hard bargains, for the number of young persons who want the place is very large. Continual change in the teachers is the order of the day. The time of the employment is but for a single term, and frequently the trustee undertakes to make it by the day or the week, in order that he may be free to make a change at any time, or that he may withhold pay, in violation of the spirit and intent of the statute, for the week occupied in attendance upon a teachers' institute. Supervision amounts to little or nothing, for distances are great, during a good part of the year roads are impassable, and it is physically impossible for the commissioner, with generally more than one hundred schools under his charge, to visit each very frequently.

In view of the foregoing considerations, Superintendent Draper recommends for serious inquiry, first, whether it would not be well to lengthen the term of office of sole trustees, or to provide that in all cases there should be at least 3 trustees, 1 of whom only should go out each year; or second, whether it is not advisable to discontinue the district as the unit of school government and unite all the schools of a town under one management and support them all by a common tax; and third, whether teachers should not be employed at the beginning of the school year for the whole year, unless removed within the year for cause, on account of moral delinquency, of improper conduct, or of being unable to properly fill the position.

ATTENDANCE.

There is a large uneducated class in the State, and our statistics show that it is growing larger. The attendance upon the schools does not keep pace with the advance in population. Recent legislation forbids the employment of children under 13 years of age in any manufacturing establishment, but no adequate provision is made for gathering them into the schools, and the number of children in the streets grows more rapidly than the number in the schools. Indeed, nothing practical has ever been done in this State by way of compelling attendance upon the schools. The result is sadly apparent and the premonitions are full of warning. Some occurrences of the last year have particularly aroused public interest in the matter and point to the wisdom of painstaking consideration and vigorous action.

To be sure, we have a compulsory education law upon our statute-books, but it is a compulsory law which does not compel. It has never been acted under to any considerable extent, and, this being so after 14 years of trial, it is fair to presume that it never will be. In my opinion there are good reasons why it has never accomplished what was desired of it. In the first place it requires members of boards of education to look after and apprehend delinquent children, and it is unreasonable to expect that officials elected only to manage the schools, and who serve without pay, will devote the necessary time, or that they will engage in work which should devolve upon a policeman or constable, or some other officer specially charged with and paid for such service. Again, the penalties provided for in the act run mainly against children, and no people will be swift to enforce penalties against children for delinquency, not amounting to crime, for which they are not so properly answerable as are their parents or guardians. The penalties in the aet which go against parents are mere fines, so inconsiderable as to be ridiculous, and the machinery provided for collecting them is too cumbersome and expensive to be commonly made use of. Moreover, the act requires that children under 14 years of age should attend for at least fourteen weeks in the year. Attendance for so small a part of the year is hardly of enough importance to justify any serious effort to insure it. Again, the law does not require communities to act in the matter, nor does it provide any adequate school facilities for the accommodation of delinquents if brought in.

ARCHITECTS' PLANS FOR SCHOOL-HOUSES.

Chapter 675 of the Laws of 1887 directed the State superintendent to secure and publish the most improved designs for school-houses to cost from $600 to $10,000, to accompany them with appropriate suggestions in relation to the preparation of the grounds, and the arrangement of the building with reference to heating, ventilating, sanitation, etc., and then to publish for gratuitous distribution. In carrying out this direction, I invited competition among architects and secured the presentation of fifty-eight different designs distributed in six classes. The most artistic and perfect designs will be published as early as practicable, and it is confidently expected that as a result of this movement the coming years will witness a greatly improved class of school-houses in the rural districts of the State.

PROMISE OF AN EDUCATIONAL RE-ORGANIZATION.

There seems to be unmistakable promise of an educational re-organization and revival in this State. Public occurrences during the year have forced the subject upon the attention of the people. Our supervisory officers and teachers are coming more and more to realize the importance, as they are striving more and more earnestly to accomplish the organization of a comprehensive, symmetrical, and harmonious State educational

system, in which the district schools, the union schools, the high schools, the academies, the normal schools, and the colleges and universities shall have their appropriate place, and shall not rival or antagonize, but arrange their courses of instruction so as to support and supplement each other and work intelligently together for a common and beneficent purpose.

NORTH CAROLINA AND OHIO.

Reference is made to the Index for the statistical and other information contained in this Report concerning education in these States.

OREGON.

[Special statement furnished the Commissioner of Education.]

EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.

State school fund apportionments.-Below is presented a schedule of the annual apportionment of the State school fund for the past nine years, beginning with the year 1879. This table exhibits a steady and healthy growth and excellent management on part of the State boards of school land commissioners:

In addition to this, special attention is called to the following statistical summaries. This exhibit indicates a marked improvement in the public school work of the State:

STATISTICAL SUMMARIES.

[For the school years ending the first Mondays in March, 1896 and 1887.]

NEW LEGISLATION.

Salary of State superintendent.-The salary of the State superintendent of public instruction has been raised from $1,500 to $1,800.

Salaries of county superintendents.—The annual salaries of county superintendents are to be determined by the county courts; the salaries now being paid, however, are to be maintained.

Teachers' institutes.-Each county superintendent is required to hold annually a teachers' county institute for a term of not less than three days; all teachers in the county are required to attend, and the county superintendent may at his discretion revoke the certificate, reduce the grade, or refuse to grant a certificate to any teacher who refuses to attend a county institute without cause.

Examination of teachers.—In each county there is to be a board of county examiners, composed of the county superintendent and two persons appointed by him. This board is to hold quarterly examinations for the benefit of persons desiring teachers' certificates. Such certificates shall be valid only in the county where given. They are to be of three grades, and to continue in force two years, one year, and six months, respectively:

(1) Certificates of the first grade are issued to persons who have taught at least twelve months and have attained at examination in the branches required by law, an average of 90 per cent. of all questions asked, without falling below 70 per cent. in any one branch.

(2) Certificates of the second grade are issued to persons who have taught not less than three school months, and who have made at examination a general average of 80 per cent. without falling below 60 in any one branch; second-grade certificates shall not be issued to the same persons more than twice, and then only upon re-examination.

(3) Certificates of the third grade will be granted to persons who have made a general average of 70 per cent., without falling below 40 per cent. in any one branch. Certificates of the third grade will not be renewed, and will not be issued to the same persons more than once. Temporary certificates or permits to teach may be granted by the county superintendent upon examination in cases of necessity, and valid only until the next regular public quarterly examination.

For other information concerning education in Oregon consult the Index.

PENNSYLVANIA.

[From Report for 1886-87 of E. E. Higbee, State Superintendent.]

GENERAL STATEMENT.

The general advance of the schools during the past year has been very satisfactory. Fifteen new school districts have been formed, making the present number 2,281. The increase in number of schools has been 379, making the total at present 21,062. The increase in number of graded schools has been 357, making the present number 9,444. Four superintendents have been added to the work of school supervision, making the present number 115, The increase in number of teachers has been 519; male teachers 340, and female teachers 179, making the present total 23,822. There has been a slight increase in the average monthly salary of male teachers, and a small decrease in the average monthly salary of female teachers. The average monthly salary of male teachers is $38.53, and of female teachers $29.86. The length of school term is steadily advancing. The average term is now 7.75, an increase of .62. The increase in number of pupils, excluding Philadelphia, has been 9,235. Many new and excellent school buildings have been erected throughout the Commonwealth.

RECENT LEGISLATION.

State appropriation.-The increased appropriation of $500,000 to our public schools ought to give great encouragement to our educational work, removing the necessity of too severe local taxation. In our centres of advanced culture, it is true, schools will be vigorously carried forward at any cost. Here the public sentiment is such as to enforce a proper attention to the young. But in the many sections of the Commonwealth where the benefits of intellectual discipline are not so fully recognized, schools will not advance if made to depend too largely upon local taxation. Here the absence of culture shows itself in the want of interest in the same. In our judgment, therefore, the increased appropriation will greatly aid the department in bringing the schools, especially of such sections, up to a higher standard of eüiciency. There must be care, on every hand, that the increased fund be rightly applied. It is for the good of the schools. It must not be used by the townships or school districts in such way as to lessen their own vigorous support of the schools.

Minimum seboël term—s'x months.—We are gratified that at last the minimum school term has extended to 6 months. The teachers of the State have been urging this for years. By the Act of May 8, 1854, the minimum term was fixed at 4 months, and so it continued for 15 years. By Act of April 9, 1872, it was extended to 5 months, and so continued until this year. It is surprising that during all this time about 800 townships or school districts, embracing nearly 6,000 schools, failed to increase the term a single day.

It must not be supposed for a moment that the Legislature, in fixing the minimum term now at 6 months, intended to favor so short a term or to establish it as a proper standard. The aim of the law is to lengthen short terms, not to shorten long terms; and it is an encouraging fact that our average school term is quite beyond what has been fixed as the minimum term, and is steadily advancing.

The benefits of this law must be apparent to any one. It will give, during the coming year, one additional month of school discipline to over 225,000 children in Pennsylvania. We must guard against weakening the benefits of this law to teachers as well as to children. Directors should not make the teachers bear the burden of this effort to advance, by lowering their monthly salaries so as to make the cost the same as before. Any conduct of this kind will rapidly show its evil effects. Good teachers will be driven to other and more advanced districts, and a lazy indifference soon characterize the district in which it is practiced. We are satisfied, however, that only in rare cases will any such course be pursued. On the contrary, we feel convinced that it will not be long before a school of only 6 months will be regarded as an anomaly.

Employment of children.-The act prohibiting the employment of children under 12 years of age to work in or about mills, manufactories, or mines, should insure, in many localities, largely increased school attendance of children under the age named. To he made properly effective, this law should be supplemented by legislation requiring a careful school census under direction of the authorities of each school district in the Commonwealth, and providing for the appointment of inspectors, whose duty it shall be to see that its provisions are not violated by employers. Thus fortified, and the law properly enforced, it would prove a vast boon to the children and result in great good to the State.

The act referred to is as follows:

"SEC. 1. Be it enacted, etc., That it shall be unlawful for any person, persons, firms, companies, associations, or corporations, to employ any child under the age of 15 years to do any work in or about any mill, manufactory, or mine in this Commonwealth.

"SEC. 2. That any person, persons, or corporations who may violate this act shall, on conviction, pay a fine of not less than $20, nor more than $100, at the discretion of the court. Said fines, arising from the violation of this act, shall be paid to the treasury of the proper county where said violation shall occur."

Approved June 1, A. D. 1887.

For other information concerning education in Pennsylvania consult the Index.

RHODE ISLAND.

[From Report of Thomas B. Stockwell, Commissioner of Public Schools, for 1886-87.]

ATTENDANCE.

The falling off in attendance the past year is due to two prominent causes: first, the prevailing sickness throughout the State, and secondly, the negligence upon the part of the authorities of certain places in enforcing the compulsory law.

Seldom has a single year witnessed such widespread sickness throughout the State. In not a few towns or localities schools have been closed for absolute lack of pupils, and in other cases the absentees for this cause have often numbered half the school. The diseases have seldom been of a violent nature and but few deaths have occurred among the school children, but the work of the schools has been very greatly interfered with, and the average attendance brought down quite low.

The average is also very materially affected by the rule, which is quite generally enforced now, that when a child is sick with any of the ordinary zymotic diseases all of the other children of the same family are to be excluded from school. At first sight such a rule may seem rather harsh, but a little reflection will convince one that such a course is in the interest of the general health, and hence of every one. There is no question but that such a rule, strictly carried out, will tend to restrict such diseases to comparatively narrow limits, and even to aid rather than hinder the school work.

As regards compulsory attendance, the truant law is ignored and practically nullified in the city of Providence and some other places. This is due in the main to indifference.

By the terms of the law its enforcement is made very largely dependent upon those who have had little or no interest in the question of education, and who, therefore, can be expected to have but very limited knowledge of the issues involved and the necessity for action. Again, the enforcement of any such law will inevitably at times and in places interfere with the personal interests of parties holding prominent positions or exercising considerable influence, and the official finds it easier to yield to such influences than to withstand them. But back of these causes lies the fact that as yet the people have not become sufficiently aroused to give voice to their belief. There has not been a sufficient recognition of the necessity for action, or that any great number were in real need of the law's intervention in their behalf. When the facts come to light, public sentiment will demand a more thorough enforcement of the law.

A sufficient time has not elapsed since the enactment of the revised truant law to say definitely how beneficial the changes have been. It should have, however, the effect of stimulating attendance, as did the original truant law enacted four years previously. In every town there is now at least one truant officer, and a truant ordinance has been enacted. The machinery for carrying the law into general effect therefore exists. But it is to be noted that in some places it is almost, if not quite worthless, for the lack of any suitable provision for the compensation of the truant officer. Still, if only the meagre amount of work be done, for which provision is made, that will have a very healthful effect, and if even that be maintained much good can be accomplished. Because the whole work can not be done is a very poor reason for not beginning it and doing what can be done.

NUMBER AND SIZE OF SCHOOLS.

The number of ungraded schools has diminished by 7 during the year, while the graded schools have increased by 32. This shows that the movement of the population is still from the farms and rural sections of the State to the centres, and that the advantages of education are being curtailed for those who remain. For it seldom happens when a district becomes so sparsely settled as to be no longer able to maintain a school, that there are no children left there; hence, when the school is abandoned, the two or three who survive are obliged to travel two, three, or more miles, or go without an education. There is an evil here that can be met only by adopting some scheme or plan of school maintenance different from that which so generally prevails in the towns of the State. In such cases the locality or district is absolutely unable to make the proper provision for the children, and unless the unity of interest and responsibility, which really inheres in the town and State, be recognized and acted upon, they will go uncared for.

The increase in the number of graded schools is partly accounted for by the fact that in several communities additional schools have been provided, thereby relieving schools greatly overcrowded. This has been done to such an extent as to reduce the average number belonging to each teacher from 35 to 33.

TEACHERS.

There has been an increase this year of 35 in the number of different teachers, and of 40 in the number regularly employed. It is an encouraging sign to note that the gain in permanent teachers is the greater of the two. It shows a tendency to permanency that is desirable, and it also indicates that correct views as to the proper number of pupils for one teacher are beginning to prevail. No teacher can do passable work with from 50 to 75 pupils, and it is an act of cruelty to both teacher and pupils to compei them to make the attempt.

There has been an increase in the wages of teachers of $2.82 per month for males and 53 cents for females. These results are probably due in great measure to the effects upon the smaller towns of the increased State appropriations. They have been enabled in many cases to offer sufficient inducements to normal graduates and teachers of experience to hold them, and thus have been secured unusual advantages. One effect of this has been that at no time during the year have there been any such teachers waiting for places. The demand has always been ahead of the supply.

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

The number of public libraries has been increased by two, and there are now pending action for organization several libraries in various parts of the State, so that it may be safely said that the general interest in this branch of the work was never greater than at the present time.

The total amount appropriated for the aid of the thirty-seven libraries was $3,950. The total number of books in all the libraries was 133,484, an increase of 10,442 volumes from last year. The circulation is 298,212, or 6,004 less than for the previous