having passed the examination in Preliminary studies hereinafter provided for, shall pursue the higher branches of English education, or the classics, or both.

§ 2. At the close of each Academic Term a public examination shall be held of all scholars presumed to have completed preliminary studies. This examination shall be conducted in the presence, and under the direction of a committee of at least three persons, to be appointed by the Trustees of the Academy. A record of the examination shall be kept, with the date at which it was held. To each scholar who has sustained such examination, a certificate shall be given in such form as the Regents shall prescribe, to be signed by the committee above referred to, and the Principal of the Academy, and the possession of such certificate shall entitle the person holding it to admission into the academic class in any Academy, subject to the visitation of the Regents without further examination.

§3. Scholars adinitted to any Academy who have not received the certificates of examination as aforesaid, and who claim or are presumed to be academic scholars, shall within one week of such admission be examined by the Principal and other teachers of the Acad. emy, and if found to have completed the Preliminary studies, shall be provisionally admitted to the academic class; but such admission shall not excuse such scholar from the examination above required at the close of the term, and the certificate as aforesaid shall be given only on such examination; but said certificate may have effect as if given at the commencement of the term, provided the committee shall be satisfied that the scholar to whom it is given was at that time entitled to it.

4. Every scholar to be entitled to the certificate of admission to the academic class, as aforesaid, shall on the required examination be found to have attained such proficiency in reading, spelling and writing as is usually attained by scholars at the age of twelve years in the best Common Schools of the State, and to have such knowledge of arithmetic, English grammar and geography that the further study of these subjects in any of the ordinary school treatises is un

necessary.

85. All scholars admitted to the academic class as aforesaid shall be regarded as scholars in the higher branches of English education or as classical scholars; and having after such admission pursued studies usually regarded as in advance of arithmetic, English grammar and geography, as aforesaid, or having become thoroughly proficient in the elementary works usually studied prior to the classics, and in addition thereto having studied the first book of Virgil, or its equivalent in Cæsar, Sallust or Cicero, shall entitle the Academy to which they belong to a share in the distribution of the Literature Fund, provided they have pursued such studies for four months or upwards of the year for which the distribution is made; the said four months to embrace at least thirteen full weeks of study."

It was afterward, but before the first trial of this method, decided that the examinations should be held simultaneously throughout the State, and by means of printed questions.

There was thus provided a means for knowing the scholarship of students entering upon classical or higher English studies, which had not existed before. The method was first tried in November, 1865, and from the beginning was received favorably among educators, as leading to great improvement in our mode of ascertaining the exact condition of scholarship in the several Academies of the State. The experience of the first year led to some modifications, and the subject presented first as a means for ascertaining the preparation of students at the time of entering upon higher studies was not long afterward employed in determining the progress made, and in fixing the basis upon which the Literature money should be apportioned.

From this beginning to the present time these written examinations upon printed questions have been continued with increasing favor, and steadily improving results, and in 1871 the Regents, in their Annual Report, said:

"Its results, from the beginning, have clearly indicated serious defects in elementary education, while the requirements of preliminary proficiency have not been changed, either by the statute, or the ordinances of the Regents; the number of scholars who have been found to have made such proficiency has been reduced to less than one-half the number allowed before this system of examination was instituted."

Before February, 1870, the certificates were allowed as claimed, but since then they have been reviewed in the office of the Regents. During the three years preceding the adoption of this review, at the central office, all that were claimed were allowed. Since then the percentage allowed has ranged from 64.3 to 90.6.

CHAPTER XX.

APPROPRIATIONS MADE TO ACADEMIES BY THE REGENTS UPON THE BASIS OF ATTENDANCE OF STUDENTS ALLOWED UNDER THEIR RULES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INCOME OF LITERATURE FUNDS.

Academy of Dutchess County (Poughkeepsie).

Years. Amount. Years. Amount. Years. Amount. Years. Amount. Years. Amount. Years. Amount.

Albion Academy: (now) Albion Union School, Academic Department (since 1876:

Amsterdam Female Seminary: (now) Amsterdam Academy.

Arcade Academy : (now) Arcade Union School, Academic Department.

Astoria Institute.

Years. Amount. Years. Amount. Years. Amount. Years. Amount. Years. Amount. Years. Amount. 1843 $166 43 1844 $198 98 1845 $205 15 1846 $134 31 1847

$114 65 1848

$143 59

Avon Academy: (now) Avon Union School, Academic Department.

Baldwinsville Academy: (now) Baldwinsville Free Academy.

One hundred and eighty-nine dollars and seventy-five cents of this allowed on thirty-four scholars attending in 1875-6, and not included in the apportionment of that year.