Foreword 



T^HE Constitution of the State of New Hampshire. 

 Article 83, provides that: "Knowledge and learning, 

 generally diffused through a community, heing essential 

 to the preservation of a free government; and spreading 

 the opportunities and advantages of education through 

 the various parts of the country, being highly conducive 

 to promote this end; it shall be the duty of the legisla- 

 tors and magistrates, in all future periods of this govern- 

 ment, to cherish the interest of literature and the 

 sciences, and all seminaries and public schools, to en- 

 courage private and public institutions, rewards and 

 immunities for the promotion of agriculture, arts, sci- 

 ences, commerce, trades, manufactures, and natural 

 history of the country ..." 



For carrying out the intent of the Constitution, the 

 public laws now provide that each town shall constitute 

 a school district. Except for a few multi-district towns, 

 minor offsets, and the organization of cooperative 

 schools from pre-existing districts, therefore, school dis- 

 tricts are coterminous with their respective towns. Each 

 district, however, is a subdivision of the state and func- 

 tions as a corporate body politic. Through permissive 

 legislation there is a limited local autonomy over the ad- 

 ministration of pul)lic schools, but under general state 

 supervision. 



MARCH 1964 



