our school expenses. The people of Ohio are building fortresses for future protection!

The average wages paid teachers in common schools is less than last year, while the total amount paid teachers shows an increase of $284,004. This discrepancy puzzles us, as it is not due to an increase in the length of time the schools were in session, nor to the small increase in teachers.

The increase in enumeration is, for some reason, only 9,675, against 23,942 the previous year, and 20,947 in 1867. Is the population of the State approaching a stationary condition? Let us wait till the census adds its testimony. The advance in the average daily attendance is very encouraging, the increase for the year being 24,144, or nearly six per cent. We should like to compare the attendance in the townships with that in the cities and towns to see where this gain is, but the requisite data is not at hand.

A comparison of the enumeration and enrollment shows that about 72 per cent. of the youth of school age attended the public schools some portion of the school year, leaving 28 per cent., or 288,495 youth, not enrolled. But we must not infer that these non-enrolled youth in 1869 are growing up in ignorance, without schooling-a very common blunder, and one which has been made in the school reports of several States. At the session of the Pennsylvania Teachers' Association in August last, it was stated in a report on Absenteeism and Compulsory Education, that there are 135,000 youth in Ohio whose education is “totally neglected." We took occasion to correct the statement as unjust to our State, but were met with the remark that it was taken from the official school reports of Ohio-the number of youth of school age not enrolled in public schools being say 220,000, of which not more than 85,000 attend Catholic and other private schools, leaving 135,000 not in school. It was not difficult to show that the fact that there were 135,000 youth of school age out of school in a given year, is no evidence that their education is totally neglected. The school-going period in Ohio is largely between six and seventeen years of age, while the enumeration includes all unmarried youth between five and twenty-one. If every child in Ohio should attend school regularly ten months a year from the age of six to seventeen, there would still be more than 200,000 youth of school age not enrolled in school in any one year. Take, for illustration, a family of eight children, one being between five and six years of age, five between six and seventeen, and two between seventeen and twenty-one. The returns may show that but five of these children are åttending school, but does it follow that the other three are growing up in ignorance? The eldest two may be graduates of the high school, and each of the other children may in due time receive a like good education. The truth is, that the difference between the enumeration and school enrollment proves nothing respecting the number of youth growing up unschooled.

We once attempted to show what facts are necessary to determine the extent of school attendance and the comparative success of different school systems in this respect. We have not space to discuss the subject here. Suffice it to say, that the greater the length of school sessions each year, the more regular the attendance, and the more thorough the instruction, the earlier will pupils reach the popular standard of education and withdraw from school. The

school going period in Cincinnati is from six to sixteen years, and the great majority of the pupils leave school before they are fifteen. Our hope is in the gradual elevation of the popular standard.

CLASSIFICATION OF COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

We have received several letters from the teachers of ungraded schools, asking for information on the subject of classification. They state that their efforts are seriously crippled by multiplicity of classes, and they wish to know how the difficulty can be overcome. An exchange contains an excellent article on this subject, which we shall copy if we do not receive one of equal value from our own contributors. We prepare the way by a few preliminary suggestions.

The difficulty, alluded to, may be lessened, but it can not be wholly or even largely overcome. An ungraded school of say forty pupils, representing all degrees of advancement, from the primer tyros to the more advanced pupils in English grammar, arithmetic, and geography, must necessarily contain a large number of classes. To attempt to classify the pupils in such a school so as to have from twenty to thirty minutes to each recitation, is to attempt what is impossible.

But it is very important that there be as few classes as practicable, and this result is certainly not attained in the great majority of country schools. Nor can it be attained without encountering difficulties. Indeed, the task consists largely in weighing and adjusting advantages and disadvantages. An ideal class consists of pupils of the same attainments, but pupils of unequal advancement may profitably recite together, provided the advantages resulting from a longer recitation outweigh the disadvantages arising from inequality of attainment—and of this the teacher, and not the pupil, must be the judge.

The loss to a pupil resulting from his reciting in one class with pupils of somewhat inferior attainments may be made good by his reciting in another branch of study with pupils in advance of him. This is specially true in reading, spelling, and geography. The fact that pupils happen to be from ten to twenty pages apart at the close of a given term, is no reason that they should start thus the next term.

A great hindrance to the closer classification of many country schools is a want of uniformity in text-books. But this should not be permitted to destroy classification. If the teacher can not secure a uniformity of books, he should still put the pupils into the same class, and so conduct his recitation as to secure good results. It is easier and better to teach nine pupils together with three different text-books, than to instruct three classes.

What is needed in ungraded schools is a livelier appreciation of the importance of fewer classes as a necessary condition of thorough teaching. The whim or desire of the individual pupil must not be put above the need of the teacher and the good of the school as a whole. There must be a determined, persistent effort on the part of the teacher, to bring as many pupils as possible into the same class.

MISCELLANY.

WHEN notified that a subscriber has failed to receive the MONTHLY, we remail the missing numbers.

-SUPT. MCBURNEY who received Taylor & Farley's Organ for the largest list of subscriptions secured for us in 1869, writes that he had forgotten that the premium was offered, if he ever knew it; that his efforts were to benefit the teachers and schools of his county, and his only regret is that he did not succeed in putting the MONTHLY into the hands of every teacher. He proposes to continue the good work.

WE specially thank our exchanges for their appreciative and valuable notices of our January issue. It is believed that no previous number of the MONTHLY has received so many strong and hearty commendations. Our letters also contain many like words of cheer. Indeed, the good words and wishes which have greeted the current volume, would fill several pages.- -We are also glad to acknowledge the receipt of many encouraging lists of subscribers.

A SUBSCRIBER wishes to know which is correct, "Them that honor me I will honor", or "Those that honor me I will honor"; "They whom money has corrupted, should not be trusted", or Those whom money has corrupted, should not be trusted." Both are correct. Why not?-We have also received the following problems which we publish, but do not propose to waste space by giving their solution:

1. "Two men engage to dig a trench 100 yards long for $100; they begin at opposite ends, one man working at the rate of $1.12% per yard, and the other at the rate of 872 cents per yard: how far must each dig to earn $50?"

2. "Suppose a fish, the head of which is 12 feet long; the tail as long as the head and the body, and 2 feet longer; and the body twice as long as head and tail, and 8 feet longer: how long is the whole fish?" (To be solved arithmetically.)

PERSONAL.-Supt. Barber, of Ashland, was recently presented with a gold-headed cane, valued at $65, as an expression of the regard and appreciation of the pupils in the high school.- -W. H. Cole has resigned his position in the schools of Nashville, Tenn., and taken charge of the public schools of Greenfield, O., in place of his brother, C. W. Cole, who designs practicing law at Cincinnati.- -C. W. Vallandingham has resigned his position in the high school of Wellsville, O.-J. W. Van Sickle, of Cheshire, O., has taken charge of the schools of Osgood, Ind.

CINCINNATI. The special committee on salaries and reorganization has reported a plan for a radical change in the organization of the public schools. It is proposed to increase the number of Intermediate or Grammar schools to six, by transferring grades A and B from the District schools which are to be changed to primary schools, with female principals and teachers, the former at a salary of $1,000. In place of the nineteen District principals, two assistant superintendents are to be appointed, one at least to be a competent German scholar. The principals of gymastics and drawing and the special teachers of penmanship are to be dispensed with, and a general reduction of the salaries of superintendents and principals and male assistants, is recommended. The report has caused considerable excitement in the city.—A special committee has also submitted a plan for the establishment of a university to be called the "University of Cincinnati." It provides for the organization of nine departments, with the addition of others from time to time. The scheme is a grand one, and it is to be hoped that all the interests involved may be harmonized and the funds consolidated.

CLEVELAND.-V -We find in the Leader an interesting sketch of the observations made by the editor in a tour of inspection through the four lower grades of the public schools, with a statement of his impressions. He describes, with some minuteness, the first steps in teaching the primary classes, the exercises in composition, gymnastics, music, the object lessons, etc., and generally commends both the teaching and the teachers.- -The number of pupils enrolled the first three months of the current school year, was 8,246-in Grammar grade A, 161; B, 315; C, 616; D, 1,076-in Primary grade A, 1,305; B, 1,327; C, 1,094; D, 2,214. Less than one-half of the youth of school age in the city, above twelve years of age, are in school, and less than one-third of those above fourteen, and less than one-eighth of those above sixteen.

KENTON. The report of the public schools for the first four months of the year, gives an enrollment of 670 pupils, an average attendance of 475, and an average per cent. of 90, against 81 for the corresponding term last year. The teachers have made great efforts to prevent tardiness, and have secured a considerable reduction in the number of cases. Pupils who are not in their seats when the bell stops ringing, are marked tardy, and those tardy without excuse report to the superintendent in the evening. The number of pupils enrolled in the high school, T. C. McCoy, principal, is 31, with an average attendance of 96 per cent. Eighteen pupils are studying Latin. Supt. Myers has evidently made a good beginning at Kenton.

MARION. At the beginning of the school year, 1868-9, the board promoted Mrs. Cuscaden from the principalship of the high school to the charge of all the schools, and her management was so satisfactory to the people, that, at the close of the year, she was reappointed superintendent, with permission to spend all her time, if she deemed it best, in the work of supervision. She receives a salary of $1,000, and has ten female assistants-" the venerable janitor", as Mr. Mayo expresses it, "being the only man on the premises." The schools are divided into five grades, and enroll some 550 pupils. Mrs. Cuscaden visits the schools of the leading cities and towns, attends teachers' conventions, and otherwise shows as high professional and public spirit as the better class of male superintendents.

WASHINGTON C. H.-The public schools enrolled the first term of the current school year, 440 pupils, with an average attendance of 370. They are divided into five grades, and are in charge of ten teachers, including the superintendent, Mr. P. E. Morehouse. The progress made in the two years he has had charge of the schools, has been substantial and satisfactory. He receives a salary of $1,200, the principal of the high school $75 a month, and the female teachers $40 and $50 a month. From the proceeds of school exhibitions, the rooms have been supplied with outline maps, music and physiological charts, and the high school with chemical and philosophical apparatus. The colored school is in charge of an excellent teacher from the junior class of Oberlin college. The board contemplates making important and muchneeded improvements in the school building.

MARIETTA COLLEGE.-At a meeting of the board of trustees held Dec. 16th, it was decided to organize a School of Science, with geology and mining as specialties, as soon as an endowment of $50,000 can be secured. The college is situated in a rich mineral region, and the new department will be of great practical value. It was also decided to increase the general endowment fund $150,000, including the $40,000 recently pledged, and vigorous efforts to attain this result will be made. In thorough and solid culture Marietta now stands in the front rank of western colleges, and, with the proposed endowment, it will take a still higher position. The money ought to

be raised without difficulty. Marietta College has graduted 311 students, the first class in 1838. The faculty has been quite permanent, President Andrews is in his thirty-second year and Prof. Kendrick in his thirtieth. Prof. E. B. Andrews, who resigned the chair of Natural Science to engage in the geological survey of the State, had been a professor eighteen years. He is succeeded by Prof. Wm. B. Graves, late Peabody Instructor of Natural Science in Phillips Academy, Mass.

WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY.-This institution for colored people, situated near Xenia. O., has made a noble struggle to recover from the financial embarrassment resulting from the destruction of its building by fire in 1865. It is now proposed to petition Congress for assistance from the appropriations made for the education of the freedmen. The institution is one of the most important of all those devoted to this great purpose, and it is hoped that its friends may be successful in meeting its pressing need of funds.

THE alumni of the Columbus High School held their first annual reunion Thursday evening, Dec. 30th. Addresses were delivered by the president, B. F. Stage, Esq., and Mr. Joseph Sullivant; and a poem was read by Mr. Woodward Awl. The occasion was one of great interest.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES AND ASSOCIATIONS.

CENTRAL OHIO TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. At a meeting of the Clarke County Teachers' Association, held at Springfield, Jan. 7, steps were taken for the organization of a Central Ohio Teachers' Association. A committee consisting of Messrs. Mendenhall, of Columbus, Ruggles, of Springfield, and Gilbert, of Dayton, reported a plan, and nominated the following officers: President, C. S. Smart, Circleville; Vice-President, Geo. W. Walker, Lima; Secretary, T. C. Mendenhall, Columbus; Executive Committee, W. Mitchell, Columbus, C. H. Evans, Springfield, and J. C. Hartzler, Galion. The first meeting is to be held at Columbus, Saturday, April 2. GUERNSEY COUNTY.-A very successful institute was held at Cambridge, Dec. 27

31. The instructors were Supt. Stevenson, of Norwalk, and Supt. Mitchell, of Columbus. The former gave instruction on school management, and the latter on language culture. Mr. Stevenson gave two evening lectures, one on "Poverty and its Uses", the other on "Books and their Uses", and Mr. Mitchell gave a lecture on "Public Schools and Public Morals." About ninety teachers were present, and the institute is pronounced the best ever held in the county. Supt. McBurney sent us the names of 26 subscribers.

HANCOCK COUNTY.-The annual session of the Hancock County Teachers' Institute was held at Findlay, Dec. 27-31 inclusive. Supt. Hancock, of Cincinnati, gave instruction in grammar, theory and practice, school government, and primary instruction, and Supt. De Wolf, of Toledo, in reading, geography, and arithmetic. They each gave two evening lectures alternately. More than 100 teahers were enrolled, and the institute was considered by all to be the best ever held in the county. It closed Friday evening, Dec. 31, with a grand reunion, in which teachers and citizens all took part with evident enjoyment. It was voted to have the next annual institute in August next.

J. A. P.

MIAMI COUNTY.-The county teachers' association held a two days' meeting at Troy, Dec. 30 and 31, with an attendance of about 80 teachers. Addresses were delivered by Supt. H. A. Thompson on "Moral Instruction in Public Schools", since