COURSE OF STUDY.

There has not as yet been any attempt made to introduce a systematic course of study in this county.

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE, ETC.

The average daily attendance for the year just past was 453; the annual census shows 801; the enrollment was 512; showing that there was in this County 289 children not enrolled in the public schools, and a little over 50 per cent in daily attendance. Considering the extent of territory, this is an excellent average.

TARDINESS.

This is one of the worst things to be found in the schools of this county. The cause in most cases is the distances pupils have to come. In a few cases they are not allowed sufficient time by their parents. Truancy is unknown.

READING CIRCLE.

The circle has been entirely neglected in this county. We procured circulars and placed them in the hands of each teacher in the county, but do not think a teacher has as yet joined the circle.

SCHOOL EXHIBIT, 1893.

Don't think Lake county can do anything unless it would be to send some specimens of work done by pupils in the Lakeview and Paisley schools. Think it would be a good plan for each county superintendent to appoint a committee to inspect such work, select the best and forward it to the State superintendent, and let him place it on exhibition in 1893 at the World's Fair.

ARBOR DAY

Was observed by some of the schools in this county, but it comes usually too soon, as the majority of the schools do not commence before May 1st.

OFFICIAL LABORS.

Have traveled about 800 miles, attended all examinations, held one institute, and attended to all the duties pertaining to the office, and flatter myself that the schools of this county are in much better condition than they ever

were.

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS.

1. I would suggest that the clause relating to home teaching be left out or amended in the compulsory act, and that the age of pupils in the same be changed to eight and sixteen.

2. That a fine of fifty dollars, and not over one hundred dollars, be imposed on directors for neglect of duty, and not make the children suffer, as is the case now, for their negligence.

3. That the school age of children be fixed at from six to twenty-one years, inctead of four and twenty.

4. That county superintendents be elected for four years instead of two, and that school clerks be elected for three instead of one.

EDUCATIONAL OUTLOOK.

The educational outlook in this county is much brighter than it ever has been. We have a good corps of teachers in the field. They receive good wages and are doing good work, and I see nothing to prevent Lake county from becoming one of the leading counties in this State in educational affairs.

LANE COUNTY.-SUPERINTENDENT, A. W. PATTERSON.

Increasing interest in the schools of this county continues apparent, and the efforts made for their welfare more and more appreciated. It is noticeable in the more careful selection of school officers and their attention to discharge of duties; also in the more frequent application for information and assistance in the performance of those duties.

Of the 137 districts now organized in this county, only two have failed to report. Over 400 children have been added to the census rolls as an increase over last year, and thirteen new districts formed, mainly in newly settled parts of the county.

The unexpended funds accumulating, formerly in the hands of district clerks, are being applied to their proper purposes, and the later yearly apportionments exhausted, as required by the late amended act.

A greatly increased office attention is now required that can not be overlooked or neglected, by absence in visiting schools, and should be provided for by authority given the county courts to remunerate the deputies of superintendents, at discretion, in such counties as require this assistance.

LINN COUNTY-SUPERINTENDENT, GEORGE F. RUSSELL.

I send you under separate cover my annual report. I have made it as accurate as possible from the clerks' reports submitted to me. The number of children and the amount of State and county funds are accurately reported. The series of text-books used by the State have been used in all the schools in this county. I have arranged a system of grade work for the use of the public schools. Many of the schools have adopted it, and I am encouraged to say that it is meeting with success. We will have no less than 40 pupils who will graduate from the public schools of this county during this year.

ENROLLMENT.

The total enrollment of pupils at the last census equaled 5,887; enumerated, 7,196.

APPARATUS.

School apparatus in this county is valued at $5,297. I think it a low estimate. During the year 1891 there was spent in this county $1,714.40 for apparatus, more than ever before in the same length of time. Our school boards are awakening to the fact that it is money well spent.

SCHOOL HOUSES.

School houses and grounds are estimated at $74,796. A number of new school houses have been built during the last year, mostly houses of the better class, well furnished with apparatus and modern furniture.

LOCAL MEETINGS.

Local educational meetings have been held in all the towns and villages in the county; in fact, we have the county divided into four districts, and meetings are held monthly in each. The teachers take hold of this work with zeal. The time set apart for annual connty institute (two days) is insufficient. I think every county superintendent should be required by law to hold in his county once a year a normal institute of fifteen days duration or more. The educational outlook is good.

MALHEUR COUNTY.-SUPERINTENDENT, J. D. DENMAN.

ARBOR DAY.

It has been a difficult matter to secure any coöperation of the parents with teachers, or vice versa, upon this important part of school work.

The cause is evident; Trees without irrigation in this section would not grow. The school houses are so situated that it is impossible for many to observe it and hope that the trees planted will live through the long summer months. It is impossible for many to irrigate even if they so desired. Further, a majority of the schools are closed before that date.

COUNTY INSTITUTES.

Institute work has been, owing to the distance to be traveled by our teachers, in some cases one hundred miles, and small number of active teachers, in a backward state. I am glad to note that the work is improving and the necessity for the same is becoming more evident to the patrons of the schools.

LOCAL INSTITUTES.

I made an effort last year to hold a series of meetings of this character. The teachers available responded in a manner highly gratifying, many coming thirty miles on horseback to attend them. I held none during the present year, as almost all of the schools were closed.

TEACHERS' CERTIFICATES.

There have been but few failures.

I would recommend that all first grade certificates be renewed for the unexpired time, at the option of the superintendent and board of examiners, in any county in the State.

APPARATUS.

Much needed apparatus has been purchased by the different districts during the past two years. The directors are alive to the benefits to be derived from its use in the school-room. I would recommend that every district be allowed to expend fifty dollars each year for apparatus; provided, that no district may expend such a sum as will prevent it thereby from having a sufficient amount of money to run a three months' school. I believe it would be beneficial to compel them to expend a certain sum, say twenty dollars, each year; provided, it did not interfere with a legal school.

TEACHERS' REPORTS.

Teachers have reported promptly to this office. I cannot say that all the reports are correct.

I would recommend that the teachers be required by law to leave a correct and accurate record of the work done by them for the use of the following teacher. This record should be separate and apart from that given in the school register. Teachers should not be permitted to draw the last month's salary until such is made. The same should be reported to the superintendent. It should include the page in the text-book where work was commenced and where finished; average daily standing; average attendance of each pupil; average examination standing, if there have been any, and such remarks as may be suggested to the teacher pertaining to the work of any class. No school should be entitled to draw money unless this is done.

This would require some considerable work on the part of the teacher, but benefits accruing from it will soon be so self-evident that it will soon become a work of love and not a task.

CENSUS.

Much trouble has been caused by the clerks not understanding the law on this subject.

CLERKS' REPORTS.

Those clerks serving their first term are, as a rule, careless and inaccurate in their reports. The older clerks report promptly and with greater accuracy. I would recommend that all clerks be elected for three years.

NEEDED LEGISLATION.

Section 42 should be so amended as to permit districts to retain all sums less than fifty dollars. I believe this would strengthen the weak districts. Second-All teachers should be required by law to leave a more perfect record as above suggested.

Third-First-grade certificates should be made renewable for the unexpired time on payment of a fee of $2.50 into the institute fund of the county.

EDUCATIONAL OUTLOOK.

The average school year is shorter than it was in 1891.

The loss of stock in 1889-90 was so severe that the assessment roll of the county was seriously diminished. We are recovering from that and I look to a return of about five and a half months' school in every district.

In other ways the outlook is very encouraging.

POLK COUNTY-SUPERINTENDENT, W. J. REYNOLDS.

COUNTY INSTITUTES.

To be efficient our county institutes should be held at least two weeks. To do this we have no adequate fund. In some of the Eastern States the institute is provided for by the State giving so much and the county so much. We have tested the value of these summer normals, and we do not want to go back to the three days' institute. Last year we had three weeks, but we had no money to pay more than half of the instructors; they did the work that the cause of education might be helped. Under our law as it now stands the institute fund will continually decrease. Let the State pay for two weeks' normal institute, say $50, each county $50, and the balance by the teachers. We can then always secure the best talent for the work, and the cause of popular education be advanced.

COURSE OF STUDY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Two years ago by the advice of and with the hearty coöperation of the teachers I prepared a course of study for this county. To say that it was a panacea for all the ills that afflict our public schools, were folly, but I can say that it has reduced the number of classes in the country schools. It has made the work more systematic, causing pupils to take up their studies in regular order. It has caused almost a revolution in the attendance of the larger pupils, many staying that they might finish the course and receive the county diploma. I have issued a list of questions on 11 studies, nine that are required in county examinations, and also zoology and English literature. Those receiving an average of 75 per cent receive the diploma. This has been done now two years with very gratifying results. The first year there were 18

graduates and this year 36. A course of study cannot be a complete success until issued by authority with the power to compel its use. Too many boards of directors will not allow progressive work unless compelled to do so.

LIBRARIES.

Our law seems to me to be very deficient in making no provisions for a school library. The law ought to require a small per cent to be expended every year for good books, especially reference books, until the district is reasonably supplied with such.

OREGON SCHOOL EXHIBIT COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, 1893.

Our county expects to prepare an exhibit for the World's Fair.

We have a promise from quite a number of schools, many of whom have already commenced work.

My plan to get the country districts to help is as follows: Prepare a book 18 inches by 24 inches of blue manilla paper, with heavy manilla backs, with 25 or 30 pages. This will give over 150 square feet of surface. Let the teacher select any meritorious work and fastan in this "display chart." It will hold all that a small school can prepare in two terms. To make it more effective he can allow the pupils a voice in the selection, and by judicious work it can be made a powerful lever to advance the interest in our school work. It can be made to hold language work in the classes, essays, reproduction work, kin dergarten work, mounted specimens of the flora-in fact nearly every class of work in our schools.

The backs can be printed nicely, giving county, town, etc. By having them uniform in size, the display for a county need occupy but little room.

SHERMAN COUNTY-SUPERINTENDENT, J. B. HOSFORD.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

As incentives to better work in the schoolroom these meetings are more direct, practical, and far-reaching in their results than anything else I know of. The value of teachers' institutes is seen in the fact that they bring teachers together, thereby facilitating an interchange of ideas on vital topics pertaining to the practical work of the schoolroom. Emulation is produced, torpid teachers are roused from their lethargy, a love for the profession is generated, and a feeling of esprit de corps created amongst its members. These results of course greatly depend upon the efforts and ability of the institute conductors and the cooperation they receive from county superintendents. Place a couple of experienced, energetic conductors among twenty or thirty teachers and let them work together for a week or ten days, and at the end of that time there will be such a marked improvement in the latter as no amount of reading could accomplish. A good active conductor can infuse new life into the teacher. He can create thought. He can send the teacher back to the schoolroom an entirely changed being, with the newest ideas culled from the very best sources and with well-defined views on the many vexed questions that try the soul of the county pedagogue.

The foregoing views are founded upon observations made during the County institute held in this county in October, 1891. Professor Wetzel, of Multnomah county, made his presence felt to an appreciable extent at that institute, There was an awakening among the teachers which did not die out with the termination of the institute, and the results are felt today in the school-rooms of Sherman county. In estimating the amount of good accomplished by these institutes one naturally wonders why the State does not rec