SIR,

MR. BOUCHARD.

[Translation.]

FRASERVILLE, 16th Aug. 1886.

I have the honour to submit my report for the year ending 30th June last.

I inspected all the schools in my division during the winter, but I could only inspect a few of them for the second time at the end of the year.

By my grand statistical table, which I sent you in the beginning of July, you will see that there are eight new schools, making 233 in all.

These are diivded as follows: 208 primary, 8 boys' model, and 4 girls' model schools, 6 mixed model schools, 6 girls' academies, and a classical college.

According to the secretary-treasurers' census, there are 11,542 children, between 5 and 16 years of age, in the counties of Kamouraska and Temiscouata; of these, only 8,218, or about two-thirds, attended school.

This year, more pupils studied the principal branches than in past years. I hope the number will increase from year to year, because I have strictly enjoined upon the school-boards the necessity of carrying out the orders of the Roman Catholic Committee of the Council of Public Instruction in all the schools.

Fifty-four non-certificated female teachers taught in schools during the year. If the Commissioners in this district were compelled to engage only certificated teachers, about one-fourth of the schools would have no teachers.

The teachers were changed in 103 schools at the beginning of the year 1885-86. These changes greatly impede the progress of education. There is still another obstacle to the success of our teachers, who are frequently very zealous in the performance of their duties: I mean the smallness of their salaries, the irregular attendance and the want of school necessaries.

In order to overcome the apathy of the parents who do not send their children to school, and their neglect to supply them with what they absolutely need, I see no better means than stopping the grant; for this stoppage has always had a good effect in municipalities which have been subjected to it. But I do not think that the rate-payers should be called upon to contribute more for salaries, and I think that the increase in salaries,

which every one so much wishes to see, will take place only when the state of the finances of the province will allow the Government to increase the grant already given to primary schools.

I am happy to say that the subjects are intelligently taught by a greater number of teachers than formerly.

When the parish priests can accompany me in my inspections, they never fail to second my efforts in everything which may benefit education in their parishes, and I am sincerely grateful to them for it.

Notwithstanding the crisis through which we are passing, I find that the school rates and contributions have been pretty punctually collected. The secretary-treasurers have, as a whole, performed their duties faithfully; there is but one exception.

I hope that these remarks, together with the bulletins sent during the year, will sufficiently show the condition of the schools in my district.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

CELESTIN BOUCHARD,

School Inspector.

SIR.

MR. BRAULT.

[Translation.]

POINTE CLAIRE, 19th August, 1886.

I have the honour to submit my report on the state of education in my district for the year 1885-86.

This report includes detailed and circumstantial information as to each school and municipality, a very complete statistical table, and the following summary of the aforesaid documents :

By comparing the above statistics with those for 1884-85, we find the

following:

1. The number of municipalities and independent educational institutions has not varied.

2. There is a new school district in the municipality of Vaudreuil. The school built by the Roman Catholic school-board has a class-room measuring 20 by 15 feet, and ten feet high. The 10 pupils attending this school have each had an average of 151 cubic feet of air.

3. The total number of educational institutions is now 112 instead of 111, and the total number of pupils has decreased by 209.

4. The average attendance, which was 76 per cent., shows an increase of 2 per cent. over the previous year.

5. The total number of masters not in religious orders, is 21, instead of 18, and the average of their salaries has not varied.

6. The number of school mistresses, not in religious orders, is 82, that is 2 less than last year, and the average of their salary has increased by four dollars.

7. As in 1884-85, there are only five non-certificated female teachers. All the male teachers hold certificates.

I obtained the last school statistics at an earlier date than last year. This probably accounts for the decrease of 209 pupils which is more apparent than real.

Ever since the pupils have been using graded and well-made models for writing, I have noticed a marked improvement in this branch. The practice of free-hand drawing, although very elementary and imperfect in many schools, has probably something to do with it.

This last subject, which is of so much importance, has been taught to

more than one-third of the total number of pupils. All pupils who are learning to write-there are 5,526 in my district-should learn Drawing. Unfortunately, many obstacles, which I need not enumerate, prevent the teaching of an art, so well adapted to developing the intelligence, from becoming general.

I would only observe that W. Smith's book, with the accompanying plates, the use of which has so often been recommended, seem to me to be very scarce in the schools.

I may state that general progress has been made in the teaching of the other branches of the curriculum.

III

INFORMATION DERIVED FROM MY INSPECTION BULLETINS.
For how many years has each teacher taught in the same school?

The want of progress is chiefly due to irregular attendance. Diphtheria