RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF CALIFORNIA.

[Adopted by the State Board of Education, June 8th, 1866, in accordance with Section 2, of the Revised School Law, and required to be enforced in all Public Schools, according to Section 42, Subdivision 2, and Section 64, of the Revised School Law.]

SECTION 1. Teachers are required to be present at their respective school rooms, and to open them for the admission of pupils, at fifteen minutes before the time prescribed for commencing school, and to punctually observe the hours for opening and closing school.

SEC. 2. Unless otherwise provided by special action of Trustees or Boards of Education, the daily school sessions shall commence at nine o'clock, A.M., and close at four o'clock, P.M., with an intermission at noon of one hour, from twelve, M., to one o'clock, P.M. There shall be allowed a recess of twenty minutes in the forenoon session, from ten-forty to eleven o'clock; and a recess of twenty minutes in the afternoon session, from two-forty to three o'clock. When boys and girls are allowed separate recesses, fifteen minutes shall be allowed for each recess.

SEC. 3. In graded Primary Schools, in which the average age of the pupils is under eight years, the daily sessions shall not exceed four hours a day, exclusive of the intermission at noon, and inclusive of the recesses. If such schools are opened at nine o'clock, A.M., they shall be closed at two o'clock, P.M. In ungraded schools, all children under eight years of age shall be either dismissed after a four hours' session, or allowed recesses, for play, of such length that the actual confinement in the school room shall not exceed three hours and a half.

SEC. 4. No pupil shall be detained in school during the intermission at noon, and a pupil, detained at any recess, shall be permitted to go out immediately thereafter. All pupils, except those detained for punishment, shall be required to pass out of the school rooms at recess, unless it would occasion an exposure of health.

SEC. 5. Principals shall be held responsible for the general management and discipline of the schools; and the other teachers shall follow their directions and coöperate with them, not only during the school hours, but during the time when the pupils are on the school premises, before and after school, and during recesses. Assistants shall be held responsible for the order and discipline of their own rooms under the general direction of the Principals.

SEC. 6. Teachers are particularly enjoined to devote their time faithfully to a vigilant and watchful care over the conduct and habits of the pupils, during the time for relaxation and play, before and after school, and during the recesses, both in the school buildings and on the play grounds.

SEC. 7. It is expected that teachers will exercise a general inspection over the conduct of scholars going to, and returning from, school. They shall exert their influence to prevent all quarreling and disagreement, all rude and noisy behavior in the streets, all vulgar and profane language, all improper games, and all disrespect to citizens and strangers.

SEC. 8. Teachers shall prescribe such rules for the use of the yards, basements, and out buildings connected with the school houses, as shall insure their being kept in a neat and proper condition, and shall examine them as often as may be necessary for such purpose. Teachers shall be held responsible for any want of neatness or cleanliness about their school premises.

SEC. 9. Teachers shall give vigilant attention to the ventilation. and temperature of their school rooms. At each recess, the windows and doors shall be opened for the purpose of changing the atmosphere of the room. Teachers are cautioned against hot fires, and a high temperature.

SEC. 10. Teachers shall enter in the school registers, in the order of their application, the names of all those applying for admission to the school, after the prescribed number of pupils has been received. Such applicants shall be admitted to seats. whenever a vacancy occurs in any class for which they have been found duly qualified, in the order of their registration.

SEC. 11. Teachers are authorized to require excuses from the parents or guardians of pupils, either in person or by written note, in all cases of absence or tardiness, or of dismissal before the close of school.

SEC. 12. No pupil shall be allowed to retain connection with any Public School, unless furnished with books, slate, and other utensils required to be used in the class to which he belongs; provided, that no pupil shall be excluded for such cause unless the parent or guardian shall have been furnished by the teacher with a list of books or articles needed, and one week shall have elapsed after such notice, without the pupil's obtaining said books. Books may be furnished to indigent children by the Trustees, at the expense of the district, whenever the teacher shall have certified in writing that the pupil applying is unable to purchase such books.

SEC. 13. Any pupil who shall in any way cut or otherwise injure any school house, or injure any fences, trees, or outbuildings belonging to any of the school estates, or shall write any profane or obscene language, or make any obscene pictures or characters on any school premises, shall be liable to suspension, expulsion, or other punishment, according to the nature of the offense. The teacher may suspend a pupil temporarily for such offense, and shall notify the Trustees of such action. Pupils shall not be allowed to remain in any of the rooms that are provided with improved styles of furniture, except in the presence of a teacher, or of a monitor who is made specially responsible for the care of the seats and desks. All damages done to school property by any of the pupils

shall be repaired at the expense of the party committing the trespass.

SEC. 14. All pupils who go to school without proper attention having been given to personal cleanliness, or neatness of dress, shall be sent home to be properly prepared for school, or shall be required to prepare themselves for the school room before entering. Every school room shall be provided with a wash basin, soap, and towels.

SEC. 15. No pupils, affected with any contagious disease, shall be allowed to remain in any of the Public Schools.

SEC. 16. The books used, and the studies pursued, shall be such, and such only, as may be authorized by the State Board of Education; and no teacher shall require or advise any of the pupils to purchase for use in the schools any book not contained in the list of books directed and authorized to be used in the schools.

SEC. 17. It shall be the duty of the teachers of the schools to read to the pupils, from time to time, so much of the school regulations as apply to them, that they may have a clear understanding of the rules by which they are governed.

SEC. 18. In all Primary Schools, exercises in free gymnastics, and vocal and breathing exercises shall be given at least twice a day, and for a time not less than five minutes for each exercise.

SEC. 19. The following supplies shall be provided by the District Clerk, under the provisions of Section 46, of the Revised School Law, on the written requisition of the teacher, viz.: clocks, brooms, dusting brushes, wash basins, water buckets, tin cups, dust pans, matches, ink, ink bottles, pens, penholders, slate pencils, crayon chalk, hand bells, coal buckets or wood boxes, shovels, pokers, soap, towels, thermometers, door mats, scrapers, and stationery.

SEC. 20. Trustees are authorized and recommended to employ a suitable person to sweep and take care of the school house, and to make suitable provision for supplying the school with water.

RULES FOR PUPILS.

1. Every pupil is expected to attend school punctually and regularly; to conform to the regulations of the school, and to obey

promptly all the directions of the teacher; to observe good order and propriety of deportment; to be diligent in study, respectful to teachers, and kind and obliging to schoolmates; to refrain entirely from the use of profane and vulgar language, and to be clean and neat in person and clothing.

2. Pupils are required in all cases of absence, to bring, on their return to school, an excuse in writing, from their parents or guardians, assigning good and sufficient reasons for such absence.

3. All pupils who have fallen behind their grade, by absence or irregularity of attendance, by indolence or inattention, shall be placed in the grade below, at the discretion of the teacher.

4. No pupil shall be permitted to leave school at recess, or at any other time before the regular hour for closing school, except in case of sickness, or on written request of parent or guardian.

5. Any scholar who shall be absent one week without giving notice to the teacher, shall lose all claim to his particular desk for the remainder of the term, and shall not be considered a member of the school.

6. Each scholar shall have a particular desk, and shall keep the same and the floor beneath in a neat and orderly condition.

INSTRUCTIONS TO TEACHERS.

1. Teachers will endeavor to make themselves acquainted with parents and guardians, in order to secure their aid and coöperation, and to better understand the temperaments, characteristics, and wants of the children.

2. Teachers shall daily examine the lessons of their various classes, and make such special preparation upon them, if necessary, as not to be constantly confined to the text book, and instruct all their pupils, without partiality, in those branches of school studies which their various classes may be pursuing. In all their intercourse with their scholars, they are required to strive to impress on their minds, both by precepts and example, the great importance of continued efforts for improvement in morals, and manners, and deportment, as well as in useful learning.

3. Teachers should explain each new lesson assigned, if necessary,