The El Dorado teachers at this Institute showed a commendable earnestness and desire for improvement. The good people of Placerville turned out in force to the evening lectures which they followed with a courtesy and an attention that were the best possible compliments they could have paid the speakers. The music, under the direction of Miss Carpenter and of Mrs. Ralston was of a high order and was itself an educative factor.

NEVADA COUNTY.

The Nevada County Teachers' Institute was held in Nevada City, May 5-9, A. J. Tiffany, County Superintendent in the chair. Professor P. A. Garin of Oakland was present two days, and gave useful instruction in his admirable system of drawing. Mrs. L. D. Syle of San Francisco spoke to the Primary Section on Geometrical Forms, Synthetic Reading and Busy Work. Mr. Syle gave about the same line of work that he did in Eldorado, with the addition of another evening lecture on his Travels in England, France and Spain. The subject of Latin in the High School excited a lively discussion and seemed to show that a strong minority in Nevada are still opposed to any High School courses. Such a minority is seldom or never convinced by argument. Their prejudice against higher education will slowly die out with that enlightenment of public opinion which has abolished belief in witchcraft and similar absurdities.

Superintendent Tiffany wisely insisted that his teachers should do their share of the work and should not leave it all to the lecturers. If we erred at all, it was from excess of zeal in this direction, for the programmes were so long that they sometimes became tiresome.

Among the most interesting topics discussed was the Reform School, by the Rev. J. Sims, Geography by Mrs. Austin and Music by J. A. Black. Under the able management of G. F. Foster, the question box afforded both instruction and amusement.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.

The teachers of this county met at Paso Robles, May 6th, to hold their annual Institute. Supt. Armstrong had arranged an interesting program which was faithfully carried out and thoroughly enjoyed by his able corps of teachers.

Mr. Nicholas Messer gave an eloquent address on "The Teacher's Profession" in which he referred to the teacher's work, his proper place in society, his influence, and his reward. Mrs. Ida M. Bloch

man addressed the Institute on "The Use of the School Library.” She advocated the right of the teacher to choose the books, and gave a list of such as she would choose as well as a list of those which should be kept out.

Mr. C. F. Bondshu read a paper on "Music in Schools" and also gave some practical exercises for the blackboard in connection with his subject.

Prof. Terrill gave an address on "Mathematics and Life" which was followed by Miss Cora Martin on "Elements of Percentage." Mr. Messer and Mr. J. B. Hankinson gave some practical exercises in rapid work and short methods.

Miss Lida Lennon gave some points in teaching music, Mrs. Blochman in developing harmony of color and form and Miss J. Frances Schultzberg in chart exercises for young pupils. Miss E. Shirley gave some interesting suggestions on reading, using the teachers as a class for the purpose of exemplifying their methods.

Mrs. Blochman addressed the Institute on "Scientific Temperance." She performed several experiments to show what could be done by any teacher in the class room to illustrate the subject.

Mr. S. N. Selby considered the "Course of Study" and pointed out some of its imperfections. Miss A. C. Spofford introduced the subject of "Composition Writing" and was followed by Miss H. H. Kelly and Miss Olive Watson on the same subject. A general discussion of this important topic closed the exercises of the Institute.

WHO, THEN, SHALL TEACH?

When thou hast finer morals than the beech,
More inward grace than elm, nor less

Of outward patience, then go forth and teach
The hurrying city of thy graciousness
Enough to salt its bread and reach

Its blood and drive it, under stress,

To higher impulse, nobler thought and speech.
When thou has learned its leisure of the grass,
Hast mastered for thyself its book of laws,
Then set the currents of thy life to pass
Through channels wrought by equal cause
To broader fields of sequence; skies of brass
Nor desert earth shall make thee pause
Ere thou, thyself, shalt treasure great amass.
Then thou shalt know that life holds all in fee,
As, worthy to itself, itself it makes;
That worth unto itself through this must be:
That to its neighbor, high or low, it breaks
Some loaf of life, and, holding thus the key
Of soul relation to all life, it takes
Its joy from self-forgetting ministry.

I. H.

I am pained to announce the death of Hon. Howard A. Moses, for more than ten years a trusted and faithful clerk in this Department. His relations with the County Superintendents of Schools during that time have been so intimate and cordial that his loss will be deeply felt by them. Mr. Moses was one of the early comers to California, having reached this coast in 1850. He was born in Ashland, Kentucky, Nov. 17, 1827, and died in Sacramento, May 2, 1890.

Mr. Moses was a true, loyal friend, and generous to a fault. As a member of the Ninth Assembly of California, and clerk in several of the State Departments, he always earned the high reputation which he possessed for integrity and ability.

Sacramento, May 5, 1890.

IRA G. HOITT,

Superintendent of Public Instruction.

MEETING OF STATE BOARD.

The regular quarterly meeting of the State Board of Education, will be held on Friday, June 13th.

The primary geography of the State Series will be presented for acceptance at that meeting.

TRAVELLING EXPENSES FOR COUNTY BOARD.

Q. Are members of the County Board of Education allowed travelling expenses?

A.—No, they are allowed $5 per day including time spent in going to and from the place of meeting.

TEACHERS' REFERENCE LIBRARY.

Q.-Should books of poetry or miscellaneous prose reading be ineluded in the teachers' library?

A.-Unhesitatingly, No! If such books are purchased with the Teachers' Library Fund, the purpose for which this fund was established, will be entirely defeated.

It was the distinct intent of this law, to have founded a teachers' professional library, which would give them access to a wider range of strictly educational literature, than they would otherwise have.

For the past few years, our American educators have been urging upon teachers the importance of making their calling take rank with the other cultured professions, and to excite an interest in and love for professional reading is one step toward that end.

this.

Q. Who should select and purchase these books?

A.-I think the County Superintendent is the proper person to do

It is as much his duty to select the books which he thinks will be most serviceable to the teachers of his county, as it is to select the subjects and arrange a program for his Institute.

MORTGAGING NEXT YEAR'S APPROPRIATION.

Q. Can the Trustees of a district keep the school open after the money is exhausted and draw warrants for teachers' salaries payable out of the next year's funds?

A.-Article XI, Sec. 18, of the Constitution says that you cannot expend during one year, for any purpose whatever, more than the appropriation for such year.

DISTRICT APPORTIONMENT.

Q. Has a district organized during the last school year a right to the same amount of money as an older District?

A.--In answer I would refer you to Sec. 1858, P. C.

COMPULSORY USE OF TEXT-BOOKS.

Q. If a district refuses to use the State series of text-books, what is to be done?

A.-Section 1875 of the Political Code, provides that in such case, twenty-five per cent. of the apportionment of the district be withheld.

AGE OF CENSUS MARSHALS.

Q.-(a) Can the School Trustees appoint a man under 21 to take the census?

(b)-If such appointment is illegal, have the Trustees power to appoint another after May 1st.

A.-(a) A census marshal must be 21 years of age.

(b)-If the Trustees have appointed a marshal who is under 21 years of age, he cannot qualify and the Trustees should fill the vacancy

at once. If they fail to do this they are liable under Sec. 1624, P. C.

A CALIFORNIA PRIZE-ESSAY.

Last February, the proprietors of the "Youth's Companion" offered as a prize, for the best essays from each State on the subject "The Influence of the American Flag when raised over the Schools of our Country," a fine bunting flag (9 x 15). The prize for California was won by George Frampton of the Artesia, Los Angeles Co. School.

The people of Artesia are justly proud of this honor and celebrated the event with appropriate exercises on Decoration Day.

This was the second flag-raising held in Artesia, one flag having been purchased and raised before the "prize" arrived, so that the youth of Artesia will not lack for these available object lessons in their patriotic studies.

NOTICE TO SUPERINTENDENTS.

A tabulated statement of the rules adopted by all county boards, in the issuance of certificates, has lately been mailed to each Superintendent.

If any errors are observed, I request that notice of the same be forwarded to this office.

Owing to the great number of calls upon my time from the widely scattered institutes which I was desirous of attending, I could not report upon those visited last month as I wished to.

Sonoma and Marin counties held their institutes during the same week and employed the same Conductors, viz.: Profs. W. S. Monroe and L. D. Syle.

Prof. Monroe's science work, as usual, created the greatest interest and enthusiasm among the teachers.

The examination in School Law, conducted by Supt. Furlong, was a unique and most commendable feature of the San Rafael meeting, and it might be advantageously followed elsewhere.

The Sonoma teachers showed great appreciation of Mrs. Superintendent Martin's arrangements and work, commending them in a hearty resolution.

They also showed their commendation of the action of the Petaluma Board of Education in presenting four flags to the schools of their city, and recommended other Trustees to "go and do likewise."

That the work presented at the institute "fell on to good ground" is shown by the following practical resolutions, which were unanimously adopted: