NORMAL COLLEGE. An institution for the training of teachers, in New York City, found ed in 1869 and having its inception in the grow ing demand for professionally trained teachers in the public schools of New York. Previous to its foundation the secondary education of women in New Yo•k was supplied by private schools and the supplementary classes of the public grammar schools. The inadequacy of this method was, however, soon felt, and as early as 1847 the State Legislature contemplated an institution similar to the City College. (See NEW YORK, COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF.) In 1856 a Daily Normal School was actually established, but it ceased to exist after a precarious career of about three years, The Saturday Normal School w•as then organized for the training of teachers. \\Idle these make shifts were being resorted to in New Yo•k, the State at large was rapidly increasing its number of normal schools, and otherwise multiplying the facilities for the training of teachers. This educational awakening throughout the State had the effect of hastening the establishment of a normal institution in New York City. In 1869 the Board of Education was empowered to estab lish a female institution similar to the City Col lege, and the same year the Normal and High School was established. The name was changed in the following year to Normal College. The pupils of the various supplementary classes were admitted to advanced standing and a three years' course was organized. The task of arranging the work of the new institution fell to Dr. Thomas.
Hunter• the president since its inception. Under his vigorous administration the college grew rapidly. A building erected on the block bounded by Lexington and Park Avenues and Sixty-eighth and Sixty-ninth streets, at a cost of over $350, 000, was opened in 1S73. A model primary school was opened for practice teaching at an additional cost of $80,000, and the first free public kindergarten in the United States was established at the Normal College in 1S71. The Board of Education and the president of the col lege have since its organization constituted an ex officio board of trustees. The attemlanee, which in 1870 numbered 969, with a graduating class of 97, increased by 1902 to 2844. In the same year the staff of instructors. including those in the training department, numbered 101. The total number of graduates since the foundation of the college was, in 1902, over 9000. There has been a constant tendency to raise the require ments for graduation; the course was extended to four years in 1879, to five. for students taking a degree, in ISS8, and in 1902 a professional course of six and a collegiate course of seven years were organized, the institution thus being raised to the standard required by the University of the State of New York for degree-confe•ring insti tutions. The college includes five fully equipped laboratories and the Ablinme library. High school graduates are admitted to advanced stand ing.