though not least, in the convergence of all lines of educational work toward one general ystem of schools for the Territory. Our people are looking more to the kind of training their pupils are receiving. Our teachers are becoming more professional, and are putting forth much greater efforts to prepare themselves for efficient service, as is attested by a greatly enlarged attendance upon the teachers' institutes, associations, and normal schools. The people generally take a lively interest in school affairs, and are proud of our educational progress and standing, and are each year making greater efforts and sacrifices in behalf of our school system. There is no demand made upon them that is so readily and generously supplied as the demand for funds for school purposes. We have reasons to be satisfied with the present and hopeful for the future."

CITY GRADED AND HIGH SCHOOLS.

"Great progress is being made by the principal cities in the Territory in matters pertaining to education. Fine and substantial buildings are being erected, and all the apparatus and appliances are being provided that are necessary for thorough school work. Skillful and experienced teachers are being sought in the educational centers of the East, and modern methods are adopted in all of the schools. Good salaries are usually paid, and tenure of office of both principals and teachers is becoming more permanent."

SCHOOL LANDS.

"No subject incident to the school affairs of Dakota is of greater interest and importance to her people than the subject of school lands. Hon. P. F. McClure, commissioner of immigration of the Territory, estimates the number of acres of school lands at three millions, and the estimate is a low one. At the very moderate valuation of six dollars per acre these lands represent a magnificent school fund of eighteen million dollars. If this sum were at the present time paying five per cent., the annual income from this source would be nearly sufficient to cover half the total expenditures for school purposes in Dakota. In their present condition the schools are deriving no benefit from them. Although the lands of the Territory generally are rapidly increasing in value, in many places the school lands are depreciating in value. Unoccupied lands in the eastern part of the Territory are becoming very scarce and the pressure of settlers is very great, so that much of the school land is occupied and cultivated. It is not a rash estimate that puts the portion of the school lands now cultivated at one-fourth of the whole. Each crop taken from them is impoverishing the land and diminishing its value, for the cultivator is anxious to get all he can from it without making any return to the land and with the least possible care of it. Many sections through this neglect are growing up to noxious weeds and will soon be in a condition that will make them valueless to any one. We would earnestly urge the Department of the Interior to take such steps as may be deemed wise to prevent further despoliation of these lands, that the people of this Territory, in whose behalf they have been set aside, may receive them undiminished in value. We would most respectfully advise that Congress take action authorizing their rental for the benefit of the schools of the Territory. In many parts of the Territory the lands would readily rent at the rate of from fifty cents to one dollar per acre for grain-raising purposes, while the unbroken sections would be easily disposed of at a fair rent for hay and pasturage, and the value to the new State remain undiminished. We believe that such a disposal of them would meet the universal approval of our people. In a new country like this the demands upon the people that must be met by way of taxation are very numerous and burdensome. In some counties the rate of levy for school purposes alone is 27 mills, a tax that would not be levied or borne in many of the older and more wealthy States. Many of the people have come here to make homes, and have brought little capital with them besides their courage and energy, and the burdens of taxation are very grievous. A small income now from the school lands will be far more helpful to them than four times the amount ten years hence. We would, therefore, respectfully urge that immediate steps be taken to prevent further waste of the school lands and to give the people of the Territory some present benefit from them."

DELAWARE.

[From Report for 1888 of A. N. Raub, President of the State Board of Education.]

GENERAL STATEMENTS.

The president of the State board of education thinks that it was the intention of the framers of the law of 1887 that a biennial report should be made by the State board of education on the first Tuesday of December, 1888. instead of in 1889; and he has acted upon this presumption.

Great difficulty has been experienced in collecting full and accurate stati ties under

the new law, as its requirements are so meagre and the incorporated boards are under no obligation to furnish statistics to the county superintendents.

It is not deemed advisable to recommend the adoption of a law for compulsory school attendance, as it would probably prove inoperative and unpopular.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENCY.

The law establishing county superintendency proves to be a very wise one; the superintendents appointed by the Governor have discharged their duties faithfully and conscientiously. The schools have been regularly visited by them, and the examinations carefully conducted; they have held annual county institutes in which thoroughly qualified instructors were employed, and from which the teachers doubtless received great benefit.

The term of office of the county superintendent should be at least two years, and it would be better if it were four years; and the superintendent should be required to possess special qualifications and experience in teaching.

TEACHERS' CERTIFICATES.

According to the present regulations, a candidate who answers sixty per cent. of the questions given at a teachers' examination is entitled to a third-grade certificate which is valid for one year; but to obtain a second-grade certificate, which is only valid for two years, it is necessary to answer ninety per cent. of the questions. In most of the States the ability required to obtain this second-grade certificate would entitle to a certificate practically good for life. Correct answers to eighty per cent. of the questions should entitle to a second-grade certificate.

The law as to first-grade certificates is somewhat indefinite; but it requires that the applicant shall be qualified in certain specified branches, and the certificate is valid only for three years, presumably in the county for which it was issued. It should be valid throughout the State, and should be renewable every three years by the county superintendent.

Certificates valid for life should also be issued to those who had held first-grade certificates and had taught successfully for a certain number of years, as this would prove an incentive to teachers to make teaching their life-work, and would elevate the profession.

It is thought, too, that the life certificates of other States should be recognized in Delaware if a like courtesy were shown in other States to the holders of life certificates issued by Delaware.

THE HUNDRED SYSTEM.

The efficiency of the schools would be very much increased by abolishing the school districts and making the hundreds, as at present constituted, the school units; thus adopting what is called in the western States the township system. Or a modification of this system might be adopted by dividing the hundreds into incorporated boroughs and rural districts.

One advantage arising from this system would be that a high school might be established in each hundred.

TEMPERANCE INSTRUCTION.

The law requiring instruction in temperance and hygiene is faithfully observed, but it cannot be expected that a law so loosely worded can effect much in a short time, as the instruction may be given only once a week or even once a month.

FREE TEXT-BOOKS.

A law should be enacted permitting each district to furnish free text-books to its pupils, as it gives eminent satisfaction wherever it has been tried, and when once adopted is never abandoned. It would secure books at less cost, and increase the attendance of pupils, as indigent pupils would not be kept at home on account of the expense of furnishing them with books; it would secure a better classification of pupils, and obliterate class distinctions.

INCORPORATED SCHOOL BOARDS.

According to the present laws, schools having incorporated school boards have no supervision except that given by the commissioners, and their teachers are exempt from examination. It would be better if all the schools of a county, except those under special superintendents, were placed under the county superintendent.

NORMAL TRAINING.

Delaware, like most of the other States and of the Territories, should have an institution for the special training of teachers, and a diploma from it should entitle the holder,

after some years of successful experience, to teach without further examination. "Teaching will in time be recognized as a profession if teachers be trained in their work, and we ought to do for the Delaware teachers what other States are doing for theirs. Many of our brightest young men and women drift to the State Normal Schools of other States for their training, thus expending thousands of dollars abroad that ought to be made to contribute to the prosperity of our own State. But a possibly worse feature is the fact that most of these teachers remain in other States after receiving their training, and teach where their diplomas are recognized as valid without further examination. Our State thus loses many good teachers whose services are needed at home."

RECOMMENDATIONS.

Provision should be made for taking a census of the school population at least every two years. At present it is impossible to ascertain what per cent, of the children of school age are attending school.

An "Arbor Day" should be established. The Governor should be authorized and requested to appoint a day, not later than the first of March in each year, to be spent by the pupils and their friends in adorning the school grounds and their homes by the planting of trees and shrubbery.

The members of the State board of education receive no salary for their services, but they should at least receive sufficient compensation to cover the necessary expenses of stationery, travelling, etc,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

[Report of Board of Trustees for 1887-88.]

The committee of the board of trustees state that a very hopeful advance was made by the schools of the District during the year 1887-88; that the appropriations made by Congress during the two preceding years had done much to overcome the great need of the public schools, increased accommodations for the pupils; but still the two most urgent wants of the schools, in order to secure their complete success, are increased accommodations for the pupils of the high schools and more liberal salaries to the teachers.

ATTENDANCE.

The total enrolment of pupils in the public schools during the year was 34,850; the average enrolment 28,553; showing that the enrolment during each month of the year was, on an average, 6,297 less than the entire enrolment. The census taken by the police in June, 1888, showed the whole number of children of school age, six to seventeen years inclusive, to be 51,500; number enrolled in the public schools, 34,850; in private schools, 3.119; total enrolment, 37,969. The difference between the school population and the average enrolment in the schools was 20,389. This can be accounted for to a large extent. Many children that have been enrolled Icave the city and thereby leave the schools; many of the older pupils leave the schools to enter upon some business of life; some leave because of sickness or death. But, after making due allowance for all these, a large number of absences are unaccounted for.

The question then arises, In what way can the public schools help to overcome this non-attendance? In the first place, ample provision should be made for pupils in comfortable, well-lighted, and well-ventilated buildings where they could receive full attention during the whole school day, instead of for two or three hours in the morning or afternoon.

In the second place, the school should furnish efficient and interesting work, suited to the capacities of all the children, and such as they see will be of help to them in their life work.

It was noticed during the year that a large number of children within reach of the rural schools were not attending, and so the teachers made visits to their parents to induce them to send their children to school; and, as a result, the schools were soon filled with children who had been remaining at home simply on account of the indifference of parents or children. In a few cases, however, it was found that the non-attendance was occasioned by inability to buy books or proper clothing.

TRUANCY AGENT.

It is thought that if there were a truancy agent whose duty it would be, under the direction of the superintendent or other authority, to seek out the absent or tardy children, that the school attendance would be very much increased without the necessity of resorting to arbitrary compulsion. A truant law without a truancy agent would prove a failure.

VENTILATION.

Upon this subject Superintendent Powell says: "The school-rooms that have been provided during the last ten or more years are cheerful, thoroughly ventilated, and healthful. I am glad to be able to say the system of ventilation employed ventilates, and ventilates in spite of the preoccupation of the teacher or of the janitor. In respect of heating, lighting, and ventilation, nothing more is to be desired in the new buildings. Some of our older buildings, however, although fine, imposing structures, are poorly ventilated or are not ventilated at all. The more prominent of the former are the Franklin and the Jefferson; of the latter, the Wallach and the Cranch. Nothing, to my mind, should be urged more strongly, save only additional accommodations, than the improvement of the ventilating processes in the buildings named and in a few others. So easily may this be done, and at such a trifling expense comparatively, with the knowledge now possessed, that I should feel myself remiss did I fail to call your attention to this most urgent need and thus emphasize the suggestions of my co-laborers."

HIGH SCHOOLS.

The attention of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia is again most urgently called to the needs of the high schools, both of the colored and white children. The colored high school is situated in an extremely inconvenient locality for the greater portion of pupils attending it; it is poorly adapted to the purpose, and all the accommodation which it affords is urgently needed to meet the demands of the section of city in which it is located for schools of a lower grade.

The necessity for increased accommodations for the Washington High School was presented to the Commissioners in the last report, but as it was necessary to make additional provision for the primary schools also, the preference was given to the latter, and the high school was neglected; and, as was predicted by the trustees, a large number of children, entitled to admission by proficiency and deportment, made application, but on account of the limited accommodation three hundred and ninety-eight pupils, out of a total attendance of nine hundred and ninety-seven, could only receive instruction during one-half of each day. It is estimated that the total attendance during the current year will approximate twelve hundred pupils with accommodation for about seven hundred and fifty, and unless additional room is provided, it is probable that in another year all the pupils will be limited to half-day sessions. It is, of course, an injustice for some pupils to be limited to a half-day at school while others attend the full day's session. Full and ef fective work can not be done by either teacher or pupil where the instruction is limited to the short space of time devoted to recitations. In the high school, each teacher gives instruction in a particular branch to each class studying it, and when a class has recited to one teacher it goes to the room of another; hence it is necessary that all the teachers be in the same building.

It is worthy of special note that a much larger proportion of the boys and girls of this city continue their studies until they have entered the high school than is found to be the case in scarcely any other large city.

There are three courses of study in the high school: An academic course, a scientific course, and a business course; the first two requiring a period of three years, and the last a period of two years for completion of the prescribed work.

PHYSICAL TRAINING.

"The manual training now given to boys, together with their active and varied sports, afford much exercise for them. The industrial work for girls and their sports are less eneficial, afford less of vigorous exercise. Neither the industries nor the sports insure that systematic physical training or cultivation that is desired.

"Exercise is not cultivation. Exercise specifically directed and methodically taken results in cultivation.

"Calisthenic exercises are now employed by some of our teachers but not by all, and, I fear, not by many. The work done by these is apt to be spasmodic, and not being continned by the succeeding teacher of the school, is of little value comparatively."

"The good effects of the military drill given to the boys in the high school are apparent, whether the boys drill, march in military garb, walk across the school-room, or sit in recitation. These results are obtained by methodical exercises, each of which is had for a definite purpose. The lack of corresponding training is noticeable in the movements not only of girls in the high school but also below the high school, but the painful manifestation of the lack of physical cultivation is the absence of vigor and the presence of lassitude.

"The exercises of the school should be an alternation of mental and physical effort, both of which to be most profitable must be specifically directed and methodically done. If during the physical exercises the perfect ventilation of the room is assured, the school

would become a place to be sought and attended for health and physical cultivation, as well as for mental growth and improvement.

"I suggest the employment of two or more teachers of health exercises. These teachers would occupy the same relative positions that are held by the teachers of drawing or of music, and would do their work in a corresponding way. Pupils might by this means be trained systematically in manual exercises as well as in vocal exercises by the special teachers visiting the schools at stated intervals to give the instruction, the regular teacher repeating and supplementing the exercises for recreation and cultivation during the intervals of absence of the special teacher. Such exercises would help in the reading lessons, in the music lessons, in the drawing and writing lessons, and would give health and grace to all the children."

LIBRARIES AND APPARATUS.

It has been the constant aim of the teachers to reduce the didactic memoriter methods of instruction to the lowest, and to substitute examinations and investigations in the library and laboratory. For this purpose there is need of suitable reference books and libraries containing historical, biographical, and scientific works, to which the teachers and pupils can have ready access; and there is need also of objects for investigation and illustration; so that pupils shall not always be required to examine books to obtain information. The demands upon the contingent fund for other purposes, as for instance the supplying of rented buildings with seats, have been so great that little help could be given from this source. In some instances money was obtained to supply these wants by giving concerts, by contributions, etc.; but it cannot be expected that much will be accomplished in this way.

SALARIES OF TEACHERS.

At present the prescribed average salary is $670 per annum, and the board of trustees unanimously recommends that it he increased to $6-5 per annum. The salary of messengers in the departments of the Government is $40 per annum, and that of assistant messengers is $720, in both cases the salaries being higher than that of the cultivated teachers of the District who were required to spend years in preparing for their work. The proportion of children in the schools of high grade is much larger than in most other cities, and consequently more teachers of high attainments and experience are needed, and their salaries should be higher.

The appropriations of the last three years for school purposes have been accompanied with a restriction forbidding an increase in the number of teachers in any grade receiving $500 or more. It is earnestly recommended that, if any restriction at all of this kind is needed, the limitation be $1,200 instead of $300.

The number of pupils in the eighth grade and in the high schools has greatly increased in the last few years, so that more teachers have become necessary for their instruction, but teachers of sufficient attainments to fill these places, and who have had experience, can obtain larger salaries; consequently several of the best teachers have resigned to accept situations elsewhere, and it has been found necessary to employ young college graduates who, in many cases, possessed fine ability, but who were entirely without experi

ence.

MANUAL TRAINING.

"The school year was marked by the formal introduction of manual training into the curriculum of the public schools of the district.

"Every thing done in this branch of education was done with the purpose, ultimately, of adding the different parts thereof to the course of instruction and introducing them into their respective grades of school throughout the district. The appropriation for manual training, $5,000 (for plant only), was such that this could be only partially accomplished the past year.

That the value and practicability of the work might be tested it was engrafted in its entirety on the schools of a portion of the district. For instance, carpentry work, cooking, and sewing were introduced into all the schools of the third division in which it is proposed to teach these subjects respectively.

"A corresponding introduction of these studies was made in some schools of the second and fourth divisions and also in the high school."

"Throughout the district, at this writing, sewing teachers, eight in number, teach classes of girls of the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Seven thousand girls are taught plain sewing, running, hemming, felling, darning, and button-hole stitch, etc. This work has served a double purpose-the one for which it was designed (that of giving instruction in sewing), and another, that of increasing the interest in other school work. It refreshes and invigorates; it introduces a marked change which breaks up the oft-time dull routine so destructive to the spirit of real intelligent work.

"Two thousand girls from the seventh and eighth grades and from the high school