Albany in 1884-85 provided 24 public school buildings (10 for primary schools, 13 for grammar schools, and 1 for a high school), with 12,286 sittings, rated with other school property at $802,000. School population and registered attendance were about the same as in 1883-84, the enrollment gaining only 2, though there was a gain of 288 in average daily attendance, of 9 in teachers, and of $16,781 in expenditure for public schools. The registered attendance was 38.22 per cent. of school youth and the number retained in attendance 27.13 per cent. Taking into account about 5,000 in private and parochial schools, 52.15 per cent. of school youth were under instruction some part of the year. No evening schools are reported. A training school is taught by the principal of the primary schools. Special teachers in music, drawing, German, and chemistry were employed, the last for one-half of the year.

The superintendent says that 3 years' trial of a continuous daily session, without a noon recess, has added to the effectiveness of the schools, and has been a positive benefit to the health of the pupils.

Discipline had improved. Only 1 in every 260 pupils received punishment from the rod. Cases of suspension were only of a temporary character. Measures were taken to devise a course of study in physiology and hygiene to meet the requirements of the new school law.

Auburn shows in 1884-85 a falling off of 327 in school population, yet a gain of 28 in enrollment, of 106 in daily attendance, and of $9,393 in expenditure for public schools. A new school building reported last year as under contract, to cost $8,000, is supposed to have been completed, making 12 buildings, with 3,710 sittings. School property was rated at $243,500. There were also 3 school buildings, with 1,200 sittings. for private and parochial schools. Comparison of attendance in the public schools with the school youth reported shows 49.31 per cent. enrolled, and 37.75 per cent. in average daily attendance. Counting the 1,200 pupils in private and parochial schools, C6.07 per cent. of school youth attended school some part of the year; and allowing the daily attendance in these schools to be 830, as reported, 49.19 per cent. of school youth were retained in average daily attendance by all classes of schools. But the test of the efficiency of a school system is in the average attendance of those between the ages of 6 and 16, as but a small fraction of other ages are enrolled. Of the 7,259 of legal school age (5-21), 406 were under 6, and 1,593 over 16, leaving 5,260 between G and 16. Of these the public and other schools retained 3,570 in average daily attendance, leaving 1,690 out of school.

Schools are classed as primary, grammar, and high, and were in session 194 days. No evening schools were reported. Special teachers in music and drawing were employed.

The superintendent says, "The year has been one of exceptional quiet. Everything has run smoothly."

Binghamton reports for 1884-'85 a well-proportioned advance on 1883-'84, there being an increase of 300 in school youth; of 225 in enrollment; of 178 in averago attendance; of 13 iu teachers; and of $7,598 in school expenditure. Eleven school buildings were reported, school property being valued at $236,661, an advance of $8,250 beyond the previous year. Adding the 545 in private and parochial schools to those in public schools, the per cent. of school youth enrolled was 71.45, while in the public schools alone the average daily attendance was 46.27 per cent. The schools, primary, grammar, and high, were in session 198 days.

No evening schools reported, and no special teachers employed.

Brooklyn for 1884-'85 shows a fair advance on the previous year, there being a gain of 3,328 in registered pupils, of 2,375 in average daily attendance, of 82 in teachers, and of $145,407 in expenditure for public schools. No additional school buildings are reported. The enrollment exceeded by 30,965 the seating capacity of the 61 school buildings, which, however, was greater than the average attendance. Of the children enrolled 3,614 were under 6 years of age, 1,613 over 16, leaving 91,700 between 6 and 16 as the permanent school material, for whom were needed 25,738 additional sittings. Schools were taught the full school year, 208 days. School property was valued at $3,649,000. There were 61 schools under the control of the city board of education, including 1 training school for teachers, 1 central, 32 grammar, 25 intermediate and primary, and 2 "attendance" schools. The new school buildings erected during the last 2 years are said to be of superior internal arrangements, and the 2 recently built to be models of school architecture. Of the 14 evening schools, 2 are of high-school grade, and 1 for colored pupils.

Buffalo shows a rapidly increasing population, and much enterprise in the struggle to keep abreast with it in school accommodations. During the year school youth increased by 2,000, enrollment by 689, average attendance by 1,511, and public school expenditure by $306,942. Of the 101 school buildings reported for 1884-'85, 46 were for private and parochial, and 55 for public schools, including those rented. Of those for public schools 18 were for primary schools, 36 for grammar schools, and 1 for a high school. The average number of teachers was 491, besides 4 special teachers-in music, drawing, penmanship, and German. The public schools enrolled 39.73 per cent. of school youth, and retained 24.63 per cent. in average daily attendance. If to the enrollment in the public schools be added 12,000 estimated as regist red in private schools, it will be seen that 56.99 per cent. of school population were under instruction for some part of the school year, leaving 43.01 per cent. out of schools of any kind. Public schools were in session 197 days. No evening schools reported. School property was valued at $1,014,280.

Cohoes in 1884-'85 went in all points beyond 1883-84. With 664 more school youth, 471 more were enrolled, 250 ore were retained in average attendance, 1 more teacher was employed, $833 more were expended for public schools, and 148 more sittings for study provided, making accommodations for 2, 123 pupils, or 181 more than the average attendance. Private schools report 3 school buildings, 7 teachers, 600 enrolled, and 400 in average attendance. The statistics show that the combined enrollment of all these schools amounts to 53.99 per cent. of the school youth, thus leaving nearly one-half of them out of school. But of the 7,135 school youth, 2,915 were over 14 years of age, and only 61 over 16 appear in the enrollment. This indicates that most, if not all, the able-bodied youth over 14 or 16 who were not in higher schools were employed in the industries of the city, and needed no day-school accommodations. Night schools were taught 96 evenings in 5 day-school rooms, with 778 enrolled and 194 in average attendance, under 8 teachers. Day schools were in session 202 days. School property was valued at $128,718.

Elmira, in 1884-'85, though making but small advance on 1883-'84, has a pleasing record of school work. The 8 public school buildings with 3,950 sittings afforded ample room for the public school enrollment, these sittings being exclusive of 300 in a building held as a relief. There was a night school with 3 teachers, a registry of 204, and an average attendance of 102. Private schools had 3 school buildings with 700 sittings, 11 teachers, a registry of 600, and an average attendance of 425. The aggregate enrollment shows 72.20 per cent. of school youth under instruction some part of the year, and 53.16 per cent retained in average daily attendance. The public schools were in session 196 days. One special teacher in music was employed. Public school property was rated at $345,000, $20,000 being for apparatus.

Hudson in 1884-'85, with a gain of only 60 in school youth, goes beyond the previous year 210 in enrolled attendance, 57 in average attendance, and 2 in teachers, expending $1,751 more for public schools. There were 8 school buildings, with 950 sittings for primary schools, 300 for grammar schools, and 200 for a high school. While these accommodations were ample for the registered attendance, they left 2,250 of the school youth unprovided for by the city systein. Of this number 650 were in private schools, leaving 1,600 still without school room or instruction. It must be considered, how ever, that about one-third of school youth reported are over 16 years of age, have graduated from the common schools, and are in employments or in higher schools,

Two special teachers-in music and German-were employed. Public schools were taught 203 days. School property was rated at $55,000.

Ithaca, while it expended $43,356 more for public schools than in 1883-'84, fell behind 275 in school population, 246 in enrollment, 145 in average daily attendance, and 3 in teachers. There were 6 public school buildings, affording 934 sittings for primary schools, 683 for grammar schools, and 224 for a high school, being 32 more than was needed for the enrollment. Private schools enrolled 400, holding 260 in average attendance. Notwithstanding the falling off above noted, the public schools registered 66.19 per cent. of school youth, 46.32 per cent. of whom were held in average attendance. The entire school force, public and private, enrolled as high as 83.75 per cent. of school youth, leaving only a little over 16 per cent. out of school, but not therefore necessarily illiterates. Public schools were taught 196 days; school property was valued at $126,000.

The erection of a new school building seating 234 pupils of the high and 280 of the grammar school, may account for an outlay of $43,356 in excess of last year.

Kingston school district, including two-fifths of the city, reported for 1884-'85 primary, junior, senior, and academic schools. A return shows 5 school buildings with 1,690 sittings, but slight changes on all points from 1883-84, except a falling off of 87 in average daily attendance, and of $15,607 in public school expenditure. The public schools registered 61.72 per cent. of school population, all schools in the district combined 72.21 per cent., public schools holding 38.27 per cent. in average daily attendance. Special teachers in music and drawing were employed. Public schools were in session 196 days; the property connected with them was valued at $172,500. No evening school reported.

In conformity with the recent act of the legislature, physiology has been taught orally in all the grades below the academic since January 1, 1885. The superintendent says that the results have been quite satisfactory. A large majority of the teachers made special preparation and acquitted themselves well. The use of a suitable text book on physiology and hygiene is recommended for the senior grades. The schools were in good condition.

Lockport in 18-4-'85 falls behind 1833-84 by 57 in school youth, 189 in enrollment, 63 in average attendance, and 2 in teachers, while the expenditure for public schools was $537 more. The 7 school buildings (same as year before) had 1,134 seats for primary schools, 1,275 for grammar schools, and 253 for the high school, showing 457 more sittings than the eurollment for the year; 56.05 per cent. of school youth were registered, or counting in the 500 in private schools 68.73 per cent., leaving 1,233 of the children and youth of legal school age in the city in no school. Of the public school enrollment 130 were under 6 years of age, and 254 over 16. No evening school is reported for those who cannot atteud day schools, nor kindergarten for those under 6 years. There were special teachers in penmanship, German, and French. Public schools were taught the full school year-199 days, and school property was valued at $105,000.

Long Island City, while losing 234 in school population, as compared with 1883–84, gained 51 in enrollment, 225 in average attendance, 13 in teachers, and expended $3,977 more for public schools. The registered attendance was 64.77 per cent. of school youth, and with 355 in other schools was 70.67 per cent., while 41.95 per cent. were retained in average daily attendance by the public schools. The public schools were taught the full school year, 202 days. Public school property was rated at $20,200. No evening schools nor special teachers reported.

Newburg shows a gain of 513 in school youth, and of 127 in enrollment. The 71 teachers employed seem to have done at least as well as previously, retaining 36 63 per cent. of school youth, and nearly 72 per cent. of the eurolled, in average daily attendance. Counting the 681 in private schools, 61.39 per cent. of youth of school age were registered in the schools of the city, leaving 2,591 out of school. This number probably represents the average school youth over 16 years of age, who have graduated from the common schools, and are pursuing studies in higher ones, or are engaged in the industries of the place. So long as the school age extends from 5 to 21, about one third may safely be thus accounted for. Public schools were taught 206 days. School property was rated at $184,000.

New York City embraces in its public school system, or under its supervision, 300 schools, consisting of a normal college and a training school connected with it, 46 grammar schools for males, 47 for females, 13 for both sexes, 75 primary departments of grammar schools, 40 primary and 28 evening schools, 1 nautical school, and 48 corporate, industrial, reform, and orphan schools.

These all in 1885 enrolled 300,459 pupils, with an average attendance of 150,924, employing 3,895 teachers, including 77 in drawing, music, German, and French, with an expenditure of $4,443,890.

To meet the demand for more school room 3,300 sittings in new buildings were added during the year, and preparations made to increase the number to 12,000 in the near future. Action was also taken to improve the ventilation and sanitary condition of all the new school buildings.

The 28 evening schools (one of them a high school with 27 teachers) 1eport exceHence in instruction and discipline. They registered 19,731 pupils, with an average attendance of 7,065.

Foreigners studying English were 6,628, with an average attendance of 2,221. Pupils over 21, 4,301. School books and stationery are furuished by the Board, the expense for the year 1884-'85 being $146,072. The nautical school shows an increase in number of pupils over 1884. The school course during the winter of 1884-'85, and the instruction in seamanship and navigation during the summer cruise, are said to have been carried out satisfactorily. The College of the City of New York, a most important factor of the public school system, reports, for the year ending June 25, 1885, 696 students: in its department of arts, 225; in that of sciences, 334; in the 3-years special course, 137. At the examination for admission, of 1,048 applicants 624 were admitted, making the roll of the college 1,286, an increase of 145 over 1883-84.

Among changes in the course of study, for the grammar and primary schools, the most important was a required instruction in physiology and hygiene, with reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics on the human system, as required by State law. To enforce this, the board made it the duty of the principals to deliver to their pupils at least once a month lectures on this subject of about 20 minutes in length, in general accordance with a prepared "syllabus of topics."

Oswego in 1884-85 made small gains over 1883--'84, employing 4 more teachers and expending $407 more. The 23 school buildings reported for last year were reduced to 20 in 1884-85, but with 465 more sittings, indicating improvement in school accommodations. These provided 1,660 seats for primary, 1,150 for gramınar, 75 for ungraded, and 500 for high schools.

The public schools enrolled 46.26 per cent. of school youth, and with 1,140 in private schools, the entire registered attendance was 60.42 per cent., the private schools enrolling nearly one-third. Public schools were in session the full school year, 197 days, at an expenditure of $46,784, and with property valued at $179,230.

Rochester in 1884-'85 continued its commendable struggle to keep up in school accommodations with a rapidly increasing population. Thirty school buildings were reported, with 12,116 sittings for study, which failed by 2,036 to equal the enrollment. The public schools, classed as primary, grammar, and high, enrolled 69 more than in 1883-84, held 820 more in average daily attendance, employing 13 more teachers, and yet the enrolled reached ouly 38.25 per cent. of school population; allowing 7,500 in private schools, but 58.52 per cent. were registered in all classes of schools. The public schools, taught 196 days, had property valued at $586,930. This apparently bad showing is largely relieved by the allowance of about one-third of school youth to be over 16 years of age, which accounts for 12,333 as in employments suited their age. Then in the number enrolled we find 552 of 16 years of age, which reduces the number out of school to 2,421, many of whom may be disabled from various causes.

Saratoga Springs in 1834-85 presents 74.69 per cent. of school youth enrolled, under 35 female and 5 male teachers, who held 64.69 per cent. of the enrolled in average daily attendance. With 77 in private schools, 77.6 per cent. of school youth were enrolled, leaving 593 out of school. Public schools were in session 205 days of the school year, at an expenditure of $34,071. Special teachers in music and drawing were employed. School property was valued at $100,000.

Syracuse still embraces in its school system primary, junior, senior, and high schools, with a course of 8 years below the high. For this last see "Secondary instruction," further on. A return shows an increase over 1883-84 of 969 in school population, of 224 in enrollment, of 383 in average daily attendance, of 7 in teachers, while school expenditure was $7,379 less. The public schools registered 47.55 per cent. of school youth, and held 79.27 per cent. of enrolled in average attendance. Adding 2,448 in private schools, 59.86 per ceut, of school youth were under instruction, leaving 7,966 apparently unprovided for. The 18 school buildings, with 8,984 sittings for study, fell short of the enrollment by 455. Special teachers in drawing and penmanship were employed.

A training school supplies more than one-fourth of the teachers, who are said to be superior to those formerly employed. The superintendent expresses his gratification with the general improvement, especially so with the better attendance, as indicating more efficiency in work. From this pleasing view he turns with much concern to the large percentage of school youth not in school. According to his estimate, after eliminating those over 16 years of age, who may be otherwise employed, there were 2,138 of proper school age out of school. He regards the only remedy for this evil to be in the recent action of the board of education, which contemplates a vigorous enforcement of the new truant law. He regards it as unfortunate that the school age covers so long a period, as the number registered above 16 is so small as to add almost nothing to the attendance roll, and yet are included in the number of school youth not in school. He would have school age reduced to 6-16.

Troy classed its public schools as primary, intermediate, grammar, and high; and, according to a return, gained 192 in pupils enrolled and employed 6 more teachers.

These schools registered 42.45 per cent. of school youth, holding 66.69 per cent. of en rollment in average daily attendance. With 2,500 in private schools, only 54.95 per cent. of the 20,000 school youth were registered in all the schools.

The superintendent says that in several schools the work of the past year has been prosecuted under difficulties, from replacing old buildings with new ones and procuring, in the process of building, suitable rooms elsewhere. Never in the history of the schools has so much been done, in a single year, to provide comfortable accommodations for the children of the city. Three new buildings were practically completed and ready for occupancy, all of them 3-story brick structures, with basements, and an aggregate of 54 well lighted rooms, the arrangement of seats being conformed to the advice of ophthalmic surgeons, while 2,262 sittings were furnished with the latest form of single seats; entire new furniture and excellent heating apparatus were provided; all had play-rooms in the basement, the yards being reduced to a minimum, as mid-session general recesses no longer prevail. The entire cost was about $122,000. The city report gives no indication of evening schools. Special teachers in music and drawing were employed. Public schools were taught 200 days. School property was estimated at $410,000.

Utica. A return for 1884-'85 shows an increase over 1883-'84 of 1,122 in school youth, of 248 in enrollment, of 85 in average daily attendance, and of $21,452 in expenditure for schools. The enrolled exceeded the sittings of the 18 school buildings by 1,137, indicating considerable change in pupils. There were 2,802 enrolled in the primary, 2,502 in the grammar, 150 in the high, and 411 in evening schools. While these retained 67 per cent. of enrolled in average daily attendance, only 41.94 per cent. of school youth were registered in the public schools, 2,191 being reported in private schools. Evening schools were taught by 8 teachers, with an enrollment of 354 men and 57 women. A special teacher in music was employed. The public day schools were taught 195 days. School property was rated at $371,766.

Yonkers for 18-1-85 presents a gratifying record of advance at all points. With an increase of 820 in school youth, there were, including evening schools, 862 more enrolled, 12 more teachers, and an increased expenditure of $2,885. An additional school building makes 7 in all, with 1,300 sittings for primary schools, 621 for grammar schools, and 149 for a high school. The public schools registered 42.16 per cent. of school youth, and the 1,800 in private schools made the whole enrollment 64.45 per cent. The public schools held 56.71 per cent. of their enrolled in average daily attendance. Evening schools enrolled 353 men and 159 women under 10 teachers. Special teachers in music and drawing reported. Schools were in session 197 days, being the entire school year. School property was valued at $169,000, an increase of $31,551 over last year.

PREPARATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS.

GENERAL STATE REQUIREMENTS.

A teacher of public schools must present evidence of competency, such as a normalschool diploma, a certificate of qualification from the State superintendent, school commissioner of the district, or school officer of a city or village in which he is enployed.

By a law of 1882, pupils trained in teachers' classes under the supervision of the regents of the University of New York, who pass an examination prescribed by the regents under the supervision of school commissioners, are licensed to teach.

STATE NORMAL TRAINING.

The State continues to sustain 8 normal schools, viz, at Albany, Brockport, Buffalo, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, Oswego, and Potsdam. These are all under the supervision of the State superintendent, the regents of the university having joint charge with him over the one at Albany. In these schools tuition and the use of text-books are free. Each county is entitled to twice as many pupils as it has representatives in the Assembly; and when the quota of a county cannot be filled with qualified candidates, eligible ones from other counties may come in. All must be at least 16 years of age, healthy, of good moral character, of average ability, and must pass an examination in the elements of a good English education. Appointments are made by the State superintendent on the recommendation of school commissioners or city superintendents. The school at Albany presents but one course of 2 years; the others have elementary and advanced English courses of 2 years, and classical courses of 3

years.

The aggregate attendance in 1884-'85 was 2,471, an increase of 78 over 1883-'84; graduates for the year, 327, an increase of 27; whole number graduated since organization, 6,160. The whole number of teachers holding normal diplomas was 51 less than in 1883-84, and 72 less than in 1882-83; rather discouraging, says the superintendent, to those who are hoping to see the public schools largely supplied with normal-school graduates.