selves have no strength or efficient sanction only as they coincide with divine law. Every loyal citizen should desire to be among the foremost and boldest to exemplify and uphold whatever constitutes the happiness and the glory of our Nation. "The real mission of the public school is to train American citizenship, and the highest type of citizenship is that based upon virtue, pure morals and Christian integrity. AFTERNOON SESSION. The first exercise was a paper by S. D. Waterman, principal of the Stockton High School, entitled "Enthusiasm as an Element of Success." In the absence of the author the paper was read by P. M. Fisher, Superintendent of Alameda county. Next came memorial exercises in honor of the late Superintendent Wilson, of Colusa. Superintendent P. M. Fisher, of Alameda, presented the following resolutions. WHEREAS, Infinite Love has deemed it wise to take from earth our loved friend and brother and co-worker, J. N. Wilson. Be it Resolved, That, though we recognize his ripeness for immortality, we deplore the loss of the man with heart of honor and tongue of truth; a friend tender and true, unselfish and devoted; a teacher aglow with the fervent heat of enthusiasm; a public official faithful to the common good. Resolved, That in the contemplation of this life laid down in the prime of manhood's strength while in the path of duty, loyal to friend and to truth, shrinking from no toil and from no unpleasant task, we recognize and are stirred by the inspection of his radiant example, the line of our duty is clearly revealed to us, to do each his work well, leaving all results to the Infinite Wisdom and Mercy that rules the destinies of men. Resolved, That we tender to the now lonely wife, his helpmate in the home, his co-helper in the schools, our sincerest sympathy. own. Resolved, That however much we may feel this death, her loss far transcends our Appropriate remarks were made by Messrs. Hoitt, Fisher and Murphy, the latter gentleman giving a biographical sketch of the deceased, his early struggle to obtain an education, his sterling virtues and his remarkable success. The resolutions were adopted by a rising vote, and the association subsequently voted to send a copy to the family of the deceased. The committee on president's address reported as follows: Resolved, That we appreciate the sentiments expressed in the address of President More, and approve the suggestions made therein. Resolved, That we recommend that the address be published in full in the PACIFIC EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL. The report was unanimously adopted. J. B. MCCHESNEY, T. J. KENNEDY, James T. Hamilton, treasurer, of San Francisco, read his report showing that the association began Tuesday with a deficit of $20, and closed with a balance on hand of $250. Fifty dollars was voted to Miss Mary E. Morrison for her inestimable services as secretary of the association. A pleasant episode of the exercises was the presentation of a beautiful floral tribute by the teachers of Los Angeles County to the teachers of San Diego County. The president elect, James G. Kennedy of the Cogswell Polytechnic Institute, San Francisco was then installed by retiring President More who presented him with the gavel (manufactured from orange wood grown upon the grounds of the State Normal School in Los Angeles, combined with olive wood, signifying harmony between the two citrus-bearing districts of the State). After an expression of full confidence in the new presiding officer, and after a very appropriate response from that gentleman, Mr. More left the affairs of the association in his hands. The other officers-elect were duly installed. After singing "Auld Lang Syne" the association adjourned. An interesting feature of this meeting of the Association was the exhibit of the Cogswell Polytechnic Institute of San Francisco. It embraced work by the pupils in both wood and iron. There were specimens of wood carving, lathe work, dove-tailing, etc., which gave evidence that the pupils were under good training. The school also exhibited a fine lot of drawings in plan and elevation as well as in plain and isometric perspective. San Diego County also had on exhibition at the Hallenbeck hotel specimens of drawing and other school work which reflected credit on both teachers and pupils. Superintendent Hoitt read a communication from George H. Bonebrake, in which he offered a prize to the students of the grammar and high schools of this county as follows: To the pupil writing the best history of Los Angeles county, $50; second best, $30; third, $20, the award to be made at the State Association at San Diego in December next. Messrs. Babcock, Pierce, Wilson, Raymond and Drake were appointed a committee to secure the publication of the proceedings of the association whenever it can be done without expense to the association. RESOLUTIONS. The following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That it is the sense of this Association that instead of a National Bureau of Education, in charge of a Commissioner, there should be established by Congress the Department of Public Instruction, presided over by a Secretary, who shall be a member of the President's Cabinet, to the end that we may ultimately have a national system of education. Resolved, That we heartily approve the work heretofore done by the State Reading Circle, and that its objects have our cordial commendation. Resolved, That no paper shall hereafter be read before this Association except by its author. Resolved, That we hereby tender our thanks to President J. G. Kennedy for his very interesting and instructive exhibit of the manual work of the Cogswell Polytechnic College of San Francisco; regret that he did not include needlework produced in his school. Resolved, That we also express thanks for the excellent exhibit of kindergarten and other work presented by the teachers of San Diego and Pasadena. Resolved, That, while compelled to decline the invitation so kindly extended by the city of Stockton to hold the next annual meeting of the Association there, we return to her citizens our heartiest thanks for their generous proposals, which we hope may be repeated and accepted. Resolved, That our thanks are due to Hon. Ira G. Hoitt, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, for the sympathetic interest he has taken in the work of the schools, and for the fidelity, energy and efficiency with which he has labored in their interests. Resolved, That our thanks are especially due to County Superintendent W. W. Seaman, City Superintendent W. F. Friesner, Mayor Hazard, Hon. S. M. White and the people of Los Angeles for the cordial and brilliant reception given to this Association upon the first evening of its session. Resolved, That our thanks are due to the local committee for the admirable provision made for the accommodation of our meetings. Resolved, That we cordially thank the officers of the Association for their excellent program, and especially President Ira More for his thoughtful and inspiring address and courteous administration of his office; and to the Secretary, Mary E. Morrison, for the untiring devotion to the onerous duties of her position. Resolved, That in extending thanks to the press of Los Angeles we desire to emphasize our appreciation of their very full, careful and accurate reports of the work of this Convention. Resolved, That our thanks are due the railroad and steamboat lines, and to the hotels of this city, for their liberal reduction and courteous treatment. Resolved, That we appreciate the action of the counties of Los Angeles and San Diego in merging their County Institutes into this session of the State Association. Resolved, That the teachers of California owe and hereby tender their testimonials of indebtedness to the late J. R. Brierly, who was ever a friend of the public school, in the schoolroom, in the educational councils and in the halls of the Legislature. Resolved, That we hereby tender a tribute of tender memory to'Miss Kate Kennedy, for 25 years a teacher in the schools of San Francisco, and always foremost, not only as an educator, but as a defender of the rights of teachers. Resolved, That we are strongly in favor of the amendment offered by Senator Spooner of Wisconsin to the Blair Mendicancy Bill, distributing the surplus of $77,000000 according to the illiteracy of children of school age, rather than according to the general illiteracy. Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions be forwarded to our members of Congress, to be given to the proper committees, as an indication of our position in this matter. Resolved, That it is the duty of all teachers, by precept and example, to promote physical, moral and mental culture, and that we approve the action of the last Legislature in providing for instruction in the effects of alcoholics and narcotics upon the human system. Resolved, That the child should be fully instructed in the use of both hand and brain, to insure a complete success in the various pursuits, and we therefore heartily indorse the introduction of industrial work into our public schools and that we hail with pleasure the establishment of such special schools, as the Cogswell Polytechnic College and the Leland Stanford Jr., University. THE FIRST FLAG. In the March number of the JOURNAL we stated, in a brief editorial, that "as far as we knew" the credit of raising the first forty-twostar flag on a school building belonged to Pujol District of San Diego county. As soon, however, as that number of the JOURNAL was distributed through the State, letters of remonstrance were received. We publish a few of them as they show how generally a true patriotic spirit prevails in our public schools. Permit us to remark in this connection that the Oakland High School has floated the stars and stripes on suitable occasions for the past eighteen years. PLEASANTON, CAL., March 21, 1890. Mr. J. B. McChesney, San Francisco-SIR :-The credit given to the Pujol District, San Diego county, of raising over the school house the first flag bearing forty-two stars, I think, rightfully belongs to us. On the 8th day of November, 1889, our County Superintendent, Mr. P. M. Fisher, the trustees, the pupils numbering about 250, and the teachers, assembled in front of our new ten thousand dollar school house. After an address by the Superintendent and the singing of "America," "The Red, White and Blue” and “The Star Spangled Banner," "Old Glory" glided up the staff and amid hearty cheers floated out upon the breeze. Long may she wave "o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”. Very Respectfully Yours, MAMIE J. BASS (one of the teachers.) DIXON, CAL., March 12, 1890. J. B. McChesney, San Francisco-Dear Sir:-I see by the PACIFIC EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL, of which you are editor, that J. M. Gonzales of Pujol District, San Diego county, claims to be the first school in the State to float the Star Spangled Banner over their school house, having raised theirs Jan. 1, 1890. Dixon is far ahead of that. A flag was purchased by subscription for the Dixon school five (5) years ago and has floated over the school house on appropriate days ever since. Since Jan. 1, 1890, it has been raised every day at 9 A. M. and taken down at 4 P. M. Hoping you will give us credit for the above in your JOURNAL, I remain, Yours truly, G. S. CONNER, Prin. Dixon Public School. ANAHEIM, CAL., March 8, 1890. Ed. Pacific Educational Journal-Dear Sir:-The March number of JOURNAL has just reached me. I see great interest in the flag question and I am glad of it. I do not wish to lessen any one's glory, nor do I want any one to receive credit not rightfully his. Hence I state some facts. Last year the teachers of the Pasadena schools worked up the flag question and four flags were purchased for the buildings of that city. Prin. Herbert Pinkney of the Wilson school collected money of the pupils and their friends and on May 29th raised on the building a twenty-foot flag. It contained forty-two stars, although the new States had not been formally admitted. On the same day twelve-foot flags were raised over the Garfield School, Arthur L. Hamilton, Principal, and over the Washington School, where the writer was principal. About the same time, or a few days later, a flag of the same size was raised on the Grant School, C. W. Hodson, Principal. These flags were not raised every day afterward, but were displayed indoors every day, in some of the rooms, or draped across the halls, over the childrens' heads as they pased in and out of the building. It was the intention to raise them on all public days and use them on all patriotic days, as the occasion should require. Several schools have claimed “first honor," long after this occurrence, above recited. I refer to Prof. Edward T. Pierce, now of Chico, who was Superintendent of Pasadena schools, to substantiate my statements. I began work in Anaheim, Sept. 17th, and Dec. 20th we gave an entertainment to buy a flag. Owing to stormy weather and the "washouts," the flag was not received in time to float Jan. 1st, but another flag was raised and floated over our building that day, and when school opened on Monday, the new flag was seen floating from the masthead; and it flies there every day when the weather is fit. Give Pasadena credit for her share of the glory yf leading in the good work, and give Anaheim credit for coming to the front very early and for still leading Orange county in this matter, and "Long may she wave." Yours Fraternally, B. V. GARWOOD. BENICIA, March 14, 1890. J. B. McChesney, Editor School Journal-DEAR SIR:-In the March number of the JOURNAL you concede to Pujol District, San Diego county, the credit of raising the first flag of forty-two stars on a school house in California, it having been raised on their three thousand dollar school house Jan. 1, 1890. In this you are mistaken. On Aug. 26, 1889, Benicia School District opened for the year by flying to the breeze a beautiful flag with forty-two stars, over her $25,000 school house, with appropriate ceremonies. saluted by the cheers of a large assembly, including trustees, teachers and the three hundred pupils of the school. Each morning at 9 o'clock-unless in very stormy weather -the flag is raised and saluted by the children. In addition to the flag floating over the school building, we have in each school room, over the entrance door, a beautiful American shield,. tastefully draped with two small silk flags. "The Banner of Beauty," and this attraction is ever present before the pupils and always saluted by them on entering and departing from the school room. Moreover, the Principal and all the teachers in our schools take a deep interest in explaining to the children why the flag should be venerated. Its history, its uses, emblematic power, and the patriotic literature, both prose and poetry, it has inspired, are set forth in familiar but highly interesting informal talks. Benicia claims the distinction of being first school district in the State that set apart an "Arbor Day." This was done over a year ago, and the 11th day of April is our "Arbor Day." The day was inaugurated last Spring with unusually interesting ceremonies, consisting of music, addresses and tree planting. Over 200 trees of various kinds were planted in our five-acre school grounds, and all, with but few exceptions, are making a vigorous growth, so that at our next “Arbor Day” but few trees will need to be planted to fill the places of those that failed. Most cordially do I unite with you in the desire that such examples may be followed until every school district in the Empire State of the Pacific shall avail itself of all these incentives to love of country and veneration for the Star Spangled Banner. Very Sincerely Yours, A. DALTON, Clerk of Benicia District. |