Colton is making an effort to establish a kindergarten. An effort is being made in Los Angeles to provide ways and means for the oral education of deaf children. Professor P. R. Boone has resigned as President of the Berkeley Board of Education after having served three years. A New England man has just given $50,000 the interest of which is to be spent in buying newspapers for the public schools of Boston. Professor Heaton of the State University asks that more time be given in the public schools to science and less to the study of mythology, Charles W. Linder, a former teacher of Sutter county, died recently while returning to Sutter from Missouri and when within a few miles of his destination. S. W. Austin, present Superintendent of Schools in Inyo county, has received the appointment of Register of the United States Land Office at Independence. Professor Smith, of the Department of Mathematics in the Chico Normal School, has resigned his position. His reason for o doing has not been made public as yet. Richard D. Faulkner's "Impressions of The Southern Association," an article on the Science Round Table of S. T. A. and several other articles are held over until the June issue. Doctor Elmer E. Brown of the University Department of Pedagogy. has been invited to address the general session of the National Educational Association in Washington next July. In a vote cast by the principals of the Los Angeles Schools recently upon the comparative merits of different systems of penmanship, thirty-five voted in favor of the Natural System and fifteen for others. The Washington State Teachers' Association will be held in Tacoma, June 27, 28, 29, and 30. Great effort is being made to make this the most successful state meeting yet held in Washington. Tacoma makes royal host. It is to be hoped that this meeting will be largely attended. a The Berkeley Board of Education made a general cut in salaries slicing off enough from the pay of its employes to save about $3740 during the next school year. The finance committee of the Board recently reported the prospect of a deficit in the school funds. The salaries committee, consisting of Professor Wickson, C. Engebretsen and J. S. Crew, presented a report recommending reductions all along the line, with a few exceptions. It was stated by the members of the Board that the changes were only made on the spur of necessity and not because the old salaries were deemed too high. The many friends of Professor Washington Wilson will regret to hear of the almost fatal accident which befell his little boy, Donald, on April 30, at which time he fell from a tower over thirty-two feet high. For a week, the little fellow lingered at the point of death, but his good health and the physician's skill have brought him from danger. County Superintendent of Schools J. P. Garlic is proposing an innovation for the next County Teachers' Institute, which is to be held in Oakland some time about the middle of September. He seeks to substitute a course of lectures by Prof. William James, head of the Department of Philosophy at Harvard, for the usual routine Institute work. The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa county has received a petition signed by 300 citizens of Martinez asking that a special election for the establishment of two county high schools be held. A committee appointed in two separate conventions has agreed to bear the expense of such an election, and it is generally believed that this assures the county two new schools. The principals and teachers in the pub'ic schoo's declare that they are poorly paid for the work of educating the rising generation, and last night they most humbly peti. tioned the Board of Education to increase their salaries in proportion to the increase of their living expenses, which, they aver, is 25 per cent. It is claimed in the petition that the cost of food, c'othing and board has increased, and that it is difficult for them to live on their present salaries.-Seattle Times. Prof. Edw. H. Griggs, who has so endeared himself to the people of California has been granted a leave of absence from Stanford University for one year. He will spend the time in Europe in travel, in reading, and in study, tho it is not his purpose to enter upon the work of any University. Prof. Griggs needs the rest and recreation, thus afforded him, and tho he will be missed thruout the State, he will return to his friends with a renewed physical strength which he needs in his arduous work, and to which he is much entitled. Arbor Day, which by proclamation of Governor John R. Rogers of Washington was fixed upon Friday, March 25, was enthusiastically celebrated by the University of Washington. One hundred and five trees and 109 vines were planted on the new grounds, and appropriate exercises were held. Colleges or universities do not always enter into Arbor Day on such an extensive scale as this, but the University of Washington has a campus of 155 acres, which in time is to be made into an arboretum and botanic garden, and the students are more than willing to aid all they can in this undertaking; hence their planting of a hundred instead of a dozen trees. At the recent convention of the Republican party in Oregon, Professor J. H. Ackerman of Portland was nominated for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Such was his work in the East, where he graduated from one of the best Normal Schools and where he became well known as an able teacher and Institute instructor, and such has been his work in Portland as principal of one of the leading schools in Multnomah county, as County Superintendent, and in the State as Institute instructor, as to endow him in a peculiar manner for the discharge of the duties incident to the office to which he aspires. A Word to School Trustees About School Furniture. The season is approaching when it will be the duty of the School Trustees to look into the matter of getting new desks for the pupils and consequently the State is flooded with agents' representing Eastern factories, who claim to sell latest and improved school desks at 'factory cost." The object of this article, written entirely in the interests of the school officials, is to sound a note of warning to those about to place orders for Eastern desks at what at a casual glance look like ridiculously low figures F. O. B. Factory. Does the average School Trustee, having little or no experience in overland freight rates, realize what a desk will actually cost him by the time it is set up in the school room, when purchased F. O. B. Factory. The matter of freight on school furniture is a great item. So great that it has been found necessary by progressive firms to have their desks manufactured here. Trustees who have always bought furniture F. O. B. San Francisco will be dumbfounded when they figure out what their desks cost them when purchased F. O. B. Factory. Trustees, before placing your order with these Factory representatives consider well the following: After signing an order calling for a desk of a certain name you are compelled to accept the desks when they arrive, no matter how they are constructed. The salesman has vanished and if the desks are unsatisfactory you must accept them just the same, pay an enormous freight bill and find that you could have got much better furniture at a far lower price from any school supply house on the Coast. Beware of Ointments for Catarrh that contain Mercury As Mercury will surely destroy the sense of smell and completely derange the whole system when entering it through the mucuous surfaces, such articles should never be used except on prescriptions from reputable physicians, as the damage they will do is ten fold to the good you can possibly derive from them. Halls's Catarrh Cure, manufactured by F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledɔ, O., cɔntɩins no Mercury and is taken internally, acting directly on the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. In buying Hall's Catarrh Cure be sure you get the genuine. It is taken internally, and made in Toledo, Ohio. by F. J. Cheney & Co. Testimonials free. "Sold by druggists, 75c. Hall's Family Pills are the best. THE BIENNIAL CONVENTION. Minutes of the Convention of County and City Superintendents of California. In accordance with Section 1533, Political Code of California, the Biennial Convention of County and City Superintendents of California, assembled in the Senate Chamber of the Capitol at Sacramento, at 2 o'clock P. M., April 25, 1898. Mayor Land, of the City of Sacramento, was introduced to the County and City Superintendents by Superintendent Black; and on behalf of the citizens of Sacramento, extended to the Superintendents the freedom and courtesies of the City. The address was responded to on behalf of the Superintendents by City Superintendent J. W. McClymonds of Oakland. The convention organized by the election of the following officers:Samuel T. Black, Superintendent of Public Instruction, President; J. W. Linscott, Superintendent of Santa Cruz Vice President; Miss Kate Ames, Superintendent of Napa, Secretary; M. P. Stone, Ass:stant Secre. tary. Upon calling the roll, the following Superintendents answered to their names: ..J. P. Garlick ....Kate Ames .P. W. Smith ..Kate L. Donnley Edward Hyatt ..B. F. Howard ..John Garner Isabelle Mogeau, Deputy W. J. Bailey .N. Messer ..G. E. Thurmond ......L. J. Chipman ...John W. Linscott Amelia Dittmar F. H. Turner .C. S. Smith .A. P. Sanborn C. H. Neilsen ..J. A. Wagener ......C. G Kline O. E. Graves Lizzie H, Fox .J. S. McPhaill .G. P. Morgan Geo. L. Sackett .H. B. Pendergast .....D. J. Sullivan ....J. A. Foshay ...J. W. McClymonds .O. W. Erlewine .E. P. Cubberly ....F. P. Russell James A. Barr F. E. Perham .P. M. Condit J. A. Guttery .....E M. Cox .M. E. Daley Superintendent Black addressed the Convention, calling attention to the changes in Superintendents since the last gathering, to the recommendations made by the last Biennial Convention, and the important educational matters of the certification of teachers, the uniform grading of the schools in the different counties, and the Caminetti Amendment to the Constitution. Attention was also directed to the Life Diplomas issued by the State of Oregon to the great Trans- Mississippi International Exposition, the "Maine Fund", and the steps taken in other States concerning Arbor Day. Superintendent Linscott of Santa Cruz moved that a committee of five be appointed from the lady Superintendents to report suitable resolutions on the death of Mrs. Clara March Armstrong, late Superintendent of Yolo County. The chair appointed as such committee, Miss Kate Ames of Napa County; Mrs. H.L. Wilson of Colusa County; Miss Lizzie H. Fox of Trinity County; Mrs. E. K. Harrington of Lake County; Mrs. Kate L. Donnelly of Plumas County. The Caminitti Amendment was referred to a committee of three consisting of fuperintendent Wood of Monterey County, Superintendent McClymonds of Oakland, and Superin tendent Graham of Kings County. Superintendent Sackett of Ven tura County, moved that the Maine Monument Fund, and other matters connected with the Maine disaster be referred to a committee of three. The chair appointed as such committee Superintendent Sackett of Ventura County, Superintendent Brown of Humboldt County and Superintendent Graves of Tehama County. A committee of three was appointed to take into consideration the establishment of a dividing line between the Primary and Grammar Grades of the schools, the committee consisting of Superintendent Kirk of Fresno County, Superintendent Greeley of Orange County and Super intendent Linscott of Santa Cruz County. Upon motion, duly secorded, a committee, consisting of Superinten. dent Erlewine of Sacramento, Cubberly of San Diego, and Guttery of Pomona, was appointed to take into consideration a separating line be tween the High and Grammar Schools of the State. The matter of the trans-Mississippi Educational Exposition was referred to a committee of three consisting of Superintendent Chipman of Santa Clara County, Superintendent Sullivan of the city of Alameda, and Mies Julia L Jones, Superintendent of Mariposa County, Superintendent J. W. McClymonds of Oakland addressed the convention on the features of the present compulsory educational law, and a mot on was duly made and carried that a committee of three be appointed to consider the advi. sability of drafting a compulsory educational law. The chair appointed as such committee Superintendent Nielsen of Somona County, Superin. tendent Grove of Merced County, and City Superintendent Russell of San Jose. On motion a committee of three was appointed to consider the advis ability of so arranging the apportionment of school moneys as to insure the payment of teachers' salaries. The chair appo`nted as such committee Superintendent Furlong of Marin County, Superintendent Chipman of Santa Clara County and Superintendent Mack of Amador County. Superintendent Linscott of Santa Cruz County moved and the same was du y carried that five separate committees of five members each be appointed to consider and report upon the following articles of the School Law of California. First Committee on Articles 1--5 6--13 16--17 18--20 66 21 and miscellaneous. At this time, upon motion,the convention took a recess of ten minutes. After recess, upon motion of Superintendent Furlong of Marin County the convention reconsidered the motion to appoint five committees o tive members each to consider and report upon the articles of the School Law of California. The motion to appoint such committees failed of passage. Superintendent Wood of Monterey County, then moved, and the same was duly carried, that the convention follow in its deliberations the report of the Biennial Convention of County aud City Superintendents of August 3, 1896, as presented in the Seventeenth Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, page 16. Upon motion, the convention adjourned to meet April 26, 1898, at 9 o'clock A. M. to resume its deliberations, KATE AMES, secretary. M. P. STONE, Assistant Secretary. SACRAMENTO, Cal., April 26,, 1898. The second day's session of the Biennial Convention of the County and City Superintendents of California was called to order at 9 o'clock A. M. April 26, 1898, by the President, Samuel T. Black. The committee on the dividing line between the Primary and Grammar (irades of the schools, thru its chairman Superintendent Kirk submitted the following report which was adopted : 1663. 1. All schools, unless otherwise provided by law, must be divided into primary and grammar grades. The first five years or grades, exclusive of kindergarten, shall constitute the primary grades. The County Board of Education must, except in incorporated cities having Boards of Education, on or before the first day of July, prescribe the course of study in each grade for the ensuing year. 2. Except in incorporated cities having Boards of Education, the County Board of Education shall require that promotions, upon written examinations or otherwise, in each of said courses, shall take place at stated periods, at least once in each school year. It shall also provide for conferring diplomas at the end of the course of study in the grammar grade for those who satisfactorily pass the required examination. 3. The County Board of Education may amend and change, subject to section sixteen hundred and sixty-five, either of the above courses of study, whenever necessary. The committee, appointed to consider the advisability of drafting a compulsory Educational Law. thru its chairman Carl H, Nielsen, submitted the following report which was adopted:— RESOLUTION ON COMPULSORY EDUCATION STATUE. We, your committee, appointed to report on the advisability of drafting an effective compulsory education statute beg to report that we are most heartily in favor of the passage, by the next legislature of such a law relative to this subject as shall be both thoro and effective in its operation and for this purpose, we recommend that a committee of five be appointed by the chairman-two City Superintendents and three County Superintendents with full power to draft such a statute and present the same to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for his approval; and that the Superintendent of Public Instruction, after the approval of said draft be requested to urge upon the legislative committees on Education and Pub. 1663. 1. All schools, unless otherwise provided by law, must be divided in to primary and grammar grades, The first five years or grades, exclusive of kindergartens shall constitute the primary schools, and the next four years shall constitute the Grammar Schools. The County Board of Education must, excep! in incorporated cities having Boards of Education on or before the first day of July, Prescribe the course of study in each grade for the ensuing year. 2. Except in incorporated cities having Boards of Education, the County Board of Education shall require that promotions upon written examinations or otherwise, in each of said courses, shall take place at stated periods, at least once in each school year. It shall also provide for conferring diplomas at the end of the course of study in the grammar grade for those who satisfactorily pass the required examinations. 3. The County Board of Education may amend and change, subject to section sixteen hundred and sixty-five, either of the above courses of study, whenever necessary. The regular order of business was then taken up and upon motion, Section 1543 as printed in the Seventeenth Biennial Report was amended to read as follows: SECTION 1543, changed to read as follows: Seventh-"He shall have power to issue, if he deems it proper to do so, temporary certificates, valid until the next annual meeting of the County Board of Education, upon credentials upon which County Boards are empowered to grant certificates without examination, as specified in sections one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five and one thousand five hundred and three; provided, that no person shall be entitled to receive such temporary certificate more than once in the same county." Eleventh-Except in incorporated cities having a City Superintendent, to pass upon and approve or reject all orders for school furniture, and to accept for the district, when completed, all school buildings. To enable him to act in this matter, Boards of School Trustees, before adopting any plans for school buildings, or placing any order for school furniture, must submit the same to the County Superintendent of Schools for his approval." Fifteenth-"The County Superintendent of Schools shall, unless otherwise provided by law, in the month of May of each year, grade each school for the ensuing school year, and a record thereof shall be made in a book to be kept by him in his office for this purpose; and no teacher holding a certificate below the grade of said school shall be em. ployed to teach the same." Section 1548, as printed in the Seventeenth Biennial Report, was adopted in its entirety as follows: SECTION 1348. "He may draw his requisition upon the County Auditor, who shall draw his warrant on the unapportioned General School Fund, in his own favor, for the binding of school documents, not to exceed two dollars for each district of his county, and for such other incidental expenses as may be authorized by law; provided, that not more than one half of such allowance shall be used during the first six months of any school year, except by unanimous consent of the Board of Supervisors; and provided further, that in incorporated cities, each school containing three hundred pupils shall be considered equal to one school district." Section 1553 was likewise adopted without change: SECTION 1553. "No County Superintendent of Schools, who receives an annual salary of fifteen hundred dollars or more, must follow the profession of teaching, or any other Vocation that can conflict with his duties as Superintendent; but those receiving less than fifteen hundred dollars per annum may teach in the public schools of this State." Superintendent Harrell moved to strike out the words "temporary or permanent" in the first and second lines of Section 1565. A substitute motion by Superintendent Nielsen that the section be adopted as a whole prevailed: SECTION 1565. "Every applicant for a teacher's certificate, temporary or permanent, or for the renewal of a certificate, upon presenting his application, shall pay to to the County Superintendent of Schools a fee of two dollars, to be by him immediately deposited with the County Treasurer, to the credit of a fund to be known as the Teachers' Institute and Library Fund. All funds so credited shall be drawn out only upon the requisition of the County Superintendent of Schools upon the County Auditor, who shall draw his warrant in payment of the services of instructors in the County Teachers' Institute; provided, they be not teachers in the public schools of the county in which such Institute is held; and for the purchase of books for a library for the use of the teachers of the county. least fifty per cent. of the Teachers' Institute and Library Fund shall be expended for books, The County Superintendent of Schools shall take charge of the teachers' library, prepare a catalog of its contents, and keep a correct record of books taken therefrom and returned thereto." At Section 1577 was read and referred to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to endeavor to obviate the following difficulty suggested by Superintendent McClymonds:— A school district is legally annexed and the children attend the schools of the district to which the first district has been annexed. but school money is apportioned to the district from which they came. Superintendent Sackett also offered an amendment to Section 1577 which was adopted and the whole section as amended and reported as follows: SECTION 1577. First-"No new school district shall be formed at any other time than between the first day of November and the tenth day of February following in any school year, nor at that time unless parents or guardians of at least fifteen census children, residents of such proposed new district, and residing at a greater distance than two miles, by a traveled road, from the public school-house in the district in which said parents or guardians reside, present a petition to the County Superintendent of Schools, setting forth the boundaries of the new district asked for; provided, that the provision requir ing that the petitioners shall reside a distance of more than two miles, by a traveled road, from the said public school-house, may be dispensed with when the petition shall be signed by the parents or guardians of fifty or more census children, residents of a district containing more than three hundred census children." That in the formation of new School Districts, a sworn statement as to facts set forth in said petition are true and that the children listed are of required school age, and reside in the territory of which s id district is to be composed shall accompany said petition, Second-The boundaries of a school district, except as provided in section one thous and five hundred and fifty-one of the Political Code, shall be changed only between the first day of November and the tenth day of February following in any school year, and then only when at least ten families residing in the district affected by the proposed change of boundaries, shall present to the County Superintendent of Schools a petition setting forth the change of boundaries desired, and the reason for the same; provided, that two or more districts lying contiguous may at any time be united to constitute but one district, whenever a petition signed by a majority of the heads of families residing in each of said districts shall be presented to the County Superintendent of Schools," Third Joint districts (that is, districts lying partly in one county and partly in another) may be formed at any time between the first day of November and the tenth day of February following in any school year, whenever a petition signed by the parents or guardians of at least fifteen census children, residents of such proposed joint district and residing at a greater distance than two miles by a traveled road from any public schoolhouse, shall be presented to the County Superintendent of Schools of each county affected by the proposed formation of the joint district; and provided further, that the provision requiring that the petitioners shall reside a distance of more than two miles, by a traveled road, from any public school-house may be dispensed with when the petition shall be signed by the parents or guardians of fifty or more census children, residents of districts any one of which shall contain more than three hundred census children. All the provisions relative to the formation of joint district shall be by concurrent action of the County Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Supervisors of each county." Sections 1581, 1599 and 1600 were adopted as read and are as follows:SECTION 1581, "After the making of an order by the Board of Supervisors, creating a new school district, the school must be open therein not later than the first Monday in October following the date of said order; otherwise, said order shall be null and void." SECTION 1599. "The voting must be by ballot without reference to the gener n election laws in regard to nominations, forms of ballot, or manner of voting." SECTION 1600. "Any person offering to vote may be challenged by any elector of the district, and the Judges of the Election must thereupon administer to the person challenged an oath, in substance as follows: You do swear that you are a citizen of the United States, that you are twenty-one years of age, that you have resided in this State one year, in this county ninety days, and in this school district thirty days next preceding this election, and that your name has been on the Great Register of this county for fifteen days.' If he takes the oath prescribed in this section, his vote must be received, otherwise his vote must be rejected." Section 1617, upon motion of Superintendent Graham, was amended to read as follows, and then upon motion the whole section, as amended, was referred to the Superintendent of Public Instruction: SECTION 1617. "Subdivisions Fifth and Sixth combined into one subdivision, as follows: Fifth-"When directed by a vote of their district to build school houses, or to purchase or to sell school lots, and to make, in the name of the district, conveyances of all property so purchased or sold." Subdivision Sixth stricken out. Subdivision Seventh changed to Sixth. Subdivision Eighth changed to Seventh. Subdivision Ninth changed to Eighth. Subdivision Tenth changed to Ninth. Subdivision Eleventh changed to Tenth. Subdivision Twelfth changed to Eleventh. Subdivision Thirteenth changed to Twelfth, Subdivision Fourteenth changed to Thirteenth. Subdivision Fifteenth changed to Fourteenth, and to read as follows: Fourteenth "To permit children from other districts to attend the school of their district only upon the consent of the Trustees of the district in which such chi'dren reside; provided, that should the Trustees of the district in which children whose parents or guardians desire them to attend in other districts, refuse to grant their consent, the parents or guardians of such children may appeal to the County Superintendent of Schools, and his decision shall be final; provided further, that if Boards of Education admit pupils against the provisions of this section, the County Superintendent of Schools may refuse to draw a requisition upon the order of said Board of Trustees or Board of Education." Subdivision Sixteenth changed to Fifteenth. Subdivison Twentieth changed to Nineteenth, and paragraph (3) changed to read as follows: "In regard to prosecuting, settling, or compromising any litigation in which the district may be engaged, and may vote money from the County Fund of the district, not exceeding one hundred dollars in any one year for any of these purposes. All funds raised by the sale of school property may be disposed of by direction of a district meeting. District meetings may be adjourned from time to time, as found necessary, and all votes instructing the Board of Trustees shall be taken by ballot. The Board of Trustees shall, in all cases, be bound by the instructions of the district meeting in regard to the subjects mentioned in this subdivision of this section; provided, that the vote in favor of changing the location of the school house shall be twothirds of all electors voting at said meeting upon the proposition to change the location." And provided further that a new school site shall be selected at the time at which, and by the a ne vot by which the sit is changed. SECTION 1622. "Boards of School Trustees and City Boards of Education may use the school moneys received from State and County apportionments during the school year for any of the purposes authorized by this chapter; but a sum equal to the amount received from State apportionments and at least sixty (60) per cent of County apportionments, exclusive of the Library Fund, must be used exclusively for the payment of teachers of primary and grammar grade schools." Upon motion the question of the transportation of pupils from one portion of a district or city to another portion of the same district or city for purposes of economy or better school facilities, the expense of such transportation to be defrayed from school moneys, was referred to a special committee, consisting of Superintendents Cubberiy, Linscott and Graham. Sections 1623 and 1650 were adopted as read and are as follows: SECTION 1623. "Boards of School rustees and City Boards of Education are liable as such, in the name of the district. for any judgment against the district for salary due any teacher on contract, and for all debts contracted under the provisions of this chapter, and they must pay such judgment or liabilities out of the school moneys to the credit of such district; provided, that the contracts mentioned in this section are not in excess of the school moneys accruing to the district for the school year for which the contracts are made, otherwise the district shall not be held liable." SECTION 1650. Third-"To place the monthly journal designated as the official organ of the Department of Pubile Instruction in the school district library each month; and if he fails to receive it regularly, to immediately notify the publishers and the County Superintendent of Schools of such fact. Section 1674 (a new section) was read, and upon motion Superintendent Wood was appointed a committee of one to amend the section. The amendment was acc pted by the Convention, and the amended section reads as follows: SECTION 1674 (a new section). "In schools of more than one teacher, the Board of School Trustees, or City Board of Education, must designate one of the teachers as the Principal of the school, who shall have general supervision of the entire school, provided that nothing in this section shall be so construed as to prevent Boards of School Trustees or Boards of Education from selecting a Principal to supervise the work of two or more schools in one school district." Section 1713 was adopted as read: SECTION 1713. "The Library Fund shall consist of not less than three nor more than ten per cent. of the County School Fund annually apportioned to districts; provided, that in incorporated cities and towns the Library Fund shall consist of not to exceed seventy five dollars for every one thousand census children, or a fraction thereof of five hundred or more, annually taken from the City or County school Fund apportioned to the city or town." An amendment to Section 1768 to insert the word "names" in the fourth line was lost and the section was adopted as read: SECTION 1768 "Except in any city and county, there shall be a County Board of Education, which shall consist of the County Superintendent of Schools and of four other members, appointed by the Board of Supervisors of the county from a list of rames submitted by the County Superintendenf of Schools; provided, that the said list submitted shall contain at least two names for each member so appointed." Subdivision Second stricken out. Subdivision Third changed to Second, and to read as follows: Second. "At the last regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors preceding the first day of July in each year, two members of the Board of Education shall be appointed to serve for a period of two years." Subdivision Fourth changed to Third, and to read as follows: Third. "If the Board of Supervisors of any county refuse or neglect to appoint members of the Couuty Board of Education, as provided in subdivision one 1) and two (2) of this section, it shall be the duty of the County Superintendent of Schools to appoint them. Should a vacancy occur at any time in the Board of Education, it shall be the duty of the Board of Supervisors to appoint a person to fill such vacancy. Vacuncies occurring in the County Board of Education shall be filled by the Board of Supervisors in the manner above provided; provided, that all appointments to fill vacancies be made for the unexpired time only." Subdivision Fifth changed to Fourth. Subdivision Sixth changed to Fifth. Subdivision Seventh changed to Sixth. As an amendment to Section 1770, Superintendent Howard moved to change the word "annually" to "semi-annually." The amendment failed of passage and the section was adopted as read: SECTION 1770. First-"Each County Board of Education shall meet annually, at such time as they may determine. Special meetings may be called by the County Superintendent of Schools whenever in his judgment the exigences of the schools may require them to be held. Upon the request of any three members, in writing, the County Superintendent of Schools shall call a special meeting. Notice of all annual meetings shall be given by the Secretary at least ten days prior to the time of said meeting; and no business shall be transacted at a special meeting, except as provided in subdivision second of this section, other than such as may be specified in the call of the Secretary. Second-"Examinations of applicants for teachers' certificates shall be held only at the annual meeting of the Board. Certificates upon credentials may be granted, and certificates may be renewed, at any meeting of the Board. Section 1773 was adopted as it reads: SECTION 1773. "All examinations shall be in writing, in answer to questions formulated by the Board of Education. The said Board may also examine all applicants, orally, touching the questions asked and such other matters in connection therewith as shall have a tendency to demonstrate the fitness of the applicant to assume the duties of teacher. All examinations shall be public." A motion to adopt Section 1874 Second as read by the Secretary was made and carried. The matter not being thoroly understood by the convention, a motion to reconsider the vote whereby Section 1874 Second, as read, was adopted, was made. The motion carried and the section was made the first order for the afternoon session. The convention adjourned until 1.30 o'clock P. M. The Biennial Convention convened at 1:30 P. M., Superintendent Samuel T. Black presiding. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the following persons were made honorary members of the convention: E. W. Davis of Sonoma County; A. B, Coffey of Sutter County; Harr Wagner of San Diego County; W. W. Seaman, ex-Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Fred M. Campbell, ex-Superintendent of Public Instruction. City Superintendent Cubberly moved, and the same was carried, that the convention adjourn at 3:30 o'clock P. M. to the High School building at Ninth and M Streets to listen to a talk on the subject of drawing by Miss Godden. Superintendent Nielsen moved that a committee of five be appointed by the chair to express the opinion of the convention relative to the proper use of the State text-books in the public schools of the State of California. The motion was carried and the chair appointed as such committee Superintendents Nielsen, Erlewine, Linscott, Bailey and McClymonds. The chairman read a communication from the Superintendent of State Printing, A. J. Johnston, to the convention, to visit the State Printing Office and personally inspect the process of manufacturing the State textbooks. The convention accepted the invitation and named the hour of 8 o'clock A. M., April 27, 1898, as the time to make the visit, The matter of the report of seven on the certificating of teachers was referred to the same committee that made the report on August 6, 1897, with instructions to report to the convention on the morning of April 27 1898. The matter at the bottom of page 23, Biennial Report, 1896, relating to special certificates was referred to the Committee on Special Certificates, The third sub-division of Section 1858 of the School Law of California was called to the attention of the convention by Superintendent Smith of Placer County. After an extended discussion of the same, this portion of the section, upon motion of Superintendent Russell, was referred to a committee of five. The chair appointed as such committee Superintendents Smith of Placer County, Russell, Messer, Hyatt and Smith of Siskiyou County. In accordance with the recommendation of the committee appointed to consider the advisability of drafting a compulsory educational law, the chair appointed as such committee to draft such a statute for submission to the Superintendent of Public Instruction the following persons: Superintendents McClymonds, Chipman, Foshay, Jb Wood, Jr., and Miss Ames. The hour of 3:30 o'clock a. M. being at hand, the convention adjourned to 10 o'clock A. M., April 27, 1898. KATE AMES, Secretary. W. P. STONE, Assistant Secretary. On motion, the minutes of the previous session were not read. The chairman called for the reports of committees and the following reports were made: The Committee upon the Caminetti Amendment, thru its chairman, Superintendent Wood, submitted the following report which was adopted: Your committee to whom was referred the question of amending the constitution relative to using State school moneys for High School purposes, as proposed by the last egislature, begs to report as follows: In view of the fact that the large majority of pupils in the primary and grammar grades never reach the work proposed in the amendment, we therefore think it unwise to make such change. JOB WOOD, JR. J. W. GRAHAM. The Committee upon the matter of the National Monument to the Martyrs of the Maine and the building of a battle ship by the children of the United States to be known as "The American Boy," thru its chairman, Superintendent Sackett, submitted the following report which was adopted by a rising vote: SACRAMENTO, CAL., APRIL 27, 1898. To the Convention of County and City Superintendente: Your Committee to whom was referred the matter of a National Mon. ument to the Martyrs of the Maine, also the matter of building by the children of the United States a battle ship to be known as "The American Boy," beg leave to report as follows: First. That we are in hearty sympathy with both propositions, believing each worthy of consideration at the hands of the convention. Second. That the matter of a National Monument to the Martyrs of the Maine be referred to our Honorable Superintendent of Public Instruction, recommending that he communicate with the National Committee having the subject in charge, securing the Union Blanks for signature by the children and distribute the same thru the Superintendents of the Cities and Counties of the State with such instructions as he may deem best. Third. That the City and County Superintendents of the Stete bring the matter of "The American Boy" fund before the teachers of their respective counties and cities, securing as far as possible their co-operation in carrying out the desire of the National Committee having the matter in charge. GEO. L. SACKETT, Upon motion of Superintendent Foshay, the report was amended so that such schools of California as desired to exhibit at this exposition could do so. The report as amended was then adopted. The committee upon the matter of providing for the payment of teachers' salaries in cases where the salary fund has been exhausted, thru its chairman, Superintendent Foshay, submitted the following report which was adopted: To the Convention of Superintendents-Greeting: Your committee to whom was referred the matter of providing for the payment of teachers' salaries in cases where the salary fund has been exhausted, beg leave to report as follows: We recognize the hardship and the injustice that frequently arise under the present system when, because of an exhausted fund, teachers are compelled through necessity to discount salary orders at a personal loss to themselves. We therefore recommend that a committee of five be appointed, whose duty it will be to prepare amendnments to or addition to the present school law, providing for a remedy for the evil complained of, and to submit the same to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for his approval, and for subsequent legislative action. Respectfully submitted, In accordance with the recommendation of the resolution, the chairman appointed as a committee to carry out its provisions, Superintendents Fur'ong, Chipman, McClymonds, Garlick and Sanborn. The committee upon the question of providing means by which City Boards of Education and Boards of School Trustees can transport pupils residing in one portion of a city or district to another portion of the city or district for purposes of economy or better school facilities, thru its chairman, Superintendent Cubberly, submitted the following report which was adopted. The same committee was given charge of the investigations recommended, and requested to submit the results of the same to the Superintendent of Public Instruction in accordance with the terms of the committee's report. The committee to whom was referred the question of an amentment to the aws that would provide means by which City Boards of Education and Boards of School Trustees may expend money to provide transporta tion for pupils residing in another part of the school district or city, beg leave to report as follows: We would ask that the committee be given further time in which to investigate the transportation laws of other states, or that a new committee be appointed to irame a careful measure which shall not only permit transportation of pupils from one part of a school district to another part of the same district, but will also permit of the consolidation of a number of small schools into one large one, as is done so successfully in a number of the Eastern States, the report of the committee to be submitted to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for his approval before submitting the plan to the Legislature. ELWOOD P. CUBBERLY, J. W. LINSCOTT, J. W. GRAHAM. Committee. Superintendent Cox, upon a question of privilege, presented the following resolution which was adopoted: Resolved, That this convention of Superintendents affirms its belief in the honesty of Superintendent Linscott of Santa Cruz in the position_he takes concerning educational matters of importance to the schools of California and recognizes bim to be a fearless exponent of his convictions. The committee appointed to express the opinion of this convention relative to the proper use of the state text-books in the public schools of the State of California, thru its chairman, Superintendent Nielsen, asked further time in which to make its report. The request was granted with instructions to report at 1:30 o'clook P. M., April 27, 1898. The committees on the Report of the Committee of Seven on the Certification of Teachers and Special Certificates, bottom of page 23, Seventeenth Biennial Report, were granted further time. The committee to whom was referred Section 1858, Third, thru its chairman, Superintent Smith of Placer County, submitted the following report: In the matter of school districts having less than ten census children, your committee beg leave to report as follows: We believe such districts should be declared lapsed, and that this can beat be accomplished by amending Section 1543, subdivision 2, page 9, as follows: After the word "year," third line, insert the following words: "Or if the census roll of a district shows less than ten census children making the subdivision read as follows:" 2. If in any school district there has been an average daily attendance of only five, or a number of pupils less than five, during the whole school year, or if the census roll of a district shall show less than ten census children the Superintendent shall at once suspend the district, and report the fact to the Board of Supervisors at their next meeting. The Board of Supervisors, upon receiving such report from the Superintendent, shall declare the district lapsed, and shall attach the territory thereof to one or more of the adjoining school districts in such manner as may be by them deemed most convenient for the residents of said lapsed district. P. W. SMITH, F. P. RUSSELL, EDW. HYATT. Upon motion the report was laid upon the table. The committee to draft a compulsory educational law for submission to the Superintendent of Public Instruction was granted further time. Superintendent Foshay presented the following resolution; upon motion the same was adopted: WHEREAS, There are some cities in the State whose municipal chartere prescribe methode of electing Boards of Education in such a manner that the terms of office of all the members expire at the same time, and realiz⚫ ing that it would be to the interest of the schools of such cities that the terms of office of the members of the Board should expire at different times, to the end that it would be impossible for any Borrd of Education at any time to be entirely constituted of new members, therefore be it Resolved, That a committee of five, consisting of three City Superin" tendents and two County Superintendents be appointed to draft, if possible, amendments or additions to the present school law to remedy this evil. When such law shall have been approved by the State Superinten dent, this convention does hereby instruct him to urge legislative enactment of the same. Superintendent Hyatt offered the following: In accordance with a suggestion contained in the State Superinten. dent's opening remarks, concerning the advisability of introducing the Arbor Day idea into the schools of the State, I move you that the matter be referred to the Superintendent of Public Instruction with instructions to bring it into the amendments proposed to the Legislature. The same was adopted by the convention. Superintendent Smith of Placer County offered the following amend. ment to Section 1858, Third, and the same was adopted by the convention: Districts having less than ten census children shall receive no apportionment other than that provided for in subdivision four of this section, The convention then adjourned until 1:30 o'clock P. M. AFTERNOON SESSION. The Biennial Convention of County and City Superintendents of the State of California was called to order by the President, Samuel T. Black. [A resolution on the death of Clara March omitted here will appear in next issue.] Superintendent Garlick called attention to the proper lighting of school rooms as mentioned on pags 91 of the seventeenth Biennial Report. A motion was made and carried that the matter be referred to the State Superintendent to see if proper legislation can not be had on the subject. Superintendent Brown thought that the present compulsory law should be repealed, and made a motion embodying such a recommendation. The motion was adopted by the convention. Superintendent Howard considered that a change in the law regarding the payment of the expense of printing the description of district boundaries should be made. A motion that a recommendation be made so that these expenses be paid out of the county general fund, instead of the county school fund, prevailed. The committee appointed to express the opinion of this convention relative to the proper use of the State Text-Books in the public schools of the State of California, thru its chairman Superintendent Nielsen submitted the following report: We, your committee appointed to draft a resolution expressive of the opinion of the County and City Superintednents of the State of California relative to the usefulness of our present series of State School books, beg to report as follows: 1. That we believe in a uniform series of school text books for the entire State 2. That the present system of providing text books for use in the public schools of California is not satisfactory, in that it has failed from a point of usefulness to furnish the best text books in the various subjects for the schools of the State. 3. We do not wish to dictate as to the method of providing for the mechanical work required in producing our school text books, but as educators we deem it our duty in behalf of the children of the State to demand that provision shall be made by which the best books possible shall be procured at a reasonable expense. 4. We believe that the inefficiency of the present series of State school text books is due to the system of compilation. 5. We therefore respectfully ask the Legislature in behalf of the 300,000 children of the State, to make such changes in our present law, either by submitting an amendment to the Constitution or by legislative enactment as shall compel the State Board of Education to purchase in the open market the copyright of satisfactory school text books. 6. In the absence of legislation as set forth above we recommend that Section 1874 be amended so as to read as follows: SECTION 1874. Second. No change of text books must be made at any other time than in the months of April, May or June of the year in which the change is made, but no changes shall be made to take effect until the beginning of the school term commencing after the 30th day of June of that year, and no books other than those published by the State shall be apopted by the Board of Education of any county, city, or city and county as text books in any of the public schools of this State in the subjects of reading, arithmetic, English grammar, orthography, geography, United States History, physiology and civil government, provided that supplementary books in these subjects may be recommended by said Board of Education to supply existing deficiencies in the series of State text books and providing further that said supplementary books be furnished to the pupils of the various school districts of the State free of charge. Respectfully submitted, Signed: Carl H. Nielsen, Walter J. Bailey, J. W. McClymonds, J. W. Linscott. Superintendent Erlewine moved to amend the first subdivision of the committee's report so that it would read as follows: (1) That we believe in a uniform series of school text-books for the entire State to be published by the State. The amendment was duly seconded. After discussion,a roll call was demanded, and the convention voted as follows upon the adoption of the amendment: Ayes:-J. P. Garlick, Mrs. Harriet A.Grover, George F. Mack, G. H. Stout, Mrs. H. L, Wilson, David Leishman. T. E. McCarty, J. B. Brown, Alfred Harrell, J. W. Graham, Mrs. E. K. Harrington, Dr. W. A. Finley, George H. Rhodes, Anna L. Williams, P. W. Smith, B. F. Howard, John Garner. N. Messer, G. Thurmond, F. H. Turner, C. S. Smith. A. P. Sanborn, O. E. Grayes, Lizzie H. Fox. J. S. McPhaill, O. W. Erlewine, P. M. Condit. Noes:-E. F. Flovd, S. W. Austin, Robert Furlong, Julia L. Jones, O. W. Grove, Job Wood Jr., Kate Ames, J. P, Greeley, Edward Hyatt, W. J. Bailey, L. J. Chipman, John W. Linscott, Mrs. M. E. Dittmar, Carl H. Nielsen, J. A. Wagener, George L. Sackett, H. B. Pendegast, D. J. Sullivan, J. A. Foshay, J. W. McClymonds, E. P. Cubberly, F. P. Russell, Jas. A. Barr, F. E. Perham, J. A. Guttery, E, M. Cox, M. M. Dailey. Absent:-A. M. Phalin, Thomas J. Kirk, Wm. M. Finch, Otis M. Doyle, Spurgeon V. Riley, Cornelia Richards, W. J. Rogers, Kate L. Donneley, Maggie M. Mogeau, R. H. Webster, George Goodell, Etta M. Tilton, C. G. Kline, G. P. Morgan, James A, Scott. Ayes:-27; Noes:-27; Absent: -15; Total:-69. Superintendent McClymonds moved that the convention consider the report of the committee by subdivisions. The motion was lost. The report of the committee was again read by chairman, Superintendent Nielsen, Superintendent Erlewine moved to amend the same by stricking out section two of the committee's report. The amendment was lost. The report of the committee was then adopted. Superintendent Furlong presented the following resolution, which was adopted : Resolved:-That. it is the sense of this convention that at least one day of the next Biennial Convention be devoted to a discussion of matters pretaining to supervision and that the Superintendent of Public Instruction be requested to appoint a committee consisting of two county Superintendents and two city superintendents to act with him in preparing a program for said convention. The following resolution, presented by Superintendent Sackett was adopted by the convention." Resolved:-That, the Superintendent of Public Instruction be requested to call the next biennial convention of County and City Superintendents to meet in the city of Los Angeles. Upon motion of Superintendent Harrell, the convention voted that a committee of three be appointed to assist the State Superintendent in presenting to the Legislature the legislation recommended by it. Superin. tendent Rhodes presented the following amendment to Sections 1549 and the same was adopted by the convention: To strike out all that part of the section after the word "deputy," where first mentioned, and insert the following: "And in counties, employing over one hundred teachers, in primary and grammar schools; said deputy to receive a salary to be fixed by the Supervisors, payable out of the same fund, and at the same time, that the salary of the Superintendent of Schools is paid." Superintentendent Sackett made the suggestion that each Superintendent make a special point of presenting the recommendations of this convention to the representatives of their different sections in the coming legislature and urge favorable action thereon. A motion to adjourn until 9 A. M. April 28, 1898, was lost. The matter of the certification of teachers was referred to the Superintendent of Public Instruction with instructions to consider it from the point where it was presented by the Biennial Convention of 1896, and formulate a bill therefrom for the coming legislature. Superintendeut J. A. Foshay presented a petition in relation to the granting of kindergarten certificates. It was referred to Superintendent of Public Instruction, S. T. Black. No further business appearing before the convention, it adjourned at 4 o'clock P. M. [KATE AMES, Secretary] M. P. STONE, Assistant Secretary. |