Every  school  should  have  a  school  library  (not  a  district  library)  to
assist  pupils  in  their  work,  to  supplement  the  text-books,  to  bring  to  tihe
pupils  general  facts  and  incidents  from  the  world,  to  provide  pleasant
coloring  for  the  dry  details  and  principles  characteristic  and  necessary  in
text-books.  This  library,  then,  should  be  one  of  reference,  of  literature,
and  one  that  will  fit  all  grades.
I  must  say  that  hard  times,  foolish  attempts  at  legislation,  and  patch-
work methods  thus  fiar,  have  well  nigh  discouraged  me.  I  hope  to  be  able
to  use  the  law  creating  township  libraries  to  aid  me  in  getting  a  modified
form  resembling  the  district  library,  but  having  the  circulating  feature.
This  will  give  as  a  district  school  library  under  township  management
and  perpetuiated  by  township  funds.  I  now  have  two  town8hix>s  in  fair
way  to  adopt  such  a  library  system.
READING    CIRCLE.
Teachers  in  Clinton  county  prefer  to  select  their  reading  matter,  unless
something  is  to  be  gained  of  a  substantial  dharacter.  If  the  Department
of  Public  Instruction  will  recognize  reading  circle  work  in  a  more  sub-
stantial manner,  I  think  our  teacfhers  will  respond.
GENERAL.
Our  sdbool-rooms  are  neater,  cleaner,  and  beftter  decorated  each  year,
thanks  to  our  live  educational  papers.  Special  days  are  observed,  and
teachers  and  pupils  are  more  alive  to  the  world  around  them.  Our  officers
are  buying  apparatus;  and  all  we  need  to  perfect  our  plans  is  that  one
essential,  good  times.
8t.  Johns,  Mich,


ORAWPORD    COUNTY.
FLORA  M.  MARVIN,  Commissioner.
GRADE  EXAMINATIONS.
