. School of Design. See Rhode Island School of Design. School officers prohibited from taking fees, 36. what ones are ineligible to teach, 26. Schools aided by State, to be visited by public school officers, 36. evening, 16. 116 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Schools, consolidation of ungraded, 38, 39. by school committee, when, 39. provisions against forfeiture of State aid in case of, 39. general supervision of, vested in board of education, 8. high, State aid for, 38, 97. must be maintained, 17. private, to register and report to board of education, 10. scholars may attend, in another town, 22. to be visited by committee, 22. ungraded, may be consolidated, 38. School supplies furnished at expense of town or city, 23. Seal, what is meant by, 58. Singular number, how construed, 56. Soldiers and sailors children of, have free tuition when, 37. Special statutes to prevail, 37. State Home and School for Children, 70. board of control of, how appointed, 71. how constituted, 71. secretary of, duties and term of office of, 71. to have compensation, 71. to establish system of government, 71. to keep register of children, 74. to report to general assembly, 74. to receive what children, 72. control and maintenance of, vested in whom, 70. object of, 72. what children may be sent from poorhouses to, 73. State school money, how apportioned, 15. Statutes, construction of, 56. repeal of, effect of, 38. special, to prevail, 37, 58. take effect when, 58. Studies in schools, how prescribed, 22. Submission by agreement to school commissioner, 29. Successors in office, retiring officers to deliver official possessions to, 35, 60. Superintendent of schools, compensation of, 18, 19. duties of, 18. how elected, 18. to hold certificate of qualification, 19. towns may unite for employment of , 18. INDEX. 117 Supreme court, justices of, to hear and decide on school appeals, when, 28. Surety for costs not to be given by truant officer, 35. Suspension of pupils by school committee, 23. Tattooing, how punished, 97. Tax, for free public libraries, what and when, 62. town to raise by, for schools, amount equal to State appropriation, 15. Taxation, property liable to, and exempt from, 64. Teachers, 25. certificates to, by State Board of Education, 25. examination of, 25. may be dismissed, when, 26. minimum salary of, 98. must have what qualifications, 25. pensions for, 94. State appropriation for schools to be applied to wages of, 15. to be hired by committee, 23. to have certificate of qualification, when, 25. to impart what moral instruction, 26. to keep record of pupils vaccinated, 37. to keep registers and make reports, 26. what school officers ineligible as, 26. Teachers' certificates, 25. Teachers' institutes, appropriation for, how expended, 30. Teachers' money, drawn on order of commissioner, 16. forfeiture of, 15, 25. State appropriation to be denominated, 15. what, and how used, 15. Tenure of office, of board of control of State Home and School, 70. of board of managers of R. I. College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (R. I. State College), 42, 92. of commissioner of public schools, 12. of school committee, 17. of State board of education, 9. of trustees of R. I. Institute for the Deaf, 68. Text-books, may be changed, how, 24. bow in Providence, 24. receiving or offering fees for exchange of, forbidden, 36. school committee to place in school rules for use of, 22. to be furinshed at expense of town or city, 23. 118 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. Thanksgiving Day, appointment of, as legal holiday, 85. Time, how computed, 57. Town, how construed, 57. entitled to what part of State appropriation for schools, 15. entitled to State aid for providing high school facilities, 38, 97. may build schoolhouses, 17. may consolidate schools, 38. may establish and maintain free public libraries, 61. may pay tuition for high school facilities, 38. may vote money for free library not its own, 62. may vote money for schools, 61. power of, to assess ratable property, limited; exceptions, 61, 62. to incur debt, limited; exceptions, 62. powers and duties of, relative to schools, 17, 38, 60. to make appropriation for free public library, 61, 63. to maintain schools, 17. Town clerk, how construed, 57. Town council, how construed, 57. to elect board of trustees of free public library, 63. to fill vacancy in school committee, 18. Town or city council may accept gift of free library, 63. Town sergeant, how construed, 57. Town treasurer, construction of words, 57. custodian of all school money, 20. duties of, in receiving and paying school moneys, 20. to make statement to committee, 20. to report to school commissioner, 20. Transportation of pupils, 39. Travelling expenses of pupils in Normal school, money for, 30. Travelling libraries, 10. appropriation for, 10. how established and maintained, 10. payments to, how made, 10. Truant children and attendance at school, 31. Truant officers, duties of, 32, 33. how appointed, 32. may serve legal processes, 33. to demand names of children employed, 33. to visit all places employing children, 33. INDEX. 119 Truants, district courts have jurisdiction of, 34. Truants, may be committed to suitable places of instruction, 34. may be placed on probation, 34. Trustees of free public library, divided into classes, 63. elected by town council, 63. to have charge of library, 63. vacancies in, how filled, 63. Trustees of R. I. Institute for the Deaf, how appointed, 68. how constituted, 68. . to report to general assembly, 69. Trustees of Rhode Island Normal School, how constituted, 29. may admit pupils for tuition, 30. may give diplomas, 30. may pay travelling expenses of pupils, 30. to make returns to general treasurer of all money received, 30. Tuition in high school, town may pay, 38. United States, includes what, 57. Union of schools, 38. Vacancy in board of control of State Home and School, how filled, 71 . in board of managers of college of agriculture, (R. I. State College), how filled, 44, 93. in board of trustees of R. I. Institute for the Deaf, how filled, 68. in office of trustee of free puplic library, how filled, 63. in school committee, how filled, 18. in State board of education, how filled, 9. Vaccination, compulsory, as a prerequisite to enter school, 37. Violation of laws relative to public schools, penalties on, 25. Voluntary associations, how formed, 86. Ward clerk, how construed, 57. Washington's birthday, to be legal holiday, 85. Words, construction of, in statutes, 56, 57. See Construction. Year, how construed, 57. Rhode Island Education Circulars LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND RELATING TO EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT NO. I Acts of 1910 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STATE OF RHODE ISLAND 1910 PUBLIC LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND RELATING TO EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT NO. i. CHAPTER 403. AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 87 OF THE GENERAL Passed April 29, 1909. LAWS, ENTITLED " OF THE STATE HOME AND SCHOOL FOR ' CHILDREN." V It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 8 of Chapter 87 of the General Laws is hereby amended so as to read as follows : "SEC. 8. It is declared to be the object of this chapter to object of the school to be provide for neglected and dependent children, not recognized Je boSrd f as vicious or criminal, such influences as will lead toward an honest, intelligent and self-supporting manhood and woman- hood, the state, so far as possible, holding to them the parental relation. But if at any time, in the discretion of the board, this object can be better attained by placing a child in a good family of the same religious belief as the parents of such child, they shall have the power to do so on condition that its educa- tion shall be provided for by such family in the public schools of the town or city where they may reside, or in some other suit- able public school or private school. The board are hereby made the legal guardians of all children who may become in- mates of the home and school, and charged with the duty of following such children as may be placed in families, with LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. watchful care, and of taking them back. to their own immediate supervision if at any time they fail to receive kind and proper treatment and fair elementary education; and in case any child shall leave without permission, or be taken by any person un- authorized from said institution or from any family where it shall have been placed by said board, then said board is hereby authorized to take and restore said child to said institution or to the family." SEC. 2. This act shall take effect immediately, and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. CHAPTER 528. J P i9io. d Mar * AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF SECTION 5 OF CHAPTER 201 OF THE GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED " OF BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES, AND OF LEGAL INTEREST." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 5 of Chapter 201 of the General Laws is hereby amended so as to read as follows : Legal holidays.- "SEC. 5. The first day of January (as New Year's day), the. twenty-second day of February (as Washington's birthday), the second Friday in May (as Arbor day), the thirtieth day of May (as Memorial day), the fourth day of July (as Independence day) , the first Monday of September (as Labor day) , the twelfth day of October (as Columbus day), the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November (as State Election day), the twenty- fifth day of December (as Christmas day) , and each of said days in every year, or when either of the said days falls on the first day of the week then the day following it, the first day of every week (commonly called Sunday), and such other days as the governor or general assembly of this state or the president or the Congress of the United States shall appoint as holidays, for any purpose, FACTORY INSPECTION. days of thanksgiving, or days of solemn fast, shall be holidays." SEC. 2. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. CHAPTER 533. AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 78 OF THE GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED "OF FACTORY INSPECTION," AND ANY ACTS IN AMENDMENT THEREOF OR IN ADDITION THERETO. It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 78 of the General Laws, 1909, entitled "Of Factory Inspection," is hereby amended so as to read as follows: "SECTION 1. No child under fourteen years of age shall be employed or permitted or suffered to work in any factory, manu- pToVed, where. facturing or business establishment within this state, and no child under sixteen years of age shall be employed or permitted or suffered to work in any factory or manufacturing or business establishment within this state between the hours of eight NO child under 16 year of age o'clock in the afternoon of any day and six o'clock in the fore- noon of the following day. No child under sixteen years of age oTs^R shall be employed or permitted or suffered to work in any fac- tory or manufacturing or business establishment unless said child shall present to the person or corporation employing him ie years o to be employed or her an age and employment certificate, given by or under the unless an age and employ- direction of the school committee of the city or town in which jJ^ilSSflJy said child resides. Such certificate shall state (a) the name of the school com- said child, (b) the date and place of birth of said child, (c) the height, color of eyes and hair, and complexion of said child, (d) the name and place of residence of the person having control of said child, and such certificate shall certify (1) that said child has completed fourteen years of age, (2) that said child is able to read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English 4 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. language, and (3) that there is reason to believe that said child is healthy and physically able to perform the work which he or she intends to do. The statements contained in such certificate in regard to the name, date and place of birth of said child, shall be sustantiated by a duly attested copy of the birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or passport of such child. All such certif- icates issued on or after the first day of January, A. D. 1911, shall be uniform throughout the state, and in the following form, or such substantially similar form as may be approved by the secretary of the state board of education: AGE AND EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE. Form of This certifies that I am the (father, mother, guardian, or custodian) and have control of (name of child), whose signature appears below, and that (he or she) was born at (name of town or city), in the county of , and state (or country) of , on the (day) of (month), A. D. and is now (number of years and months) old. (Signature of child.) (Signature of person having control of said child and his or her residence). (Town or city and date.) I hereby approve the foregoing certificate of (name of child) ; whose height is (feet and inches) ; eyes are (color) ; hair is (color) ; and complexion is (fair or dark). I certify that said (name of child) is able to read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English language, and that I have reason to believe that said (name of child) has com- pleted fourteen years of age, is of the age therein certified, and is healthy and physically able to perform the work which he or she intends to do. This certificate belongs to (name of child), and is to be sur- rendered to (him or her) whenever (he or she) leaves the ser- vice of the person or corporation holding the same; but if not claimed by said child within two weeks from such time it shall FACTORY INSPECTION. be returned to the school committee which issued it, or to such person as such committee shall designate. (Signature of person authorized to approve and sign, with official character or authority.) (Town or city and date.) " In case it appears to the satisfaction of the school committee or person authorized to give such certificate, that neither the birth certificate, baptismal certificate, nor passport of such child can be produced, the age and employment certificate may be granted on other evidence satisfactory to the secretary of the state board of education. "All certificates required by this chapter relating to the qualification of children employed in any factory or manu- facturing or business establishment coming under the provisions of this chapter shall be kept by the employer at the place where c . fi such child is employed, a^id shall be shown to the factory in- specters provided for by this chapter, or either or any of them, on demand by said inspector or inspectors; and the proprietor or manager of any such factory or manufacturing or business establishment who shall fail to produce or shall refuse to show to any factory inspector any such certificate when demand is Penalt for made therefor shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars. "Whenever any factory inspector shall have reason to doubt the accuracy of any statement made in any such certificate con- cerning the age or other qualifications of any child employed thereunder, such inspector shall demand such certificate of the employer of such child, and upon receiving the same shall give such employer a receipt therefor. If after investigation such inspector shall find that such certificate should not have been issued to said child under the provisions of this law, then he shall deliver such certificate to the person who issued it, and shall order it to be cancelled, and shall fortwith notify the said 6 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. employer that such child must not be longer employed. Every employer or proprietor or manager of any factory or manufac- Penait for the Curing or business establishment who shall continue to employ prov/sk)ns 0f of the such child after receiving such notice from any factory in- spector shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on con- viction thereof shall be subject to the penalty imposed by sec- tion 12 of this chapter. " Whenever any factory inspector shall have reason to doubt that any child employed in any factory, or manufacturing or business establishment, and not provided with an age and em- ployment certificate, has reached the age of sixteen years, such factory inspector shall make demand on such child's employer that such employer shall either furnish him within ten days a certificate of age issued by the same authority and based on the same evidence required for the issuance of age and employment certificates, or shall cease to employ* such child or permit or suffer such child to work in such factory or manufacturing or business establishment. In case such employer shall fail to deliver such certificate to the factory inspector, within ten days after such demand, and shall thereafter continue to employ such child, or permit or suffer such child to work in such factory or manufacturing or business establishment, such employer shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be subject to the -penalty imposed by section 12 of this chapter, and proof of the making of such demand and of failure to deliver such certificate shall be prima facie evidence, in any prosecution brought for a violation of this provision, that such child is under 16 years of age and is unlawfully employed. re*mn3 t onde- "When any child employed under the provisions of this within section leaves his or her employment, the person or corporation the school com- by whom such child has been employed shall, on demand by said mittee. child, deliver to him or her the certificate on the authority of which such child has been employed, unless such certificate has been cancelled as hereinbefore provided, or if such certificate is GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. not demanded by such child, shall, within two weeks after said child has left the employment of said person or corporation, send said certificate to the school committee which issued it, or to such person as the school committee may designate. The school committee of each town, or such person as the school committee may designate to issue the certificate provided for in this section, shall keep on file a copy of each certificate granted, together with the evidence on which such certificate was granted." SEC. 2. This act shall take effect on the first day of Sep- tember, A, D. 1910, except as to the requirement respecting the ability of the child to read at sight and to write legibly simple sentences in the English language, which requirement shall take effect on the first day of January, A. D. 1911, and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby re- pealed. CHAPTER 545. AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF AND IN ADDITION TO CHAPTER 74 PPJJ d April OF THE GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED "GENERAL PROVISIONS " RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 74 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section : "SEC. 8. Wheresoever any ungraded school has been or Graded schools to receive one shall be consolidated with a graded school, there shall be paid by the state to the town in which the schools are situated on ac- count of the said graded school, the sum of one hundred dollars annually for each school so consolidated, the same to be used for the support of the said graded school, or for the transpor- tation of pupils as provided for by section 7 of this chapter." LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. SEC. 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage, and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. CHAPTER 566. Approved April AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF AND IN ADDITION TO CHAPTER 71 26, 1910. OF THE GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED "OF THE NORMAL SCHOOL, TEACHERS' INSTITUTES, AND LECTURES." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, entitled "Of the normal school, teachers' institutes and lectures," is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section : dS n to"other "SEC. 8. Such sums as shall be from time to time appro- tna??or a use of priated for the purpose of defraying the expenses of said normal Normal School. school, together with such other sums as may be received by said normal school for tuition and paid into the treasury, shall be paid by the general assembly for the use of said normal school ; and the state auditor is hereby directed to draw his orders on the general treasurer for such sums as shall be approved by the trustees of said normal school." SEC. 2. This act shall take effect on and after its passage. CHAPTER 567. Approved April AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF AND IN ADDITION TO CHAPTER 64 27 1 Q1 OF THE GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED " OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 64 of the General Laws, entitle^ "Of the commissioner of public schools," is hereby amended by the addition of the following section : FACTORY INSPECTION. 9 ' "SEC. 13. The commissioner of public schools, with theap- Commissioner of Public proval of the board of education, is hereby authorized and em- powered to employ an assistant commissioner of public schools to aid said commissioner of public schools in the discharge of his official duties. The annual salary of said assistant com- salary of. missioner of public schools shall be two thousand dollars, which said sum is hereby annually appropriated from any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated; and the state auditor is authorized to draw his order upon the general treasurer to pay the same, upon receipt by him of properly authenticated vouch- ers. The necessary expenses of said assistant commissioner of public schools, incurred in the discharge of his official duties, shall be paid by the general treasurer, upon the order of the state auditor, from any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, upon receipt by said state auditor of properly authenticated vouchers." SEC. 2. This act shall take effect on and after July first, 1910. CHAPTER 576. AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF AND IN ADDITION TO CHAPTER 78 Approved April 29, 1910. OF THE GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED "OF FACTORY INSPEC- TION." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 3 of Chapter 78 of the General Laws, entitled "Of factory inspection," is hereby amended so as to read as follows : "SEC. 3. The governor shall, upon the passage of this act, f p a e c c \ 7ad and in the month of January of every third year hereafter, ap- how appointed! point', with the advice and consent of the senate, one chief and four assistant factory inspectors, one of whom shall be a woman, 10 LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. whose term of office shall be three years and until their succes- sors shall be so appointed and qualified : Provided, that the term of office of the present factory inspectors shall not be changed, and that .the term of office of the additional factory inspectors provided in this act shall expire in January, A. D. nineteen hundred and eleven, or upon the appointment and qualification of their successors. Any vacancy which may occur in said offices when the senate is not in session shall be filled by the governor until the next session thereof, when he shall, with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint some person to TO inspect fac- fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term. Said inspectors tories, etc., re- port to general s h a u be empowered to visit and inspect, at all reasonable hours assembly, en- ch r ap\er! S and an d as often as practicable, the factories, work-shops, and other Farton e establishments in this state subject to the provisions of this chapter, and shall report to the general assembly of this state at its January session in each year, including in said reports the name of the factories, the number of such hands employed and the number of hours of work performed in each week. It shall also be the duty of said inspectors to enforce the provi- sions of this chapter and prosecute all violations of the same before any court of competent jurisdiction in the state. chief inspector "The name and residence of any child found working with- iation?o r f child out the certificate provided for in section one of this chapter labor law. shall be reported by the chief inspector to the school committee in the city or town where such child resides. Said inspectors shall devote their whole time and attention to the duties of their respective offices, under the direction of the chief inspector. Salaries. The annual salary of the chief inspector shall be two thousand dollars; and each of the assistant inspectors, fifteen hundred dollars." SEC. 2. Section 4 of said Chapter 78 of the General Laws is hereby amended so as to read as follows: sp*ctorrho f w n ~ " Sec. 4. All necessary expenses incurred by such inspect- paid ' ors in the discharge of their duty shall be paid by the general STATEMENTS TO BE RENDERED. ll treasurer out of any funds in the treasury not otherwise ap- propriated, upon the presentation of proper vouchers for the same approved by the governor: Provided, that not more than twenty-three hundred dollars in the aggregate shall be expended by said inspectors for such expenses in any one year." CHAPTER 582. AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF AND IN ADDITION TO CHAPTER Approved 44 OF THE GENERAL LAWS. It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 44 of the General Laws is hereby amended by the addition of the following section : ''SEC. 42. Every officer, board, commission, and commis- Bills remaining unpaid at close sioner for which an appropriation is made shall annually, on of r t e e d r to b state or before the tenth day of January of each year, render to the officer?, Sards, state auditor a complete and itemized statement of all bills and accounts incurred, due and remaining unpaid, together with a statement of the unexpended balance of said appropriation; and the state auditor is hereby directed to compile, arrange, and transmit to the general treasurer, on or before the fifteenth day of January of each year, such statements, and the general treas- statements of . such bills to be urer is hereby directed to publish such statements in his annual published by general treas- report to the general assembly." urer - SEC. 2. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. . T Rhode Island Education Circulars LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND RELATING TO EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT NO, II Acts of 1911 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STATE OF RHODE ISLAND 191 1 PUBLIC LAWS OF RHODE ISLAND RELATING TO EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT NO. II. CHAPTER 653. AN ACT CONCERNING CERTIFICATES ISSUED UNDER CHAPTER 78 OF THE GENERAL LAWS. It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. The requirement of Chapter 533 of the Public Certificates issued prior Laws, passed at the January session, A. D. 1910, respecting the ability of the child to read at sight and to write legibly valid ' simple sentences in the English language, shall not apply to children holding certificates lawfully issued prior to January 1, A. D. 1911. SEC. 2. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. CHAPTER 678. AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF SECTION 8 OF CHAPTER 63 OF THE Approved GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED "OF THE BOARD OF EDUCA- A P ri125 ' BU- TTON." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 8 of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, entitled "Of the Board of Education" is hereby amended so as to read as follows; Travelling libraries, how to be estab- lished and maintained . Appropriation. LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION "SEC. 8. The board of education is hereby authorized and empowered to establish and maintain a system of travelling libraries within the state, to render aid to libraries which estab- lish branch or visiting libraries in schools or places approved by said board, and to render aid to associations which operate travelling libraries. Said board is hereby authorized and em- powered to provide for the visitation or examination of free public libraries and the management of travelling libraries, upon such conditions and in such manner as may seem proper to said board. The sum of two thousand dollars is hereby annually appropriated to carry into effect the provisions of this section, to be paid by the general treasurer on the order of the state auditor upon the presentation of vouchers approved by said board." SEC. 2. For the purpose of carrying this act into effect the sum of one thousand dollars in addition to the sum already appropriated, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated; and the state auditor is hereby directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, upon the presentation of vouchers approved by said board. SEC. 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage. Approved April 25, 1911. CHAPTER 680. AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF SECTION 16 OF CHAPTER 63 OF THE GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED " OF THE BOARD OF EDU- CATION." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 16 of CKapter 63 of the General Laws, entitled "Of the Board of Education," is hereby amended so as to read as follows: LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION 3 " SEC. 16. The state board of education is hereby author- Provisions for the instruction ized and empowered to provide for the instruction at their J^ent^offhis homes of adult blind residents of this state upon such conditions and in such manner as may seem proper to said board; and the sum of three thousand dollars is hereby annually appropriated for the purpose of carrying the provisions of this section into effect." SEC. 2. For the purpose of carrying this act into effect the Appropriation, sum of five hundred dollars is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated; and the state auditor is hereby directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum or so much thereof as may be necessary upon the receipt of vouchers properly authenticated by said board. SEC. 3. This act shall take effect on and after its passage and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. CHAPTER 725. AN ACT TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN. A [ay 18. 1911. It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. There shall be an annual appropriation for Medical inspec- . . . tion of schools medical inspection of schools in the several towns and cities of provided for. this state, and said appropriation shall be annually apportioned by the state board of education among towns and cities con- forming to the provisions of this act. Any town or city pro- viding medical inspection, approved by the state board of education, shall be entitled to receive annually from the state appropriation an amount equal to one-half its annual expendi- ture for such purpose, said amount not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars. The school committee of any town or city may employ one or more school physicians, each of whom shall LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION at least once each year make examination of the pupils, teach- ers and janitors of the schools, public and private, assigned to his care and of the buildings and surroundings thereof, and shall make report of such examination to the superintendent of schools in said town or city for such action as may be necessary. ^ EC< ^' Every superintendent of schools .shall cause an annuafv amined examination of the sight and hearing of all children of the schools under his supervision to be made at least once a year by teachers or school physicians, and shall make provision for preserving the record of the examination of such children and for notifying the parents of defects. The commissioner of public schools shall furnish to superintendents suitable test cards and appliances approved by the state board of health, and such blanks, record books, and rules of instruction as he may deem necessary. Board of educa- SEC. 3. The state board of education from time to time shall tion to approve .,.'. , , . M , sanitary ar- appro ve proper standards of lighting, heating, ventilating, seat- rangements of school build- j n g^ an( j O t ner sanitary arrangements of school buildings, and proper regulations concerning the same as it may deem necessary for the safety and health of persons who may attend school, and shall communicate the same to the school committee of each city and town and to any committee of any body having charge of the erection, alterations, equipment or furnishing of any school building. SEC. 4. This act shall take effect on and after the first day of September, 1911. LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION CHAPTER 726. O /"kT? rTT A T)T GA r\T? . Approve* May 17, 1911. THE GENERAL LAWS, ENTITLED "OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 2 of Chapter 64 of the General Laws, entitled "Of the commissioner of public schools," is hereby amended so as to read as follows : j. 2. The commissioner of public schools, with the Allowance to commissioner approval of the board of education, is hereby authorized and of public schools for cler- empowered to employ clerical assistance to aid him in his duties ical assi stance. as such school commissioner in a sum not exceeding seventeen hundred and fifty dollars annually, which said sum of seventeen hundred and fifty dollars is hereby annually appropriated from any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated; and the state auditor is authorized to draw his order upon the general treasurer to pay the same upon receipt by him of properly authenticated vouchers." SEC. 2. For the purpose of carrying this act into effect the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars is hereby appropriated in addition to the sum already appropriated; and the state auditor is hereby directed to draw his order upon the general treasurer to pay the same upon receipt by him of properly authenticated vouchers. SEC. 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. LAWS RELATING TO EDUCATION. STATE APPROPRIATIONS OF 1911 Public schools, " teachers' money" $120,000 00 Increase of teachers ' salaries 6,500 00 School apparatus 4,000 00 Supervision of public schools 15,000 00 High and graded schools 28,000 00 Evening schools 6,000 00 Teachers ' institutes 500 00 Lectures and addresses 300 00 Examination of teachers 2,500 00 Teachers ' pensions 30,000 00 Education of blind children 15,000 00 Instruction of adult blind 3,000 00 Free public libraries 8,600 00 Traveling libraries and library visitor 2,000 00 Rhode Island Normal School 64,000 00 Mileage for pupils of Normal School 4,000 00 Rhode Island School for the Feeble-Minded. 26,000 00 Rhode Island School of Design 8,000 00 Rhode Island State College 25,000 00 Rhode Island Institute for the Deaf 28,000 00 State Home and School 40,000 00 Historical societies 2,000 00 Humane societies 7,300 00 TC