Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-15
A STATE NORMAL SCHOOL
For the Professional Training Of
Teachers.
Text OF the Bill which Passed the
senate of the Last Legislature.


A bill TO be entitled an act to authorize
the establishment Of Slate Normal School
for the professional instruction and train
ing of teachers:
Whei cas-, an efficient system Of public
schools cannot be maintained without an
adequate supply Of professionally educated
teachers; and,
Whereas, il is desirable that those who
are to develop the intelleCts and cultivate
the hearts of the children Of the State,
should be citizens rather than introduced
from abroad, and,
Whereas, the trustees Of the Peabody
Educational fund, have proposed to furnish
six thousand dollars or more for paying
the annual expenses of running a State
Normal SchOOl, PrOUided that at least an
equal amount shall be contributed by the
State; therefore,
Section l. Be 1t enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Tennessee, that the
Comptroller Of the State Treasury shall set
aside out of the school-fund collected from
polls, which may accumulate in his hands,
the sum ofsiX thousand dollars annually, for
the purpose Of establishing and maintain
ing State Normal School, aud that tie
State Treasurer shall pay over said sum for
such purpose in the manner hereinafter
directed.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, that the
Governor, State Treasurer, and the State
Superintendent OfPublie instruction, shall
with their SUCCESSORS in Office, constitute
board for the location, organization and
future control of said Normal School.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, that in the
location of said State Normal School,
preference shall be given to such city, town
or county, accessible to the other parts If
the State, as shall offer graiuitOusly perma-
nent buildings for the same.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, that as soon as
in their judgment said board can successful
" establish such Normal School, they shall
put it in operation, and in case buildings
shall not have been rendered TO them for
this purpose, they may proceed to secure
the necessary real estate for properly
locating it; and they may use the fund pro-
vided for herein, not exceeding forty
Thousand dollars, for the erection Of build
ings, or for the purchase Of such as may be
adapted to its wants.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, that it shall
in every respect be made first class insti-
tuition, in which the most approved Normal
School methods of instruction shall be
adopted, and that none but teachers ex-
perienced in such methods, shall be en-
ployed.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, that all ap-
plicants 10 be received as pupils in said
Normal School, shall be over sixteen and
under twenty-five years of age, and shall
undergo an examination by the Principal,
as totheir capacity to become competent
to teach after having received such instruc-
ton as shall be prescribed in the regula-
lions of the Normal School, and each APP
plicant for tuition in said Normal School,
shall sign an obligation in writing. to re-
main in the school until the prescribed
course Of study shall have been accom-
plished, and that they willEea devote him
or herself to the business and pnOfes-
sion of teaching for at least two years
thereafter.
Sec. I. Be it further enacted, that the
said Board of Directors shall provide equal
educational facilities for colOred pupils,
though in separate schools.
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, that the
course Of study and the text books used
in said Normal SIhNl, shall be pre-
scribed by the State Superintendent Of
Public Instruction, with'the advice of the
corps of teachers of the Normal School.
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, that the
Principal of said Normal School shall make
such reports to the Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction as the Superintendent may
order, and that the same records as to pu
pills, cost of tuition, etc, as are prescribed
underline law and regulations for the pub
lie schools, shall be kept in said Normal
School.
Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, that the
salaries of the Principal, teachers and other
officers Of said Normal School shall be fixed
by the Governor, Treasurer and Superin-
tendent of the State, and they shall be paid
by the Treasurer of the State, upon the GER
ti6cafe of the State Superintendent that
the service has been rendered.
Sec IL. Be it further enacted, that the
State Treasurer may pay any bills contract
ed by SAID Normal School Board of officers
upon the certificate of the State Superin-
tendent.
Sec. IL. Be it further enacted, that the
scholastic year for said Normal School
shall begin on the first Monday in Septem-
Der, and close on the last Friday in June,
but the reports shall be annually brought
up 10 the 3lst day of August, and shall be
due at the time prescribed for similar re
ports from the public schools of the State.
Sec Is. Be it further enacted, that the
officers of said Normal School may confer
degreSs and give diplomas to those who
hOnOrably complete the prescribed course
and sustain themselves in a thorough ex
animation, and the possession of such d.
ploma shall exempt the holder thereof
from the examination prescribed as a con-
dition precedent to employment as a
teacher in the public schools Of the State,
such iploma being a sufficient certificate
of qualification for teaching in any county
of the State.
Sec. IA. Be it further enacted, that each
member of the House Of Representatives
may nominate one candidate for appoint
ment as pupil in said Normal School,
and, other things being equal, candidates
for such nomination, who have been pupils
in the public schools and have certificates
of qualification, shall have preference; and
after the Principal of said Normal School
shall have selected such of these as may be
found eligible upon such examination as
may be prescribed by the State Superin-
tendent, if it is found that greater num-
Der can be accommodated in the school,
Others may be admitted, who may be found
worthy.
Sec. Is. Be it further enacted, that this
act shall take effect from and after its pas
sage, the public welfare requiring it.