doing one more year's work in the subject we could not fail to arrive at better results at the end of the eighth year.

The situation with regard to the instruction in music remains unchanged. There is no definite course laid out and the results are far from satisfactory.

As the course of study remains unchanged the work in the various branches has been with few exceptions very similar to the previous year.

I would again plead for a uniform standard of promotions into the High School. Certainly five different standards will not produce a class that is uniform or one that can be handled satisfactorily in the Academy. I am sure the High School teachers will agree with me in this matter.

Every Fall there are numbers of pupils, who have been promoted on condition, that are unable to keep up with their class. These pupils must be turned back a grade. This class of pupils invariably forms the nucleus of the troublesome element. They must take a whole year to make up work they could do in half that time. If the promotions were made semi-annually, it seems to me that the grading would be closer, the discipline would be easier, and there would be fewer discouraged, unruly pupils.

Appropriate exercises were held at Christmas, Washington's Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, and Arbor Day. Addresses were delivered at different times during the year by Superintendent James M. Crane, Mr. C. H. Baumes, Rev. T. H. Baragwanath, Rev. W. K. Hall and Col. Brown.

Considerable difficulty was experienced with our heating apparatus and some of the rooms were troubled with coal gas. All of these annoyances incident to an untried heating plant have been remedied.

I wish to express my appreciation of the work of our janitor, Mr. J. T. Pryer, Jr. He has kept the building in good order and has been at all times courteous and obliging to all. Owing to his untiring efforts we were not obliged to close school on account of insufficient heat in the building. Taking into consideration the extreme cold weather of last winter and the incomplete condition of our heating plant, Mr. Pryer deserves no little credit.

I wish to extend my thanks to the teachers of this school, for their co-operation and earnest efforts to promote its every interest. To yourself and the Board of Education I wish to express my gratitude for continued assistance and support.

Very truly yours,

M. H. DUSINBURY,

Principal.

Report of Principal of West Street School.

Mr. James M. Crane, Superintendent of Schools,

I would respectfully submit the following report for the past year:

Our total enrollment for the year was 424. The greatest number in attendance and highest average was in September, 1903, the smallest number attending and lowest average was in May of the present year. During the year twenty-one pupils were obliged to leave school and find employment. This fall seventeen of our seventh grade pupils went on to the eighth grade.

The number of classes is the same as last year: Seventh grade, one; sixth, one; fifth, one; fourth, two; third, two; second, two; first, two. A change was made in the division of the pupils of the second and first grades. All those who entered school this September, forty-three, were put in one first grade class, and those who entered in April or May, numbering thirty-two, in the other. Thirtyeight pupils who were of about equal ability were put in one second grade class, and twenty-eight, many of whom had been irregular in attendance last year, were taken to make the second class of that grade.

The work of the first grade is seriously hindered by the entrance of new pupils at all times in the school year. We are of the opinion that better results could be obtained if beginners were admitted at intervals of three months.

For several years Miss Alberta Van Cleft had been in charge of the lowest grade. In September she was transferred to Grand Street School, and Miss Emily Haigh, at her own request, was given the large class of little ones. Miss Nellie Bennett was appointed to fill the vacancy. There was no other change in our corps of teachers. Instead of having a review each week, commencing in October, as we had had for a number of years, we gave one in each subject