will come in the best manner possible, will be greatly appreciated by the executive committee of this association. G. L. B.

-It appears that county superintendents often keep no records and leave behind them nothing for guidance of their successors. There are a few offices in the state where complete records have been kept from the beginning of the superintendency; some where records have been kept for several terms; and some in which there are no archives, not even a copy of the school laws. Manifestly some reforms in this direction are needed. Every office ought to show who holds certificates of the different grades in the county, and to have on file properly marked the examination papers on which the certificates were granted. Of Of course the copy of the school laws and other documents furnished by the state belong to the office and should be turned over to a new official.

-Considerable progress seems to be making in several counties in securing better preparation of teachers. Second and first grade certificates are multiplying in number, and already some districts are found which will not employ any teacher holding less than a first grade certificate. This is as it should be. When teachers are encouraged to take an examination for second grade by promise that they need not repeat the trial on third grade branches if they present themselves before their certificates expire they feel the advantage and inspiration of moving forward instead of moving round and round in a narrow beat. What has proved successful in some counties might be made so in all, but legislation may be necessary before all can be brought into line.

-It is a matter of general interest that for the coming term, beginning January 4th, Beloit college offers to all those interested in art studies a course of instruction in the fine arts under the direction of a recognized leader in this department-Prof. Lawton Parker, of Chicago. Prof. Parker has supplemented his studies in this country with two years' work in Paris, where one of his pictures was given favorable position at the "Salon" exhibition. He will spend two days per week, Wednesdays and Fridays, in Beloit, giving instruction in freehand drawing, painting in oils and watercolors, etc., in the college's art hall, now being fitted up for the classes. Tuition for the term will be only $10.00, and the course is open to ladies as well as for gentlemen. Many who have had to go to Chicago for the best art instruction will now be able to obtain

it at Beloit with much less expenditure of money and time.

-The largest by far of the conventions of county superintendents was held in Madison, January 19 and 20. Some thirty-three superintendents were present, with Sup't Viebahn, of Watertown, Prof. Pray, of Whitewater, Mr. Mahoney, member of the assembly from Vernon county, and others. The discussions were very practical and indicated much interest and devotion to the work. In this body the number of new superintendents was not large, and those who took part were thoroughly familiar with the duties of the office. The opinion was advanced that the superintendent need not be influenced by politics, as if he is prudent and wise he be completely independent without giving such offense as to endanger his position. This is undoubtedly true, but it is very difficult and unusual for a man to be always prudent and wise; and moreover, it is unusual to approach a new election with the confidence as to its result which frees one from anxiety and the need of doing all he can to assure the issue.

-Pres. C. K. Adams was formally inaugurated at the State University, Jan. 17th. A large audience filled Library Hall, and mani

fested much interest in the addresses. Pres. Adams in his inaugural set forth the importance of higher education to the life of a nation, the enormous changes in it effected within thirty years, and the consequent expensiveness of it. He defended State Universities as more directly connected with all the life of the people than private institutions can be, and calling attention to the great endowments recently provided by private beneficience for new institutions, pointed out the necessity of not falling behind these in responding to the intellectual needs of the time. This led to an enumeration of the pressing needs of the State University due to the large increase of attendance and the advisability of expansion in many departments. The occasion afforded evidence that the institution is entering upon an era of still greater growth and

more extended usefulness.

FROM OTHER STATES.

-Summer courses are to be given this year as last at Cornell University, with increase of subjects and instructors.

-The company in Chicago which published the Webster's Encyclopædic Dictionary entered suit against G. & C. Merriam for fifty thousand dollars damages because of advertisements given out by them, warning the public

against that old edition of a well known work. The matter seems to have been a mere bluff, as it was kept in court as long as possible and when action became inevitable was allowed to be dismissed at plaintiff's cost.

-The date for the World's Educational Congress, of Chicago, in connection with the Columbian Exposition, has been fixed for July 25th to 28th, inclusive. Dr. Harris reports that the committee has agreed upon the topics for discussion for each department, and that they are now securing theses upon these topics. There will be a series of preliminary congresses from July 17th to 25th, culminating in the World's Educational Congress. The executive committee of the association desires to provide for the prompt publishing and distribution of the proceedings of the World's Educational Congress. The resident members of the association, therefore, propose to secure suitable boarding places for all teachers who will become members of the National Educational Association for the year 1893, paying the membership fee of $2.00, which will also entitle them to participate in the World's Educational Congress and to a copy of the proceedings.

-The Department of Superintendance of the National Educational Association meets in Boston, Feb. 21-23. The following is the program of the meeting:

1. William T. Harris, Commissioner of Education.

"What do school statistics teach in respect to the moral influence of education?"

2. Andrew S. Draper, Superintendent of Schools, Cleveland, Ohio.

"Plans of organization for school purposes in large cities."

3. Henry Sabin, Editor of Iowa School Journal, Des Moines, Iowa.

"The grading of county schools."

4. Addison P. Poland, State Superintendent of Schools of New Jersey.

"The graded system of the rural schools of New Jersey."

5. William H. Maxwell, Superintendent of Schools, Brooklyn, New York.

"The supervision of city schools."

6. D. J. Waller, Jr., State Superintendent

of Schools of Pennsylvania.

"The supervision of country schools."

"The Cambridge experiment.

9. The Scholastic and Professional Training of Teachers.

(a.) Aaron Gove, Superintendent of Schools, Denver, Colorado.

"Sources of supply of teachers in city schools."

(b.) Thomas M. Balliet, Superintendent of Schools, Springfield, Massachusetts.

"What can be done to increase the effi

ciency of teachers in actual service?"

Schools, Kansas City, Missouri. (c.) J. M. Greenwood, Superintendent of

"What shall be done with non-progressive or retrogressive teachers?"

10. The Comparative merits of Literature and History for Moral Culture.

(a.) Charles de Garmo, President of Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania.

"The value of literature for moral culture." (b.) Charles M. Andrews, Professor of Literature, Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania.

"The value of history for moral culture." 11. Albert P. Marble, Superintendent of Schools, Worcester, Massachusetts.

"The study of English in public schools." 12. Virgil G. Curtis, Superintendent of Schools, New Haven, Connecticut.

"Wood-work in grammar schools."

13. Oscar H. Cooper, Superintendent of Schools, Galveston, Texas.

"Examinations and promotions in elementary schools."

14. W. Hudson Shaw, Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, England.

"University extension in its relation to public education."

SOME CORRECTIONS.

EDITOR JOURNAL OF EDUCATION:-In your list of county superintendents in the last issue of the JOURNAL you have the wrong address opposite to my name; my address is John Zimmerman, New Glarus, Wis., and not Dayton, Wis.

I receive considerable mail under that address and have to pay transfer postage. Can you correct my address in the next issue of the JOURNAL? Yours respectfully, New Glarus, Wis. JOHN ZIMMERMAN.

EDITOR SCHOOL JOURNAL:-A mistake was made in your list of High School principals

"The reconstruction of the grammar-school

course."

JOHN RICE, JUNIOR.
John Rice Junior was his name
And Whittier was his dwelling,
The things he hated most in life

Were Geography and Spelling.

He fell asleep with a book in his hand,
And dreamed he was on the ocean,
Bobbing about in sight of land

With a curious kind of motion.

The land he saw was the Sandwich islands,
And were made of the State School bread
With slices of chicken laid between
Very good, the inhabitants said.
After taking a lunch he sailed away
Till he came to the coast of Japan,
When he felt a breeze that made him sneeze
For every one carried a fan.

John Rice Junior skipped along,

On the top of the Chinese wall

'Till he came to a sign which said Pek-in,
But he couldn't Pek-in at all.

For a voice he knew, said in tones severe,
John Rice, bound the State of Maine.

No longer in China, John Rice awoke

And sighed I'm back in the school again. The above is taken from "The Whittier," the organ of the State School of California, located at Whittier, in the southern part of that State. The verses are good to be written by a boy. The paper is printed by the boys and edited by them, under the supervision of the officers of the State school.

A. O. WRIGHT.

RAILWAY FARES AND ASSOCIATION DUES.

EDITOR JOURNAL OF EDUCATION:- It is quite generally known among those who attended the last meeting of the Wisconsin Teachers' Association that nearly all traveled on holiday excursion tickets, and that only about forty persons presented the customary certificate for the railway clerk's signature. These certificates the railroads refused to honor, as, according to agreement made with.

the Western Passenger Association, no certificate would entitle its holder to return for onethird fare until one hundred such certificates could be presented to Mr. Pierce, the joint agent at Madison. These could not be secured. An effort has since been made to secure a rebate for those paying full fare both ways, but without avail, the railroads claiming that the management of the Wisconsin Teachers' Association should have instructed the teachers all to travel on holiday excursion tickets or else to take the regular receipt. The management of the association did advise the latter course, but did not foresee that another course would be open, and would be powerless to secure obedience to the most emphatic instructions, as teachers, no less than others, "follow the line of least resistance;" and those who did so on this occasion are the cause of the misfortune of the forty-four who were obliged to pay full fare both ways. But there is another evil that resulted. Of the three hundred who were present scarcely one. hundred and fifty paid dues to the association. Thus we have a treasury practically empty. Many teachers seem to feel under no obligations to the association while very anxious that its management shall secure them immunity from as much expense as possible. One high school principal receiving a large salary, demanded the refunding of his dollar when he learned that his railway certificate would not be honored, and several refused to join the association unless they could get value received in a material form. One of the inducements to attend educational gatherings is the reduced cost of transportation, and in the future a vigorous effort must be made to prevent a recurrence of this season's experience, both to protect those who bear wrongs patiently and to compel all who attend, to make a show of patriotism" whether they possess it or not, for the sake of the association's financial safety. P. H. HEWITT, Railway Clerk.

Manitowoc, Wis.

tically impossible without an assured revenue, sufficient to meet the ends in view. Therefore the State Board of World's Fair Managers after hearing the matter, appropriated $3,000 for the use of the committee. Being relieved from the obligation of soliciting funds, a circular was prepared announcing in general terms the nature of the exhibit to be prepared and inviting all interested in education to give the matter their attention and join in the work. This circular was very widely distributed, copies having been sent to all State and county officials as well as teachers. Subsequently a second circular was prepared with much care and labor, intending to show in the most complete manner possible a full plan of what, in the judgment of the committee, would constitute a creditable exhibit. This Circular No. 2, as it is called, is perhaps the most satisfactory presentation of the plans of the committee. Upon this circular as a basis, a most diligent correspondence has been maintained, with school officials and heads of educational institutions. If but little progress has been made by those who at first expressed the intention of participating in the exhibit, the delay has been due to causes well understood by the association, viz:, a failure on the part of the Board of Directors at Chicago to perform what they implied in their invitations and schedules sent to those having in charge the work of preparing State exhibits. would be unprofitable at this time to relate the history of disappointment and procrastination which has characterized the proceedings of the Board of Directors in relation to the educational exhibit. In brief, they represented by every inducement to enterprising teachers that one of the crowning ornaments of the great fair was to be a GREAT NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT. Later on it was found necessary to besiege the board to get accommodations in a very retired and inconvenient part of the park, where are located the exhibits of live stock and sanitary appliances. At last, however, within the past few days, we are assured that a portion of the space formerly announced as set apart in the Liberal Arts Building for the exhibit, is again to be placed at our disposal.

It

This solution of the space problem has occupied the past four months; and pending its solution many schools have been waiting definite information, unwilling to venture upon a work of such importance in the face of possible disappointment in accommodations. How far the delays mentioned have affected the work in other States I do not know. In many instances State boards issued directions re

quiring all material to be prepared before the first of January. We are now confronted with the necessity of prompt and diligent action. Much may be accomplished before the first of March. The time fixed for putting the exhibit in place will be a full month, and this work will be done by the committee. It is believed that the plan presented by the committee is sufficiently full and definite to give the widest opportunities to exhibitors to display the characteristic merits of their institutions. In my correspondence with those interested, I have found that suggestions as to the best way to arouse the administration of schools to action are most needed.

In cities the interest of school boards must be enlisted; and in the county schools the boards of supervisors must be moved to provide the needed revenue for necessary expenses. The prime element of success however lies with the disposition of the superintendent.

With the committee's circular in hand, a definite scheme as to what features should be prepared by the pupils should be drawn up by the superintendent and this put in the hands of the teachers. Then should be prepared the external features of the exhibit, the nature of which is fully set forth in the circular. These features comprise facts and statistics number of schools, photographs of schools and grounds, etc. The third element to be considered is the style or method of preparing matter for exhibition. This includes the binding, mounting, labeling and classification of the whole work. It would add much to the whole exhibit if each institution or system of schools be identified by a suitable chart or banner upon which is indicated the title of the exhibit, the name of the locality, number of schools and grade, and even some of the leading facts of the administration. It should be the frontispiece of the exhibit-so to speak. Towns and cities might accompany this banner with a birds-eye view of the place. One of the problems for the exhibitor to solve is the style of putting on view the photographs, drawing or chart work. For this purpose, wall albums are recommended. It must not be overlooked that much depends upon the finish of the exhibit. Appropriate decorations are desirable, but nothing unique or foreign to the subjects presented should appear.

Among the features of the Wisconsin Educational Exhibit is to be a history of education in this State. This will probably be of more permanent value than any other result of our enterprise. A full account of the undertaking now under the management of Dr. Stearns has of course reached the members of this associa

tion. Of chief interest to the members is the effort made in this history to record the important facts of the life of this association. The work will doubtless be a most valuable souvenir of the Columbian Exhibition of 1892. ADDITIONAL.

Since the above report was read to the association the Chief of Liberal Arts, Hon. Selim H. Peabody, has officially notified the committee of the assignment of space for the Wisconsin exhibit. The following represents the space assigned and the divisions of the same: For Public Schools,

For Normal Schools,.

For University of Wisconsin, For Beloit and Ripon Colleges,

Total,. . . .

.. 1,600 feet.

The Principals' meeting in this great city is a remarkable gathering, with over two hundred principals of both sexes. The only difficulty is the lack of time, so that there always remain many unspoken ideas which would be well worth the utterance.

The January meeting was opened by three short written papers on the ideal school of the future. The general tendency of these papers and of the discussion which followed was full of a generous dissatisfaction with much that now exists and of a demand for better teachers with more originality and less hampered by centralizing machinery. Mr. Wright of your JOURNAL was invited to speak, and said that this dissatisfaction was a sign of progress. But he called attention to the fact that the schools of Chicago and of the country commercially tributary to it are now, on the whole, supplied with as good teaching as could be afforded for the money now raised by taxation, and that the people of the United States are now raising

for public schools, by voluntary taxation, what is equal to fully one-tenth of their income.

The George Howland club, named from the late city superintendent, is a new association of about fifty male teachers, which has a banquet once a month. This month they had Carter Harrison and Rev. Jenks L. Jones to address them. Ex-mayor Harrison gave a brilliant address, which was printed in full next day in his paper, the Times, too full of suggestions to be quoted here. Mr. Jones urged strongly the value, in these days of university extension, of public school extension, of using the assembly rooms for evening lectures, especially in the poorer neighborhoods, where the school is almost the only source of light and inspiration to the people. In the discussion it was stated that one principal had been doing this already.

It may be a matter of interest to your Wisconsin readers to know that Principal Williams, who presided, was the first principal of the Madison schools, and that there are several principals and many teachers in Chicago who began as teachers in Wisconsin. Examinations for teachers are held frequently, and many successful teachers in Wisconsin, who could pass rather severe examinations, have obtained permanent positions in Chicago. With the opportunities offered at the new university in the way of evening classes and summer classes this city ought to have a special attraction for ambitious young teachers.

Among Wisconsin post graduate students at the Chicago university, holding scholarships are Mr. Cabeen, Miss Leavitt, and Miss Winston. But few undergraduates have been drawn away from your university, and from Beloit and other colleges to the Chicago university, not as many as Beloit alone has drawn from Chicago.

The educational exhibit for the great Columbian exposition has not been treated fairly by the management, and protests have been reaching here from all quarters. As a queer result of the changes of plan, the educational building will be given up to archæology and to charities, and the educational exhibit proper will be in the great manufactures building. Really, however, except as far as the name goes, this is a better place for it. There will be as much or more room, and it is much more accessible, and will be seen by thousands who would not see it in the out-of-the-way place for the "Educational building."

Mrs. Solomon Thatcher offers lady teachers cots in the public school buildings during July and August at forty cents a night. But with the membership fee added the real cost will be