A joint meeting of the Boards of Trustees of the California Normal Schools was held in Los Angeles April 8th. Representatives of the four boards were present and the For training in the quick comprehension of the relations of presidents of the three schools in operation. The reports of the numbers: presidents, which were read at the meeting, showed a notable increase in the attendance at each school, and that a growing interest is evident in the matter of normal instruction. Work has not begun on the building at San Diego, as the State Board of Examiners has not yet approved the plans submitted. No steps were taken in the direction of electing a president for the school. The faculty of the school at Los Angeles gave a reception to the visitors which was, of course, a very enjoyable gathering. President Randall, who spent two days in the Normal School at Los Angeles inspecting its work, reports that they are doing excellent work there. The faculty is strong and harmonious and therefore efficient. His time there was, however, too short. No one can become acquainted with the work of a Normal School without spending from one to two weeks in its class rooms. With three Normal Schools in operation with an aggregate attendance of more than twelve hundred and with pedagogical departments in our two great Universities, it would seem that the demand for trained teachers will soon be, even if it is not already, supplied. There was a time when the supply fell far short of the demand and teachers came in great numbers from the East. The conditions will soon be reversed, the supply will exceed the demand and there will be little nducement for outside teachers to come to California. When traveling over the State years ago I became convinced that many of our best and a few of our poorest teachers were mportations. This is probably true to-day. A surplus of teachers is not an unmixed evil. Fortunately, under our State school law and our State usage, this cuts no great figure in the matter of salaries. It results in leaving the surplus unemployed, compelling them to enter other vocations. If it worked out the desirable result of "the survival of the fittest" the condition would be one to be greatly desired. In many cases it will do this, but there are others where nepotism, "pull and push" will make room for inferior teachers. In such cases it will be the strongest "that must go to the wall." Their consolation may be that they are like the martyrs of old "of whom the world (the schools) was not worthy. If they are really strong they can get on better without the schools than the schools can without them. Prize Composition. CHAS. H. ALLEN The Following Composition Won the Prize Offered in April "Journal." Once there lived in the city of San Jose a little girl named Florence. Santa Claus brought her a box of paints for Christmas and her oldest sister, Mary, said she would teach her how to paint. After a few lessons and a great deal of practice Florence felt able to paint a picture all by herself for her mother's birthday present. One Saturday morning she thought it time to begin the mother's favorite flowers, arranged them loosely in a glass of clear, picture, so she went out into the garden, gathered a bouquet of her cool water and took them to her room to paint. too. She did not ask Mary to help as she wanted to surprise her Her materials were taken from the drawer and placed upon the table. She first drew the flowers, then painted them with But just as she was about to give the finishing touch, the dinner bell rang and she went down to the dining room leaving every thing just as it was. great care. After she had gone her pet kittens, Snowball and Mischief, jumped in at the window down on the drawing table and scattered the paints, palette and brushes over the table, knocked the box on the floor and rubbed the wet sponge over the picture. that her pets had given her picture the finishing touch? Now can you imagine poor Florence's surprise on finding RENA E. COYNER (10 years). Birdhaven School, Monterey County. Books That Have Won Success. Stepping Stones to Literature. By MISS SARAH L. ARNOLD and Supt. C. B. GILBERT. The Normal Course in Reading. By Miss E. J. TODD and Supt. W. B. POWELL. Six The World and its People. Geographical Readers, eight volumes. Edited by LARKIN DUN- The Normal Review System of Writing. Slanting Copies-Vertical Copies. By Profs. FARLEY The Normal Course in Spelling, By LARKIN DUNTON, LL. D., and C. G. CLARK. Primary The Normal Course in Number. By Pres, JOHN W. COOK and Miss N. CROPSEY. Elemen- A History of the United States for Schools. By W. A. MOWRY, Ph. D., and A. M. MOWRY. SILVER, BURDETT & COMPANY, Publishers of Superior Text-Books for all Grades. BOSTON, NEW YORK, CHICAGO. Cunningham, Curtiss & Welch Wholesale Dealers in School Books, Library Books, Pacific Coast Agents for Ginn & Co,, 319-325 Sansome St. San Francisco Every Man a Complete Builder A $5.00 Book for Only $1.00 How to build a house-Be your own architect This book will save you hundreds of dollars. If you are thinking of building a house you ought to buy the new book, "Palliser's American Architecture; or, Every Man a Complete Builder," prepared by Palliser, Palliser & Co., the well known architects. There is not a builder, or anyone intending to build or otherwise interested, that can afford to be without it. It is a practical work, and the best, cheapest and most popular book ever issued on Building. Nearly four hundred drawings. A $10 book in size and style, but we have determined to make it meet the popular demand, to suit the times. It contains 104 pages 11x14 inches in size, and consists of large 9x12 plate pages, giving plans. elevations, 1erspective views, descriptions, owners' names, actual cost of construction, NO GUESS WORK, and instructions How TO BUILD 70 Cottages, Villas, Double Houses, Brick Block Houses, suitable for city, suburbs, town and country, houses for the farm, and workingmen's homes for all sections of the country, and costing from $800 to $6,500; also Barns, Stables, School House, Town Hall, Churches and other public buildings, together with specifications, form of contract, and a large amount of information on the erection of buildings, selection of site, employment of Architects It is worth $5 to anyone but we will send it in paper cover by mail. postpaid, on receipt of $1; bound in cloth, $2. Address all orders to LACONIC PUBLISHING Co., 129 Liberty Street, New York RESTORES It creates a natural appetite, makes blood, produces strength, braces up the nerves, removes depression of spirits and fortifies the system against contracting diseases. Its action during convalescence from debilitating diseases is remarkable. It is not a patent medicine, but the prescription of a reputable physician. If your druggist does not keep it call at Brooks' Homœopathic Pharmacy 139 POWELL ST., San Francisco .SUMMER RESORTS... WILLIAMS & ROGERS' LATEST PUBLICATION, ENTITLED OFFICE ROUTINE AND BOOKKEEPING Brings the practices of the counting room into the school room in the most practical and fascinating way. The work which the pupil is required to do is an exaxt counterpart of that done by the professional book-keeper. The vouchers which he handles and from which his records are made, are fac similies of those used by the best business houses. These vouchers are said to be the finest that have ever been issued for school purposes, and are a distinctive feature of the publication. This work is especially adapted for use in the Commercial Department of High Schools, Normal Schools and Academies. It is in use in hundreds of schoo's thruout the country, and in every case is giving complete satisfaction. This work may be seen at or ordered from our San Francisco depositories WILLIAMS & ROGERS, Publishers Hear the sound of fife and drum! "Silvery Chimes of Patriotism" is a program consisting of Songs, set to Music, and Recitals brim full running over with Patriotism and prepared especially for Memorial Day exercises, and other patriotic occasions. For convenience they are arranged in sets of 8 copies each. Place these in the hands of the young people for preparation, and you will not only have an exercise to be proud of, but one which will be appreciated by all. Wherever the "Chimes" have gone they have met with appreciation. Especially appropriate for "Flag Day," and other patriotic occasions in the public schools. Accelerated progress is a saving of time; GILLOTT'S pens pay for themselves by the time they save. MOST DURABLE. MOST ECONOMIC. JOSEPH GILLOTT & SONS, 91 John Street, New York. |