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New buildings are constantly demanded and erected in cities and large towns, while in declining towns school-houses have been entirely abandoned. Often two or more contiguous districts have united and occupy one school-house, instead of the two or more formerly required.

The number of sittings is greater than the number of scholars who enter the public schools. It cannot be said, however, that there are ample accommodations for all children. There are towns and districts where little children are wasting their time because too many are crowded into one room. Not more than 40 children can be seated and instructed in one room, if due regard is paid to health and efficient teaching. Especially do young children form bad habits and fail in the special work of early years, if they cannot receive adequate attention.

In the last few years the interest in libraries and books for schools has greatly increased. The number of school libraries has increased in four years from 219 to 322. The number of districts drawing money from 195 to 287, and the amount . drawn from $3025 to $5000-the limit of the State appropriation.

There were more applications at the close of the last fiscal year than could be paid out of the appropriation for the year.

A report of the number of books now in these libraries has been secured for two years only. It appears to have been accurately made, but needs verification.

These libraries have everywhere been of advantage to the schools. They have stimulated the scholars, and aided the teachers. There is need of legislation which will make the benefits received from this library money permanent. There are many districts which have in years past drawn this money from the State and to day have not a remnant of a book or of any apparatus. There are well-known cases of misappropriation, while the cases of neglect and loss because of changing officers are very numerous.

The gratifying advance shown in the matters of buildings and libraries is not universal. There are still poor school-houses and 300 districts which have never drawn library money. The following statement, verified by personal inspection, describes a school-house in a district which will neither repair nor build.

"The appearance of the inside of the room is bad. The floor is dirty, the desks cut and unpainted, some of the seats broken so that they are hardly six inches wide, most of the plastering is off the walls and ceiling, and windows are loose and dirty. The outhouse was in an awful condition, ** the door was off its hinges and the building faced the road."

TEXT-BOOK OF PHYSIOLOGY.

The following circular was sent to the Secretaries of the Boards of Visitors:

OFFICE OF STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
HARTFORD, September 7th, 1887.

DEAR SIR-The text-book on Physiology, prepared and published by order of the General Assembly of 1886, will be ready for distribution about September 15th.

Copies for "use of scholars in the public schools needing the same," will be sent to you for distribution to the schools of your Town. If you desire a supply, please inform me on enclosed postal to what express office the bundle shall be sent.

The book is elementary. Examiners and teachers should be familiar with more extended works. It is not a reading book. No special endeavor has been made to render the text interesting. The subject must be made attractive by teachers, and to this end suggestions, illustrations, and experiments have been given. The whole is an outline and guide for teachers and scholars.

It follows that nothing will be gained by putting the book into the hands of all scholars. Scholars below the highest class in graded and ungraded schools can be most successfully taught by oral lessons, using the book as an outline.

A set of twelve diagrams will be sent for each school. They are intended as copies for drawing lessons.

The books will be furnished to towns "for the use of scholars in the public schools." The law is understood to impose the distribution and care of these books upon the Visitors who are town officers. They can be used by scholars in the different schools, but remain under the control of the Visitors, who should see that they are preserved, and transmitted from class to class as they are needed.

Books can be furnished free only for the use of scholars. In order that teachers and others may supply themselves, copies will be sent to any address upon receipt of 25 cents for each copy, which covers cost of book and expense of sending. Yours truly,

Secretary.

This circular gave the views of the Board as to what particular classes should have the book in their hands, and what classes should be taught orally. It was understood and the understanding was acted upon, that Boards of Visitors, and teachers so far as they were consulted by boards of visitors, should decide where the book should be used.

At first a basis of distribution was decided upon, viz: onefifth of the average attendance in winter. This basis was reached after consultation with school visitors and teachers in several representative towns. It was tentative and not final and merely a convenient means of determining how many should be sent, if an exact number were not named by the local board. The number called for by school visitors has in every case been sent. The number distributed in response to definite calls has slightly exceeded the estimate on the basis above mentioned.

The call for books has been voluntary on the part of school officers. Thus far the Board has not prescribed its book to the exclusion of any other. It is a noteworthy and gratifying fact, that without such prescription, the books have gone into all the towns and independent districts, except six. This general distribution of the book is due largely to the fact that it costs nothing. But it is presumed that if the book were a bad one, it would not be accepted.

It is too early to pronounce a confident opinion upon the experiment. Some like the book and some do not. So far as can be learned, and the investigation has been impartial, those who like it are more than those who do not. It is not in pose nor in methods suggested, the ordinary text-book, but many who are interested in good teaching approve its plan.

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The following table gives record of distribution to December 31st, 1887. Two towns have applied for and received books since this date.

Table Showing the Number of Text-books on Physioloy and Hygiene, and Diagrams sent to each Town.

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