New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-22
SCHOOL LAWS REVISED.
A BILL FOR THE CONTROL OF THE STATE
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

1T CONTINUES THE DISTRICT PLAN BUT PERMITS
POOR DISTRICTS TO MAKE CONTRACTS
WITH NE1cHBoRNG PLACES HAv-
mo BETTER SCHOOLS.
Albany. Feb 1.-THE Educational bill prepared
by the Statutory Revision Commission ana intro
duced tonight in the Assembly is Intended 10 Do
revision OF the law 1t applies to the pubic schoo'
system and to private institutions OF learning
under supervision OF the State University. inc
classification embraces the subject OF education rs
administered by the Department OF Public lnstruc-
ton and by the University, exclusive or proIes-
sional and technical schools. and also includes Cor
nell University, which is in part State institution
These subjects are now covered In several mae
pendent statutes.
The common-school system is preserved practl-
cally in It's present form The schooldistrict plan
Il continued with some notifications. princpaily
matters Of administration rather than organization
Three classes OF districts are recognized. nameiS'
the common school district with one trustee 'he
union school district. with Board OF Educauon'
and special school districts. organized under ihoe
pendent statutes OF which there are still severai
in the State.
The Commissioners do not deem II practicable 10
adort the township system at this time and have
proposed a substitute by providing for consohoa-
ton OF districts without regard to town nhes- in'
will enable small districts to be consolidated WI"
strong central schools without disturbing the IN
tegrty of the present district system Provision IL
also made for contracts by which one district may
provide for the instruction Of its children IN an
other district and also for their transportation 10
and from such schools. The districts MAKING s"0'
contracts will continue to draw pubic money
Under the present law. there Is no require"
course OF instruction In schools. except tna' '"o
compulsory law requires children 10 at'e"" "
school in which few specified subjects are taught
ux.t In 20 RI instruction
schools in reading. writing. spelling arithmeuc'
English grammar and composition, geography
drawing physiology and hygiene American "i''oi'
civil government good behavior. good morals ana
such other subjects as may be prescrioeo VI pc
mttted BY the school authorities, the superinten-
dent or by law. The Bible may be read IN puonc
schools Provision Is also made for instruction IN
natural history Industrial or free-hand drawing
vocal music and the effects Of stimulants and mar
cotics
Tho law relating to qualifications OF teachers mas
been rewritten and a new provision mas oeeh III
serted. which gives the graduates OF the pedagogy
departments OF universities and colleges tne oaiiio
rights as graduates OF State normal schools: 49,,
The laws relating TO normal scnoois naSJ oya
consolidated and the twelve norman schooIs az ..
continued practically as at present exeeP. .n' ~
is proposed TO make uniform .oc annogntsd nv
trustees composed OF seven ineinOei' "PF0 -
the State Superintendent 49,. A.. ..oL.
Any school district may ADOPT free TIC seA ho hen
The law relating to compulsory educauon nus Den
rewritten and the period OF compulsory iSt
has been enlarged. The period is now iLon =, for
10 twelve years This bill proposes 10 make IL from
six 10 fourteen years. Authority Is given 70 me
SUPERINTENDENT 10 create truant districts. composer
Of two or more school districts and truant omcers
are 10 be appointed for these districts, instead OF
by towns as under the present law A Provlslon
tendent to establish a State truant school, put TINS
cannot be available without an Appropriation lot
that purpose. a., -, ,,.r.-,.,
mr. other hubble libraries owned by the State under
the SUPERVISION OF the Regents. Ii is thought mat
the inclusion Of the law libraries VIII be on gteas
advantage to them because they may he supplied
with books from the duplicate department OF the
State Library. The librarians Of law Libraries arc
10 he continued in office subject to removal by the
Regents only for cause and Librarians hereafter
are to be appointed by the Regents.