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much good, and has paved the way for greater favor towards
the system. The frequent changes under our old local law
was a source of great annoyance as well as of expenditure,
and caused much dissatisfaction. The permanency and
moderate cost attending the uniform series has dissipated
much of this feeling, and has thus done good to the system
of public education. Very respectfully,

THOS. A. BOULLT,

President of the Board.

WORCESTER COUNTY.

To REV. L. VAN BOKKELEN,

State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Sir :

We have kept our schools open the entire year, so far as
we eould provide teachers. But some of the schools were
kept open only a fraction of the term for which they were
reported, and this occasions the average cost to appear small.
To provide competent teachers has been one of our great
difficulties, while the condition of our school houses and the
accommodation- to be secured for teachers in many of our
County districts, have not been such as to invite teachers
from abroad. Some attention has already been given to
preparing for the position of teacher, and we hope ere long
to have a Supply of teachers from among our own people.

We have some surplus funds from our income of the past
year, which we intend appropriating to building and repair-
ing school houses. Something has been done towards the
repairs of school houses; but we have not received the plans
and specifications prepared by the State Board, in time to do
anything as yet toward building new ones. Orders have
been passed for building several; but from the cause here
mentioned, no progress has been made in carrying out these
orders. Where I have reported, in the balance statement,
so few additional school houses needed, it is not that we need
the additional number, and not that we do not need many
new ones to supply the place of the old, the ill adapted ones
we now have.

Our attention was, at first, confined to the district schools,
and to getting them in successful operation, for we felt there
was too much to do in that particular branch of our duty,
to turn our attention so early to the establishment of High
Schools. But as we advanced in our work, the question of
High Schools came prominently before us.

Knowledge of our County, and of the disposition of our
people in this matter assured us, that no one High School
established at any place in the County would afford the de-