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THE PORTRAIT

Which graces, appropriately we think, our First Number of a New Series, will be an acceptable gift we are sure, to all our subscribers, both of the present and future tense.

The Biographical notice promised in connection with the Portrait is unavoidably postponed. It will appear next month (perhaps as appropriately) in connection with notices of other Presidents of our State Association, which were to be published in the June number of Dr. Barnard's Journal of Education-which, by the way, has not yet come to hand.

INSTITUTES.

By turning to a Notice in the Department of the State Superintendent, it will be seen that a judicious plan for Institutes is on foot, under the patronage of the Normal Board. We are glad to see that the services of Col. McMynn are to be retained in this State.

P. S. Since the above was put in type, the following further notice has been handed to us:

TO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS AND TEACHERS. Arrangements have been made for holding Teachers' Institutes at the following places during the coming fall and spring:

During the fall, at Oconto, commencing August 22d; at Plover, August 30th; at Appleton and Platteville, Sept. 12th; at Portage City, Sept. 26th: at Hartford, October 10th; at Burlington, October 24th; at Milton, November 14th. During the spring, Institutes will be held at Fond du Lac, Lone Rock, Viroqua, Sparta, Durand, River Falls and Manitowoc, and the time will be stated hereafter.

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Circulars will be sent to County Superintendents and Teachers within a few days, and if the times designated are found inconvenient, they may be changed by consultation with the State Superintendent.

The Agent of the Board of Normal Regents will take charge of the Institutes, and the State Superintendent will address the Teachers and people in the respective places during the time the Institutes may be in session. County Superintendents, Teachers and friends of education, are earnestly requested to correspond with the State Superintendent and Agent of the Board of Regents, and to take such steps as will ensure the success of the Institutes in their respective sections. J. L. PICKARD, Superintendent Public Instruction.

CHRONOLOGY.-The little work on this subject by Mr. Sullivan, of Rochester, will hereafter be sent post-paid for 10 cents. Address J. H. Cooper, Burlington. The author having placed some copies in our hands, we will send a specimen for the same amount. It is commended by the State Superintendent (see March number) as a "compilation of value to every reader of History." It would also be useful to every class in History.

BOOK NOTICES.

NEW BOOKS.-The attention of our readers is called to some New Books on Gymnastics, Composition and Geometry, advertised by Messrs. Sargent, Wilson and Hinkle, on the cover. See also advertisments by Messrs. Ivison, Phinney and Blakeman, of New Test Book in Arithmetic; and by Messrs. J. B. Lippincott & Co., of a New Geography.

A MANUAL OF FREE BELL GYMNASTICS, and Dumb Bell Exercises: for the SchoolRoom and the Parlor. By James H. Smart, of the Toledo Schools. Cincinnati: Sargent, Wilson and Hinkle. 64 pp. 16 mo.

This is one of those admirable and inexpensive little books put forth by the above publishers to meet the wants of western schools. While it is not so elaborate as the works of Lewis and Watson, it is sufficient for practical purposes, and is 'so arranged that it can be used and studied as a text-book by a class. We think teachers will find it to be just what they want.

PINNEO'S GUIDE TO COMPOSITION, for Beginners. Same publishers as above. 162 pp. 12 mo.

This book is adapted to common schools and meets a crying want. Put into the hands of children who have first been trained to use pencil and pen freely in primary exercises, and to think a little, it will lead them to an ability, which most of them now never acquire at school, to express themselves on paper in a proper manner. It would greatly benefit at least half of our teachers to go through the exercises of the book. Better that not a line of Analytic Grammar were studied at school than that pupils should not, by practice, acquire the “art of speaking and writing the English language correctly."

TREATISE ON PLANE AND SOLID GEOMETRY: for Colleges, Schools and Private Students. Written for the Mathematical Course of Joseph Ray, M. D., by Eli T. Tappan, M. A., Prof. of Mathematics, Mt. Auburn Institute. Same Publishers. 276 pp., 12 mo.

This work has the merit of being a fresh, clear and comprehensive exposition of the elements of the science, with numerous examples and many interesting observations on its practical applications. It adds to the complete

ness and value of the "Ray Series" for which it is written. The print is large and clear, and the mechanical execution excellent.

LADREYT'S CLASSIC MODELS of French Conversation. Boston: Crosby & Nichols. Nos. 1 and 2.

This work, which is designed to furnish correct and unexceptionable models of the colloquial use of the French language, is highly commended, and has been introduced into Harvard University. Teachers or students of the language may obtain a specimen number by remitting 25 cents.

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THE WISCONSIN TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION,

WITH BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF ITS PRESIDENTS.

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HISTORICAL SKETCH.

The incipient measures for the organization of a State Association of Teachers in Wisconsin were taken by John G. McMynn, then Principal of Public Schools in Racine, seconded by Josiah L. Pickard, then Principal of Platteville Academy, Walter Van Ness, teacher at Fond du Lac, and others, and favored by the co-operation of Hon. A. P. Ladd, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. They met a few other earnest teachers at Madison, on the 12th, 13th, and 14th days of July, 1853, when an organization was effected under the following Constitution:

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I. This Association shall be called The Wisconsin Teachers' Associa tion, and shall have for its object the mutual improvement of its members, and the advancement of public education throughout the State.

ARTICLE II. The Association shall consist of persons engaged in teaching in this State, who shall pay one dollar annually. Honorary members may be elected at any annual meeting, who may, by the payment of the annual fee, become acting members.*

ARTICLE III. The officers of this Association shall be a President, three VicePresidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Board of five Counselors, who, with the President and Secretary, shall constitute an Executive Committee-any three of whom shall be a quorum-to be elected by ballot at each annual meeting.

ARTICLE IV. The duties of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be such as pertain to the same offices in similar associations. ARTICLE V. The Executive Committee shall arrange business, procure lecturers for the same, and through the Secretary of the Association, who shall be, ex-officio, their Secretary, conduct such correspondence as may be deemed advisable. They shall also have power to call special meetings of the Association, to fill all vacancies occurring in the offices, and shall make to the Association an annual report of their proceedings.

ARTICLE VI. The annual meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Executive Committee may designate; and any five members, who shall meet at a regular or special meeting, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

*This article was amended to its present form at the next meeting, having at first included persons not engaged in teaching.

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ARTICLE VII. This Constitution may be amended at any annual meeting of the Association, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.

To this Constitution the following names were appended as the original members: J. L. Pickard, Platteville; W. Van Ness, Fond du Lac; J. L. Enos, Madison; R. O. Kellogg, Appleton; J. G. McMynn, Racine; S. G. Stacy, Madison; J. H. Lathrop, (Chancellor of the State University,) Madison; and C. B. Goodrich, Mineral Point.

The officers elected for the year were as follows:

President,

JOHN G. McMYNN, Racine.

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C. CHILDS, Beloit.

THE SECOND MEETING, OR THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY, was held at Madison, on the 9th, 10th, and 11th days of August, 1854, under the officers elected as above mentioned. The attendance from abroad was very small; few railroad facilities existed; the State was then rapidly settling; teachers were scattered and unacquainted with each other. Nevertheless the proceedings were spirited, and it was determined to persevere. Addresses were delivered by John G. McMynn, President, "On the Condition and Modes of Improving Public Schools," E. Hodges, of Fond du Lac, on "The Mission of our Public Schools," and J. L. Pickard, of Platteville, on "The Relation of the Teacher to his Patron." Earnest discussions were held upon the subjects of the addresses and the need of an Educational Journal, Teachers' Institutes, and a State Normal School. A committee was appointed to memorialize the Legislature upon the educational wants of the State, and the co-operation of the State Superintendent, Hon. A. H. Wright, was sought.

These addresses, with the minutes of the session, were printed, and extensively circulated through the State.

THE THIRD ANNUAL MEETING, OR SECOND ANNIVERSARY, was held at Racine, commencing August 15, 1855, with an attendance of about 150, with a great increase of interest, and under the following officers elected in 1854:

President John G. McMynn, of Racine; Vice-Presidents-C. B. Goodrich, of Mineral Point; R. O. Kellogg, of Appleton; and O. M. Conover, of Madison. Secretary-D. Y. Kilgore, of Madison. Treasurer-E. Hodges, of Fond du Lac. Counselors-J. L. Pickard, of Platteville; W. Van Ness, of Fond du Lac; C. Childs, of Beloit; J. W. Sterling and S. G. Stacy, of Madison.

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The publication of a periodical entitled the "Wisconsin Educational Journal" had been maintained for some months, at Janesville, by Hon. James Sutherland, under the editorial care of George S. Dodge. The publication was now tendered to the Association, which was accepted, and a committee appointed to made the necessary arrangements. In March following was issued at Racine the first number of the publication, under the auspices of the Association, with the title of the "Wisconsin Journal of Education,” J. G. McMynn having been appointed editor. The publication in the new form has continued through eight volumes. Resolutions were adopted after discussion, urging the Legislature to establish a "Reform School for Juvenile Offenders," and to make provision for “the gradation of schools in the cities and larger villages of the State." A Reform School has since been established, substantially as recommended, and both general and special enactments have been granted, which have facilitated the grading of schools.

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Essays were read by R. O. Kellogg, Milwaukee, on "The Teacher's Profession," J. L. Pickard, Platteville, on The Proper Course of Studies to be pursued in Public Schools," and J. G. McMynn, Racine, on "The Best Means of Securing School Attendance."

Addresses were delivered by Rev. A. C. Barry, of Racine, on "The Work of the Teacher," Horace Rublee, Esq., Madison; on "The Office of the Teacher;" Wm. A. White, Esq., on "Education as Connected with the Development of the West," and George S. Dodge, Esq., Janesville, on "The Best Means of Elevating our Public Schools."

THE FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING, OR THIRD ANNIVERSARY, was held at Beloit, commencing August 20, 1856, with an attendance of about 175, and under the following officers:

President J. L. Pickard, Platteville; Vice Presidents-W. Van Ness, Fond du Lac; W. C. Dustin, Beloit; V. Butler, Kenosha; Secretary—D. Y. Kilgore; Counselors-J. G. McMynn, Racine; A. C. Spicer, Milton; A. J. Craig, Milwaukee; C. B. Goodrich, Mineral Point; M. P. Kinney, Racine.

Discussions were held upon the question of licensing teachers who habitually use tobacco, intoxicating drinks, and profane language; upon the "Improvement Needed in School Architecture;" and upon "Normal Schools." A committee was appointed to report upon the last subject at the next meeting. Addresses were delivered by the President, J. L. Pickard, upon "Trials in Teaching;" and by Prof. J. Emerson, of Beloit College, on "History-its office in the work of Education."

THE FIFTH MEETING, OR FOURTH ANNIVERSARY, was held at Waukesha, commencing August 12, 1857. The attendance was about two hundred, and the officers were as follows:

President A. C. Spicer, Milton; Vice-Presidents—M. P. Kinney, Racine; F. W. Fisk, Beloit; D. Y. Kilgore, Madison; Secretary—A. A. Griffith, Waukesha; Treasurer-J. G. McMynn, Racine; Counselors-J. L. Pickard, Platteville; F. C. Pomeroy, Milwaukee; A. C. Barry, Sylvania; A. Pickett, Oshkosh; H. W. Collins, Janesville.

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