INSPECTOR'S ANNUAL REPORT.

To the Board of Public School Trustees of the City of Toronto:

GENTLEMEN,

In accordance with a Resolution of your honorable Board, I respectfully submit the twenty-sixth Annual Report of the Schools under your charge.

Appended to the Report will be found Statistical Tables which give in detail all important particulars relating to teachers, pupils, attendance, absenteeism, tardiness, studies pursued, cost of maintenance, &c.

ATTENDANCE.

The total number of pupils registered during the year was 18,214. Last year it was 17,579.

The average daily attendance was 12,484. Last year it was

The number who attended school for over 100 days is 12,361, or more than 68 per cent. of the total registered number.

The comparatively large number who attended school for less than 100 days can be easily accounted for, when it is remembered that most of the scholars who leave school, do so at the close of the first term. The report would appear more favorable if the year closed in July instead of December. The attendance was lessened by contagious diseases during the latter part of the year.

The most correct idea of the relation of the average to the Registered Attendance is obtained by comparing the average of Monthly Averages with the average of Monthly Registered Numbers.

The average of Monthly Registered Nur..bers was 13,905. This shows an increase compared with last year of 624. (See Table A.)

The average of Monthly Average Numbers was 12,318. This shows an increase of 637 when compared with the corresponding number of last year. (See Table B.)

The average of Monthly Averages was 88.6 per cent. of the average of Monthly Registered Numbers.

The best average for any month in the year was 90.6, the average for December.

The largest number was registered in October, 14,480, and the smallest number in February, 13,441.

The following statement shows the Average Registered Number in each School during the year:

ATTENDANCE IN THE VARIOUS CLASSES.

The registered number in attendance during the year in the different grades was as follows:

:

Of course, it should be remembered that large numbers of those who began the year, or who entered during the year, in the First Book, were afterwards promoted to the Second Book. The same remark is true concerning the other classes.

I am glad to have to report that the number of pupils in the Fourth Book classes has increased during the year very considerably.

Fourth Book Classes had to be opened during the year in Givins', Louisa and Niagara St. Schools.

LATENESS.

Table D. shows that the punctuality of the pupils is of a most satisfactory character. The formation of the habit of punctuality is a most important part of the training of children, and our teachers give constant attention to the prompt attendance of their pupils.

Certificates of Honor are awarded at the Christmas Vacation to such pupils only as have not been once absent or late, and whose conduct has been uniformly good, unless the absence or lateness shall have been occasioned by sickness of not more than three weeks' continuance, to be certified in writing by the pupils' parents or guardians.

These certificates are of two grades, and named respectively First Honor Certificates, and Second Honor Certificates.

The First Honor Certificates are awarded to such pupils as have fulfilled the above-named conditions for two consecutive sessions.

The Second Honor Certificates are awarded to such pupils as have conformed to the said rules for one session during the

year.