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able to the happiness and good order of the community. The adaptation of this school for such a purpose in more commodious premises is suggested to the Committee as desirable to be undertaken.

The geographical knowledge of the children was ready and correct, and pretty extensive.

There is considerable mental activity shewn by the children of this school during their lessons.

Riverton.

There is a well built school and master’s house in this township. It is well lighted, and recently considerable improvements have been effected in its ventilation; it is a mixed school, that is, one for both sexes, and therefore requiring not simply ordinary watchfulness, but superior discipline. I do not think that it has attained in this respect all that a thoughtful and anxious parent might properly demand. On the books there are nine girls and twenty-two boys; total 31. As this township has been settled many years, the children are more than ordinary numerous within its limits; the numbers in attendance are not therefore satisfactory; either a large proportion of the children must be educated elsewhere, or they are growing up without school instruction. It behoves the School Committee to take this matter into its serious consideration. Funds have been liberally contributed by the town, and it has a right to demand a corresponding result; as that result does not at present exist, means should be taken immediately to remedy it.

The elder pupils read the Bible with some degree of care and understanding, and are evidently well taught these lessons. Their manner and tone of reading have also improved; in the latter respect, the ordinary standard of excellence they have not yet attained. The reading is not sufficiently easy and natural, though both in modulation and pitch, they would not unfavourably stand comparison with other schools in the Province.

The writing books do not show that constant supervision, which is essential for success in this imitative art, yet the present are superior to the past, though not quite so cleanly and carefully executed as is desirable.

The mental arithmetic is creditable both to teacher and scholars. Arithmetic should always be highly valued, not only on account of its utility in the ordinary business of life, but for its strengthening and educative influence upon the mind. While it requires more effort to teach it well than some other branches, it also requires more attention and thought on the part of the pupils.

South Riverton.

There is an excellent school-house here, but no master’s house. It has been placed by the School Committee too far in the bush; as the road leading to it crosses several gullies, and is shaded by lofty trees, it presents, for a large part of the year, a great obstacle to the success of the school. There are few children in this Province whose situation is more unfavorable for mental improvement than those of South Riverton. So much the more do they need whatever amount of culture which a good elementary school can impart. The acquirements of the children are generally very limited, but their progress has been more considerable than at first their present knowledge would indicate; they are not so far on the road as some others, but the journey was commenced at a different stage. This remark applies to some, but not to all. They especially require a course of instruction which shall tend to arouse the mind to greater mental activity; without this, even in other respects well directed labour will not produce a satisfactory result.

While admitting that the labour expended has been beneficially bestowed, I am compelled to say it is barren of large results; the time devoted to instruction is insufficient, and the manner too quiet and destitute of life. A child whose faculties are in a state of activity needs no stimulus, but one whose powers are dull and torpid must have knowledge so presented as to animate and spur on the mind to increased exertion. There are eight girls and eleven boys attending this school.

Campbelltown.

The children in attendance on this School are sixteen boys and four girls, a large portion of whom are very young. Both the School and Master’s House are well situated and convenient. The time for instruction is too short; there are few children who prepare their lessons at home, and the portions assigned them are imperfectly learned. The mode of instruction is not sufficiently collective; that is, it is too frequently limited to an individual rather than to a class.

The School greatly needs collective instruction.