This is especially true of St. John county, where, before that, nearly all the houses were very badly furnished. The map of Geographical Terms is in about all the schools, Lesson Sheets in nearly all, and Weights and Measures in a large number; but the necessity of these is yet a mystery to many School Boards. They are at first regarded as a suspicious innovation, but when their use is explained they are usually procured. In many districts the teachers, aided by pupils, have given school concerts and have procured Globes, Dictionaries, Blinds, and even Furniture. A most gratifying feature has been the starting of School Libraries in a number of Districts. I hope before long to be able to report a much greater number of Districts taking part in this excellent work.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

During the year I have had to attend several special school meetings, and there have been disputes, as usual, but nothing of a serious nature; no law-suits have arisen out of school matters that I am aware of. The number of districts that fail, through neglect and other causes, to hold their annual meetings seems to be increasing. It is not always convenient for the Inspector to call them just when they are needed. He is away from home, the Chief Superintendent's consent is often required, and where the mail accomodation is poor it is difficult to time them so as to give the legal notice. I am sorry to say there are yet evidences of a disposition on the part of the majority in a few districts to curtail the school privileges of the minority.

The present assessment law entails hardship on many poor districts.

The best sentiment of this district is in favor of compulsory attendance at school.

GRAMMAR AND SUPERIOR SCHOOLS.

In

I am much pleased with the progress and character of the work done in nearly all these schools. I think, however, that more Mathematics and Science should be imparted to the pupils who attend them. As I reported last year, the work of the teachers in some of them is too heavy to be done in an entirely satisfactory manner. Charlotte County there are all the Superior Schools that the law will allow. In St. John County the number is the same as last year. I hope that many of the High Schools of the Province will follow the example of St. John, and adopt the Matriculation examination of the University as their standard for graduation. If this is done to any extent, no doubt the University authorities will assign papers more fully harmonizing with the requirements of Grade XII by laying more stress upon Science, Mathematics, and English than is at present done. If our University is to occupy its position as the keystone of the arch of our Common School System, there must be support from below and a closer union must be had with our High Schools. The University is for the schools, not the schools for the University. Matriculation will not mean attendance at the University, though it may have the effect of turning the attention of some in that direction. Still higher value would attach to the Certificates if a Common Standard of Matriculation could be agreed upon for the Maritime Provinces, or better yet for the Dominion.

ATTENDANCE.

Attendance in my territory has been, during the past two years, greatly curtailed by the prevalence of diseases. In 1889 it was the Scarlet Fever; in 1890 it has been La Grippe. Attendance will never be satisfactory until we have a compulsory clause introduced into our present otherwise excellent system.

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.

Vigilance has to be exercised to see that the course is being carried out in its entirety in some of the schools. In some the teachers themselves fail to carry out the course through neglect. In others it is not carried out owing to objections of ratepay. ers. Our teachers, I hope, are improving in their methods, but there is still a great lack of intelligent effort, the form and amount of the work being regarded rather than the influence it has upon the minds of the pupils.

COUNTY INSTITUTES.

County Institutes were held during the year at St. Andrews and St. John, and in both places were very largely attended. The Chief Superintendent of Education was present at both. A well attended public meeting was held in St. Andrews, which was addressed by the Chief Superintendent and Prof. Ganong, of Harvard. During the afternoon of the second day, the citizens of St. Andrews very generously provided conveyances for all the teachers attending, by which they were enabled to visit the points of interest about that most beautiful summer resort.

Respectfully submitted,

ST. JOHN, N. B., December 31st, 1890.

WILLIAM S. CARTER.

INSPECTORAL DISTRICT No. 6.

H. V. B. Bridges, A. M., Fredericton, N. B., Inspector.

This District comprises the County of York and the County of Carleton, except the Parishes of Aberdeen, Kent, and Wicklow. WM. CROCKET, Esq., M. A.,

Chief Supt. of Education,
Fredericton, N. B.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1890.

A glance at the detailed statement of educational work in the different parishes of this large Inspectoral District will, I think, show good substantial progress during the year just closed. Increased interest has been manifested on the part of Trustees in placing schools in operation, and in providing the school room with needful apparatus and new furniture. It is a matter of regret, however, that in some districts Trustees were unable to obtain a teacher. This has been the case during both terms of the year, which would apparently indicate that the supply of teachers is not equal to the demand. The changing of teachers from district to district during the past year has been more marked than has previously come under my notice. It is due more, per

haps, to the carelessness of Trustees in not at once securing the services of a good teacher for a longer period; and also to the desire of change on the teacher's part. No teacher can attain any marked results for good in so short a period as one term, and this seemingly-growing custom of changing from district to district does not promote the true

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welfare of our schools. The large majority of districts are now provided with good buildings, and no such activity as has been displayed in this direction the past few years may be looked for in the near future.

Below will be found a short review of the educational condition of the different parishes in this Inspectorate.

New Maryland.-In No. 1 A, Beaver Dam, where for two years there had been no school privileges, a school was placed in operation, and good work begun, but the school room was indifferently supplied with apparatus. In Nos. 2 and 3, where it has for some time been the custom to close school during winter months, ratepayers have signified their intention of maintaining school during the whole year. In No. 1, Miss Doak has successfully conducted the school for a number of years. At Green Point, No. 5, there are a number of children of an age to attend school, and able to report that a school has been opened there.

I hope soon to be

Nos. 4,

Kingsclear. The school in No. 9, Hanwell, which was closed the two previous years, has been opened by Trustees; building somewhat repaired; and some appliances furnished; school was doing excellent work when I visited it. At Yoho, No. 12, school was not in operation during term just closed. Trustees, however, intend opening it next term. It is but a new district, and by no means a wealthy one. 10, and 11 need new furniture badly; and at No. 2, Springhill, the building needs extensive repairs, or, perhaps better still, should be replaced by a new one. The buildings here, in outward appearance at least, are not objects of envy for the ratepayers in surrounding parishes.

Manners-Sutton.-As was the case during previous year, all the schools in this parish have been maintained throughout the year. Comparatively new buildings, with good furniture, and provided with necessary appliances, is the order of things here. Trustees, where they are able, en leavor to retain the services of a good teacher when they are fortunate enough to procure one. The house in No. 4, Central Harvey, has been provided with new furniture throughout, during the year. Miss McAlpine has taught this school with marked success the past three years. I regret not being able to report some improvement in the room for primary department at Harvey Station. Trustees asked the Annual Meeting to vote money for this purpose, but a majority of ratepayers voted it down. The building at present is not large enough to accommodate the large number of pupils in attendance.

Prince William.-The school at McAdam Junction, when I visited it, was not in an efficient condition. The enrolment is too large for one teacher without employing an assistant, and for this purpose the building should be enlarged. The Trustees, however, appear slow to act in the matter. The recent change in ownership of the railroad is probably responsible for this. During the year, a new building was begun and slowly brought to completion at Blaney Ridge, on the plan of ratepayers paying their taxes by work upon building. It is a slow way of erecting a new house, and one doubtful in its expediency. Houses in Nos. 1 and 7 need repairing, and the former needs new furniture. At No. 5, Magundy, a play-ground has been purchased, and newly fenced. This supplies a long-felt want. The building at Lower Poquioc, was repaired andthe room newly papered.

Dumfries. During the early part of the year, the building in No. 5, Allendale, was extensively repaired, but, on account of Trustees not bestirring themselves soon enough, they were unable to obtain a teacher; the school thus remained closed during the year. No one, however, regretted this more than the Trustees, and the same state of affairs is not likely to happen again. The building in No. 2 presents an inferior appearance from without, and there has been considerable talk of erecting a new one, but still it is comfortable enough within. The school at St. Croix remained closed during the last term of year. For this action, or rather inaction, on the part of Trustees, I

am unable to find any specific reason. There is a likelihood of Nos. 6 and 9 being organized at an early date; in fact, I do not think there are, at present, any families permanently residing within their boundaries.

Canterbury. The building at Canterbury Station, which was destroyed by fire during last winter, has been replaced by a handsome new structure, of two departments, furnished anew throughout with desks and appliances; and the Trustees deserve great credit for the energy thus displayed in erecting a substantial building in so short a time. This school during the coming winter will be conducted as a graded school. The building in No. 22 was also destroyed by fire during last term, but it will be replaced as soon as possible. Schools in Nos. 10, 12, 10 and 13 were closed last term on account of Trustees not being able to procure teachers. The usual inactivity has been displayed in No. 7, in school matters; a school will be maintained here, however, during the coming year. I am unable to see the necessity of the existence of Dead Creek, No. 10, as a district. It is situated on the same road, and mid-way between Nos. 9 and 11; and the buildings in these last two districts are not over three miles apart. If No. 10 was annexed to these two districts, no ratepayer would have right to complain of his distance from school, and they would thus be better enabled to run school throughout the year. Nos. 5, 9, 10, and 21, which have not lately done so, intend to open their school during winter months hereafter.

North Lake. Of the eight districts in this Parish, all were in operation during the term just closed. The new building at No. 18 was opened during the year. Nos. 13 and 15 intend maintaining school throughout the whole year which has not lately been their custom. New buildings will soon be a necessity in Nos. 19 and 19; and the house in No. 17 will be repaired during the present year.

St. Marys. Twenty-one schools and departments were in operation in this Parish during last term of the year, those at Gibson and the town of Marysville being graded schools of four departments each. There will probably be two new districts divided off in this Parish during the coming year, Glencoe and Wellington settlements. The house in No. 1 has not yet been moved to the centre of district. A number of districts in this Parish vote money to maintain school but nine months in the year, beginning in April; at that time of the year, however, they cannot always obtain a teacher, and in that case they have but six months school during the year. Houses in Nos. 7 and 14 were repaired.

Stanley. The seventeen districts in this Parish were all maintaining schools when I visited them during the past term. There has been no move in Stanley Village yet for a Superior School. The large enrolment, generally upwards of seventy, necessitates a

1

trained assistant to render the school really efficient; this school is run on too cheap a scale to promote its real welfare. Giant's Glen, No. 4, is too poor a district, and should be enlarged by the addition of some wild land from surrounding districts. Repairs upon buildings in Nos. 1, 5, and 16, were made during the year. A large number of children in No. 6, Williamsburgh, at both extremities of district, are situated upwards of two miles from school; I think that a division should be made.

Douglas.In this large Parish, the schools have been maintained regularly throughout the year, and have for the most part been conducted by very capable teachers. The efficiency of schools in Nos. 1 and 3 would be much increased if, instead of employing untrained assistants, graded schools were established in each. The enrolment in No. 3 seldom falls below eighty, and that in No. 1 never below seventy. In No. 1, Mr. A. W. Hickson taught the school successfully for the past three terms. The Trustees, none of whom are directly interested in maintaining an efficient school, resolved upon a cheaper teacher, much to the regret of those ratepayers who had children attending school. The building in No. 12, Royal Road, was destroyed by fire during the year, and unfortunately was not insured; it has been replaced by a house with a second story which was intended to be used as a hall. This action on the part of Trustees has given rise to considerable dissatisfaction on the part of some ratepayers. In No. 4 a new building would be an agreeable change to both teacher and pupils.

Bright.-At Staples Settlement, No. 11, a new building has been erected and school begun in it during the year. This should have been done the preceding year. Mr. Dennison, after six years efficient service at Smith's Corner, resigned to pursue a more lucrative line of business. The Superior School at Keswick Ridge was but ill attended when I visited it. This school seems to have fallen away somewhat from its former reputation. In No. 7 they were not able to obtain a teacher during last term, and in this respect they have before been very unfortunate. Extensive repairs and new furniture are needed on the building in No. 9.

Queensbury. In No. 7, Caverhill, the school which for years has not been used during winter months will be kept in operation the whole of the coming year. Schools are 'maintained elsewhere throughout the Parish very regularly, excepting Nos. 1 and 2. In No. 2 the pupils are hardly old enough to attend school in winter; Miss Estabrooks conducted this school very satisfactorily during last term.

Southampton.-Commendable activity has been displayed in educational matters in this Parish during the year; all the nineteen schools, including Howland Ridge, which is partly in Bright, having been in operation. In No. 18 the building was hurriedly completed and a teacher employed for the first time. In No. 19, Granville, a new district school has been in operation throughout the year; the ratepayers deserve great credit for the energy they have displayed both in erecting a building and employing a teacher, as the settlement is not yet four years old. A school was opened for the first time in No. 17, Waterville, in the recently erected house; at my visit there were enrolled thirty-two, of all ages from five to twenty, none of whom were quite up to the third standard. I regret to say that the difficul y for some time existing between ratepayers in Campbell Settlement, No. 8, has not yet been amicably settled. A class-room assistant should be employed at Millville school. In No. 1, school room was plastered inside.