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ond grade and is so considered. We hope that this plan will be one means of increasing the efficiency of our teachers.

     The Boy's and Girls' clubs of Gage county are an important factor in the educational work. This year we have one of the large clubs in correspondence with the state office, besides a much larger one which is working on a smaller scale with the county superintendent. We are not just sure how much of a show we can make have not thought of that yet-but we are doing a lot of work. It is hoped that it will be possible to have a few picnics during July at various places in the county in order to bring together as many of the workers as possible to talk over the work with one another and the superintendent.

     It is firmly believed that there was a strong eighth grade class this year. The plan of centralized examinations was not the one usually practiced In this county, but most people feel that there is a great advantage in it. Every town in the county wrote the state examination and over two hundred and fifty new students are ready to enter the various high schools.

     The difficulties of enforcing the compulsory attendance law are not insurmountable, I should say, but the time taken in writing letters, personal interviews, second and third notices to teachers and parents and the proper recording of the same, take time out of all proportion to that which can be given to any other work of the superintendent's office. Conditions in Gage are in excellent shape in this line, I understand by comparison.

     There is a most delightful prospect of big improvements this year. Already two new buildings are in process of construction, beautiful modern ones; several schools are putting in new heating plants of approved design; many school boards are considering seriously the question of playground apparatus.

     Miss Anna Day, my immediate predecessor, emphasized specially the eighth grade work and the boys' and girls' work to such good purpose that these affairs need only continuance of direction. She also brought the grammar work to such a point that we almost never hear the complaint that the country students in high school are noticeably weaker than the town children in that particular branch.

     Some pet theories of mine for the immediate future are, the teacher's plan book, quarterly eighth grade examinations, and a crusade on written work. The first needs no comment. For the second, I would wish to conduct quarterlies on the same plan as the final for those who would like to take them, letting them form the basis of promotion the same as in cities. The chief advantages of this plan would be the encouragement of regular attendance and the regular steady performance of work, not a spasmodic cramming at the end of the year. For the third proposition, the slogan is to be, less written work. Every word corrected and returned to pupils. Every written exercise to be

one in spelling and English composition as well as in the subject under consideration.

JESSIE B. PYRTLE.          
County Superintendent.     

     My Dear Superintendent: We have in Garden county, Nebraska, forty-three independent school districts, having schools in active operation. Three independent school districts are temporarily discontinued, but I am confident schools will be maintained in them next year. Thirteen joint schools districts are partly in Garden county and partly in Deuel, McPherson, Grant, Sheridan and Morrill counties. In five of these the school house is on the Garden county side of the boundary.

     We have three good towns--Oshkosh, Lewellen and Lisco--in which there are flourishing graded schools. Oshkosh is the county seat of Garden county and maintains a three-room school. Lewellen maintains a two-room school. Lisco has lately secured the location of the school house site of school district No. 53. There are thirty-five children in and near Lisco and they will get along with one room and one good teacher till next year. Two new school districts were organized last spring. Ten or eleven new school districts will be organized after October 1, 1910. Much interest is manifested in school affairs in all parts of this new county.

     Our people are mostly Americans. One rarely hears a foreign language spoken and never in our schools. Our public school teachers are nearly all young people and show a praiseworthy degree of professional interest. Last year but one of our teachers did the reading circle work. I am sure at least thirty-five teachers will do the reading circle work this year. We are lining up for education, progress and advancement.

     Every one of our schools will comply with the library law and set aside 10 cents a pupil for a library. Every certificate of tax levied bears evidence of a hearty compliance with that law. The state aid law is greatly appreciated by our people, who in nearly every district ask that 25 mills be levied. For years our schools in the northern part of Garden county would suffer sadly without the state aid. It would be very difficult for most of them to secure more than three months of school without this help. Many of our progressive young teachers are such through normal training in high schools. We hope for many more so trained. Quite a number of our young people who enjoy high school privileges we hope to add to our teaching force next year. The course of study will be in every school and be followed. Compulsory education needs no enforcing. All are in favor of sending to school and seek for more school. Much interest is felt in the eighth grade examinations, since they are conducted by the county superintendent in person at his office. Many young people are glad to get the unused lists of questions. Seventeen tried last spring. Ten of

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