SEC. 9. The Governor shall be president and the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be secretary of the Board of Education. [Sidenote: Power of board.] SEC. 10. The Board of Education shall succeed to all the powers and trusts of the president and directors of the Literary Fund of North Carolina, and shall have full power to legislate and make all needful rules and regulations in relation to free public schools and the educational fund of the State; but all acts, rules and regulations of said board may be altered, amended or repealed by the General Assembly, and when so altered, amended or repealed the time of future meetings may be determined by the board. [Sidenote: First session of board.] SEC. 11. The first session of the Board of Education shall be held at the capital of the State within fifteen days after the organization of the State government under this Constitution; the time of future meetings may be determined by the board. [Sidenote: Quorum.] SEC. 12. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. [Sidenote: Expenses.] SEC. 13. The contingent expenses of the board shall be provided by the General Assembly. [Sidenote: Agricultural department.] SEC. 14. As soon as practicable after the adoption of this Constitution the General Assembly shall establish and maintain in connection with the University a department of agriculture, of mechanics, of mining, and of normal instruction. [Sidenote: Children must attend school.] SEC. 15. The General Assembly is hereby empowered to enact that every child of sufficient mental and physical ability shall attend the public schools during the period between the ages of six and eighteen years for a term of not less than sixteen months, unless educated by other means. ARTICLE X. HOMESTEADS AND EXEMPTIONS. [Sidenote: Exemption.] SECTION 1. The personal property of any resident of this State to the value of five hundred dollars, to be selected by such resident, shall be and is hereby exempted from sale under execution or other final process of any court issued for the collection of any debt. [Sidenote: Homestead.] SEC. 2. Every homestead, and the dwellings and buildings used therewith, not exceeding in value one thousand dollars, to be selected by the owner thereof, or in lieu thereof, at the option of the owner, any lot in a city or village, with the dwellings and buildings used thereon, owned and occupied by any resident of this State, and not exceeding the value of one thousand dollars, shall be exempt from sale under execution or other final process obtained on any debt. But no property shall be exempt from sale for taxes or for payment of obligations contracted for the purchase of said premises. [Sidenote: Homestead exempted from debt.] SEC. 3. The homestead, after the death of the owner thereof, shall be exempt from the payment of any debt during the minority of his children or any one of them. [Sidenote: Laborer's lien.]