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new work on the French Language, by Prof. Alfred Hennequin, entitled : “First French Reading Lessons, embracing the relation of English to French, and the Word-Formation in the French Language, intended to facilitate the acquirement of an extensive Vocabulary, with Grammatical and General Notes.” Prof. Hen. nequin is instructor in French and German in the University of Michigan; au. thor of "A New Treatise on the French Verbs; " A Manual of Examination Questions on the French Grammar," etc. The work will contain about 150 pages, and is intended as a substitute for readers, in both schools and colleges.

NOTES.

THANKS are returned to those who have paid their subscriptions in advance for the current year, without being asked.

THERE is no falling off on our subscription list, but an increase, although no special efforts have been made for increase. Still, there is room for more.

Bills of $1.10 will be sent, next month, to those who have not yet paid for 1879. Those who would prefer a receipt for $1.00, will take the hint and forward that amount.

Bills are sent, in this number, to those who have not paid, and whose year commenced during 1878.

A LITERARY society at Janesville, called "Round Table," has issued an attractive programme of studies of English authors. This year, its work is confined largely to Shakespeare. It meets once in two weeks at the rooms of the Young Men's Association.

We should say the State Board of Health might properly and usefully enlarge their ef. forts towards sanitary reform by means of Prof. Beck's timely paper. We hope they will direct special attention to the hygiene of the school room, and emphasize the professor's statements.

The first annual report of the Wisconsin Phonological Institute for deaf mutes, located in Milwaukee, shows an attendance of 17 pupils during the first year, 1878. In place of sign and gesture language, the pupils are taught to read and speak from the lips, that is, by observing the lips of the teacher, being also instructed as to the requisite use of the vocal organs. The experiment has been quite successful. This is only the third institution of the kind in the United States.

Our readers will have noticed, by an advertisement in our January issue, that Dr. Tour. jee, of Boston, the director of the excursion of 1878, has arranged, for teachers and others,

to make a similar trip (with many additions and improvements over last year's tour) during the coming summer of 1879. He has made arrangements to this end at the urgent solicitation of many who accompanied him last year. Not only the most interesting parts of Great Britain, but the most picturesque regions and great art centers of Continental Europe will be visited. Many special advantages have been secured. For circular of particulars, address E. Tourjee, Boston, Mass.

THE normal school at Platteville opened its winter term without a vacant seat in the

grammar or normal departments.

GEN. JAMES BINTLIFF, of Darlington, has been appointed a member of the Board of Visitors at the university, this year.

JAMES MACALISTER, Esq., of Milwaukee, succeeds Prof. S.S. Sherman on the Board of Normal Regents. His many friends will rejoice at his appointment.

PROF. JUSTUS BURNHAM, of Waupaca, has been elected principal of the second ward school of La Crosse. He entered at once upon the duties of the position.

The title of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, heretofore used to designate the head of the state department of education, has been changed by the revised statutes to simply State Superintendent.

Ex-SUPT. SEARING delivered an address on “A Winter Month in Northern Georgia,” before the convention of the State Agricultural and Horticultural Societies, at Madison, the first week in February.

PRES. DUNCAN MCGREGOR, of Platteville, Prof. Geo. W. Peckham, of Milwaukee, and Supt. James T. Lunn, of Ironton, Sauk Co., have been appointed the Board of Examiners for teachers' state certificates for the current year.

Prof. OLIVER S. WESTCOTT, of Racine, has been appointed a member of the visiting committee for the normal school at River Falls, in the place of Prof. W. J. L. Nicodemus, de. ceased.

PROF. C. W. Roby, of La Crosse, has been engaged as the superintendent of the public schools of that city for another year. His salary was increased fifty per cent., and he was required to give his undivided time to the schools.

THE school board at Waupaca have issued a pamphlet containing an excellent graded course of study for their schools. The course was arranged by the principal, Prof. C. M. Gates. The high school studies extend over four years. The good work goes on.

SUPT. SUTHERLAND, of Portage county, reports that he has already visited sixty out of eighty-four schools under his supervision; and that they are doing excellent work. He has qualified only ten more teachers than the number of the schools. His institute, last spring, showed that he had superior workers.

The village of Almond, Portage county, established, last year, a high school, and it is taught this winter by Prof. W. T. Williams, formerly superintendent of Waushara county. Nearly forty pupils are in attendance, onehalf of whom are from adjacent districts. The school is conducted sixteen weeks, and is doing an excellent work.

SUPT. ISHAM, of Walworth county, has prepared and sent to the teachers of the graded and ungraded schools full directions for preparing work for the educational exhibit at the county fair, next fall. He has appointed Wednesday, February 26th, as the examination day for the ungraded schools. His next exhib. it bids fair to exceed his last.

The National Journal of Education, of Boston, Mass., recently published the following itent in reference to the labors of Pres. E. A. Charlton: "After eight years of faithful service, he retired from the charge of the normal school at Platteville, Wis., at the close of the fall term. The school has been very successful under his quiet, but efficient management. Whatever field shall secure the services of Mr. Charlton will be fortunate. He is a man remarkably conscientious, able, and faithful."

GOVERNOR SMITH, in his annual message, made the following just observation:

“I believe that our university, normal schools, and the public schools proper, as well as the universities, colleges, academies, and cih z excellent private schools not supported

by the state, are improving from year to year, that they were never in better condition, or doing more effective work than now. I would not have their capacity for usefulness in the least decreased On the contrary, I hope to see it enlarged; but that it may be so, and our present system retain the public confidence, it is indispensable that economy and wisdom should characterize all expenditures."

The next annual meeting of the Wisconsin Teachers' Association will be held at La Crosse. A friendly rivarly existed between that city and Manitowoc. The executive committee, it seems, gave the preference to La Crosse. The Chronicle, of that place, says: “ The exact date of the meeting has not yet been fixed, but it will undoubtedly take place early in July. It would be somewhat premature at this time to outline a programme for the entertainment of the prospective guests of our city, but we have no doubt that the proper time will find our citizens prepared to extend to the teachers of Wisconsin a hospitality that shall generate a warm spot in their hearts, and cause them to indulge pleasant remembrances of the days in which they were the guests of the Gateway City of the west."

Supt. WALKER, of Manitowoc county, is sending out the following circular to his teachers:

At the teachers' meeting, at Two Rivers, the committee having the establishment of a county teachers' library in hand, reported favorably; and, on their recommendation, the undersigned committee was appointed to secure the names of those teachers who are wil. ling to embark in the enterprise, and about 40 teachers have already signified their desire to become members of the association. The membership fee has been fixed at $2.00. A meeting will be held in this city, in connection with the teachers' meeting, February 8, 1879. If you cannot be present at the meeting above mentioned, and are willing to become a member of the Literary Association, notify the undersigned or any member of the committee.

In a circular to district boards, Supt. Baker, of Pierce connty, reminds them that every district clerk is allowed, by law, to subscribe for the WISCONSIN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, published by the State Superintendent, and his assistant, and pay for it from the district treasury; and that the legal decisions are of special value to school officers, besides which it contains much instructive reading. “We wish," he says, every clerk would send his name, and the price of subscription, which is only $1, if paid in advance. Address, Whitford & Pradt, Madison, Wis."

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66

PROF. WATSON has discovered 23 of the 190 asteroids; and Dr. Peters, 30.

DR. DRAPER announces the discovery of ox. ygen in the sun. He is disputed by some scientists.

The successor of Prof. D. McGregor, as conductor of institutes, was not chosen by the normal regents, at their recent session.

TEACHERS' wages in Maine have slightly increased in the past ten years; those of gentlemen, 83.15 per month; and those of ladies, $1.04.

It is strange, but nevertheless true, that we have a more accurate map of the visible portions of the moon than of many portions of the earth's surface.

The normal department of the River Falls school has the usual attendance of pupils. The model grades are unusually full — lacking only a half dozen of full complement.

PROF. S. S. RockwOOD, of Whitewater, has been chosen the corresponding editor, in Wisconsin, for the Educational Weekly, at Chica go. His items of news are well selected.

PROF. WATSON, of Ann Arbor, and Prof. Swift, of Rochester, think they have discovered four small planets between the sun and Mercury, in place of the supposed planet, Vul. can.

GRANT county has five free high schools. Last year, Boscobel had 30 pupils; Hazel Green, 55; Lancaster, 66; Mt. Hope, 28; and Muscoda, 54. It is reported that $2,860 were expended in them for instruction.

LOCAL papers, in different parts of the state, are giving accounts of many teachers' meetings held, generally, under the supervision of county superintendents. The winter seems to be a season of unusual activity.

PROF. E. O. VAILE, who has been the chief editor of the Educational Weekly, for the last seven months, retired with the last issue of that journal in January. He has wielded a vigorous pen. Prof. Winchell continues in charge.

MRS. JEANNE C. CARR, the wife of State Supt. Carr, of California, delivers very acceptable addresses before the teachers' institutes, and other associations, in that state. She also assists her husband in the discharge of the duties of his office.

W. A. KELLERMAN, professor of natural sciences in the Oshkosh Normal School, has presented his resignation, to take effect at the close of the spring term. He visits Europe next year.

Prof. Waldo Dennis, of Ohio, is appointed his successor.

An exchange speaks of a school being held in the northern part of the state, under the charge of an experienced teacher, and being held at different houses, where the pupils reside. This is having the school, instead of the teacher, board around.

The report of the State Superintendent aims to present, in full, the present condition of the educational affairs in the state. It gives more than usual attention to the explanation of the statistics, this year. The prominent advantages and defects of our system are pointed out.

THE superintendent, of Richland county, has issued a circular, from which it appears that an educational exhibit will be made at the county fair, next fall, and that premiums will be awarded for the “best and second best” of each of a variety of things. The plan is excellent.

The appointment of Profs. J. W. Stearns and D. McGregor, as presidents of the normal schools at Whitewater and Platteville, by the committee on teachers, was confirmed by the normal regents at their semi-annual session, the first week in this month; and they were formally elected to their positions.

PROF. WENTCOTT, assumed the charge of the public schools of Racine in September, 1877, and, since that time, the attendance upon the high school has increased 60 per cent. A building to accommodate this school has been erected, at the cost of $8,500, and arrangements are in progress to put an addition to one of the old ward buildings, to give four more independent school rooms.

We have received a beautiful copy of Vick's Floral Guide, for 1879. If possible, it surpasses all previous issues. It contains a hundred pages, with the very best illustrations. A copy can be obtained by sending five cents to the publisher, at Rochester, N. Y. By supplying valuable information for the production of flowers and garden vegetables, Mr. Vick becomes a public benefactor.

With the most persistent efforts, it is found impossible to get the annual report of the State Superintendent ready to be issued the first week in February. There are so many special reports to be included among the doc. uments, and these reports come in so dilatorily, that the work cannot leave the hands of the printers before the middle of the month. We had to wait last month, right in the midst of a form, for a portion of a special report to be received from an officer. We shall have to ask others to exercise patience.

SOME papers, in the state, have noticed unfavorably the non-action of the late session of the State Teachers' Association, on the subject of text-books. This matter had been committed by the legislature to the consideration of a board, which had not then fully matured its plans, and was not then prepared to indicate what would be all the points in its report. Any action on the part of the association would have been premature, and would seem to have trespassed upon the province of the text-book board.

A LARGER attendance of teachers upon the institutes should be secured this coming year. Over nine thousand teachers were employed in our public schools last year, and only five thousand, in all, were enrolled in the institutes during that time. In some states, the percentage of attendance is much larger. The advantages of our institute instruction --everywhere acknowledged to be of a superior character, must be appreciated by every earnest teacher. The school boards should exercise a more liberal spirit, and permit the teachers, without loss of time, to attend the institutes, when held during term time. This action will prove a decided benefit to their schools.

THE outline of studies for the institutes to be held the coming year has already passed through the hands of the printers, and is being issued to the several county superintendents who have institutes this spring. A sufficient number have been published to supply all the institutes for the whole year. They can be sent at any time to the superintendents, to be distributed among the teachers who desire to prepare themselves for the institute instruction, this year. This outline embraces the third part of a course of study adopted two years ago. Prof. Graham has prepared the material on orthoepy, orthography, and theory and practice of teaching; Prof. McGregor, on arithmetic and grammar; Prof. Salisbury, on U. S. history, the constitutions, and general exercises; and Prof. Thayer, on penmanship and geography. In the appendix is published the course of study for ungraded schools, which was included in the circular for the summer and fall institutes, last year.

The regents of the state university, at their semi-annual meeting last month, created several new professorships, and elected persons to fill them, as well as the chairs made vacant by the recent death of two professors. James C. Watson, of Ann Arbor, Mich., was made professor of astronomy, and the director of the Washburn Observatory; John E. Davies, professor of physics; Edward A. Birge, professor

of zoology; A. H. Pettengill, of Ann Arbor, Mich., professor of Greek; John C. Freeman, of Chicago, professor of English literature; Allen D. Conover, a graduate of the state university, professor of civil and mechanical engineering. The positions of instructor in botany and assistant in the chemical laboratory, and of instructor in Latin, were established, but no teachers were chosen to fill them.

At the semi-annual meeting of the Board of Normal Regents, held at Madison, February 6th, there was presented the report of Messrs. Chandler, Hay, and Evans, the committee appointed, at the last annual meeting of the board, to investigate the charges of Pres. W. F. Phelps, formerly of the Whitewater school, against Professors Rockwood and Salisbury. Thereupon, the board unanimously adopted the following resolutions:

WHEREAS, The committee who were appointed to investigate the charges made by President Phelps against Professors Rockwood and Salisbury, of the Whitewater school, have made their report; now, after a thorough examination of said report, and the testimony taken by said committee,

Resolved, That the charges are not sustained, and that the said professors are fully exonerated therefrom.

Resolved, That the answers of said profes. sors to said charges, together with the written statements of the three higher classes of said school, and all other papers relating to said matter, be placed on file, subject to public inspection.

Miss Mary A. West, the efficient county superintendent of Knox Co., Ill, said recently, in an address before the State Teachers' As. sociation, at Springfield:

The next need of our country schools is a well-arranged course of study. All the arguments brought to prove the necessity for such a course in city schools are equally applicable here; indeed, they have greater force here, because the difficulties and the needs are great

Ever since taking charge of the schools of Knox county, the securing of such a course has been one of my inain objective points. And we have made such progress toward it, that I feel safe in telling you, to-day, that it is rot, as so many think, an impracticable thing; on the contrary, it is decidedly practicable and practical To secure it, requires only good common sense, determination, and patience on the part of all concerned, with perhaps & little extra grit thrown into the composition of the county superintendent. To wisely prepare such a course, and see that it is property carried out, brings up the need of a wise, intelligent, conscientious, patient county siperintendent.

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Authorized Subscription Edition, printed in Edinburg from the original stereotype plates, purchased and imported by Scribner, Armstrong & Co. For sale exclusively by Subscription. Large type, fine colored maps, steel plates. Cloth, per vol. small qnarto,

$5 00 Library,

6 00 Half Calf,

7 00 Hit Russia,“

8 00 JOHN P. HAIRE, Janesville, Wis.,

Agent in Wisconsin.

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1879. WISCONSIN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.--- VOL. IX.

TERMS, $100 — IN ADVANCE. The JOURNAL OF EDUCATION will continue to be issued by the present editors and publishers, as heretofore. Thanking our subscribers for their patronage; our contributors for their interest and their articles, and the county superintendents, end many others, for their efforts in extending the circulation of the JOURNAL, the publishers will still endeavor to make it useful to the teachers and the educational interests of the State. Remittances and Communications should be addressed to

WHITFORD & PRADT, Madison, Wis. A. H. ANDREWS & 213 Wabash Ave., Chicago.

ANDREWS

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SCHOOL FURNISHINGS. E“Dustless” Eraser, only $1.80 doz.; best made. “Dustless ” Crayons, cheaper than Chalk, and a thousand times better. The Child's Neat Slate Washer. Price, 15 cents.

GLOBES, APPARATUS, ETC. l'Andrews' Pencil-holding Noiseless Slates; Kindergarten and Drawing Slates; also, New Slate Drawing Book. Sample sent for 15 cents. Just out. * Send for Price List of Slates and introductory rates. The best made.

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