D.

REPORT OF G. T. FLETCHER,

AGENT OF THE BOARD.

LAUREL PARK AND OTHER INSTITUTES, IMPROVEMENT IN THE SCHOOLS, THE STATE SCHOOL FUND, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, NORMAL SCHOOLS, RURAL SCHOOLS, SUPERVISION, THE

STATE COURSE OF STUDY.

REPORT.

To the Board of Education.

During the year I have visited seventy towns for the purpose of inspecting schools. Institutes or other educational meetings have been held in thirty-five towns. Assisted by Mr. Bailey and Mr. Sargent, also by superintendents Abbott, Dartt, Goodhue, Hall and Pratt, I have conducted from time to time union meetings for the teachers of several towns, and local meetings for the citizens have been held.

Schools have been visited to ascertain the methods and results of the teaching. Inspection of work has been supplemented by a conference with teachers and school committees, to aid them in any possible ways.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

These have been less in number than usual, but there has been a larger attendance of teachers than ever before, and more towns have been represented.

An institute was held at Stockbridge May 23. Fifty teachers were present from five towns. Lessons were given in drawing, nature study, geography, orthography, hygiene and school management.

LAUREL PARK INSTITUTE, NORTHAMPTON.

The fourth annual session commenced July 2 and closed July 7, 1894. Eighty Massachusetts towns were represented by two hundred eighty-two teachers. Twenty teachers came from other States, making the total attendance over three hundred.

Nineteen towns of Hampshire County were represented by one hundred teachers; nineteen towns of Franklin County, by sixty-seven teachers; fourteen towns of Hampden County, by sixty teachers; six towns of Berkshire County, by twenty

eight teachers; six towns of Worcester County, by fourteen teachers; other counties were represented by thirteen teachers. An increase of thirty towns represented, with a gain of seventy-five in the attendance of teachers over the previous year, indicates a growing appreciation of the location and work of the institute.

Instructors and Subjects.

J. C. Greenough, Westfield, principles of teaching.

G. I. Aldrich, Newton, arithmetic.

A. C. Boyden, Bridgewater, nature study: minerals, plants, animals.

J. W. McDonald, Stoneham, algebra, geometry, literature.
Emma C. Fisher, Bridgewater, language and grammar.

Elvira Carver, Westfield, geography.

Mary B. Davis, Bridgeport, Conn., history and physiology.

Mary I. Lovejoy, Chelsea, primary work: reading, language, numbers.

Martha Ross, St. Johnsbury, Vt., drawing.

Anna E. Hill, Springfield, penmanship.

William Atwater, Boston, elocution and physical culture.

Lecturers and Subjects.

Secretary Frank A. Hill, "Teachers' Burdens."

Dr. Admiral P. Stone, "School Government.”

Mr. George A. Walton, "Relation of Teachers to Pupils."
Agent G. T. Fletcher, director of the institute.

In all the branches of common school work, five progressive lessons were given, covering the subjects so thoroughly that the teachers were well informed regarding the best methods of teaching them. The great advantage of an institute continuing a week over that of one day is very evident. A unanimous request was made by the teachers for an extension of the time. to cover two weeks next year. The lessons in nature study were made very interesting and profitable by an arrangement of tables for laboratory work. Primary teaching was exemplified by lessons given to classes of children.

Special rooms were provided for the exhibition of materials and methods in drawing, history and geography. Through the generosity of the Chautauqua Assembly, free use of the grounds, auditorium and Normal Hall was given to the insti

tute.

The Methodist societies of Springfield, Westfield and Northampton kindly loaned their chapels for conference rooms free of expense. The cottages and boarding hall furnish ample accommodations for lodging and board at reasonable rates. Trains on the Connecticut River division of the Boston & Maine Railroad and the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad stop at the Park.

Results of this institute have been seen during the year in an increased attendance at Normal schools, promotion of teachers to better positions and a general improvement in the method of teaching. The teachers of western Massachusetts hope the Board of Education will make this institute permanent.

GREAT BARRINGTON INSTITUTE.

This was held October 17. Fifty teachers were present, from eight towns. Lessons were given in drawing, algebra, geometry, geography, reading, orthography and school management. As this town is the geographical and business centre of Southern Berkshire, it may be well to hold an institute of two days' duration here early in September.

MEETINGS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS. These were held in Amherst, November 13, and in Orange, November 14. There was a good representation of committees and superintendents from Hampshire and Franklin counties.

The following subjects were considered:

1. Legal and moral duties of school committees.

2.

Duties of superintendents.

3. The special work of committees in towns that have a superintendent of schools and in towns not having a superintendent.

4. Combination of schools and conveyance of pupils.

5. The relation of buildings, apparatus, text-books and teachers to good schools.

The meetings proved to be very profitable. Another meeting is to be held at Charlemont, Jan. 5, 1895.