JANITORIAL WORK. Q.-May a pupil now be required to sweep the school-house, when Trustees fail to appoint a janitor " A.-The rule originally passed in Jan. 1880, owing teachers to require such work from pupils, was, on motion of the State Supt., repealed by the State Board of Education, on Dec. 27, 1888. This was done in accordance with the decision of the Attorney-General rendered Dec. 15, 1888, in which he said: "It is inconsistent with the laws of the State, for the Board to make a rule, which dispenses with one of the duties of Trustees, as provided by law, which is, to employ a janitor." At the subsequent meeting of the Legislature in 1889, I accordingly suggested the present amended law, and advocated its passage. See Sec. 1543, Sub. 13th, and Sec. 1617, Sub. 7th. EXPIRED CERTIFICATES. Q. What steps are necessary to be taken for the renewal of an expired State certificate. A.-There is no law providing for the renewal of expired certificates. Such a certificate is of no value whatever except to show that time during which it was once a legal credential. PAYING FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES OR WORK. Q. When Trustees purchase supplies for their schools, or have work done for the same, should they be allowed to pay for the same and then make out an order to themselves, without presenting at least the receipted bill of the firm or party employed? A. Certainly not. An itemized account of everything purchased or of work done for the Board should always accompany the Trustee's orders. County Supts. are specifically required to draw no requisition on Trustee's orders "unless such orders are accompanied by itemized bills showing the separate items and the price of each, in payment for which the order is drawn." See Sec. 1543, Sub. 4 of the Political Code. POSTAGE STAMPS FOR DISTRICT CLERKS. Q. When ordered by the Board of Trustees to correspond with parties on business relating to the district school, how shall the clerk obtain postage stamps? A.-I think that stamps for the necessary correspondence relating to school matters, should be purchased in the same way in which writing paper and other school supplies are bought. 1620 and 1651. [See Sections The Merced Express devotes one column every week to educational notes. The following names should be added to the list of High and G. S. C. principals, published in Feb. number. O. E. Swain, G. S. C., Antioch, C. C. Co. (Prof. Wallace was wrongly classified in February JOURNAL.) The corner-stone of the Reform School at Whittier was laid on Feb. 12th, with imposing ceremonies. Supt. Hoitt regretted that previous engagements prevented his attendence, particularly since the establishment of such a school had been warmly advocated by him in his Biennial Report. The designs for the building are very beautiful and California is evidently to have a Reform School which will be an honor to the State. El Paso de Robles school district, S. L. O. County, will vote to bond the school district on March 15th for $1,000 to furnish another room and employ a fourth teacher, so as to accommodate the pupils who desire to and cannot now gain admittance to the school. A bill has been introduced in the State Senate of New York, requiring the school authorities to provide a flag and flag-pole for each school-house in the State. The flag is to be raised daily at the opening of school and lowered after the pupils are dismissed. E. Booth, proprietor of Rose Spring Nurseries, at Roseville, Placer Co., makes the following liberal and public spirited offer : "We will make a free gift to all public schools in Placer Co., of sufficient ornamental trees and shrubs, as will plant the grounds under control of the Trustees, if the Trustees will enter into an agreement to plant them and keep them in growing condition for three years." EXPOSITION MEDAL. The following correspondence is self-explanatory. TROY, N. Y., Feb. 1, 1890. To State Superintendent Public Instruction, Sacramento, Cal.: Dear Sir:-At the Paris Exposition you were awarded a gold medal, which will be forwarded through Department of State in due time. The reporter of the jury which made the award has, by some accident, failed to receive reports, etc., which I left for him and which were most necessary for his report. I am now trying to collect a duplicate set to send to him. If you will at an early date send to me your latest report and any other desirable information, I will much appreciate the favor. Yours respectfully, C. WELLMAN PARKE, U. S. Supt. Group II, Paris Exposition, '89. 1825 5th Avenue. SACRAMENTO, Feb. 8, 1890. Hon. C. Wellman Parke, U. S. Commissioner to Paris Exposition: Dear Sir:--Your communication of 1st inst., informing me that a gold medal was awarded to my department at the Paris Exposition, and that it would be forwarded in due time, is received. In accordance with your request I herewith send you copies of the last Biennial Report, the School Law and a condensed statistical statement of the work of the California school department for the year ending June 30, 1889. The previous packet consisted of copies of our State series of text books as far as published, together with all blanks for certificates, diplomas, notices of elections, Census Marshal's reports, school registers, etc., etc., in all about forty blanks. If you desire duplicates of these things I will furnish them. We feel considerable pride in being awarded a medal, since our State is only forty years old. Very truly yours, IRA G. HOITT, Superintendent Public Instruction. INSTITUTES. Kern County Institute was held at Bakersfield, Feb. 12th to 14th. Every teacher but two was present and all seemed glad to be there. Aside from the attention shown by the teachers the people of Bakersfield evinced great personal interest in the sessions. Mr. Smith, editor of the Echo, Mr. Sherman, editor of the Kern County Californian, and the Rev. Mr. Clapham all made pleasing and profitable addresses. Rev. Dr. Stratton, Mr. T. O. Crawford, Mr. R. E. Corinn, Prof. Benson of Delano, Mr. Joseph O'Connor, Mr. C. S. Young, ex-State Supt. Schools of Nevada, and many lady teachers. also took part in the exercises. The State Supt. lectured one evening to a large and attentive audience and spoke several times in the Institute. The school Trustees of Bakersfield are looking carefully after the interests entrusted to them, and are about to call a school election to vote on the question of issuing $40,000 or $50,000 in bonds for the erection of a fine new school building. The Press is seconding the motion in earnest and there is no doubt that the majority vote will be in favor of the new house. Supt. Harrell has warmly endorsed the Arbor Day movement and in his circular sent out in company with the State circular, he says, that "Where it is necessary to purchase trees, orders for any reasonable amount may legally be drawn against the County School Funds." Supt. Harrell received and deserved many congratulations on the success of his Institute. DATES OF COUNTY INSTITUTES. Marin, March 31; Sonoma, March 31; San Mateo, April 22. IRA G. HOITT. FLAG DAY. There is a growing sentiment all over the country in favor of having the American flag float over the public school-buildings. In nearly every County Institute which I have attended during the past three years, I have made some mention of the importance of teaching the children the principles of patriotism and arousing in them a love for the flag and its meaning. Many people hold that the American flag should hang in or float over every school-room in the State, and an occasional hour be spent in singing the best patriotic songs, reciting the masterpieces of our national oratory and telling again and again the proud story of our national life, till the children are led to appreciate the value of their inheritance and its achievements, and made to feel that it is their duty to see to it that its glory remains untarnished and undiminished, to be transmitted, broadened and strengthened to the millions who are to follow them. Much enthusiasm is shown in many quarters towards procuring school flags. In the exhibit displayed by the Kern county schools at the time of the Institute was a beautiful American flag, nine by fourteen feet, bearing forty-two stars, just purchased by the school in Tehachipi district. On the 22d of February, the people of Chico raised flags over all their public schools, and the students and faculty of the Normal school there did the same for their building. The entire town of Red Bluff celebrated the 22d as a "Flag Day," the old "army boys" taking a special part and interest in the proceedings, and each one of the school buildings was presented with a beautiful flag. Sacramento comes to the front also in this matter. A few public spirited citizens a short time since, proposed to the City Board of Education to supply each school building with a handsome flag, provided the Board would furnish the flagstaffs. The proposition was accepted, and now the Sacramento schools are prepared to float the stars and stripes to the breeze on all national or public occasions. A large flag and flagstaff, donated by Capt. H. C. Pitman and W. E. Mighell, has been presented to the Berkeley Board of Education, to be placed upon the Kellogg school. Elsewhere in this issue will be found an interesting account of the flag raising in Salinas City, Jan. 23, 1889, clipped from the Salinas Index. County Superintendent of Schools, P. M. Fisher, has issued a circular to the teachers and pupils of the public schools of Alameda county, recommending that through contributions, sufficient funds be raised to purchase a national flag for each school-house in the county. ARBOR DAY. The press throughout the State has universally expressed approbation of the Arbor Day idea, and urged its fulfillment. The superintendents, too, wherever practicable, have lent impetus to the movement and in some cases have added to the office circular, one of their own, containing special suggestions. The superintendents of the following counties have notified us of their appointment of Arbor Days: Fresno, Feb. 28; Kern, March 7; Lake, March 7; Monterey, March 28; San Benito, March 7; San Bernardino, April 7; Yolo, Feb. 28. THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER. RAISED OVER THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF SALINAS, AMID GREAT ENTHUSIASM. By official order of the City Board of Education, the national flag was, on Tuesday afternoon, January 21, 1890, raised over the High school building in Salinas. A fine flagstaff had been placed on the cupola of the building, and a handsome twenty-foot flag, bearing fortytwo stars, was purchased for the ocassion. Besides the school children |