dress, after which some sixty trees were planted on the grounds of the School.

NORTHUMBERLAND-Supt. Shipman: The chief obstacle that seems to confront school officers now is, how to adjust the cost, loss and destruction of free text-books in such a way as to make the financial report appear as it should. This, however, I believe will be a trouble of short duration, and the experience of a year or two will render it as easy of adjustment as any other item of the financial report. Secretaries cannot exercise too much care in the preservation of the various bills received during the school year, as they materially aid in settling disputed points in the financial department. A few districts are looking forward to the building of new houses during the coming vacation. The monthly reports of teachers show that directors have been fairly diligent in complying with the law pertaining to visitation of schools. (See School Law of 1894, p. 76, Sec. XC.)

PERRY Supt. Arnold: All our schools have closed with the exception of a few borough schools. They have been well attended and generally well taught. Taken in all we have had a very prosperous term. Of the high schools but two will have graduating classes, Marysville and Duncannon. The former has a fine lot of examination work to be placed on exhibition at their commencement. This work includes all the examinations, essays, etc., for the year, and reflects much credit upon the Principal and pupils. A monthly paper, called the" High School Monthly Review," is published by the senior class of the Duncannon high school. The spring term of the Bloomfield Academy opened with a large attendance. During this term special attention is given to the preparation of teachers. Normal classes are also organized in different parts of the county. These classes are well attended. Besides, a large number of our teachers are attending some Normal school. Evidently the teachers are making an effort to improve for the work in which they are engaged. Several new school-houses will be built during the year. Landisburg will build a new house of two rooms.

a largely increased attendance in the aggregate, and a larger average attendance than last year. Eighty applicants for gradua tion were examined and fifty-one diplomas granted, seventeen of the applicants being from the borough high schools.

WARREN Supt. Putnam: Local institutes were held at Youngville, Glade and Corydon. The attendance and interest at each were good. About 250 people attended the afternoon session at Glade. April 30th the graduation examination was held in each district of the county. Some 300 pupils took the examination in whole or in part. Much interest is manifested in the course, and the attendance has been better than ever before in the spring months. Teachers are careful to show puplls that they are not "finishing," but simply getting credit for work done.

WASHINGTON-Supt. Tombaugh: An examination of applicants for common school diplomas was held at thirty-two different points in the county April 7. Of the 143 pupils over sixteen years of age that were examined, 110 received diplomas. The work done was much superior to that of last year. The graduating system is doing great good for the schools of our county.

WESTMORELAND-Supt. Ulerich: Arbor Day was appropriately observed in some places, notably in Ligonier borough, by literary exercises and the planting of trees. Many of our schools closed this month, and many of the teachers have gone to some fitting school. A large number will attend one or other of the State Normals, while a still larger number will be found at the different county normals, of which we have fifteen.

WYOMING Supt. Keeler: On May 220 the people of Nicholson borough will vote on the question of bonding the distriet for $7,000 to build a new school-house. On May 4th the Directors of Monroe township will let the contract for a new two-story school-house at Beaumont. Every district in this county has complied with the requirements of the recent decision relative to a six months continuous term. Many outhouses are being built.

BETHLEHEM-Supt. Farquhar: The Board of Directors has purchased a "Krakener" piano for the High School. An annex is being built to the Franklin building-first floor, toilets for the pupils; second floor, directors' room and Superintendent's office.

SOMERSET Supt. Berkey: With a few exceptions the schools of the county have closed. The term as a whole has been very successful. The reports of teachers indicate

BRISTOL Supt. Booz: A pleasant event of the month was the visit of Deputy-Supt. Houck to the schools, April 25th. Ground was broken for the new school house, April 18th, and its erection is progressing finely. The building will be 50x80 feet, three stories

mings. It will contain six school rooms, directors' and superintendent's rooms, and an assembly room on the third floor.

HAZLE TWP. (Luzerne Co.)—Supt. Mulhall: As the term draws to a close the at

tendance falls off in a marked degree. This is to be regretted, but there seems no help for it. "Make hay while the sun shines is an old saying, and in accordance therewith many of our boys and girls go to work as soon as the fine weather comes-the boys to the breaker and many of the girls to the mill. Otherwise our schools are doing well. MCKEESPORT-Supt. Brooks: In addition to the preparation for the sixteen-room building reported last month, our Board intends to remodel the Market street building, put in a heating and ventilating system, and make such other improvements as are necessary. Our schools will close May 24th, and we can say that we have had a very successful term. We now have a committee of directors and citizens on library, and they are taking steps toward securing a library for the school.

MOUNT CARMEL-Supt. Dean: A contract for building a handsome High School with a store room for supplies and a Superintendent's and Directors' room has been made.

NEWPORT TWP.-Supt. Dewey: Arbor Day was observed with appropriate exercises. Several fine trees were planted. Many families planted trees at home, and beautified their yards by sodding, and in many other ways. Night schools closed April 2d.

We had enrolled 302 pupils; average attendance for five months, 211.

NORRISTOWN-Supt. Gotwals: On Arbor Day all the exercises of our schools in the afternoon had direct reference to that for which the day was set apart, consisting of recitations, essays, and music. The Coda prepared by Ginn & Co. was used. The exercises were interesting throughout and we have reason to believe profitable to all.

PHOENIXVILLE Supt. Leister: Arbor Day was celebrated with appropriate exercises. Flowers, shrubs, etc., were mostly planted on the school premises where more trees were not needed. An American elm was planted in the park by the "A" class of the High School. Pupils were requested to do planting at home and report to their teachers. They reported 1424 flowering plants and 184 trees-the latter consisting of pear, peach, plum, cherry, maple, etc.

SHAMOKIN-Supt. Harpel: By resolution of the School Board the Stars and Stripes float daily over all our buildings during school hours.

SHENANDOAH-Supt. Whitaker: We are enforcing vaccination among our school children, and our attendance has been seriously affected. Compared with the corresponding month of fast term, the record shows a decrease of 198 in the average daily attendance, and 8 in the percentage of attendance, although the monthly enrollment has increased 38. Seventy-two pupils refuse to be vaccinated and as many more are excluded from school because they have not complied with the rule. So we are not yet out of the woods.

SUNBURY-Supt. Oberdorf: New charts

for some of the primary schools were purchased and additional slate blackboards placed in others. About 40 volumes were added to the High School library from funds contributed by the pupils, thus bringing the whole number up to over 700 volumes. Attendance has been quite good. Some irregularity was caused by sickness, principally the result of vaccination. The attendance has been excellent since the adoption of the rules making promotion dependent upon the regularity of attendance and daily marks in recitation. Our schools will close June 7th, with commencement exercises in the Opera House, June 8th.

TAMAQUA-Supt. Ditchburn: At the beginning of the month our pupils were ordered to go and be vaccinated, and this has greatly lowered our attendance. There is no more room for trees in our school grounds, therefore Arbor Day was observed without tree-planting.

TITUSVILLE-Supt. Crawford: On Arbor Day we decorated the grounds of three of our school buildings with flowering shrubs. The pupils of the High School had a very enjoyable literary and musical programme. The most of the literary work was original and all the selections beautifully appropriate. An original poem was read by the author, Claribel Hyland, a member of the class of '94. On April 19, Dr. J. M. Rice delivered his lecture on Scientific Teaching" before our teachers and citizens.

WEST CHESTER-Supt. Jones: On the evening of April 26th and 27th, the pupils of our schools sang the cantata "Haymakers." Large audiences were present on both occasions. The children, under the direction of Jerry March, the supervisor of vocal music, did so well that everybody was delighted with their performance. The regular teachers drill their own rooms. Prof. March instructs in the different grades once a week.

WILKESBARRE Supt. Coughlin: Two buildings will be erected in the city this year. The aggregate cost, including lots, will reach $30,000. School property is kept in first-class condition. Repairs are promptly made, and all needed improvements looked after. The Fan System of heating has been selected for the new buildings.

WILLIAMSPORT-Supt. Transeau: The educational event of the month was an application by Mr. Duffield, of the 7th ward, to the Court of Common Pleas, for a mandamus to compel the School Board to admit his son to the public schools without vaccination, contrary to their resolution passed February 2d, 1894. A copy of Judge Metzger's decision refusing to issue a mandamus has been forwarded to the Department of Public Instruction. [See April No. School Journal, p. 453.] As Mr. Duffield's counsel has appealed to the Supreme Court, we shall no doubt before long have a decision of this question from the highest court in the State.