CHAPTER XXVII

STATE NORMAL INSTITUTIONS

[Article 32]

Historical Sketch.

There are ten State normal schools in the

State and one State normal college. Their location and the dates on which they were established and opened are as follows:

The Legislature of 1917 authorized the establishment of an additional State normal school in Westchester county. A site has been secured in the city of White Plains.

The first school at Albany was simply an experiment and was only temporarily established. It was made a permanent institution in 1848. In 1890, this school was changed to the State Normal College and in 1914 to State College for Teachers. Since the establishment of these institutions about 30,000 students have been graduated therefrom. They are now attended by about 10,000 pupils annually. and maintained at an annual expenses of nearly one million dollars. The value of the property of these schools is more than $3,600,000. The Object.- The acts creating these schools state their establishment to be "for the instruction and practice of teachers of common schools in the science of education and the art of teaching."

How Establisheed.- Normal schools are established by special act of the State Legislature. There is no general law providing for their creation.

How Governed.- The Commissioner of Education has general supervision of these schools. Each school, however, has a local board, whose members are appointed for life by the Commissioner of Education. As vacancies occur, either by death or resignation, they are filled by appointment by the Commissioner of Education. The local board must consist of not less than three and not more than thirteen members. (The board of trustees of the State College for Teachers consists of five members.) The number on each board varies, ranging from six to thirteen. The present policy is to maintain boards of seven. Members of a local board can be removed by the joint action of the Commissioner of Education and the Chancellor of the University of the State of New York. A majority of the members of a local board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

Powers and Duties of Local Board.-1. The local board is required to establish rules and regulations for the general government of the school under its direction subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Education.

2. The local board is required to make an annual report in such form and giving such information as the Commissioner of Education shall direct. This report is submitted to the State Legislature through the Commissioner of Education.

3. Local boards are the custodians of the buildings and grounds of their respective schools and of all other property of the State pertaining thereto.

4. Local boards are authorized to appoint special policemen to protect the buildings and grounds and to preserve peace. These officers have power to arrest offenders.

5. It is the duty of local boards to supply these schools with necessary equipments and supplies.

6. Local boards may, with the approval of the Commissioner of Education, accept for the State money or property of any kind to be used for the general support of these schools as may be prescribed by the instrument making the gift.

7. Local boards employ and contract with the teachers employed in their respective schools.

8. A local board has power to dismiss pupils.

Principal. The principal is the chief executive officer for the board and has the immediate supervision of all work pertaining to the management of the school and the instruction given therein.

Powers and Duties of Commissioner of Education.— The Commissioner of Education is directed by law to appoint members. of the local board, he determines the number of teachers to be employed and the amount of compensation to be paid them, he approves the appointment of teachers, and also prescribes the courses of study.

He is also empowered to prescribe the conditions upon which pupils will be admitted to these schools, and to determine the number which may be admitted to each institution.

Admission of Pupils. To be admitted to a normal school, candidates must be at least sixteen years of age and must receive an appointment from the district superintendent of the supervisory district or from the superintendent of schools of the city in which such candidates reside. Candidates must present a diploma of graduation from the four-year course prescribed by the Commissioner of Education for admission to normal schools and city training schools under the provisions of section 551 of the Education Law.

Candidates, twenty-one years of age, who have had two years of high school work, or its equivalent, and in addition thereto have taught two years, will be admitted to the normal school on the understanding that they must complete the high school course in addition to the professional course before they shall be graduated.

Graduates of training classes who entered the class upon an academic diploma and who have taught one year since graduation from the training class may complete the professional course in the normal school in one year if they possess the required aptitude for training.

Privileges of Pupils.- Residents of the State regularly admitted to a normal school cannot be charged tuition and cannot be charged for the use of books or apparatus. Pupils, however, are chargeable for books lost by them or damaged while in their possession.

Dismissal of Pupils.— The local board may dismiss pupils for disorderly or immoral conduct or for neglect or inability to perform their work, or for a failure to comply with the regulations of the school upon which they are in attendance.

Non-Resident Pupils.- Pupils who are not residents of the State may be admitted to these schools upon paying such tuition as the Commissioner of Education shall prescribe, which is $20 per term.

Indian Pupils.-The State Treasurer is authorized to pay on the warrant of the State Comptroller to the Commissioner of Education such sum as may be appropriated for the support and education of Indian youth in the State normal institutions.

These pupils must be selected by the Commissioner of Education from the several Indian tribes in the State so as to distribute such selections equitably among these tribes. They must not be under sixteen years of age, and they are not entitled to more than three years' education in such school. The local board is made the guardian of such pupils while they are in attendance upon such institution, and such board is authorized to pay the necessary expenses of such pupils, from the funds provided for such purpose. Courses of Study.- Each of the normal schools has a twoyears' professional course. The course is practically the same in all the schools. Some also have a special kindergarten and primary course. These courses are prescribed by the Regents of the University. Special courses in kindergarten, domestic art and science and other vocational courses are given in these schools.

Diplomas. The Commissioner of Education prepares diplomas, which are granted to those who complete a course of study in these institutions. These diplomas are signed by the Commissioner of Education, the chairman and secretary of the local board, and the principal of the school. State College for Teachers diplomas are signed by the Commissioner of Education, and the President of the college. Such diplomas entitle their holders to teach for life in the public schools of the State. They may be revoked by the Commissioner of Education for cause. The diplomas show the course of study which was pursued.

Application of Tuition.- Local boards could formerly expend the tuition received from any department of their respective schools for apparatus, furniture, repairs, insurance, improvements upon the grounds or buildings, or for ordinary current expenses. It is now paid into the State treasury but is appropriated by the Legislature to the schools which collected it.

Local Authorities May Insure Normal School Property.-The authorities of each city or village in which a State normal school is

located may insure the real and personal property of such school when the State refuses to keep adequate insurance on such property. Such insurance must be in the name of the State, and any money obtained therefrom must be used to repair or replace the property damaged or destroyed.

Application of Insurance Money.- Whenever money is realized from insurance of the property or buildings of normal schools, such money must be deposited by the company in which such property is insured in a bank designated by the State Comptroller. It must be placed to the credit of the local board of such school and kept as a separate fund. Such money may be immediately used by the local board of the school to which it belongs upon the approval of the Commissioner of Education, to repair or replace in whole or in part the property damaged or destroyed.

Academic Departments.— In some normal schools, academic departments are maintained by the State for the benefit of the localities in which such normal schools are located. Children of school age residing within the bounds of such localities are entitled to attend such schools. This is done in consideration of certain privileges conferred upon such school by these localities at the time such normal schools were created. Non-resident pupils cannot lawfully be permitted to attend the academic departments of these schools.

Removal of Teachers. The principal and any teacher employed in a normal school may be removed upon joint action of the local board and the Commissioner of Education. The initiatory steps in these proceedings should be taken by the local board. In June, 1880, Superintendent Gilmour demanded the resignation of Principal Hoose, of the Cortland normal school. Principal Hoose refused to resign. In July, Superintendent Gilmour withdrew his approval of the appointment of Principal Hoose and appointed another principal, whom the local board would not approve. The case was taken to the courts, and in April, 1882, the Court of Appeals decided the case in favor of Principal Hoose and the local board, on the ground that joint action of the board and Superintendent was necessary to remove the principal, and that the Superintendent did not possess the power of removal.

The Court of Claims in 1884, awarded Dr. Hoose payment in full for his salary, except for the time he was elsewhere employed,