It is also the duty of the Pennsylvania Normal Schools to grant State certificates to such teachers in the Common Schools of the State who make application for the same, and who fulfil the following conditions:
i. Each applicant must be twenty-one years of age, and must have taught in the Common Schools of the State during three successive years.
ii. Each must present certificates of moral character, and skill in practical teaching.
iii. The examination must be either in the subjects of the Elementary or Scientific Course, and must be taken at the time of the Annual Examination of the Normal School at which application is made.
iv. Each applicant is required to present an original Thesis on some educational subject.
The School year is usually forty-two weeks, and is divided into two sessions—a winter session of about twenty-eight weeks from August to March, and a summer of fourteen weeks, beginning with the end of March.
The usual charge for the Winter Session is $140 (about £28), and for the Summer Session $70 (about £14).
By a recent Act of the Legislature the following appropriations are made by the State to Normal students and graduates.
i. Each student over seventeen years of age who shall sign a paper declaring his intention to teach in the Common Schools of the State shall receive the sum of fifty cents (about 2s.) per week toward defraying the expenses of tuition and boarding.
ii. Each student who upon graduating shall sign an agreement to teach in the Common Schools of the State two full school years shall receive the sum of fifty dollars (about £10).