EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES 



The fact that some of the best and oldest educational institu- 

 tions in this country are located in New Fork State is an evidence 

 of the high regard that New York constantly holds for education 

 The colleges and universities, together with professional and tech- 

 nical schools, oifer advantages for higher education along every 

 line. So high an estimate is placed on the value of at least a com- 

 mon school education that it is made not only free, hut compulsory, 

 in the elementary schools of the state. These schools number 

 more than 11,800. More .than 700 schools, of which perhaps 100 

 are already included in the number just given, maintain an 

 approved course of from one .to four years of academic work. 

 Vocational and industrial schools train pupils in various practical 

 occupations. 



ADVANTAGES FOR AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION 



At the present time exceptional opportunities are offered for 

 instruction in the vocation of farming. Besides the colleges of 

 agriculture, six special schools of agriculture, located at Alfred, 

 Canton, Cobleskill, Delhi, Farmingdale, and Morrisville, also 

 seventy high school departments of vocational agriculture located 

 in thirty-five counties of the state, have courses of instruction 

 designed to fit boys and young men for this vocation. The follow- 

 ing are some of the chief features of the high school departments: 



1. The high school department is an integral part of the high 

 school organization. 



2. The work is given by one teacher, who is employed for twelve 

 months in the year. 



3. A four-year course is offered, leading to a vocational diploma 

 issued by the Education Department, which is accepted by the 

 colleges of agriculture at the universities of Cornell and Syracuse. 



Any group of farmers or any small community maintaining a 

 high school employing three teachers and enrolling as many as 

 fifty pupils may establish a department. The department must 

 be voted into the school by the taxpayers. Tn the establishment of 

 the department two rooms are required, one for a shop and one 



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