Schools in the summer of 1845 was 43,748, and in the winter of 1845-6 was 34,725. The whole number of children between the ages of 4 and 16 in the same societies was 71,196. Making due allowance for the attendance of children of 4 years of age and under, in the summer, and those over 16 years of age, in the winter, the returns would show that a little more than one-half the children upon whom the school money is drawn, attend the Common Schools in winter, and less than that number attend in the summer.

The number of children of all ages, in the same societies, who attend private schools of different grades, is 6,402.

The number of children between the ages of 4 and 16, in 100 societies, returned as in no school public or private, during the year, was 4,345. Most of this number, it is presumed, have attended school in former years, and others it is to be hoped will attend hereafter.

The average length of time the schools were kept, is returned as four months and one-quarter in winter, and four months and two-thirds in summer, or for a period of about nine months during the year.

The whole number of teachers employed in the 1,351 districts in the winter schools was 1,413; or 1,075 males, and 338 females.

The whole number of teachers employed in the summer schools was 1,300; or 123 males, and 1,177 females.

The average monthly wages paid to male teachers was $15,42, and to female teachers $6,86, exclusive of board. The average wages paid to male teachers in the country districts would be reduced by excluding from the computation the wages paid to male teachers in the cities and large villages.

Of 1,085 teachers, 911 are returned as "boarding round" among the families of the scholars, and 174 as boarding themselves.

Out of 1,200 school houses respecting which any information is given, 74 are returned as in very good condition; 512 as in good condition; 344 in ordinary condition; 169 in bad condition; and 101 in very bad condition.

In 304 districts, 80 of the school houses are returned as being provided with necessary out-houses, and 224 are unprovided. Those which are provided, are returned as in a very bad condition.

In 151 school societies, from which returns have been made on this point, there are upwards of 215 different authors or text books in the several studies pursued, viz:

10 in spelling, 92 in reading, 3 dictionaries, 30 in arithmetic, 18 in geography, 19 history, 14 in grammar, 6 in natural philosophy, 2 in chemistry, 2 in geometry, 2 in mental philosophy, 5 in astron

omy, 5 in algebra, 3 in surveying, 1 in hotany, 4 in book-keeping, 2 in rhetoric.

In 25 societies, the school visitors have recommended certain books to be used whenever new books are to be purchased, and in 33 societies a list of books has been adopted to the exclusion of all others.

The school houses are generally supplied with black-boards; and to some extent with globes; 992 of the former, and 46 of the latter being returned.

In 82 societies the official visitation of the schools was performed by a sub-committee of one or two persons, and in these societies the schools have been visited according to law, once near the opening of the school, and again near its close. From these societies the returns are generally more full, and are accompanied with suggestions which are evidently the result of much observation and reflection on the condition of the schools. Experience has shown that the business of school supervision faithfully performed, requires time, experience and intelligence, and that it will not be faithfully performed generally unless those who devote the time are compensated.

The extent to which parents visit the schools where their children attend, cannot be presented in a statistical summary. The practice varies in different societies, and more in different districts of the same society; but not in any district or society does the practice prevail to the extent which the prosperity of the schools require.

Taking the foregoing returns from 175 societies as the basis of an estimate for the forty-three societies (Document E,) from which no reports have been received, the following may be regarded as an approximation to the present condition of the Common Schools in the State.

schools in winter,

52,400

Estimated number who were four years and under, in

summer schools,

1,600

Estimated number who were over sixteen years of age,

in winter schools,

5,500

Number of scholars of all ages in private schools of different grades,

Number of children over four and under sixteen, in no school, public or private, in summer or winter,

Length of schools in summer and winter, in months, from
Teachers employed in summer-male,

66 female,

66 in winter-male,

Monthly wages paid to teachers-male,

66

66

or are boarded by district at one place,

Number of school districts unfurnished with school-houses,

Number of school-houses,

10,000

8,000

8 to 9

149

1,423

1,300 408

$15 42

$6 86 1,500

145

50

1,600

The following is a summary of the defects as presented by the school visitors, in the operation of our school system, and the remedies proposed by them, in their reports to the Superintendent ; extracts from which are hereto appended.

First-The apathy of parents and the public generally, as manifested in not visiting the schools, and attending school meetings, when school committees are to be appointed, and appropriations voted for teachers, school-houses, apparatus, &c.

The remedies proposed by them are

1. A regular system of reports as to the condition of the schools and their improvement, both to the school society and the State, printed and circulated widely among parents and school officers.

2. Lectures and discussions by school officers and others, on topics connected with the method of instruction and discipline, school-houses, books, apparatus, and above all, the qualifications of a good teacher.

3. The circulation of Educational Tracts.

4. The publication of a Common School Journal.

Second-The employment of cheap, instead of well-qualified

teachers.

To supply this want, the following remedies are by them proposed.

1. The establishment, by the State, of one or more Normal schools for the practical training of such young men and young women, as show the requisite native talent and tact, to the best methods of school government and instruction.

2. The holding of Teachers' Institutes or Conventions for one or two weeks in the spring and autumn, where young and inexperienced teachers may have an opportunity to review their studies, and receive practical instruction from older and experienced teachers.

3. An association of the teachers of a town or county, for an evening or a day, or a longer time, for discussions and lectures on topics relating to their profession.

4. A more thorough system of examination of all candidates to teach, by a senatorial district, or county Board of Examination.

5. A system of visitation, by a county or senatorial district board, and a faithful report, exposing poor teachers, and naming with commendation those teachers who are faithful and successful.

6. Higher wages.

Third-The constant change of teachers from summer to winter, and from winter to summer.

The remedies proposed by them are,

1. Higher compensation, to induce good teachers to remain in the same place.

2. A classification of the schools, so as to have occasion for a smaller number of male teachers in the higher department, and a larger number of female teachers in the primary schools, for the year round.

Fourth-The want of better school-rooms, and better out-door accommodations.

The remedies which they propose are,

1. An exposure, in faithful reports and lectures, of the injury done to the health, morals, manners and intellect of scholars and teachers, by the present neglect.

2. The erecting and fitting up of a few model school-houses, yards, &c. in each county.

Fifth-The want of uniformity of books.

The remedies proposed by them are,

1. The appointment of a state committee to examine all the books before the public, and recommend the best.

2. The appointment of a state committee to prescribe the best books, and make it the condition to the enjoyment of the public moneys, that these books and no others, shall be used in the schools.

3. The prescribing, by the school visitors, of such regulations as shall tend to a uniformity in all the schools of the same society.

Sixth-The irregular attendance of children at school.
The remedies they propose are,

1. The distribution of the moneys to the districts according to the amount of attendance in each, so as to make it the interest of parents and districts to see that the children are regular.

2. Securing the co-operation of parents.

Seventh-An unwillingness on the part of districts, school soci eties and towns, to raise money by tax for the compensation of teachers, payment of school visitors, and building and repairing of school-houses.

The remedies proposed are,

1. The agitation of the subject by lectures and reports.

2. The apportionment and payment of the dividends of the School fund to such societies and districts only, as will raise a specific sum by tax, and keep the schools in a school-house approved by the school visitors.

Eighth-The inability of small districts to maintain a good school-house, and employ a good teacher, for a sufficient length

of time.

The remedies they propose are,

1. To assist the small districts by a larger distributive share of school money.

2. To abolish all small districts, where it can be done without serious inconvenience.

3. The more extensive employment, by such districts, of female teachers, in winter as well as in summer.

Ninth-The want of a more thorough system of supervision, that there may be a greater uniformity and vigor in carrying out the provisions of the School Act, in different districts; and a sense of responsibility to the Legislature, for the manner in which the large amount received from the State is expended.

The remedies they propose are,

1. The appointment of a Commissioner, whose sole business it shall be to visit schools, deliver addresses, confer with school committees, circulate information, furnish plans of school-houses, and submit a detailed report of the condition of the schools annually.

2. The establishment of a Board of Education, with a member for each County, and with power to appoint a Secretary, who shall devote his whole time to these duties.

3. The appointment of an officer for each County, or Senatorial district, to visit the schools within his limits, and report to the Legislature, or the State Superintendent.

4. The appointment of a single officer for each town or school society, to have the supervision of the schools in that town or society.

Tenth-The existence of numerous private schools of the same