have made decided improvement and we hope for still better results in the future.

The success of the Schools depends mainly on the teachers. Material equipment, however costly and elaborate, is secondary to scholarship, ability and devotion in the teaching force.

opinion our teachers compare favorably with those of any other city in the State. They are earnest, competent and conscientious in the discharge of their duties and ready at all times and in every reasonable way, to co-operate in whatever tends to forther the interests of the Schools.

SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

We purchased last year 566 books for the school libraries at a cost of $366.97. Of this sum the State paid $176.84.

The number of volumes in the libraries of the respective Schools is as follows:

These libraries are becoming better appreciated and more. generally used year by year by the pupils.

EXPENDITURES.

It might be well to call attention in this report to the fact that the large expenditure of money for the year ending Sept. 30, 1902, $101,578.99 includes the salaries for September, 1901, amounting to $6,588.76, and bills to the amount of $6,193.38, making a total of $12,782.14 which was carried over from the preceding year from lack of funds caused by the reduction of the Board's estimate by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.

This amount deducted from the total expenditures leaves $88,796.80, which covers the actual enpenses of the year. All salaries and outstanding indebtedness of the Board for the year ending September 30, 1902, were paid except bills amounting to about

$650, which were not presented in time for payment. The amount expended for the year ending September 30, 1901, was $94,446.16, which is $5, 649.36 more than that of last year.

The reports of the principals and special teachers, which accompany this report, fully cover the subjects treated and contain valuable suggestions worthy of consideration.

In closing I beg to express to you my sincere appreciation of your continued courtesy and support.

Respectfully submitted,

JAMES M. CRANE.

Newburgh, N. Y., Oct. 31, 1902.

Report of Principal of Free Academy.

Mr. James M. Crane, Superintendent of Schools:

For the year ending June 27th, 1902, the total registration at the Newburgh Free Academy was 423; of this number 93 were in the Grammar department. The graduating class of June, 1902, numbered 51, of whom 21 were young men, and 30 young ladies. They were divided by courses as follows: English Course, 25; Scientific Course, 14; Latin Scientific Course, 9; and Classical Course, 3. From this class 20 have entered college or taken other advanced courses of study. The Academy now has representatives in the following institutions: Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Williams, Syracuse, Brown, Rutgers, St. John's, Vassar, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Wells, New York Law School, Albany Normal College, New Paltz Normal School, Jamaica Normal School. Cooper Institute and Pratt Institute.

The year was characterized by conscientious, painstaking work on the part of the teachers, and a commendable spirit of earnestness on the part of the pupils. The large classes graduated from the Academy indicate, in the community, a degree of culture and an appreciation of the value of an education, much beyond the ordinary. We point with pride to the large proportion of young men in our graduating and higher academic classes. In some of our second year classes the boys have equaled the girls in number. This is in marked contrast with many high schools. We believe that our manual training department assists greatly in keeping the young men in school. "To do the greatest good to the greatest number" should be our aim in arranging courses of study, requirements for admission and for graduation.

The Academy now offers four courses of study, the subjects in which are mostly prescribed without opportunity for electives. While certain fundamentals in mathematics, science, and language should be required of all, we might allow a choice in groupes of

allied subjects, and thus better adapt the work to individual peculiarities and secure the advantage of greater interest in many cases.

We should meet the wants of many of our pupils and prepare them to accept positions with business men if, as an addition to our three year English course, they were offered a fourth year of work to include advanced book-keeping, commercial law, political economy, and possibly Spanish or German. Such a course combined with the mental training and culture of four years of study would be of great advantage to a young person beginning a business career.

Our physical and chemical laboratories, although not expensively fitted up, furnish to unusually large classes opportunity for individual work in these subjects and are a source of never-failing interest to the pupils. Our outfit for laboratory work in biology is not so complete as it should be.

Our reference library, which now contains more than eleven hundred volumes, has outgrown its present narrow quarters in the principal's office. A reading room and library would increase the value of this indispensable aid to high school work. Such a room would add also a certain character and attractiveness to the school surroundings.

A Chickering grand piano was purchased for the Academy during the year. It seems to be fittingly placed in our fine assembly hall and adds to the interest and pleasure of the morning exercises.

The Franklin Debating Society, the Pi Epsilon Pi fraternity, the Athletic Association, The Academy Graduate, the Academy Orchestra, the Cecilian Club and the Glee Club are all helpful adjuncts, contributing to the esprit de corps of the school and add a fulness of interest to the school life of our young people.

The Alumni Association is doing much for the Academy. They furnish an annual scholarshihp at college to the most deserving member of the graduating class. Last year they furnished also two prizes for a competition in literary work. A loyal alumni association adds a weight of dignity and approbation to the work of the school and to the worthy ambition of the pupils who look forward to becoming members of their organization.

The long and serious illness of two of our teachers, Miss Lozier and Miss Carmichael, comes prominently to mind as we survey the events of the year.

The work of all departments was well up to the standard of former years. Several of the larger classes were divided into sections greatly to the advantage of the work; a few of the classes are still much too large. No changes of importance in courses of study or in text-books were made during the year.

The teachers at the Academy deserve credit for the good results achieved and for the faithful performance of arduous and most important duties. I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to thank the teachers, the superintendent and the members of the Board of Education for kind consideration and support.

WILLIAM H. DOTY.