5 6 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



been so unfulfilled as to have imperiled their very existence. 

 New York State makes her normal-school diplomas valid as life 

 certificates, pays one half the railway fares of State appointees, 

 and furnishes text-books free to all. Pupils from other States 

 were formerly admitted free, but now pay a tuition of forty dollars 

 per year. In 1892 the two years' course was dropped, and at present 

 the State Normal Schools have three courses — an English course 

 of three years, and classical and scientific courses of four years. 



In 1890 the Oswego school decided to discontinue instruction 

 in the ancient and modern languages "when the pupils already 

 entered for these subjects shall have finished their courses " ; but 

 diplomas for the classical and scientific courses will be given to 

 students who possess the required knowledge. This departure 

 was made because Dr. Sheldon became convinced that more could 

 be accomplished for the public schools by concentrating the en- 

 ergy, time, and money required for these linguistic studies on ad- 

 vanced academic and professional work on the lines of the Eng- 

 lish course. In lieu of these languages, the Oswego school now 

 offers three one-year post-graduate courses : — advanced instruction 

 in natural science, psychology, history, and English, and practice 

 teaching in higher English and science subjects; kindergarten 

 training, and special training for primary teaching ; and prepara- 

 tion of teachers for teaching in training schools. For the kinder- 

 garten work a diploma is given : for each of the other courses a 

 certificate testifying to the extra work and qualifications. 



To keep pace with these various changes, the faculty of the 

 school has been increased from six to fifteen persons ; the annual 

 appropriation raised from $3,000 to $21,000 ; and in 1879 a new 

 building was provided by the State at a cost of $56,000. This 

 building (see cut) stands on the summit of a ridge rising west- 

 ward from the Oswego River. It forms three sides of an ob- 

 long, with a south front one hundred and ninety feet, an east 

 front one hundred and thirty-five feet, and a west front one hun- 

 dred and twenty-two feet. In its construction, exterior form and 

 ornament were sacrificed for interior convenience and furnishing. 

 It gives more recitation room and laboratory space, and is better 

 equipped with appliances for the best methods of study and pro- 

 fessional training, than some normal-school buildings of twice its 

 cost. Arrangements for heat, light, and ventilation are excellent. 

 On the first floor are the general offices and waiting rooms, the 

 kindergarten and practice school ; on the second, the assembly 

 hall, library, reading room, and general recitation rooms ; on the 

 third, literary society rooms, scientific laboratories, and lecture 

 room ; and on the fourth, an art room. 



The kindergarten is domiciled in the east end of the front, in 

 a charming room, whose adornments and work make a fairyland 



