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SUNBURY COUNTY.

Parish of Blissville-Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, (and Clarendon)
Burton-Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,

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Gladstone-Nos. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, (and N. M.), 18, (and St. G.)
Lincoln-No. 6,

Maugerville-No. 4,

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YORK COUNTY.

Parish of Bright-Nos. 6, 7, 9, 11,

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Canterbury-Nos. 5, 10, 101, 12, 13, 20, 22, 24,
Douglas-Nos. 9, 12, 14, 16, 18,
Dumfries-Nos. 9,

Kingsclear-Nos. 7, 9, 12,

Manners-Sutton-Nos. 7, 9, 10, 11,

New Maryland-Nos. 1 A, 3, 4, ..
North Lake-Nos. 131, 17, 18, 19,
Prince William-Nos. 6, 11,

St. Mary's-Nos, 9, 10, 11, 14,

Southampton-Nos. 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18,
Stanley Nos. 11⁄2, 2, 4, 10, 13, 16,

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Districts marked in Italic figures receive one-quarter rate per pupil; the other districts receive one-third.

Inspectors' Reports.

The Reports of the Inspectors, embraced in Appendix B, are worthy of careful perusal. They deal with the practical working of the system as tested by inspection and examination, thus furnishing that kind of information which the ratepayer deems most desirable. The Reports for the year just closed are more complete than usual. They all embrace details as to the number of school houses erected, repaired, and furnished; condition of school premises, of apparatus or appliances; quality of the instruction, and character and tone of the work. In the interestingly detailed report of Inspector Wetmore, and the discriminating report of Inspector Carter, the several parishes are brought under review, their educational condition pointed out, and gentle hints conveyed to Trustees and Teachers where these seem necessary.

In very many cases the Inspector has much more to do when he visits a district than merely to inspect the school. He has often to meet with the Trustees to point out needed improvements in respect of accommodation, furnishings, appliances; to examine the records of the Board of Trustees; to determine disputed district boundaries; to describe boundaries for new districts, etc. He is required to visit every ungraded school within his inspectorate once a term, instead of once a year, as formerly. It is also his duty to visit districts which have no school in operation to inquire into their educational condition and needs, and to use his best endeavors to secure such school privileges as are contemplated by law. He has besides a large amount of correspondence to attend to, which can only be done after school hours or on a school holiday.

I have expressed my conviction on former occasions that the increased and increasing duties of the Inspectors require an addition to the inspectoral staff. I would here respectfully repeat my recommendation to the Legislature to authorize the Board of Education to appoint an additional Inspector, should the Board deem the same to be necessary.

During the year Inspectors Oakes and Boudreau resigned their positions. Inspector Oakes has been on the staff since the inspectoral regulations came in force, and I am happy to bear testimony to the excellence of his work and to the educational impetus which he imparted to each inspectoral district placed under his charge.

Report of the Cities and Incorporated Towns.

The Boards of School Trustees in these large districts may under the provisions of 49 Vic., Chap. V., Sec. 4, consist of nine members each. The City of St. John is the only district organized in accordance with this provision. The Boards in the cities of Fredericton and of Portland, and in the towns of St. Stephen, Milltown, Woodstock and Moncton remain as formerly, with seven members each.

Each Board appoints a Secretary, and two of them, St. John and Portland, employ in addition a Superintendent in accordance with the provisions of 50 Vic., Chap. VIII.

I invite attention to the perusal of the reports from these districts which will be found in Appendix C. They furnish valuable information as to income, expenditure, attendance, etc., and also in respect of the educational condition of the districts. It will be seen that a large amount of earnest educational work has been accomplished and that teachers and school officers have been faithful in the discharge of their important duties. I note with much satisfaction that more than a usual degree of activity has characterized the operations of the Moncton School Board, and that the Grammar School at Woodstock has under its new Principal been very much improved.

Teachers' Institutes.

Teachers' Institutes were held during the year in Albert, Carleton, Charlotte, Gloucester, Kings, Northumberland, Queens, St. John, Westmorland and York.

At some of the Institutes, notably at the Westmorland Institute, specimens of manual work were exhibited from many of the schools, consisting of printscript, writing, maps, industrial drawing. While most of the work was highly creditable, the drawings were in many cases of special excellence, though these were limited to very few schools.

The subjects discussed were of a practical character bearing on the daily work of the schools. Illustrative lessons and papers elucidating principles and methods of teaching formed the chief features of the exercises. It is to be regretted that more of the members do not actively participate in the exercises of these Institutes. The work is largely carried on by a few. It is also a matter for regret that larger numbers do not see it to be their duty to attend the Institutes of their county. Several of the counties make a very fair showing in the matter of attendance, as will be seen from the following table, which gives the attendance at the several institutes held since 1881:—

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In Madawaska and Victoria Institutes have not yet been organized. Provision is made whereby the teachers of Victoria may become members of the Carleton County Institute, but very few have as yet availed themselves of the privilege. It will be seen that no Institute has been held in Sunbury County for the last four years, and none in Restigouche for the last two years. I trust that a different exhibit will appear for the current year.

The Educational Institute was not convened last year, in consequence of the meeting of the Interprovincial Teachers' Convention, which was held in St. John in July.

This Convention was the largest and most inspiring educational meeting ever held in New Brunswick, and perhaps in the Maritime Provinces. There was not a phase of educational work, from the University down to the Primary School, and even to the Kindergarten, that was not touched upon and irradiated. Mr. March, Secretary of the Convention, has embodied a detailed report of its proceedings in the Annual Report of the St. John Board of School Trustees in Appendix C, to which I invite attention. May I express the hope that the teachers of New Brunswick, who lost so much by their absence from that Convention, will endeavor, as far as it is possible, to make up that loss by a study of the proceedings, the addresses and papers read as reported in the Educational Review.

Text-Books.

During the year Les Grandes Inventions Modernes, Palmer's Temperance Teachings of Science (New Brunswick edition), and Prang's Shorter Course in Form, Study and Drawing have been prescribed. The first named Text is prescribed for the Acadian schools to alternate with Readers IV and V, and may also be used in Superior or Grammar Schools by pupils studying French. Palmer's Temperance Teachings of Science, as will be seen from the Course of Instruction, is to be introduced in Standard VI in graded schools and in Standard IV of ungraded schools. It is necessary that this Text-book be used in the spirit in which it is intended. It does not deal with sentimental moralizing or vapid declamation but shows in a scientific yet simple way the nature of alcoholic stimulants and their effect upon the human system, and this is the requirement of the Board of Education as respects the teaching of temperance in the public schools, Provision is made, as will be seen from the Course of Instruction, for teaching the younger pupils the subject in the same spirit while oral instruction is being given on the human body and how to take care of it. Form study and Drawing is accompanied by two manuals for the use of Teachers -one for Primary Schools and the other for schools teaching in advance of Standard III.

Arbor Day.

Arbor Day was celebrated May 18, in accordance with the following provisions Reg, 19-2.

Arbor Day: With a view of encouraging the improvement and ornamentation of school grounds and thereby of cultivating on the part of pupils habits

of neatness and order, and a taste for the beautiful in nature the Board of Education makes the following provision :

Teachers are hereby authorized, with the sanction of the Trustees, to set apart any Friday that may be deemed most suitable during the months of May or June for the purpose of improving the school grounds and planting thereon trees, shrubs and flowers, such day to be known as "Arbor Day," and when duly observed credit to be given for it as a lawful teaching day. See Remark and Notes under Reg. 13.

Arbor Day will be regarded as duly observed when the following conditions are complied with :

(a) That the Friday in May or June which the Inspector shall from year to year recommend to be observed within his Inspectoral District is set apart as Arbor Day.

(b) That Teachers who observe Arbor Day make within five days thereafter a report to the Inspector of their District, which report shall state the name and number of the District, the date on which the day was observed, what improvements were made to the School grounds, the number of trees planted, number of shrubs, or number of flower beds made.

(c) That the Inspector forward to the Chief Superintendent a tabular synopsis of the reports of the Teachers within his Inspectoral District not later than June 30th.

The following table shows the extent of the work done on that day, which was to many pupils, one of the busiest, most pleasant and instructive days of

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The country has gained financially and esthetically from the observance

of Arbor Day.

I beg to close this Report by summarizing the suggestions which I have made in the course of it to the Legislature:

1. That better provision be made for securing at school the attendance of all educable children.

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2. That better provision be made for Secondary Education.

3. That the Board of Education be empowered to increase the Inspectoral

I have the honor to be,

Your Honor's most obedient servant,

WM. CROCKET, Chief Superintendent of Education.

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