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-Examinations for county superintendents' certificates will be held July 1st, 2nd and 3rd at Eau Claire, Ashland and Appleton.

-Chippewa county summer school is held at Chippewa Falls, July 6th to August 20th, by J. Leidenberg, R. R. Bold and E. O. Ewing.

-The summer school at Merrill, Lincoln county, began early-June 7th and is to close July 2nd. J. C. McDirvell and M. Mortensen conduct it.

-Dane county summer school at Oregon, runs from July 12th to August 13th, inclusive, under direction of Principals Franklin Gould and T. T. Blakely.

—A summer school at Waukesha from July 12th to August 6th inclusive will be conducted by Prin. H. L. Terry, S. B. Ray and Supt. J. H. Lowry.

-At Sparta, Monroe county, Principals Wm. F. Sell and C. R. Thomson, with Supt. A. A. Thomson conduct a summer school July 12th to August 13th.

-Wausau, Marathon county, is to have three summer schools this year, all beginning July 5th. They are conducted by Prin. Parlin, J. P. Briggs and C. M. Boyles.

-Waushara county will have a summer school at Wautoma, July 19th to August 13th conducted by Principals A. M. Olson, Eber Dafoe, J. W. Davis and Supt. Taylor.

-The Walworth county summer school at Elkhorn holds its fourth annual session July 12th to August 13th, under the management of Principals C. D. Kepp and C. W. Rittenburg.

-A new high school building is in process of erection at Evansville, to be completed for the opening of the next school year. Its erection became necessary on account of the increased enrollment.

-Beloit high school graduated twenty-two Three this year, of whom three are men. graduated in the ancient classical course, four in the modern classical, eight in the English, and seven in the general course.

-June 14th was quite generally observed as "flag-day" by the flying of the stars and stripes from public buildings. The date is that of the adoption of the flag. Many schools observed it with appropriate exercises.

-The Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin issued a notable semi-centennial number June 8th. It contained, among other intesting matter, a sketch of the history of that journal which

shows not only its own prosperity, but the enormous advances in newpaper work which have been made in the last half century.

-It is announced that Superintendent Albert Hardy of La Crosse, has accepted the position of institute conductor at the Platteville normal school. His thorough scholarship, long experience in educational work, and general acquaintance with the schools and educators of the state make him a strong man in his new field.

-The catalogue of the new normal school at Superior shows a total registration, exclusive of the practice schools, of 247. These are not divided into classes as usual in normal

catalogues. They are marked as high school graduates, of whom there are 59, and certificated at county examinations, of whom there are 53.

-The Waupaca normal institute at Manawa July 12th, for three weeks, is under charge of Prof. E. C. Hewett, Miss Mary E. Turner of Stevens Point normal, and Principals Hickok of Clintonville, and Stanley of Manawa. No tuition is charged, "the fee collected from all applicants for certificates making a fund sufficient to pay the instructors." The program includes algebra, geometry, physics, physical geography, psychology and drawing, in addition to third grade branches.

-The normal schools this year graduated 254 students from the full courses. Certificates were also granted from short courses to 163. The several schools are represented as follows in this statement:

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-A few settlements of teachers for the coming year have come to our knowledge. Mr. H. H. Liebenberg, who graduates this year at the university, becomes teacher of mathematics in the Madison high school. Mr. W. W. Williams, who has been pursuing graduate studies at the university assumes charge of the Viroqua high school. Mr. J. A. Borden, of the senior class at the university, takes the principalship at Marshall. Mr. A. B. O'Neill, of the senior class, assumes charge of one of the ward schools at Appleton. Miss Gertrude Spence becomes assistant at Ashland to teach Latin. Miss Avis A. McGilvra will teach

Latin and German at West De Pere; and Miss
Clara Stedman becomes assistant at Arcadia.
-Supt. Bixby, of St. Croix county, writes:
"My institute opens Monday, Aug. 2d, for
two weeks. We shall use the high school
With the one
building at New Richmond.
dollar tax I am able to provide instructors for
a good review in the academic work necessary
for a county certificate. I hire high school
principals and also pay some of the expenses
incurred in sustaining a department of general
pedagogics, and a "normal training depart-
ment," where teachers can observe and prac-
tice under the guidance of an experienced and
successful teacher. I used to conduct summer
schools, but the tuition charge made them un-
popular with certain classes of the public.
Since the dollar tax I have united the two-
school and institute, and of course no charge
is made."

other schools. The total enrollment for the April, 1895 quarter, was 177; 1896, 268; and this year there are 357 in attendance, a gain of 89 during the past twelve months, and of 180 in two years-or more than double. It will be understood that this does not include the several model schools connected with the institution."

COMMENCEMENT SUBJECTS.

believing it will interest many besides the per[We venture to publish the following note,

son to whom it is addressed.—ED.]

Dr. F. W. Stearns, Dear Sir:--Enclosed I send you the program of our graduating exercises. I would call your attention to the subjects chosen for the essays. For several years we have been working in the line suggested for final essays in a recent article of the JOURNAL,

-The last catalogue of the university shows aiming to have simple subjects and introduc

149 regularly accredited schools. Two or three have been added since the list was printed. Of these 149 sixteen are outside the state, and eleven additional institutions are academies and private schools. There thus remain 122 high schools in the state on the list. As the state list shows 139 schools with full four year courses, it is apparent that most of these are accredited. However, there are accredited several high schools not on the state list, three in Milwaukee, two in Manitowoc, one each at La Crosse, Oshkosh, Superior and Menomonie, nine in all, so that the actual number of free high schools of the state accredited is one hundred thirteen. Of the 149 institutions thirty-one are accredited to all courses, forty-nine to all except the ancient classical, thirty-eight to the general science, eighteen to the English, and seven with scattered accrediting.

-The following items regarding the normal school at Stevens Point are taken from

the Gazette of that city: "High school graduates who took the advanced course at this normal during the first year; numbered 34; second year, 55; and at the present time there is a total of 97 such graduates enrolled. These 97 come from 44 different high schools. The total enrollment in strictly normal grades, on April 1st, was 324, and the high school graduates represented 29 per cent. of the total. Classes are now doing extra elective work in college Latin, geology and chemistry beyond the requirements of any course. Of the students of the normal grade, 144, or 44 percent. of the whole number, have had actual experience in teaching in

ing as much matter of local interest as possible, especially on subjects in which we wish to arouse interest; for example the essays on noxious weeds, birds and those pertaining to the school.

Last year local topics were brought in reminiscences of an old settler, and in an essay on the Aztalan mounds, with other topics referring to school library, manual training, etc. The essays are very well received by the people who to appreciate the subjects chosen. Very sincerely yours, ALLEN B. WEST.

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Lake Mills, June 10th.

Other topics are: Familiar Pictures (about Lake Mills); A Defense (of Athletics in our School); The Curfew (for children); The Revolution of the Wheel (changes brought about by the bicycle); A Look into the Future (of our school).

THE MEETINGS AT MILWAUKEE.

A circular from the chairman of the press committee says that representatives of the committee on entertainment will be on board all incoming trains to assign boarding places, and a card of assignment with specific directions can thus be secured before the train reaches the city. Guides will then be in waiting to show strangers to their boarding places. Ample provision will be made for checking baggage.

A committee on bicycles will take charge of wheels at the Exposition Hall where the general meetings will be held, and guides for groups of cyclers will be provided every half day; they will show the wheelmen over the

city and suburbs by the most attractive routes. A program of different routes both long and short, routes for moderate speed and others. for scorchers will be prepared and distributed.

For those who board in private families, but who wish to have a place down town for a rendezvous where they may meet friends, write letters, leave hand baggage, etc., the various state headquarters will furnish accommodations.

In attending the meeting you can secure a round trip ticket from your nearest ticket office for a single fare plus two dollars. The two dollars thus paid is turned over by the R. R. Co. to the Treasurer of the Association and constitutes each buyer of a ticket a member of the Association for the year 1897-'98. The membership coupon entitles the holder to a copy of the volume of proceedings at this meeting. The proceedings for 1896 make a volume of nearly 1,000 pages and cost the Association, for printing and binding, one dollar and forty cents for each volume. The membership coupon also entitles the holder to reduced rates, and the services of the local reception committee in assigning the holder to places where board and lodging may be had at these rates. In view of the large attendance, the committee cannot undertake to assign places for entertainment at reduced rates to any others than members of the Association.

From a circular issued by Prin. J. M. Turner, of Burlington, we take the following:

I have been engaged by the Northern Pacific R'y Co., to make a tour of the park, leaving St. Paul about July 10th with the intention of rendering such assistance as I can to persons that desire to make the tour at that time. All details of the trip have been arranged with the greatest care, so that I feel warranted in personally assuring you of such conveniences as go to make up a most delightful trip.

To be assured of ample accommodation, if you desire to go, write a few days ahead of time and make definite arrangement with either Mr. C. C. Mordough, District Passenger Agent, Milwaukee, Wis., or Mr. Chas. S. Fee, General Passenger Agent, N. P. R'y., St. Paul Minn.

I am personally offering-One Hundred Dollars in gold-to the person making the tour of the park and furnishing me with the best descriptive write up of the park, in language and thought suitable for third or fourth reader pupils.

This description is to be published, for use

in the public schools, as supplementary geographical readings to be used in connection. with my series of photo productions.

THE CONVOCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY.

May 28th, 1897, about fifty of the superintendents and supervising principals of schools in various parts of the state met in convocation with members of the university faculty to discuss questions of mutual interest.

President Adams called the morning session to order in Library hall; and after a few introductory remarks on the general purpose of the meeting, announced the first subject for discussion, The System of Inspection of Accredited Schools-Are any Changes Desirable?

Professors Stearns and Hubbard spoke from the university point of view. No one member of the faculty can do all the inspecting on account of his university duties; but there is an advantage in this division of the work, for in the course of a few years the reports kept on file give the judgment of several inspectors upon the same school. The fact that the university tries to keep the expense as low as may be, makes frequent visits impossible, and consequently the inspection is less systematic and efficient than it is in California, where every school is inspected every year on every subject. The problem has changed here with the greatly increased number of accredited schools, and the system may be said to be in a transitional, experimental stage.

In the discussion that followed, several of the school men spoke of the benefits of the inspection, showing that it had an effect upon school boards in securing books and apparatus through recommendations of the inspectors, and raised the grade of instruction by helping to rid schools of incompetent teachers. whole drift of the discussion was that the schools were helped by the system and that more frequent inspections would increase its efficiency.

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As to changes and improvements, several suggestions were made. One was that the university assume the expense and exercise the right to inspect whenever it saw fit. other speaker suggested a commission to be agreed upon by high school and university authorities to have charge of inspection. Another proposition was that the various schools. should contribute to a common fund to be used for defraying the cost of the inspection. It was finally voted that the president appoint a committee to confer with the interests concerned, and report recommendations of any changes that may appear advisable. President Adams

appointed the following to constitute the committee: Supt. Hardy, La Crosse; Dr. Pratt, Milwaukee; Professors Scott and Hubbard, of the university; Principal Keeley, of Mayville.

The last part of the morning session was taken up with the consideration of the question, Ought Modifications to be Made in the Curricula of High Schools or in the Methods of Instruction?

President Adams in introducing this subject called attention to the effort in the east to bring about harmony in college entrance requirements along the general lines of the report of the Committee of Ten. On the second part of the general question he spoke of the preparation of students in English, and said the university had to give too much elementary instruction in this subject.

The discussion brought up suggestions for strengthening the teaching of English in the preparatory schools. Due emphasis being laid upon the importance of teaching pupils to use clear and correct language, not only in their formal written exercises in rhetoric and composition, but also in their recitations and their translations from other languages. The helpfulness of carefully conducted literary and debating societies in the school's was also referred to. Schools are too apt to accept as teachers of English persons who have had little or no special training. The ideal method would be the employment of special teachers with time enough to do individual work with pupils.

A test vote resulted adversely on the proposition that the university accept entrance certificates from the schools in all subjects except English.

As to needful changes in the curricula of preparatory schools it seemed to be felt that some changes would be desirable. The discussion of this part of the question culminated in the adoption of a motion offered by A. F. Rote, of Monroe, that the president appoint a committee of five to investigate the curricula of high schools and academies and to confer with the state superintendent upon the co-ordination of the curricula of Wisconsin schools with those of other states. The following were appointed to serve upon this committee: Prof. Stearns, Supts. Mayne and MacMahon, Prof. Freeman, Supt. Williams.

In the afternoon a short session was held in the main lecture room of the college of law. The time was occupied in considering the teaching of German in the preparatory schools. The survival of the so-called natural method was held responsible for deficiencies in this subject in some of the schools.

President Adams then yielded the chair to Supt. Mayne, president of the Superintendents' assiociation, and a session of that organization followed.

Shortly after 6:00 o'clock, upon invitation of President and Mrs. Adams, the members of the Convocation gathered upon the pleasant lawn overlooking the lake back of the president's house, and listened to a concert by the university musical organizations: the band, glee club, banjo club, and girls' glee club. This proved an attractive and enjoyable feature of the meeting.

From the lawn the faculty escorted its guests, the visiting superintendents and principals, to the large dining room of Ladies' Hall, where a banquet had been prepared. Among others present besides the members of the convocation were Regent B. J. Stevens and Supt. J. Q. Emery. After the tables had claimed due attention, President Adams as toast-master, introduced Supt. Williams of Fond du Lac, Principal Hooper of Milwaukee, Supt. Upham of Whitewater, and Professors Scott, Freeman, C. F. Smith and Gregory, to respond to toasts. The applause that greeted all these speakers marks them as approved after dinner orators. In point of attendance, in the interest and suggestiveness of the discussions, and in the enjoyment that its social features afforded, the convocation must be called a success. It is to be hoped that this is only the first in a series of such meetings of the school men of the state and the University faculty for conference on subjects of lively interest and importance to

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A well known Chicago lady recently left a widow has started a new educational enterprise which seems to be a movement in the right direction. It is a summer home for girls who have no other place to spend the vacation. It will not be exactly a school but the young people will be cared for, entertained and kept out of mischief, while at the same time a certain course of study will be kept up. There will be bicycle riding under competent instructors and chaperons, there will be horseback riding under the same regulations, and there will be walking, boating excursions, picnics and thousands of other amusements mingled with instruction in vocal and instrumental music, modern lauguages and other studies of a similar nature. The plan is to take the young people and keep them interested in legitimate and healthful amusements with regard to carrying on a course of study.

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For ten months out of the year, children are kept within reasonable bounds by their school work. Regular habits are inculcated, industry and application to work are enforced and life goes on with satisfaction to themselves and comparative comfort and happiness to their parents. There is something to look forward to every day and the routine of work keeps up a serenity of mind which is invaluable to health and happiness. But when vacation time comes all this is ended. There is no school, no work, no healthful play and nothing to interest or amuse the child. He is suddenly cut off from his accustomed round of duties and trouble begins. He must either be turned loose in the street to mingle with. unseemly companions, contract bad habits and grow up among thorns and nettles, or else the whole domestic economy of the household is upset in trying to entertain him.

It would seem that some system might be adopted which would provide for a certain course of study or of play which could be taken up during the vacation months and to a certain extent keep up the regular habits of the school year. Such a movement would come as a great relief to parents and it seems now to be the one thing lacking in our educational system. --Oshkosh Northwestern.

SCHOOL-YARD IMPROVEMENTS.

The subject of school yard improvements is one that has been agitated for many years, but, as yet, without much practical result. Most school yards are small, and their use must be principally as playgrounds for the children, and with such use very little can be expected from planting in them flowering shrubs or plants. It is a very fortunate case that even some shade trees succeed in living and growing. With great care shade trees may be secured, especially if the children can be kept interested in them, as they may be if properly taught and trained. But besides these the yards must be clear for the children's

use.

Still there is something to be done to beautify the place, and that without interfering with it as a playground, and that is planting climbing vines to run over the porch and on the walls, and, perhaps, to train on the fences.

For this purpose are suitable quite a number of different plants, among which are our native, hardy clematis, C. Virginiana; the European sweet clematis, C. Flammula; the Japanese species, C. paniculata; and the large-flowered hybrid forms, prominent among which are C. Jackmanni, C. Henryi, and Madame Edouard

The

Andre. Among the climbing honeysuckles are eight or ten fine, hardy varieties. trumpet flower, Bignonia or Tecoma radicans, is hardy and beautiful. The Chinese wistaria will succeed well over a broad region. Ampelopsis Veitchii, the Virginia Creeper, and the Dutchman's Pipe, Aristolochia sipho, are all admirable. With a little more attention, running roses might also be employed. It will be seen that there is sufficient variety to select from to suit almost all cases and situations, and much may be done with these vines in adorning the school buildings and grounds, and that without detracting from the latter as playgrounds. -Vicks Magazine for June.

BEAUTY IN A SCHOOLHOUSE.

Especially in public buildings, says Mrs. Whitman in the May Atlantic, is this ignorant treatment seen; for here "machine finish" has almost unlimited sway, and vulgar precedent is followed to the exclusion of many simple and excellent models which, as has been said, were the fortunate traditions of early colonial work. If one enters one of the more recent schoolhouses to-day, one finds great care and pains shown in new systems of heating and ventilation; the rooms are lighted and warmed with increasing reference to health, comfort, and general safety; but with these improvements is seldom found any recognition of the prime fact that practical convenience is perfectly served only when it is achieved beautifully. fully. It must be remembered that it is in these schoolhouses that the greater portion of the children get their first impressions of many things which consciously or unconsciously enter into life, impressions which create ideas, which control behavior. It is here that ideals are formed, here that much of what may be called home influence is felt; and here, accordingly, is it that all surroundings, as truly as all teaching, become part of the essential education. Very lately there has been a warm sentiment called forth in behalf of the improvement of these costly, sanitary, and yet cheerless and neglected schoolhouses, and many things have been done hastily to repair the lapses of a so-called "practical" period. mirable gifts have been made of photographs and bas-reliefs, and much has been said of cultivating a patriotic spirit in our schools. This shows an excellent intention, but one must go deeper, must make beauty more organic; for the danger to-day is that of laying what may be called a veneer of beauty on this commercial substructure, and then thinking comfortably and fatuously that we have put art into the public schools.

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