5. To visit the institutes, or cause them to be visited by representatives of the education department, for the purpose of examining into the course and character of instruction given, and of rendering such assistance as he may find expedient.

§ 771. Duties of school commissioners. It shall be the duty of every school commissioner, subject always to the advice and direction of the commissioner of education:

1. To notify all teachers, trustees, boards of education and others known to him who may desire to become teachers under his jurisdiction, of the time when and the place where the institute will be held.

2. To make all necessary arrangements for holding the institute when appointed; see that a suitable room is provided; attend to all necessary details connected therewith; assist the conductor in organization; keep a record of all teachers in attendance and notify the trustees of the number of days attended by the teachers of the various districts, which shall be the basis of pay to such teacher for attendance as hereafter provided.

3. To transmit to the commissioner of education at the close of each institute, in such form, and within such time, as such commissioner shali prescribe, a full report of the institute, including a list of all teachers in attendance, the number of days attended by each teacher, with such other information as may be required.

4. To present a full statement of all expenses incurred by him in carrying on the institute, with vouchers for all expenditures made, accompanying the same by an affidavit of the correctness of statements made and of accounts presented.

§ 772. Schools must be closed. 1. All schools in school districts and parts of school districts within any school commissioner district wherein an institute is held, not included within the boundaries of an incorporated city, except as herein provided, shall be closed during the time such institute shall be in session.

2. The closing of a school within the school commissioner district wherein an institute shall be held, at which a teacher has attended, shall not work a forfeiture of the contract under which such teacher was employed.

2. In all districts having a population of more than five thousand, and employing a superintendent whose time is exclusively devoted to the supervision of the schools therein, the schools may

be closed or not at the option of the boards of education in such districts.

§ 773. Penalty for failure to attend or to close schools. Wilful failure on the part of a teacher to attend a teachers' institute as required, shall be sufficient cause for the revocation of such teacher's license, and a wilful failure on the part of trustees to close their schools during the holding of an institute as required, shall be sufficient cause for withholding the public moneys to which such districts would otherwise be entitled.

§ 774. Teachers must attend; entitled to salaries. 1. Any person under contract to teach in a school in any commissioner district, is required to attend an institute if one is held for that district, even though at the time of such institute the school is not in session, and shall be entitled to receive full salary for the actual time in attendance at such institute.

2. The trustees of every school district are hereby directed to give the teachers employed in their district the whole of the time, while an institute for the school commissioner district in which their school is located is in session, for attendance thereat and shall make no deduction whatever from the salaries of such teachers for the time so spent.

§ 775. Payment of expenses. The treasurer shall pay, on the warrant of the comptroller, to the order of any one or more of the school commissioners, such sum of money as the commissioner of education shall certify to be due to them for expenses in holding a teachers' institute; and upon the like warrant and certificate shall pay to the order of any persons employed by the commissioner of education as additional instructors to conduct, instruct, teach or supervise any such teachers' institute.

ARTICLE 31

Training Classes

Section 790. Designation of schools for classes.

791. Regulations for classes.

792. Instruction frec.

793. *School commissioners shall supervise and examine classes; teachers' certificates.

794. Teachers' training schools or classes under superintendents of schools.

* So in original.

The com

§ 790. Designation of schools for classes. missioner of education shall designate the academies and union free schools in which training classes may be organized to give instruction in the science and practice of common school teaching. Such classes shall be distributed among the academies and high schools of the several school commissioner districts of the state and consideration shall be given to the number of school districts in each and the location and character of the institution designated. § 791. Regulations for classes. 1. Every academy and union school so designated shall instruct a training class of not less than ten nor more than twenty-five scholars, and every scholar admitted to such class shall continue under instruction not less than thirty-six weeks.

2. Whenever it shall be shown to the satisfaction of the commissioner of education that any pupil attending such classes has been prevented from attending the same for the full term of thirtysix weeks, or that for any reason satisfactory to such commissioner, said classes have not been held for the full term of thirtysix weeks or have been attended by less than ten members, such commissioner may excuse such default and allow to the trustees of the academy or union free school in which said classes have been instructed an equitable allowance proportionate to the number of pupils and period of instruction.

3. The commissioner shall prescribe the conditions of admission to the classes, the course of instruction and the rules and regulations under which said instruction shall be given.

§ 792. Instruction free. Instruction shall be free to all scholars admitted to such classes, who have continued in them the length of time required by the preceding section.

§ 793. School commissioners shall supervise classes. Each class organized in any academy or union school under appointment by the commissioner of education for the instruction in the science and practice of common school teaching, shall be subject to the visitation of the school commissioner of the district in which such academy or union school is situated; and it shall be the duty of said school commissioner to advise and assist the principals of said academies or union schools in the organization and management of said classes.

§ 794. Teachers' training schools or classes under superintendents of schools. The board of education or the public school authorities of any city or of any school district

having a population of five thousand or more and employing a superintendent of schools, may establish, maintain, direct and control one or more schools or classes for the professional instruction and training of teachers in the principles of education and in the method of instruction for not less than two years.

ARTICLE 32

Normal Schools; State Normal College

Section 810. Normal schools continued.

811. Local boards.

812. Powers of local boards.

813. Bond of treasurer.

814. Salary of secretary and treasurer.

815. Local boards shall have management of buildings

and property.

816. Courses of study.

817. Teachers, salaries, et cetera.

818. Commissioner may perform duties of defaulting local board.

819. Diplomas.

820. Requisites for admission; privileges and duties of

pupils.

821. Practice departments in Fredonia school.

822. Special policemen.

823. Village or city may insure normal school property.

824. Expense of insurance a village or city charge.

825. Deposit of insurance moneys in bank.

826. Acceptance of grants and bequests authorized.

827. Education of Indian youth.

828. Selection of Indian youth.

829. Age of youth and limit of time for support.

830. Guardians of youth.

831. Indian pupils on equality with others.

832. New York state normal college.

833. Board of trustees.

§ 810. Normal schools continued.

The state normal

schools heretofore established at Brockport, Buffalo, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam, are continued.

§ 811. Local boards. There shall continue to be a local board of each of said state normal schools, consisting of not less than three nor more than thirteen persons and the members thereof shall hold their offices until removed by the concurrent action of the chancellor of the university and the commissioner of education. A vacancy in any of said boards shall be filled by appointment by the commissioner of education.

§ 812. Powers of local boards. 1. Local boards shall have the immediate supervision and management of said schools, subject, however, to the general supervision of the commissioner of education and to his direction in all things pertaining to the school. Said local boards shall have power to appoint one of their number chairman, one secretary and another treasurer of the board. The secretary may also be treasurer.

2. A majority of each of said boards shall form a quorum for the transaction of business, and in the absence of any officer of the board, another member may be appointed pro tempore to fill his place and perform his duties.

3. It shall be the duty of such board to make and establish, and from time to time to alter and amend, such rules and regulations for the government of such schools under their charge, respectively, as they shall deem best, which shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner of education.

4. They shall also severally transmit through the commissioner of education, and subject to his approval and in the form which he directs, a report to the legislature on the first day of January in each year, showing the condition of the school under their charge during the year next preceding, including, especially, ar account in detail of their receipts and expenditures, which shall be duly verified by the oath or affirmation of their chairman and secretary.

§ 813. Bond of treasurer. The treasurer shall give an undertaking to the people of the state for the faithful perform ance of his trust in an amount fixed by the commissioner of education. The undertaking shall be approved by said commissioner and filed in the office of the comptroller.

The secre

§ 814. Salary of secretary and treasurer. tary and the treasurer shall each be paid an annual salary to be fixed by the local board with the approval of the commissioner of education, but the aggregate amount of such salaries shall not exceed four hundred dollars.