successfully for the markets of the world. Without such education, the American artisan must gradually descend in the scale of industry and content himself with a menial station in life, for there is no middle ground. Drawing is the language of mechanics, and ability to use the pencil freely lies at the foundation of success in many mechanical pursuits. The Board have not overlooked its importance, and two years since they submitted to the legislature a bill "relating to free instruction in drawing," which became a law. The good results that have already followed are admitted by the community and have been referred to in another portion of this Report.

While the Board do not think it feasible or advisable to give technical instruction in the Common Schools, other than drawing, and perhaps needle-work to girls, inasmuch as none of the branches now taught in those schools can be dispensed with, for the graduates of the Common Schools are the only ones properly fitted to enter the Technical School, they would suggest that the State authorize all cities and towns having a population of five thousand and over to establish free technical schools for instruction in such branches of knowledge common to the leading industries of the entire State as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Education.

WILLIAM CLAFLIN.
JOSEPH TUCKER.

CONSTANTINE C. ESTY.

SAMUEL T. SEELYE.

JOHN D. PHILBRICK.

DAVID H. MASON.

HENRY CHAPIN.

ALONZO A. MINER.

GARDINER G. HUBBARD.

WILLIAM RICE.

REPORTS OF VISITORS OF THE NORMAL SCHOOLS.

FRAMINGHAM.

The school gives evidence of permanent prosperity and increasing usefulness.

The statistics for the year are as follows:

Number admitted, February, 1871,

Average age of those admitted in February, . admitted in September,

Six States are represented :-New Hampshire, 8; Vermont, 2; Massachusetts, 135; New York, 6; Rhode Island, 2; New Jersey, 1. Six counties of Massachusetts are represented :-Worcester, 63; Middlesex, 42; Norfolk, 11; Suffolk, 5; Bristol, 2; Franklin, 1. The towns represented are:-Framingham, 14; Milford, Natick, Southborough and Westborough, 7 each; Northborough, 5; Boston and Acton, 4 each; Brookfield, Grafton, Needham, Newton, Winchendon and Worcester, 3 each; Blackstone, Concord, Fitchburg, Franklin, Holliston, Lancaster, Marlborough, Medfield, Mendon, Millbury, Stoneham and Wayland, 2 each; Auburn, Barre,

Berlin, Charlestown, Chelsea, Dana, Douglas, Holden, Leominster, Medway, Milton, New Bedford, New Braintree, Orange, Paxton, Pepperell, Sherborn, Somerville, Sterling, Sturbridge, Taunton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster, West Roxbury and Wrentham 1 each.

The occupations of the parents are:-Farmers, 5; carpenters, 10; manufacturers, 6; shoemakers, 9; clergymen, lawyers and mechanics, 4 each; machinists, blacksmiths physicians and laborers, 3 each; traders, 12; cabinet-makers, 3; overseers, sailors, miners, cashiers, painters, book-keepers and agents, 2 each; coopers, tanners, gardeners, musicians, butchers, bakers, printers, artists, leather-workers, sea captains, teamsters, mill operators, millers, architects, naval officers, carriage-makers, sail-makers, copper-smiths and harness-makers, 1 each.

At the close of the winter terms, Miss Ellen A. Chandler and Miss Abby P. Kelly resigned their places as teachers, and Miss Sabrina Jennings and Miss Maria S. Eaton were appointed in their respective places. Miss Ellen Hyde, senior assistant, being unable, by reason of ill health, to take her full number of classes, resigned at the close of the summer term, and is now in Germany pursuing studies, as far as her health will allow. No appointment has been made in her place.

At the opening of the fall term, a new advance class was formed. For this class, as well as for others in the school who wished to study French, Madame J. M. Destre has been employed during the term.

A course of lectures on natural history and geology was given during the spring term by Professor Sanborn Tenney, of Williams College. Other lectures have been delivered during the year by Hon. Emory Washburn, Professor W. P. Atkinson and A. J. Phipps, Esq., Agent of the Board.

There is urgent necessity for new and ample apparatus for illustrating physiology, chemistry and natural philosophy. The present apparatus is old, poor and meagre, and can be used with little pleasure or profit.

A room in third story of the new part of the school building, designed for instruction in drawing, is unfinished. The wants of this department of study require that this room should be completed at once, as the present use of the hall for drawing exercises

is attended with inconvenience and interruptions to other exercises.

It is also very desirable that the library should be removed from its present room, which is needed for other purposes, to an upper room fitted for it, but which must first be furnished with shelves, tables, &c.

All the expectations in regard to the success and usefulness of the boarding-house have been fully met. During the present term it has been crowded, and there have been more applicants than could be accommodated. A much larger building would readily be filled, and the number of pupils in the school increased accordingly. The price of board has been $3.50 per week.

On account of the inadequacy of the supply of water in the wells and cistern during much of the time, great discomfort has been occasioned, and large expense incurred by the State, in being compelled to have water brought from a distance. This expensive trouble will continue until some new mode of supply shall have been adopted.

The school grounds need to be graded, and furnished with shade-trees. They are They are now in a rough condition, and present an unsightly appearance, and one not creditable to a State School. We hope an early appropriation will be made for their improvement in the coming spring.

We regret the retirement from the Board of the Hon. Emory Washburn and D. H. Mason, who, for some ten years as Visitors of this school, gave to it their constant and pleasant supervision. To teachers and pupils they were not only welcome official Visitors, but personal friends. The important change made by the Board several years ago, by which the school was placed under the charge of a woman, the present accomplished and successful Principal, was from the first sanctioned by them, and to it they gave their enthusiastic support, and retained their connection with the school until the change had been fully tested, and its success assured.

HENRY CHAPIN,
C. C. ESTY,

JANUARY, 1872.

8

Visitors.

WESTFIELD.

The Visitors of the Westfield Normal School are happy to report that this School has been eminently prosperous during the past year. The number seeking its advantages, and the demand for its graduates, have been greater than ever before. We cannot speak too highly in commendation of the zeal and devotion and ability of the accomplished Principal, to whom the school is so largely indebted for its success.

There has been but a single change in the regular corps of teachers during the year. Mr. J. C. Greenough has been "called up higher," having received and accepted the appointment of Principal of the State Normal School of Rhode Island. Mr. Greenough has been connected with this school, as one of its teachers, for fifteen years. During that long period he was faithful in his work and commanded the respect of the pupils of the school and of the community in which he lived.

His departure was a loss to the school, but we trust it was a gain to the State in which he is now laboring with great earnestWe cordially wish him great prosperity.

ness.

Miss Ella J. Mole, a recent graduate of the school, was appointed Assistant, August 6. While a member of the school she distinguished herself as a scholar, and since her appointment as teacher she has given evidence of possessing, to an eminent degree, the teaching power that insures success.

On the whole, the classes of the school were never more satisfactorily taught than now.

The advanced classes are pursuing the advanced course of study with great pleasure and profit. Three of the advanced pupils have entered upon a course of special training for "Training Schools." There is now a great demand for teachers of these schools. We shall soon be able to do something towards supplying this demand.

The chemical and philosophical apparatus, and the specimens in our cabinets, are so constantly used that both apparatus and