caprice, as the case may be, but his actual attendance for a reasonable portion of the school year. Such an enactment might not find favor with the multitude, ever averse to having their "liberties" invaded, but will certainly commend itself to the approval of the wisest amongst us. The following tabular statement will present at one view the number of teachers, their sex and grade of license, employed in the county during the past year: WINTER TERM. Males. Grade A. 25 2 SUMMER TERM. Of the one hundred and fifteen teachers employed during the winter, there were substitutes taking the place of others who from illness or other causes were compelled either temporarily or permanently to abandon the work. During the summer two substitutes were employed for reasons similar to the above. The teachers of the county still continue to discharge their duties, for the most part, with zeal and earnestness, and with a satisfactory measure of success. The number of trained teachers employed in this county is small, but they are amongst the most successful of our instructors. Indeed, so plain is the superiority of the trained over the untrained teachers, that one is led to cast about for some feasible plan to largely supplement the number now engaged in the work. As a suggestion I would respectfully offer the following:-Reduce the number of grades to four -place teachers of both sexes on an equality, so that there would no longer exist the distinction of first-class female and first-class maleinsist that all about to enter the teaching profession should possess a sound preliminary training. To provide adequate means for the training of all seeking employment as teachers, a portion of the funds now devoted to the County Academies might be given to aid in the establishment of model schools, one or more in each county, which should take upon themselves the work of training those seeking thirdclass (D) license only; while those seeking a higher grade should be expected to pursue the usual course of study at the Normal School. Such a course would, no doubt, for a time lessen considerably the number of applicants for licenses, but this need occassion but little concern, as the supply of teachers is now far in excess of any demand for their services likely to arise in the next few years. Notwithstanding the continued commercial depression, the work of providing for the education of the young still goes forward, and new and better buildings are yearly added to the number of our school houses, so that it is not too much to say that, in few short years at most, every organized section in this county will be in possession of a neat and commodious school house. During the past year five new houses have been put up in this county, and two others put in a thorough state of repair. In the District of Lunenburg and New Dublin, Conquerall Bank and Upper Kingsbury have built new houses; and Second Peninsula and Sweetland have put theirs in thorough repair. In the District of Chester new school houses have been put up in the following sections: East Chester, Mill Cove and The Cross. These new buildings are all respectable in appearance, commodious, and highly creditable to the several sections. I have to express my satisfaction at the accuracy exhibited in the A Return for the past year, those of the Summer Term being as nearly perfect in this respect as could reasonably be expected There is still, however, much room for neatness, but I trust this reproach will soon be removed. The B Returns still continue to be a source of much trouble, though I am glad to record that signs of improvement are more frequently to be seen than formerly. Respectfully submitted, DAVID ALLISON, ESQ., LL.D., Superintendent of Education. C. W. HILTZ. PICTOU COUNTY. DANIEL MCDONALD, Inspector. SIR-I respectfully submit the following report on the public schools in this county for the year 1878. My inspection notes, and the statistical tables compiled from the abstracts of the returns, have been already forwarded, and will afford a pretty full and correct view of the year's operations. As my former reports were by many considered unnecessarily long and minute, the present shall be more concise. New Section-One new section has been organized, called Green's Valley, No. 73. It is in the remotest part of the South District. The people have commenced building, and expect to open school next summer. Vacant Sections.-Of the 133 sections in the county, three only were without school the whole year. One comprises a large extent of country, but with a small and widely scattered population, and has done nothing yet towards organizing a school. In the others the houses have gone to decay; and as there are very few children of school age the people are indifferent about having school. I have visited the sections and endeavoured to induce the people to complete their buildings, but without success. The privilege of common school education is now within the reach of every child in this county. There is but one locality in which necessity exists for another section. Even there all are connected with existing sections, though some are far from school. When the settlement shall have increased, boundaries may be re-arranged and a new section organized. There are several weak sections requiring aid, but the number is not large, considering the population and extent of the county. The Commissioners and I are studying to avoid increasing the number unnecessarily. We anticipate reducing the number by re-arranging boundaries and uniting small sections. Our efforts in this direction have as yet been unsuccessful, owing to established associations and prejudices. Schools in operation.-There were 143 day and 3 evening schools in operation in the Winter Term, 157 during the Summer Term, being the largest number ever in operation. These were in session an aggregate of 33,0944 days (16,299 in winter and 16,795 in summer), being in excess of those of 1877 of 529 days. For the Summer Term the average time in session was 106.9 days; in the North District the average was 110.08 out of the 111 days in the term. Pupils registered.-In winter there were 6,992 pupils enrolled, viz., 4,009 in the South, and 2,983 in the North District; in summer there were 7,202 (4,118 South, and 3,084 North) being 9 less for the former, 37 more for the latter term, than in the previous year. The for the full Winter Term was 4,036, and for the Summer 3,791.08; the average per eent. was 57.07 in the former, and 52.6 in the latter. Of the children of school age in the county about 81 per cent. attended some part of the year. average Total days' attendance. The grand total days in winter was 457,614, and in summer 420,810; for the year $18,424; being in excess of 1877 by 5,996 days, being the largest we ever had. The average time for each pupil was 1027, out of the 229 the schools were in session. These data show an improvement upon all preceding years, yet they indicate room for further progress, especially when we find that there were 1,307 in winter, and 1,108 children in summer that did not attend school at all. The same teachers taught both the day and the evening schools. Of the 163 teachers and assistants employed in the Summer Term 5 were substitutes. 28 76 91 13 Who did not teach in this county previous terms.. 33 There has been greater stability on the part of both teachers and trustees than hitherto. Salaries. The amount of teachers' salaries, compared with 1877, has decreased $808.26. The total amount paid was $26,403.95, equal to an average of $87.13. The total amount assessed by vote of the rate-payers has decreased $381.75; also, total income from local sources $1,212.94. The indebtness has been reduced from $7,747.38 to $2,771.30; from all which it. is evident that a system of greater economy, if not of retrenchment, has been pursued, and goes to prove that "debts are usually contracted in good times and paid in the bad." School Furnishings, &c.-All our schools are pretty well supplied with books, &c. Many are yet in a sort of transition state, "working out" the old "Nova Scotia Series of Readers" and introducing the "Royal Readers." Some are suffering from the "too many kinds" of books, but this evil is gradually diminishing, and with prudence on the part of the teachers will ultimately cease. In the matter of general supplies steady improvement has been made. Every school has more or less black board surface, some, of course very little. The average for each school is 65.7 square feet. Four sections have the Map of Nova Scotia only. (These are new and weak sections.) All others have at least 3 maps. Two have not yet got Nelson's Hemispheres, making a total of 6 without Hemispheres. Two would have been supplied this season, had the article been obtainable. Six sections have no ball frame, nine no hand bell, and seven no dictionary for the teacher's desk. The following table exhibits the increase during the last ten years: All other requisites are proportionate. It is proper to observe that the vacations were shorter than now, and hence the difference in the grand total days attendance is really much greater in proportion to the time schools were in session. I may also remark that two globes were destroyed during the year. New Houses, &c-One new house has been completed during the year, and four others have been commenced. The houses on Pictou Island and Carriboo Island are unfit for winter use. The Board declined to condemn them, owing to the depression in trade. Pictou town requires a new Academy building. An effort was made last season to authorize the issuing of debentures to the amount of ten thousand dollars, but as heavy liabilities, deemed more urgent, had to be provided for, the movement failed. I feel confident that the measure will be adopted at the next annual meeting of the ratepayers. As previously reported, the present building is utterly inadequate to its requirements. It is now filled to its utmost capacity. Considerable progress has been made in providing outhouses, yet there are quite too many sections destitute of even a fuel-house. School Work.-As regards the internal work for which all this expenditure of money and labour has been incurred, I cannot report any marked change the work goes on steadily and progressively. There have been but three schools in which I found no improvement in any respect. With some teachers the work is of a mere perfunctory character. It is difficult to explain what is wrong, but you see and feel that life and progress are wanting. The vast majority were faithful and successful. The Academy has fully maintained its prestige. Many students from other counties, and many from the rural districts of our own County attended. The town does not avail itself as it might of the privileges afforded. As the Principal will present a report, it is superfluous to extend my report with details. All the highest departments of our graded schools continue to give more or less instruction in the higher branches. In too many schools the progress is retarded by the injudicious hurrying of chil |