This plan originated at an institute meeting, when it was resolved that the superintendent should issue circulars appealing to every influential friend of education in the State to aid in organizing lectures in every town upon educational subjects, by contributing funds or lecturing gratuitously. The result was that between forty and fifty lectures were given during the year. It is the intention to perfect the arrangement for the coming year, so that a lecture shall be given in each town in the State.

DECREASE IN CHILDREN, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOL FUNDS.

The number of school districts shows a slow decrease in the right direction. One of the great evils in our schools is the excessive number of districts, thereby creating many very small schools with very little money, which makes it necessary to employ cheap (?) teachers and hold short terms of school. Probably one-half the schools in the State will not average 12 pupils; as, including the city and village schools, the average is but about 18.

The statistics also show quite a decrease in the number of scholars attending school during the past year. We can account for this in only one way-a gradual decrease of children in the State. This fact is an argument in favor of the reduction of school districts.

The "average attendance" shows that only about two-thirds of the pupils are present throughout the term. This is a great evil, and indicates that something is wrong somewhere.

There has been a decrease of 310" different persons" employed as teachers. This is a cheering indication, and it is "a consummation devoutly hoped for" that the time will come when the number of teachers employed and the number of schools shall be the same. Changing teachers, save for good and sufficient reason, is usually a positive loss to the school. There has been a slight advance in wages. When we pay more we shall require more, and our schools will consequently be worth more. simply a question whether an investment in brains “pays."

It is

There has also been a slight decrease of "teachers teaching for the first time," and also an increase of the number "teaching two or more terms in the same school." We find, as we might justly expect, a very perceptible increase of teachers who have attended teachers' institutes. With the opportunities the State now provides, it is criminal on the part of teachers to neglect the advantages of institute instruction.

There has been a very perceptible decrease in the "amount of money expended for schools," and also in the "length of schools in weeks," which arises, in a great measure, doubtless, from the fact that this is the year when the "dog tax" is not available. What a pity that we should not have more dogs, or be able to tax them higher, so that we might be able to educate our children better!

We are glad to record a large increase in the value of "school-houses and lots," and a corresponding decrease of houses unfit for their purpose. It is hoped, from the questions in the new registers, to obtain hereafter more accurate returns in this respect.

The amount expended on each scholar" the last year was only $4 87. This sum is altogether too small. It should be double what it now is, in justice to the children who are so soon to become the men and women of our State. No interest demands so imperatively the generous nurture of the State as the education of its future citizens.

HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING.

In response to circulars of inquiry sent by the superintendent to all persons in charge of educational institutions in the State whose address he could obtain, information was furnished him respecting twenty-four different institutions of learning. In addition to these it is believed there are many still unrepresented, and it is hoped that all will be reported next year.

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.

Located at Hanover; incorporated December 13, 1769; president, Rev. Asa Dodge Smith, D.D., LL.D. The institution embraces an academical, a medical, a scientific, an agricultural, and an engineering department. The academical or classical department is the oldest. The medical department was established in 1798, and the scientific department, known as the Chandler Scientific School, in July, 1852; the agricultural department, or the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, in 1868; and the department of engineering, called the Thayer School of Engineering, though endowed, has not yet been put into operation. The endowment of all the departments, excluding buildings, libraries, apparatus, &c., is not far from $300,000. The number of alumni is as follows:

Academical department..

Medical department

Scientific department.

Total..

3.615 1, 141

144

4,900

The number of students by the last catalogue, in the different departments, is as follows:

CHANDLER SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENT, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.

This department was established by a resolution of the trustees, in acceptance of the sum of $50,000, bequeathed to them in trust by Abiel Chandler, late of Walpole, and formerly of Boston, Massachusetts. The object and scope of this department, in the language of the will of Mr. Chandler, is to afford instruction "in the practical and useful arts of life, comprised chiefly in the branches of mechanics and civil engineering, the invention and manufacture of machinery, carpentry, masonry, architecture, and drawing, the investigation of the properties and uses of the materials employed in the arts, the modern languages and English literature, together with book-keeping, and such other branches of knowledge as may best qualify young persons for the duties and employments of active life."

NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS.

This institution was organized to meet the requirements of Congress in the grant appropriating certain lands for industrial schools, and was incorporated by a legislative act of the State in 1866. New Hampshire was entitled to 150,000 acres of landscrip, which was sold in 1867 for the sum of $80,000 and the proceeds invested in six per cent. State bonds.

The general government of the college is vested in nine trustees, five of whom are appointed (one from each councilor district) and commissioned by the Governor, ant four by the trustees of Dartmouth College. The trustees were authorized by the act of incorporation to locate the institution at Hanover in connection with Dartmouth College.

MANCHESTER.

In the schools of Manchester, during 1869, 78 different teachers were employed-10 males and 68 females. Sixty-three only are required at the same time, but the changes which took place required the employment of the larger number.

There were forty-six different day schools, one high, six grammar, ten middle, twenty primary, one intermediate, and eight ungraded suburban schools. The whole number of scholars was 3,500. The average attendance, 2,100. The high school graduated last year 22 pupils.

The salaries of the male teachers have varied from $800 to $1,800, the principal of the high school only receiving $1,800, and two principals of grammar schools receiving $1,500 each, while the others received $1,100, $1,200, and $1,300, respectively. The salaries of the females were from $350 to $600, one only receiving the latter sum. In addition to these, two music teachers were employed.

There were three evening schools, which 200 children attended, some of whom being unable to read or speak a word of the English language, the employment of a French teacher was necessary.

The expense of all the schools, aside from repairs of school-houses, was $39,201 86. The committee say: "We are constantly having our best teachers picked away by those who are willing to pay more than we do."

To supply the want resulting from the calling away of teachers a training school was established, not a distinct locality or school-house for that purpose, but a plan which should secure the object. They have provided for the selection of young ladies who propose to devote themselves to teaching, and who are willing thus to be employed, and have placed them, without compensation, in some of the schools with old and experienced teachers, to acquire experience. Several excellent teachers have been secured in this way.

The school year now consists of three terms, two of twelve and one of sixteen weeks, forty weeks in all.

In regard to the attendance of teachers at the State and county meetings, the superintendent, Hon. J. G. Edgerly, says: "If a teacher cannot spend time to discuss educational questions, to attend educational meetings, to make careful preparation out of

school for the labors of the school-room, another should be found who is not so much occupied, and who is not content to teach as well to-day as he taught yesterday." Lessons in music, by instructors employed for the purpose, have been given in every school for the past three years, and it is now a regular exercise, the same as arithmetic and geography. The committee are satisfied that it is a branch of instruction which ought not to be neglected.

The superintendent complains of the course of study pursued, with reference to grammar. He says: "How vague and unsatisfactory the ideas which our pupils gain from such terms as auxiliary, antecedent, correlative, coördinate, proposition, passive, impersonal, infinitive, logical, synopsis, &c." He says that more oral instruction should be given and time devoted to practical exercises in composition and conversation, in learning to "speak and write the language correctly." "Our pupils must be taught that it is important to acquire a good use of language, and that success in business does not depend entirely upon mathematical knowledge, as oftentimes young men fail of desirable positions on account of the misuse of their mother tongue."

The practical exercises in learning the correct use of language should commence in the lower grades, and no pupil should be led to suppose he has mastered the subject because he can repeat rules like the following: "A noun or pronoun used for explanation or emphasis, by being predicated of another, or put in opposition with another, must be in the same case." The system is wrong and should be corrected.

Estimated value of maps, charts, books, blackboards, globes, and other school appareference