months, as is common in this county, the school must be kept through March, which is generally very unfavorable for schools on account of bad roads and ill health. Schools run down to nearly nothing during this month, and money expended for school purposes during this month brings but a feeble return, whereas if our schools were to open on the first of September they would be as well attended during the first month as during the following five months, as the weather is generally more favorable for schools during the month of September than during the month of March. It would also give township treasurers more time in the spring to get the funds ready for distribution. In conclusion, let me state that in making this report I have endeavored to set forth the condition of the educational department of the county as clearly as possible, without going into detail. Realizing fully the fact, that, with reference to education, we are not what we ought to be, I feel confident that we are gradually improving.

LIVINGSTON.-H. H. HILL.

It affords me great pleasure to report a steady and sure improvement in the schools of this county. There seems to be a growing interest among school officers, parents and children. There is an increasing demand for the best teachers, and a willingness to pay fair prices for talent. Cheap teachers are not inquired after. For the last year, I have been devoting my attention, mainly, to a bet ter classification, or grading, of the county schools, and the results have been most satisfactory. We have now, in the main, comfortable school houses, good teachers, a uniformity of text-books in each school, a proper and almost uniform classification throughout the county, and a good degree of sentiment in favor of the system. In addition, our institute is well attended and sustained. Since it was organized, five years ago, its sessions have been held regu larly, twice each year, with an average attendance of one hundred and three. Our institute is entirely independent and self-sustaining, the teachers not only paying all of their traveling, board and other expenses, but contributing sufficiently to defray the neces sary expenses of the sessions, without asking appropriations of county authorities. Still there remains one thing, in this and every other county in the State, that must perplex every teacher and superintendent-the evil of absenteeism. We flatter ourselves in this county that we have overcome every obstacle as it has presented itself, but now our attention is directed to this seeming last one, and, as the law is now framed, we stand before this utterly helpless. Although our schools are supported six to ten months in the year, the figures show that on an average each child in Liv ingston county of school age receives not more than sixty-five days

instruction in the year. This calculation includes village schools, where the attendance is the most regular. Excluding the village schools the showing would be still more unfavorable. Even this is better than the average of the State in 1868, which was only an average yearly attendance of fifty-four days. The evil does not stop with the loss of the money involved, for in the breaking up of recitations and classes is the greatest evil. In a class of a half dozen, if one member absent himself a few days, while the class is studying some important principle, on which his comprehension of much that follows depends, the balance of the class must either wait for his return or he must grope in darkness to the end of the term. The only remedy for this evil-compulsory attendance-is not in our hands. Possibly we are not prepared for such a law, but I should like to see the experiment tried. I believe it would be a success. I would propose that a law be passed compelling the attendance of every child between the ages of seven and thirteen-except such as are physically or mentally disqualified-for five months in the year, and make the school age from six to eighteen. I think this would not be considered stringent, and, if I am not mistaken, would meet the approbation of a large majority of the thinking men of the State. We say that "the children of the State belong to the State, and that the State should educate them," but the State does not do it. The word compulsory may sound harsh to some, but, on the part of the tax-payer, it is already compulsory, and I see no impropriety in making it so on the part of those who receive the benefits.

LOGAN.-L. T. REGAN.

It is essential to the success of our common schools that we have competent teachers. One-fourth of the teachers in this county are such in a very satisfactory degree. Of the remainder, a very few are lifeless, careless and slothful, whose only effort seems to be to get through with the, to them, dull tedium of school room duties with the least possible exertion. But most of them, are earnest workers, who are willing to receive and act upon any suggestions which can be made helpful to them, but who fail to attain desirable success because of imperfect preparation for the work. These teachers are deficient, not so much in learning, though some are wanting here, also, as in culture-that culture which gives not alone grace of manner, but mental discipline and power, accuracy of thought and language, and preserves all acquired knowledge in an available form. The results of this deficiency on the part of teachers is very apparent in the schoole. Their pupils have formed loose habits of thought, study and expression; do their work in a mechanical sort of way, and have

few clear conceptions of anything. The order of the development of the faculties of the mind is neither understood nor observed in the teaching process. The power of observation receives but little culture; memory is not rendered retentive and ready, nor is the reasoning power properly developed. Finally, these pupils must quit the school room to enter upon the active duties of life, having as a possession, it is true, a few acquired facts, but little power for vigorous, searching, continuous thought. I fear that too few of our teachers love the work and appreciate its responsibilities. Arithmetic is usually well taught, some of the other branches fairly, but the work in grammar, reading and penmanship is very unsatisfactory. Very little attention has been given to the vocal analysis of the sounds of our language. Few of our teachers have a practical knowledge of it themselves. A desire, however, exists among them to become familiar with this very important acquirement, so that they may be able to teach it. Every available means will be afforded them for doing so. The Bible is not read in more than one-half of our schools, as a morning exercise, and prayer is offered in a less number of them. This is the fault of teachers, and not of parents, who are very generally in favor of these exercises.

The standard of qualifications has been raised this year, but is still too low. Various means have contributed to increase the efficiency of our teachers. Lincoln University has rendered very acceptable aid in fitting young men and young ladies for the work of the teacher. The State Normal University has, by the teachers it has sent us, and by the influences which have come from it, given us substantial help. Eleven students of this institution have taught in this county during the past year, and have all attained more than ordinary success. Our board of supervi sors gave us one hundred dollars to defray the expenses of our county teachers' institute for the year. Two sessions were held, the first in August, at Mt. Pulaski, and the second in March, at Atlanta. The instructions given at these meetings were of great value to our teachers. But notwithstanding the aid received by our teachers from these sources, it is still true that three-fourths of them need a special professional training for their work. We ought to have a county normal school.

Nearly all of our school houses are large enough and comfortable. Many are neat and tasteful in appearance. Comparatively few have shade trees around them. Three-fourths of them have good desks, black boards, globes and charts. A few have outline maps. Five school houses have been built during the year. One of these has just been completed in Lincoln, at a cost of $42,000. It is a beautiful building, large, convenient, and well ventilated. In Atlanta, a building is in progress of erection, to cost $25,000. Of the buildings erected in the country, one is a model of beauty, convenience and comfort; and the remainder are every way creditable to the districts to which they belong.

The same text-books are used by a large number of the schools. These books are not, perhaps, all of the best, but the uniformity saves so many vexations and hindrances in the classification of pupils, that we should be unwilling for ordinary considerations to make any changes in books.

Altogether, I can say confidently that we have neither retrograded nor remained in statu quo, but have, in every department of our work, made some real progress. The work of our teachers, taken as a whole, will, I believe, compare favorably with that of any other county in Central Illinois. There is, too, a healthful, intelligent public sentiment in regard to free schools. Perhaps in no county are the responsibilities of the office of county superintendent better appreciated, and more expected of the incumbent in the way of school visitation, careful examination of candidates for teachers' certificates, and in the conducting of teachers' institutes, than in this one. The liberality of the people in expending money for needed repairs of school houses, and in paying teachers, is commendabie and encouraging. Some excellent teachers have lately been induced, by the salaries offered, to come into this county to teach. We commence the new year with five or six teachers, whom I believe would be found, upon examination, fully entitled to State certificates; and I know that the past success of some of them in this county is a sufficient guaranty of their worthiThe recommendation of the association of county superintendents, two years ago, that the school law be so amended as to make eight months the minimum length of school terms any one year, except in districts where the people, by vote, should determine on a shorter term, of not less than six months, would, I think if adopted, be welcomed by most of the supporters of schools in this county.

MACON.-OSBAR F. MCKIM.

We have, in this county, a number of good teachers, who endeavor to keep pace with the times. They read educational books and journale, attend institutes, and take to their school rooms all the improved methods known to the profession of teaching. Others are striving to rank among the best. A third class-and I regret to say that this class is entirely too large-are entirely content to be barely able to get the required certificate; these keep school rather than teach. Their methods are the same as those pursued in the schools attended by their fathers and mothers. In many places, school directors are beginning to realize the fact that there is a difference between a mere excuse and a competent teacher, so that it is to be hoped that this last class will gradually diminish. In regard to school houses, our people are building fully

commensurate with their means. A great want, however, still exists in regard to modern notions of achitecture. Houses are still planned and built as though the circulation of the air had never yet been discovered. This, however, has not been the case in Decatur. What will merely answer? has not loitered in the minds of the school board, but, what is best? has been the leading question. Here, heating and ventilation have received marked attention; and in respect to these important considerations, the houses are second to none. The new high school building, completed and occupied near the beginning of the present school year, contains all the conveniences and modern ideas of a well regulated school house. It is justly styled the "pride of Decatur." reflects much credit on the superintendent and board of education, under whose guidance it has been erected.

It

As regards changes in the school law, I am in favor of the following:

1. That the law be so amended that State's attorneys cannot absorb all the fines they collect.

2. That in addition to the quarterly examination in the different parts of the county-now provided for-regular examinations at the office of the superintendent be appointed by law, say the first and third Thursday in each month. All other examinations to be prohibited.

3. That in addition to the certificate now required, an attendance, of at least five days during the year, at some regularly conducted institute, be necessary to entitle a teacher to the public money.

4. The adoption of the township system. This will abolish a most fruitful source of litigation, viz: the regulating of the district boundaries; and under its rule we may reasonably expect more efficient management in our public schools.

MACOUPIN.-F. H. CHAPMAN.

I have the honor to state that, when I came into office in December, A. D. 1869, I found the schools of my county in reason. ably satisfactory condition. The teachers, although in some cases, perhaps, rather deficient in breadth and accuracy of knowledge, and in the more approved methods of teaching, will compare fa vorably with their coadjutors in any part of the State. Indeed, we have some who rank at the very top of their profession, whether as teachers of graded schools or district schools. I have adopted a very rigid system of examination, and shall adhere to it as strictly as the absolute needs of the county will permit, hoping thus to weed out inefficient parties (if such there be), and elevate the general standard.

The school houses of the county are, as a rule, good and sufficiently commodious. The seating and other internal arrange