This table shows a slight increase in the number of male teachers of Class I, and also of female teachers of the same class, but a decrease in the number of male teachers of Class II, which is to be regretted. The decrease in the number of female teachers of Class III, intimates progress. The most hopeful feature

in the table is the continued decrease of untrained teachers. Of the whole number of teachers employed last year—about 1,600, (Table I)—only 48, as will be seen above, were untrained. These teachers are employed in Acadian districts only, when the services of trained teachers cannot be secured.

TABLE V. PERIOD OF SERVICE OF TEACHERS.

Second Term, 1888. Of the 1,582 teachers in charge of schools this term the following facts are reported in respect of 1,539: 1,025 continued to teach in the same districts in which they taught in the previous term, increase, 51; 376 removed to other districts, decrease 29, and 138 taught for the first time, decrease, 21; 640 of the number had been employed not less than three years in teaching, increase 32; 43 did not report their period of service.

First Term, 1889. Of the 1,566 teachers in charge of schools this term, 1,492 are reported in respect of service as follows: 954 continued to teach in the same schools as during the previous term, decrease 49; 499 took charge of other schools, increase 40, and 39 taught for the first time, decrease 29; 74 teachers did not report their period of service.

TABLE VI.-TIME IN SESSION OF THE SCHOOLS.

Second Term, 1888.-There were 98 teaching days in this term, decrease 5; 167 schools were in session less than eighty days, increase 3; 610 eighty days but less than full time; 771 the full term of the ninety-eight days. The average number of teaching days the schools were in session throughout the Province was 91.7, decrease 4.2.

First Term, 1889.-The number of teaching days in this term was 123; 170 schools were in session less than eighty of those days, decrease 7; 62 eighty but less than one hundred days, increase 9; 625 one hundred days or

upwards, but not full time, increase 54; and 648 the full term of one hundred and twenty-three days, decrease 83. The average number of teaching days the schools were opened this term was 111.5, decrease .2

The maximum number of authorized teaching days for the year was 221, decrease 5. The average time the schools were open, exclusive of holidays and vacations, was 203.3, decrease 4.3.

TABLE VII.-SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS, VISITS, PRIZES.

Second Term, 1888.-The number of schools reporting semi-annual public examinations was 1,278, decrease 56; the number not reporting 270, increase 62.

The number of school visits reported by Trustees and Secretaries, 4,784, decrease 131; by Inspectors 834, decrease 72; by members of Parliament 42, decrease 42; by Clergymen 734, decrease 104; by Teachers 1,226, decrease 189; by other visitors, 12,455, decrease 305.

The number of school prizes reported was 237, decrease 80, valued at $120.29; decrease $79.37.

First Term, 1889.— Public examinations were reported by 1,321, decrease 36; 184 schools did not report any examination, increase 12.

The visitations for term were as follows; by Trustees and Secretaries, 5,307, decrease 426; by inspectors 1,092, decrease 5; by members of Parliament 53, decrease 1; by Clergymen 802, decrease 36; by Teachers, 1,367, increase 93; by other visitors 17,635, increase, 421.

Seven hundred and seventy-four school prizes were reported, increase 490, valued at $550.89, increase $357.06.

TABLE VIII.—AVERAGE SALARIES OF TEACHERS.

The average rate of Teachers' Salaries per annum, from all sources, compiled from the returns of the First Term of 1889, which give the local salary for the year, was as given below.

Male Teachers of the First Class, average $518.98, decrease $7.92. This does not include the Principals of the Grammar Schools (see Table XII). The lowest averages were in Victoria and Queens, and the highest in St. John

and York.

Female Teachers of the First Class average $323.21, decrease $5.28. The lowest averages were in Sunbury and Kent, and the highest in St. John and Albert.

Male Teachers of the Second Class average $304.69, increase $1.03. The lowest averages were in Madawaska and Queens, and the highest in St. John and Charlotte.

Female Teachers of the Second Class average $228.12, increase $2.37. The lowest averages were in Queens and Sunbury, and the highest in St. John and Charlotte.

Male Teachers of the Third Class average $225.35, decrease $5.65. The lowest averages were in Gloucester and Victoria, and the highest in Charlotte and St. John.

Female Teachers of the Third Class average $187.14; decrease, $0.33. The lowest averages were in Queens and Sunbury and the highest in Restigouche and Charlotte.

The salaries of First-Class Male Teachers in the Counties of Kings, Madawaska, Queens, and Victoria are under $400. Queens, as usual, standing lowest, though there is an increase of $9 upon its salaries of last year.

The following table shows the average salaries for the Province since 1882 the salaries for the years 1880 and 1881 were not reported:

The salaries as shown for the first three years in the table above were calculated on the basis of full time and first rank for all teachers, and are consequently in excess of the actual amount. With the exception of a slight increase in the salaries of Male Teachers of Class II there is a little falling off in all the salaries. I regret that this is so. If the efficiency of our schools is to be maintained, there must be an increase instead of a decrease in the salaries of teachers. It is not to be expected that the men and women who are fitted to carry on the work of our schools will have much desire to remain in the profession if their salaries are reduced. When the best teachers leave, the tone of the schools is lowered, and the whole service suffers. It is an illadvised economy that seeks to maintain on the scantiest allowance a service which is essential to the preservation of order and the strength and progress of a country.

TABLE IX.-DISBURSEMENTS OF PROVINCIAL GRANTS TO TEACHERS.

Second Term, 1888.-The payment of Provincial Grants to teachers. employed during the term amounted to $69,353.25, decrease $71.02. This sum includes ordinary grants, $61,760.66; grants to Superior Schools, $5,388.94, increase $77.95; and to Grammar Schools, 2,203.63, increase 3.64.

The amount given above as ordinary grants includes the special grants to teachers in poor districts, viz.: $3,598.08, decrease $212.97.

First Term, 1889.—The payment of Provincial Grants to teachers employed during this term amounted to $65,785.70, decrease $1,116.50 This sum includes ordinary grants, $57,988.17, increase $1,305.58; grants to Superior Schools, $5,714.81, increase $310.39; and to Grammar Schools $2,082.72, decrease $121.31.

The amount given as ordinary grants includes the special grants to teachers in poor districts, viz.: $2,722.61, decrease $345.26.

For the Year.-Total of Provincial Grants, $135,138.93, decrease $1,187.52. The following are the totals for the year from each of the three sources of support:

These amounts do not include the Annual School-house Grant by the Legislature, nor any district assessments for building purposes or school appurtenances. The average cost per pupil from these sources, including the pupils of Superior and Grammar Schools, was the very moderate sum of $5.92.

PROVINCIAL GRANTS FOR SCHOOLS FROM THE YEAR ENDING APRIL, 1877, TO JUNE, 1889, INCLUSIVE, AND NUMBER OF TEACHERS EMPLOYED

During the year of fourteen months (ending June, 1885) there were paid not only the present fixed salaries, but claims upon rank assigned to the school during the term ending October, 1884, which did not mature till the close of the following term. To this cause, as well as to the length of the year, may be attributed the large expenditure for 1885.

TABLE X.-APPORTIONMENT OF THE COUNTY FUND TO SCHOOL TRUSTEES.

For the apportionment of this fund the law provides as follows:-"There shall be allowed to the trustees of each district, in respect of each qualified teacher, exclusive of assistants by them employed, the sum of thirty dollars per year, and the balance of such amount shall be apportioned to the trustees. according to the average number of pupils in attendance at each school as compared with the whole average of pupils attending the schools of the county and the length of time in operation." The law further provides that "the fixed sum to be paid out of the County School Fund in respect of each teacher, to schools returned as poor schools, shall be forty dollars," and that an amount not exceeding one-third more per pupil than the allowance to other districts sharing such funds may be allowed by the Chief Superintendent in respect of attendance made by pupils.

Second Term, 1888.-The amount of the County Fund apportioned this term to Boards of Trustees was $47,255.58.

$23,097.57 of the fund were apportioned to the Boards of Trustees in respect of the services of teachers (according to the length of these services within the prescribed term).

The balance of the fund, $24,160.01, was apportioned to the several Boards of Trustees in each County in proportion to the average attendance of pupils. and the length of time the schools were open.

Of the fund, $2,506.92 were apportioned as extra aid to Boards of Trustees in poor districts.

First Term, 1889.-The amount of the County Fund apportioned this term to Boards of Trustees was $47,252.25.

$21,195.03 of the fund were apportioned to the Boards of Trustees in respect of the services of teachers (according to the length of these services within the prescribed terms).

The balance of the fund, $26,057.22, was apportioned to the several Boards of Trustees in each County in proportion to the average attendance of pupils the length of time the schools were open.

Of the fund, $2,115.98 were apportioned as extra aid to Boards of Trustees in poor districts.

The County Fund is withheld from Boards of Trustees which refuse to comply with the Inspectors' recommendation in respect of apparatus, repairs, etc.

Other details will be found in the tables.