Section 1. As the security and general welfare of a state depend on the popular intelligence and virtue, the legislature shall establish and maintain a complete and uniform system of public instruction, embracing free elementary schools of every needed grade, a university with such technical and professional departments as the public good may demand, and the means of the state will allow, and such additional institutions for normal instruction, as may be necessary.

Sec. 2. The following are declared to perpetual funds for school purposes, of which the annual income only can be appropriated, to wit: Such per centum as has been or may hereafter be granted by congress on the sale of lands in this state; all moneys arising from the sale or lease of sections number sixteen and thirty-six in each township in the state, and the lands selected, or that may be selected in lieu thereof: the proceeds of all lands that have been or may hereafter be granted to this state, where by the terms and conditions of the grant the same are not to be otherwise appropriated; the net proceeds of lands and other property and effects that may come to the state by escheat or forfeiture or from unclaimed dividends or distributive shares of the estates of deceased persons; all moneys, stocks, bonds, lands and other property now belonging to the common school fund.

Sec. 3. To the sources of revenue above mentioned shall be added all other grants, gifts and devises that have been or may hereafter be made to this state and not otherwise appropriated by the terms of the grant, gift or devise.

Sec. 4. All moneys, stocks, bonds, lands and other property belonging to a county school fund, except such moneys and property as may be provided by law for current use in aid of public schools, shall belong to and be securely invested and sacredly preserved in the several counties as a county public school fund, the income of which shall be appropriated exclusively to the use and support of free public schools in the several counties of the state.

Sec. 5. [Not provided.]

Sec. 6. All fines and penalties arising under general laws of the state shall belong and be paid over to the county treasurers of the counties in which the same were collected respectively for the support of public schools therein.

Sec. 7. All funds belonging to the state for educational purposes, the interest and income of which only are to be used shall be deemed trust funds in the care of the state, which shall keep them sacred for the exclusive benefit of the public schools and shall make good any losses that may in any manner occur, so that the same shall remain forever inviolate and undiminished. None of such funds shall ever be invested or loaned except on the bonds issued by school districts, or registered county bonds of the state or state securities of this or an United States securities.

Sec. 8. The income arising from the funds above mentioned together with all the rents of the unsold school lands and such other means as the legislature may provide, shall be exclusively applied to the support of free schools in every school district in the state.

Sec. 9. Provision shall be made by general law for the equitable distribution of such income among the several counties according to the number of children of school age in each; which several counties shall in like manner distribute the proportion of said fund by them received respectfully to the several school districts embraced therein. But no appropriation shall be made from said fund to any district for the year in which a school has not been maintained for at least five months; nor shall any portion of any public school fund ever be used to support or assist any private school, or any school, academy, seminary, college or other institution of learning controlled by any church or sectarian organization or religious denomination whatsoever.

Sec. 10. The legislature shall make further provision by taxation, or otherwise, as with the income arising from the general school fund will create and maintain a thorough and efficient system of public schools adequate to the proper instruction of all the youth of the state between the ages of six and twenty-one years, free of charge; and in view of such provision so made, the legislature shall require the every child of sufficient physical and mental ability shall attend a public school during the period between six and eighteen years for a time equivalent to three years, unless educated by other means.

Sec. 11. In none of the public school so established and maintained shall distinction or discriminations be made on account of sex, race, or color.

Sec. 12. Neither the legislature nor the superintendent of public instruction shall have power to prescribe text books to be used in the public schools.

Sec. 13. No sectarian instruction, qualifications, or test, shall be imparted, exacted, applied, or in any manner tolerated in the schools of any grade or character controlled by the state, not shall attendance be required at any religious service therein; nor shall any sectarian tenets or doctrines be taught or favored in any public school or institution that may be established under this constitution.

Sec. 14. The governor, secretary of state, state treasurer and superintendent of public instruction shall constitute the board of land commissions, which, under direction of the legislature, as limited by this constitution, shall have the direction, control, leasing and disposal of the lands of the state granted, or which may be hereafter granted for the support and benefit of public schools, subject to the further limitations that the sale of all lands shall be at public auction, after such delta (not less than the time fixed by congress), in portions at proper intervals of time, and at such minimum prices (not less than the minimum fixed by congress), as to realize the largest possible proceeds.

Sec. 15. The general supervision of the public schools shall be entrusted to the state superintendent of public instruction, whose powers and duties shall be prescribed by law.

Sec. 16. The location of the university of Wyoming, as established by territorial law, is hereby confirmed, and said institution, with its several departments, is hereby declared to be the university of the state of Wyoming. All the rights, franchises, immunities and endowments heretofore granted or conferred are hereby perpetuated unto the said university, and all lands which may be granted hereafter by congress unto the university as such, or in aid of the instruction to be given in any of its departments, with all other grants, donations or devises for said university, or for any of its departments, shall vest in said university, and be exclusively used for the purposes for which they were granted, donated or devised. The said lands may be leased on terms approved by the board of public lands, but may not be sold on terms not approved by congress nor to any one person, company or corporation in subdivisions exceeding 640 acres.

Sec. 17. The university shall be equally open to students of both sexes, irrespective of race or color; and, in order that the instruction furnished may be as nearly free as possible, any amount in addition to the income from its grants of lands and other sources above mentioned, necessary to its support and maintenance in a condition of full efficiency as the crowning educational institution of the state, shall be raised by taxation or otherwise, under provisions of the legislature.

Sec. 18. Under direction of the legislature, the university, its lands and other property by a board of trustees consisting of seven members, to be appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate; and the president of the university, and the superintendent of public instruction as members ex-officio, as such having the right to speak but not to vote. The duties and powers of the trustees shall be prescribed by law. They shall receive no compensation for service as such trustees, but may be reimbursed their actual expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.

Sec. 19. Such charitable, reformatory and penal institutions as the claims of humanity and the public good may require shall be established and supported by the state in such manner as the legislature may prescribe. They shall be under the general supervision of a state board of charities and reform, consisting of five members to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, who shall serve without compensation, but with reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in the performance of duty, and whose duties and powers shall be prescribed by law.

Sec. 20. The property of all charitable and penal institutions belonging to the territory or Wyoming shall upon the adoption of this constitution, become the property of the state of Wyoming; and such of said institutions as are then in actual operation shall thereafter have the supervision of the board of charities and reform as provided in section one of this article, under provisions of the legislature.

Sec. 21. As the health and morality of the people are essential to their well-being and to the peace and permanence of the state, it shall be the duty of the legislature to protect and promote these vital interests by such measures for the encouragement of temperance and virtue, and such restrictions upon vice and immorality of every sort, as are deemed necessary to the public welfare.

Sec. 22. All public buildings belonging to the territory shall, upon the adoption of this constitution, become the property of the state of Wyoming.

Sec. 23. The construction, care and preservation of all public buildings of the state not under the control of the boards of officers of public institutions by authority of law shall be entrusted to such officers or boards, and under such regulations, as shall be prescribed by law.

• Substitute for Files No. 59, 28, and 8 from Committee No. 7: 1889-09-18 (introduced on 1889-09-18 10:00:00 - CREATE - e677163) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]
  • None (introduced on 1889-09-18 10:00:00 - REPORT_PROPOSAL - e677165) [view current proposal at this moment]