INSPECTORAL DISTRICT, No. 6-H. V. B. Bridges, A. M., Fredericton, N. B.

This District comprises the County of York and the County of Carleton except the Parishes of Aberdeen, Kent and Wicklow.

(The following report embracing the first nine months of the year is by Inspector Oakes, who resigned office in September last :)

WILLIAM CROCKET, Esq., A. M.,

Chief Supt. of Education,

Fredericton, N. B.

SIR: I have the honor to submit my ninth report respecting the educational interests committed to my supervision. As three months of the year have not yet expired, I shall in consequence be unable to submit as full and complete information as usual, not having traversed much of my territory more than once since my last annual report. My successor, Mr. Bridges, will doubtless so supplement as to supply what I am not in a position to furnish, and I feel confident that the full record of 1888 will compare favorably with that of preceding years. Two new districts have been erected and organized since the beginning of the year, one in South Wakefield and one at Inches Ridge. Both of these districts have lost no time in building new schoolhouses, and in one of them a school is already in operation.

Notwithstanding the coldest and most stormy winter in my experience, the schools were very generally kept in continuous cperation, and the attendance was regular in most cases, in spite of bad roads. Though last year was reported as one of unusual activity in the building of new school-houses, the present year is still more marked in this respect. No less than twelve new ones have been built since the year opened. They have been erected as follows, viz., at

The building at Inches Ridge, though quickly constructed, is comfortable and

well adapted to the needs of the new district. The school-house at Skiff Lake replaces one burned nearly two years ago.

Those at Pemberton Ridge, Peel and Birdton I have not yet seen.

The new building at South Wakefield reflects great credit upon this recently established district, which, though embracing only about fifteen families, has erected a two-story structure about 40 feet long, thus providing not only for a school, but for religious services as well.

The new school-house at Lower Northampton has been built on a new site near the centre of the district, the former one having been quite a distance above the centre. The new school building at Grafton replaces the one destroyed by the summer fire. It is large, of two stories, and it is to be heated by furnaces.

In addition to these new school buildings others are about to be erected. Schoolhouses have also been repaired in various sections. Quite a large class-room was built at District No. 6, Stanley, where it has been so much needed for years. It will be of great value to the district.

During the year three school-houses were burned, viz., at Lower Woodstock, No. 2, Peel, and No. 2, Grafton.

SCHOOL APPLIANCES.

The supply of good maps of the world and of the Dominion of Canada has been receiving increased attention of late, so that at the present time nearly all the schools are furnished with ball frames, wall cards and Province maps. More attention should now be given to supplying maps of Europe, the United States and the British Isles. There is also need in many districts that Trustees furnish the schools with a good English Dictionary, and in all towns and villages at least Lippincott's Gazetteer should be on the table of the advanced Department.

There is also need of greater attention to the matter of school libraries. When the Board of Education hold out such liberal inducements as are set forth in Section 98, it seems strange that so little advantage is taken of them, especially in towns and villages. If a taste for reading good books were formed early in life, there would not be such enormous waste of time as prevails, at present, in reading much that is worse than useless. Let our teachers of the better districts take this enterprise in hand, and they, as well as their pupils, will be made happy in the results that will follow.

SUPERIOR SCHOOLS AND GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.

Superior Schools have been maintained in the following districts, viz. Harvey Station, Forest City, Lake George, Marysville, Nashwaaksis and Keswick Ridge, in York County; also at Jacksonville, Centreville Florenceville and Hartland, in Carleton County. Of these schools, those at Harvey Station, Lake George, Marysville, Jacksonville, Centreville and Florenceville are graded, the others being ungraded. These schools, so far as I have visited them, have maintained their record for good work done. At Lake George there were marked evidences of growth since Mr. Pringle took charge. It is to be hoped that this district may continue on the Superior School list, even though the Antimony Mine should fail.

The Grammar School at Fredericton, under the able management of Mr. Parkin, continues to be prosperous. During my inspection of this school in March, I was much pleased to observe in possession the new Encyclopedia Britannica procured through Mr. Parkin's efforts. This should now be followed by a good supply of

its

chemical and philosophical apparatus ard a collection of Natural History specimens. The science side of this important school needs more attention. The Grammar School at Woodstock has increased both in number and efficiency under the successful management of Mr. Steeves. The good order, interest in study and intelligent mastery of the school work afford ample evidence of improvement. The Trustees have become more encouraged, and they have recently expended a considerable sum in new chemical apparatus, maps, dictionaries, etc., which will continue to be of incalculable benefit to the several departments in which they have been provided.

FREDERICTON AND WOODSTOCK.

The Fredericton schools are being conducted by a faithful and interested staff of teachers. The pupils in nearly every department seemed ambitious to excel. In this they are evidently catching the spirit of their instructors. The Fredericton teachers have enough ambition to try experiments. Every yearly inspection reveals some new methods or devices. I was much pleased to notice the efforts made during the last term to improve the appearance of the school-rooms by beautiful as well as instructive chromos, steel and wood engravings, etc., tastefully arranged upon the walls; also to notice waste-paper baskets under several of the teachers' tables. The efforts of Mr. Rogers, Principal of the Model School, in selecting and arranging pictures, in providing a table containing interesting books and in various other ways developing the taste and interest of his pupils, are worthy of general imitation as well as of special commendation. Nor were the other Model School teachers far behind him in similar work.

In Woodstock Mr. Kerr, the successful Principal of the Broadway School, has set an example in providing in the Principal's private room a collection of good books, papers, magazines, pictures, etc., to which he may invite deserving pupils to spend a portion of time after their lessons have been learned. Such efforts as these indicate heart, interest, the progressive spirit, true elements of success.

ARBOR DAY RESULTS.

Arbor Day was successfully observed throughout this Inspectorate, 115 districts celebrating the day. Last year the number was 110. In consequence of the number of trees already set out during the two preceding years, many districts planted but few, but in such cases the day was occupied in cleaning and ornamenting the school-house, or otherwise improving the school premises. The saine enthusiasm that prevailed last year was apparent this year in the excellent reports furnished by the teachers, some of whom characterized the day as "the most laborious, but happiest of all the year." The experience gained last season resulted in many cases in a more successful planting this year, nor has the interest in the work been confined to teachers and pupils. The people at large are beginning to appreciate the beauty and utility of ornamental trees, and thousands of them have been planted this season around houses and along road

sides. This is an exceedingly gratifying result full of promise. The following statistics will show the measure of work accomplished:

It is to be expected that the number of trees to be planted in each succeeding year will decrease rather than increase, because each planting leaves less space; but on account of many trees and shrubs dying, and many grounds not yet fenced, it will require several years to accomplish the results desired. Reference to the above figures shows an increasing interest in the planting of flower beds. It is desirable that this work be encouraged from year to year.

I desire to bear testimony to the value of the Educational Review among our teachers. A large number of them, however, have not subscribed for it as yet. This neglect on their part is their mistake. It is also, in one sense, an injustice to those whose enterprise has placed this comparatively new journal in the front rank of teachers' helps. I hope it will reach a larger number of the teachers during the coming year.

In closing this report I am reminded that it will probably be my last as Inspector of Schools, in consequence of my acceptance of another position in the neighboring Province. In severing my connection with the educational work of New Brunswick I beg to express my appreciation of the many kindnesses received from the people among whom it has so long been my pleasure aud privilege to labor, and in whose educational welfare I shall continue to feel a deep interest. Thanking you, sir, and the Board of Education for the courteous treatment I have received,

I remain

Your obedient servant,

1. B. OAKES.

INSPECTORAL DISTRICT No. 6-CONTINUED.

(Report of Inspector Bridges, for the last three months of the year.

SIR: I have the honor to submit my report for a portion of the year just closed. Having been engaged in my new duties for so short a period, muy report will necessarily have to be considered as supplementary to that of my predecessor, rather than as affording any idea of the progress of school work during the year, throughout this inspectoral district.

Besides the large number of school buildings which Mr. Oakes has mentioned in his report, as having been completed during the past year, a good school-house has been erected at Avondale, No. 7, Wilmot, Carleton County. The building is of good size, and fairly well equipped with appliances. The school has been in operation for several months of the year, and although without a school for over a year previous, good work is being done under Mr. Branscombe.

The building at Waterville, No. 17, Southampton, York County, was not completed during the year, owing, possibly, to unnecessary delay on the part of Trustees. A sum of money was voted at the annual meeting, towards completing the school-house, and in all probability it will be finished and in operation before the end of another year. A number of other districts have signified their intention of immediately erecting new buildings, by voting money for such purpose, which would confirm one in the opinion that the ratepayers are fully alive to the necessity of providing good buildings and suitable apparatus for school purposes.

Nearly all the schools are furnished with maps of the Maritime Provinces, Dominion of Canada, and of the world, and with other necessary appliances. In a good many instances however, the black-board surface is not what it should be, being nothing more than painted boards, upon which, only with considerable difficulty, can one make any impression with chalk.

The schools, with but few exceptions, in the districts which I have had the opportunity of visiting, have been in operation during the term just closed, and in most cases the work done was such as to impress one very favorably with the general character of our ungraded schools. Large attention is paid to the teaching of reading, arithmetic, and geography, and in these subjects the pupils are accordingly better informed than in some of the other branches. Hardly the same amount of success seems to be attained in the teaching of grammar and history. The teaching of grammar, in a good many instances, is a matter more of memorizing definitions, than in appealing to the proper qualities of the mind to be brought in operation in the pursuit of this study.

History, perhaps, is made too much a study of the character and acts of the sovereign whose reign may be the lesson. I have not found, as is complained of by some, that the pupils minds are overburdened with dates. Good work is being done in the teaching of spelling in ungraded schools. After examining the schools I have visited, orally, in this branch, and in a good many cases through means of dictation, I have no hesitation in venturing the assertion that the ungraded schools compare favorably with graded schools in this respect.

Writing receives a large share of attention, as it justly should. The new copybooks are meeting with a large share of approval and disapproval from the teachers. In either case, however, good writing seems to be the result of this change. In those districts where schools are maintained for only part of the year, the teacher's time is mainly occupied with teaching the essentials. They can hardly be expected to overtake all the subjects of the curriculum in six or eight months of the year. The necessity of copies of the course being circulated among the teachers, is apparent, as many of the younger teachers have no such copies at all, and therefore cannot meet with much success in the classification of their pupils.

In the Parishes of Bright, St. Mary's, and Prince William, in York County, all the schools were in operation during the term just closed. In St. Mary's, a number of schools, viz., those at Zionville, Upper and Lower Durham, are kept in operation only