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eral state being in the cities of the North Atlantic Division having from 320,000 to 1,300,000 inhabitants. Here, Philadelphia presents a ratio so far above the general average as to throw some doubt upon the return. The only other city in which an average attendance equal to 90 per cent. of the enrolment is secured is Sacramento, Cal. The low percentages of average attendance in New York and Brooklyn are a significant reminder of the hitherto unsuccessful efforts to bring the children of the poor and vagrant classes into the schools. Boston makes a creditable showing in this respect, and if the figures from Philadelphia are trustworthy, that city would seem to have solved the problem of regularity in school attendance.

The per capita expenditures all seem to vary greatly, not only in the cities of one section as compared with another, but in the cities of the same section. The highest per capita expenditures for supervision and instruction are reported from Oakland, Cal.

TABLE 12.-Comparative school statistics of a number of representative cities, grouped according to population and geographical position.

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TABLE 12.-Comparative school statistics of a number of representative cities, &c.—Cont'd.

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SUMMARIES OF CITY REPORTS.

CALIFORNIA.

Oakland owns 20 school buildings and the Chabot observatory, which, with their sites and furniture, are valued at $419,175. The schools are divided into 11 grades, of which 4 form the primary, 4 the grammar, and the remaining 3 the high schools. Special prominence is given to English, and much attention is paid to drawing during the entire course. As a beginning in the direction of manual training, one of the schools has been provided with a complete carpenter shop, in which classes are being trained as wood workers. Both sexes are taught together, and 6,770 pupils are enrolled, including 120 in an ungraded evening school. The Chabot observatory is an important aid and incentive to the study of astronomy; it is thoroughly equipped, containing a powerful telescope of 8-inch aperture.

San Francisco school-houses are in a wretched condition; but at last there seems to be a probability that the needed improvements will be made, since the continued efforts of the superintendent in this direction have resulted in the introduction of a specific clause for their provision into the platforms of all the political parties. Careful investigation has shown that the majority of the schools are over-graded, and that pupils are advanced beyond their capacity. This is thought to be the result of abolishing annual examinations. The course of study was modified during the year, and kindergarten methods are more extensively employed in the lowest grades. The time required for the completion of the normal-school course was made two years instead of one, at the beginning of 1885-'86, by act of the board of education. One grade in the girls' high school receives instruction 1 hour each week in domestic economy, and much interest is manifested in this novel branch. A commercial school is conducted with great success.

San José reports the enrolment in the public schools of 3,000 scholars, an increase of 262 over 1884-85. The number of 612 children of school age has attended private schools only, and 765 have not attended any school during the year. The evening school, which had been discontinued in 1884, was re-opened during the year, and 196 pupils have been enrolled. In addition to the usual branches, book-keeping, commercial arithmetic, free-hand and mechanical drawing are taught. In December, 1885, the schools of this city were awarded a diploma for the excellence of their exhibit of work before the State Teachers' Association. The city has appropriated $1,100 for the maintenance during the ensuing year of a kindergarten, the merits of which will be thoroughly tested for the first time here. As an experiment, instruction has been given during the year to some of the pupils in needle-work and wood-carving, and as a result it is proposed to add industrial training to the school course.

The total value of school property, personal and real, owned is $158,500, and the annual cost per pupil, based upon number enrolled, is $15.65, or $1.03 less than the previous year.

COLORADO.

Aspen schools are primary, intermediate, grammar, and high, requiring, respectively, two, four, three, and two-years study. Each school year is divided into three terms of three months each. The rudiments of music and drawing are taught in the lower grades, and book-keeping is embraced in the high-school course.

District No. 2, Denver, employs only experienced teachers, and as a natural consequence of such a wise policy, excellent schools are the result. The course of the graded schools extends over six years. The buildings are all new, and amply provided with arrangements for heating and veutilation. Notable additions have been made to the philosophical apparatus of the high school. Special teachers are employed for music and German.

CONNECTICUT.

Bridgeport school registration for 1885-'86 has been 349 more than for the previous year, and a corresponding increase in the cost of maintenance is reported. A new school has been opened under 2 teachers, in a rented room, and an average attendance of 90 scholars has already been secured. The sum of $12,000 was appropriated for additions to one of the buildings, and many other improvements of lesser

importance have been made. The course of study of the high school was carefully revised at the beginning of the year, and particular attention given to the improvement of the course in English. An evening school is in operation, and, though more successful than in the past, is in a very unsatisfactory condition. Penmanship and drawing are taught by a special teacher, who also conducts a very successful evening drawing school.

Bristol needs more uniformity and organization in its schools. Under the district system now in use neither the town nor the districts have complete control of the schools, and it is exceedingly difficult to secure the best results. The teachers meet regularly, and a novel plan has been introduced into these meetings that has proven interesting and beneficial, i. e., that of bringing in the classes and explaining prac tically the methods used. Evening schools were established this year and succeeded as well as could be reasonably expected in the short time.

Greenwich reports 20 schools, with a total enrolment of 1,429 pupils, 59 less than last year. The school population has decreased by 12, and the number who attended no school is 324, an increase of 69 over 1884-'85. One hundred and ninety-four children attended private schools. An excellent and commodious school building has been completed during the year. The expense per child, based upon the average attendance, has been $17.21, against $15.63 last year.

Hartford schools are sometimes hindered in their progress by differences between the board of school visitors and the district committees, especially upon matters pertaining to the employment of teachers. There are 17 school-houses in the city, varying in their capacity and condition, but as a rule they are comfortable and well adapted to school uses. The high school is well equipped with scientific apparatus, and the instruction is as practical as possible. Two evening schools are maintained with fair success.

Manchester was visited by an epidemic of small-pox in December, 1885, and the shortening of the winter term of one of the schools was considered advisable. The attendance, as shown by the statístics, therefore, was not so satisfactory during 1885-'86 as the previous year. Changes in teachers are avoided as much as possible, and an efficient corps is the result. A few changes have been made in the text-books

used.

Meriden owns 15 excellently furnished school buildings, one of which has been reopened during the year after several years' vacancy. Though the number enrolled this year is 80 less than last, the average daily attendance is 15.5 more, and the efficiency of the schools seems to be greater than ever before. Unusual attention was paid last year to supplementary reading, with satisfactory results. Music and drawing are taught in the lower grades. The schools are graded throughout, and comprise the primary, intermediate, and grammar-school departments, and a high school.

Naugatuck has provided a new room for an additional primary school, and needed repairs have been made upon other buildings during the year. There are 6 schools, graded as primary, intermediate, and grammar. Vocal music is taught by a special teacher.

New Britain reports 6 graded, 3 ungraded, 2 evening, and 3 model schools, and a high school. Evening schools were opened in October and have been attended by an average of 103 scholars; experienced teachers are employed, and the instruction is of the most practical character. Book-keeping is taught in the high school, and a special teacher is employed for penmanship and drawing.

New Haven has completed within the year a magnificent school building, costing $28,000, in which are employed the best and most satisfactory arrangements for heating and ventilation. The sum of $2,000 has been expended in repairs and improvements upon another building, and other needed alterations and repairs have been made. A new evening school, for girls, has been opened, making a total of 7. Great progress is being made in the direction of manual training. The instruction has been made more thorough and comprehensive, and the classes have increased in size until it is now considered necessary to secure an additional building in which wood working in all its branches may be taught. More attention is being paid to drawing, and the employment of another teacher for this special branch has been rendered necessary. Instruction in sewing, modelling in clay, and plaster casting has also been begun during the year. An industrial exhibit at High School Hall afforded an opportunity for the display of a great deal of creditable art and school work. A business course of 2 years has been added to the regular high-school course. The training schools and kindergarten have greatly increased in efficiency.

New London made such extensive repairs in the school buildings during 1885-'86 that the appropriation has been exceeded. The text-books used were substantially the same as the year before, slight changes being made in mathematics. The proportion of the number registered to the number enumerated was remarkably large this year, the difference being only 117.

Norwalk reports the sanitary condition of some of the school-houses bad, although many improvements have been made. One building has been entirely remodelled, and

an addition costing $2,317.75 has been made to another, rendering it a model of convenience and comfort.

Norwich children have improved in the matter of attendance upon the schools, and truancy rarely occurs. The high standard of discipline is maintained with but few cases of corporal punishment. Marked improvement in penmanship is noticeable, 1885-86 being ahead of any previous years in that respect. A new system of instruction in drawing has been introduced, and the teachers were assisted at the first of the year by a specialist furnished by the publishers of the system. Music is under the charge of a very competent special teacher. Many needed repairs have been made in the buildings.

Stamford expended about $30,000 this year upon schools. They are generally in a flourishing condition and are a source of gratification to the people. Three additional rooms have been opened during the year, and overcrowding was thus relieved. A music teacher is employed for the 4 graded schools.

Vernon schools have adopted new text-books suited to the requirements of the more modern methods of teaching. The principal schools are graded and their efficiency is commended. The school year is composed of three terms of 12 weeks each. The buildings are commodious and in good repair.

Winchester reports a good degree of progress in the schools. There are 9 buildings, and the total average daily attendance is 585.5.

DELAWARE.

Wilmington has added to her list of school buildings an elegant structure to be used by the high school, costing with its site and furniture $73,660. The corner-stone was laid December 11, 1884, and the building was occupied by the school in January, 1886. The heating apparatus in many of the buildings has been improved, involving a cost of $563 for this alone; in addition, all necessary repairs have been made. The most important addition to the school system of the city during the year is the night school of mechanical drawing, which had 133 scholars enrolled for its first term. A large proportion of these were matured men who were employed in the various machine shops of the city, and who put the knowledge here obtained into immediate practical use. Two other evening schools are also in operation. The high school makes an unusually satisfactory showing this year, with an increased enrolment and a larger percentage of attendance than ever before.

GEORGIA.

Americus schools show a gradual and steady improvement. The 3 buildings are comfortably filled, with an average daily attendance of 543.

Atlanta has been active in the work of building school-houses this year. In September, 1885, a large building that had been destroyed by fire in the preceding February was replaced by a larger and more commodious one with every modern convenience; a handsome structure of brick and stone has been erected for a new primary school, and a home prepared for an additional grammar school. All old buildings have been repainted and renovated, and 700 new single desks of the best pattern have been purchased. The accommodations are still insufficient and large numbers have been compelled to attend private schools or no school at all, because of the lack of room in the public schools. This has been remedied to some extent by dividing the classes into morning and afternoon sections with separate teachers. All schools are graded and are designated primary, grammar, and high. Ten months form a school

year.

Columbus reports improvements in desks and school furniture generally, and a satisfactory decrease in the cost per scholar to the city. Music is taught by a special instructor.

Macon has purchased a lot upon which to erect a new school for colored children. The expenditures have been $2,000 more than last year.

Savannah schools are not sufficiently provided with buildings, and many of the classes have necessarily been divided. A new additional teacher has been employed for the girls' high school.

ILLINOIS.

Belleville schools show a marked improvement in discipline. The upper grades of St. Peter's school (parochial) have been admitted during the year into the publicschool system, necessitating the use of an additional building and the employment of 2 more teachers.

Moline has suffered the loss by fire of one of the largest school buildings in the place. With commendable energy contracts for rebuilding were immediately made, and a new structure has risen in the place of the burned building, far superior to it in every respect. By extension of the district lines, 2 new buildings and 6 new schools have been brought within the jurisdiction of the town authorities. One of these buildings has been improved by the expenditure of $1,100 in repairs. Music

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