ATTENDANCE. The following figures regarding school attendance in this Province and elsewhere are important for purposes of compari AVERAGE ATTENDANCE son. The average daily attendance for the year 1906 was 34,947, or 54.5 per cent. of the enrolment. For the year beginning 1st July, 1916, and ending 30th June, 1917, it was 69,209, or 64.93% of the enrolment. The figures for the past few years are as follows:-1910, 57.5%; 1911, 56.3%; 1912-13, 57.5%; 1913-14, 62.5%; 1914-15, 67.5%; 1915-16, 64.1%. AVERAGE The average number of days attended by each pupil enrolled during the year ended 30th June, 1917, was 135.05. According to the report of the Commissioner of Education at Washington, the average number of days attended by pupils in the schools of North Dakota during the year 1914 was 112.8; Minnesota stood at 124; Wisconsin, 123.4; and the United States 117.8 for the same year. OF DAYS ATTENDED R. FLETCHER, Deputy Minister. INSPECTORAL DIVISION No. 1. J. S. Peach, Swan River. HON. R. S. THORNTON, Minister of Education, Winnipeg. Sir, I have the honour to submit the following report of Inspectoral Division No. 1 for the year ending June 30th, 1917. Since my former report, the Municipality of Mossy River and the Village of Winnipegosis have been transferred to Mr. Watson's Division. This division now consists of the Towns of The Pas and Swan River, the rural Municipalities of Swan River, Minitonas, and Ethelbert, as well as the unorganized territory lying between these municipalities. AREA OF NEW During the year seven new school districts have been formed, as follows:-Haig S.D., in the Municipality of Ethelbert; McKay S.D., in the Municipality of Minitonas; and Asquith, Old Fort, Birdview, Campbellton, and Big Stone School Districts in the unorganized territory. Counting those new districts, there are sixty-one one-roomed schools and seven graded schools, making eighty-five departments. The seven graded schools include one high school, two intermediate schools, and four ordinary graded schools. NEW BUILDINGS New schools have been opened in the following districts:Cowan River, Craigsford, Steele, Fletcher, Cowan, Haig, Bohdan, and Duck Hills. With the exception of Cowan River School, all are frame buildings. Belle Creek, Riga, and Asquith Districts are building, and will be ready for operation in the fall. To replace old school houses which have served their day, Lidstone and Loon Lake have built new frame ones and Ethelbert is at present building a four-roomed brick veneer. Last August, Durban Consolidated and Minitonas Intermediate each added a third teacher and Benito Consolidated added a fourth to their respective staffs. There has been no change in the number of consolidated school districts. They are three in number, viz., Durban, Benito, and Alpine. At the present time fifteen of the school districts have teachers' residences. In the Ruthenian districts these houses are an absolute necessity. Two schools have sanitary closets, the remainder being equipped with outbuildings. Three schools have drinking fountains and several others have individual drinking cups. In many districts the school house is the social centre of the community. Ethelbert School Building. Trustees: Wm. Barrie, M. Pachalok, Wm. Pernorowski. I am pleased to report that there have been improvements in some of the school premises and grounds. It may be a new LOCAL fence, a cement foundation, a fresh coat of paint, a new floor, a teacher's house, but in each case the improvements made indicate that a deeper interest is being taken by trustees and ratepayers in the school plant. In a number of cases, a neat fence would add greatly to the appearance of the school premises. During the year, one hundred and fifty-six visits to departments and several visits leading to the formation of school districts were made. Eleven Courts of Revision in unorganized territory were held. During the first half of the year, the schools in the Municipality of Ethelbert were visited by a professional nurse. VISITATION Of the teachers employed, sixty-seven per cent. are women; two have first class professional standing; twenty-one, second TEACHERS class; fifty-six, third class; and the balance, some ten or twelve in number, have permits. As this classification refers to the professional certificate only, I might add that in many cases the academic certificate was higher than the professional standing would indicate. In the large majority of schools, I would say that the teacher is faithful in the discharge of the school duties and activities and is a leading factor in the life of the community. In the graded schools, I find that the principal has very little time for systematic supervision in the class rooms. Many of them, however, do considerable supervising on the playgrounds. Perhaps more Most subjects have been taught as usual. time and stress should be placed on the reading in all grades ; accuracy in simple problems in arithmetic should be emphasized; and a more thorough study of the geography of the Dominion of Canada is needed. SUBJECTS Many of the schools recognized Empire Day by giving a programme along the line suggested by the Department of Education in their printed Empire EMPIRE DAY Day Pamphlet. The idea of the hot lunch has made very little progress in this division. The attendance during the year, generally speaking, has been good. The following figures, showing the enrolment and attendance in the various grades, ATTENDANCE have been compiled from notes taken on the days of my second visit in the school year: These figures indicate that a percentage of 73.2 of the enrolment was present at the time of my visits. During the winter months, measles, bad roads, and extreme cold weather interfered with the attendance a good deal. I regret to have to report that owing to the scarcity of teachers some half dozen of the schools were closed for a considerable portion of the year. Brierly School and Teacher's Residence. Boys' and Girls' Club Fairs were held at Alpine, Benito, Kenville, Swan River, Bowsman, Minitonas, and Ethelbert. At all of the above centres but one an exhibit of school work was held at the same time. At each CLUBS AND SCHOOL FAIRS fair the boys and girls, parents and trustees, spent a social and educational time. The interest manifested by the ratepayers along this line of work was highly commendable. I consider this club work a splendid educational factor in the life of the boys and girls. During the latter part of October, Teachers' and Trustees' Conventions were held at Swan River. Fifty teachers were in attendance. A public meeting was held in the CONVENTIONS evening. Deep interest was taken by those present and many educational topics and problems were discussed. Helpful and inspiring addresses were given by |