DEPARTMENT OF OF THE PUBLIC INSTRUCTION Superintendent of Common Schools, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MAY SESSION, 1862. Printed by Order of the Legislature. HARTFORD: J. R. HAWLEY & CO., STATE PRINTERS. 1862. GIFT MICHIGAN DEPT. OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION rEB ↑ 35 REPORT. To the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut: IN compliance with the requirements of the Act relating to Education, I respectfully submit to your Honorable body the Seventeenth Annual Report of the Superintendent of Common Schools. Notwithstanding the extraordinary excitement with which the country has been convulsed the past year, and the consequent derangements in business, the Common Schools of the State have been in a prosperous condition, and with the exception of a few schools affected by local and restricted influences, have probably accomplished as much for universal education as in any preceding year. The evidences of prosperity and improvement may be seen by comparing the statistics of the past year with previous years, and they have also been exhibited in many ways not indicated by statistical tables. Though but few large and expensive school-houses have been erected within twelve months, important changes have been made in school buildings before existing, and a number of new houses have been completed. There has been expended the past year, for new school-houses and repairs, eighty five thousand and sixty dollars, and the number of school-houses now reported as in good condition, is twelve hundred and eighty, or one hundred and sixty-five more than last year, and the number reported in bad condition is two hundred and ninety-five, or twenty-seven less than last year. More than three fourths of all the school-houses in the State are now in good condition, a statement that could not have been made with truth, before, |