New-York tribune., 1903-01-19
WILL PERMIT BIBLE READING.
Superintendent Skinner Says if Custom Is
Objected to Recourse Must Be Had
to the Legislature.

Albany Ian IS (SpeciaD.-Charles r. Skinner
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, in his
annual report to legislature. says that the total
amount expended in this State for public education
in the school year ending July 81, 1902, was
$3s AL sos 81 Discussing the reading of the Bible in
public schools Mr.. Skinner says:
In view of the action of the Legislature in refus-
Bible in the schools. and OF the ACTION OF the egis
] lturG IN ,t6 ps h 81 large a ma oTty of the chill
dren OF the State and also in view of the practice
,-erv loath to adhere to the ruling adopted by my
predecessors in regard to this question During the
mis- dera rf1nent I have never known of appeal
or protest from an inhabtant of the city of New
schools Of that city. although II has been 9aly
read in every one therein during an tnat perlod
Local authorities are empowered by the iYct@ Scnooi
in the schools under their charge thlnR i Inns
may be fairly construed TO lncIude the @ 0ptliile *
the right of appeal to this department from an
abuse OF THIS R P3weI 2y % Snail voiate the pro
visions Of the constitution, and the opening fNer-
shall include the teaching of any sectarian tenet
doctrine. should feei npeheR Ant III ers GaSe the ra
scriptures are read. as the statute provides they
comment by a public school teacher in in public
school of this STATE in the of the pqP ga
deem il my duty to rule that such practice is not
IN violation such 9 hq nractice is not desired by the
people of this state recourse must be had to the the
legislature for statutory enactment making On,
lawful in the remainder Of the state that wRlGn men
is UractlSed IN New OTh lily ny virtue vi IC1,
distinct legislative enactments, covering a period
Of more than fifty years
In speaking of the tuition of nonresident pupils
in academic grades the superintendent says:
%o state appropriation is necessary. The course
Of stIdz in The best academic departments in the
site is approved by the State superintendent OF
study in the grades in harmony with this and
leading NJ, to IT, All courses Of study in the aca-
dernic depa rtment the public schools should be
flrnught into harmonious relations with the cours"
certifirate of completion the work in the grades
should be accepted in the academic departments
ss sufficient qualification to enter these schools
'Tbo state Superintendent Of Public Instruction
should be authorized to pay 10 these academic
l5e1arf1,ents from the same fund which he already
snportfons to them in common with all the public
schools reasona BILE tuition for the education OF
the pupils whom he thus sends from the common
schools the not receiving assistance toward
she ma inf enanca OF academic department
New-York State has the largest normal school
system iu the world-twelVe schools. The superin-
tSod.nt feels that they are not maintained in the
high degree Of efficiency that they should be The
.,1rorage last year $1,000 This is
'rFe normal schools lose their best teachers. be-
sr,se progressive localities offer attra ctive
salaries A repea OF the law authorizing local
boards to insure normal school property is recon-
'i ~ Is evident that the enforcement OF the law
o,,i-ing a United States flag to be displayed
[sar 1verv public school building in this State
meets public approval. since reports for the last
school show only lp ihtFacnofls or inns NV,
as against 3l5 in 1901
>rhe Grand ARMY Of the Republic is proving its
frendliness to the public school by offering thirty
,rIzes 10 The children of the public schools of this
STATE for essays historical and patriotic sub
1eCtE.