GENEVA. WILLIAM H. TRUESDALE, Superintendent. Since my last report, another school building has been erected to meet the demands of the primary schools, and it was occupied, at the opening of the term, in September of the present year. regards the most important points in the construction of school buildings, lighting, heating, ventilation, and the size of schoolrooms, we regard the new building as a model. The crowded condition of the central school building has been somewhat relieved by keeping additional classes in the primary school buildings, but the increase in attendance has given us nearly the former number. The indications are that the two remaining old buildings, which accommodate eight teachers, will soon be replaced by commodious buildings that will accommodate 16 or 18 teachers. The corps of teachers has been increased from 32 to 40, an increase of eight over last year, while but one of last year's teachers resigned. The civil service rules for the appointment, promotion and salaries of teachers, which were adopted in May, 1893, are satisfactory in their application. Kindergarten departments in two of our primary schools were organized in September, and the work has been excellent. Of the 70 children enrolled, about one in six is under 5 years of age. The enrollment of pupils for the year ending June, 1894, was a slight increase over that for the preceding year, while the aggre gate number of days attendance was a little more than 21 per cent. greater. The greatest increase in attendance has been in the high school department. The assessed valuation of all the property taxable in the district, both real and personal, as shown by the district tax-list last issued, was $5,210,333, an increase of $99,085 over that for 1893. The above amount does not include property added to the district last March, as our annual meeting is held the last Saturday in December, and the tax-roll is issued soon after. GLENS FALLS. SHERMAN WILLIAMS, Superintendent. There has been a healthy increase in attendance during the past school year. Our high school department is beginning to feel the effect of better work in the lower grades. We graduated a class of 23 last June. The work in vocal music continues to be very satisfactory. It is remarkably popular with every one. The most noted feature of the year's work was that of reading and literature at which I spoke last year. The work is as systematically done as in any subject that is taught. I have sent you a copy of our course of study in that subject. The Crandall Free Library, which is managed as such in the interest of the school as though we owned it has been of great value. The founder, Mr. Henry Crandall, has been a member of our school boarl since its organization. We have had the departmental method of teaching after the sixth grade from the beginning of the work under the present organization. Seven of our teachers are normal school graduates, three others hold State certificates. The time is not far distant when we will employ in the academic department only college or normal graduates and in the lower grades the same or those who have had, at least, three years successful experience in graded schools. The need of free text-books, is felt more during the present hard times as it becomes more difficult for many people to purchase books and the work of the classes is more delayed. I regret that we have not yet established a free kindergarten school. Various matters have tended to prevent this. We will, I think, establish one before the close of the present school year. HOOSICK FALLS. ARTHUR G. CLEMENT, Superintendent. General. In response to your letter requesting me to transmit a written report regarding the progress of the schools of this village for the past year, for publication in the next annual report of your Department to the Legislature, I respectfully submit the following brief account: The number of teachers employed was 22, and the number of pupils registered was S00. A teachers' training class was organized in our school in January, 1893, in which 14 young ladies were instructed for a term of 18 weeks. The class was in charge of Miss Helena A. Fierson, a graduate of the State Normal College at Albany, who conducted it in a manner satisfactory to all. She resigned at the close of the year to accept a position in the schools of Batavia, N. Y., and is succeeded by Miss Eliza A. Tuthill, also a graduate of the State Normal College. Several new branches of study were introduced into our high school curriculum; German, zoology and ethics were for the first time included. In the gades increased attention was given to nature study, drawing, word analysis and literature.. Music was taught as heretofore in all the grades by a special teacher. In the spring, district number 22, adjoining our district on the west, petitioned to be annexed. The petition was granted, and by order of the school commissioner the former district was annulled and a decree issued making the said district a part of our district, No. 1. This arrangement will increase our teaching force to 25 and bring into our system about 150 new pupils. The schoolhouse of the annexed district has been extensively. repaired, water-closets placed therein and the ground graded, so that in every respect the surroundings are as comfortable and pleasant as at the other school buidings, which have also been repainted and thoroughly renovated. JAMAICA UNION FREE SCHOOL, DISTRICT, No. 4. General. The past year has been an eventful one in the educational history of Jamaica. The State has appropriated $100,000 for a normal school, and that was followed, on the part of the people, by an appropriation of $100,000 for public school buildings. The plan is to build two primary schools, one in the eastern, the other in the western part of the village, and one central high school, in which there will be primary, grammar and academic departments. Our schools are now under the Board of Regents. While there are some serious difficulties and objections upon the whole we believe the result is good. It is very difficult for the teachers and pupils to keep from cramming; that is the great objection to regents' examinations. Teachers and pupils, however, have a chance to measure themselves with others, the result being often disappointing to both, the general effect being good. To get recognition from the State for work accomplished is, undoubtedly, a great incentive to the pupils. It is possible that our method of marking pupils may be of interest. Our school year is divided into three terms. In November, March and June we have written examinations for the past term, papers being marked upon a scale of 10, excepting pupils taking the regents' examinations. The teachers mark for the other months such standing as the pupil is entitled to. This standing she may mark from her judgment of the general work for the month, or, if she prefers, she may have a written or oral examination; the standings are all based upon a scale of 10. There being 10 markings for the year, the sum of the markings in each study will, of course, give the percentage in that study for the year. The library is an important part of the school. The pupils are encouraged to read suitable books, especially those that bear in some way upon the school work. We have now nearly 2,500 volumes in the library, nearly 200 of which were added during the past year. The books added were bought with the proceeds of the lecture course, about $200. On its course we had James Whitcomb Riley, who read from his poems; Mayor James B. Pond, who lectured upon "The Pioneers of the West;" S. R. Stoddart illustrated lectures upon "Alaska," and "The White City;" in addition to these we had three excellent concerts. I include this short statement of our lecture course, as it is now an important and regular part of our school system. The financial success depends almost entirely upon the work of the pupils, and in return it gives very many an opportunity to hear men prominent as writers, travelers, or scientists, and to hear music of the highest order. JAMAICA UNION FREE SCHOOL, DISTRICT NO. 7. General. School was opened for 1893-94, under much more favorable circumstances than ever before. Our course of study had been enlarged and materially strengthened. We still have few subjects, preferring to strive for thoroughness, rather than for quantity. For the first time in the history of the schools we had a graduating class. Nine pupils were publicly awarded diplomas at the close of school. Eight of the nine graduates took the regents' examination in June, in preliminary subjects, and successfully passed. We have now four new school buildings with 26 wellheated, well-lighted, and well-ventilated class-rooms. The district furnished all school material. 1. Number of teachers employed. 2. Teachers holding normal diplomas. 3. Number of pupils registered.. 4. Average daily attendance. 5. Whole number of days' attendance. 29 15 1,209 860 169,238 Our library project still "hangs fire." The parties having it in charge are very slow to act. However, we entertain the hope of having plenty of good books in the near future. In the meantime we have steadily increased the quantity of works of reference and of school apparatus. Music and drawing are taught by a special teacher. JOHNSTOWN. WILLIAM S. SNYDER, Superintendent. General. In compliance with your request, I submit the following report concerning the schools of Johnstown, for the school year ending July 31, 1894. During the year the school has labored under great disadvantage of having to contend with contagious diseases. For several weeks, while these diseases prevailed, the attendance was very much affected, very much affected, notwithstanding the increased enrollment. For the first time in the history of the school an exhibit of school-work was given at the close of the spring term. Nearly thirty departments, from primary to academic, were represented. The work exhibited was done in the school room, and the exercises of entire classes were shown; the good, the bad and the indifferent being alike displayed. Properly mounted for inspection were specimens of writing, spelling, memory maps, busy work, pressed flowers, picture stories, letterwriting, reproduction stories, drawing, language work, map drawing object lessons, etc. The exhibition was opened to the public for inspection several days at the close of the spring term. Patrons of the school and others availed themselves of the opportunity to examine the work done. A radical change has been made in conducting this study. Judging from specimens prepared for the school exhibit, there has been a marked change for the better. With proper supervision the coming year a still greater change will be seen. We have one of the best equipped school libraries in the State. It now contains 8,204 books and pamphlets. We are making satisfactory progress in both of these departments, and find them both great aids in the general work of training the pupils in habits of accuracy and attention. 96 |