NORMAL SCHOOL DIPLOMAS.

The following is the act authorizing the State Board of Education to grant diplomas to graduates of the State Normal School, as amended in 1863, and 1871:

(3530.) SECTION 1. The State Board of Education is authorized to grant to such students as shall have completed the full course of instruction in the State Normal School, and shall have been recommended by the board of instruction, a diploma, which, when signed by the members of the Board of Education, and by the board of instruction, shall be evidence that the person to whom such diploma is granted is a graduate of the State Normal School, and entitled to all the honors and privileges belonging to such graduates.

(3531.) SEC. 2. The board of instruction of the Normal School shall give to every graduate receiving such diploma a certificate, which shall serve as a legal certificate of qualification to teach in the primary schools of any township in this State, when a copy thereof shall have been filed or recorded in the office of the county superintendent of common schools. Such certificate shall not be liable to be annulled except by the board of instruction, but its effect may be suspended in any county, and the holder thereof may be stricken from the list of qualified teachers in such county, by the county superintendent of common schools for the county in which said township may be situated, for any cause and in the same manner as he now is by law authorized to revoke certificates given by himself, and in case there be no such county superintendent for the county in which said township is situated, then the said certificate so given by the board of instruction may be suspended in any such township, and the holder thereof stricken from the list of qualified teachers in said township, by the school inspectors for said township, for any cause that authorizes them to annul a certificate given by themselves, and such suspension in either case shall continue in force until revoked by the authority suspending it.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

[Act as amended March 16, 1861.]

(3789.) SECTION 1. Whenever reasonable assurance shall be given to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, that a number not less than fifty, or in counties containing a population of less than twelve thousand inhabitants, whenever twentyfive teachers of common schools shall desire to assemble for the purpose of forming a Teachers' Institute, and to remain in session not less than five working days, said Superintendent is authorized to appoint a time and place for holding such Instiute, to make suitable arrangements therefor, and to give due notice thereof.

(3790.) SEC. 2. For the purpose of defraying the expense of rooms, fires, attendance, or other necessary charges, and for procuring teachers and lecturers, the Auditor General shall, upon the certificate of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, that he has made arrangements for holding such Institute, draw his warrant upon the State Treasurer for such sum as said Superintendent shall deem necessary for conducting such Institute, which sum shall not exceed one hundred dollars for each Institute of five days' duration, and shall be paid out of the general fund.

(3791.) SEC. 3. Said Superintendent, in case of inability personally to conduct any Institute or to make the necessary arrangements for holding the same, is authorized to appoint some suitable person or persons for that purpose: Provided, That not more than eighteen hundred dollars shall be drawn from the Treasury in any one year, to meet the provisions of

this act.

(Section 1.) Refer to Form 27 and explanatory note.

TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONS.

[Act Approved February 12, 1857.]

(3152.) SECTION 1. Any fifteen or more teachers, or other persons residing in this State, who shall associate for the purpose of promoting education and science, and improvements in the theory and practice of teaching, may form themselves into a corporation, under such name as they may choose, providing they shall have published, in some newspaper printed at Lansing, or in the county in which such association is to be located, for at least one month previous, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting for such association, and shall file in the office of the Secretary of State a copy of the constitution and by-laws of said association.

(3153.) SEC. 2. Such association may hold and possess real and personal property to the amount of five thousand dollars; but the funds or property thereof shall not be used for other purpose than the legitimate business of the association in securing the objects of its corporation.

any

(3154.) SEC. 3. Upon becoming a corporation, as hereinbefore provided, they shall have all the powers and privileges, and be subject to all the duties of a corporation, according to the provisions of chapter fifty-five of the revised statutes of this State [Chap. 130, Compiled Laws], so far as such provisions shall be applicable in such case, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this act.

LAW TO ESTABLISH A UNIFORMITY OF TEXT-BOOKS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF BERRIEN COUNTY.

SECTION 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the persons hereinafter mentioned shall be and the same are hereby constituted a board for the establishment of a uniformity of text-books in the public schools of Berrien county. The persons constituting such board shall be the County Superintendent of common schools in each county, and one school inspector or other person, from each township; such inspector or other person to be appointed by the inspectors of such township, who shall give the person so appointed a certificate of such appointment, which certificate shall be filed with the county clerk of such county at'or before the meeting of such board.

SEC. 2. The County Superintendent shall preside at the meetings of such board, and in all cases of a tie shall give the casting vote. In the absence of the County Superintendent, such board may elect one of their number to preside. The county clerk shall be the clerk thereof, but shall not be entitled to a vote, and shall keep a record of the proceedings of such board in a book provided for that purpose, the daily proceedings of such board to be signed by himself and the County Superintendent, or other person presiding in his absence.

SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of the county clerk to cause to be published, at the expense of the county, in at least two of the leading weekly newspapers of the State, for a period of four weeks next preceding the first day of July, A. D. 1873, and every five years thereafter, a notice stating that the county clerk of said county will receive, until the first day of August next ensuing, samples of text-books designed for instruction and use in the public schools in the following branches, to wit: Spelling, reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, gram

mar, book-keeping, philosophy, history, science of government, and algebra; also, sealed proposals stating the price and terms upon which the parties sending any sample will furnish and keep for sale, for the ensuing five years, at such places as the board may designate, a supply of such books for the use of the public schools of such county, and that ample security will be required for the faithful performance of each and every contract made in pursuance of such notice.

SEC. 4. All samples and proposals received by such clerk, shall remain sealed while in his possession, and he shall deliver them sealed to such board at their next meeting.

SEC. 5. Such board are hereby authorized, and it is made their duty, on or before the first day of August, A. D. 1873, and on or before said date every fifth year thereafter, to select from such samples as may be delivered to them by the clerk, or from any other source, a list of such books as they may deem best suited for instruction and use in the public schools of such county; said list not to exceed one book of a kind in each grade of the following branches, to wit: Spelling, reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, grammar, book-keeping, philosophy, history, science of government, and algebra, but no selection shall be deemed to be made until a written contract shall be entered into with the person or persons proposing to sell or furnish such books, and who shall execute bonds to the county jointly and severally, with good and sufficient sureties, in such penal sums as the said board shall require for the faithful performance of such contract. Such contract shall specify the kinds of books to be furnished, the places where they shall be kept for sale, and the retail price to be paid for each book, and shall be signed by the clerk, the chairman of the board, and the person or persons entering into contract; such contract and bond shall be filed in the office of the county treasurer of such county, and the board shall cause the list so selected to be published in all the weekly newspapers published in the county, during the four weeks subsequent to the making of such selection, and the list, so selected, shall be and remain authoritative and binding, throughout said county, for and during five years from and after September first, A. D. 1873, and each five years thereafter, and said board shall not make any revision after 1873, nor cause to be changed the same kind of book oftener than once in five years.