About fifty-two per cent. of the entire number enrolled in our schools (see table on page 26 of this report,) are in the two lowest grades. If they were provided for in half-day sessions a saving might be effected of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars per annum in the items of real estate and improvements, wages of teachers and janitors, fuel and supplies. The afternoon session could be lengthened to three hours, (1 to 4 p. m. instead of 1:30 to 3:45 as at present.) There is no reasonable doubt that the pupils in those grades would make as rapid progress in their studies as they do at present. What they lost in the way of iteration (carried to the extent of cramming,) would be more than made up by the keen grasp which a thoroughly rested mind gives to a subject. They would assimilate what they learn far better than now. Their minds having recovered from the task of the day before, would be full of inquiry and a thirst for knowledge. THE KINDERGARTEN. The past year thirty* Kindergartens were in operation, fourteen of these holding their sessions from 9 to 12 a. m., and sixteen of them from 1:30 to 3:45 p. m. The afternoon kindergartens were held in the rooms occupied for morning kindergartens, but enrolled a separate list of children, and, with two exceptions, were taught by different teachers. In the accompanying table the number of unpaid (volunteer) teachers is shown to be one hundred and fifty. *At the time this Report goes to press (February, 1878), the number has been increased to forty-two. The average age upon entering the kindergarten was five and one-half years; consequently the average age at the middle of the year was about six years and at the close of the year a little The number not absent during their enrollment was... Number of cases of readmittance... 83 .2215 .1338 The average number of days belonging to school for each pupil was ninety days. Actual attendance, seventy-five days. COST OF TUITION. The cost of teachers' salaries was as follows: |