II. CITY OF FREDERICTON.

Board of School Trustees.
HON. A. F. RANDOLPH, Chairman.

WESLEY VAN WART, Esquire.
JAS. T. SHARKEY, Esquire.
JULIUS L. INCHES, Esquire.
CHAS. A. SAMPSON, Secretary.

A. A. STERLING, Esquire.
G. E. COULTHARD, Esquire, M. D.
JOHN J. WEDDALL, Esquire.

JAS. R. INCH, Esq., LL. D.,

Chief Superintendent of Education.

SIR: The Board of School Trustees of the City of Fredericton beg herewith to submit their report on the schools under their supervision for the year ended 31st December, 1893.

In June last the members of the Board gladly welcomed the chairman home and to his seat at the Board after an absence in Europe of more than twelve months. The personnel of the Board remains the same as the previous year, and in addition to the regular monthly meetings several special meetings were held during the year, at which matters affecting the general interests of the shools were always carefully considered. The term of office of Wesley VanWart, Esquire, expired on the 31st December, and at a subsequent meeting of the City Council he was re-appointed.

We are pleased to be able to report the completion of the York street new school building, in which the Grammar School is conveniently located. Here all the grades of the Common School system are grouped under one roof. This building, which has been carefully erected by Contractor Limerick from plans prepared by Mr. J. C. Dumaresq, of Halifax, and under the superintendence of Mr. John Hodge, presents a fine appearance, and is easily placed in line with the many handsome public buildings in the city. It is two storys, with mansard roof, and is built of brick with freestone trimmings. There are ten class-rooms 30x35, each with cloak-room attached, and a large assembly hall on the third floor. In addition to the class and cloak rooms there are four convenient rooms used as library, laboratory, private study room and janitor's room. sheathing and trimmings in the corridors and class-rooms are all in natural wood, giving the interior a light and cheerful appearance. A commodious basement furnishes accommodation for the scholars in stormy weather, and affords ample storage room for fuel, etc. The building is warmed and ventilated by the Smead-Dowd Co. system, and the plan seems particularly well adapted to our cold climate. The Smead system of dry closets is arranged in basement, and so far works most satisfactorily. Five furnaces erected in the centre of the basement furnish the heat, and wood is used

as fuel.

The building was completed and handed over in August last, and its total cost was about $27,000.

In the High School for the year 1892-3 there were enrolled in the third year class 20 pupils; in the second year, 42; in the first year, 51.

Of the twenty in the third year class 15 were graduated. Of these graduates 11 matriculated at the University of N. B., and 4 entered at Normal School.

Many features of the work during the year brought encouragement to the teachers, especially in the improved attendance of pupils in many of the departments. As a result of the experience and energy on the part of the members of the teaching staff, good work was accomplished; and, taken altogether, satisfactory progress was made in the schools generally, notwithstanding several unavoidable changes in the staff of teachers and the consequent interruption of the work in the class-room.

At the close of the First Term Miss Annie L. Gregory resigned her position on the High School staff, and having subsequently changed her domestic relations, her services are lost to the profession. Miss Lottie E. Cliff, for many years a successful member of the staff, found it necessary early in the year to resign, owing to severe trouble in her head which terminated in blindness. The following resolution was adopted by the Board: "We have learned with deep regret of the sad affliction which has overtaken Miss Lottie E. Cliff, one of the most painstaking members of our teaching staff. Her long and faithful service in the employ of this Board, and the practical results of her work in the class-room, have been demonstrated by the constant expressions of love manifested by her pupils. We now place on record our appreciation of her work, and express the hope that during her forced retirement from the duties she loved so well, that her reflection upon the past may ever evoke pleasant reminiscences of other days and enable her to yield willing submission to the Dispensation of an all-wise Providence." On account of ill-health Miss A. G. Duffy was granted leave of absence for a portion of the First Term, during which time her school was conducted by Miss E. M. Williamson. Miss M. E. S. Nicolson was transferred from Wiseley School to the school vacated by Miss Cliff, and Miss Maud S. Wheeler was placed in charge of Wiseley School. Owing to the limited attendance of pupils at the schools at Wiseley and Doak Settlement, these schools were closed at the end of the First Term.

The opening of the York Street new schoool building after the summer vacation necessitated some further changes. Mr. B. C. Foster, for some time head master of the Collegiate School, was placed in charge of this important building. Mr. J. M. Palmer was appointed second master, and Mr. G. A. Inch, for a number of years principal of the York Street old School, was appointed on the staff of the Grammar School and assumed the duties of science instructor. Miss E. L. Thorne was transferred from Grades V. and VI. Charlotte Street School to charge of Grade VIII. York Street School, and Mr. Foster so arranged the work of the Grammar School that by the interchange of classes Miss Thorne was able to give instruction to all the classes in English subjects. Miss A. Hooper was transferred from Morrison's Mill School to third department of York Street School, and Miss E. B. Hunter was appointed on the staff and placed in charge of Morrison's Mill School. We began the work of the Second Term feeling that

our staff of teachers was never stronger and that the outlook for increased educa tional progress was never brighter. The new building proved to be admirably adapted to the work and each teacher was a specialist in his particular subject. However, the Board found it necessary to at once curtail its annual expenditure owing to the yearly deficit in the amount of the assessment received from the city. This fact necessitated another readjustment of the staff of teachers at close of the year. Mr. Edwin T. McKnight, Principal of Charlotte Street School, having resigned, this position was offered to Mr. Geo. A. Inch, but he declined to accept it. Miss E. L. Thorne was transferred to charge of Grade IX., and Miss E. B. Hunter was transferred from Morrison's Mill School to Grade VIII., York Street School, so that this school will begin the new year with the foregoing teachers.

Most satisfactory work was done during the year in the several departments of the Model School. Miss H. H. Richardson, who assumed charge of the third department a year ago, was singularly successful in its management and we are sorry to learn of her withdrawal from the service. We anticipate the same measure of success from her successor, Miss Clara Bridges.

The staff of teachers in the Regent Street Schools remains the same as last year and excellent work continues to be done there. Miss O'Mahoney remains in charge of the interesting department in Brunswick Street School.

The Charlotte Street School maintains its usual standard of excellence. The past year, under the principalship of Mr. McKnight, was one of its best. This gentleman having resigned at close of the year, Mr. H. H. Hagerman was appointed to succeed him.

In his annual report to the Board Mr. Mullin, the examiner, furnishes valuable information respecting the qualifications of each teacher, the methods employed and the results reached. After speaking of the grading in the several departments, he says that "the pupils of Grade VIII. from the different schools were subjected to a written test of the year's work. They were all brought together for this purpose in the Assembly Hall of the Normal School. This is the best way, perhaps, to secure trustworthy results in their cases. The tests can be made absolutely uniform and, if well selected, they are equitable. All the schools were fairly represented in this general test, though in some cases the pupils did not come forward. In this connection I would suggest that the Board give certificates to those pupils who complete the Common School Course. This would be an inducement for all to come up for examination, and the certificates would be valuable in many ways to the pupils.