various cities and towns, to be expended much as the public moneys for schools are at the present day. In 1801, an act was passed, authorizing the establishment of four lotteries, to raise the sum of $25,000 each, one half to be paid to the regents of the university, and the other to the state treasury, to be applied for the use of common schools. This was the foundation of the literature and common school fund. In 1805, the nett proceeds of 500,000 acres of the public lands, and 3000 shares of bank stock, were appropriated as a fund for the use of common schools, to accumulate till the interest should amount to $50,000 per annum, after which, the interest was to be distributed, as the legislature should direct. In 1811, preparatory measures were taken to organize the school system, and in 1812, an act was passed for that purpose. Gideon Hawley, Esq., was appointed superintendent of common schools, in 1813. From 1819 to 1827, farther appropriations of lands, stocks, and money, for the increase of the school fund, were made; and $100,000 ordered to be annually distributed, while an equal sum should be raised by tax. In 1838, the sum of $165,000 per year, from the annual revenue of the United States deposit fund, was added to the amount previously distributed. Of this amount, $55,000 was to be expended yearly, in the purchase of suitable books for district libraries. During this year, the common school system was reorganized, and, with the exception of a few amendments, assumed its present form. PRESENT CONDITION OF COMMON SCHOOLS. Funds. By a provision of the constitution, the proceeds of all lands belonging to the state, with the exception of such as may be reserved for public use, or ceded to the United States, together with the fund known as the common school fund, are declared to constitute "a perpetual fund, the interest of which shall be inviolably appropriated, and applied to the support of common schools, throughout the state." Of these state lands, as yet unsold, there remain about 350,000 acres, lying mostly in the northern part of the state, and valued at about $175,000. These constitute the unproductive portion of the school fund. The productive capital of the fund amounts to upwards of two millions of dollars, and consists of bonds, mortgages, bank and state stocks, and money in the treasury, and yields a sufficient revenue to admit of the annual appropriation, and distribution of $110,000 among the several school districts. An equal amount, viz: $110,000, was, by an act passed in 1838, devoted to the same purpose, from the United States deposit fund. An additional sum of $55,000, was also granted for the purchase of district libraries; by an act passed in 1843, this may be expended, under certain restrictions, for maps, globes, and other school apparatus. The whole sum appropriated, beside the above $55,000, is $220,000, which is applied to the payment of teachers' wages. The year succeeding any enumeration of the inhabitants, state or national, an apportionment of this sum is made out, among the several counties, towns, and wards, according to their population, and the money paid over to the treasurer of each county, for distribution. A certified copy of the apportionment is then forwarded to each of the county clerks, to be laid before the board of supervisors, who are required to raise, annually, by taxation, a sum equal to that thus received. They may also raise any additional amount, not exceeding twice the amount of the apportionment, which the electors of any town may vote to raise, for school purposes. The amounts thus raised are to be paid over to the town superintendents, for distribution among the districts. In addition to these sums, many of the towns annually receive incomes from local funds, arising either from the sale of school lots, reserved in laying out new townships, in 1789, or from bequests, &c. In most of the large cities, large additional amounts are also raised, under special acts, providing for the organization and support of common schools. The aggregate amount of funds applicable to school purposes, may be stated as follows. Apportioned from state funds Equal amount raised by taxation Sums raised by voluntary vote of towns Sums raised under special acts in cities Local funds $275,000 275,000 20,000 200,000 20,000 $790,000 $450,000 $1,240,000 Amount raised on rate bills Total amount annually raised, from all sources, for common schools This is exclusive of the large amount invested in school houses, furniture, fuel, apparatus, text books, &c. Districts and their officers. The entire territory of the state has been divided into about 11,000 school districts, each averaging nearly four square miles. The voters of each district choose three trustees, of whom one holds his office for one year, one for two, and one for three years, a district clerk, collector and librarian, who hold their office one year each. Town Superintendents. The town superintendents of common schools are annually elected, by the people of each of the towns, at their annual town meetings, and have the general supervision of the common schools in their respective towns. County Superintendents. The county superintendent is the next officer in the gradation of the system, and is appointed, once in two years, by the board of supervisors of each county. Either they, or the state superintendent, may remove him from office, for neglect of duty, or misconduct. Each county is required, by law, to have one county superintendent, and where the number of districts exceeds 150, two may be appointed. These officers are charged with the general supervision of the schools of the county, or of that section of the county, for which they are appointed. Their compensation may not exceed $500 a year; one half of which is paid by the county, and the other half by the state, out of the annual surplus of the common school fund. Within a few years past, the county superintendents, in addition to their duties specified by law, have called periodical meetings of the town superintendents, teachers, officers and inhabitants of districts, for the purpose of mutual consultation, and the improvement of the condition of the schools; they have organized and held teachers' institutes, in the spring and autumn, for the purpose of preparing the teachers for the more efficient discharge of their duties. In conjunction with the town superintendents, they select the pupils, which the county is entitled to send to the state normal school; and deliver familiar lectures on topics connected with public school education, in each district, during their several visitations. They also meet annually, in convention, for the purpose of mutual consultation with each other, with the head of the department, and with the friends of education, from this, and other states. State Superintendent. The secretary of state is, by virtue of his office, superintendent of common schools. He maintains a correspondence with all the subordinate officers, and has a general oversight over the whole. To him are referred, for final decision, all questions arising, relative to the common school laws, on appeal from the decisions of the county superintendents. He is required to report, annually, to the legislature, the condition of the schools in the several counties, and to do all in his power to promote the interests, and extend the benefits, of popular education throughout the state. He appoints one of the clerks of the state department, as his deputy, who aids him in the discharge of his duties, and who, in case of his absence, or the vacating of the office, becomes acting superintendent. For a full exposition of the duties of all the officers of the common school system, reference may be had to the common school law, a copy of which may be found in each district. Statistics of the Common Schools. From the last annual report of the state superintendent, made to the legislature, in January, 1846, we gather the following statistics: Whole number of children between the ages of five and sixteen, in Whole number, of all ages, under instruction the whole or a part of the year, 1845, Average annual increase of children between the ages of five and sixteen, since 1815, is more than Average annual increase of children of all ages, receiving instruction, Average number of months in which schools have been kept during the year 1845, Amount of public money paid for teachers' wages in 1845, 18,000 20,549 8 $629,856 94 458,127 00 Total, $1,087,983 94 Amount expended for district libraries, Number of volumes in district libraries, 1st July, 1845, $95,159 25 1,145,250 Average annual increase of volumes, Number of pupils in attendance at private and select schools in 1845, STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. 100,000 56,058 By an act, passed by the legislature of 1844, $9,600 was appropriated for that year, and $10,000 annually, for five years thereafter, and until otherwise directed by law, for the establishment and support of a state normal school, for the instruction and practice of teachers of common schools, in the science of education, and in the art of teaching. This institution is located in the city of Albany, and placed under the direction of the state superintendent of common schools, and the regents of the university. This board appoint an executive committee, of five persons, of whom the state superintendent is one, ex officio, to superintend the general interests of the school, to carry into effect the laws enacted for its regulation, and to report to the board annually. By the regulations of the executive committee, superintendent, and board of regents, each county of the state is entitled to a number of pupils equal to double its representation in the house of assembly, making in all 256 pupils; to be selected by the county and town superintendents. No charge for instruction or for books is made; and each pupil receives a sum sufficient, on a liberal estimate, to defray his or her traveling expenses, to and from the institution. The board of instruction consists of a principal, a professor of mathematics, a teacher of vocal music, one of drawing, and six subordinate teachers, in the various branches, deemed requisite to the complete preparation of teachers of common schools. Connected with the institution are two experimental schools, composed of fifty children each, between the ages of five and sixteen, and under the general supervision of a teacher, specially appointed for this purpose. Into these, the more advanced pupils of the normal school pass, in succession, for a period of three or four weeks each, to test their practical abilities, as educators, before their final graduation. No definite term of instruction is prescribed. Each pupil is required to complete a specified course of studies, to the full satisfaction of the principal and board of instructors, by whom, and the executive committee, diplomas, setting forth that fact, are conferred, semi-annually, in the months of March and September. The institution is furnished with a large and well selected library, and all the scientific apparatus requisite to a full and thorough course of instruction, in the various branches of a sound, English education. The number of students, of both sexes, in 1846, exceeded two hundred. CITY SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS. 1. City of New York. In the city of New York, the common schools are divided into three classes, viz: 1st, Public and Primary schools, under the care of the public school society; 2d, Ward schools, under the management of the commissioners, inspectors and trustees of the respective wards; 3d, Corporate schools, conducted by officers, elected under their respective charters. These are all subject to the general supervision of the county superintendent, and to the inspection and management of the board of education, which consists of two commissioners, two inspectors, and five trustees in each ward. These officers are elected by the people; the commissioners and inspectors hold their offices for two years, and the trustees for five years. They all participate in the public money, and in that raised by the general and special laws, for school purposes. The Public School Society was incorporated by the legislature, in 1805, and up to the year 1843, had the entire control of all the common schools in the city. They have eighteen public, and fifty-four primary schools, beside two public and four primary schools for colored children. In these schools, in 1846, 22,500 children were in. structed, at a cost, for tuition, of a little more than $73,000. There are three normal schools, also, under the control of this society, intended for the instruction of the monitors, and junior teachers of the schools; these normal schools are held on Saturday of each week, and during a portion of the year, in the evenings of the other days of the week. To each of the primary and public schools, a well selected library is attached. The ward schools occupy from twenty to twenty-five buildings, comprising upwards of fifty schools, and having more than 25,000 children under instruction. There are, beside, thirteen corporate schools, mostly connected with benevolent institutions, and embracing upwards of 2000 scholars. The aggregate number of children taught in all the public schools, during some portion of the year, exceeds fifty thousand; and it is supposed that about 30,000 more attend the various select schools in the city. The amount of public money annually expended for common schools, is as follows: Apportioned by the state An equal amount raised by tax One twentieth of one per cent. on the valuation of real and personal property Raised under special acts $35,000 00 35,000 00 114,610 63 8,360 66 Total $192,971 29 2. City of Rochester. The common schools of this city are under the control of a board of education, consisting of two commissioners for each ward, annually elected by the people of the several wards, and a city superintendent, chosen by them. The schools are entirely supported by taxation, no charge being made for instruction or text books. There are in the city, sixteen school houses, all substantial buildings, furnished with ample play grounds, and other conveniences. In these edifices there are between forty and fifty schools, under the care of sixteen male, and thirty female teachers, and comprising about 6000 children, nearly all that are of suitable age, residing in the city. 3. City of Buffalo. The mayor and aldermen of the city are, ex officio, commissioners of common schools; and are required annually to appoint a city superintendent. The schools are free, being, as in Rochester, entirely sustained by taxation. The number of districts is fifteen, and the schools are under the care of fifteen male, and thirtysix female instructors, having, in attendance, about 7000 children. 4. City of Hudson. The members of the common council are here, also, ex officio, commissioners of common schools. They appoint three superintendents, who, together, constitute a board of education for the city. An amount, equal to four times the apportionment from the state funds, is raised by tax, and the remaining ex |