The number of schools serving a hot lunch, or at least a hot drink in winter, is increasing rapidly in this division. Wherever this system has been tried, the results have been satisfactory. A certain amount of co-operation is required, which has a beneficial effect on the children and on the district as a whole.

THE HOT
LUNCH IDEA

Many causes contribute to the dropping out of pupils in the upper grades of the public school-need of help at home, weakness of parental influence, effect of previous poor attendance,

Trustees: J. W. Gamey, W. A. Campbell, T. Burnell, Rev. Wm. Stocker, J. Green, A. Manson, Sec.-Treas.

ATTENDANCE

In my

and insufficient training in the intermediate grades. opinion Grade 6 is a pivotal point. It is here that the boy finds out that he can not do percentage or simplify fractions without absolutely mastering the simple rules of arithmetic. Yet the course for Grade 6 is fairly heavy, although no new subject is introduced except grammar. It may seem a contradiction, but I should like to lighten the course for Grade 6, to allow time for the correction of weaknesses sure to appear, and at the same time add more new work to the course for that year. The attendance at schools in foreign speaking communities, for the term just closed, has been better than at any time in my previous experience. The teachers in these schools are doing faithful work and considering all the circumstances the progress in English has been satisfactory during the year.

In

Empire Day is suitably observed in all graded schools and in a considerable number of rural schools. In nearly all cases addresses are given by prominent citizens and EMPIRE DAY there is usually a fair attendance of ratepayers. During the morning all exercises deal with some part or feature of the Empire and a programme of songs, recitations, and speeches is carried through in the afternoon. many of the country schools, however, the observance of Empire Day is confined to teacher and pupils. In this connection, I might refer to the Summer Convention of the Miniota, Hamiota, and Blanshard Trustees Association, which was held at Beulah on July 6th after the period covered by this report. Over 150 trustees and ratepayers took part in the meeting and enjoyed excellent addresses by Dr. W. A. McIntyre, principal of the Normal School, Winnipeg; J. H. Malcolm, M.P.P., Birtle; and J. H. McConnell, M.P.P., Hamiota. All the school visitors under the

SCHOOL
VISITORS

Act in the municipalities mentioned had been invited to attend and an organization of these was effected for each municipality. The school visitors, thus organized, have undertaken to provide speakers and to assist in the Empire Day exercises of each rural school in their municipality on next Empire Day.

Respectfully submitted,

J. BOYD MORRISON.

INSPECTORAL DIVISION No. 4.

W. R. Beveridge, Virden.

HON. R. S. THORNTON,

Minister of Education, Winnipeg.

Sir, I have the honour to submit the following report on Inspectoral Division No. 4 for the year ending June 30th, 1917.

SCHOOL
DISTRICTS

This division consists of the municipalities of Archie, Wallace, Pipestone, Woodsworth, and Sifton. During the year steps have been taken by the respective councils of these municipalities to complete the organization of the lands in the division for school purposes, with the result that practically all except river and marsh lands are now in school districts. There are eighty districts in the division, with seventy-three schools in operation employing one hundred teachers exclusive of high schools. Four districts provide transportation to adjoining town schools and two are without a sufficient number of children of school age to warrant a school. A new district (Coulter) has recently been formed in the Municipality of Pipestone. Each school in the division was visited at least twice during the year.

Butler School.

Of the seventy-three buildings in use, twelve are town or village schools of two or more rooms. With one or two exceptions, these are suitable buildings, well equipped and well cared

BUILDINGS

AND

EQUIPMENT

for. Most of them are equipped with drinking fountains and sanitary closets and are supplied with sanitary towels. In some cases more attention should be given to the matter of fire protection, drill, and fire escapes. Of the sixty-one one-roomed buildings in use, twenty are modern and in excellent condition,

thirty-one are old style and in good condition, ten are old and dilapidated and should be replaced. In all except the twenty of modern plan, the lighting is defective. During the year, new schools have been built at Hillview, Butler, and Mossgiel. These are all one-roomed, of modern design, and well constructed.

CONSOLIDATION

Consolidation is in effect in five districts-Rutherglen, Ross, Lenore, Kenton, and Virden, and semi-consolidation at two-Elkhorn and Oak Lake. In each, the system is working smoothly and good results are obtained. During the year, a new consolidated district was formed at Manson. A five-acre site has been secured adjoining the village, on which a two-roomed school will be erected during the holidays.

Of the one hundred teachers visited during the second half

TEACHERS

year, twelve were male and eighty-eight female. Four held first, fifty-four second, and forty-one third class certificates. Only one was without Normal training. I have found teachers faithful in the discharge of their duties, anxious to improve the quality of their work, and willing to serve the community in any public work for which they are fitted.

IMPROVEMENT

IN SCHOOL
ROOM

While differences occur in the standard of work in the various schools, there has been an improvement generally in the teaching of arithmetic, writing, and spelling. Results in reading and composition are disappointing and out of proportion to the time devoted to them. Geography is too much a matter of memory work without due emphasis being placed upon observation and reasoning. Physical drill is well taught in most schools.

PRACTICE

AND RESULTS

Some handwork is taught in nearly every school in the division. In most schools, this is limited to paper folding and weaving, sewing, and work in plasticine and raffia. That excellent work is being done in these is shown by the exhibits at the agricultural and school fairs. During the year, equipment for manual training was installed at Lenore and a course in this given to girls and boys of the senior grades VIII to XI. This included simple work in mechanical drawing and the construction of six pieces-work

HANDWORK