CONNECTICUT.

The early educational policy of this State had its origin in the influence and active efforts of two of its earliest settlers, Rev. John Davenport, of Oxford, and Theophilus Eaton, the first governor, whose broad and liberal views providentially molded the future policy of the State respecting this vital question, being more largely instrumental than any other of the founders of the commonwealth in establishing that system of common schools, since maintained without interruption, as fundamental to the prosperity and virtue of the commonwealth, so that for nearly a century a native of the State, of mature age, unable to read the English tongue has been looked upon as a prodigy.

The first public school was established in this State, in the town of New Haven, in the year 1639, being the first year of the settlement of the town. One of the earliest records of town business is the appointment of a committee to consider "what yearly allowance is meet to be given to it (the school) out of the common stock of the town." This school was taught by Ezekiel Cheever, the most successful and celebrated teacher of his age.

When this school had been in operation three years, another, of a higher grade, was established under Mr. Cheever's charge, to which the following order of the town meeting held in 1641 refers:

"For the better training of youth in this town, that through God's blessing they may be fitted for public service hereafter, in church or commonwealth, it is ordered that a free school be set up, and the magistrates, with the teaching elders, are entreated to consider what rules and orders are meet to be observed, and what allowance may be convenient for the schoolmaster's care and pains, which shall be paid out of the. town stock." By the term "free school" was not meant a school free in the sense that our public schools are now free; but a school unrestricted as to class of pupils who should attend, and endowed by grants of land, bequest of individuals, or allowance out of the common stock of the town," so as not to depend entirely upon tuition of scholars for the support of the school. These schools were designed especially for instruction in classical studies, and were the predecessors of our present incorporated academies.

Ezekiel Cheever died in Boston in the year 1708, in the ninety-fourth year of his age, after having been, as Doctor Mather expresses it, "a skillful, painful, faithful schoolmaster for seventy years," having taught the descendants of the founders of New England for three generations in New Haven, Salem, and last in the famous Latin school of Boston.

The legislative enactments relating to schools, from that period to the present century, have been numerous and rigid in their requirements. An obligation was laid on every parent and guardian of children "not to suffer so much barbarism in any of their families as to have a single child or apprentice unable to read;" and also "to bring them up to some lawful calling or employment," under a penalty for each offense. It was an established principle with the founders of the public school system, that the stability of the government of the State, as well as the welfare and prosperity of the community, must depend on the intelligence of the community. Hence we find, in the early history of New England, that in their legislation in behalf of education they not only furnished aids and encouragements for the attainment of knowledge, but decreed severe penalties for its neglect.

By a legislative act, passed in 1798, the organization and administration of the school system appears to have been essentially modified, so that the authority which had hitherto been vested in towns was now transferred to "school societies." Two years previous to this the general assembly appropriated the results of a sale of western lands belonging to the State as a "perpetual fund," the interest of which was to be divided among the school societies legally organized. With the present century, therefore, was inaugurated an important change in the administration of school affairs. The free school law, passed in 1868, requiring each town to "raise by taxation such sum of money as it may find necessary to make its schools free," has accomplished more than its friends promised. The actual results of the first year's trial demonstrate the necessity and wisdom of the law. They show that nearly 6,000 children were kept from school by the rate-bill. Though some malcontents may still be found here and there, the marvel has been that so radical a change, involving large expenditures, in the face of heavy war debts and taxes, should meet so feeble a remonstrance. The school visitors of but two towns seem unfavorable to the system, while in others abundant evidence of its manifold advantages is cited.

There are in the State 125,407 children of school age, between four and sixteen, and 1,647 public schools, in which 105,313 scholars were registered for the year 1870, of whom 3,303 were over sixteen years of age. There are, it is estimated, about 9,583 attending private schools and academies, leaving an estimated number of 13,476 children, between four and sixteen years of age, who are in no school. Percentage of

average attendance in winter, 73.13; in summer, 71.40; increase of per cent. of attendance for the year 4.04. Number of teachers in winter, 2,318-males, 679; females, 1,639. In summer, total, 2,296-males, 162; females, 2,134. Increase for the year, males, 12; females, 77. Number of teachers who never taught before, 608; decrease for the year, 43. Average wages per month of male teachers, including board, $58 74; of female teachers, including board, $29 16. Number of schools of two grades or departments, 118; increase for the year, 7. Number containing more than two departments, 99; increase for the year, 7. Number of new school-houses erected in the year, 45; increase for the year, 16. Number of school-houses reported in "good" condition, 880; increase for year, 3. Number reported in "fair" condition, 472; increase for year, 4. Number reported in "poor" condition, 282; increase for year, 22. Capital of the school fund, $2,046,108 87. Dividend per child from school fund, 1869, 1870, $1. Income of local funds for schools, $12,300 34. Amount raised by town tax, $415,318 26; increase for the year, $254,970 91. Amount raised by district tax, $491,420 61; increase for the year, $23,615 84. Amount of voluntary contributions, $15,996 86. Received for schools from other sources, $165,150 82. Total amount received for public schools from all sonrces, $1,269,152 83; increase for the year, $226,066 12. Amount received for each child, $10 23.

In addition to the public schools of the State there are certain free schools, supported either by the income of invested funds or by the liberality of individuals. The Norwich Free Academy has a fund of $90,000 and an income of about $9,000 a year. Messrs. Cheeney Brothers, of Manchester, maintain a free school at their own expense, costing about $1,000 a year; also an evening school at South Manchester and one in Hartford, expenses being $400. The amount expended for libraries and apparatus the last year, $5,226 64, shows a large increase above any former year. The State offers to every district $10 in he first instance, and $5 every subsequent year, on condition that an equal amount is raised for the purpose by the district.

Teachers' institutes were held during the year at ten cities of the State, beside twenty-nine shorter institutes in various towns of the State.

The State normal school at New Britain contains 137 pupils, all pledged to teach in the State. No charge made either for tuition or books.

There is a Home for Soldiers' Orphans at Mansfield, in which 68 had been in school during the year 1869, and 51 were there April 3, 1870. The school hours are five per day; average age of children about nine years. The school is in charge of a lady principal; its object, according to the charter, is "to provide a home, education, and support for the orphan or destitute children of Connecticut soldiers and other citizens of the State."

The State Industrial School for Girls, at Meriden, contains 19 inmates. Two homes for families of 30 girls each are nearly completed, with school and work-house.

Fitch's Home for Soldiers' Orphans, in charge of a lady principal, supports and instructs thoroughly in the fundamental English branches, Latin, French, and algebra, 48 children, with 13 day scholars, whose parents pay a tuition fee of $2 50 per quarter. The Deaf and Dumb Asylum of Hartford has 282 pupils under instruction. The health of the pupils has been so good that not a visit from a physician has been necessary during the year. The principal's report states:

"The trades taught are those which a wide experience has proved as, upon the whole, best adapted to the deaf and dumb, viz., cabinet-making, shoemaking, and tailoring. Seventeen hundred deaf mutes have enjoyed the benefits of this institution during its history. Large numbers of these graduates are scattered over the country earning an honorable competence by the skill attained while under instruction here."

The Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College offers forty free scholarships. Connecticut has reason to be proud of this growing institution. It has already trained more students than any similar one in the country. Its design is to give instruction in the various branches of mathematical, physical, and natural sciences. President Eliot, of Harvard College, says of this institution:

"It is at once an epitome of the past history of scientific instruction in this country, and a prophecy of its future."

NEW HAVEN

had a population in 1867 of 45,000, with 5,261 pupils in school. Estimated population for 1869 of New Haven school district, 50,000. Number of children between four and sixteen years of age, 9,750, an increase of 215 during the year. The number of pupils registered during the year was 6,767; increase during the year, 452. Average number belonging during the year, 5,664; increase during the year, 202. Per cent. of attendance, 94.2. Number of school-rooms, 117. Number of teachers in the day schools, 13412 male and 122 female.

The school interests are superintended by a board of education, consisting of twelve members, three of whom are chosen annually, together with a clerk, collector, and treasurer. The members serve without pay, but they elect a superintendent who receives a salary of $2,000 a year.

The schools for the past sixteen years have been organized upon the graded system. The grammar schools occupy six large buildings, containing 600 pupils each. About five-sixths of all the sittings in the public schools at the present time have been supplied during the period since 1853. At that time the number of children between the ages of four and sixteen was 5,409; number registered in school, 1,745; average attendance, 1,174, and number of teachers, 26. "Thus it appears that the number of children has not quite doubled since 1853, while the average attendance is about five times greater." The ratio of the number attending school to the number enumerated was, at that time, 22 in every 100; now it is 58 to a hundred.

Two training schools for teachers are in operation, which afford facilities for the education of twelve teachers, enough, it is thought, to fill vacancies as they occur in the schools.

A free evening school has been in operation in the winter, having had during the first term 100 pupils and nearly 400 applications for admission. The earnestness and enthusiasm manifested by a large proportion of these young men in their studies is seldom equaled by the pupils in our day schools. A course of instruction in mechanical drawing was given to as many as cared to devote an extra evening to it. Twelve lessons were given to about forty young men, with very satisfactory results.

"During the past year drawing has been added to the course of studies in all the schools, from the simplest exercises in the primary department to perspective and object drawing in the high school. In several instances the development of an extraordinary skill has already occurred."

Vocal music has been taught in the public schools four and a half years, with good success, and resulting in a very beneficial influence upon the children.

HARTFORD.

Population in 1870, 39,825. Number of children from four to sixteen years of age in 1867 was 7,294, of whom 3,409 pupils in school, with an average attendance of 2,771. Present population: Number of children of school age between four and sixteen, 7,846. Number in public schools, 4,047; number in private and Catholic schools, 1,393, making 5,690. Of the remaining 2,156 children out of school, some are under six years and some have left school.

There are ten district schools and a high school, grammar school, and one colored school. The whole number of teachers, 78.

Average salary of female teachers in 1867 was $377. Whole amount paid for teachers' wages, $35,217 52. In 1869 the amount paid for teachers' wages was $55,464 19. Number of teachers employed, 93.

NORWICH

contained, in 1867, 1,366 pupils, with an average daily attendance of 762. School expenses for that year were $21,219 51. Cost per pupil, on average attendance, $27 84. Hon. B. G. NORTHROP, secretary of the board of education, New Haven.

City.

Fair Haven..
New Haven

CITY SUPERINTENDENTS.

Name.

C. S. Bushnell.
Ariel Parish.

The following is a list of the "acting visitors" in some of the principal cities and towns, the post office address being given in addition where it differs from the name of