schools are classed as primary and middle schools, covering 5 years; and grammar and high schools, each 4 years. Of the 61 schools, 45, including a high school, were graded, and wore taught for a term of 165 days. Evening schools had 416 pupils attending, tanght by 17 teachers. Private and church schools enrolled 511 pupils of children between 5-15 years of age; 300 are reported as not attending any school.

Portsmouth shows but slight changes during the year, neither materially gaining nor losing, average attendance not given. Its 32 public schools, embraced in one legally organized district, were taught for a term of 200 days. There were 14 school buildings, valued, with other school property, at $84,000, $5.000 being for apparatus. Twenty-eight schools, including a high school in which 154 pupils were studying the bigher branches, were graded. Private and church schools enrolled 150. Number, between 5-15 years of age not reported in any school, 200.

PREPARATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS.

GENERAL STATE REQUIREMENTS.

A person desiring to teach in the public schools must present a certificate of qualification from the school committee of the town in which the school is to be taught. This certficate must give evidence of the moral character of the teacher, of ability to govern, and qualifications for teaching the school applied for.

STATE NORMAL TRAINING.

The New Hampshire State Normal School, Plymouth, as heretofore, admits young men of 17 years of age and young women of 16, who declare their intention to teach. If, upon examination, candidates are found proficient in any branch tanght in the school, they may be excused from further study of that branch, except in the methods class In this way the course may be completed in 3 terms of 20 weeks each. The common and higher English branches, with music and drawing, are taught, and special instruction is given in the elements of psychology. The pupil teachers have one half day each week for the inspection of work in the training school, thus acquiring a practical knowledge of teaching and school discipline. For statistics see Table III of the Appendix.

OTHER NORMAL TRAINING.

The training school in Manchester, organized in 1883-84, for the supply of the city schools with good teachers, continues its work under the arrangements reported for that year.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

The school law makes it the duty of the State superintendent to organize, and superintend at least one teachers' institute annually in each county of the State, to appoint the time and place, and make suitable arrangements therefor.

In case of his inability to conduct the same, he is required to appoint the principal of the State normal school, or some other suitable person for that purpose. The expenses incurred are paid from the income of a fund arising from the sale of State lands.

The State superintendent reports for 1884-'85 that institntes were held in each of the 10 counties in the State, with an aggregate attendance of 859, at an expenditure of $1,708, both items being greater than during the previous year. The superintendent says that the institute work of the year has more than realized the expectations awakened by the experience of 1883, when this work was begun; still be thinks the law will fail to accomplish the good it might unless so amended as to require the closing of the schools and the attendance of the teachers upon at least one institute without loss of time.

EDUCATIONAL JOURNALS.

There being no journal of this class published in the State, educational information continues to be given in the New Hampshire department of the New England Journal of Education, Boston, Mass.

SECONDARY INSTRUCTION.

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.

The law still provides that if a majority of the voters so agree any town or any school district having at least 100 children 6-16 years of age, by a vote of two-thirds of the qualified voters, may establish a high school. Such town or district may appropriate as much as it thinks fit of that part of the school money to which it is entitled, for the support of the high school, and may raise by taxation additional funds for t pose if the voters so agree.

The State report gives 41 public high schools which had replied to a circular sent out; the list is not complete, from the fact that some of the schools failed to report. These 41 schools employed 43 male and 60 female teachers; numbered 1,266 male and 1,609 female students, of whom 2,045 were studying the higher branches, 1,140 the ancient and 524 modern languages.

Connected with these schools were libraries containing 7,832 volumes.

PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Forty-seven private academic schools are reported, some of which, as Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, and St. Paul's School, Concord, are of especially recognized high grade, the latter, with excellent general arrangements, and with 21 male teachers for Its 275 male pupils, standing at the head of its class in the State, if not in the United States; the foriner, with 7 male teachers for 251 male pupils, long well known as one of the best preparatory schools for colleges in all New England.

For statistics of this class of schools, see Tables IV, VI, and VII of the Appendix; for summaries of same, the report of the Commissioner preceding.

SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION.

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.

Dartmouth College, Hanover, presents in 1884-85 its usual high standards for entrance and study, the latter in departments of academic, scientific, agricultural, and medical instruction, making substantially a university course.

In the academic, the 4-years classical course includes both modern and ancient languages, mathematics, history, and English, Anglo Saxon, and American literature courses, elective and optional studies seeming to predominate in the later years of the

courses.

Students from such preparatory schools as have a regular course of at least 3 years are admitted without examination on presenting a prescribed form of certificate. All others are admitted on examinations of high grade.

INSTITUTIONS FOR THE SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG WOMEN.

For information concerning institutions of this class reporting, see Table VIII of the Appendix; for summaries of same, the report of the Commissioner preceding.

SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL.

SCIENTIFIC.

The New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, which was made a department of Dartmouth College in 1866, by Act of legislature, for the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes, aims to give in agriculture, as far as can be taught in a school, all that bears upon the subject. The full course is 4 years, with numerous elective studies. One class of these includes the higher niathematics and its applications to the mechanic arts; another class an ext nsive course in chemistry, with analyses of agricultural products, assaying, and application of chemistry to the arts. Provision is also made for graduate students.

The State farm has 360 acres in the immediate vicinity of the college, presented by the late John Conant; it is in a high state of cultivation, and is provided with new and good farm buildings. The degree of Sci. B. is conferred on completing the full course and passing a final examination.

The Chandler Scientific Department of Dartmouth College gives instruction in a 4-years course in practical and useful arts, such as mechanics, civil engineering, invention and manufacture of machinery, carpentry, masonry, architecture and drawing, and the properties and uses of materials employed in the arts; also modern languages, English literature, book-keeping, and other studies.

Thayer School of Civil Engineering, another department of Dartmouth, continued in 1884-'85 its exclusive professional training for young men of ability who may desire instruction of an advanced character. The course is of 2 years and is essentially a graduate one, limited in range and fundamental in scope, being intended to meet the demand for men qualified for rapid advancement and difficult service. There were 7 students in this school. The degree of C. E. is conferred after a final satisfactory examination, and the acceptance of a graduating thesis.

PROFESSIONAL.

It is not known that any schools of THEOLOGY or LAW exist in the State. MEDICINE.-The Medical Department of Dartmouth College in 1884-'85 shows a collegiate year of 42 weeks. For admission, satisfactory evidence of fituess for the technical study of medicine is required; for graduation, 21 years of age, good moral charac

ter, 2 full courses of lectures, 3 full years of study, 1 course of dissection, and the passing of a final examination in all branches taught in the school. Matriculates for 1884-85, 44; graduates, 21.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTION.

EDUCATION of deaf MUTES AND THE BLIND,

New Hampshire continues to provide for the instruction of its deaf-mutes in the Clarke Institution, Northampton, Mass., which reported 2 pupils from New Hampshire, and in the American Asylum for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, Hartford, Conn., which had 17 from the same State during 1884-'85.

Provision also is made for the instruction of the blind in the Perkins Lustitution, Boston, Mass.

BEFORMATORY AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.

The State Industrial School, Manchester, gives moral, educational, and industrial training to youthful offenders. The institution in 1884-'85 reported 146 inmates. Of these, 19 were discharged at the expiration of term-12 on probation, 6 bouorably, and 1 sent to alternate sentence, leaving at the close of the year 108. Of the whole number, only 67 were Americans, more than half being of foreign parentage; 61 were commirted during minority, and the remainder for different lengths of time. Notwithstanding the receipts from some of the industries being smaller than usual, the year is said to have been one of great prosperity.

EDUCATIONAL BENEFACTIONS.

For a new chapel for St. Paul's School, Concord, $70,000 were raised in 1884-85 for building, and an endowment fund of $30,000 was more than half raised.

The Chaudler Scientific School of Dartmouth College was made residnary legatee in the will of the widow of the late Prof. John S. Woodman, says the Congregationalist, and will probably receive some $20,000.

EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION.

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

The thirty-first annual session of the State Teachers' Association was held in Concord October 24 and 25, 1884, E. J. Goodwin, of Nashua, in the chair. The session was opened by a paper from Mr. Craig, on "The Wade system for country schools," which provides for a grading of pupils according to advancement, an examination of them yearly in a prescribed course, and a granting of diplomas at the conclusion of the course, the work for each term being carefully laid out, and followed by examinations. The advantages are that the school work is done thoroughly, and all the pupils graduate on the same general plan. Better teaching is required by this plan, as few of the country schools have systems that call for uniform requirements. So far as tried it has proved a great benefit, leading pupils to desire to complete the course and graduate, increasing the interest of parents and children, unifying the work done, and thus elevating the character of the country schools. C. C. Rounds, principal of the State normal school, testified to the value of the system, as he bad seen its workings in Maine, and thought it could be adopted in all the country schools in the State.

Then followed a lecture on the "Elements of mineralogy," by Mr. William F. Young, of Nashna; after which came a paper on "Training for teachers," by Miss Iola Rounds, of Plymouth; this was followed by an address on "The comparative value of experience and professional training," by J. G. Edgerly, superintendent of Fitchburg (Mass.) schools, said to have been able and practical, and to have given rise to considerable discussion.

"Self-culture for teachers" was the topic of a carefully written paper read by Miss Frances A. Mathes, of the Portsmouth high school, in which was presented the importance to the teacher of personal physical culture, good air, abundant exercise, refreshing sleep, and proper diet; also that the most refining sources of mental culture should be eagerly improved, that books should be wisely chosen, that desultory reading should be avoided, and that the refining influence of art should be sought in pictures of excellence, in careful reading of good newspapers, in attendance on teachers' meetings and on good general society, as well as in travel and study of new places and scenes, all these being aids to self-culture. The tones of the voice, too, should be carefully cultivated, as their influence in the school-room can hardly be over-estimated. A brief discussion followed, warmly approving the suggestions of the paper. The following subjects were then considered: "The place of Greek in a liberal edu cation," by Prof. J. H. Dwight, of Dartmonth; "Moral discipline in the school

room," by Miss L. J. Forest; "Examinations," by Mr. J. H. Stetson, Superintendent Burk, E. R. Good win, and others; "A substitute for Latin in high schools," by C. C. Boynton and others.

After a choice of officers for 1885, the association adjourned.

The session was largely attended, and the papers and discussions were regarded as of great interest and value, showing a noble professional spirit among the educators of the State.

CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICER.

Hon. JAMES W. PATTERSON, State superintendent of publie instruction, Concord. [Second term, June 21, 1882, to June 23, 1884; third term, June 24, 1884, to June 23, 1886.).

(From report of Hon. Edwin O. Chapman, State superintendent of public instruction, for 1884-'85; the figures therein given for 1883-84 being used in preference to those previously sent, as being presumably more nearly correct.)

The new State superintendent says that while the year 1884-85 has not been remarkable for any great improvement, a steady progress has been made, which is encouraging. He also states that there has been yearly improvement in the efficiency of the schools since the enactment of 1867, which formed the basis of the present law, and for which the State is indebted to the sagacity and zeal of his predecessor, Pro