intelligence and achievement tests, and with specific objectives in particular subjects or for particular groups.

The Education Bill

As a third distinguishing feature of the meeting as a whole, it was noticeable that for the first time in years discussion of the Sterling-Reed bill for a department of education (or of the same plan known by another name) was conspicuous by its absence. Even the resolution favoring a department of education took on a mild and modified form as compared to other years and may be interpreted as an indorsement of a department of education and relief without subsidies rather than a department with subsidies as provided in the Sterling-Reed bill. Other resolutions urged the adoption of the child labor amendment; approved legislation recently passed providing for $19,000,000 for the Washington school-building program; favored character training; indorsed efficient financial management of school systems and independent control by school boards; and emphasized the importance of education as a potent means of establishing international understanding.

Concerning the General Program

Other high lights among the programs of the large general group were the Tuesday morning program devoted to 7-minute contributions on specific accomplishments of the year, the Thursday morning program concerning the contribution which colleges should make to education, and the Thursday afternoon pageant and musical

program.

Of the 7-minute contributions, nine were made by city superintendents each describing some outstanding activity of the year just passed in his own system. Miss Olive Jones outlined proposed plans for a home for retired teachers, and Doctor Strayer set forth examples of the anomalous situation created when the business and educational management of a school system are separately administered. Doctor Ballou described the introduction of educational research into the Wash

ington school system. Superintendent Johnson of San Diego outlined the centralization feature of library work in his system. Superintendent Lewis, of Flint, discussed a personnel audit of the teaching staff. Superintendent Gowans, of Hutchinson, Kans., told how education week was used to contribute to increased interest on the part of citizens. Superintendent Newlon intimated that byproducts of the curriculum-making program in Denver were of no less moment than the new curriculum itself. Superintendent Borden told how vocational information is used in South Bend, Ind., and Superintendent Nugent how the schools are taken to the parents in Jersey

City, N. J. These short, snappy and condensed contributions had the punch and suggestion of actual experience quite apart from the realm of theory and were listened to with unusual interest.

At the Thursday morning program, Superintendent Boynton, of Ithaca, caused a mild sensation, throwing a bomb into the otherwise peaceful consideration of the service which colleges and universities should render to schools. Superintendent Boynton paid his respects to the college curriculum, entrance requirements, and college professors as teachers, accusing them of being poor teachers with little interest in individuals and in general service, but addicted to the writing of books and conducting of school surveys. The department voted to send a copy of the address with its compliments to every college president in the United States in a resolution which the presiding officer characterized as "sending a missionary tract to the heathen on how to teach the true American doctrine."

Happiness through Music and Art Thursday afternoon's program, unusual as to organization for participation, execution, and arrangement, was a notable exemplification of President McAndrews's idea that life, liberty, and happiness are fostered by the schools through expression in music and art. The first part of the afternoon was devoted to happiness and school music, the second to happiness through art expression.

The Teachers' chorus of the Indiana public schools, composed of 300 teachers, presented a program of public-school music adapted especially for its appeal to pupils of secondary school age. The chorus organized in 1922 for the purpose of giving teachers an opportunity for instruction in choral singing and conducting, has won cordial recognition at Cincinnati and probably elsewhere for musicianly accomplishment. The annotations on the program following the selections added to the listener's appreciation of the beauty of the music and its adaptation to school use.

A pageant, "The public school's contribution to the Nation's happiness"; a processional by the children of the public schools of Cincinnati, representing in its

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different episodes joy in childhood, in youth, in nature, in the practical arts, in the fine arts, in literature, and in service; and ending with the singing of "America, the beautiful" by the chorus and audience, completed an afternoon unique in departmental programs.

Washington, D. C., carried off the honor of supplying the next president. Superintendent Ballou won over Superintendent Gwinn, of San Francisco, by the narrow margin of 10 votes.

Genius of President Displayed in Program

The program as a whole was of unusual interest, professional in tone and sounding a high note of public service and patriotism. In both the latter it was McAndrewesque in character. The genius of the department president was apparent in the arrangement of the program. Each unit followed out an idea expressed in a quotation, generally one expressing a patriotic sentiment. Quotations were from the preamble of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, ordinance of 1847, or from noted Americans. According to the program announcements, the sentiments were from Bureau of Education Bulletin 28, 1913, compiled by Henry R. Evans.

A few examples will offer sufficient illustration: Monday afternoon the department met in five groups, A, B, C, D, and E. The Group A program discussing equality of educational opportunity was headed by the quotation, "From the beginning these States engaged as the duty of government to secure to all equal rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The discussions were by United States Commissioner of Education Jno. J. Tigert for the Nation; County Superintendent A. F. Harman, of Montgomery County, Ala., for the South; and State Superintendent E. W. Butterfield, of New Hampshire, for the North. In Group Ba health education program followed the key quotation, "All men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. Among these is life." Group C, "To establish justice." The topics were "Justice for pupils," "Justice for teachers," and "Justice in high places." Group D, “To insure domestic tranquil

lity." Topics; "Student government," "Controversial subjects in high school," and “Labor and capital.”

Contributing to the different programs were speakers from State universities and colleges in 15 States, a representative but not an extensive number of State superintendents, a large number of city superintendents, elementary and high-school principals, professors in State teachers' colleges, municipal universities, and normal schools. Beside educators, several organizations, including the United States Army, National Committee on Mental Hygiene, the American Child Health Association, the Farmers' Cooperative Associations, the American Federation of Labor, and the press were represented. An examination of the list of speakers indicates that 33 of the 48 States were represented by one or more.

Other Departments and Allied Groups

Group A of the Department of Superintendence, under the chairmanship of Commissioner Tigert, was devoted to consideration of rural education. Doctor Tigert discussed recent constructive accomplishments in the United States indicating specific points of progress in financing, administering, and supervising rural schools, all of which tend toward raising rural education to the professional plane attained in urban school systems. A film showing school buildings, equipment, and school work, illustrating the progress discussed, was shown. Superintendent Harman, of Montgomery County, Ala., schools, speaking for the South, showed in his address and through pictures the splendid achievements of the rural school system under his administration. Doctor Butterfield, commissioner of education for New Hampshire, traced the development of progress in equalizing educational opportunity in the North and illustrated his lecture by slides and moving pictures.

Every State Able to Provide Schools

The program prepared for the department of rural education under the presidency of Macy Campbell, Iowa State Teachers' College, was notable for scholarly contributions. The initial program was devoted to consideration of the economic background of rural education. Dr. F. H. Swift, of Teachers College, Columbia University, gave an illustrated address showing through slides the inequalities in tax burdens and educational opportunities which follow unscientific methods of raising and distributing school funds. Doctor Swift also pointed out constructive remedial measures, stating that his study of financing systems in one-fourth of our States had convinced him that no State was unable to provide for the maintenance of an adequate ele

mentary and secondary school system for all of its children. Doctor Swift's clear and adequate discussion was followed by a brilliant address on cooperative marketing and supporting education, by Aaron Sapiro, attorney for the Farmers' Cooperative Associations, Chicago. An interesting discussion of both addresses from the floor followed.

educator guests during the meeting. The usual bureau dinner in the interest of the work-study-play or platoon plan schools was well attended. Commissioner Tigert presided. Among the speakers were Superintendents Davidson, of Pittsburgh, and Cody, of Detroit; Principals Bryan, of Birmingham, Ala., and Boyce, of Milwaukee; and Miss Williamson, of Dayton, Ohio.

The usual number of college alumni and fraternity dinners were given on Wednesday and other evenings, and a large number of breakfasts, luncheons, and special dinners impossible to enumerate provided for reunions, conferences, and social diversion.

The splendid pace set by the initial program of the department was followed Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, the former devoted to outstanding achievements of consolidated schools in the making of citizens, building up and educating rural communities, and high points in general service, the latter to the development of the consolidated school discussed from the point of view of national distribution, organization under the county Recent Growth of Music Clubs in unit plan, improvement in standards, and the preparation of the principal for the consolidated school. Sectional programs were held Thursday morning. State Superintendent Harris, of Louisiana, and Prof. Mabel Carney, of Teachers College, were among the speakers.

Teacher Preparing Institutions

The American Association of Teachers' Colleges, the National Society of College Teachers of Education, and the City Teachers' Training School Section, including among them all of the teacher preparing groups, attracted many notable speakers who appeared on the different programs, including several presidents of teachers colleges as well as representatives from the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pittsburgh, Teachers College of Columbia University, University of Cincinnati, University of Washington, and others of importance. Strong movements to raise entrance requirements, to revise curricula, lengthen courses, and otherwise improve standards of teacher-preparing institutions are widespread if one may judge from programs presented.

The Department of Elementary School Principals, a young but rapidly developing organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Department of Vocational Education,

National Vocational Guidance Association, the Primary Council, and the National Council, were

among other

allied groups presenting interesting and profitable programs.

The Bureau of Education and the Department

The Bureau of Education, Department of the Interior, was represented on the program by four speakers, some of whom made more than one address at different sessions. Headquarters on the ballroom floor of the Gibson Hotel were centrally located and attracted a large number of

Virginia

"Virginia has 32 well-organized and active music clubs belonging to the national federation," writes Margaret L. Gill in the Virginia Teacher. Of the 32 clubs, 6 are junior.

The first county federated music club was organized in Fluvanna County in 1920, so recent is the county organization. The oldest city music club is in Petersburg, dating from 1898. It is not possible to compare fairly the work of town and county music clubs, for their aims are entirely different. While clubs in the larger centers are able to accomplish more in bringing great artists to their towns, music clubs in the smaller

places mean much to their communities, and relatively their membership is greater.

The Fluvanna County club has a membership of 62, and gives eight concerts annually. The Junior Fluvanna club, with a membership of 20, presents four concerts during the year. This compares favorably with the largest clubs in the State. Roanoke, with a membership of 500, gives 12 or more concerts each year; and Marion, with 100 members, undertakes three or more yearly.

The purpose and activities of the clubs vary widely; the range of dues is from 10 cents to $10 a year. In some organizations self-culture or musical creation is the object; in others, the cultivation of musical appreciation in the community. Practically every club in the State has recently increased in membership. Roanoke has developed from 20 members in 1908 to 500, and Fluvanna County from 12 to 62.

Until they are up to grade standards in spelling and penmanship pupils from the ninth grade up, in the Lake Odessa (Mich.) High School are required to continue these studies. Tests are given every six weeks.

School System of Portage County is Thoroughly Organized

All Schools Consolidated and 22 of them Offer High-School Instruction. Supervision and Administration of Schools Aided by Committees of Principals and Teachers. Local Educational Agencies Lend their Cooperation OOPERATION is the foundation principle which governs the administration of the public-school system of Portage County, Ohio-cooperation between the county supervisory staff and the local school officers and

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An athletic committee formulates rules, schedules games, assigns referees, adjudicates disputes, and conducts tournaments and field meets. Sixteen of the schools maintained football teams last year. Thirty-six boys' and girls' basket-ball

A class in harness making, Franklin Township

teachers; cooperation between the school authorities and the auxiliary educational agencies of the county; cooperation from the Kent State Normal College; and above all, cooperation, ungrudging and complete, from the patrons of the schools and the taxpayers of the county, according to C. E. Pore, the county superintendent, who supplied the facts and photographs utilized in this article. In this the Portage County schools are blessed above the most of the school organizations of the country.

Superintendent Has Four Assistants

Twenty-three consolidated schools, every one on a paved road, constitute the school system of this county. Twentytwo schools of the twenty-three offer high-school as well as elementary instruction. The county superintendent is assisted by four supervisors, two of whom direct the work of the schools in music, another that in manual training, and another that in writing and in art. county superintendent appoints standing committees of principals and teachers to organize and direct school activities of the county which may be benefited by such cooperation.

The

teams are scheduled to play interschool contests every Friday night of the season.

A committee on literature and music arranges competitive speaking and singing contests, which involve as participants practically half of the high-school pupils.

The "Speedometer committee" directs the publication of a yearbook, the name of which is indicated by the name of the committee; local responsibility for this book is assumed by student editors and business managers.

The current publicity committee prepares each week a double column of Portage County school news. This material is distributed to seven papers, the combined circulation of which includes practically every resident of the county. Each school has its own news representative. To him a return post card is sent every Monday on which he writes the news notes of his district, returning the card to the central office on Friday. Articles on special topics are prepared as occasion demands.

Standard Tests Regularly Administered

A testing committee has charge of all tests in the county. They not only prepare examination questions in the elementary subjects for the first semester finals and in the high-school subjects for the second semester finals, but also supervise the administering of standard tests. They chart the results and prescribe remedial instruction.

The lyceum committee has saved 25 per cent of the cost of lecture courses by conducting them cooperatively. This committee prepares from the offerings of half a dozen lyceum bureaus a list of speakers and musicians suitable for the county circuit. Each principal in the 23 consolidated school districts chooses from this list those best suited to his local requirements. From a centrally located hotel the persons so employed make their appointments with the several schools.

Once a year the school exhibit committee arranges a display of school work from the different schools, at which the

work is judged and prizes are given. Practical work in art, dressmaking, mechanical drawing, woodwork, harness making, and forging are especially emphasized.

The Portage County schools enjoy the cooperation of other local educational agencies. The farm bureau's club leader

ment, the college provides for medical inspection in this school and furnishes instruction for all its pupils above the eighth grade in the normal college high school.

enrolls the boys and girls in vacation courses which supplement their school work in domestic science and agriculture. The county board of health employs a trained nurse who makes the schools her special field of operation. A registered Red Cross nurse frequently assists schools which are in need of her services. The Young Men's Christian Association cooperates through its secretary in giving motion picture programs and in conducting educational tours and a summer baseball league for school pupils.

Normal College Facilities Freely Used The Kent State Normal College assists the teachers of the county by providing special courses when desired, giving demonstration lessons, lending library materials, and assisting in the annual teachers' institute. The college gymnasium and auditorium are open for school contests and programs. On the day allowed by law to the teachers each year to visit other schools normal college seniors conduct their classes so that the pupils lose no school days. To become as familiar as possible with the work they are to teach, the normal students of the preceding day visit the classes of the teachers they are to relieve.

The Franklin Township consolidated school, 1 mile from Kent, is affiliated with the college for observation and practice teaching. The college contributes to its financial support and also provides a kindergarten specialist and special teachers for music, art, domestic science, 37835°-25-2

All this cooperation, enthusiastically and loyally given, has placed the schools of Portage County in the front rank of the rural schools of Ohio.

The National University Extension Association will meet in Charlottesville, Va., April 30-May 2, 1925, and not in Kansas City, as previously stated.

tional Institutions

More than 1,850 courses of study open to working men and women of Greater Boston have been listed in the second annual catalogue, "Educational Opportunities of Greater Boston," published by the Prospect Union Educational Exchange of Cambridge. The information has been collected from the catalogues and reports of 130 accredited schools and social agencies of Greater Boston. Instruction in almost every subject is offered, special attention being given to part-time and evening opportunities suitable for persons who can devote but a small part of their day or evening to study.

The Prospect Union Educational Exchange is not an advertising medium for schools, but it aims to present trustworthy information to people who need it, and its concern is for them rather than for the schools listed. In addition to this information service, the Educational Exchange offers free vocational counsel and educational advice to men and women. Since its beginning in September, 1923, more than 400 persons have been served by the exchange.

A third annual school pilgrimage this year will bring 130 public-school boys from Australia to England. The boys will also visit France, Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium. These tours are arranged by the Young Australia League to broaden the educational life of young people of the Commonwealth.