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IRA G. HOITT,
JULIA B. HOITT,

Official Department.

APRIL, 1890.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The regular quarterly meeting of the State Board of Education was held at Los Angeles on the afternoon and evening of March 17th.

The meeting was called in Los Angeles in order to accommodate the Governor, who was in Southern California, and a majority of the Board, who desired to attend the meeting of the State Teachers' Association. A letter from Professor Childs of San Jose stated that he was confined to his bed with la grippe. Those present were Professor Ira More, Professor E. T. Pierce of Chico, Superintendent Ira G. Hoitt. Professor More was called to the chair.

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The following books were recommended for district school libraries: "A Colonial Boy,' "Evolution of Dodd," "Hyde's Practical Lessons in the Use of English," "Eggleston's Primary History," Paul Bert's "First Steps in Scientific Knowledge," Paul Bert's "Primer of Scientific Knowledge" and "California Fruits."

The proposed course of study to be recommended for the schools of the State was ordered put in print for criticism and revision. The elementary geography was reported ready for the press and was ordered printed at once. Progress was reported in the large geography and the book on civil government.

Life diplomas were awarded the following: Mrs. Hettie M. Alward, Sallie E. Adams, Laura Aull, Wm. V. Barnum, Frances E. Beale, Amelia C. Blumb, Metta C. Breckenfield, Frank W. Bryant, Frances A. Brown, Charles J. Caldwell, Geraldine P. Clement, Minnie Sabin Cooper, John J. Craven, Malone Dunham, Idella C. Emmons, Howard Ford, Caroline Furber, Mrs. Lizzie F. Fowler, Emily W. Grant, Lucellus K. Grimm, Julia E. Goldman, Winfield S. Hall, Lillian Kelly, B. Dena Lottman, Ella McConoughey, Jessie Mayer, Charlotte Mayer, Angus McPhee, Mary P. Maddox, Lisette Megerle, Joseph F. Monroe, Fanny Morey, Harry T. Murrish, Frank Mathews, Augusta Pierce, John H. Strine, James R. Shelton, Mrs. Annie Stinch

field, Francis M. Strang, Mrs. Etta Sowle, Helen M. Smiley, Mary L. Teel, Calthea Vivian, George Varcoe, Hayward Webb, Fabius M. Winchel, Florence N. Worley, Mrs. Maria A. Wymore, George A. West and Lillie J. Martin.

Educational diplomas were granted to the following: Frank B. Abbe, Emma E. Adams, Joseph D. Armstrong, Emma Badgley, Maretta E. Badgley, James A. Burr, Kittie E. Brier, Mary Brown, Louisa E. Bruch, Anna P. Buckley, S. Leslie Coombs, Nettie L. Campbell, Sarah Chambaud, Lulu M. Chance, Elvira Coleman, William J. Connell, Addie S. Crawford, M. Sue Combs, Thomas J. Crane, Celia Daniels, Emma Debnam, Winfred G. Devine, Lillie Duncan, Mrs. Alberta M. Ecker, Nellie F. Emery, Jessie D. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Annie J. Gabriel, Sarah E. Geis, Mamie E. Graham, Jessie Heaton, Mary Ella Heeney, Lucy Heard, Lillie M. Herd, Hattie C. Cook, Robert E. Hughes, Thomas H. Hunt, Mary M. Hanson, Petra Johnson, Kittie Kennedy, Mrs. Clara S. Killey, Lillie Kopp, Marcellus A. Kuhlman, Charles E. Latham, Hattie A. Lobdell, Ella L. Logan, Martha L. Lumsden, Florence Lemon, Minnie C. Maceroy, Carrie M. Mills, Mrs. Lizzie Mitchell, Julia L. McCarthy, Clara McMillen; Olula McReynolds, Henry B. Newton, Ida C. Nichols, Lizzie O. Norris, Elmie Nicholson, Mrs. Maud M. Peaslee, Mary E. Phillips, Wilhelmina Ramer, Mary C. Robert, Carrie A. Roelke, James E. Reynolds, Spurgeon Riley, Mrs. Julia R. Searls, Jas. Scott, Juliet L. Sexton, Sallie L. Sledge, John G. Smale, Emma H. Snapp, Zella Springsteen, Minnie Stalter, John J. Steele, Fannie Stewart, Charlotte J. Stimson, Carrie Totten, Julius A. Vergon, Lizzie Walker, Emma L. Wetherell, Mary White, May E. White, Ella T. Wyllie and Erner Werner.

Action on several other applications for State diplomas was postponed on account of various seeming irregularities.

DIVIDED DISTRICTS VS. UNDIVIDED INDEBTEDNESS.

Q.-A district contracts a debt which cannot be paid until an eight months' school has been maintained. This debt is not paid; the district is divided; both divisions have a surplus. Shall they pay the debt in equal parts?

A.-I think that each district should pay a part in accordance with the number of census children. There would, however, be nothing illegal in the old district's paying the debt.

INSTRUCTION IN VOCAL MUSIC.

Q.-Does special instruction in vocal music as spoken of in the School Law mean a graded course of instruction in that branch?

If the regular corps of teachers do not feel competent to teach this, and consequently neglect it entirely, it a good many cases, should the Board of Education employ a special teacher for music?

A.-In my opinion the matter rests with the Board of Education. The regular teachers are expected to teach the music required in their grades.

Upon examination of the courses of study of the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Tuolumne and Yolo, I perceive that the instruction in music is graded. In Los Angeles the primary classes have a graded course in music.

SALARIES FOR TEACHERS OF BEGINNERS.

Q. What is the accepted interpretation of Section 1687 of the School Law?

A. It is intended by the provisions of the Section to allow the same salary (in cities) to teachers of the beginners' class as that paid to teachers of the highest grade, next to the High School.

LOST TIME.

Q.-If a teacher loses time during a school month, must that time be made up before the salary for that month can be drawn?

A.-The Trustees have no legal right to draw an order in favor of a teacher for anything that has not been earned. The teacher is entitled to make up lost time, and when so made up is entitled to pay.

WOMEN'S VOTES.

Q.-Is it legal for women to vote for School Trustee? They did so here at the last election, notwithstanding the fact that their votes were challenged.

A. The Constitution of California as yet gives the elective franchise only to "male citizens.”

STARS AND STRIPES.

Placer county is very active in the flag raising movement. The districts of Gold Run, Gold Hill, Dry Creek, Ophir and Todd Valley have all procured the stars and stripes for their school buildings, and the town of Auburn has an 18-foot flag, the gift of one of her public

spirited citizens, which is soon to be raised on an iron staff, costing $35, the money for which was contributed by the children.

Mt. Vernon district, Placer county, will not lack for patriotic emblems. A combination picture well framed, and consisting of models in color of every form of flag in use in the service, has also been preSented. They also have well-executed pictures of Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and Logan.

There is no better way to make patriotic citizens than to interest them in this work.

Sutter Creek, Amador county, wheels into line. Sutter Creek has a patriotic little band of 300 children. Every one of them contributed something towards the purchase of a flag for their school house. A beautiful one twenty-one feet long and fourteen feet wide, with fortytwo "great big stars," has been procured and will be raised with appropriate ceremonies on March 29th.

G. S. Conner, Principal of the Dixon School, reports the stars and stripes floating over his school since Feb. 11th.

Ontario district, San Bernardino county, had a flag-raising on Feb. 21st, and the numbers that attended were so great they could not all gain admission to the building. The grounds around this school house are so beautifully improved as to occasion remark and surprise on the part of visitors. A new comer who had lived in Ontario only two months, said he "had never seen anything like it for a public school -had always thought New York was well up in school matters, but California was ahead of New York." Supt. Brooke says, and says truly: "But aside from the mere matter of pride, local pride (in the matter of school decoration), the effect upon the young people is excellent. I am satisfied that I am right from experience and observation. Where Trustees take pains to have beautiful premises inside and outside of the school building, the children are different; they have a pride in their school. I can see it in their faces."

ARBOR DAY.

The W. R. Strong Company of Sacramento have kindly consented to furnish each district of the county, free of charge, on application, with the following trees and shrubs: Five locusts, five California walnut, five olive, two elm, five poplar and two rose bushes.

Superintendent R. F. Burns of Placer, contributes an excellent article on the subject of "Arbor Day" to a late number of the Republican, endorsing Supt. Hoitt's views and making other patriotic suggestions.

Kern county had quite a successful Arbor Day on March 7th, and

interesting exercises were held in Bakersfield, Keene, Delano and Fairview. In Bakersfield many trees were planted and each class set out a flower bed.

NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

The Council will meet at St. Paul, Minn., July 4th to 9th, and the National Educational Association July 8th to 11th, 1890. State Superintendent Ira G. Hoitt has been appointed manager for California, in connection with the State Director, with authority to appoint others on the Committee. It is expected that the meeting will be next to the one held in San Francisco, the best yet held. President Canfield is determined to make it so.

INSTITUTES.

Orange, March 24th; Solano, April 7th; San Mateo, April 27th : Lake, April 29th; Nevada, May 5th.

One of the Santa Cruz county schools (the Scott Valley) is proposing to try manual training in wood and iron work in connection with its school. Hurrah for Scott Valley!

FAIRY UMBRELLAS.

The wet East Wind had called to the Rain,
"Come down, little drops, to the April flowers;"
And over the grass, and the sleeping grain,
And into the street they swept in showers.

They tapped at each door and called, "Come up!
For the bleak, cold wind and the snow are gone;

Arbutus is lifting her perfumed cup,

And the grass is carpeting all the lawn."

But the fairies that lived in the quiet wood

All wore their new Spring bonnets that day,
So they raised their umbrellas as quick as they could,
And under the trees went trooping away.

And the people said, when they saw them there,
The fair umbrellas out in the rain,

"O, Spring has come, so sweet and so fair,

For there are those odd little toadstools again."

-G. Packard Du Bois, in the April Kindergarten.

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