FIG. 5. PLAN OF THIRD YOR

1848 TO 1863.

On the first of January, 1848, Prof. George R. Perkins, was appointed Principal of the New York State Normal School, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the lamented Page, who, in his eminent success and early death, had realized either alternative of the injunction to "succor or die," laid upon him by his friend Horace Mann, when he assumed the charge of the school. Prof. Perkins had been connected with the school since its organization. He was familiar with its workings, and the plans of Mr. Page, and his success in his department had evinced his fitness to carry the experiment of the State Normal School to a successful termination. The winter of 1852, was a crisis in its history. The appropriations for its support were made by the Legislature, annually. An occasion was thus furnished for narrow minded men to attack the system of Normal Schools, charging against it that it was unable to supply teachers to the State to such an extent as to warrant its continuance on grounds of public policy. So far were these attacks carried that formal notice was given in the Legislature of an intention to introduce a bill to repeal the law establishing the school. This, with the exception of a feeble opposition on the part of a single senator in the winter of 1853, was the last exhibition of legislative hostility. Some dissensions among the Faculty, greatly magnified, led to the appointment of a committee of inquiry in the Legislature to examine into its internal arrangements, and the general mode in which it was conducted. It was gratifying to the friends of the school that these movements failed to impair public confidence. This is clearly shown by the fact that the term which immediately succeeded them, had a larger attendance than any previous one. The severe and devoted labors of the Principal, in connection with the movements above alluded to, acting upon a constitution naturally sensitive, had so impaired his health, as to render his resignation necessary, to the deep regret of the friends of the school. The Executive Committee in their Annual Report to the Legislature, bear full testimony to his private worth and public services.

During the period of more than four years in which Prof. Perkins continued its Principal, the school enjoyed a good measure of success. The average number in attendance for each term was 216, and the whole number of graduates was 309, of whom, 146 were males, and 163 were females.

On the 20th of September, 1852, the position left vacant by the resignation of Prof. Perkins, was filled by the appointment of Samuel B. Woolworth, who for a period of twenty-two years, had been the honored Principal of one of the largest and most important Academies in the State. In this position he had fully earned the reputation of being one of the most popular, thorough, and successful educators in the country. In almost every state were men occupying high social and civil positions to whom he had given their early instructions and impulses, and whose success in life was in a great measure due to his influence. When therefore