He should ascertain by comparing these institutions with similar institutions whether improvements in instruction and discipline can be made. For this purpose he may appoint persons to visit these institutions. He should also suggest to the directors of these institutions and to the State Legislature those improvements and changes which in his judgment are deemed wise. All the powers of regulation, supervision and control exercised by the State Board of Charities over the New York State School for the Blind at Batavia have been transferred to the Commissioner of Education.

Annual Report.- The Commissioner of Education is required to make an annual report to the State Legislature on all matters relating to these institutions; particularly to the condition of the schools, the improvement of the pupils, and their treatment in respect, to board and lodging.

Eligibility of Appointments of Deaf and Dumb Persons.- A deaf and dumb person to receive an appointment as a State pupil to an institution for the deaf and dumb must possess the following qualifications: Such person must be upwards of twelve years of age and have been a resident of the State for one year immediately preceding his or her application for admission to such institution; or, if a minor, the parent or parents, or if an orphan, the nearest friend must have been a resident of this State for one year immediately preceding the application for an appointment as a State pupil.

Upon the application of a parent, guardian or friend of a deafmute child residing in this State and between the ages of five and twelve years, the overseer of the poor or the supervisor of the town in which such child may be, is required to place that child in one of the institutions named in section 978 of the Education Law. The child must be maintained in that institution at the expense of the county from which she was appointed, but the expense shall not exceed four hundred dollars per year; provided that until June 30th, 1920, the expense for each child may be at the rate of not to exceed four hundred and twenty-five dollars per year. If the director of the institution to which the child is committed finds that the child is not a proper subject to remain in said institution, the institution is not required to continue to care for the child.

Eligibility of Blind Persons for Appointment as State Pupils. All blind persons of suitable age (no specific age required by law) who possess the same qualifications in regard to residence as deaf and dumb candidates, may be appointed State pupils as follows: All those who are residents of Nassau, New York, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Richmond, Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland shall be appointed to the Institution for the Blind in New York city.

Those residing in all other counties in the State should be appointed to the Batavia institution.

By Whom Appointments are Made.-Appointments of State pupils to any of these institutions, except the Institution for the Blind in Batavia, are made by the Commissioner of Education upon application. In making such appointments the Commissioner of Education may impose the condition, in the case of parents or guardians or friends who have sufficient means, that some portion of the expense of educating and clothing such pupil shall be borne by the parent, guardian or friend. The Commissioner also has the authority to modify such conditions whenever he deems it wise to do so. Appointments to the Batavia institution are made by the board of trustees, and must be approved by the county judge or county clerk of the county or the supervisor or town clerk of the town or the mayor of the city in which the applicant resides.

Support of State Pupils.-A State pupil appointed to any of these institutions must be provided with board, lodging, and tuition. The deaf and dumb institutions and the blind institutions are entitled to receive such sum for each pupil to be paid quarterly as the Legislature appropriates. State pupils who are children of indigent parents or guardians are supplied with clothing by the counties from which they are appointed.

The treasurer of each institution should present a bill showing the number of pupils and the time each pupil attended, to the State Comptroller for audit and payment.

This bill must be signed and verified by oath of the president and secretary of the institution. The bill is paid by the State Treasurer on the warrant of the Comptroller.

Term of Instruction. The regular term of instruction for each pupil is five years, but the Commissioner of Education may extend such time not to extend three years. He may also extend the term to cover three years of instruction beyond the elementary

course.

Regulations for Admission of Pupils.- The Commissioner of Education may establish regulations to require the admission of pupils at these institutions at regular periods.

The Legislature of 1897 authorized the Albany Home School for the Oral Instruction of the Deaf to receive deaf and dumb persons who are eligible to appointment, and who are more than twelve.

years of age. The Commissioner of Education is also authorized to make appointments to this institution.

County Must Supply Clothing. If a parent or guardian of a State pupil in any of the institutions for the deaf and dumb is unable to furnish such pupil clothing, the board of supervisors of the county from which such pupil was appointed must raise each year for each of such pupils the sum of $30 for supplying clothing to such pupils.

Payment for Aid to Blind Pupils Attending College.— The trustees of any college, university, technical or professional school located in this State, authorized to confer degrees except an institution for the instruction of the blind, may designate blind students in attendance upon such institutions who are residents of this State as fit persons to receive special aid in doing the work required in such institution. Persons may be employed to read to such blind students from the textbooks or pamphlets used by such students in their studies at a compensation of $300 per year.

The treasurer of any of such institutions after the beginning of a school year may present to the State Comptroller a verified statement showing the number of blind students regularly matriculated and working for a degree. No other student can be included. The Comptroller will issue his warrant and thereon the State Treasurer will pay to the treasurer of such institution the amount to which the institution is entitled. The trustees of the institution will then disburse the moneys for the purposes aforesaid.

Instruction for Blind Babies, etc.- The Commissioner of Education may in his discretion appoint children twelve years of age and under as State pupils in one of the homes for blind babies and children maintained by the International Sunshine Society, Brooklyn Home for Blind, Crippled and Defective Children and the Catholic Institute for the Blind. When these children are thus appointed to one of these homes the home receiving them is entitled to the same compensation that other institutions receive which may accept State blind pupils.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Who is required to make an enumeration of mentally retarded children? What children must be included? When must special classes be established? How many? What type of instruction must be provided? When may a board of education provide for the instruction of such children by contract?

Who is authorized to prescribe regulations governing the subject? What aid is given by the State?

Who is required to make an enumeration of physically defective children? What children must be included? What instruction must be provided? What is the interpretation of this law? When may classes be maintained by contract for these children? What power has the Commissioner of Education in such matter? What State aid is provided?

How are the schools of the incorporated orphan asylum societies related to the public school system? To what public money are they entitled? What report must be filed with the Education Department? What is the duty of the Commissioner of Education in relation to Indian schools? When may he cause school buildings to be erected on Indian reservations? What cooperation of the Indians should he enlist? What protection to title should be given to Indians when their land is used for school purposes? What right should be reserved to the State? What amount is annually appropriated for this purpose? How is this money paid? What is done with the vouchers and receipts? What reports must be made in relation to Indian reservations?

What jurisdiction has the Commissioner of Education over deaf and dumb and blind institutions? What knowledge of the work of these institutions should he possess? What report in relation to these institutions must be made? Who are eligible to appointment as State deaf and dumb pupils? Who are eligible to appointment as State pupils to blind institutions? By whom are these appointments made? In making these appointments what conditions may the Commissioner of Education impose? How are these State pupils supported? To whom are bills for these expenses presented? In what form? By whom are they paid? What is the regular period of instruction? What extension may be granted? Who adopts the regulations for admission of these pupils? What institution was authorized by the Legislature of 1897 to receive deaf and dumb pupils for instruction? When must a county provide pupils with clothing? Explain the conditions under which payments will be made by the State to assist blind pupils in attendance upon college.

CHAPTER XXV

SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES

[See Article 44]

Apportionment of Library Moneys.- On account of the unification act it became desirable to unite the library funds which had heretofore been distributed by the two former educational departments. The Legislature, therefore, now makes but one appropriation for school libraries. This appropriation is for an amount equal to that given the two old departments and the method of distribution is such that a school may draw from this fund as much money as it was allowed heretofore from both funds. The method of this apportionment will be found in the article which treats of school moneys. The method of distributing the money is as follows:

An apportionment is made on or about the first of each month based on the applications received during the previous month. This apportionment is certified to the Comptroller.

The State Treasurer upon the warrant of the Comptroller pays to each county treasurer, excepting in the counties comprising the city of New York, an amount equal to that apportioned to all of the schools in his county.

The Commissioner of Education then certifies to the county treasurer the schools to which money is due and the amount due to each. Upon receipt of this certificate from the Commissioner of Education the county treasurer pays the allotment to each of the schools entitled to receive the same.

In the city of New York all money due the city is paid to the city chamberlain and all money due to private academies is paid directly to the treasurer of the academy.

Commissioner of Education Has General Supervision. The Commissioner of Education has power to establish, modify, or abolish any regulation for the expenditure of school library money and the administration and care of school libraries. All provisions of law and rules of the Commissioner of Education for the management of district libraries shall apply to the management of school libraries until modified as directed by law.