Studies in Civics | Page 6

that the order, together with the petition, notices, affidavits and awards of damages, are filed correctly and on time. The town clerk must read the law carefully to ascertain his duty, and then perform it exactly. See that fences are ordered to be removed. Let one of the persons who feels himself aggrieved by the decision of the supervisors, "appeal" to a proper court. Let this be done in due form. As each step is taken, let the reasons for it be made clear.
2. Maintaining Roads.--Road overseers return the list of persons liable to road labor. How are these facts ascertained, and when must the "return" be made?
Supervisors meet and assess road labor, and sign road tax warrants. When and how is this done?
How is the road tax usually paid? How else may it be paid? How does the overseer indicate that a person's tax is paid? If a person liable to road tax does not "commute," and yet neglects or refuses to appear when duly notified by the road overseer, what can the latter do about it? How is delinquent road tax collected? How can a person who has paid his tax prove that he has paid it?
Under which of the three great purposes of government mentioned in the preliminary chapter does the making of roads come?

THE TOWN--Continued.
THE SCHOOLS.
Does the town system or the district system prevail in this state? If the latter, tell how a school district is organized. Give an account of the organization of this district.
How many and what officers have charge of the schools? State the duties of each. Name the officers in this district. When are the officers chosen, and how long do they serve? Are all chosen at once? Why? How do they "qualify?" Are women eligible to school offices? To any other?
Did you ever attend the annual meeting? When is it held? Why held then? Who take part? What business is transacted? What are "special" school meetings?
What expenses must be met in having a school? Where does the money come from? How does the treasurer get it into his possession? What is to prevent his misusing it?
By whom is the teacher chosen? Why not elect the teacher at the annual meeting? Get a teacher's contract and find out who the contracting parties are, and what each agrees to do. Why is the contract in writing? How many copies of it are made? Who keep them, and why?
If you had a bill against the district, how would you proceed to get your money? If the district refused or neglected to pay you, what could you do? If some one owed the district and refused to pay, what could it do?
Who owns the school buildings and grounds? How was ownership obtained? If it seemed best to erect a new schoolhouse in some other part of the district, what could be done with the present buildings and grounds? Could the district buy land for other than school purposes? Could it lend money if it had any to spare? If the district had not money enough to erect its buildings, what could it do? What are the corporate powers of a district?
_Questions for Debate._
_Resolved,_ That it is unfair to tax a bachelor to support a school.
_Resolved,_ That the town system is better than the district system.

CHAPTER II
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PRIMITIVE MODES OF ADMINISTERING JUSTICE.
Trial by Ordeal.--Boys settle some matters about which they cannot agree by "tossing up a penny," or by "drawing cuts." In a game of ball they determine "first innings" by "tossing the bat." Differences in a game of marbles, they settle by guessing "odd or even," or by "trying it over to prove it." In all these modes of adjustment there is an appeal to _chance._ Probably behind these practices is the feeling that the boy who ought to win will somehow guess right. This appealing to chance to settle questions of fact is characteristic of society in its primitive state. Modes of establishing justice similar in principle to these boy practices prevail to this day among superstitious peoples. They have prevailed even in Europe, not only among people of low mental power, but also among the cultured Greeks. Among our own Saxon ancestors the following modes of trial are known to have been used: A person accused of crime was required to walk blindfolded and barefoot over a piece of ground on which hot ploughshares lay at unequal distances, or to plunge his arm into hot water. If in either case he escaped unhurt he was declared innocent. This was called Trial by Ordeal. The theory was that Providence would protect the innocent.
Trial by Battle.--Sometimes boys settle their disputes by fighting. This, too, was one of the modes of adjudication prevalent in early times among men. Trial by Battle was introduced into England by the