USA > New York > Geography of the state of New York. Embracing its physical features, climate, geology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, history, pursuits of the people, government, education, internal improvements &c. With statistical tables, and a separate description and map of each county > Part 15
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The other officers of the counties are, the treasurer, county clerk, sheriff, coroner, district attorney, county superintendent of common schools, county sealer of weights and measures, road commissioners, inspectors, &c. By the provisions of the new constitution, most of these officers are chosen for three years.
The cities are governed by a mayor, recorder, and common council. The latter is composed of one alderman, and one assistant alderman, for each ward of the city. These officers have judicial powers con- ferred on them, in offences not punishable with death. They also perform the duties of supervisors in their respective cities.
There are nine cities in the state; viz., New York, Albany, Troy, Hudson, Schenectady, Utica, Buffalo, Rochester, and Brooklyn.
The incorporated villages are governed by a president and board of trustees, usually five in number .. There are about 150 incorporated villages in the state.
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THOUGH less zealous in the cause of popular education than the early settlers of New England, yet, ere the forests had been felled, or the Indian war-whoop ceased to be heard, in the neighborhood of the white settlements, the sturdy Hollanders began to provide for the education of their children.
In 1633, Adam Roelandsen, the first schoolmaster of New Amster- dam, arrived in that city. In 1642, the Patroon, Van Rensselaer, sen't over a schoolmaster for his " colonie."
The first classical school, or academy, was established in New York city, the teacher being sent out from Holland, by the Dutch West India Company. In all the Dutch settlements, provision was early made for schools.
In 1687, a Latin school was opened in the city of New York, under the sanction of the English government. In 1702, the first legisla- tive action, relative to education, occurred. This act provided for the establishment of a grammar school, and appropriated £50 per annum, for seven years, for the support of a teacher.
Another act was passed, in 1732, to encourage a public school, in the city and county of New York, for teaching Latin, Greek and Mathematics.
Under this act a free school was established, and endowed with £40 a year, for five years; and ten scholars were to be sent from New York, two from Albany, and one from each of the other coun- ties, making twenty in all. This school was the germ of Columbia college.
In 1743; Rev. Mr. Dunlap, of Cherry Valley, Otsego county, estab- lished the first grammar school in the state, west of Albany. Be- tween 1746 and 1756, several acts were passed, authorizing the raising of moneys, by lottery, for founding a college in New York, and, in 1754, King's college was chartered.
After the establishment of the state government, the interest of the people was again awakened to the necessity of popular education. On the 1st of May, 1784, an act was passed, changing the name of King's college to Columbia college, and establishing the board of re- gents of the university of New York.
In 1789, lands were specially set apart, in the several new town- ships, for the promotion of literature, and the support of common schools. The proceeds of certain lands were also appropriated, in 1790, by the regents, to the institutions under their care. Their in- come, arising from this source, in 1792, was increased by the grant of £1500 per annum, for five years.
In 1793, the regents, in their report, suggested the importance of establishing schools in various parts of the state, for instructing chil- dren in the lower branches of education. These suggestions were renewed for the two years following, and in 1795, a common school system was established.
- In 1795, $50,000 annually, for five years, was appropriated from the public revenues, for encouraging and maintaining schools, in the
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various cities and towns, to be expended much as the public moneys for schools are at the present day.
In 1801, an act was passed, authorizing the establishment of four lotteries, to raise the sum of $25,000 each, one half to be paid to the regents of the university, and the other to the state treasury, to be applied for the use of common schools. This was the foundation of the literature and common school fund.
In 1805, the nett proceeds of 500,000 acres of the public lands, and 3000 shares of bank stock, were appropriated as a fund for the use of common schools, to accumulate till the interest should amount to $50,000 per annum, after which, the interest was to be distributed, as the legislature should direct.
In 1811, preparatory measures were taken to organize the school system, and in 1812, an act was passed for that purpose. Gideon Hawley, Esq., was appointed superintendent of common schools, in 1813. From 1819 to 1827, farther appropriations of lands, stocks, and money, for the increase of the school fund, were made; and $100,000 ordered to be annually distributed, while an equal sum should be raised by tax.
In 1838, the sum of $165,000 per year, from the annual revenue of the United States deposit fund, was added to the amount previously distributed. Of this amount, $55,000 was to be expended yearly, in the purchase of suitable books for district libraries. During this year, the common school system was reorganized, and, with the ex- ception of a few amendments, assumed its present form.
PRESENT CONDITION OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
Funds. By a provision of the constitution, the proceeds of all lands belonging to the state, with the exception of such as may be reserved for public use, or ceded to the United States, together with the fund known as the common school fund, are declared to consti- tute " a perpetual fund, the interest of which shall be inviolably ap- propriated, and applied to the support of common schools, throughout the state."
Of these state lands, as yet unsold, there remain about 350,000 acres, lying mostly in the northern part of the state, and valued at about $175,000. These constitute the unproductive portion of the school fund.
The productive capital of the fund amounts to upwards of two millions of dollars, and consists of bonds, mortgages, bank and state stocks, and money in the treasury, and yields a sufficient revenue to admit of the annual appropriation, and distribution of $110,000 among the several school districts.
An equal amount, viz : $110,000, was, by an act passed in 1838, devoted to the same purpose, from the United States deposit fund. An additional sum of $55,000, was also granted for the purchase of district libraries ; by an act passed in 1843, this may be expended, under certain restrictions, for maps, globes, and other school appara- tus. The whole sum appropriated, beside the above $55,000, is #220,000, which is applied to the payment of teachers' wages.
The year succeeding any enumeration of the inhabitants, state or national, an apportionment of this sum is made out, among the sev- eral counties, towns, and wards, according to their population, and
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the money paid over to the treasurer of each county, for distribution.
A certified copy of the apportionment is then forwarded to each of the county clerks, to be laid before the board of supervisors, who are required to raise, annually, by taxation, a sum equal to that thus re- ceived. They may also raise any additional amount, not exceeding twice the amount of the apportionment, which the electors of any town may vote to raise, for school purposes. The amounts thus raised are to be paid over to the town superintendents, for distribu- tion among the districts.
In addition to these sums, many of the towns annually receive in- comes from local funds, arising either from the sale of school lots, reserved in laying out new townships, in 1789, or from bequests, &c. In most of the large cities, large additional amounts are also raised, under special acts, providing for the organization and support of com- mon schools.
The aggregate amount of funds applicable to school purposes, may be stated as follows.
Apportioned from state funds
$275,000
Equal amount raised by taxation 275,000
Sums raised by voluntary vote of towns
20,000
Sums raised under special acts in cities
200,000
Local funds . 20,000
$790,000
Amount raised on rate bills
- $450,000
Total amount annually raised, from all sources,
for common schools $1,240,000
This is exclusive of the large amount invested in school houses, furniture, fuel, apparatus, text books, &c.
Districts and their officers. The entire territory of the state has been divided into about 11,000 school districts, each averaging nearly four square miles. The voters of each district choose three trustees, of whom one holds his office for one year, one for two, and one for three years, a district clerk, collector and librarian, who hold their office one year each.
Town Superintendents. The town superintendents of common schools are annually elected, by the people of each of the towns, at their annual town meetings, and have the general supervision of the common schools in their respective towns.
County Superintendents. The county superintendent is the next officer in the gradation of the system, and is appointed, once in two years, by the board of supervisors of each county. Either they, or the state superintendent, may remove him from office, for neglect of duty, or misconduct. Each county is required, by law, to have one county superintendent, and where the number of districts exceeds 150, two may be appointed.
These officers are charged with the general supervision of the schools of the county, or of that section of the county, for which they are appointed. Their compensation may not exceed $500 a year; one half of which is paid by the county, and the other half by the state, out of the annual surplus of the common school fund.
Within a few years past, the county superintendents, in addition
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to their duties specified by law, have called periodical meetings of the town superintendents, teachers, officers and inhabitants of dis- tricts, for the purpose of mutual consultation, and the improvement of the condition of the schools; they have organized and held teach- ers' institutes, in the spring and autumn, for the purpose of prepar- ing the teachers for the more efficient discharge of their duties.
In conjunction with the town superintendents, they select the pupils, which the county is entitled to send to the state normal school ; and deliver familiar lectures on topics connected with public school education, in each district, during their several visitations.
They also meet annually, in convention, for the purpose of mutual consultation with each other, with the head of the department, and with the friends of education, from this, and other states.
State Superintendent. The secretary of state is, by virtue of his office, superintendent of common schools. He maintains a corres- pondence with all the subordinate officers, and has a general over- sight over the whole. To him are referred, for final decision, all questions arising, relative to the common school laws, on appeal from the decisions of the county superintendents.
He is required to report, annually, to the legislature, the condition of the schools in the several counties, and to do all in his power to promote the interests, and extend the benefits, of popular education throughout the state. He appoints one of the clerks of the state de- partment, as his deputy, who aids him in the discharge of his duties, and who, in case of his absence, or the vacating of the office, becomes acting superintendent.
For a full exposition of the duties of all the officers of the common school system, reference may be had to the common school law, a copy of which may be found in each district.
Statistics of the Common Schools. From the last annual report of the state superintendent, made to the legislature, in January, 1846, we gather the following statistics :
Whole number of children between the ages of five and sixteen, in the state, Jan., 1845, 690,914 Whole number, of all ages, under instruction the whole or a part of - 736,045 the year, 1845,
Average annual increase of children between the ages of five and sixteen, since 1815, is more than - - 18,000 Average annual increase of children of all ages, receiving instruction, 20,549 Average number of months in which schools have been kept during
8 the year 1845,
Amount of public money paid for teachers' wages in 1845, $629,856 94 Amount paid on rate bills for the same purpose, 458,127 00
Total, $1,087,983 94
Amount expended for district libraries,
$95,159 25
Number of volumes in district libraries, let July, 1845, 1,145,250
Average annual increase of volumes, 100,000
Number of pupils in attendance at private and select schools in 1845, 56,058
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
By an act, passed by the legislature of 1844, 89,600 was appropri- ated for that year, and $10,000 annually, for five years thereafter, and until otherwise directed by law, for the establishment and support of a state normal school, for the instruction and practice of teachers
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of common schools, in the science of education, and in the art of teaching.
This institution is located in the city of Albany, and placed under the direction of the state superintendent of common schools, and the regents of the university. This board appoint an executive commit- tee, of five persons, of whom the state superintendent is one, ex offi- cio, to superintend the general interests of the school, to carry into effect the laws enacted for its regulation, and to report to the board annually.
By the regulations of the executive committee, superintendent, and board of regents, each county of the state is entitled to a number of pupils equal to double its representation in the house of assembly, making in all 256 pupils ; to be selected by the county and town su- perintendents. No charge for instruction or for books is made; and each pupil receives a sum sufficient, on a liberal estimate, to defray his or her traveling expenses, to and from the institution.
The board of instruction consists of a principal, a professor of mathematics, a teacher of vocal music, one of drawing, and six sub- ordinate teachers, in the various branches, deemed requisite to the complete preparation of teachers of common schools.
Connected with the institution are two experimental schools, com- posed of fifty children each, between the ages of five and sixteen, and under the general supervision of a teacher, specially appointed for this purpose, Into these, the more advanced pupils of the normal school pass, in succession, for a period of three or four weeks each, to test their practical abilities, as educators, before their final grad- uation.
No definite term of instruction is prescribed. Each pupil is re- quired to complete a specified course of studies, to the full satisfac- tion of the principal and board of instructors, by whom, and the ex- ecutive committee, diplomas, setting forth that fact, are conferred, semi-annually, in the months of March and September.
The institution is furnished with a large and well selected library, and all the scientific apparatus requisite to a full and thorough course of instruction, in the various branches of a sound, English education. The number of students, of both sexes, in 1846, exceeded two hundred.
CITY SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS.
1. City of New York. In the city of New York, the common schools are divided into three classes, viz: 1st, Public and Primary schools, under the care of the public school society ; 2d, Ward schools, under the management of the commissioners, inspectors and trustees of the respective wards; 3d, Corporate schools, conducted by officers, elected under their respective charters.
These are all subject to the general supervision of the county su- perintendent, and to the inspection and management of the board of education, which consists of two commissioners, two inspectors, and five trustees in each ward. These officers are elected by the people; the commissioners and inspectors hold their offices for two years, and the trustees for five years. They all participate in the public money, and in that raised by the general and special laws, for school purposes.
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The Public School Society was incorporated by the legislature, in 1805, and up to the year 1843, had the entire control of all the com- men schools in the city. They have eighteen public, and fifty-four primary schools, beside two public and four primary schools for col- ored children. In these schools, in 1846, 22,500 children were in- structed, at a cost, for tuition, of a little more than $73,000.
There are three normal schools, also, under the control of this society, intended for the instruction of the monitors, and junior teachers of the schools; these normal schools are held on Saturday of each week, and during a portion of the year, in the evenings of the other days of the week. To each of the primary and public schools, a well selected library is attached.
The ward schools occupy from twenty to twenty-five buildings, comprising upwards of fifty schools, and having more than 25,000 children under instruction. There are, beside, thirteen corporate schools, mostly connected with benevolent institutions, and embra- cing upwards of 2000 scholars.
The aggregate number of children taught in all the public schools, during some portion of the year, exceeds fifty thousand; and it is supposed that about 30,000 more attend the various select schools in the city.
The amount of public money annually expended for common schools, is as follows:
Apportioned by the state $35,000 00
An equal amount raised by tax 35,000 00
One twentieth of one per cent. on the valuation of
real and personal property
114,610 63
Raised under special acts
8,360 66
Total $192,971 29
2. City of Rochester. The common schools of this city are under the control of a board of education, consisting of two commissioners for each ward, annually elected by the people of the several wards, and a city superintendent, chosen by them.
The schools are entirely supported by taxation, no charge being made for instruction or text books. There are in the city, sixteen school houses, all substantial buildings, furnished with ample play grounds, and other conveniences. In these edifices there are be- tween forty and fifty schools, under the care of sixteen male, and thirty female teachers, and comprising about 6000 children, nearly all that are of suitable age, residing in the city.
3. City of Buffalo. The mayor and aldermen of the city are, ex oficio, commissioners of common schools; and are required annually to appoint a city superintendent. The schools are free, being, as in Ro- chester, entirely sustained by taxation. The number of districts is fifteen, and the schools are under the care of fifteen male, and thirty- six female instructors, having, in attendance, about 7000 children.
4. City of Hudson. The members of the common council are here, also, ex officio, commissioners of common schools. They ap- point three superintendents, who, together, constitute a board of ed- ucation for the city. An amount, equal to four times the apportion - ment from the state funds, is raised by tax, and the remaining ex-
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penses are defrayed by rate' bills, against those who send to the schools ..
5. City of Brooklyn. Here, too, the common council are, from their office, commissioners of common schools; the general manage- ment of which is committed to a board of education, consisting of two members from each district appointed by the common council. They are divided into three classes, one of which annually goes out of office. The schools are free, deriving their support from assess- ments on the taxable property of the city.
6. City of Utica. The board of Commissioners for common schools in this city, consists of six members, two of whom are elect- ed annually. They hold their office for three years. The rate bills may not exceed $2.00 per term. The remaining sums necessary for the support of schools. beyond the state apportionment, are raised by taxes.
7. City of Schenectady. The Schenectady Lancasterian school society has the general control of public education, in this city and receives, and disburses the public money applicable to this purpose.
8. City of Albany. The public schools of this city are under the supervision of a board of commissioners, nine in number, ap- pointed by the Mayor, Recorder, and such of the Regents as may re- side in the city. The members of this board, hold office for three years, one third going out of office each year.
The schools are not entirely free, the sum raised by tax being only twice the amount received from the state; but the indigent are ex- empted from the payment of rate bills ; and a certain number of indi- gent pupils, who have attended the district schools at least two years, are supported at either of the academies of the city, or at the state normal school. Instruction in vocal music is provided in all the schools. The number of school districts is ten, and children in- structed about 3000.
The city of Troy, and the villages of Poughkeepsie and Williams- burgh, have separate local systems, similar to these above described.
UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, AND ACADEMIES.
Regents of the University. These institutions are, by law, placed under the supervision, and subject to the visitation of a board, organ- ized by the legislature in 1784, under the title of. "Regents of the University of the state of New York." This board consists of twen- ty-one persons ; of this board, the Governor and Lieutenant Gover- nor are, ex officio, members, and the others are appointed by the le- gislature, and hold office, during its pleasure.
Its officers are, a Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Secretary, and Treasurer, elected by the board. It is their duty to examine, and re- port to the legislature, the modes of education, discipline, number of students, course of study, funds, debts, &c., of the institutions un- der their charge.
They are also empowered to fill vacancies in the offices of presi- dent or principal of these institutions; to confer degrees, under cer- tain circumstances, above that of Master of Arts; to apportion the annual income of the literature fund, among the several senate dis- tricts; and to incorporate academies, on compliance with such terms as they may prescribe.
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The Literature Fund, appropriated to the support of this class of institutions, amounts to $268,990 57, consisting of state, bank, and insurance stocks, and money in the treasury, besides 9625 acres of land, valued at $4300. It yields an annual revenue of about $75,000.
Of this amount, $40,000 is divided among the academies of the state ; $9000 to the university of the city of New York ; $7000 to Geneva college, including its medical department; $3000 to Ham- ilton college ; $1000 to the Albany medical college; $2300 to Gen- esee Wesleyan Seminary; $16,000 to the state normal school, and the balance to the purchase of books and apparatus for the various academies, in pursuance of the provisions of an act passed in 1834.
Universities and Colleges. There are at present, in this state, four incorporated universities, viz: the University of the city of New York, organized in 1832; the Madison University, at Hamilton, Madison county ; the Rochester University, and the Buffalo Univer- Bity ; the three latter incorporated in 1846.
There are also four colleges; Columbia College, in the city of New York ; Union College, at Schenectady ; Hamilton College, at Clinton, Oneida county, and Geneva college, at Geneva, in Ontario county.
In addition to these, there are five medical schools, viz; the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city; the Medical Department of the University of the city of New York; the Albany Medical College; the Medical Department of Geneva College, and the Medical Department of the Buffalo University, organized in 1846.
Academies. There are 179 incorporated academies in the state, comprising upwards of 25,000 pupils of both sexes. The aggregate value of the land and buildings belonging to these institu- tions, exceeds $1,000,000; the value of the libraries belonging to them, $60,000, and of their apparatus, $56,600. The aggregate amount paid for. tuition, during the year 1845, was over $200,000; the number of teachers employed, over 600; and the number of stu- dents gratuitously instructed, over 200.
The branches of study taught, embrace, in addition to those ordi- narily pursued in common schools, the higher departments of mathe- matics and natural- Philosophy, with their various applications to practical uses; the languages, ancient and modern; the physical sci - ences ; moral and intellectual philosophy ; history in its widest and most comprehensive range; natural theology; political economy; vocal, and occasionally, instrumental, music ; drawing, and other ac- complishments.
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