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the Board of Education; and the board may declare the office of a commissioner vacant upon his failure to attend three successive stated meetings after having been personally notified to attend.

2. To transmit to the board all reports made to them by trustees and inspectors of their respective wards.

3. To visit and examine all schools entitled to participate in the apportionment.

It is the duty of the inspectors of common schools, or a majority of them in their respective districts, to examine, and before payment to audit, the expenses of any ward in the district; to examine at least once in every quarter all the schools in the districts as to punctual and regular attendance of pupils and teachers; the number, fidelity, and compensation of teachers; the studies, progress, order, and discipline of pupils; the cleanliness, safety, warming, ventilation, and comfort of the school premises; whether or not the provisions of the school in respect to the teaching of sectarian doctrines or the use of sectarian books have been violated; and to call the attention of the trustees without delay to every matter requiring effectual action. They shall also, on or before 31st December in each year, make a written report to the Board of Education and to the board of trustees, in respect to the condition, efficiency, and wants of the district in respect to schools and school premises.

It is the duty of the trustees for each ward

1. To have the safe keeping of all premises and property of the ward schools and ward primaries in their respective wards.

2. To appoint by a majority vote, at a meeting of their board, teachers other than principals and vice-principals, and also janitors.

3. Under the general rules and

regulations, and subject to the limitations prescribed by the Board of Education, to conduct and manage the said schools, furnish all needful supplies, and make repairs, &c.

4. To procure blank-books, and to keep in one a statement of receipts and expenditures of each of the schools conducted by them, and of all movable property; and in one book minutes of their meetings; and in other books the principal teacher of each school and department shall enter the names, ages, and residences of the scholars attending the school, the name of a parent or guardian of each scholar, and the days on which the scholars have respectively attended, and the aggregate attendance of each during the year; also the days on which each school has been visited by the city and assistant superintendents of schools, and the school officers of the ward, and the members of the Board of Education, or any of them, which entries shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of the principal teacher in such school or department. These books are preserved by the trustees as the property of the school, and are delivered to their successors.

5. To make, at least five days before the 1st of January in each year, or, if the school is kept open after 25th December, when specially designated by the Board of Education, and transmit to said Board, a report in writing, dated 31st December, signed and verified by a majority of the trustees, stating the whole number of schools within their jurisdiction, especially designating the schools for coloured children, the length of time each school has been kept open, the whole number of scholars over four and under twentyone years of age who have been taught, free of expense to such scholars, in their schools, during the year ending with the date of the report,

&c., with such other information as the Board of Education requires. Each department, whenever practicable, is considered as a separate school.

6. To hold as a corporation all personal property vested in or transferred to them for school purposes in their respective wards.

7. To render just and true accounts in writing, and to pay any balance which may remain in their hands, to their successors.

8. To meet at stated times, and to declare vacant, by a vote of a majority of the trustees of the ward, the seat of any trustee who refuses or neglects, without satisfactory cause shown by him to the said trustees, to attend any three consecutive stated meetings after having been previously notified to attend.

All expenses incurred for the support of common schools in the respective wards are certified by the trustees of common schools in such wards, or a majority of them, and delivered to the inspectors of said ward for examination and audit and for certification to the Board of Education, which, after the same are paid, files them. The school officers of the ward, after a favourable decision, by purchase, building, or leasing, procure a schoolhouse,-plans, specifications, and contracts having been filed with and approved by the Board of Education. The board of trustees may remove teachers, other than principals and vice - principals, and janitors, provided the inspectors approve thereof in writing; but a teacher removed can appeal to the Board of Education.

The city superintendent is subject to such general rules and regulations as the state superintendent of public instruction may prescribe, and appeals from his acts and decisions may be made to the superintendent, in the same manner and with like effect as

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ports, in writing, to the state superintendent, whenever required by him, the whole number of schools in the city and county, distinguishing the schools from which the necessary reports have been made to the Board of Education by the commissioners, inspectors, and trustees of common schools, and containing a certified copy of the reports of the Board of Education to the clerk of the city and county, with such additional information required by the state superintendent. The city and assistant superintendent take and subscribe the constitutional oath of office, and each holds office for two years, and until his successor is appointed, subject to removal by the Board of Education. They are subject to the rules and regulations of the board, which fixes their respective compensations. is the duty of the city superintendent

It

1. To visit every school under the charge of the Board of Education as often as once in each year; to inquire into all matters relating to the government, course of instruction, books, studies, discipline, and conduct of such schools, and the condition of the schoolhouses, and of the schools generally; and to advise and to counsel with the trustees in relation to their duties, &c.; and to examine, ascertain, and report to the Board of Education regarding religious sectarian teaching and books; and to make a monthly report with comments to said board, stating which schools he had visited.

2. Under the general rules and regulations prescribed by the Board of Education, to examine into the qualifications of persons proposed as teachers, the examination to be in presence of at least two inspectors. Persons found qualified receive licences, signed by the city superintendent and at least two inspectors.

A licence may be revoked, for causes affecting the morality or competency of the teacher, by the written certificate of the city superintendent and the written concurrence of two of the inspectors of the particular district, which is filed in the office of the clerk of the Board of Education, and a copy served upon the teacher, who can appeal to the state superintendent. The superintendent in his annual report to the Board of Education includes a list of the licences granted and revoked by him.

3. Generally to promote sound education, elevate the character and qualifications of teachers, improve the means of instruction, and advance the interests of the schools committed to his charge.

The superintendent of school-buildings takes and subscribes the constitutional oath, and gives such security for the faithful performance of his duties as the Board of Education may direct. Any teacher may be removed by a three-fourths vote of all the members of the Board of Education, upon the recommendation of the city superintendent, or a majority of the

trustees for the ward, or of a majority of the inspectors for the district. Every school officer shall, at the time of his election or appointment, be a resident of the district or ward for which he is appointed; and every trustee removing from the ward for which he is appointed; and every school officer removing from the city, thereby vacates his office.

All children between five and twenty-one years of age residing in the city and county are entitled to attend any of the common schools therein; and the parents, guardians, or other persons having the control or care of them are not liable to any tax, assessment, or imposition for the tuition, other than as stated. The schools are called common schools, "ward schools," or ward primaries, and each class is numbered consecutively according to the time of their organisation or adoption, and all such schools are under the government of the commissioners, inspectors, and trustees of the ward in which they are located. The ward schools are classified as grammar, primary, and evening schools.

THE COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

The College of the city of New York, formerly known as the Free Academy in the city of New York, continues to be a separate and distinct organisation and body corporate, and as such has the powers and privileges of a college, and is subject to the visitation of the regents of the University of the State of New York. The members of the Board of Education, together with the president of the college, are ex officio the trustees of the college; and the said regents pay annually to the said Board of Education the distributive share of the income of the literature and other funds to which the college is by law

entitled. The trustees of the college annually, on or before 15th November, report to the board of estimate and apportionment such sum, not exceeding $150,000 in any one year, as they may require, for the payment of the salaries of the professors and officers of the college, for obtaining and furnishing scientific apparatus, books for the students, and all other necessary supplies therefor, and for repairs, &c. The Board of Education can continue to furnish through this college gratuitous education to pupils in the city and county common schools for a period, fixed by the board of trustees, of not less than one year. And

the trustees, upon the recommenda- | nually, on or before 1st February, tion of the college faculty, can grant the usual degrees and diplomas in the arts to those who have completed a full course of study in the college. The trustees make and transmit an

to the board of aldermen, and also the secretary of the board of regents, a report in terms similar to the reports made and transmitted by other colleges to the board of regents.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Though the schools have to be unsectarian, the Board of Education is not authorised to exclude the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment, or any selections therefrom, from any of the schools provided for by said chap. 555, laws of 1864; or to decide what version, if any, shall be used. But the rights of conscience as secured by the constitution of this state and of the United States shall not be violated.

The following schools in New York city-to wit, the Five Points House of Industry, the Ladies' Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the institution in Park Street, and the industrial schools of the Children's Aid Society-participate in the distribution of the common school fund the same as common schools, and are subject to the same regulations and restrictions. The New York Orphan Asylum School, the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum School, the schools of the two Half-Orphan Asylums, the school of the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in the city of New York, the school for the Leake and Watts Orphan House, the school connected with the Almshouse, the school of the Association for the Benefit of Coloured Orphans, the schools of the American Female Guardian Society, the schools of the New York Juvenile Asylum, New

York Infant Asylum, the Nursery and Child's Hospital, including the country branch thereof, the schools organised under the Acts passed, respectively, April 11th, 1842, April 18th, 1843, or May 7th, 1844, or amendatory Acts, and including such normal schools for the education of teachers as the Board of Education may have organised, and the schools organised under said chap. 555, laws of 1864,- -are subject to the general supervision of the Board of Education, and are entitled to participate in the apportionment of said school funds; but they are under the immediate direction of their respective trustees, managers, and directors. The trustees, managers, and directors of any corporate school entitled to a share of school-moneys may at any time convey their schoolhouses and sites to the corporation of the city of New York, and transfer any of their schools to the Board of Education, on the terms prescribed by this board, so as to merge the same in the ward schools, or adopt them as ward schools as if they had been originally established as ward schools. The manager of the New York Institution for the Blind receives from the Board of Education a ratable proportion of the said school fund to every blind pupil in their institution without regard to age.

NAUTICAL SCHOOL.

The Board of Education is directed to provide and maintain a nautical

school in the city of New York for the education and training of pupils

in the science and practice of naviga- | tion, and may cause the scholar, the pupils, or part of the pupils thereof, to go on board vessels in the harbour of New York, and take cruises in or from said harbour for the purpose of obtaining a practical knowledge in navigation and of the duties of mariners. The board is authorised to apply to the United States Government for the requisite use of vessels and supplies for its purposes. Three

members at least of the Board of Education, subject to the control, supervision, and approbation of the Board, constitute an executive committee for the nautical school. The expenses of the school are defrayed from the moneys raised by law for the support of common schools in the

The

city and county of New York. Chamber of Commerce of New York is authorised to provide for and appoint a committee of its members to serve as a council of this school, to advise and co-operate with the Board of Education, and from time to time to visit and examine the school, and to communicate in respect thereof with such board, or such executive committee thereof, and to make reports to the Chamber of Commerce, which may transmit to the state superintendent of public instruction any such reports or abstracts therefrom, with recommendations. The whole number taught was, in 1883, 76; in 1884, 142; in 1885, 88. (Vide ante, p. 563.)

THE HEBREW ORPHAN ASYLUM

Is a corporation having the sole and exclusive custody and control of the persons of such orphans, half-orphans, or indigent children of the age not exceeding thirteen years as the trustees may agree to maintain, provide for, educate, and instruct during their minority, provided that, in respect to any orphan, the legal guardian or nearest relative, or one of the governors of the almshouse, and in respect to any half-orphans or indigent children, the parents or surviving parent or legal guardian consents thereto, or that such half-orphan

or indigent child is committed to the care and custody of the asylum by any court, magistrate, or police justice of the city of New York. The asylum trustees can bind out any such child, of thirteen years of age at least, to be taught and instructed in some necessary or useful employment. The asylum enjoys the same benefits, and receives for the care, education, and maintenance of such children the like compensation paid, and in the same manner authorised by law, to the New York Juvenile Asylum.

By "An Act in relation to the study of Physiology and Hygiene in the public schools," passed March 10, 1884, three-fifths being present, provision shall be made by the proper local school authorities for instructing all pupils in all schools supported by public money, or under state control, in physiology and hygiene, with spe

cial reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants, and narcotics upon the human system; and no certificate shall be granted to any teacher who has not passed a satisfactory examination in these subjects.

By an Act of 1884, the coloured

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