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larger children, so these galleries are being weeded out from time to time and
replaced by small tables and chairs. The wall space thus exposed has been
rendered to a fine face and painted dull black for use as a sketching board.
Ventilation is in no case maintained by a mechanical or "plenum"
system, but on the "natural" plan, which is cheaper and more effective. I
have never yet seen a school, or other public institution, where the "plenum"
system is a success from a hygienic point of view. It is certainly expensive to
establish, and a continuing heavy expense to maintain.
Fire. The fire appliances at all the schools are tested by drill, in the
presence of Mr. Croasdell, the Superintendent of our Fire Brigade. These
drills serve the useful purpose of showing up the defects that require remedy.
Caretakers. The caretakers' assistants are now employed directly by
the Education Committee. This new system is found to possess many
advantages.

There were 13,462 children on the books at the middle of the year, besides
the children attending Enfield Schools: the average number of children of the
Edmonton district attending Enfield schools during the year was 284; so that
there is in Edmonton one child in the public elementary schools for 4.9
inhabitants (reckoned on the nett population), the same as last year.
The number of children on the books of the elementary schools of the
district on 27th June, 1914, was 13,462, and the accommodation was 14,365.
The accommodation and the number of children attending each school are
given below:—