in the public schools of Boston are pupils of our own Normal School, furnished within the past eight years. It will be hardly within the bounds of possibility—this school will have fallen very far below its true mission-if in the future its development and means of usefulness in this direction are not largely increased. Undoubtedly much has yet to be learned in the conduct, management, and successful organization of the purely normal element in such an institution. A perfectly matured Normal School must be one of slow and gradual growth. We have therefore good cause to felicitate ourselves that in so short a time so much has been already gained. Nor should we feel any discouragement if we have not, in so brief a period, reached a nearer approach to perfect success. We can already trace in the ranks of our teachers, throughout the city, the indisputable evidences of the good seed there sown. Very many of the best teachers in the service are among its graduates, and are largely indebted for their success as teachers to their education in our public schools, and, especially, in the Girls' High and Normal School.

Much as has been thus accomplished, unquestionably more may yet be done under other and more favorable auspices. One great want that has been felt and noticed, from the beginning, is that of more mature female instruction, combined with the highest culture and intellectual superiority. For this combination the committee of that school, as we have good reason to believe, have diligently sought, but thus far they have not been able to obtain, except within the circle of their own graduates, teachers whose education was equal to the requirements of such a school. Maturity in years, experience in teaching, whenever

presented, has unfortunately not been combined with the other indispensable requisites of superior scholarship. Nor can it be hoped that the committee of that school will be any more successful, until more adequate salaries will enable them to draw to their examinations for candidates, the best talent combined with the largest experience. As time wears on this need may be somewhat diminished in the added years and experience of their own graduates, unless the insufficiency of the present salaries should in time render the Girls' High and Normal School no longer able to retain, or to obtain, the most experienced and best of its own graduates.

Another great and noticeable want is that of more practical instruction in the art of teaching. Theory and theoretical teaching are very well in their way, but they are by no means all in all. Very many candidates for teachers go out from the Boston Normal School without so much as a single day's practical experience in the schoolroom. This is found to be a not unnatural and very serious obstacle to their success in obtaining appointments. It often happens that persons inferior in every other respect except only experience are preferred. Many are thus disappointed and discouraged. Model schools and model classes have elsewhere very generally been found liable to insuperable objections, and have, to a large extent, been abandoned. But are there no other means of furnishing the desirable practical instruction in teaching than through the exploded model school? What better opportunities could be desired than are offered in our own Grammar and Primary Schools? Is not this matter worthy of serious consideration? Is it not possible that some arrangements may be successfully planned, by

means of which, with mutual advantages both to the Grammar and the Primary Schools, and to the candidates, the best of practical lessons in the art of teaching may be given to all who are seeking to qualify themselves to become teachers? This is a matter well worthy of the serious consideration and immediate attention of the whole Board.

THE BOARD'S CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN EXPENDITURES.

In connection with the Public Schools of Boston, the annual expenditures form a subject of primary importance. These expenditures can never be other than of deep interest alike to every tax-payer and to every citizen. These expenditures form no inconsiderable portion of the annual expenses of the city. They have ever been freely, almost lavishly bestowed, and very rarely have any complaints from the tax-payers been heard in reference to them. The School Board have, on their part, never shrunk from any scrutiny into their responsibility upon this point. The only grounds for regret, and that has become from year to year and with good cause an increasing one, has been the consideration that in so many respects this Board possesses no powers, and therefore has no responsibility for a large portion of these expenditures. The experience of the few years past has demonstrated a growing need of important changes in this respect, the absolute necessity for an increase alike in powers of the School Board, and in their responsibilities in regard to the construction, repairs, and custody of the schoolhouses, (nominally but not really under their charge,) the enlargement of school-yards, and the regulation

of many other minor expenditures for warming, keeping in good order, and protecting the school property.

When a Grammar schoolhouse is constructed and a formal dedication takes place, the City Government go through the form of surrendering the same to the custody of the School Committee. It is however, in actual fact, only a form. Over the building itself the Committee have really no more control than they possessed before; while to its portion of the expenses of our public schools is set down the whole aggregate of its cost, not one dollar of it was expended by the Committee or has been within their control. And, in its keeping, they still have no voice, or, if a voice, it is but a voice, nothing more. They have no voice whatever as to who shall keep the building in order. They have no power even to prevent its rooms from being made use of for illegitimate purposes, and such as may be unfavorable to its fullest enjoyment by the school for which it was constructed. In evidence of this we have only to point to the construction a few years since, by the City Government, of a wardroom in the hall of the Girls' High and Normal School, against the earnest protest of every member of that Committee; the persistent grant, year after year, against the ever-repeated and unanimous protest of the committee of that school of the use of this hall, to the serious inconvenience of the High School, for its occupation by schools not created by law, and therefore forbidden by our State Constitution from receiving any appropriations from the public treasury. It is no part of our present purpose here to dwell either upon the mere discourtesy, or even the abuse of power here displayed. We only refer to it to show how powerless are now

misuse, and

the School Committee to protect its schools from the nced that exists of a change in this respect. The entire control of the schoolhouses should be vested in the School Board in all respects. There are no advantages, but on the contrary, very many and very serious disadvantages to the schools in the present inability of this Board to take care of the city property, for which they are supposed to be, and of right ought to be, solely responsible.

In regard to the expenditures over which the Board does possess absolute control it has no desire to shrink from any, even the severest, scrutiny. By their past acts they are willing to be judged by their fellow-citizens. They have asked for no expenditures that were not required by the public good. There has been no wastefulness or extravagance on their part. They can show, however, that while there have been expenditures charged to school expenses which the Board has never asked for or even sanctioned, expenses believed to be sometimes. unnecessary, capricious, and even wasteful,- no heed has been given to direct, positive, and repeated applications made by the Board for relief in cases where the public good required, and still require, judicious and necessary expenditures. Let us here refer to only a few of the more signal of the instances in which the repeatedly expressed wishes of the School Board have been utterly, if not discourteously, disregarded.

In March, 1860, the Board directed a communication to be sent to the City Council to the effect not only that the schoolhouse in East Street was wholly inadequate to the wants of the Primary Schools kept therein, but also that the yard-room was altogether too restricted. With great difficulty and after long