twenty schools. The wooden blocks bought | two years ago were traded off at a liberal figure, and the Board now feels that it made a good business as well educational deal for the district. The last house put up in this township is a substantial stone building, all under cellar, and stands on an acre of ground enclosed in good fencing and planted with Mountain Maple and South Carolina Poplar. The Arbor Day spirit was given fresh impulse at Rupp's in West Earl last term, when twelve Mountain Ash trees were planted in the yard. The sanitary side of the water question in our schools was given emphasis in East Earl when the township supplied each of its nineteen schools this fall with a faucet receptacle for drinking water instead of the ordinary open bucket. Along this line it may be mentioned that Conestoga township supplied each of its ten schools with individual drinking cups.

LUZERNE-Supt. Hopper: Our county institute was held in the Nesbitt Theatre, Wilkesbarre, and was the most largely attended educational meeting in the history of the county, as well as a very valuable one. The instruction along professional lines was of a very high standard, and great good was accomplished.

MCKEAN-Supt. Myers: The annual institute was held at Port Alleghany. It was a success in every respect. The instructors were Mrs. Anna E. Friedman, Dr. James M. Milne and Prof. S. G. Smith.

MERCER-Supt. Fruit: I have issued my first educational journal to the directors, a new thing in this county. Our schoolhouses, with a few exceptions, are in good shape. About one in twenty have no dictionaries. The directors are putting in slate blackboards as fast as they can. I have been talking up libraries to our teachers. A great many of our schools have fine libraries started, from ten to seventy-five volumes on the shelves. We have quite a number of young teachers, but they are doing well. Five local institutes in different parts of the county were held, and quite an interest is manifested.

MONROE-Supt. Walter: The schools throughout the county are all in good running order, and, from the careful observations made in my visitations thus far, I have reason to believe we shall have a successful school year. In a few districts I find the directors have cut down the salaries on account of the seven-month term.

NORTHAMPTON-Supt. Bender: We held a very successful county institute this month. Out of 425 teachers, 418 were enrolled, with an average attendance of 415. All of the instructors were well received. I feel warranted in saying that our institute has given the teachers much inspiration for the doing of better work.

PIKE Supt. Sawyer: The county institute was held in Milford. The instructors were Prof. W. P. Dick, of West Chester, Supt. B. C. Gregory, of Trenton, N. J., and Prof. H.

J. Hockenberry, of Carbondale. The large court house was too small to accommodate all who sought admittance to the evening sessions. To make these sessions more complete, the superintendent was assisted by local talent.

POTTER-Supt. Kilbourn: The largest and one of the most interesting county institutes we have ever had was held in Coudersport. The interest manifested by the public was greater than usual, the court-house being filled at every afternoon session. The high schools of Galeton and Austin have each undertaken a lecture course, the proceeds to be appropriated to the school library fund.

SNYDER--Supt. Bowersox: The Middleburg schools opened October 18th under the supervision of Prof. A. A. Killian. The course was sufficiently revised to meet the present demands. With a new building, new books, and in two schools new teachers, the work ought to progress finely. During the month we were called upon to mourn the loss of one of the pioneer educators of the county, Prof. Daniel S. Boyer. Throughout a long life Prof. Boyer was identified with the educational interests of the county as book and furniture agent, teacher, principal of the Freeburg Academy, and superintendent of the county. In many of the local institutes his voice was often heard long after his official connection with the schools had been severed. He was buried at Freeburg, where for fifty years he had lived and labored.

SOMERSET Supt. Pritts: Our schools are doing good work. The attendance is good and the enrollment in many districts greater than in any previous year at this time. Local institutes have already been organized in a number of districts. I am pleased to note that in the districts visited many needed repairs have been made in houses and furniture. Our teachers are enthusiastic and energetic, and the indications at present are that we will have a successful term of school.

TIOGA-Supt. Longstreet: Our annual institute opened with an enrollment of 454 teachers on the first day. There was every evidence of a good and profitable meeting. A more extended notice will be given in my next report.

UNION-Supt. Stapleton: The County Teachers' Association met at Mifflinburg. Half the teachers of the county were present and participated in the exercises. Some of the topics discussed were: To what extent does the Study of Psychology aid the Teacher in the Development of Child-Mind? School Libraries; The Home and its Relation to the School; and, The Needs of Our Schools. The meeting was enthusiastic and encouraging to all present. The County Association is a force in Union county.

WASHINGTON-Supt. Hall: During September and October I visited 132 schools in the rural districts. Many of them are doing good work. A few need more energy before they count for much. We are pleased with

much we see, yet not satisfied. Greater things can be accomplished. November 20th was observed as Children's Arbor Day. This is the second attempt we have made to interest the teachers in fixing up the grounds and planting trees and plants about the school buildings. This year far excelled two years ago. Fifty or more teachers reported part of the day spent in appropriate exercises and planting trees. Many have not yet reported. One of the encouraging features was the part directors and patrons took in the work. It was a great day for the schools of the county. Charleroi, in addition to trees, planted over $25 worth of hardy shrubs and bulbs. Most of this money was furnished by the children. North Washington observed the day by class-room exercises. In every department, in all the recitations, English, history, geography, arithmetic, etc., the work partook of Arbor Day. November 28 was observed throughout the county as Directors' Faculty Day. At these meetings only directors and teachers convene. The object is to review the work, talk of needs, and plan for the future. In many places these meetings are held monthly. There is no occasion so profitable as these Faculty meetings to directors, teachers, schools. The first of the educational rallies was held at Scenery Hall, November 21. Great interest was taken in all the sessions. More than fifty teachers were present, many taking an active part. The round-table meeting of the teachers on Saturday morning was one of the profitable features of the rally. On the evening of November 23d a large body of people met to dedicate Canton township's high school building. It is built of buff brick, trimmed with gray stone, and finished in hard wood. It contains a large hall, eight rooms, with other apartments, and is furnished and heated in the best manner.

WAYNE-Supt. Hower: White Mills Independent district has built a very commodious brick school-house, two stories high, furnished with modern appliances. It is a credit to the town and speaks well for this progressive school board. Nearly all the schools visited thus far are in good condition. Many teachers are doing effective work.

BEAVER FALLS-Supt. Book: The following new pieces of apparatus have been secured during the month for the high school: an air pump, glass lifting pump, glass force pump, spherical convex glass mirror, concave mirror, barometer, microscope, and a number of less expensive pieces. Two new Webster's International Dictionaries have also been ordered. There has been very little sickness during the term so far, and work has moved along successfully.

Bethlehem-Supt. Twitmyer: The educational event of the month was our second annual institute. This institute was held in accordance with a resolution unanimously adopted by our teachers at the close of last

year's session. The instruction was given on lines bearing upon the deeper phases of the teacher's work. It was of the highest grade, and reflected the best educational thought and practice of the day. Our last year's session resulted in a great educational awakening in our community. The teachers were strengthened along various professional lines; their horizon was enlarged; they were inspired for higher scholarship and for greater excellence in pedagogical work, and with a better appreciation of the value and significance of childhood. The parents have a better conception of the teachers' work and of the problem involved in public education. These combined gains have operated constructively in forming a stronger educational sentiment, and in securing a better co-operation of the home and the school. Our institute was so planned that it should broadly touch every home, in order that there may be no indifference, or apathy, or neutrality concerning the schools, and that our people may be thoroughly committed to a broad educational policy and be active in sustaining every movement having in it the spirit of modern education, to the end that the children may have the best education that can be furnished by an intelligent public, and that the community life may be richer and better and happier. The evening lectures were all free, and were well attended and highly appreciated by the patrons and citizens. On Monday evening Hon. Henry Houck gave "Old Landmarks;" on Tuesday Dr. W. H. Burnhaur, of Clark University, gave "The Teaching Profession;" on Wednesday Dr. E. H. Griggs, of Leland Stanford University, "Literature and Liberal Culture;" on Thursday Miss A. Von Stone Harris, "The Relation of the Home to the School."

CARBONDALE-Supt. Garr: The opening of our high school was delayed about a month on account of the enlargement of the building.

COAL TWP. (Northumberland Co.)-Supt. Lloyd: Arbor Day was appropriately celebrated throughout the district. Elaborate exercises were held; trees were planted and named; and school grounds cared for. It is gratifying to say that the Lincoln Art Series" has supplied a long-felt want, appropriate school decorations. Our schools all have these pictures and are infinitely the better for having them. It is evident, from the appreciable rise in the items, "neatness of room," and "order of school," in my notebook, that something is silently influencing both teachers and pupils. If directors could be made to feel that the result, to the child, of a dollar spent in enhancing the beauty of the school room is proportionately greater than the utility, to the school-room, of a technical forty-dollar, wrapped up, historical map, our schools would veritably become the pride of every American boy and girl. A vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Miss Julia O'Keefe, who taught ten consecu

tive years in this district, was filled by the appointment of Miss Keturah Jones, who has, at different times, already taught eleven years in the district.

DUNMORE-Supt. Bovard: We have added a business department to our high school. Forty pupils are enrolled. Miss Daisy MacCrory, a graduate of Wilkesbarre Commercial School, is teacher of this department. Fifty of our teachers attended the county institute at Scranton.

EASTON Supt. Cottingham: Autumn Arbor Day was enthusiastically and fittingly observed in the schools of this city. The exercises of the occasion were conducted within the several school buildings, and were of such character as to conduce not only to instruction, but to stimulating a wholesome sentiment with reference to the intent and scope of the day.

HUNTINGDON-Supt. Cleaver: The work of the year is well under way. We have an excellent corps of teachers. The directors are interested in the schools to the extent of visiting each month by committees. The work of the supply teachers is creditable, owing to systematic drilling by the superintendent, to study, and to school visitation.

JOHNSTOWN-Supt. Berkey: The city institute was held during the week of October 23-27, and proved to be one of the best, if not the best, annual institute yet held in the city. The instructors were Dr. C. C. Rounds, Supt. Jas. M. Coughlin, Miss Gertrude Edmund, Miss Anna Bucher, and Dr. Homer B. Sprague. All of these instructors were present the full time and gave our teachers the most practical and valuable instruction throughout that it has yet been our privilege to hear at any one institute. The schools are progressing very successfully.

The

LEBANON-Supt. Adams: Arbor Day was observed in nearly all the schools of the city. Appropriate exercises were given. Board of Control purchased twenty-four fine Norway maples, which were planted in the various school-grounds by the pupils. The following programme was observed: Schools assemble in the yard at 4 p. m. Song of the Guardians. Planting the Trees. Song-The School Tree. The Guardians of the Forest, by eight primary pupils-Carl Schmidt, Irene Gates, Helen Boyd, Carper Bachman, Ralph Runkel, Miriam Reinoehl, Pauline Reed, Cooper Boyd. Recitation-God Made Them All, by Violet Bomberger. October's Bright Blue Weather, by Olive Siegrist. What do we Plant when we Plant a Tree? by Emma Phillips. Selection-Arbor Day; Pennsylvania the Banner State, by Hazel Hallman. Woodman, Spare That Tree, by Edna Dimmerling. Arbor Day Song. Address, by Rev. John Mitchell Page. Singing-Star Spangled Banner. Parents and friends of the school were cordially invited.

MIDDLETOWN-Supt. Wickey: At our last teachers' meeting Mac Vicar's "Principles of Education was selected for study by all the teachers. The work will be taken up at

each of our regular meetings. The examination in Theory of Teaching will be based mainly upon Principles of Education" and Pennsylvania School Law. Our teachers enjoyed the county institute very much and speak of it as one of the best they have ever attended. Our Board appropriated $50 for the purchase of apparatus for use in the teaching of physics and physical geography.

STEELTON-Supt. McGinnes: Several significant events occurred in our borough since my last report. Owing to the duties devolving upon Mr. E. C. Felton as President of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, it became necessary for him to remove to Philadelphia. This caused him to resign from the School Board. His resignation was accepted with the greatest reluctance on the part of every member of the Board, as his great interest in the cause of popular education, coupled with his intelligent insight into the needs of the schools, made his services invaluable. He was a member of the Board for fifteen years, nine of which he honored the position of president. Mr. Frank Tenney was elected to succeed him in this office. At the November meeting of the Board the Pennsylvania Steel Company deeded to the school authorities the entire block on which is situated the present high school building. The value of this generous gift is about $120,000, and it did not cost the borough so much as the revenue stamp and the fee for recording the deed. On the afternoon of November roth, the corner stone of the new high school building was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The Citizens' Band furnished the music and Prof. A. C. Rothermel, acting principal of the Kutztown Normal School, delivered the address.

SUNBURY-Supt. Shipman: Eight grade meetings were held during the month besides the regular monthly meeting. We have four regularly elected supply teachers, each of whom receives $5 a month and in addition the pay of the teacher in whose stead they may be called upon to serve. They are required to spend five days each month visiting other schools and relieving regular teachers for short periods to visit other schools of their grade.

UNIONTOWN-Supt. Smith: Owing to the crowded condition of our schools at the close of the first month, the directors opened an additional school in the White building. Miss May Darby, a teacher of several years' successful experience, has been employed to take charge of it.

WEST CHESTER-Supt. Jones: During the celebration of the Borough Centennial there was an exhibition in the court house-school work, including drawing, painting, sewing, joinery, wood carving, patterns in wood, nature study, the sciences, and written matter from all grades. The exhibition rooms were crowded from morning until late at night during the three days. Our teachers attended the county institute. The day sessions were unusually profitable.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of Pennsylvania:

GENTLEMEN: The most important school legislation enacted during the last decade was the Act of the last General Assembly lengthening the minimum school term to seven months. This legislation affects 752 districts which heretofore had a term of six months. It brings an additional month of schooling within reach of over two hundred thousand children. In the average length of the school year Pennsylvania will henceforth rank eighth if not seventh among the states of this Union, but will not outrank Maryland, New York and New Jersey among our adjacent states. In Maryland the minimum term is seven and a half months; in New York it is eight months; and in New Jersey nine months. In addition to these Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and perhaps California will still be ahead of the Keystone State, although inferior in actual wealth and in mineral and agricultural resources.

In Pennsylvnnia, as elsewhere, the demand for good schools and a long school term is strongest where the hopes of youth are centered not in the soil but in the industries demanding a high degree of intelligence. Some of the richest farming districts have been the slowest

to improve their school facilities either by lengthening the term or by increasing the salaries of the teachers. Pennsylvania has never imitated the example of states which fix by law a minimum salary for teachers. The fixing of salaries is delegated to the directors who levy the taxes; but a minimum school term was long ago specified as a condition for sharing in the State appropriation to schools. As was the case with the children of Israel, the law has been a "schoolmaster" to many of the rural districts. The last district in the entire Commonwealth to accept the provisions of the common school system did so in 1898, and thereby put itself in harmony with the statute fixing a minimum term and requiring teachers to hold a legal certificate.

The movement to make illiteracy and ignorance impossible in Pennsylvania has not met with entire success; yet the results are encouraging. It has led to successive enactments for lengthening the school term, to laws making attendance at school compulsory, and to legislation regulating the employment of persons under sixteen years of age.

At first the minimum school term was fixed at three months. A provision in the Act of 1849 required a four months' term; in 1851 this provision was repealed;