evidence of progress in the right direction. And we will add, in all candor, that, under the management of Mr. Peavy and his accomplished pains-taking lady, assisted by the present efficient corps of teachers, we may reasonably expect the highest attainment of excellence in all departments of our School. REV. E. L. DAVIS, REV. A. BUSH, W. W. WOOLNOUGH, Committee. BUCHANAN UNION SCHOOL. PROF. S. P. BARRETT, PRINCIPAL. Report of Buchanan Union School for the year 1862. 1st. The number of children between the ages of five and twenty years, residing in the District, is 362. 2d. The whole number of pupils who attended school the past year was, residents, 318; non-residents, 19. 3d. The pupils are graded into three departments, viz: Primary, Intermediate, and Principal Departments. No prescribed course of study has, as yet, been arranged for the different departments. The Primary pupils remain in the Primary room until they satisfactorily finish the 2d Reader, (Wilson's,) when they are supposed to be prepared in the rudiments of numbers and the first elements of Geography, &c., to enter the Intermediate Department. Here they are prepared in Arithmetic, Geography and Reading, to enter the Principal room. In this department are pursued studies sufficient to prepare a pupil to enter College. 4th. The number of teachers and pupils in each department is as follows: Higher Department, Teachers, 2; Pupils, 100. Intermediate Department, Teachers, 1; Pupils, 110. Primary Department, Teachers, 1; Pupils, 127. Portions of the time Assistants are employed in the Interme diate and Primary Departments. 5th. The terms are usually as follows: First Term begins first Monday in September, and closes Friday before Christmas. Second Term begins first Monday after New Years, and closes first Friday in April. Third Term begins after a vacation of one week, and continues until from the 3d to the middle of July. 6th. The total expense of the School for the year was $1,000. The average cost per month, for the tuition of each pupil, was about 27 cents. 7th. The rate of tuition charged non-resident pupils, is $3 per term. No charges are made to resident pupils pursuing the higher branches. 8th. The several items and total amount of receipts and expenditures, on account of the School for the past year, are as follows: Moneys on hand Sept. 2d, 1861,.. .$609 69 378 42 9th. There is a growing interest in the school on the part of the parents, and a good interest on the part of the pupils. The means adopted to secure regular attendance is this: Every scholar is required to present a written excuse for ab sence or tardiness, from the parent or guardian. In case of the parents refusing to comply with the demand, the pupil is quietly dismissed from the school. This succeeds admirably with us. It is in force only in the Intermediate and Principal departments. All swearing and bad language is strictly prohibited. In each room are conducted regular exercises in the morning at 9 o'clock-reading of Scripture and prayer. During the past year we have improved the school building to the amount of $1,000, by an addition to the building. Our school has been under the charge of Professor S. P. Barrett, a gentleman of excellent literary attainments and an experienced teacher. During the past year he has been assisted a portion of the time by one male and two female teachers, and a portion of the time by three females. It is the intention of the board of trustees to add one more teacher to the number the coming year. Our school-house is a fine brick building two stories high, containing three spacious school-rooms, one recitation room and a dressing-room. Notwithstanding we have during the past year added to the house very considerably, it is yet too small. We shall be obliged to build larger very soon. September 20, 1862. WILLIAM S. MERRILL, Director. CENTREVILLE UNION SCHOOL. Hon. J. M. GREGORY, Supt. of Public Instruction: DEAR SIR:-Agreeable to the request contained in your Circular of August 14th, in reference to Union Schools, I send you the following report from School District No. 1, fractional, of Nottawa and Lockport townships, County of St. Joseph: 1st. The number of children residing in the District, between the ages of 5 and 20 years, is 173. 2d. The whole number of children attending school during the past year is, resident, 159; non-resident, 12. 3d. The School is divided into two departments, Primary and Higher. The course of studies pursued in the Primary Department has been Reading, Spelling, Writing on slate, Mental Arithmetic, and Geography; and for the Higher Department, Reading, Spelling, Writing, Geography, Arithmetic,. Mental and Written, Book-Keeping, Latin and English Gram mar. 4th. One Teacher in Primary Department, and 89 pupils on roll; one Teacher in Higher Department, and 82 pupils on roll. 5th. The year is divided into three Terms, of 13 weeks each; vacations vary from one to two weeks. 6th. The total expense of the School, for the past year, has been $843 77, at an average cost per week for the tuition of each pupil, of twelve and six-tenth cents. 7th. The rate charged non-resident pupils was $4 per term. No charge extra for resident pupils. 8th. The several items and total amount of receipts and expenses for the year past, is as follows: Money on hand Sept., 1861,.... Received for tuition of non-resident scholars,. $ 34 45 33 68 255 00 as fine money,. Two mill tax received,.. Primary School Interest Money,. Collected by rate-bill,.. Total,..... On this sum has been drawn orders for Teachers' wa ges, to the amount of..... .$627 00 For window blinds, and other repairs, ...... 95 82 For building fires and keeping house in order, 39 00 43 75 For repairing clock,. 1 50 3 03 395 28 88 00 . 118 93 $927 37 For brooms, pail, chalk, dictionary, &c.,..... $11 70 25 00 $843 77 Leaving in the treasury for the present year,...... $ 83 60 9th- The general interest in the School, I am sorry to say, is not apparently what it ought to be. I do not wish, however, to charge our people with a want of interest, (for this in reality is not the case,) for they are willing to vote all the means required to carry on the school. When this is done, their part in the matter is accomplished. The balance is left to the Teacher; never visiting the school (with a very few exceptions) to inquire into the progress of their children in their studies, and otherwise manifesting to them an interest in the same. The result or effect in the school is the same as though there was in reality a lack of interest-an irregular attendance on the part of the pupil. Father and mother do not care whether I go to school to-day or not, and I may do as I please; and I think I will stay at home to day, it is so dull going to school when nobody cares. The means used to procure the regular attendance of pupils, are various, such as locking the door when tardy; a written excuse from the parent, when absent; a prize offered to the mos regular attendant; all without success, however. As I have already hinted, I conceive the only means that can be used to secure the desired object, is a combined effort on the part of parents, guardians and teachers, to make the school interesting. Parents should frequently visit the school, beautify the play-grounds, make the house comfortable, pleasant and inviting. Centrevil'e, Sept. 27, 1862. ISAAC R. BELOTE, Director. |