New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-12
TIE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SUPERINTENDENT GIIMoUR's RKPORr-RErEAL or
THK GRAY NUNS ACT UGGTD-A CONsTrTU-
TiONAL AMENDMENT RECOMMENDED.
ALBANY, Jan. lin his annual report pre-
sented To the Legislature to-day Neil Glmour sapcriu
tqndent Of Public Instruction. gives the result OF the
aminatOns last December for granting state certificates
to teachers a. follows:
Nno candidates presented themselves who furnished
evidence Of good moral character and the required ex
examination continued through four sessions OF
three hours each and vas in part written and n part
candidates having passed satisfactory eTamina
thus Minutely entered into the details OF tho pre-
paration for, and the result Of, the first eXanina-
llOn hPld uhuer tie amended raw rs IL iaIIN nc" eI"
III the educdtOnal progress OF me Sidt, hIshci qd
caons OF teachers have for long time been dmandc1
ana nave now become uecessity, no noIin1 VI %
state certificate after such thorough examination as
that conducted by the committee above referred TO- IL
indeed small distinction; and many teachers VIII I'M
doubedy strive 10 attain the nigh standard required by
the State knowing fun well that the services OF teachers
on Txinnofion close their report as foows
The Committee desire record their gratidcaon 81 the
cericates The plan now adopted hunly m,ltsned Tor
state no eTaduaied iron higher Institutions the lin NUN
Der who possess suler'or literary qualifications 'nd ambition
peror srsde of Teachers and will inevitably be called u Inc
eisSied Ry ts sys.e1 90 M . ~ r iCoa n5erc,s
my purpose hold during tns present year several
examinations IN different parts OF the state 10 nccomno
date those desiring to oor themselves candidates for
State certificates As such examinations Will ncces
sarily involve some expense recommend that ap-
preparation bo made for he purpose Of defaynS the
same
The Superintendent then takes up the Gray Nuns act
and conc udos a. follows:
recommend that the act he repealed by special act
for although IL IL claimed by many t1at the later general
law repealed the former special act sun doubt on this
point has been expressed IL is better that the act Dc
specially stricken from the statute book, that AL
teachers IN applying for State certificates be upon
the level and DO required 10 the some exam
nation
The superintendent then discusses system OF edu-
cation under which about $3000000 annually ap-
portoned for the support OF common schools alone.
After quoting the Constitution and various laws he says
to repeal any OF these wise provisions OF law Great
anxiety xts az present among the people In regard 10
the schools: although the danger not bc immediate.
wisdom dictates thai tie evil be vented before II has
opportunity to There report. that PROPOSE
tons have already been made, and in some cases dc
cepted that certain parOcha schools not under the
troll OF the state should he used by the trustees Boards
Of Education OF the districts in which they located
On condition that the teachers should he appointed by
those having the control OF such schools that the
course OF instruction be subject TO their approval The
| adoption OF such policy would be step to-
WaiO thc destruction OF system of public instruction
earnestly recommend that the Legislature take such
steps as VIII securely imbcd IN the Constitution OF the
| state orr common schools; will place them beyond
tue power % any man, set of men, party or sect
interfere with Their admirable working OF in any man
ner impair their Usefulness or tend 10 their
Let the Constitution be amended 10 make il obga-
tory that free. public nOnsectarian system OF educa.
ton shall be maintained IN the state, thus making our
school stem unity That will exist Throughout ali time.