upwards, but not full time, decrease 73; and 731 the full term of one hundred and twenty-three days, increase 66. The average number of teaching days the schools were opened this term was 111.7, decrease 3.98.

The maximum number of authorized teaching days for the year was 226, increase 2. The average time the schools were open, exclusive of holidays and vacations, was 207.6, increase 1.46.

TABLE VII.-SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS, VISITS, PRIZES.

Second Term, 1887.-The number of schools reporting semi-annual public examinations was 1,332, increase 130; the number not reporting 208, decrease 92.

The number of school visits reported by Trustees and Secretaries, 4,915, increase 280; by Inspectors 906, increase 36 by members of Parliament 84, increase 50; by Clergymen 838, decrease 31; by Teachers 1,415, increase 196; by other visitors, 12,760, increase 648.

The number of school prizes reported was 317, increase 71, valued at $199.66; increase $18.53.

First Term, 1888.-Public examinations were reported by 1,357, increase 117; 172 schools did not report any examination, decrease 110.

The visitations for the term were as follows; by Trustees and Secretaries, 5,733, decrease 104; by Inspectors 1,097, decrease 41; by members of Parliament 54, decrease 11; by Clergymen 838, decrease 84; by Teachers, 1,274 decrease 387; by other visitors 17,214, increase, 617.

Two hundred and eighty-four school prizes were reported, decrease 476 valued at $193.83, decrease $602.11.

TABLE VIII.-AVERAGE SALARIES OF TEACHERS.

The average rate of Teachers' Salaries per annum, from all sources, compiled from the returns of the First Term of 1888, which give the local salary for the year, was as given below.

Male Teachers of the First Class, average $526.90, increase $5.60. This does not include the Principals of the Grammar Schools (see Table XII). The lowest averages were in Victoria and Queens, and the highest in St. John and Restigouche.

Female Teachers of the First Class average $328.49, increase $4.09. The lowest averages were in Queens and Kent, and the highest in St. John and York.

Male Teachers of the Second Class average $303.66, decrease $4.26. The lowest averages were in Madawaska and Sunbury, and the highest in St. John and Northumberland.

Female Teachers of the Second Class average $225.75, decrease $0.92. The lowest averages were in Queens and Sunbury and the highest in St. John and Charlotte.

Male Teachers of the Third Class average $231, the same. The lowest

averages were in St. John and Queens and the highest in Charlotte and Carleton.

Female Teachers of the Third Class average $187.47, decrease $0.10. The lowest averages were in Queens and Sunbury and the highest in St. John and Charlotte.

The salaries of First-Class Male Teachers in the Counties of Kings, Queens and Victoria are under $400. Queens, as usual standing lowest, though there is an increase of $11 upon its salaries of last year.

The following table shows the average salaries for the Province since 1882 -the salaries for the years 1880 and 1881 were not reported:

The salaries as shown for the first three years in the preceding table were calculated on the basis of full time and first rank for all teachers and are consequently in excess of the actual amount. The salaries of First-Class Teachers both male and female show a slight increase for last year. The salaries of the others with the exception of the salary of Male Teachers of Class III, which stands as in the former year, show a slight decrease. The economy which is too often observed by ratepayers in the maintenance of schools is all applied to a service which seeks to promote the highest interests of the community, and which is at best scantily remunerated. An efficient school service is not only the best protection to society but it is the cheapest even at a cost much in excess of the present rates.

TABLE IX.-DISBURSEMENTS OF PROVINCIAL GRANTS TO TEACHERS.

Second Term, 1887.-The payment of Provincial Grants to Teachers employed during the term amounted to $69,424.25, increase $719.97. This sum includes ordinary grants, $62,080.43; grants to Superior Schools, $5,143.83, decrease $231.63; and to Grammar Schools, $2,199.99, increase $28.11.

The amount given above as ordinary grants includes the special grants to Teachers in poor districts, viz.: $3,811.05, increase $257.68.

First Term, 1888. The payment of Provincial Grants to Teachers employed during this term amounted to $66,902.20, decrease $1,580.44. This sum includes ordinary grants, $59,293.75, decrease $1,483.69; grants to Superior Schools, $5,404.42, decrease $102.49; and to Grammar Schools, $2,204.03, decrease $5.74.

The amount given as ordinary grants includes the special grants to Teachers in poor districts, viz.: $3,067.87, decrease $350.31.

For the Year.-Total of Provincial Grants, $136,326.45, decrease $860.47. The following are the totals for the year from each of the three sources of support:

These amounts do not include the Annual School-house Grant by the Legislature nor any district assessments for building purposes or school appurtenances. The average cost per pupil from these sources, including the pupils of Superior and Grammar Schools, was the very moderate sum of $5.88. PROVINCIAL GRANTS FOR SCHOOLS FROM THE YEAR ENDING APRIL, 1877, To JUNE, 1888, INCLUSIVE, AND NUMBER OF TEACHERS EMPLOYED

During the year of fourteen months (ending June, 1885) there were paid not only the present fixed salaries but claims upon rank assigned to the school during the term ending October, 1884, which did not mature till the close of the following term. To this cause as well as to the length of the year may be attributed the large expenditure for 1885.

TABLE X.-APPORTIONMENT OF THE COUNTY FUND TO SCHOOL TRUSTEES.

For the apportionment of this fund the law provides as follows:-"There

shall be allowed to the trustees of each district, in respect of each qualified teacher, exclusive of assistants by them employed, the sum of thirty dollars per year, and the balance of such amount shall be apportioned to the trustees according to the average number of pupils in attendance at each school as compared with the whole average of pupils attending the schools of the county and the length of time in operation." The law further provides that "the fixed sum to be paid out of the County School Fund in respect of each teacher, toschools returned as poor schools, shall be forty dollars," and that an amount not exceeding one-third more per pupil than the allowance to other districts sharing such funds may be allowed, by the Chief Superintendent, in respect of attendance made by pupils.

Second Term, 1887.-The amount of the County Fund apportioned this term to Boards of Trustees was $47,252.25.

$22,651.30 of the fund were apportioned to the Boards of Trustees in respect of the services of teachers (according to the length of these services within the prescribed term).

The balance of the fund, $24,600.95, was apportioned to the several Boards of Trustees in each County in proportion to the average attendance of pupils and the length of time the schools were open.

Of the fund, $2,583.82 were apportioned as extra aid to Boards of Trustees in poor districts.

First Term, 1888.-The amount of the County Fund apportioned this term. to Boards of Trustees was $47,248.92.

$21,737.59 of the fund were apportioned to the Boards of Trustees in respect of the services of teachers (according to the length of these services. within the prescribed terms).

The balance of the fund, $25,511.33, was apportioned to the several Boards of Trustees in each County in proportion to the average attendance of pupils. the length of time the schools were open.

Of the fund, $2,207.54 were apportioned as extra aid to Boards of Trustees in poor districts.

The County Fund is withheld from Boards of Trustees which refuse to comply with the Inspectors' recommendations in respect of appropriations, repairs, &c.

Other details will be found in the tables.

Each Board of Trustees may readily determine its share of the County Fund, since the table shows the rate per pupil. This rate multiplied by the average number of pupils attending the school will give the amount apportioned on account of pupils. If the school has been open full time there should be an additional amount of $15 per term for services of teacher, and in "poor districts" $20. For each teaching day the school has been closed during the term, there will be deducted from that amount the proportion which the number of teaching days lost bears to the full term.

TABLE XI-SUPERIOR SCHOOLS.

This table gives the details as to the disbursements of $10,715.61, as shown in Table IX to have been given for Superior School service during the year.

During the term ended December 31st, 1887, there were 44 Superior Schools in operation, and the same number during the following term. There are 49 Superior Schools allowed by law for the Province on the basis of population, apportioned to the several counties as follows: Albert, 2; Carleton, 4; Charlotte, 4; Gloucester, 3; Kent, 3; Kings, 4; Madawaska, 1; Northumberland, 4; Queens, 2; Restigouche, 1; St. John, 8; Sunbury, 1; Victoria, 1; Westmorland, 6; York, 5. An additional school may be established in each county on the recommendation of the Inspector, and several of the counties have availed themselves of this provision. A Superior School has been established during the year for the first time in Madawaska County at Edmundston. The school at this centre will, I hope, be the means of uplifting the other schools of the county.

The following provisions are prescribed by the Board of Education respecting the Standards of Instruction given in the schools:

1. Superior Schools in Cities, Incorporated Towns, and in Towns having four Graded Departments.-Boards of Trustees shall provide for giving instruction in at least Standards IX and X. When instruction is not provided for, or not given in advance of Standard X, work in Standard VIII may be required of the Teacher, provided the daily average attendance of pupils in the higher Standards is not more than 25. Should Standards IX, X and XI be taught, no work in a lower Standard shall be required of the Teacher, unless a Provincial licensed assistant is employed, having a separate class-room.

2. Superior Schools in Towns or Villages having three Graded Departments. The highest department shall constitute the Superior School, and shall not be called upon to perform work under Standard VII of the graded course, or IV of the ungarded course.

3. Superior Schools in Districts having two Graded Departments.—The second or highest department shall form the Superior School, and shall not be called upon to perform work under Standard IV of the graded course, or III of the ungraded course.

4. Superior Schools in Districts having no Graded Schools.—An ungraded school in a country district may be recognized as a Superior School, provided there are competent pupils studying some branch of Mathematics, Language, or Natural Science in advance of Standard IV of the ungraded course, and that a class-room assistant is employed, if the daily average attendance of pupils is 30 or upwards.

Those provisions are being satisfactorily carried out, and the schools, as will be seen from the Inspectors' reports, are well taught. Those in rural districts under the operation of the last named provision above are supplying. better and more advanced instruction than the ordinary school can be expected