Page images
PDF
EPUB

PLATTEVILLE.-The Institute here, commencing August 23, was in charge of Prof. Pickard, assisted in some of the exercises by Mr. Guernsey, Principal of the Academy. The attendance was 32-much less than we should have expected in this large county-but those present had we believe a pleasant and profitable time. No names came up from this Institute for the Journal, but since the return of Supt. Purman from service at Memphis, they begin to come in, and Grant has sent us so far 19 of her 70.

PLOVER.-We have been kindly furnished with the following report:

The Teachers' Institute held at Plover, commencing August 30, and continuing two weeks, was a very interesting and profitable one. Fifty-six members were enrolled, and the attendance was good on the second week. Teachers from Wood and Waupaca counties were present.

The different modes of imparting instructions, also the manner of conducting recitations in the common school branches, were presented, and every teacher must now go forth to his labor with his own plan remodeled and improved.

Special attention was given to Reading and History as these branches have been much neglected in our schools.

The following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the members of the Institute feel themselves called upon to express their sense of the ability, faithfulness and kindness with which. Col. John G. McMynn has conducted the Institute.

Resolved, That the thanks of the Institute be tendered to Col. John G. McMynn, the Rev. E. C. Fish and B. Burr, Esq., for the lectures delivered by them during the session of the Institute.

Col. McMynn addressed the citizens of Stevens' Point by invitation of the School Board. This lecture came in due season and will, we hope, exert a good influence on the community. J. MEGRAN, Sec'y.

The attendance as will be seen was large for that sparsely settled region. Supt. Alban sent us down a few more names for the Journal, and Portage county has so far furnished 16 of her 26. Wood and Waupaca counties had already more than filled their quotas.

APPLETON.—The Institute here for Outagamie county and vicinity, numbered 50, and commenced Sept. 13, continuing two weeks. A dozen names for the Journal, sent down by Supt. Driscoll, were one of the good results, and we hope to see Outagamie fill up her 30. The session was a profitable one.

PORTAGE. Though in a locality to accommodate both Columbia and Marquette counties, we learn that the attendance upon this Institute, apart from pupils belonging to the High School, was quite small. Whole number present, 40. Two names came down for the Journal, making five for Columbia Co.

WAUKESHA. As we expected, judging from the one held last year, the Institute here, commencing October 10, and continuing two weeks was eminently successful. About 120 members in all were enrolled, and good order, good

son.

attention and good results marked the sessions. Evening lectures by the State Superintendent, Professors Alexander and Ewer, of Carroll College, R. C. Spencer, of Milwaukee Commercial College, and F. B. Williams, late of MadiWaukesha county is wide awake and progressive. Not only did the Institute indicate this, but having already given 60 names for the Journal (6 more than the quota asked for by the Executive Committee), enough were added at the Institute to bring the list up to 80. Eagerness was manifested to obtain "Hints to Teachers" and whatever else might be of service to them. We were gratified to hear from Prof. Alexander in his lecture that it is proposed to devote some attention to a Normal Class at Carroll College, but we should be much more gratified to learn that a real Normal School is to be opened in Waukesha. We have five times too many Colleges in the West and not one Normal School where ten are needed.

BURLINGTON.-Here also was an attentive and working Institute with upwards of 50 members. Racine county does not intend to lag behind any of her sisters. Lectures were delivered by the State Superintendent, Rev. Mr. Hutchings of Racine, and others. The quota for the Journal (42), already filled, was creased nearly in the same proportion as at Waukesha. Here too a satchel full of "Hints" &c., was eagerly taken, and the cry was for more. The Institute continued but one week, closing Friday, October 28, which ended the Fall Series.

KENOSHA Co.-An Institute was held in this county in the latter part of October. S. D. Gaylord of Sheboygan, took charge we believe, and we infer therefore that those present had a profitable time. We are looking for a good list of subscriptions from Supt. Graham, who, like Supt. Cheney of Walworth, was absent during the summer at Memphis.

Other Institutes have been held we presume, of which we have received no information, and it is the commendable custom we believe with many Superintendents to connect some institute or drill exercises with their Examinations.

NEW SUPERINTENDENTS.-Robt. Lees is appointed for Buffalo county, in place of A. Finkelnburg, resigned; Geo. A. Jenkins for Calumet county, in place of A. W. Hammond; Rev. A. Kidder for Eau Claire county, in place of Rev. S. A. Hall; and J. K. McGregor for Waupaca county, in place of J. Wernli. These appointees have also been elected we suppose, for 1865, the remainder of the two years term.

OBITUARY.-We are pained to announce the death in this city, last night, of Miss Mary W. Curtis, Principal of the First Grammar Department of the High School, after a sickness of between two and three weeks. For two terms this young lady has been connected with the schools of our city, giving the most unqualified satisfaction, both to the Board of Education and to those whom she has been called upon to instruct. By her amiability and her sterl

ing qualities, she has endeared herself to those with whom she has been associated, not only in the school room but in society, and we know the School Board feel it will be difficult to fill her place.-B. F. P., in Janesville Gazette, October 6.

From an appropriate set of resolutions adopted by the teachers of Janesville, and furnished to the Gazette and to the immediate relatives of the deceased, we select the following as reminding us all of our duty:

Resolved, That we will ever cherish the memory of her pure life and true character, and honor her noble and unselfish devotion to her life-work, while we strive to emulate her virtue, and take to heart the lessons taught us by her life and death.

The death of Miss Curtis is the more impressive from the fact that she is the third teacher of the Janesville Schools who has been summoned from her work during the past year, one of them from the same school building. "Be ye also ready."

IOWA.-The ninth annual meeting of the State Teachers' Association was held at Dubuque, August 23, 24 and 25. About one hundred teachers were present. The exercises were spirited and of a decidedly practical character. M. Ingalls of Muscatine, State Agent for the Association, made an interesting report of his labors. He declined a re-election. The State was divided into two districts, and Messrs. A. S. Kissell of Scott county, and J. Piper of Makaska county, were elected State Agents. This looks like work. The Association resolved to sustain "by material aid and educational contributions" the Instructor and School Journal, published by Mills & Co. Hon. O. Faville, State Superintendent, was requested to act as editor. -A training school for teachers has been in operation at Davenport, during the past year, under S. H. Kissell, Superintendent of the Schools of that city. A committee appointed to examine into its condition, speak in the highest terms of its success.-Ohio Educational Monthly.

INDIANA.-Geo. W. Hoss, editor of the Indiana School Journal, is elected State Superintendent of Instruction. We scarcely hoped for so good a result when he was first nominated. Give us "educational men for educational offices." We hope the new legislature will not forget the schools when they assemble. Indiana needs liberal legislation on the school system.-Ib.

OREGON.-The Teachers' Association of Oregon seems from the programme of the annual meeting held at Albany, August 2, 1864, to be a working body. The meeting occupied four days, and lectures and essays were read from twenty-four different persons. "The teachers were entertained gratuitously." Many of them are subscribers to that very valuable journal, the California Teacher.-Mass. Teacher.

CHICAGO. Says the Ohio Educational Monthly, speaking of the election of Mr. Pickard as successor of Mr. Wells, "The Illinois Teacher takes the matter to heart seriously. The insuperable objection to Mr. P. is the fact that he re

sided outside of Illinois, and has not been, hitherto, one of the Chicago teachers! We are assured that there is "considerable feeling" in the city respecting the importation of even so able a man as Mr. Pickard." Possibly there may have been several axes to grind on said grindstone !"

[ocr errors]

BOOK NOTICES.

THE ELEMENTARY AND COMPLETE EXAMINER; or Candidate's Assistant: prepared to aid Teachers in securing Certificates from Boards of Examiners, and pupils in preparing themselves for promotion, teachers in selecting review questions in Normal Schools, Institutes, and in all Drill and Class Exercises. By Isaac Stone, A. M., Principal Kenosha High School. Chicago: Geo. & C. W. Sherwood. 1864. 214 pp. 12mo.

The title explains the object of this book. While it is gratifying that the increasing sense of a need of higher qualifications in teachers has given birth to many books designed like this to "aid" them, we are at the same time reminded by such books that their only effectual aid is Normal Schools-schools where they can be properly trained, in both theory and practice, for their work. The volume before us seems to have been carefully and judiciously prepared by Mr. Stone, and like the similar volume published by Messrs. Sargent, Wilson and Hinkle, and advertised on our cover, will be found useful not only to all teachers and advanced pupils who are to be "examined" but to all who are called to the office of examiner.

GEMS FOR THE YOUNG. By Charles Northend, author of "Teacher and Parent" &c. Boston: Brewer & Tileston; Chicago: G. & C. W. Sherwood. 12mo., 47 pp.

In this little book Mr. Northend has brought together a truly "choice selection of proverbs, wise sayings of eminent authors and valuable maxims," which the ingenious teacher will find very useful, not only for "memoriter exercises, and for lessons in analysis," but in many other ways; while the thoughtful parent and benevolent teacher will be thankful for the means thus afforded for instilling good thoughts and wise counsels into the minds of the young.

WEBSTER'S NEW UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY.-We have received a few specimen pages of the new illustrated edition of this great work. Our high expectations of its superior merits are entirely surpassed. The revision embodies in the aggregate the results of thirty years of earnest literary toil by as many eminent scholars, both of this country and of Europe. The vocabulary comprises upwards of 114,000 words, being at least 10,000 more than any other English dictionary; and the definitions never excelled, are illustrated by over 3,000 attractive and elegant engravings. The table of synonyms occupies 72 pages, and several other valuable features are incorporated. It seems to be as complete and perfect a work as finite wisdom and skill can produce.-Ohio Educational Monthly.

Not having recivèd any specimens of the new work we borrow the above, which is doubtless just.-EDR.

ARTHUR'S HOME MAGAZINE closes it volume for 1864 with the widest circulalation it has yet attained. For 1865 it will be enlarged, and made still more worthy of the patronage it is receiving. No periodical in the country has met with a heartier welcome from the press. Its praises are heralded from every direction. To maintain the high place it has reached in public favor, the publishers and editors will spare neither expense nor labor. It is eminently the people's magaziue, and should find a place in every home. For Terms see Advertisement. To any subscriber to the Journal for $1.50, if sent to us with a stamp to forward the money.

STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

This double number was nearly all put in type before the Meeting assembled at Milton, but not put to press till its adjournment. We have time and space to say only that the session, though somewhat impromptu, and continuing not quite two days, was unusually practical and profitable, and the more so, perhaps, because thus impromptu. Everybody felt and said that "we had a good time." A new and strong impulse was given to our Educational work, and an especial prominence, as was meet, at this time, to the matter of "His. tory and Political Education in our Common Schools." The Proceedings will be given next month. The attendance was about one hundred. The Journal was not overlooked, but set forward 250 subscriptions on its course, and thereby much encouraged.

YOUTHS' DEPARTMENT.-We shall endeavor to resume the Youths' Department in our next issue, and to make up our usual variety generally.

"TEACHERS' MOTIVES."-We commend this article to the careful perusal of our readers. Although we give up considerable space to it, we do not know of anything more valuable or appropriate to lay before teachers.

VARIOUS THINGS.

All subscriptions should begin with the July number. We have printed a good many back numbers, and cannot afford to throw them away. Then we cannot say anything about the continuance of the Journal into another volume. We hope our friends will help us through with this. We have to pay a tax of five cents on every subscription received, and hope our friends will not subject us to another tax, by sending uncurrent money. It should be Wisconsin currency or Treasury notes. When subscribers change their residence, they must rembember that we do not know it, unless they tell us of it, and of course continue to send to the old post-office till otherwise ordered.

Please read the following offers, and help to carry out the programme.

« PreviousContinue »