the injury of the others, or to overtax the mind at the expense of the body, otherwise the balance is disturbed-has been recognized by faithful teachers.

At no previous period, I believe, have our citizens had stronger reasons for honest pride in their public schools or stronger inducements to extend to them their fostering care. A steady, true, and, I believe, genuine advance and improvement is observable.

ATTENDANCE.

It will be seen by reference to my monthly reports, on file in your office, that the average daily attendance, as well as the average percentage of attendance and punctuality, has been better than they were the preceding year; but it is saying what none will dispute, that much the larger part of absence and tardiness from school is entirely unnecessary. Every one at all familiar with life in Washington, or in any other city where truant officers are not employed, has often observed great numbers of children of school age playing in the streets or in vacant lots during the hours when the schools were in session.

Until public opinion becomes greatly changed in all our cities, so that all our people shall understand that not only must schools be supported with money, buildings erected, and teachers employed, but that children must be sent to them punctually and with regularity, our system of public education will come far short of accomplishing its full mission.

DISCIPLINE.

I have been much pleased with the discipline of the schools during the past year. The relations between pupils and teachers, with few exceptions, have been all that could be desired. To'all appearance the children have regarded their teachers as those to whom they could give their confidence and affection, and they have seemed willing to accept dictation from them with promptness and cheerfulness.

The teachers, on the other hand, have for the most part exhibited that spirit of large-hearted generosity in dealing with the children that disarms opposition at the outset, and stimulates all that is noblest and best in the child's nature.

I have been gratified to note the frequent visits of teachers to the homes of the children, and regret that the number of these visits is not a matter of record. In cases of unsatisfactory deportment, attendance, or scholarship, a personal interview at the home is worth vastly more than any amount of correspondence. We have had the earnest cooperation of most parents in the discipline of pupils disobedient to lawful authority. During the year many visits have been reported from the several schools. Many parents show their interest in their children and in the school by frequent visits. These visits increase the effi ciency of the schools much more than most parents realize.

We hope to have and shall strive to secure a much larger number of visits the coming year.

STUDIES.

Reading.-It is gratifying to find a fair degree of improvement in the character of the reading and in the methods of teaching this important branch of instruction. In some instances there has been a tendency to treat reading simply as an exercise in the proper pronunciation and distinct enunciation of a series of words. The great body of teachers have, however, looked on this study as the careful repetition of the language of others by those who have mastered the thoughts intended to be expressed. The result is that more natural reading is now heard than formerly because the pupils are, in most cases, taught to read understandingly.

Spelling. In my frequent inspections in this subject many schools distinguished themselves by their success, and it is but just to the teachers of such schools to say that the success was almost universally the result of an intelligent method of instruction. The thoughtful teacher economizes both time and energy by noting carefully the words that are troublesome to the pupil and then teaching such words. Constant attention is paid by the teacher that the pupils observe carefully words of a miscellaneous character, embracing the names of articles of food, clothing, the household, and many others, which are employed in ordinary conversation.

Arithmetic or number.-The general results in arithmetic are very satisfactory, and in many schools leave nothing more to ask for. The rapidity and accuracy of work and the readiness and clearness of explanation in such schools are much to be praised.

Language.-Substantial progress has been made in this branch of instruction. The traditional methods once prevalent are quite generally abandoned, and the teachers are advancing with greater confidence and increasing success in the more rational processes demanded. The correction of common errors of speech receives a larger share of attention, care being taken to have the example given conform to the attainments of the pupils. Great improvement has been made in most schools in composition. Some schools, whose work last year was indicative of a lack of proper attention and method, gave exhibition this year of considerable advancement.

It is

Geography.-The work in geography is fairly well taught. gratifying to report marked improvement the last half of the school year. Teachers have emancipated themselves to a great extent from the use of the text-book during recitations and teach almost entirely by topics. Suggestive questions are given for investigation, and a genuine spirit of inquiry has grown up in most of the schools. I look for great advancement the coming year.

History. This important branch of instruction has been better taught than in former years, a slight improvement over that reported

for last year. It is to be earnestly hoped, and present tendencies render reasonable the expectation, that greater advancement may be looked for the coming year.

Penmanship.-Much writing has been done, and the improvement is

satisfactory.

Music and drawing.-The results of the year's work in these important studies are very satisfactory, of which you have been duly informed by the special teachers.

MANUAL TRAINING.

I think the industrial education, which was introduced into the seventh and eighth grades, boys' schools, at the opening of the school year, quite as beneficial in the cultivation of the intellect as the pursuit of the studies in the literary department. It would almost seem to have revealed to us already that the proper method of training the intellect is to join manual work to the teachings of the school. I think these boys are more capable of understanding the oral teaching, and they understand better what they read. Their minds are more reflective and receptive by the fact that they have depended more upon themselves, and put into operation the knowledge that they have before acquired in the schools.

One hundred and twenty pupils took this manual training. The instructor was Mr. H. B. Sawyer, whom I consider very efficient.

Below are copies of the statements of different teachers:

Mr. R. L. Johns says:

The effect of manual training is very good, nor does the time spent in the shop materially interfere with the other work of the school. It has a tendency to make the pupils more careful and thoughtful, thus striking at what seems to me to be the radical defect of a boy's character. If the interest manifested by the boys be a good test, and I think it is, the usefulness of manual training is established beyond ques

tion.

Mrs. M. E. Martin says:

Manual training seems to develop carefulness and accuracy in all work.
Mrs. S. E. Wise says:

I consider the manual-training school an aid to a boy's intellectual improvement. It keeps boys longer in our schools, promotes punctuality, and results in closer application to the regular studies.

Miss S. A. Langley says:

Practice in the training-school helps to secure accuracy in other hand work, and serves to work off some of the surplus energy peculiar to boys.

Miss C. L. Wilson says:

The manual-training school is a great advantage to a boys' school.

SEWING.

The introduction of sewing in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades during the year I think proved a success. As I have a few statements of teachers of different grades, I will copy their language.

Miss H. L. Davis (fourth grade) says:

When sewing was introduced into my school I thought it might possibly interfere with the regular studies. After a year's trial I find that it has not only been a success but a recreation to teacher and pupils. Many parents expressed themselves as highly gratified with the success of this very important work.

Miss S. E. Halley (fifth grade) says:

The introduction of sewing into the schools has proved a good thing, judging from my school.

Miss F. M. Moore (sixth grade) says:

The introduction of sewing into my school has proved a success. It is liked both by pupils and parents. The hour is looked forward to as a means of pleasant recreation, and the time taken is not missed from the ordinary work of the school.

In closing this report, I wish to express my gratitude for the uniform kindness, courtesy, and consideration shown by you, also, my appre ciation of the faithful, conscientious, and painstaking work of the teachers. In full recognition of many courtesies, both personal and official, received at the hand of Maj. R. A. Fish, trustee of the fourth division, this report is respectfully submitted.

Mr. W. B. POWELL,

Superintendent of Public Schools.

ISAAC FAIRBROTHER,
Supervising Principal.

REPORT OF THE SUPERVISING PRINCIPAL OF THE FIFTH

DIVISION.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 30, 1888.

MY DEAR SIR: In making, to you, my report of the condition of the schools of my division for the year ending this date, I would say that good work has been done throughout, and we enjoy the satisfaction of seeing ourselves on a somewhat higher plane of advancement than at the close of last year.

Almost without exception the teaching in this division has been excellent, which I think is due, in a great measure, to the interested search on the part of the teachers for new ideas and better methods. There is no grade which has lost ground in any study, while in many there is marked improvement. The increasing strength on the part of the teachers of the lower grades is especially perceptible.

The attendance during the year has not been so good on account of sickness, there having been scarlet fever, measles, and other diseases of children among our pupils.

We have much enjoyed the absence of half-day schools this year, and earnestly hope that they are a thing of the past.

The difficulties of discipline seem to be diminishing year by year, and yet it would scarcely be reasonable to expect great improvement. Our grade meetings have been kept up, and they have proven of much value.

The use of reference books in the higher grades is increasing to an admirable extent, and this, with much collateral reading, is making a good showing in the brightening intelligence of the pupils.

The great disadvantage of improperly shaped double seats and desks is felt still, in some of my schools, and it is to be hoped that the time may speedily arrive when they will be replaced by single seats of modern pattern.

In specializing, I desire to speak of the great improvement in the reading, number work, and writing in the lower grades as well as in language, and of the advancement made in the upper grades in the methods of teaching history, geography, arithmetic, and composition, the more natural and interesting means having been used and the system of hard digging and memorizing having been done away with.

I am grateful to the earnest, hard-working teachers of my division for their thoughtful deference and cordial co-operation at all times, and to yourself and our trustee, Mr. W. W. Curtis, for great indulgence and willing assistance.

Very respectfully,

Mr. W. B. POWELL,

Superintendent of Public Schools.

B. T. JANNEY, Supervising Principal.

REPORT OF THE SUPERVISING PRINCIPAL OF THE SIXTH

DIVISION.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 30, 1888. DEAR SIR: In compliance with your request, I submit the following report:

In my judgment the schools of the sixth division have made considerable improvement during the session just ended. A better understanding and a broader sympathy seem to have existed between the teachers and schools of the county and those of the city than heretofore. The effect has been very beneficial to the educational interests of the county. We are now enjoying many of the advantages possessed by the city schools, but until the city, with her streets and avenues, and railroad facilities, etc., extends over the entire district, there will continue to exist many difficulties in the way of teaching and governing our county schools.

The Mount Pleasant, Mott, Anacostia and Hillsdale schools, being well graded and enjoying every advantage that is found in the city, are fully prepared to do justice to every child from the first to the eighth grade, inclusive, except that these schools, like many others in the county, are crowded to overflowing.