Report of Principal of Free Academy.

Mr. James M. Crane, Superintendent of Schools,

Dear Sir: The total registration at the Academy for the year which closed June 22, 1904, was 443. Of this number 353 were in the Academic department and 90 in the eighth Grammar grade. The number of pupils in the Academic department was an increase of 14 over the preceding year. There were 165 boys and 187 girls. The proportion of boys in our upper Academic grades is unusually large in comparison with other high schools. This indicates an appreciation of the advantages of an education on the part of the community and also a curriculum which meets with approval. I believe that our three-year English course and our manual training department largely promote this desirable condition. The public high school has had a remarkable development in recent years. It has been called the "people's college." It best fulfills its function and meets the needs of those who sustain it when it benefits the largest numbers and aids the pupils of average ability rather than when it teaches only the few more favored ones.

The number of non-resident pupils was an increase of 14 over the preceding year, and was 5 less than in 1901. So far the law providing for the payment of non-resident tuition by the state has not greatly affected the attendance.

General good health of the scholars and other favorable conditions, especially the public sentiment of our city, enabled us to maintain the usual very high average attendance and punctuality.

Fifty-one pupils were present every day in the year.

The graduating class numbered forty. Of these two were in the classical course, twelve in the Latin scientific, six in the scientific, and twenty in the English course. Seventeen members of the class are continuing their studies in higher institutions. Nine are in college and eight in normal schools. Two members of last year's class

have also entered college, making the total number to enter college from the Academy this year, eleven.

There are many school activities not confined to the class room. A review of some of them may be of interest in this report.

The usual school entertainments were held during the year. A Thanksgiving reception was given November 25th. The program consisted of selections from Whittier, illustrated by tableaux. The pupils contributed $61.00 in money and 36 packages of clothing for the school relief fund, also a quantity of fruit and vegetables, which was given to the Visiting Nurse Society.

On December 15th the Quassaick Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, presented to the Academy a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence. The presentation was made by Miss Rankin, Regent of the Chapter. President S. E. Shipp, of the Board of Education, accepted the gift; and Dr. A. J. Palmer delivered an address on patriotism.

Lincoln's birthday was commemorated on the afternoon of February 11th. Dr. Clarke Wright gave an address on "Lincoln." The presence of members of the Board of Education and friends of the school, patriotic songs by the pupils and selections by the orchestra, together with the stirring address, tended to fulfill the purpose for which the day was set apart.

On the evening of March 8th, Dr. Iyenaga, of Chicago University, lectured in our assembly room on "Japan, Old and New." The proceeds of the lecture were deposited as a nucleus of a fund to be known as the Academy Student Fund. We hope it may increase until it can be used as a loan fund to assist pupils in college.

Memorial Day was very fittingly observed. Dr. Wm. K. Hall gave us an address and a description of the battle of Chancellorsville, with interesting personal reminiscenses. Dr. Hall's graphic description greatly interested the pupils, who have his promise to speak to them again, describing another great battle. Dr. Huntington, also a veteran of the civil war, gave an inspiring address before the school on Flag Day.

The senior literature classes were highly favored by having with them, on the invitation of their teacher, Dr. Green, who read from

Robert Burns; Rev. T. H. Baragwanath, who read from Tennyson; Mr. W. C. Anthony, from Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Editor McLaughlin, of Cornwall, from Shakespeare.

Arbor Day was appropriately observed. The Class Day exercises of the graduating class, held upon the lawn, were the first of the kind at the Academy, and were a credit to those who planned and those who carried out the varied program. The interest was so great that it is probable Class Day will become a regular feature of commencement week.

The Academy maintains most of the pupil organizations which afford scope for varied abilities, develop initiative and leadership, and assist to promote a helpful esprit de corps in the school.

Our athletic association deserves commendation for its businesslike methods and the high standard it has set for clean, manly sports. It supports a football team, a track team, a baseball team and sometimes a hockey and a tennis team. Its finances are carefully managed and all accounts are paid through the bank. Its constitution and also the student sentiment forbid the playing of any but regular members of the school.

The boys' Franklin Debating Society, and the girls' Alpha Debating Society, post weekly programs, hold public debates in the assembly room and sometimes with other schools. Those who partici pate in their activities are acquiring much that will be of permanent value to them.

The aims of the Pi Epsilon Pi fraternity are chiefly social. It should be democratic, promote unity, loyalty and helpfulness.

The Academy Graduate, published monthly by the senior class, is usually a sources of income for the class treasury. It is well sup ported, compares tavorably with its school contemporaries, is a credit to its management and places the class in touch with other high schools as widely separated as Massachusetts and California.

The Cecelian Club and Academy orchestra furnish music at our entertainments and are justly a source of pride to the school.

The work of the year, on the part of the teachers, was marked by unselfish devotion to duty and interest in the welfare of their classes.

Our pupils, with a few exceptions, are ambitious to succeed.

ers.

They are very loyal to their school and in sympathy with their teachThe greater part of them do faithfully their assigned tasks, gain power by the use of faculties and the will, and succeed in the work of the year.

We should not, however, undervalue our work with the less gifted or with those of weaker will and power of application and selfcontrol. We often witness in them victories in self-mastery, due to helpful environment, added maturity, the consciousness of power gained or new incentives which produce results very gratifying to the patient teacher, and possibly of more credit to the school than the brilliant success of their more favored classmates.

Our fine reference library still needs better accommodations.. Our facilities for work in the biological sciences are inadequate. The chemical laboratory, should be improved. We wish that the work in music were as well organized and produced as satisfactory results as the work in drawing. Some of our classes are still too

large for the best progress of the pupils.

I wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of faithful work done by the teachers, for the progress of their pupils and to maintain the reputation of our school; and to thank the Board of Education for generous consideration, and the Superintendent for helpful advice and assistance.

Respectfuly submitted,

WILLIAM H. DOTY.