LANSING BURGH.

GEORGE F. SAWYER, Superintendent.

I herewith present my second annual report.

Buildings.

We have five, all of brick, and all save one in fairly good condition and well cared for. The small, uncomfortable, poorly constructed building at the south end of the town, is to give place to a fine convenient three-story structure of brick and stone containing twelve large airy rooms, now in the process of erection. This will supply a long-felt and serious want in that part of the town.'

Course of Study.

This extends over 10 years not including the kindergarten. We have therefore no high school proper, though the studies of our tenth year are nearly equivalent to those of the first year of an ordinary high school course. The only marked feature of change in our course of study for the past year was the introduction of vocal music. This has been attended with very happy results. One lesson a week was given in each room by the special teacher, and practiced for 15 or 20 minutes each day under the grade teacher till the time for the next lesson. The work though entered upon with some reluctance by many of the teachers was carried on with unlooked-for success by nearly all of them, many of whom knew almost absolutely nothing about music. Nor has the advancement made in music been the only good result of its introduction into the schools. It has been of real assistance in their discipline. It has enabled us to gain a hold on some boys whom we were never before able to reach. To a class that is becoming restless and inattentive the suggestion that there may not be, after all the other work is done, time for the singing exercises, is often sufficient to cause them to settle down to hard work. The music became at once a very popular part of the school work, and while it was looked upon before its introduction with distrust, and almost with dismay by many of the teachers, as being but another thing to be crowded into their already overcrowded work, there are now very few among teachers or pupils that would willingly discontinue it.

Kindergartens.

The kindergarten classes of which there have been three, continue in favor and are growing in numbers. The total enroll

ment in these classes during the year was 182, with an average attendance of 80.7. All are agreed as to the beneficial influence of the kindergarten upon the work of the subsequent years. An incident of the past year will serve as an illustration.

There was a third-year primary class a part of the members of which perhaps one-third- had been in the kindergarten three years before. The teacher, knowing nothing of which one of her pupils had been in the kindergarten, conceived the idea of seeing if she could tell from their work. She observed them carefully for a day, making out a list of those she concluded had come from the kindergarten, and found at night on enquir ing that she had not made a mistake as to a single pupil in her room. On being asked from what she had judged she replied: "From many things, among them the greater rapidity with which these children do their work, their superior powers of attention, their greater ability to do work from dictation, the more orderly and methodical arrangement of their work, and its greater neatness."

Provision is being made for a fourth class in the new building. With the formation of this class there will be a kindergarten within easy reach from any part of the village.

Attendance.

The schools were in session during the year 192 days. The total registration was 1,905 with an average attendance of 1,423. Comparing these figures with those for the previous year, we find a slight increase in the enrollment, with quite a decided increase in the average attendance. All the grades up to, and including the fifth year were full, the fourth and fifth years being the most crowded.

The number of teachers employed, including special teachersin drawing, penmanship and vocal music and five substitute teachers, was 52.

LTTLE FALLS.

THOMAS A. CASWELL, Superintendent.

Marked Improvement.

The past year has been one of marked improvement in all departments. A more professional spirit has been manifest on the part of the teachers, and a greater desire has been shown to improve the work in every way possible. We boast of a board of

education that is strictly nonpartisan, and one that is composed of men who are ever ready to do all in their power to make the schools of Little Falls second to none in the State. With this end in view, a few years ago, the board decided that, as vacancies occurred, they would employ none but normal or

graduates.

college

Of the 24 regular teachers employed: One held a second-grade certificate, 12 held first-grade certificates, three held State certificates, two held State certificates and college diplomas, six held normal diplomas.

In addition to the above we have had a special teacher of vocal music, and several lessons given the teachers by a special teacher in drawing. This has been our first year with a special teacher of vocal music, and we are satisfied that it is money well expended.

At the close of this year our eighth grade, for the first time. took the regents' examination in drawing. We shall hereafter do that work in the grammar grades.

All expenses (except repairs, and interest and payment on bonded debt)...

2,650

1,103

44

1.147

855

48

36

$13 05

22 01

The most noteworthy event connected with our schools during the past year was the sudden closing, in January, of the parochial school, which had been in operation less than two years. The embarrassment caused by the unexpected influx of 500 pupils was very great, but the prompt and generous action of our board of education speedily and satisfactorily settled the disturbance. Vacant school-rooms were opened, the parochial school building was rented, teachers were provided, and in a few weeks affairs had resumed their accustomed regularity. At a recent meeting of the electors of the school district, it was voted to purchase the parochial school building. This has been done, and it is now known as "The Bates School," the name being given in honor of the late Dr. S. P. Bates, who was really the founder of our present school system, and who was, during the greater part of a long life, closely connected with the educational interests of our village.

At present 24 regular teachers are employed for grade work, 12 of these are normal graduates. As a class, our teachers are earnest, faithful and ambitious. A constant endeavor is made to keep in touch with the best educational thought of the time. While we believe that our general school work is fairly done, we are especially gratified with our present work in vocal music. This study is now under the direction of a young lady, who is not only a skilled musician, but a skillful teacher as well. As a means of mental discipline alone, this subject has earned its place in our school curriculum. The work in drawing is now also in an encouraging condition. It has recently been placed in the hands of a late student from Pratt Institute. The inspiration which the regular teachers have already received from her promises much for the future in this line of work.

We continue to give special attention to the subject of reading. More reading is done in school hours, more care is exercised in the selection of reading matter, as far as possible the home reading is supervised, and every other available means is used to help the pupils in forming a taste for wholesome reading. The gratifying results of our past efforts in this direction justify our plans for increasing this attention in the year to come.

NEW ROCHELLE.

ISAAC E. YOUNG, Superintendent.

Statistical.

During the year, 1,873 pupils attended our schools. This is an increase over last year of 103 pupils, or nearly 6 per cent. The average daily attendance was 1,326 pupils, a gain of 171 over last year, or about 15 per cent. The schools were in session 197 days. Of the 38 teachers employed for the year, 27 are graduates of normal schools.

Lack of suitable class-rooms for the rapidly increasing num ber of school children has been keenly felt for three years. The new school building on Weyman avenue will give us temporary relief from overcrowded classes and poor class-rooms. It is expected that the new school building will be ready for occupancy by February 1, 1895.

In November, 1893, pure kindergarten work was begun in schools Nos. 2 and 4, with trained kindergartners as teachers. For the year 1894-95 we shall give kindergarten instruction in all our first-year classes.

At last we have a high school. Small, it is true, but a high school with a course of study covering three years. Drawing and vocal music are very successfully taught in our schools under the direction of special teachers. It is the opinion of class teachers that we now do more and better work in the regular subjects taught than we did before music and drawing were introduced.

A special teacher of physical culture has been secured, and the Ling system of gymnastics is now being taught.