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requisition for as many books as he had reason to believe
would be required by. his school for the year. These books
Were charged to the school, and issued upon these requi-
sitions, countersigne'd by the District Commissioner of that
district in which the schools were located. It was found
that this system was attended with loss to the Board, and
that many more books were called for than were actually need-
ed, thus leaving many books on hand in the school houses sub-
ject to depredations and injury. We have therefore recalled
all books remaining unsold, to the office, and now issue no
more than are actually required for the immediate wants of
each school, and charge them directly to the teacher, making
him accountable for their full value, and deducting it from
his quarterly salary. We believe this plan is working well,
securing greater care and economy. We make no charge of
stationery, believing that its cost will be covered by the
small advance made upon the price of the books.

VI. " How long will you be able to continue the schools
with the present income?"

We mean to keep our schools open for the ten months con-
stituting the school year. Our people through the County
Commissioners will furnish us the necessary funds. Our
chief difficulty in this regard arrives from the fact that we
cannot get possession of the money levied for our use. This
has rendered it necessary for us to borrow frequently, and I
fear our false system of County finance will render it neces-
sary for us to continue this vicious practice by anticipating
our income by loans. But the schools will be kept open
maugre this trouble.

VII. " Your opinion of the school law. Is it a good working
system, and adapted to your wants ? What additions,
alterations or amendments would you advise?"

The alterations and amendments which have suggested
themselves to my mind have already been anticipated by the
action of the "Association of School Commissioners" in its
late and previous sessions. I would suggest however, that
an abbreviation of the length and a change of the time of va-
cation to September, would be acceptable to many if not
most of our people. So much time is necessarily lost in the
County from, foul weather that long inter missions of study

are not required; and September is a month in which the at-
tendance of the children is smallest and most irregular,
owing to sickness and the demands of labor. This is a sub-
ject, however, which I will not pursue, as it may be pre-
sented by those having in charge the subject of amendments
to the law, and there is not such an unanimity among our
people as to justify me in insisting upon it.
The main features of the law under which we are work-