for two years, and are renewable only upon examination; the first grade certificates are valid for five years, and are renewable, in the discretion of the commissioner, without examination. Some anxiety was felt as to whether there would be a sufficient number of licensed teachers to supply the schools, but there was little trouble from this cause.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES AND CLASSES.

The whole number of teachers attending the institutes during the year was 16,214, the average number to each institute being 147. Conductors, school officers, teachers, and patrons all unite in testifying to the successful operation of the institutes, the useful instruction given, and the great benefits received.

In order to increase the number of teachers who had received special professional instruction, the number of graduates of the normal schools not being sufficient to supply the schools, provision has been made by the State for a number of years for teachers' classes in academies and union schools. These classes are under the management of the board of regents of the university. During the past year there were 195 of these classes, in which 3,258 students received instruction for ten weeks or more, at a cost to the State of $33,091. These classes have hitherto failed to accomplish the work desired and expected. They should be reorganized and should have a much longer term than ten weeks. At a conference of the academic principals a resolution was adopted that, in order to increase the efficiency and usefulness of the teach: 18' classes, they should be placed under the management of the department of public instruction, as they would then be in closer relation with the other agencies for the instruction of teachers.

INDUSTRIAL AND FREE-HAND DRAWING.

There can be no doubt as to the advantages to be derived from manual training both in an educational and utilitarian view. As to whether the incongruous and irrelevant work advocated by some should be incorporated in the regular school work, however, is an entirely different question. The training of the eye and hand can be most fully and advantageously accomplished by thorough training in free-band aud industrial drawing, not simply drawing from copies, but from actual models. Strong efforts have been made during the past year to secure full compliance with the law requiring free instruc tion in this department to be given in cities and union free school districts. In some places the law was not complied with. Special attention has been given this subject in the teachers' institutes, and, after a little more time for preparation and improvement, it should be included in the examination of teachers.

LIBRARIES.

New York was the first State to begin the establishment of libraries in connection with schools. From 1839 to the present time an annual appropriation of either fifty or fifty-five thousand dollars has been made for libraries, but good libraries are not yet generally established. In 1853 the number of volumes reported in district libraries was 1,604,210; since that time, although the appropriation has been continued regularly, the number of volumes has regularly decreased until in 1887 the number of volumes was 737,716. The most of these are in the cities and large towns where there are other libraries, and where they are consequently not needed so much as in the isolated rural districts. There are many ways in which to account for these failures. The selection of books was left to the district trustees, who were frequently incompetent to discharge the task properly, book-cases were not provided and the books were not carefully looked after, and in many cases, especially where the amount was small, the money was diverted to other purposes.

Inquiries were sent out during the past year to many men prominently identified with the interests of the State, and to many librarians, asking their opinion as to the advisa bility of continuing the district libraries and, if continued, how best to improve them. They were almost unanimously of the opinion that the libraries should be continued and enlarged.

The libraries at first established were intended to be public libraries, and the management of them simply was intrusted to the teachers.

SCHOOL-HOUSE DESIGNS.

According to the authority granted by the Legislature in 1887, a number of designs for school-houses of low cost were obtained from different architects, and have been published, and received general commendation. The designs were accompanied with snggestions relative to school grounds, ventilation, lighting, heating, etc. Many applica tions have been received from all parts of the country for specifications and estimates necessary for the construction of the buildings. The designs serve the double purpose of emphasizing the importance of artistic and well-adapted buildings, and of securing their erection at the least cost.

OUT-BUILDINGS.

Strennous efforts have been made during the year to secure the general execution of capt of the laws of 1857, which provides that each school calling shall have water-closet accommodations for each sex, and entirely separated each iron the other, which shall be of suitable character and kept in proper conditiba.

The result has been a very general compliance with the statute, and an overhauling of school out-buildings such as the State never before witnessed.

Still, there are some

stricts School commissioners have been required to serily that all districts in the teritory have complied with the law, or to specity the ones which have failed to sal their reports show a few which have neglected the matter."

are should be a sanitary inspector of public school balldings whose duty it should see that all public school property was kept in a condition of healthfulness and

SCHOOL MEETINGS.

time of the annual school meetings is the second Tuesday in August, and the m's rsually begin in the first or second week of September. This does not afford a et interval for trustees to get the buildings in proper order, and for the employteachers. It frequently happens, too, that tek hers expect to teach in the same at by a change of trustees they are thrown out of employment and have not eat time to make proper arrangements for the next term. The school meeting d be held at least a month earlier.

INDIAN SCHOOLS.

There are 1,516 Indian children of school age in the different reservations in the State. There are thirty schools for them, and the number of children enroiled last year was

the average daily attendance 420. The average duration of the schools was thirty

AT weeks.

feat care has been exercised in the management of these schools; good teachers have employed, new school-houses erected, and oid ones repaired, so that the general pet of the schools has been better than that of most of the ordinary rural

ARBOR DAY.

reading to the laws of 1888 the Friday following the first day of May in each year Arbor Day. Programmes of suitable exercises for the occasion will be issued, it is hoped there will be a general observance of the day so that encouragement te given to the planting and preservation of trees and shrubs.

PEDAGOGICS IN COLLEGES.

Quite a number of graduates of colleges become teachers, and it would be well if more did so. In a few colleges provision is made for regular instruction in p-daIt is thought that it would prove highly satisfactory to teachers and a large of the students if the department of public instruction were authorized to furvarses of lectures for two or three weeks annually on education, school manage, and school methods in the different colleges desiring them.

APPORTIONMENT OF PUBLIC MONEYS.

a the district quotas, has been apportioned as tollows: One-half according to the school Hitherto the money supplied by the State superintendent to the counties, in addition

9. the other half according to the average daily attendance. But, as the avery attendance was higher where the terins were shortest, those counties which The Legislature of 1887 changed this so that the aggregate number of days' attendance sch ols for the minimum term of twenty-eight weeks received most money. 4ke the place of average daily attendance in the apportionment of funds. is recommended by the State superintendent that the minimum school term be

Ile thirty-two weeks instead of twenty-eight.

'NEW LEGISLATION.

May 15, 1887, requires that there shall be delivered to each person employed as a teacher Armorandum of the contract to be given each teacher.-An act passed by the Legislature and articularly the length of the term of employment, the amount of compensation, a public school a memorandum of "the details of the agreement between the parties, el that the pay shall be due "at least as often as the end of each calendar month the time or times when such compensation shall be due and payable," and it is re

the term of employment."

Bepervision over any school district of this State, shall provide suitable and convenient india to water-closets.-"The board of education, or the trustee or trustees having

water-closets or privies for each of the schools under their charge, at least two in number, which shall be entirely separated each from the other and having separate means of access, and the approaches thereto shall be separated by a substantial close fence not less than seven feet in height. It shall be the duty of the officers aforesaid to keep the same in a clean and wholesome condition and a failure to comply with the provisions of this act on the part of the trustees shall be sufficient grounds for removal from office, and for withholding from the district auy share of the public moneys of the State." Evening schools for free instruction in industrial drawing.-Authority is given the school officers to establish and maintain evening schools for free instruction in industrial drawing, whenever the city authorities in any city or the qualified electors duly convened in any union free school district shall so direct, and shall make provision for the maintenance of such schools. In addition to the powers now conferred by law upon the authorities of any city, or upon the electors of any union free school district in the State, such authorities and such electors shall also have power, whenever they shall think it advisable, to raise such moneys as shall be necessary to carry out the purposes of this

act."

The following laws and amendments to laws were passed by the Legislature of 1888: Teachers' certificates may be granted certain persons without an examination.-The State superintendent of education may, in his discretion, issue a certificate without examination to any graduate of a college or university, who has had three years' experience as a teacher, such certificate to be known as a college graduate's certificate," and may be revoked at any time for cause. He may also, in his discretion, indorse a diploma issued by a State superintendent or a State board of education of any other State, which indorsement shall render them equivalent to like diplomas and certificates granted in the State of New York. He may also issue temporary licenses to teach, limited to any school commissioner district or school district, and for a period not exceeding six months. School commissioners may make repairs or additions to school furniture. The law relating to the powers of school commissioner was so amended that he may direct the trustee to make any repairs or additions to school furniture deemed necessary, provided the expense shall not in any one year exceed one hundred dollars.

School commissioners may issue subpoenas to compel attendance of witnesses.-When directed by the superintendent of public instruction the school commissioner may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses, and upon failure to attend the delinquent may be fined by the county judge twenty-five dollars, and in case such penalty is not paid, he may be committed to jail for twenty-five days.

Town clerks to distribute books. It was made the duty of the town clerk to distribute to the trustees of the school districts and separate neighborhoods all books forwarded to him by the State super ntendent or school commissioner for that purpose.

Site not to be changed without the consent of the school commissioner. The law relating to changing the site of school-houses was amended so as to require the written consent of the school commissioner having jurisdiction before such change can be made.

School commissioner to appoint trustee to fill vacancy.-In case a vacancy in the office of school trustee is not filled in one month's time the school commissioner of the commissioner district may appoint some competent person to fill it, and shall file the appointment in the office of the district clerk; he may also accept the resignation of any school district officer. When a vacancy occurs in the board of trustees of a union school district, and the board makes no provision for filling it and no election is ordered for that purpose, it may be filled by the school commissioner having jurisdiction. But the superintendent of public instruction may order a special election to fill such vacancy.

No order or draft to be given unless there is money to meet it.-It is made a misdemeanor, punishable as such, for a trustee to give an order or draft upon a supervisor or collector unless such officer shall at the time have sufficient funds to meet the obligation.

Union free school districts may issue bonds for making additions to school-houses.-The law relating to the issuing of bonds by union free school districts was so amended that bonds may be issued for securing money to make additions, alterations, or improvements to buildings or structures belonging to the district.

Salary of deputy superintendent.--The salary of the deputy superintendent was fixed at four thousand dollars per annum.

Arbor Day established.-The Friday following the first day of May in each year was made Arbor Day, and it is made the duty of the school authorities of each school in the State to assemble the pupils upon that day in the school building or elsewhere, and to provide for and conduct such exercises as shall tend to encourage the planting, protecting, and preserving of trees and shrubs, and an acquaintance with the best methods to be adopted to accomplish such results. The State superintendent is authorized to prescribe a course of exercises and instruction in such subjects to be observed on that day. Industrial training provided for.--Boards or departments of education of cities and villages

and of union free schools and trustees of public school districts are authorized to establish departments in their schools for teaching and illustrating the manual or industrial arts, and to establish and maintain such shops as may be necessary for this purpose whenever the authorities now authorized by law to raise money by taxation for school purposes shall make provision for such departments, which they are now authorized to do. The State normal and training schools are required to include in their courses of instruction the principles underlying the manual or industrial arts, and also practical training in the same to such extent as the State superintendent may direct, and to such further extent as the local boards of such schools may direct.

NORTH CAROLINA.

[From Report for 1886-87 and 1887-88 of State Superintendent S. M. Finger.]

GENERAL STATEMENTS.

The statistical returns show that there has been a slight increase in school population, enrolment, and attendance. During the last four years the number of white children has increased 13.2 per cent., while the colored children increased 11.2 per cent. The increase in enrolment and average attendance of white children was a little greater than that of colored children. It is frequently stated that the colored children attend the public schools better than the white children, but the returns show that it is untrue. Besides, a large number of white children attend private schools. It should not be inferred from the fact that only 58 per cent. of the children are enrolled that the remaining 12 per cent, never attend school at all. Many of those not enrolled have already attended school, perhaps for several years, others will attend afterwards, while others still are attending private schools or colleges. The schools have enrolled a larger per cent. of the total population of the State than we find enrolled in several of the States where the public schools have been placed in a very prosperous condition.

While some improvement has been made in the condition of the school-houses, a large number of them are unfit for use, and, in many cases, it is with risk to the health of the children that they are used.

One of the worst features of the public schools of the State is the short length of time they are in operation, the terms varying from two to four months, the average being only about twelve weeks. It is, of course, impossible for the schools to accomplish much in such short terms. When it is considered that several other Southern States, situated in the same way and laboring under the same difficulties, have much longer school terms, it would seem that the people of the State are not doing all they can towards the improvement of the public schools.

TEACHERS.

There are many teachers throughout the State who are yet only school-boys and school-girls, without a sufficient knowledge of the studies they must teach, and espetaily without a knowledge of the best methods of imparting instruction and of governing a school. It is a very prevalent idea that it is only necessary for a person to understand the different text-books in order to make a successful teacher, but very great changes have been made in the methods of teaching, and as the public schools are permanent institutions, and those who become teachers in them are likely to remain so for several years, it is desirable that they acquire at first the knowledge which has been obtained by others after years of experience. The superintendent thinks that it would be well if some instruction as to the methods of teaching were given in the State UniTesty and the different colleges, but that a regular training school for white teachers should be established, eight thousand dollars per annum already being given to the normal schools of the colored people. The training school should be so conducted that the professors would have time to hold county institutes for two or three months in each

year.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

At

schools should be made treasurers of the boards of education, and so handle all of the It is urged that there are very strong reasons why the county superintendents of school money, instead of it being done by the county treasurers as is now the case. dote, while the county treasurer gets a larger amount for simply handling the money, present the county superintendent is paid from two to three dollars per day for the work which is a manifest injustice. Under the system before the War the county superinVisited the schools he was paid an additional amount. The expense of the school mandent was paid two and one-half per cent. for managing the school funds, and if he agement then was about the same as at present, but the superintendent got the benefit fit all. and so, as the remuneration was greater, better men could be obtained as superintendents. There is much greater need of competent superintendents now than

then, as there is much more work for them to do, and much greater need of supervision. While examinations serve as a primary test of the competency of teachers, the ultimate test can only be made in the school-room, and should be made by the superintendent, and the teacher graded accordingly. It is highly important that such legislation he made as will transfer the management of the school fands to the county superintendents, and if done the commission for its management may be reduced from three to two per cent., which will save a considerable amount. It would add very much to the convenience of teachers, committeemen, and others, and would secure to the State superintendent prompt reports of the receipts and disbursements of funds-something which he has not been able to obtain from county treasurers.

SCHOOL FUNDS.

The chief cause of inferior school-houses and insufficient teachers is the want of sufficient funds. While the amount spent for school purposes throughout the United States was about two dollars per capita of the total population, in North Carolina it was only thirty-nine cents per capita. The Constitution of the State requires the General Assembly to provide for the maintenance of a system of public schools by taxation and otherwise, and it is a mistake to suppose that measures for this purpose will be unfavorably received by the people. It is true that the people of the State are poor and should be taxed as little as possible, but on account of this poverty the public schools are a greater necessity, in order that the children may be educated at home.

MANUAL TRAINING AND INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.

In this respect the boys and girls in the rural districts have an advantage over those in the cities, for the work that a farmer boy has to do--sharpening plows, repairing machinery, making hoe-handles, ax-handles, etc.-requires him to reason, think, and observe. The girls, too, find abundant work in the field and house to keep both brains and hands busy, and to secure mental and physical development. Three-fourths of the people of the State are agriculturists, and, as soon as it can be done advisably, some instruction should be given in the public schools as to the elementary principles of agri

culture.

OPPOSITION TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Superintendent Finger states that it is needless to disguise the fact that there is strong opposition in North Carolina to the public school system. This arises in the first place from the sentiment that it is wrong to tax one man to educate the children of another. Those who hold to such opinions consider the education given by the public as a charity, just as when food is given to those suffering from want. But this was not the principle upon which State education was founded. It was thought necessary that the people be educated in order that they might properly discharge their duties as citizens, and secure the safety of the established institutions; and it was recognized that the material progress and prosperity of the people depended to a large extent upon their intelligence; proofs of which can be easily found in our own country.

Another cause of antagonism to the public schools is the heavy burden of taxation cast upon the impoverished white people of the State who pay nearly all the taxes which go to support the schools of both whites and colored. This antagonism is intensified by the prevalent opinion that education spoils the negro as a laborer. It is estimated, too, that from fifteen to twenty thousand negroes do not list themselves for taxation, and a large portion of those listed fail to pay the tax, so that in these two ways there is a loss to the school fund of about seventy-five thousand dollars, besides a loss to the poor fund of twenty-five thousand dollars.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

Although it was impossible to get full information as to the private schools and colleges of the State, the statistics are sufficient to show that this is a very important item and becoming more so every year. About twenty-five thousand of the young people of the State are attending them. It is a matter of congratulation that the efforts made to raise endowments for the different colleges of the State have been so successful, but efforts should be made to establish institutions for the young women also.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

The following recommendations were made to the Legislature: That the law be so amended as to require the condemnation of houses unit for use and the construction of better ones.

The establishment of a thorough system of county institutes and examination of teachers, and that all teachers be required to attend the institutes.

The establishment for the whites of a teachers' training-school, and an appropriation for this purpose and for the county institutes of $10,000 per anuum.