too great a variety, both in numbers and editions, in nearly all the miscellaneous schools. This not only consumes time and gives unnecessary work to the teacher, but it interferes with a proper classification. In very few schools are the regulations of the Council carried out. There seems to be a general aversion to voting money for books and other apparatus. Could not the Commissioners be empowered to appropriate to this purpose a portion of the county fund allotted to those sections that neglect to make provision for these most essential requisites to a school-room. I cannot pass over the subject of text-books without noticing the points of merit in a number of treatises recently received from the publishing establishment of Messrs. Adam Miller & Co. The Canadian editions of "Hamblin Smith's Algebra," "Arithmetic" and "Geometry" are admirably adapted for use in our public schools. The examples in Algebra are easy and arranged in a progressive order. The Arithmetic is practical, complete and comprehensive. The appendix and examination papers are important and valuable features. In the Geometry the method of explaining accords to the work a well-merited superiority over Euclid. "Swinton's Language Lessons" I consider an excellent, practical elementary text-book, fitted alike for the experienced and inexperienced teacher. The clearness and simplicity with which the principles of bookkeeping are explained by "Beatty & Clare" will recommend this work to all who desire a practical knowledge of this study. I have introduced "Miller & Co.'s series of blanks" into a few schools, and found them hailed with delight by both pupil and teacher. “Morrison's English Composition." though not an exhaustive treatise, is well adapted to our ordinary elementary schools. But the gem of this series of text-books is the little drill-book entitled "Lewis' How to Read." This work comes to us very opportunely, as it supplies a want long felt in our schools, and gives to the important subject of reading its due prominence both as an art and a science. An intelligent conception of the principles laid down, with a careful study and practice of the elementary sounds of the language, cannot but insure pleasing and effective reading. Teachers can glean much valuable information from a careful perusal of these new books outside the school-room, without introducing confusion into his classes by too great a variety of text-books. The County Academy has, as usual, been most efficiently conducted by a staff of well-trained and experienced teachers. Our anticipations of good results when Mr. Cleveland assumed control of the Milton Graded School have been realized to the fullest extent. To appreciate the labors of a good and faithful teacher needs but a visit to the school of Mr. Mack of the Village, from which we cannot but retire pleased and gratified. Two other schools were taught by Grade B teachers, those at Brooklyn and Brookfield, both of which have creditably sustained the grade of license. The importance of professional training is clearly shown in the general superiority of the schools under the management of trained teachers. The success of our common schools therefore depends, to a large extent, upon our teachers availing themselves of the opportu nities afforded by our Normal School. During the earlier years of the existence of this institution it was unable to discharge with efficiency its principal function in imparting a knowledge of the principles of the profession, so much time had to be necessarily taken up in bringing the teacher up to the standard of the prescribed scholastic examination. The increased number and efficiency of our high schools, and the present uniform system of examination, now gives us a class of students fully prepared to enter upon the professional and practical part of their calling as soon as they enter the Normal School. Yet the present examinations alone are insufficient, for, although they have raised the standard of literary qualifications, and furnish a fair test of proficiency in the subjects prescribed, they fail to secure to the profession thoroughly qualified and practical teachers, for, although they embrace certain questions on teaching and school management, the results of these examinations clearly show that the candidate's knowledge of professional subjects is not proportionate to their proficiency in the other branches. As education consists not in the amount of information presented, but in what is received, involving a knowledge of human nature, a broader view of education, and the best method of imparting instruction, the present condition of things betrays a serious defect in our educational machinery,-a defect only to be remedied by requiring every teacher to attend some Normal School. When we take into consideration the extent of the teacher's obligation; the deep responsibilities of those who undertake the development of the intellectual and moral powers of the young, and the formation of the character of the rising generation, the necessity of a thorough and judicious professional training becomes more apparent. And now that the public spirit and generous liberality of the State has erected so magnificent a building for this purpose, will it not be necessary to resort to some form of compulsory attendance to utilize those spacious halls, and make successful the beneficent efforts of those whose lives and energies have been devoted to the promotion. of so useful a public institution. DAVID ALLISON, ESQ., LL.D., Yours respectfully, Superintendent of Education. C. T. ANDREWS. SIR,-In submitting this my annual school report for the year 1878, I have to state that nothing unusual and requiring special remark has taken place in our educational condition in the course of the year. It becomes monotonous, not to say ridiculous, to repeat oneself from year to year, to point out on the one hand the same defects, wants and obstacles; and on the other, suggest the same remedies, making comments on these and those that have become threadbare. For statistical information generally, I beg to refer you and the general reader to the tabled abstracts already forwarded to your office, and which are embodied in the Provincial Report. The number, grade and sex of the teachers employed in this county during the year will be found in the subjoined table: نے B. C. D. E. MALE. FEMALE. TOTAL. I regret to report that while the number of sections and schools is on the increase, and thereby increased facilities affordrd our people to give education to their children, the number of pupils registered and in daily attendance is not proportionately keeping pace with this progress. What with neglect and indifference on the part of some parents, the hard times and consequent poverty, too large a number of children do not go to school at all, and of those who do go, many attend irregularly. The remedy for this indifference and neglect, and consequent evil, some people allege, is compulsory education. After all that has been said and written in its favor, I am still of opinion, with due deference to the views of some educationists, that it is by far more advisable to leave the eradication of the evil complained of to the process of time, which is slow if you will, but which will do it effectually, because radically. From year to year, as our system of education goes on developing itself, parents will, accordingly, have more education generally than now, and, knowing its many advantages better, will send their children to school without compulsion. With our present means and prospects in realizing the education of the people as a whole, I have every confidence of the future, but very little in the success of forced and, I might say, unjust means. To say nothing more about the principle of a compulsory law, there would be, necessarily, so many loop-holes in such a law-so many ways of evading its provisions-that it could not be effective. Last year I made a few remarks on the subject of School Books, especially in reference to the Maritime and Royal Readers, considering both excellent, but giving, for reasons there stated, my preference to the Maritime Series. My views have not changed in this respect, but I wish here to bring to your notice that the too many Series of Readers approved of by the C. P. Instruction, which are all sold through the length and breadth of the Province, are causing much confusion in the class-room, interfering with proper classification of scholars, and therefore they have become a source of great annoyance to teachers. To avoid this I would suggest that the Council P. Instruction be advised to choose that series which, in your opinion, is the best and most suitable to the wants of this Province, and recommend it, and it alone, for use in our schools. While on this subject I may state that I received during the year, as well as the year before, specimen copies of a large number of school publications by Adam Miller, of Toronto, and have much pleasure in saying that, in my opinion, all the school books issued by that publishing establishment, copies of which I have had the honor of receiving, are excellent text-books, and well worthy of being examined by the C. P. I. In concluding this short report, I am sorry to state that the prospects of the progress of the schools of this county for the next year are not encouraging. During the four or five years of commercial depression through which we have passed, and in consequence of which so many interests have suffered, education alone was not noticeably impeded in its progress. But this year our fisheries have been so unremunerative, the catch having been so much below the average, and the prices so low compared to those of former years, that contracted means and much destitution are the painful results among many of our fishermen, who form a large class of the people of this county. These baneful consequences will make themselves felt, no doubt, among other classes, and coupled to the depression already existing in other industries, will render our people, I fear, unequal to the task of supporting the schools as in the past. It is to be hoped that this trying time will be of short duration, and that the approaching new year will see the dawn, at least, of our former prosperity. I have the honor to be, Sir, Respectfully yours, TO DAVID ALLISON, ESQ., LL.D., Superintendent of Education. R. BENOIT. SHELBURNE COUNTY. A. C. A. DOANE, Inspector. SIR, The close of the school year calls for the usual report of the condition of our schools and the work that has been accomplished. While no very especial changes have been effected, the general aspect has been encouraing, and the attendance larger than at any previous period. The abstracts and tables forwarded give a statistical outline, and furnish much of the information required." Of sections, one new one called Graniteville has been formed at the eastern part of the county, and as an offset, Light-house Island section has been united to that adjacent, called Hawk, so that the number remains the same as last reported. Schools have been in operation in all but six sections of the county some portion of the year. Want of school-houses has mostly prevented schools being conducted in the others also. Two new houses have been completed, one at Louis Head and the other at Cape Negro Island. Both are substantial and convenient structures. The following tables will show the number of schools, the registration and grand total days' attendance, with the number and grade of teachers employed :— SECTIONS & DEPART'S. REEGIST'D PUPILS. GRAND TOTAL DAYS. 188,720 FEMALES. B. C. D. In many of the schools the teachers have shown superior teaching ability, a fitness for the work and a winsome way of securing the attention of pupils. As the attendance has generally been best in such schools, corresponding improvement has followed. If, in some others, the results have not been so satisfactory, the fault is in part owing to the youth and inexperience of the teachers, to the crowded state of the school-rooms, to the want of suitable school material, or to irregular attendance. In several sections where graded schools are needed too many pupils are crowded into one apartment. Instruction in all the branches, from the simplest elements to the highest required in our common schools, devolves upon one teacher; the duties become too onerous, and the work hurried and superficial. There certainly should be a limit to the attendance at such schools, and trustees should be required to establish graded schools where needed. It is a mistaken notion that low salaries and crowded schools lessen the cost of instruction. Time is more especially money in our country districts where young persons are required to engage in the ordinary avocations of the locality at an early age. The need, then, of more instruction and individual attention, and a proper division of labour, so that progressive improvement may be successfully promoted is apparent. With regard to irregular attendance, so much has been said in former reports that a reference to it becomes a mere repetition. The |