CONDITION OF SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.

Special Report.

Under the direction and special vote of the Board, it was the purpose of your Secretary to inquire into the actual condition of Education in the State. The first requisite was a collection and arrangement of facts relating to schools and the means of education.

A similar inquiry was made in an adjacent New England State about ten years ago. The method of this earlier inquiry was before us, and special acknowledgment of valuable suggestions is due, and is here made. It was found that the range of investigation could be profitably extended, and a broader and more complete view of schools be exhibited. This inquiry was limited to a particular section of the State. New London County was selected. In this county are two cities, two boroughs, agricultural, mining, and maritime districts, representing varied industries, employments, and social conditions. No section could better represent the

State.

The agents were instructed to confine themselves to the collection of facts, and so much as is found in the statistical tables may be relied upon as having been gathered without prejudice, and with an enlightened sense of what is due to the importance of the undertaking. They did not have any conclusions to sanction or any views to substantiate. They were to see and to hear, and to report fully and in detail, in order that the bearing of the facts on education and schools might be clear, and sound conclusions drawn therefrom. To indicate the general scope of the inquiry the forms given below were supplied. The Secretary frequently met and conferred with the agents, and matters not covered by these blanks were the subject of particular instructions. The blanks suggest the several points of inquiry, and include,

5. (a) Registered present (14 y.) less than 60 days in twelve months.

7. (a) Children not subject to law on account of disability, (6) Children not subject to law, error in age stated, found to have attended school,

(c) Children (d) Children attended private

in families,

schools, (e) Children did not attend school,
f) Children between 13 and 14 years of age employed lawfully,
(g) Children between 13 and 14 years of age employed unlawfully,
(h) Children absent from school for want of clothing,

town authorities furnished clothing to any?

8. Children sent to school,

ents,

IO.

II.

(2) Have

9. (a) Prosecutions of par

Is the attendance, on the whole, regular or irregular?

Causes of irregularity,

[Have attendance sent.]

I.

What effect has law forbidding employment of children under 13 had upon attendance?

2.

The law requiring 120 days attendance?

Means used by teachers to secure regular attendance,