withhold any further strictures or suggestions save upon one subject, that of Reading..

In this branch especially much improvement has been made, and yet there is room for still more advancement.

Pleasing and effective reading can be secured if the teacher will but see that the scholars have a clear conception of the sentiment of the piece; then with the aid of the imagination they will read as naturally as though they were reading their own composition. The teacher's own example in reading is a most important aid to the pupils in learning the distinction of inflection and modulation of the voice to suit the sentiment of the piece. If the teacher should be an indifferent reader, then the natural tones of voice of the pupil, as employed in common conversation, are safe guides.

Precepts and Rhetorical rules fail to give the varying shades of expression which accompany the emotions.

The pupil must be broken from the habit of reading in a sing-song and monotonous strain, by imitating the easy and modulated tones of the teacher.

A good elocutionist will exhibit to you a class of good readers.

One other subject. The sanitary condition of our school houses and premises, deserves the attention of all school officials. I have not unfrequently visited school rooms in which an utter disregard of the laws of health and the lives of the children was apparent, both on the part of the teacher and trustees. The air in some of those rooms was loathsome and impure, ventilation was disregarded, and disinfectants and precautionary measures entirely ignored, and the house and surroundings simply hot beds for the propagation of infectious diseases. To repeat an observation made in a previous report, "my experience in this matter justifies me in urging upon the Council of Public Instruction the carrying out of the suggestion of W. S. Darragh, to constitute every Inspector a health officer, required to enforce an efficient system of hygiene in our schools." Taking a retrospective glance at the schools in Queen's since 1874 when my duties as Inspector began, it is gratifying, in the face of the darkening cloud of financial embarrassment that has with strange fatality overshadowed the prospect of our county, to be able to report a gradual improvement in the schools both in number and efficiency.

The following figures show the increase in the number of schools since 1874:

In view of the reorganization of the Inspectoral work throughout the province, and the closing of my labors as an official, allow me in conclusion to kindly acknowledge your prompt and courteous attention to

1878..

1879.

all correspondence pertaining to the educational interests of the county. I would also return my sincere thanks to the many friends whose hospitality was so generously extended to me during my visitations, as well as to the Commissioners whose gratiutous services to the public deserve an expression of something more tangible than the thanks of the Inspector, assuring them also of my gratitude for their interest in my personal welfare in petitioning the representatives and recommending me for reappointment.

SIR, I beg respectfully to submit my report of the condition of the Schools of this county for the year just closed.

The number of Sections remains the same as last reported. Schools have been conducted in sixty-one of these some portion of the year. The remaining five Sections are thinly populated and without school houses.

At Middle Ohio and East Green Harbor Sections, houses have been erected, and sufficient done towards their completion to enable the trustees to open Schools during the summer term. Other houses have been repaired and improved seats and desks provided. With respect to the latter it is to be regretted that too frequently they are faulty in construction, both seats and desks being too high, and otherwise unadapted to the convenience and comfort of the pupils.

School grounds have not received much attention. There are several only partly cleared, and few that have been enclosed or properly arranged for the convenience and amusement of the pupils. In some Sections the only play ground is the public highway.

Of books and school apparatus the supply in most cases is tolerably good, in a few it is still inadequate. As a general thing sufficient black board surface is not provided. In some instances it is so faulty as to

be unfit for use. Maps of the Hemispheres and Nova Scotia are found in most of the Schools, but they are still wanted in a few others. More dictionaries and useful text-books for reference are also needed. If the Boards of Commissioners could be authorized to reserve a portion of the County Fund and apply it to the purchase of necessary books and apparatus, it would tend to promote successful teaching where it is now retarded by the lack of proper material.

The number of schools and the pupils registered will be best shown by the following table :—

The number in attendance some part of the year was 3,511. This table shews fewer pupils registered, but a larger average and grand total.

The proportion of the population at school, taken from the number present some part of the year, is 1 in 3.5. In the Sections without Schools there are not more than sixty children altogether, so it may be seen that but few in the county are deprived of school privileges. The number and grades of teachers were as follows:

A. B. C. D. Total. B. C. D. E. Total.

It will be seen that the proportion of male to female teachers was, in winter, less than half, and in summer less than one-fifth, of the total number employed. Only eight of the male teachers were engaged during the full year.

Young men seem to be withdrawing from or avoiding the teaching profession, and seeking more lucrative employment elsewhere, while their places are being filled by young women who, though often very efficient, are not likely to continue permanently.

The salaries of male teachers, from trustees, have varied from 120 to 500 dollars, and of females from 60 to 300 dollars. Good teachers get the higher salaries and the young and less skilful the lower. There are at present sufficient teachers for all the schools, but what is especially

needed is more of the better class. Trustees are willing to offer much larger salaries when they are confident good work will be done in the schoolroom. Where teachers of marked ability are located, we usually find more regular attendance of pupils, more progressive improvement, and more interest on the part of parents and trustees. The necessity of thoroughly trained teachers is therefore very apparent, and we cannot but kindly urge those who are aspiring to the office to avail themselves of the superior professional instruction obtainable at the Normal School, and by unremitting application become qualified for the duties they purpose to assume.

With respect to general progress, it is believed this has been continuous in most schools throughout the year.

Reading has been more carefully taught than formerly. Last winter a few of our teachers availed themselves of an opportunity afforded for receiving instruction from an elocutionist. The advantages were evident, and the effects were soon manifest in the better reading of their pupils. Some others have obtained that useful little drill-book Lewis' "How to Read," and express themselves as having derived much benefit from the directions given.

Spelling, since the excitement aroused by spelling matches a few years ago, has secured more than usual attention; rival contests in the schools are still indulged in, and a desire to excel in the exercises is a marked feature of the class work.

In writing, we do not find as much improvement as was anticipated. This doubtless is in part owing to an insufficient supply of stationery and to injudicious classification, yet from the fact that the writing in some schools much surpasses that in others of equal standing in other respects, it is inferred that in the latter there has been a lack of proper instruction and careful watchfulness.

A decided improvement is manifest in arithmetic, especially in the thoroughness of the work accomplished. The blackboard is brought more into requisition in explanation, and pupils are better taught to understand the practical bearing of the exercises given them.

I cannot say much about the instruction in music. It is mostly practised by note in schools where the teachers are themselves singers. Some lessons were given to the pupils of the Shelburne Town schools by an itinerant music teacher last summer. These proved very satisfactory, and created considerable interest on the subject in the community. If similar teaching would be given in all our schools, music would soon attain a more prominent position in them and be more assiduously cultivated.

In the other branches taught, such as Grammar, Geography, History, Geometry and Algebra, it is evident a very fair amount of progress has been made, as evinced by the County competitive examinations held at the close of the past two winter terms. Pupils from the Academy and other public schools of the county entered eagerly into the intellectual contest, and acquitted themselves so creditably as to merit the general commendation of the large number of spectators present and receive the encomiums of the examiners.

The schools in Shelburne Town have been very successfully con

ducted, good teachers being employed in all the departments. The Academy under the control of J. S. Morton, Esq., B. A., has been well attended, and continued advancement has been observable throughout the year. We regret that so efficient a teacher should have been led to abandon a position he seemed so eminently fitted to occupy. The school at Lockeport, now enlarged to three departments, is progressing favorably. Osborne, Sable and Jordan Schools are also in good working order. Several of the schools of the Barrington District, such as the Head, Hibbard's Brook, Passage and Doctor's Cove, have been admirably conducted, and the exhibit of proficiency among the pupils is a truthful reflex of the energy and ability of the teachers. It would be a pleasure to name other schools where good service has been performed did space permit, but these will suffice to shew that our schools are, on the whole, in a prosperous condition, and the expectations for the future are fully as hopeful as they have been at any time in the past.

In conclusion, I desire to tender my thanks to the Commissioners for their kindly advice and assistance in the discharge of my duties. These gentlemen often attend from a distance at considerable inconvenience and expense, and their self-sacrificing labors merit the gratitude of the county.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

SIR. The following is my Report as to the public schools of Victoria for the year ended October 31st, 1879:

The number of school sections now in the County (Dec. 1879), is 81. Three of these having been created during the last two semiannual meetings of the Board of School Commissioners; two of them at the May meeting, by dividing the section of North River into two sections, designated respectively: "North River, No. 54," and "Meadow, N. River, No. 80;" and that of Kempt Head into two named, "Kempt Head East, No. 44," and "Kempt Head West, No. 79;" and at the late November meeting that of Big Bras d'Or, into two, namely "Sea View No. 41, and Black Rock, No. 81."

The two former had been supplied with two school houses in each, so located that no change of site was required in consequence of the

division.

With regard to the Big Bras d'Or section, it appeared to the Commissioners that the only way likely to restore peace and harmony in said