certs they have raised hundreds of dollars for the Patriotic Fund. In three schools the pupils made what they called Patriotic Quilts." These were sold and the proceeds devoted to the fund. In this connection it may be well to mention that Mr. Edward Stockley, principal of Newdale intermediate school, and Mr. Gilbert E. Hocking, of Clanwilliam, have joined the colors. The former is training at Sewell, the latter is "somewhere in France."

No consolidations have been effected during the year but the sentiment in favor of the scheme seems to be growing. Petitions have been sent to the councils asking for consolidation at Basswood and in the Cameron district. These will be dealt with by arbitration sometime during July. Several meetings were held in this division during the year at which consolidation and general educational problems were discussed. Mr. R. Fletcher, the Deputy Minister of Education, attended some of these meetings and gave addresses which were much appreciated.

The teachers of this division met with those of Inspector Herriot's division in convention at Minnedosa. About one hundred and thirty teachers registered and the meeting proved the largest and one of the best yet held. One half of the registration fee of one dollar was turned over to the Patriotic fund.

The Langford Trustees' Association held two meetings during the year and is proving itself a live organization, steps are being taken to have the entire division organized into the three associations to meet at Neepawa, Minnedosa and Basswood. A large number of trustees attended the Provincial Convention at Winnipeg.

Eleven arbitrations were held during the year. These dealt mainly with the changing of school sites and the boundaries of union school districts.

The boys' and girls' club at Neepawa heid a very successful fair at Neepawa in October. The exhibits were good and the club is proving a very helpful organization It was organized again this year and another was formed at Minnedosa with a membership of almost two hundred. The Beautiful Plains Horticultural society and the Neepawa Kelwood Agriculture societies are assisting materially in making the school and the home gardens of the children a success by giving prizes in this department.

A gratifying feature this year was the limited number of changes in the teaching staff. One of the drawbacks, particularly in the rural districts has been the frequent change of teachers.

At the entrance examinations held in June one hundred and sixty-seven candidates presented themselves for examina

tion in this division. This is a much larger number than we have ever had before. One hundred and thirty were successful. One examiner remarked that the papers were fifty per cent. better than last year. This statement was perhaps exaggerated, but there is no doubt that the quality of the work done has improved very much. The grammar and arithmetic papers proved responsible for most of the failures.

The monthly bulletin issued by the Department of Education is proving a great help in nature study and school gardening and the work in these subjects shows a decided improvement. Nearly every school has a garden of some kind, and nearly all have flowers in the windows. The work in physical drill is improving and more attention is being paid to the supervision of the school sports and games. The field days held at different centres in the division stimulate the work in this department, and that held at Neepawa this year was one of the most successful. In the rural schools more attention is paid to music. Four schools have purchased organs during the year. In these schools more time is devoted to the actual singing than the theory of music. Drawing is fairly well taught. The teaching of geography has improved very much. The interest taken in the war is partly responsible for this. Reading in the junior grades I find, as a rule, very good. In the senior grades it is not so well taught. Writing and spelling receive daily attention, and as a consequence progress is being made.

The work in the intermediate schools in this division is well done by a staff of efficient teachers. On the whole I have been well pleased with the progress made in the schools during the year.

Respectfully submitted,

A. B. FALLIS, I. P. S.

Report of Inspector Wright-Inspectoral Division No. 7

HON. R. S. THORNTON,

Minister of Eduction, Winnipeg.

Sir, I have the honour to submit the report on Inspectoral Division No. 7 for the year ending June 30th, 1915.

During the past year I have been over my district twice and am getting somewhat familiar with the conditions affecting the various schools, and also a little acquainted with the trustees and people. I have been able to visit all my schools twice and a few of them three or four times.

The work being done in the various schools, is, generally speaking, satisfactory. In most of the subjects on the school programme fair progress has been made. Composition is getting a good share of attention and with very commendable results. Writing is still one of the most difficult subjects to get up to even a medium standard. Spelling on the whole is good, much of the bad spelling noticeable in the written work being the result of carelessness. The improvement in physical exercises has been very marked. Almost all the schools now do this work well and many of the teachers, considering the conditions under which they have worked, have had very gratifying success. School gardens are increasing in number and improving in quality. In almost all cases I find the teacher quite willing to do her part, but it is still difficult, in many cases, to get the grounds prepared for successful gardening. History and geography are getting more attention than usual this year, especially where these subjects relate in any way to the war.

Possibly the greatest reason why any certain subject is below average is the fact that the teacher has not herself a sufficiently high standard in the matter. She is too often satisfied with work that is fairly good, or else she is unable to appreciate just what is meant by the word excellent.

The discipline, except in a few cases, continues to be good. The increased interest in physical exercises is doing much to improve the general conduct of the pupils. The habit of patiently waiting for orders and of prompt and accurate obedience, insisted on in these exercises, soon shows its influence on all the other school work. Then, too, the interest teachers are taking in the playground activities of their pupils is aiding very materially in the improvement in discipline.

Consolidation has been a much discussed question during the past year. In spite of failures to establish consolidated

schools I am of the opinion that the consolidated school is growing in favor. In almost every case where an opponent of this plan has been persuaded to attend consolidation day session at the Trustees' Convention, he has returned home a strong supporter of the idea. Those in favor of a proposed consolidation are not always careful to avoid as much as possible the arousing of opposition-often apart from the real question at issue. A short time ago I met two ratepayers who were vigorously opposing a proposed consolidation. In talking the matter over with them, they both declared in favor of the principle of consolidation but were opposing just because, not one ratepayer in their district had been consulted. They resented this and were doing their best to prevent the scheme being carried out. Then, too, sometimes though the proposed area is well situated for a consolidation if formed, it would leave remnants of the old districts without school accommodation at all. Again, a proposed consolidation takes in a district having a new, up-todate building which cannot be utilized in the new district. The ratepayers in such a district having but recently made ample provision for the needs of their children naturally hesitate about embarking on a new venture.

Last fall I spent a very pleasant and profitable day at the Souris School fair, in which the surrounding rural schools took a very active part. At this fair were collections of school work including exercise books, writing, drawing and composition and some exhibits in illustration of the work done in domestic science and manual training. There were also exhibits from pupils' gardens, a showing of poultry, and one enthusiastic youngster brought in his pigs.

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These exhibits of school work were very interesting and showed the people of the district what their schools were complishing along this line. The showing from the pupils' gardens was a decided surprise to many of the visitors. The season had not been a favorable one for garden produce and yet the exhibit would have been a credit to any of the regular agricultural fairs even in a good year. The chickens and pigs came in for much admiration. The comments of the spectators, both old and young, were in themselves indicative of the success of this step.

In the afternoon the various schools took part in a programme of sports. The various events were keenly contested and much enjoyed by the onlookers.

This spring I was in attendance at several small field days. At Chater, including Chater, Clinton, Campbell,Orange Hall and Douglas school districts; at Powerville, including Powerville, Robinville and Mount Vernon School districts and at Blooms