Daniel Putnam, who gives it careful supervision. The advanced grade introduced by the reorganization, which was made at the opening of the spring term, is under the immediate charge of Miss Helen Post, whose instruction and management is commended by the Director of the School. The course of study in this Department embraces that of every grade, from the youngest class in the primary to the most advanced in the grammar. This furnishes to the Normal student a practical illustration of the teaching in any grade to which he may be called below the high school.

The children in this Model School are gathered from the good families in town, and, being under good home discipline, are here controlled with little effort; hence, the School does not furnish those cases of discipline which a Department of Observation and Practice should have. Perhaps it would be well for the student-teacher if he could meet here just such a promiscuous mass of pupils as may generally be found in our rural districts for the purpose of testing and cultivating his managing ability. This Department, however, as now constituted, must be viewed as a very necessary and valuable auxiliary to the Normal School. The Board of Visitors in their report speak in complimentary terms of the corps of instructors, and commend the instruction as competent and faithful, and, in their view, well suited to answer the ends desired.

A detailed statement of the expenses of the School for the fifteen months ending on the 30th of September last, appears with the reports in Appendix A.

THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Michigan, so rich in Educational Institutions, has been among the first of the States in her acknowledgment of the importance of the study of agriculture, the oldest and most honored of all the sciences. To keep pace with the times, the tiller of the soil must call to his aid the resources of chemistry, geology and botany, and other natural sciences. He has ample scope for progress in the art of husbandry in the Peninsula State. Notwithstanding the vast mineral wealth of the State, she is, and ever must be, dependent, in great measure, upon the farmer. That the people accept this as a fact is apparent from the success of her State and county agricultural societies, and the interest manifested in the welfare of the Agricultural College.

It may be argued, by some, that there is a dangerous tendency to cultivate theory at the expense of practice; but limited, indeed, must be his views who would assert that a knowledge of the composition of soils, the laws of vegetation, the chemical properties of manures, the composition and rotation of crops, the principles of drainage and sewerage, the characteristics of stockbreeding, the diseases of animals, the habits of insects, especially those that are the pests of the farm,-that these are ornaments and not essentials of the farmer's education!

The College is supported by the interest of funds derived from Congressional land grants,-now reaching the annual sum of fifteen thousand dollars, -aided by appropriations from the State Treasury.

As mentioned in my last report, the Legislature voted $13,000 for the support of the College in 1874, and $31,240 for the erection of a President's, two Professors' houses, a green-house, and various improvements. These have been all completed, and add greatly to the value of the Institution.

The green-house, erected at a cost of $8,000, shelters nearly a thousand spe

cies of plants, and promises well for the future. A park of eighty acres in extent has been tastefully laid out, and the drives well near completed.

Not the least important among the new improvements is the Apiary, which should certainly merit the earnest attention of the students.

The number of students during the past year was 121 as against 143 of the previous year. The President mentions in his report that the average sum earned by the pupils in teaching school during the past winter was $161.

The system of insisting on three hours of manual labor from the students daily, except Saturday and Sunday, still works its beneficial ends, and must tend greatly to the physical and practical training of the students; and what is most valuable of all, to inculcate the habits of industry and economy.

Candidates for admission must not be under 15 years of age, and are required to pass an examination in the ordinary elementary branches. Tuition is free to all students, and they are furnished with separate sleeping-rooms, bedsteads and stoves on payment of a quarterly fee of one dollar, and average board costs three dollars per week.

February 25th and July 12th are the days appointed for the examination of candidates for admission in 1875; but if they are able to join the classes in operation they may be received at any time on passing a suitable examination. The interests of the College are under the care of the State Board of Agriculture. The Faculty consists of a President, five Professors, an Assistant Professor, a Secretary, a Librarian, a Steward, a Foreman of the farm and Assistant, and a Foreman of the gardens and Assistant. Attention is invited to the report of the President in this volume.

THE STATE REFORM SCHOOL.

The eighteenth annual report of the Board of Control, the reports of the Superintendent and other officers, speaking encouragingly of the progress of this reformatory institution, will be read with considerable interest. Abstracts of the same are published in Appendix A of this report.

The rapid increase of our population, the foreign immigration into our cities of families of children, hitherto bred in ignorance and destitution, the number of waifs of our own society, and the many perverted little ones who have been led, by neglect or bad example, into early crime, render this noble effort for reform not only consistent with, but necessary to the welfare of the State.

It may be a source of gratification to us to know that many of the inmates of the School are of foreign extraction; but it does not lessen our responsibility as a State.

From the Superintendent's statistics we glean that out of one hundred and nine boys admitted in 1874, forty-nine only were born in Michigan, whilst twenty-eight were natives of Canada and Europe. Of these one hundred and nine, forty-one are children of American, and sixty-eight of Canadian or European parentage. Thus it will be seen that much of the sin does not lie. at our own doors; but the remedy is ours, and the flourishing condition of this Institution, through the liberal pecuniary support it receives, shows with what determination the State has taken up its burden.

The humanizing system of family houses is doing its work well, and the appeal of Superintendent Johnson for more room to develop it requires immediate consideration. By no better means can the affections and tender feelings

of these unfortunates be awakened. The more successful the plan is to be, the nearer must the discipline approach that of the family circle. Contentment, and even love, may follow; and who can tell with what result?

If this is to be a Reform School in nature as well as in name, all that is akin to the prison must be carefully kept in the background, and the boys must feel the comfortable influence of the word "home."

To change their barracks for a house, their keepers for guardians and their set tasks for honest daily labor, is to make them know they are under a paternal and not a penal government.

When this is accomplished we may have an unfailing system of juvenile criminal reformation.

As many boys, even under the age of ten, are debarred from the benefits of the Institution, yet really needing its fostering care, and as at nineteen a youth is likely to be either cured of his evil propensities, or confirmed in them, and liable to set dangerous example, Superintendent Johnson's arguments in favor of reducing the ages of admission from 10 to 20 to 8 to 18 are convincing, and should carry weight. It would doubtless also be a step in the right direction if parents of persistently unruly or dishonest boys were enabled to avail themselves of the Institution as a means of reclaiming their children.

Several improvements have been made during the year. The painting of the walls of the buildings is by no means the least. Such places cannot be made too attractive if simplicity is observed. The newly erected steam washing machine, the bake-oven and the play-shed have answered all expectations.

Notwithstanding the drought and the financially close times, good accounts are rendered from the farm and work-shops. The Library has received some valuable additions, and many of the books have been re-bound. Several publishers continue to send, gratuitously, periodicals and magazines from which great good must result; but it is to be regretted that of late fewer of these literary donations have been received.

From the Teachers' Report we learn that out of the 109 pupils admitted during the year only 19 could write legibly, and not more than 11 "knew something of practical arithmetic;" 38 were unable to read, or could only reach the First Reader, and 97 had never studied geography.

No epidemic diseases have visited the School during the past year, and, on the whole, the health of the pupils has been excellent. Two deaths have occurred, as will be seen on reference to the Physician's Report.

The Treasurer's Report exhibits an unusually gratifying balance-sheet,$7,500 of the unexpended appropriation being returned to the State Treasury.

THE STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

An abstract of the first annual report of the Board of Control of the State Public School, accompanied by the report of its Superintendent, will be found in Appendix A of this volume.

It will be observed that the Board reviews, somewhat fully, the history of legislation that resulted in the establishment of this Institution,-the like of which does not exist, probably, in any other State of the Union, save one,— and in their report clearly set forth, in the same connection, its character and aims, and declare the purposes that should control in its management, that it is in no sense penal or reformatory, but purely charitable: a temporary home for the dependent and friendless children, coming from the county poor

M

houses, where they are to be supported and educated until such time as they may be received into good families.

The established policy of this noble charity is declared by the Board as disclosed in that part of the report of the Joint Committee of the Senate and House in 1871, which reads as follows:

"In view of these facts, of the sad condition of these helpless and indigent children, your committee earnestly and unanimously recommend the passage of the accompanying bill, by which the State will become the guardian of those children, and taking them, as wards, into its control, will provide for them suitable homes in good families, and, until that can be done, will maintain and educate them in a State Public School. While recommending this course, your committee desire it to be distinctly understood that it does not recommend this for a permanent but a temporary home for these children. That the children, and any one interested in their behalf, should only recognize this proposed establishment as a temporary house of refuge, while the child is on its way to its natural place in a family.”

The policy of the change of the support from the county to the State is discussed, and shown to be desirable on economic as well as humane grounds. The School was opened for the reception of children on the 21st day of May last, and Superintendent Truesdel in his report gives gratifying assurance of its future usefulness. The number of children received into the School is 159,-one hundred and twelve boys and forty-seven girls. The inmates reported at the close of the official year, September 30th, numbered 150. The average age of these is 8 9-10 years. Thirty-six are of foreign parentage, and nearly two-thirds of the whole number are the children of intemperate parents. They are reported as coming to the school, in most cases, with pernicious habits, but under the firm yet kind discipline which there prevails, have already become reliable and well behaved.

Tables in the Superintendent's report show the educational standing of these children when received, and what has been accomplished by study during their four months' stay. There are two sessions of school daily, and the children are divided into three grades, and are being taught the ordinary branches pursued in our common schools, by a corps of very competent teachers.

The school is now well established and in successful operation; and it is fondly hoped that through wise management it may continue to enjoy the full confidence of the State and its generous support.

A cut of the buildings with a description, accompanies the reports in the Appendix.

COLLEGES AND SEMINARIES.

A circular letter was sent out from this department in September last, addressed to all the incorporated literary and collegiate institutions of the State, calling for their annual reports, which they are required by law (Sec. 3,788, chap. 141, of the Compiled Laws of 1871), to return to this office on or before the fifteenth day of December, "setting forth the amount and estimated value of real estate owned by the corporation, the amount of other funds and endowments, and the yearly income from all sources, the number of instructors, the number of students in the different classes, the studies pursued and the books used, the course of instruction, the terms of tuition, and such other matters as may be specially requested to enable the Superintendent of Public Instruction to lay before the Legislature a fair and full exhibit of the affairs and conditions of said institutions."

*

*

In response to the circular letter, reports were received from the following named institutions: [See Appendix "B."]

ADRIAN COLLEGE.

President G. B. McElroy's report speaks encouragingly of the progress of the College. The income from endowment funds and local resources is close upon $10,000. Prof. Rupp is, by the permission of the Board of Trustees, attending the Conservatory of Music at Stuttgart, Germany; and upon his return considerable attention will be devoted to this important science. About one hundred and sixty students are in actual attendance, thirteen being members of the Senior Class. One-third of the students are ladies. At the opening of the fall term in September last, a Normal Class, consisting of 100 members, was organized and conducted by County Superintendent Edson G. Walker. A respectable library and a fair supply of scientific apparatus belong to the College. The collegiate year is divided into three terms, and the rates of tuition are reasonable.

OLIVET COLLEGE.

Acting President, John H. Hewitt, reports unusual prosperity in every department of this Institution. Three hundred and thirty-six are in attendance, whilst twelve graduated at the last Commencement. It is encouraging to note that 120 students have availed themselves of the admirable advantages offered by the Art Department, and that 122 have attended the lectures and exercises in the Conservatory of Music. The number of students in the Normal Course is 42, being an increase of eight from last year. The graduates of this two years' course are entitled to a Normal certificate of recommendation. Prof. O. Hosford, for several years Superintendent of Public Instruction in the State, remains in supervision of the Normal Department, which must continue to prosper under the care and oversight of so wise and experienced an educator.

The Library consists of a choice selection of books, numbering five thousand volumes. The Institution is supplied with ample and valuable apparatus for illustrating the principles of chemistry and natural philosophy.

Financially, the Trustees have apparent reason to congratulate themselves.

KALAMAZOO COLLEGE.

The President of this college, the Rev. Kendall Brooks, gives a satisfactory account of the proceedings during the past year. The number of students in attendance has been 175, of whom 31 are in college classes, and the remainder in the preparatory department. Seventy-seven ladies are enrolled. The value. of real estate owned by the college is estimated at $30,000, and there is other property to the amount of $71,000 available to college purposes. The library is said to contain nearly 2,500 volumes, and there is six hundred dollars' worth of scientific apparatus.

The affairs of the institution are under the control of a large board of trustees. Lately an effort has been made for adding to its endowment, and the hope is indulged that next year a considerable increase may be reported.

HOPE COLLEGE.

The report of President Philip Phelps, Jr., estimates the value of the college property at $25,000. The grounds upon which the college buildings stand comprise about fifteen acres, and are located in the city of Holland.

The income realized from the endowment funds is wholly applied to the payment of salaries. The annual expenditures of the institution exceed the