Chap. 67.—An ACT to provide for normal instruction in certain public high
schools to be designated by the State board of education, and to appro-
priate money therefor.

Approved February 25, 1908.

Whereas, trained and capable teachers are indispensable to an effi-
cient system of public schools; and whereas, there are now in successful
operation in nearly every school division in the State public high
schovls in which are taught the higher branches of learning; and which
by the adoption of a normal school course in connection with the
ordinary curriculum provided for such schools, can be made a con-
venient and economical means of providing competent teachers for
primary schools in the rural districts of the State; therefore,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That the sum
of fifteen thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary,
be and the same is hereby appropriated annually for the purposes of
this act, to be paid out of any money in the State treasury not other-.
wise appropriated; which amount, upon the order of the board of
education duly certified and filed with the auditor of public accounts
shall be turned over by said auditor to the second auditor and. shall
be placed to the credit of the literary fund, and shall be used exclu-
sively for the pay of teachers in the normal department of such public
high schools as may be designated by the State board of education
as hereinafter prescribed; provided, that no school shall receive under
aus act during any year a larger appropriation than fifteen hundred
ollars.

2. The State board of education shall issue annually a warrant on
the second auditor, for such sums as may be appropriated to the high
schools designated by said board, in favor of the treasurer of the county
or city in which such high school is located, which money shall be
placed to the credit of the high school fund of the district in which
such high school is located and paid on the warrant of the district
school board, exclusively for the pay of teachers employed in the
normal school department of said high school. ;

3. The State board of education shall designate the public high
schools in which a normal school department may be established and
conducted under the provisions of this act, and shall prescribe the nor-
mal course which is to be adopted and taught in said schools in con-
nection with the high school curriculum already provided; and shall
determine the qualifications of all teachers employed in such normal
school department. The chief object of such normal school depart-
ment shall be to instruct teachers in the best methods of organization,
teaching and management of primary schools in the rural districts.
The board of education may in its discretion may prescribe that any
pupil receiving the. benefit of such course of normal school training
shall obligate himself to teach for not less than two years in the rural
public schools of the State.

4. The said board of education shall designate not more than one
such high school in any county; but the said board may in its discre-
tion select some public high school within an incorporated town or
city, which is located in such county, provided no State normal school
is located in said incorporated town or city.

5. This act shall be in force from July thirty-one, nineteen hundred
and eight.