OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT.

R. R. FARR, Superintendent Public Instruction, Editor.

[The Journal is sent to every County Superintendent and District Clerk, and must be carefully preserved by them as public property and transmitted to their successors in office.]

FIRST VIRGINIA READING ASSOCIATION. -The selection of the course of reading as reported in this JOURNAL completes the organization of this Association, and nothing is now needed to make it a success except for superintendents and teachers to enroll themselves as members, procure the books and go to work. President Painter states that over a hundred have already joined. This will do for a start; but unless teachers and officers are dead to their own interests, as well as to the success of the schools, the number will soon reach a thousand.

We regard these associations as meeting a long-felt need, and, . whilst they are voluntary, shall treat them as a part of our educational system; for whatever tends to inform and educate the teacher must redound to the advantage of our public free schools. We shall request from the officers of each association an annual report, giving in detail, its year's work, and shall publish the same in the annual report of this department for the information of all who are interested.

Parties who desire information will please refer to the "Official Department" of the September JOURNAL, or address Prof. F. V. N. Painter, Roanoke College, or Secretary Robert Snavely, Wytheville, Va.

SUPERINTENDENTS' ANNUAL REPORTS.-We are thankful to say that all of the Superintendents' reports are at last in, and nearly all of the usual tables are ready for the printer. There has been some trouble in getting the financial part of the Superintendents' reports correct, due, in many cases-in fact we might say in all cases-to imperfect book-keeping on the part of the district clerks, who seem still to rely upon the county treasurers to keep their accounts. We have called attention several times to this matter, and as it has not had the desired effect, we now serve notice on Superintendents and trustees that, in the future, the law will be strictly enforced against all delinquents. Superintendents would do well to read the forty-third section carefully, and carry out its requirements literally.

This is the beginning of the school year, and now is the time to correct the errors and supply the defects shown to exist in getting up

the data for your annual reports for 1884. Attend to it whilst it is in your mind. In this connection we would be glad if you would examine forms upon which treasurers and clerks are required to report to you, and if you can suggest any improvement in them by which the information required can be more accurately obtained, we will be glad to consider any changes you may suggest.

The success of schools, like that of individuals, depends largely upon the skill and judgement with which the finances are managed, and, of course, all are bound to admit the importance of each district's keeping the accounts of its several funds accurately, and so plainly and fully that any citizen of average information can understand them. Superintendents would save themselves trouble and secure greater accuracy if they would cause a regular system of keeping accounts to be adopted by all the districts in their respective counties, as it would secure uniformity and greatly facilitate the work of the County School Board in examining accounts and making up its reports to the supervisors and to this office-to say nothing of the labor saved to the Superintendent in making up his report.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.-This institution opens the 30th of this month, and the indications are that there will be a good attendance of pupils. Superintendents who have not made their reports to Principal Ruffner should do so at once, as it is impossible for him to proceed with the selection of students, either fairly or intelligently, without these reports. Remember this school is intended to educate teachers for the public free schools of Virginia, and every school officer should feel a deep interest in its success, and should do everything in his power to promote the same.

VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE.-This institution opened on the 3d of Sept., and we are informed by President T. N. Conrad that one hundred and twenty students have already entered, and this number will likely be increased to one hundred and fifty in a few weeks. This is encouraging, but still the number is not what it should be, as the institution possesses everything needed to impart a thorough education, and its reasonable charges place it within the reach of every enterprising young man in the State.

The 240th section of school law provides the mode of selecting State students, and is as follows:

"A number of students equal to twice the number of members of the House of Delegates, to be apportioned in the same manner, shall have the privilege of attending said college without charge for tuition, use of laboratories, or public buildings, to be selected by the school

trustees of the respective counties, cities, and election districts for said delegates, with reference to the highest proficiency and good character, from the white male students to the free schools of their respective counties, cities, and election districts, or, in their discretion, from others than those attending said free schools."

From this it is seen that some of the counties have not availed themselves of the advantages of the law, and have no representatives at the college. Is it asking too much of school officers when we urge upon them the great importance of sending on their students? This institution is intended as a means to strengthen and extend our public free school system. The law leaves it to the discretion of the school trustees of the respective counties to determine who shall be recommended as State students under the provision just quoted, and it seems to us that, by proper effort, it might be made a great incentive to good scholarship in our public schools by recommending only the best students from them. Those not connected with the schools can obtain catalogues and all other information by addressing President T. N. Conrad, Blacksburg, Va.

FIRST VIRGINIA READING ASSOCIATION.-The committee appointed by this association to select "the course of reading" to be pursued by its members, met at the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction the 24th instant, and after carefully considering the books submitted by President Painter, decided to add one book and adopt his list as follows:

Methods of Teaching, by Albert N. Raub, Ph. D., Principal of Central State Normal School, Loch Haven, Pa.

The Art of School Management, by J. Baldwin, late President of the State Normal School, Kirksville, Mo., now of Sam Houston Normal School, Texas.

Principles and Practice of Teaching, by James Johonnot.

Mental Science and Culture, by Edward Brooks, Principal State Normal School, Millersville, Penn.

Raub's School Management.

Brooks's Normal Methods af Teaching.

Hewitt's Pedagogy, by Prof. Hewitt, Principal Illinois State Normal School.

SCHOOL WORK FOR THE YEAR ENDING JULY 31ST, 1884.-Below we give a summary and comparison of the school work for the year 1884, which shows a very gratifying improvement. We find

that we had 6,356 schools in operation as against 5,974 the year previous. The reports show a steady and healthy increase in all respects, and the growth and prosperity of the system is forcibly indicated by the number of new schools opened and the number still needed to accommodate the children. How this pressing demand is to be met we cannot tell. We cannot hope for any increase of our school funds this year, and will be gratified if they are not reduced.

The Blair Educational Bill, which passed the Senate of the United States and was allowed to die in the House of Representatives, a large majority of whose members claimed to be its friends, would have given us about $485,000 this year and over double this amount next year, which would have enabled us to have opened this year the 754 schools shown by the Superintendent's reports to be still needed, and to have run the whole 7,110 a session of seven and a half months instead of six, the length of the last school session. Surely the next Congress will give us help. Our State and County governments are paying about all they can stand to aid education. The amounts contributed for all purposes of the system last year will aggregate over $1,400,000. Then what are we to do? We must either have help from the National Government or many of our children will grow up without the advantages of even a common school education. Let the friends of public education take heart and press the work, and Congress will be bound to grant us the aid we need and are entitled to.

ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.-Section 84 of school law provides that county school boards "shall make an annual report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, on or before the 15th of August in each year, which shall give in detail the official acts for the year ending the 31st day of July preceding." This report has not been made, and a circular was sent out a short time since, calling the attention of County Superintendents to the fact, as they are ex officio chairmen of said boards. We did not send out blanks because we thought the requirements were so plain and explicit that the boards would have no trouble in understanding what was needed. But, to our surprise, we have received over twenty letters from Superintendents inquiring what we want; and we desire to answer all these enquiries here by inviting their attention to the section referred to, and by stating that we only want what the law says they shall furnish, to-wit: "Shall give in detail its official acts for the year ending the 31st day of July, 1884."

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.-Superintendent R. A. Hamlet, of Camp