Norfolk County, 4.-Randolph, 1; Medfield, 1; Wrentham, 1; Stoughton, 1. Worcester County, 3.-Worcester, 1; Sutton, 1; Oxford, 1. Essex County, 1.-Methuen, 1. Maine, 4. The number at present in attendance is in the Senior Class, 25; 12 males, 13 females. Middle Class, 32; 6 males, 26 females. Junior Class, 22; 4 males, 18 females. Resident Graduates, 1. Total, 80. The whole number of scats in the school hall is 84, occupying nearly as much space as can conveniently be covered for that purpose. The Occupations of the parents of the pupils in these several classes are as follows: Senior Class-10 Farmers; 3 Merchants; 1 Carpenter; 2 Sea Captains; 3 Shoemakers; 1 Brickmaker; 2 Clergymen; and 3 deceased. Middle Class-12 Farmers; 1 Merchant; 3 Machinists; 2 Manufacturers; 1 Sea Captain; 3 Shoemakers; 1 Clergyman; 2 Carpenters; 1 Tailor; 1 Meat Dealer; 1 Furnaceman; and 3 deceased. Junior Class-12 Farmers; 2 Carpenters; 1 Blacksmith; 1 Merchant; 1 Sea Captain; 1 Physician; 1 Accountant; and 3 deceased. The number of pupils who have received aid from the State during the year is 24, and the amount which they have received is $562. This is the largest sum which has yet been paid in one year at this school. Only one course of lectures has been given since the last annual meeting of the Board-a series of six lectures on Chemistry, by Mr. Sharp, which was quite useful. Mr. Blanchard continues to give instruction in Music, twice a week, occupying about one hour each time, with considerable success. The general course of instruction and training pursued in this school appears to be well adapted to promote its great object-the suitable preparation of teachers' of our Common Schools. The discipline of the school is kind, firm, effective; and the order is generally excellent. The teaching is thorough, practical, earnest; and is calculated to arouse and direct a proper enthusiasm for study. It is the aim and effort of the instructors to promote a high moral sense, and genial intercourse among the pupils. The Recess, lately constructed in the rear part of the school hall, for the accommodation of book shelves and a table, where the pupils can more conveniently consult books and maps, is found very useful. This increased library room renders the wants of an additional number of suitable books for reading and especially for reference, clearly apparent; while the number could be enlarged with great advantage to the school. An appropriation for this purpose from the legislature seems very desirable. For the Visitors, BOSTON, Dec. 30, 1856. EDWARD OTHEMAN. Report of the Visitors of the State Normal School at Salem. The Visitors to the School at Salem are happy to state that it is in a prosperous condition. Having passed through the stages of formation, it has assumed a distinct and definite form, and is now practically proving its efficiency in preparing well-trained teachers for our public schools. Its principal, Mr. Richard Edwards, who has held that position since the opening of the school in September, 1854, and was, at a still earlier date, favorably known to the Board, retains the confidence of those having the school in charge. Whether the actual need of increased compensation may result disastrously to this school at present, we are unable to say, but the Board does not and cannot now compete with other institutions. This matter needs consideration. The resignation of Miss Lucy A. Tefft, at the close of the term in February, as an assistant, and the appointment of Misses Sarah A. Smith and Phebe Breed, two graduates of the school, as tem porary assistants, are the only changes which have taken place in the corps of teachers since the last report. Miss Tefft had faithfully and satisfactorily performed the duties of her situation, and the loss of her valuable services was the source of much regret. The school is now organized with the following teachers, viz.: Richard Edwards, principal, and Misses Martha Kingman, Elizabeth Weston, Sarah A. Smith, and Phebe Breed, assistants. Mr. E. Ripley Blanchard has given lessons in Music during the past year. A course of lectures in chemistry, also, was given in June, by Mr. Sharp. While much cannot be expected from so few lectures, yet the selection of subjects discussed, the clear and explicit manner of illustration, and the success attending his experiments, imparted to the pupils considerable information. The number of pupils in the school at the date of the last report, was 121; 65 have since been admitted, of which Essex County provided 44; Middlesex, 11; Worcester, 2; Suffolk, 2; Berkshire, 1; Plymouth, 1; and New Hampshire 4. The whole number connected with the school during the year, is 186; 70 have graduated in due course; 12 have left without completing the course, to accept offers of employment as teachers; 20 have since retired on account of illness or other causes, but of this number several are now engaged in teaching." Of the 70 graduates, 57 (as far as is known) have since been engaged in teaching; 48 are now so occupied ;-the difference arising from the fact that females are less employed at this season of the year. Our graduates have taught as follows: In Salem, 11; North Andover, 2; Danvers, 3; Gloucester, 4; North Reading, 2; Beverly, 4; Hamilton, 4; Wenham, 2; Woburn, 2; Nahant, 2; and one each in North Brookfield, Marblehead, Boston, Easton, Lawrence, Salisbury, Brookline, Middleton, Ipswich, North Bridgewater, Brewster, Hanson, Boxford:-in other States-in New Hampshire, 2; and in Maine, New Jersey, Indiana and Ohio, 1 each-and in the Normal School at Salem, 2. The principal, having endeavored to ascertain the degree of success of these teachers, says: "For the most part the reports on this point have been highly satisfactory. Three or four have failed, but one at least of these has, on a second trial, met with great success, and is now a useful teacher." The present number of pupils is 84, divided as follows: In the advanced class, 7, whose average age is 19, and who are from the following towns, viz.: Middleton, 2; Beverly, 2; Lynn, North Reading and Marblehead, 1 each. In the senior class, 17 members, of the average age of 1811; Salem furnishing 6; Lynn, 2; North Andover, 2; and Ashby, Lowell, Salisbury, Hamilton, Gloucester, Dunstable and Plymouth, 1 each. In the middle class, 19 members, of the average age of 18, of which Salem furnished 6; Newbury, 2; South Danvers, 2; and North Reading, Adams, Lynnfield, Blackstone, Portsmouth, N. H., West Bridgewater, Malden, Marblehead and Topsfield, 1 each. In the junior class, 41 members, of the average age of 1825, of which Salem furnished 10; Lowell, 4; North Reading, 3; Lynn, 3; South Danvers, 2; Lynnfield, 2; Amesbury, 2; Hamilton, 2; and Sterling, Essex, Manchester, Boston, Cambridge, Keene, N. H., Danvers, North Andover, Lyme, N. H., Ipswich, Chelsea, Newton, and Hudson, N. H., 1 each; the comparatively large size of this class is in part accounted for by the fact, that several of its members are repeating the junior term. Twenty pupils received aid from the State in February, to the amount of $449.50, and in July twenty-five, to the amount of $404.25. The number of volumes belonging to the school is as follows: Text-books used in the school and loaned to pupils, 1,400; Reference books, 140, (selected principally by Dr. Sears when Secretary of the Board); Miscellaneous volumes, 150, principally donations from publishers and others. Among the donors may be mentioned Hon. Charles W. Upham, who has presented some valuable standard works, Hon. Stephen C. Phillips, who has contributed 100 volumes, Prof. Alpheus Crosby and Charles Northend. In accordance with the request of the Board, the last legislature granted an appropriation of $2,500, for fencing and grading the grounds, and procuring apparatus, books and book-cases. The fencing and grading have been finished, adding much to the appearance of the place, although the planting of trees and shrubbery is necessarily deferred until spring. Some apparatus has also been procured, and cases for books, minerals, &c., are now making. The amount appropriated is not adequate to furnish apparatus and library such as a school of this character ought to possess, after the payment of those expenditures which primarily demanded attention, but it will aid to form a nucleus around which, it is trusted, the liberality of another legislature or of public spirited individuals will gather. In the report of the principal to the Visitors, allusion is made, as an evil, to the willingness of pupils to leave, for the purpose of teaching, before the completion of the course, and as one that cannot be immediately remedied. "It arises," he says, "partly from the want of a proper appreciation of their work, on the part of the pupils, and partly from the expense attending their continuance at the school, and their disinclination, in a few instances, to receive aid from the State. It may also be added, that some are no doubt driven away from the institution by the amount of labor required of them. It is for you to say whether this is a loss or gain. Another reason for the same thing is, perhaps, the fact that diplomas have not been so liberally distributed of late as at the close of the first term. Perhaps it may be considered an encouraging circumstance that the demand for our pupils is so great as to cause these irregularities, although I think that it would, on the whole, be better for the school if the community were, for the present, less ready to employ them." While a serious loss of practical benefit is thus incurred, it is manifestly beyond the immediate power of the Visitors or Board to offer a remedy, except in so far as to throw their influence in favor of the completion of the course, mainly by exhibiting the advantages of, and implanting an attractiveness in, the cause of instruction. The main obstacle to the highest usefulness of this school, at present, is the same alluded to in previous years: the want of preparation of pupils whom the Visitors still feel obliged to admit. While the true theory of a Normal School is that of instruction in the art of teaching rather than the imparting of knowledge itself, the defective preparation of very many pupils renders it necessary that time be taken to do the work which should have been attended to in the previous instruction of the common school. The loss of time which thus occurs is not the only ill result; the unity of purpose which should characterize the system of instruction, and which is its main value, is broken in upon, and efficiency thereby impaired. The Normal School is not the place for primary instruction; such should be merely incidental; but how to |