DEPARTMENT OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

MR. EDITOR:-The friends of "the great cause of Education" in this vicinity have read with much satisfaction in your last month's issue, that you have concluded "to go on." We had been fearing, that instead of this cheering intelligence, we should see the obituary of the Wisconsin Journal of Education heralded in our public prints, or read its epitaph on the last page of the June number. We rejoice that it has passed the crisis-that the Journal still survives. Long may it live to battle against ignorance, to dissemminate truth and elevate the standard of education in the State.

It will require time, and no small effort, not only by the editor but by all the friends of the cause, to enable it to survive the shock received by the withdrawal of the State patronage. I cannot believe, however, that it will fail of support, if its claims are fairly presented to the teachers and patrons of Education in all the counties of the State. The newly added "Department of Primary Instruction," at home and at school, and the "Youths' Department" to render the Journal a welcome visitor in the family circle, must secure for it a liberal patronage, if its merits can be made known. The future success of the Journal is not so much a “question of time" as of effort. If County Superintendents, earnest teachers, and district officers who are alive to their duties will make proper efforts, its success is certain.

As I purpose to practice what I recommend, I here with send you twentyone names, with a small "material-aid" accompaniment, and a few commonplace thoughts on the subject of

SCHOOL VISITATION.

It may be asked, who should visit schools? I answer School Superintendents, Practical Teachers, Members of School Boards, Parents of pupils, and all true friends of the cause. That Superintendents should visit schools is universally acknowledged and expected, hence they are named first in the list; but I shall leave the discussion of their duties, in this regard, and that of Teachers also, for a future number, and invite the reader's attention to the importance of School Boards, parents and other well wishers to the cause, taking an interest in this part of the work of educating our children and youth.

Few who have never taught can properly appreciate an efficient Board of officers in a school district. A Board who will see that the house, with all that pertains to it, is in a working condition,-that the Teacher is sustained in maintaining order and wholesome regulations,-who will advise and consult with teachers in respect to the condition of the school, the progress of the pupils, the methods and means employed to render the school efficient, will be to any community of incalculable value. If each member of the Board would

act as men in other like capacities would act, call in and listen to an exercise at one time, stop and give some direction or advice at another, and again, as occasion offered, speak a word of encouragement to the teacher, a word of praise and good cheer to pupils, it would be like oil to the machinery, the creaking and complaining would cease, and all would run smoothly and easily. The man who has a company of workmen erecting a building, harvesting a field of grain, digging a ditch, building a fence, working on the highway, or engaged in any like employment will seldom fail to witness their progress once a day at least. And why so often? He replies wisely, it is my business and for my interest to do this. And should not the Clerk or other member of the School Board feel that it is his business to see that his children and his neighbor's children are well educated, and fitted for the responsibilities of life? Is the building of a fence, the digging of a ditch, or the work done on the public road of more consequence than the intellectual culture of youth? Where this oversight is not exercised by one, we often find the school premises in a dilapidated state; fences down, gates off the hinges, (if perchance fence and gate exist,) panels out of the doors, glass out of the sash, benches loose, holes in the floor, or some similar inconvenience. Things may not always be in as bad a condition as is here represented; yet many needful articles may be wanting or out of repair. Curtains may be wanting at the windows, and thus children are compelled to sit in the burning sun or change seats frequently; or black-board may be out of order, chalk used up, drinking cup leaky or lost, fire poker broken, key lost, house left open, books injured, dictionary stolen and so on to the end of the chapter. The school officer's visit need not necessarily be protracted or formal-far better if it appear accidental only that it is cordial and shows a manifest interest and a vigilant oversight of the school. Permit me, gentlemen, members of School Boards, to invite you earnestly and urge you to visit your school often. Enter the school-room just as you do your shop; go as though you felt at home; call at any or all hours, during the session, before school opens, after it has closed or at the intermission, and the good effects of your labors will soon be apparent. My own observation has convinced me that a marked distinction exists in the prosperity of schools favored with efficient district officers, and those in which the Board is delinquent in its duties.

So far as encouraging the teacher and creating an interest in school is concerned, the presence of parents and other true friends of education will have precisely the same effect as that of the District Board. If fathers and mothers could but be sensible of the good that would result to their children from such a use of a few leisure hours, pleasantly spent in the school-room, I am sure they would speedily make the trial. Some men say: this visiting is calculated to embarrass the teacher and divert the attention of pupils. This will be the case only when the parents' visits are "few and far between;" but if frequent, they will on the contrary, like April showers, freshen and invigorate.

In some districts parents are in the practice of paying the school a visit

on special occasions, to witness rhetorical exercises or something of the character of an exhibition. This is well in its place, but is far less beneficial to the school than it is for the parent or friend to be present to witness the daily work of teacher and pupils. We must see people in their every day suit, not in their Sunday attire, if we would judge correctly of their ability to work efficiently.

The practice of frequenting the school-room to enjoy a social time with individuals, is decidedly objectionable. Those who go to visit the school, should go to witness the exercises of the school as a school. Neither teacher nor pupils can engage in social chat, to any extent, without injury to the quiet and progress of the school. To avoid this, seats should be appropriated to visitors, if the arrangement and size of the house will admit. Where this cannot be done, a skillful teacher will devise means to remedy the difficulty.'

HOPEFUL.

DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

TO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

The postponement of the State Teachers' Association renders necessary the postponement of the Annual Convention of County Superintendents.

Since part of the business of that Convention is to arrange for Fall Institutes, it will be necessary to adopt another plan. I therefore request all Superintendents who desire to hold Institutes this fall, to communicate to me the time and place of such Institutes, and I would suggest, that several counties unite and hold longer Institutes than they have been in the habit of holding. The agent of the Normal Regents, Col. J. G. McMynn, will attend as many of the larger Institutes as possible, and will remain at many of them throughout the session. As soon as answers are received definite arrangements will be made.

Institute work should commence as early as the 15th of August, and may be continued till Christmas Holidays, if desired. I trust that Superintendents of adjoining counties will correspond with each other at once, and let us have several good Institutes of three or four weeks' continuance each. The Institutes should be held at points of easy access and possessing facilities for cheap board.

TO DISTRICT CLERKS.

The blanks for your Annual Reports will be sent in July to the Town Clerks of your respective towns. Clerks of Joint Districts will apply for one large blank and as many smaller blanks as there are towns represented in the district. Full directions will be found upon the blanks. If for any reason the town clerk can not supply you with all needed blanks, you will be supplied

upon application to this office. I trust no pains will be spared to make the reports as accurate as possible. A little care at the outset will save a long correspondence and will secure a proper distribution of the funds. Clerks will bear in mind that the law requires that their reports be verified by an affidavit.

TO TOWN CLERKS.

Blanks for distribution will be sent you during the month of July. You will also receive two blanks for your own report to the County Superintendent. One you will fill and send to the County Superintendent of your county; the other you will please fill and file your in your office.

TO THE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL OFFICERS OF WISCONSIN.

By reference to a notice on another page, you will see that a good opportunity is offered you of attending the meetings of the National Teachers' Association at Ogdensburg, and also of the American Institute of Instruction at Portland. The tickets are good from July 15th, to September 1st. This will afford ample time for visiting friends upon the route, and it will also give needed recreation at reasonable expense.

Parties of six or eight or more, suiting their own convenience as to time and route from Ogdensburg, can visit the pleasantest part of New England, without the crowd or hurry attendant upon most excursions of this kind. The steamers upon the lakes are generally commodious and the trip is made in good time. It is necessary that tickets be purchased at Chicago. If more convenient for any, names and money may be sent me and I will secure the necessary tickets, though none need any assurance that Mr. Wells will attend to the matter promptly. I may furnish parties desiring to go, with directions as to matters of interest upon the route, and with letters of introduction that may be of service to them while in Portland.

I trust all who can do so, will improve this opportunity, rarely offered, of attending two meetings of great interest and value to all educational men. Any assistance I can render shall be most cheerfully given.

J. L. PICKARD, ; Supt. Public Instruction.

FRANCE has now upwards of 82,000 primary schools, instructing four and three-fourths millions of children,-nearly one million more than in 1848; but 600,000 are still without instruction, for whom the government is endeavoring to make provision. There are 62.762 pupils in the colleges and lyceums.

IN ITALY since the introduction of more liberal principles of government, education is rapidly advancing.

IN RUSSIA the same true, more than 8000 school houses having been built since the emancipation of the crown serfs.

EDITORIAL MISCELLANY.

NATIONAL TEACHERS'

ASSOCIATION.

ARRANGEMENT FOR TEACHERS' EXCURSION.

The Annual Meeting of the National Teachers' Association will be held at Ogdensburg, N. Y., commencing on the 10th of August, at ten o'clock a. M., and continuing three days. The exercises will consist of lectures and papers by prominent educators, and the discussion of various educational topics.

Most of the hotels at Ogdensburg will furnish accommodations to members at a reduced charge of $1.50 a day.

Arrangements have been made for Excursion Tickets from Chicago, as follows: By steamers through Lake Michigan, Straits of Mackinaw, and Lake Huron, to Port Sarnia; thence by Grand Trunk to Ogdensburg and Montreal; thence by Vermont Central to Boston. Those who prefer to go from Montreal to Boston by way of Portland, can do so without extra charge, provided notice of this desire is given when the tickets are purchased. This route is by Grand Trunk from Montreal to Portland, thence by steamer to Boston. Teachers choosing this route will also return by way of Portland.

Tickets to Teachers and School Officers, for the round trip from Chicago to Ogdensburg or Boston, or to any point between Ogdensburg and Boston, and back to Chicago, including berth and meals on the Lake Steamers, $25.00. Fare from Milwaukee and Green Bay, same as from Chicago. Fare from Detroit and back, $20.00.

Tickets will be furnished at these reduced rates to those only who present certificates from the office of the Chicago Board of Education, 76 La Salle street, opposite the court-house, that they are teachers or school officers.

Tickets for the round trip, not transferable, to be obtained at the office of the Grand Trunk and Vermont Central Railways, 48 Clark street, near the Sherman House, Chicago; with the privilege of lying over, either way, at Ogdensburg, Montreal, Rouse's Point, White River Junction, Concord, Nashua. Those going by way of Portland, will have the privilege of lying over, either way, at Portland. Tickets good from July 15th to September 1st.

Teachers and school officers in the Western States, who take this line at any other point than Chicago, can procure tickets by sending the amount of the fare to the undersigned. W. H. WELLS,

THE MEETINGS AT OGDENSBURG AND PORTLAND.-Reference to the Circular above from Mr. Wells, and to the suggestions from Mr. Pickard, in his Department, will be quite sufficient to induce all who can afford it to take the delightful trip proposed. Harrisburg wished the National Teachers' Association to assemble there, but the requisite railroad favors could not be obtained, and on the whole Ogdensburg is the place.