tricts. During the 14 months ended Dec. 31st, I was able to make all the visits except 35, and these I hope to make during this month. Though sometimes weary and physically indisposed, I have continued to labor and travel nearly the whole time, and often when the weather and roads were unfit, but although traversing a district with whose people I had not previously been acquainted, I was received everywhere with kindness and respect. I was also gratified to observe many evidences of educational life and interest in our school system. This interest was manifested in many ways: in visitation by trustees and others to the schools during inspection; in a ready compliance with recommendations of improved appliances; in the repair of existing school-houses, and in the erection of new ones; also in the anxiety of some teachers, and the willingness of all to talk over matters pertaining to the welfare of the school, with a view of improving their methods of teaching, management and discipline. Among the school houses repaired are those of Gordonsville, Lower Brighton, Mount Delight, Centreville, Avondale, Dow Settlement, Back Lane and Canterbury Station. In the two last named districts the repairs were quite extensive and important. New school-houses have been erected in Forest City, No. 14, parish of North Lake; Upper Northampton, No. 5, parish of Northampton; Havelock, No. 11, parish of Brighton; Digby, No. 17, parish of Wilmot. The Forest City school-house is a well built, commodious structure, 44x26 feet, with a class-room, and built at a cost of $1421. This district has been recently sanctioned as one of the Superior School Districts of York County, and a school has just been opened under the management of Mr. N. W. Brown. Considerable interest has been awakened during the past year in the improvement of school premises, especially by the planting of shade and ornamental trees. At St. Stephen a very successful Arbor Day was celebrated last May by setting out on the school grounds about 200 trees, and planting a cedar hedge. Nearly 1000 people, including the pupils of the public schools, were on the grounds to assist in the tree planting, and to listen to an appropriate and interesting programme, prepared under the direction of the teachers, for the occasion. Several other districts, including Moore's Mills, Lakeville and Leonardville, pursued a somewhat similar course with corresponding results. It is exceedingly desirable that such efforts as these be encouraged. Many districts are already contemplating a tree-planting day next spring; and should the Board of Education act on the resolution of the last Educational Institute, recommending the proclamation of an Arbor Day for such schools throughout the Province as may celebrate it in planting trees on their premises, I am confident that the result would justify such a course. Many districts, if they received proper and timely notice of the movement, would enthusiastically fall into line, and in a few years, the movement receiving official endorsation, and one district being inspired by the example of another, our school grounds, so bare and so uninviting throughout the entire Province, would be rendered attractive, and sources of pride and pleasure to all the people. As you have observed from time to time by my monthly reports several of the schools were closed during portions of the year, especially during the second term. So far as I have been able to learn, the number of these vacant schools has been growing, less during the past two months. The supply of teachers throughout my district has of" late seemed to be equal to the demand if not in excess of it. During the months of July and August I received about 50 applications from teachers for schools and only 5 applications from trustees for teachers. On my observation has also been forced the fact of the rapidly increasing number Miss Edith Collin and Miss Denise Nadeau deserve honorable mention for the intelligent manner in which they conduct their schools. On the day of visitation I observed the walls of the school room partly covered with maps neatly and correctly executed by the pupils. The children showed also considerable proficiency in arithmetic, grammar, and reading. The school-house in No. 7, although spacious, is very poorly built, and needs repairs to make it habitable in winter. The school in No. 8, closed last winter, was opened in May, and is now working satisfactorily, although considerable apathy with reference to education, had hitherto prevailed in this community. Madawaska.—This parish has four organized districts, which have supported schools during the year. In Edmundston, District No. 1, there is a school of two departments, and the building, which is new, is one of the finest in my district, reflecting credit upon this small but thriving town. There are two large rooms on the lower flat and space above for two more, in case another department should be wanted to accommodate the rapidly increasing population. Of Mr. John Caldwell, principal of the school, I can justly speak in the highest terms. He is enthusiastic in his work, progressive in his methods, and particularly excels in discipline, ruling his pupils by love, not by fear. Miss Amanda E. Sarlabourse, who conducts the primary department, is also well qualified for her position, and I trust her services will long be retained in this school. District No. 2 has a good school, with fair attendance, but it is nearly five miles distant from the school-house in No. 1, which necessitates the establishment of another district, the country here being thickly settled. There is yet no schoolhouse in No. 4, a rented room being used, which is entirely inadequate. At my recommendation a meeting was called, at which I was present, and it was decided that a school building should be erected and completed for use next summer. St. Jacques. This parish has the same number of districts as the preceding, and each supports a school. Two commodious and substantial buildings have been erected during the past summer in Nos. 1 and 4, and are now in use. The trustees and ratepayers have shown zeal and promptitude in acting upon any suggestions; those in No. 4 especially, who, although poor, have retained for some time the services of a superior teacher, whose labors should be highly appreciated. It evinces a spirit of self-denial and benevolence for a man of scholarly attainments to forego many privileges and comforts and take a position in an isolated section in order to engage in pioneer work. St. Basil.-There are seven organized districts in this parish, of which five have schools. In Nos. 1 and 7 there has been no school for the last two years, though there is a commodious school-house in the former district, but through indifference the children have been deprived of school advantages. I held a meeting there, and strongly urged the speedy opening of the school. In number 7 there is also an apology for a school-house, but quite unsuitable for use in winter. The school in District No. 3, is graded, with two departments, with suitable rooms and appliances. Sister Trudelle possesses in a high degree the qualities necessary for a successful teacher of the young. The primary department is also well conducted. This institution and the school in Edmundston render valuable assistance to those preparing for the profession of teaching; and I am glad to see that many are availing themselves of these advantages. St. Ann. The schools in Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 have not been closed for some years, and I found their work quite satisfactory, considering the many disadvantages in the lack of proper school equipments. The pupils in Nos. 2 and 3 showed considerable improvement in reading, while those in No. 4 excelled in writing and arithmetic. St. Leonard. This parish contains 14 school districts-the largest number of any in the County-eight of these supporting schools. I was much pleased with those in Nos. 4, 7, and 8. In District No. 7, Miss M. A. E. Hammond, teacher, the pupils showed considerable proficiency in drawing and writing; and in District No. 8 I was gratified at the quality of instruction given by Madam Anna Corbin, who deserves great credit for her noble efforts in building up the school in that isolated and poor section. She has been successful in gaining the affections of her pupils and the cooperation of the parents. Her work has not been confined to the school-room; her influence for good has been felt throughout the entire community. In the spring the school-house in No. 13 was destroyed by fire, but a new one will soon be built. VICTORIA COUNTY. There are 63 school districts in this County, 57 of which are organized and 48 have schools. That in No. 7 is graded, with two departments. The table at the beginning of my report gives the number of districts and schools in each parish. All in this County were visited by me during the term just expired. I cannot say that all these schools are very prosperous. This is due largely to the lack of interest on the part of trustees and ratepayers. The attendance, too, in the majority of these districts is very small, which is partly owing to their sparsely settled population, particularly in the new settlements. I am pleased, however, to state that I found the teachers, with very few exceptions, faithful in their work, which is highly praiseworthy. Many of the school-rooms are well furnished with modern seats and desks, but deficient in suitable apparatus. The graded school in Grand Falls occupies a building which is an ornament to this promising town. It is under the management of Miss Mary A. Truswell and Miss Grace A. Barnes, the latter of whom has charge of the primary department. Both are doing excellent work. More blackboard surface, however, is required in this school, which deficiency the trustees promised to remedy. The primary department in the Grammar School building, Andover, District No. 3, is taught by Miss Gertie B. Henderson. The tone of the school is very healthy, but the building is not what one would expect to find in a shire-town. Educational progress in No. 2, Perth, has been for several years greatly retarded by want of harmony and co-operation, particularly among the trustees. I had much difficulty in getting affairs righted; but am glad to say that now everything seems to be progressing favorably. A fine new school building was commenced in October last and will be ready for use next term. District No. 14, Perth Centre, has secured the services of Miss Helena Rouse, who is doing good work. Districts Nos. 11 and 12, in Upper and Lower Kincardine, have made an excellent selection in engaging Miss Maggie F. McLeod and Miss Mary McKenzie, the latter having taught in the same district for five terms. CARLETON COUNTY. The three northern parishes only of this County are included in my inspectorate, viz., Kent, Wicklow and Aberdeen, comprising 41 districts, with 39 schools in operation. The school in District No. 1, Bristol, is graded, with two departments, under D. W. Ross, holding a first-class license, who took charge in November last, with Miss P. iii 5 of young and inexperienced teachers in charge of the schools and a corresponding decrease of male teachers. It is of great moment that every encouragement be given to male teachers. Upon this class the county must chiefly depend for what is implied in the term "A Teaching Profession." No person can properly be recognised as a member of any profession till he knows something of it, both in theory and practice, and in the nature of the case only a limited number of females can be expected to remain long enough in the work of teaching to attain unto any considerable degree of professional excellence, moreover the larger number of the future teachers will be chiefly the product of the country schools, and it is among these that there should be distributed as many teachers as possible of scholarship, ability and experience. The Training and Management throughout my Inspectorate have been, in the main, about as usual. The teachers generally have been faithful and earnest in the discharge of their duties. Many of the young teachers, upon taking charge of schools for the first time, have displayed much tact, earnestness and power, while others seemed unabled to command and interest the school. Study and experience will always be found essential to the best teaching. Many teachers seemed to have fallen into the mistake of supposing that when the ranking system departed it carried away with it their obligation to adhere to the course of instruction, this was especially noticable in the lack of Industrial Drawing and the prescribed Oral Instruction in many schools. I, of course, urged the importance of fidelity in these matters. I found occasion in many schools to call special attention to the necessity of neater and more accurate manual work and of better spelling. Arithmetic has been generally well taught especially throughout Carleton County. Superior Schools under the amended regulations have been in operation in Moncton and St. Stephen; Harvey Station and Eel River, York County. Jacksonville, Florenceville, Lakeville and Hartland in Carleton County. In all these schools teachers of ability and experience have been doing excellent work. The number enrolled in each of these schools, the average attendance, as well as the number of pupils in the different grades of instruction, with other particulars, have been detailed in my monthly reports. These schools are important centres of instruction, and it is desirable that as many advanced pupils as possible in the adjacent districts, those pupils especially who intend to become teachers, should avail themselves of the privileges these schools are intended to confer. The schools of Fredericton and the Incorporated Towns were inspected in March and April, except those of Moncton, which were inspected in June. The condition of the schools in these important places has been set forth in reports already in your possession. The following tabular statement will serve as a means by which these towns may be compared, each one with the others, in respect of certain features pertaining to their schools and teachers : Fredericton, Moncton, Woodstock, St. Stephen, Milltown, Fredericton.. 1123846 75 Moncton.... 31 12 875 145 148 193 134 87 84 102 85 57 35 34 0 70 668 159 209 170 148 107 57 25 13840 00000 | No. in 12th standard. An analysis of the foregoing tables shows:— 1st. Of the Schools:-That Fredericton had made the most regular attendance and Milltown the least; that the St. Stephen pupils made the best attendance at the Annual Inspection, while in Moncton the number present was below the average attendance for the term; that the Fredericton and St. Stephen schools have been graded more systematically in past years than the others, as shown by the gradation of numbers in each standard, and that Fredericton had the largest proportion of pupils in the advanced grades, due, no doubt, to the attendance at the collegiate school of so many from the outside districts, while St. Stephen was the only town to present students in Standard XII. I might here add that both in Moncton and Woodstock there was room for better discipline, and in several departments in both these towns there was room for much better teaching. 2nd. Of the teachers employed :—that of St. Stephen had the largest proportion of male teachers, while Woodstock and Milltown had the least; that St. Stephen had the largest proportion of high class teachers, while Moncton made the poorest showing in this particular. I had hoped to have a conference with the Moncton teachers and members of the Board of Trustees upon certain features in the organization and management of their schools, but want of time, and for prudential reasons, I deemed it sufficient to talk over certain matters with the principal, in the hope that observed defects in departments named would be remedied, and that at my next visit I might have an interview, if necessary, under more favorable circumstances. At an interview with the Woodstock teachers called together by the Chairman of the Town Board, L. P. Fisher Esq., who was present, a change in the plan of grading No. of 3rd Class. |
