WESTWARD THE STAR OF EMPIRE TAKES ITS WAY THE WESTERN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION succeeds to the subscription lists, advertising partonage, and good will of the Golden Era, established in San Francisco in 1852. Subscription, 81.50 a year. Single copies, 15 cents. Remit by check, Postoffice order, Wells, Fargo & Co., or by stamps. ADVERTISEMENTS-Advertisements of an unobjectionable nature will be inserted at the rate of $3.00 a month per inch. MSS.-Articles on methods, trials of new theories, actual experiences, and school news, reports of teachers' meetings, etc., urgently solicited. Address all communications to THE WESTERN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, 723 Market Street, San Francisco. HARR WAGNER, Editor. THE WHITAKER & RAY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. Entered at the San Francisco Post-office as second-class matter. The Official Organ of the Department of Public Instruction of the State of California. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT has issued a model Thanksgiving proclamation. It should be read in every schoolhouse. THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION has adopted regulations on professional ethics. These rules should be posted in a conspicuous place on every teacher's desk. THE NEXT great educational event in California will be the State Association at Pacific Grove. President Faulkner and the executive committee have matters well in hand. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT during the month has increased his popularity by several things that are not likely to find place in books on statesmanship: He refused to drive horses with bob-tails; second, he assisted a farmer in driving his cows within an enclosure; third, he sent his seven-year-old boy to a public school in Washington. His attitude is purely American, even on the little things of life. ** THE TEACHERS of Chicago have won a great legal victory. A few years ago there was a great shortage in the school funds. Teachers' salaries were unpaid. A committee of teachers began to investigate the revenues of the city of Chicago. It was discovered that the small holder paid his taxes, but the rich corporations and capitalists did not pay a proportionate amount. Agitation - then the law. Result-millions have been added to the assessment roll. Miss Haley, the leader in the movement, is heralded as Chicago's heroine. * ** MR. JOHN DEWEY has coined a new sentence. It is, "Education is not a preparation for life. It is life itself." Prof. Dewey has not had the experience of a strenuous life in the fierce mart of competitive trade, or he would distinguish a slight difference between a preparation for life and life itself. Education cannot put its limitations on life. Life is broader; its horizon stretches outward beyond the education of the man and the child. Life does not conform to the laws of education, but education conforms to the laws of life. PRESTON W. SEARCH has written a book. It is called "An Ideal Book or Looking Forward." The book is dedicated to "President G. Stanley Hall, America's Greatest Educator." There are a number of people who will not read the pages that follow on account of the dedication. Had Prof. Search said "To America's Greatest Educators," and allowed his readers to guess whether Hall, Butler, Harris, Dewey, Parker, Andrews, Eliott, Russell, or anyone of a hundred names that might be mentioned, was meant, then there would have been some curiosity. It is not safe to dedicate a book to any man who is not yet dead, both professionally and physically. The book, however, is a sincere and earnest effort. This plea for the new is well put: "At the very beginning of this conference I wish to advance a fundamental proposition: we must reconstruct our educational system. Not that it has not accomplished much good in the past, but because the time has come when we should rise to something better. We have been traveling at a rapid rate in these latter days in science, invention, economics, and art. The schoolman must keep pace with the world's demands. His methods have been too passive, too profligate, and too inert. The school must be built fundamentally for the pupil. It must be more democratic and afford coequal opportunity to all children. It must accord with Nature. It must conduct its work by the active method. It must recognize heredity, environment, innate faculty and trend, and give opportunity for spontaneity, creation, choice and self-government. It must depart from uniform requirement and recognize the supreme importance of an education of differences. There must be the removal of all false incentive and the substitution of the performance of work from pure love for work and because it is right. The school must be the promoter of health - physical, intellectual, and moral. Given its constituency, it must be responsible for results. The product of the school must be the free, enkindled soul, alive to observation, trained to habits of industry, original inquiry, and artistic enjoyment-a creator in the world of action — a self-governing, independent-thinking, and wealth-controlling citizen." *** AT THE banquet recently held in Chicago by the Marquette Club in commemoration of the great fire, Booker T. Washington, one of the guests, brought the banqueters to their feet by relating an incident of an old colored woman dropping her handkerchief while crossing the street of an Alabama town. A white man picked it up and returned it to her, removing his hat as he did so. "Who are you?" demanded a man who witnessed the act. "I am the governor," was the quiet response. "That governor has just been appointed a judge of the United States by President Roosevelt,” said Mr. Washington proudly, but without referring to the fact that the selection probably had been influenced by his suggestions when the President recently asked his advice on southern appointees. ** PROF. MARCH of Lafayette College at one time went to Germany to study Anglo-Saxon. He registered at Leipsic; then interviewed the professor in charge: "What text do you use ?" asked Prof. March. "We use a book written by a countryman of yours-a Prof. March," was the reply. Explanations followed, and it was decided that the course in Anglo-Saxon, with his own book as a text, would not add to the linguistic accomplishments of the noted linguist. * * THE growth of high schools in this state is something tremendous. There is not only an increase in new schools but a large increase in the attendance in the well established schools. SUPERINTENDENT BURT JAY TICE, Massachusetts: Discipline is fundamental: not simply because order is necessary, but also because characterbuilding should be the chief object of the school, and discipline is the basis of character-building. The schools of Redding are very much overcrowded. Superintendent W. C. Doub lectured in the M. E. Church in Delano on "Course of Study," October 18th. Arthur Lewis of the Visalia High School has been arrested for assault and battery on one of the high school pupils. State Superintendent French of Idaho says there is a scarcity of teachers in her state, and is ready to encourage good teachers. Mrs. Mary W. Kincaid has proposed a plan for the construction of portable schoolhouses to relieve the overcrowded condition in certain sections. Dr. F. B. Dresslar will be the principal institute instructor at the Fresno County meeting. Superintendent Ramsay will also arrange for a trustees' meeting in connection with the institute. The dedication of the new high school building was one of the events of the mouth at Berkeley. Superintendent Kirk of Sacramento and others were in attendance. The building is an inspiring structure and it reflects great credit on Mr. Stone, the architect, the trustees, and all who have had anything to do with its construction. President Benjamin Ide Wheeler has returned from a visit to the East. He was received by President Roosevelt, and was one of the guests of honor at the Yale bi-centennial. President Lewis B. Avery of the Southern California Teachers' Association will have among the noted instructors, Livingstone C. Lord, C. C. Rounds, and E. Benjamin Andrews. The City Attorney of San Francisco has ruled that the rule which the City Board of Education has previously enforced that a teacher who marries loses her place in the department, is illegal. H. E. Longnecker, of Redding High School, has been elected to succeed A. W. Atherton in the Berkeley High School, and Miss Mabel Palmer of Palo Alto has been elected to succeed Professor Longnecker at Redding. Miss Jessie B. Harrell has been elected to a vacancy in the Bakersfield school. Miss Harrell is a graduate of the Oakland High School and of the San Jose Normal. She will undoubtedly make a record as an expert teacher. Fourteen of the county teachers met in the east side schoolhouse at Madera, October 26th, and organized a teachers' club on lines greatly differing from those which were followed last year. It will be the aim to get the parents and all those who are interested in education to join and enter the discussions which will be held from time to time. The officers elected were: J. G. Smale, president; Miss Bose, secretary; Miss Glenn Bovard, treasurer. Canal School, Merced County, opened this fall under favorable auspices. Mr. Peebles Shoaff of Springfield, Illinois, has charge of the grammar department, and Mrs. A. C. Walden has the primary department. The watchword all along the line is progress. The trustees are interested in the work of the school, also in improving the appearance of the schoolhouse and grounds. We hope to have a lawn in front, a few flowers, and shade trees scattered about the playground. We want a piano in the schoolroom, pictures on the walls, cleanliness, order, and beauty everywhere. The Santa Rosa teachers have organized the Teachers' Club. They met recently in the office of the high school and took the necessary steps and also adopted a plan of procedure. The first book to be studied will be Dewey's "School and Society." The work will be outlined by Principal E. Morris Cox, at the request of the teachers, as this plan has proved the most satisfactory one hitherto tried. The first regular meeting of the club was held in the high school office on Tuesday evening, October 22nd. It has been decided to invite all teachers of outside schools who are living in Santa Rosa or convenient to this place, to attend the meetings of the club and take part in the discussions. The Normal Club and educational organization in San Jose, which did much good work last year, has been recently reorganized for the ensuing year. The Club is made up of an alliance among the Alumni of the San Jose Normal School, the Senior class of the normal school, the county teachers of Santa Clara County, and the normal school faculty. Professor Woodruff of the University of California will deliver a series of addresses to the Club on nature study. The club will attempt this year to get at the underlying meanings of nature study as a branch of public school work. The officers for the ensuing year are: H. M. Bland of the normal school faculty, president; D. F. Bateman of the San Jose city schools, vice-president; Genevieve Nicholson of the June class of 1902, Secretary. The County Board of Education of Sacramento County recently held an adjourned meeting with the committee appointed to prepare a program for the County and City Institute. A program was agreed upon, and it was decided to have as outside lecturers, Superintendent Ed ward Hyatt of Riverside County and Mrs. Mary W. George of the San Jose Normal School. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirk will deliver an address on the first morning of the institute. The institute will be divided into sections for morning work, the sections being high school, grammar school, primary school, and kindergarten. Each section will have four questions to discuss, and teachers are being assigned leaders and to take part in the discussions. The city superintendent of schools, William A. Wilson of Santa Barbara, filed reports showing the attendance of pupils in various school departments during the past month. He also gives figures of last years' attendance, the comparison showing a healthy increase in the number of children attending schools here. The enrollment at the high school now is one hundred and ninety-two pupils. The month's attendance showed daily average present of one hundred and sixteen. The enrollment in the grades is 1009, with an average attendance of nine hundred and two. The kindergartens show one hundred and fifty names on their books and a daily attendance of one hundred and seven. This makes the total monthly enrollment of the schools 1351. The monthly increases for the last three months, over the same three months last year, are 135, 142, and 107. Placer County Institute was convened Monday, October 7th by P. W. Smith, superintendent. Only two absences were reported, eighty-three teachers responding at roll-call. Considerable attention was given to drawing work, Prof. Augsburg being present to instruct the teachers. Dr. Dresslar addressed the institute on "Nature Study," "Arithmetic," and other topics. His lectures were greatly enjoyed by those in attendance. Prof. McManis spoke on the subject of "History." Institute adjourned on Friday. Thanks. BISHOP, Inyo County, Cal., Oct. 23, 1891. Harr Wagner, Editor Western Journal of Education: DEAR SIR-I know how valuable your time must be, but I must encroach, to express my appreciation of the October number of THE WESTRRN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION. It certainly contains the best collection of educational articles I have ever read. Many thanks for the inspirations I have received from the perusal and study of this number. CLAY HAMPTON, Superintendent of Schools of Inyo County. There is a small Frye, a sweet Cuban-American lady, in the home of Alexis E. Frye at San Bernardino, Cal., and a multitude of friends wish the home great joy.-New England Journal of Education. GLENN COUNTY. The Institute of Glenn County, held at Willows, October 28, 29, and 30, was one of the most successful ever held in the county. The officers were: Superintendent F. S. Reager, president; Mr. H. J. Boke, principal of the Willows High School, and Mr. Hunter, vicepresidents; Mr. J. H. Birch and Miss Ina Jackson, secretaries. The papers and discussions by the local teachers were of a high order, and indicates that a progressive and harmonious body of teachers are in the county. The instructors from abroad were Hon. Frank J. Browne, ex-superintendent public instruction, State of Washington, and Dr. F. B. Dresslar of the University of California. The Institute closed with enthusiasm, and most of the teachers attended the Association at Chico. LAKE COUNTY INSTITUTE. The Lake County Institute met at Lower Lake, October 22, 23, and 24. The teachers were earnest and appreciative, and made it a pleasure for all who had a place on the program. The instructors were Prof. D. R. Augsburg of the Oakland city schools; Frank J. Browne, exsuperintendent public instruction, State of Washington; and Rev. H. Clay Eastman. Mr. Augsburg created great interest by his original methods in teaching drawing; Mr. Browne presented the subjects of geography and history, recommending the teaching of general history in the grades below the high school; Mr. Eastman exemplified his principles and methods in vocal expression, and his work will leave its effect upon the practical methods of teaching reading in the schools of the county. The evening lectures, which were all attended by large audiences of teachers and citizens, were: "A Trip to China," by Rev. M. Whelan; "The Stratford Schoolmaster." by Frank J. Browne; "A Chalk Talk," by Prof. D. R. Augsburg. At the close of the Institute the teachers enjoyed a bountiful banquet as the guests of the citizens of Lower Lake, and went home to their work feeling that their efforts for the schools were appreciated by the public. TEHAMA COUNTY INSTITUTE. Miss Nangle called her institute for Red Bluff, October 28, 29, 30. Her instructors were: YOLO COUNTY INSTITUTE. Mrs. S. E. Peart held the Yolo County Institute at Woodland, October 28, 29, 30. The instructors were J. W. McClymonds, A. B. Coffey, Dr. C. R. Brown, Supt. Thomas J. Kirk, and Harr Wagner. The teachers took an active part in the program. Mrs. Peart entertained the instructors and a number of teachers in her hospitable home. Every feature of the institute was a success, and it proved that Mrs. Peart was a successful and courteous manager of public meetings. Supt. C. G. Kline held his institute October 28, 29 and 30. Prof. McManis of Stanford University and Mrs. Jennie Brothers were the instructors. The teachers took an active interest in the program. Mrs. Brothers' lessons in drawing proved to be a useful feature of the program. Supt. Dunn of Butte held his institute at Oroville. It was a lively session. Miss Jennie Long and T. H. Kirk were among the instructors. Supt. Dunn delivered a well prepared annual address. After the institute the teachers attended the Northern California Teachers' Association at Chico. |