Collegiate finishing examination implies. The way to make any occupation respectable and honorable is that those in such occupations should compel respect by their intelligence and intellectual ability. No man is looked down upon by the mass of Canadians for being a working man, or an employee, or a clerk. What men and women are despised for is that, with the best education free as it is with us, there should be those who do not avail themselves of the splendid opportunities offered them. THE COMMERCIAL COURSE. The charge referred to led to the Advisory Board encouraging, as an experiment, the Winnipeg Collegiate Institute to establish a Commercial Course. It was believed that, for such a great business centre as Winnipeg is destined to become, it would be well to give in the last two years a course specially adapted to computation, bookkeeping and shorthand, along with English grammar and literature. This seemed a thoroughly practical course. It was introduced by the Collegiate authorities and has been watched with much interest by your Commissioners. It was thought, when commercial colleges demand large fees, that if the same facilities were given to the people free the course would be very popular. While this course has not been a failure, and the statistics of the second half of 1899 show fifty-nine taking it as against thirty-nine in the first half of the year, yet there has not been the enthusiasm in connection with the course that was expected. Perhaps the arrangements of the class room do not tend to develop the business idea" which should take possession of each pupil in the course. Possibly the arrangements and methods followed in business colleges might give to this department a stronger hold on those who are disposed to take it. THE TEACHER'S COURSE. Under the system of payments it is ensured that the subjects for all grades of certificates shall be taught in the Collegiate Institutes. This is a very necessary thing for the benefit of the Public School system. To depend on other Provinces, or to have an imperfectly educated class of teachers in our own Province, would throw Manitoba entirely in the background educationally. The teachers of the Winnipeg school, probably 75 per cent. of whom are the product of Manitoba schools and colleges, are, it is admitted on all hands, as accomplished, intelligent and purposeful a body as can be found in any city on the continent; the same is true of Brandon and Portage la Prairie. In the matter of preparing teachers alone, the Collegiate Institutes have repaid the city and Province ten-fold for all the money that has been expended upon them. UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT. During the decade now closing there has been a great increase in the Collegiate Institutes in those taking the course preparing for the University. It does not follow that all who take this course will go through the University. The system of reciprocity between the University and Advisory Board as to curriculum has no doubt induced many who intend to teach to take the University side of the curriculum. It is, however, noteworthy that while in 1891 there were one hundred and twelve in the Univesity course, or 36 per cent. of the whole in the three schools, in 1899 there were two hundred and forty-six in attendance, or 48 per cent. of the whole. The wider knowledge, and especially the training in language-study secured by those taking the University side of the course, will have a broadening influence on the minds of the teachers thus prepared. ENTRANCE EXAMINATION. The following is a comparison of the number of entrants for the last four years: The number of admissions by special examination to the Collegiate Institutes for the same years was: Your Commissioners are glad to notice a great improvement for 1899, in that the numbers admitted by special examination are relatively small. TEACHERS. No changes have taken place in the Collegiate Schools during the past year. 1899: Winnipeg Brandon W. N. Finlay, B.A., Manitoba University Portage la Prairie W. P. Argue, B.A., Manitoba University $1,200 00 950 00 750 00 800 00 $1,450 00 1,000 00 650 00 850 00 SOURCES OF ENROLLMEMT. The following is the total enrollment in the Collegiate Schools for The following are the statistics of attendance for nine years in the Collegiate Schools: Winnipeg Portage la Prairie. 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 278 393 434 502 540 554 541 525 663 137 225 236 240 210 203 80 133 120 126 151 The number of non-residents in attendance at these schools is as Winnipeg-General Course (average for both terms of each year). Form I Form III Form IV Form V (1st class) Commercial Course.. 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 60 63 53 53 58 43 40 33 36 35 35 34 40 34 32 30 54 44 62 22 27 24 9 Winnipeg-University Course (average for both terms of each year). 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. Brandon-General Course (average for both terms of each year.) 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. Brandon-University Course (average for both terms of each year.) Portage la Prairie-General Course (average for both terms of each Portage la Prairie-University Course (average for both terms of Primary Junior. Senior. Winnipeg Library Brandon Library. Portage la Prairie— Library. each year). $ 99 77 109 50 $ 50 00 109 00 GRANTS. Your Commissioners have pleasure in expressing their satisfaction with the condition of the Collegiate Institutes. They cordially recommend the following grants for payment for the whole year, 1899: |