The quotation not only contains the very essence of the truth or moral that one wishes to teach, but its repetition in school gives the teacher an opportunity to speak of many things; and in country districts where no society exists, where sometimes the simplest requirements of politeness, the commonest rules of etiquette are to be taught by the teacher, if taught at all, it is not only needful, but it is the teacher's absolute duty to speak of many things that seemingly belong to home training. In a talk which may follow the reciting of the quotation, "Eat at your own table as you would eat at the table of the king," perhaps some little innocent will hear, for the first time, that knives are made to assist in cutting, while the use of forks is to assist in eating.

Cleanliness is akin to Godliness," makes it quite easy to hint that nails should be cleaned, teeth brushed, etc.

Whether one wishes to correct faults or to instill noble purposes; to develop sympathy for the afflicted or to implant mercy for the wretched; to infuse with patriotism or to fire with animation; to create a love for the beautiful or a passion for the sublime; to teach respect for the aged or reverence for the Creator; a fitting quotation will always nicely pave the way and then it may remain a gem in the pupils' minds, with a new significance and a deeper meaning; a guide to their forming character and a treasure in maturer years.

Perhaps it will be of interest to some present to know my method of teaching quotations.

The quotation, generally taken from Mrs. Hoitt's excellent quotations for home and school or contributed by the scholars, is selected and placed on the board at noon by one of the pupils. Allowing the pupils to make the selections themselves, but under the supervision of the teacher, cultivates their taste; and it also forms the habit of looking for select passages, which habit they are apt to extend to their own general reading.

During the regular writing lesson, the quotation is neatly copied into books kept for the purpose. This, of itself, is a habit worth cultivating.

The attention of the little folks is called to the form, spelling, punctuation, etc.; and an older pupil is appointed to look up the life of the author.

The next morning, immediately after school-call, I ask for the quotation with its author and then for its meaning. The pupils are supposed to have their answers ready; and the preparation of them

Institute Department.

VENTURA COUNTY.

The Ventura County Teachers' Institute was held in Ventura, September 29th to October 3d. On the first day Mr. G. M. Stratton of the Ventura High School spoke on "Word Study in All Grades" and Miss Bierer of Chicago on "Physical Culture." Physical Culture." At the evening session Holton Webb recited "The Dream of Eugene Aram" and Bishop Fitzgerald lectured on "How to Make Teaching Pleasant." On Tuesday Professor Dickenson of Los Angeles spoke on "A Closer Look at the Earth's Crust" and also on the "Geology of the Stars."

Wednesday the Institute had the pleasure of listening to Superintendent Munroe of Pasadena, whose admirable work has been so often commented on in these columns that it needs no further commendation here. Mr. Black of Ventura spoke on "Primary Number Work," and on Thursday evening L. D. Syle, Principal of the Santa Barbara High School, lectured on "Travels in England, France and Spain." On Friday he spoke in the Institute on "School Government," on "Historic Reasons for the Teaching of Civil Government" and on "The Teaching of Literature."

A noticeable feature of the Institute was the spirited chorus singing of all the teachers present. Never has the writer of this article heard better singing of this kind than he had the pleasure of listening to at Ventura. If all County Superintendents would take pains, as Mr. Meredith does, to secure for their Institutes speakers that have something to say and know how to say it, teachers might derive some profit as well as some fun from their annual gatherings. The Ventura High School building, in which the Institute was held, is a thing that delighteth the eye and is a joy forever. The value of such a building in training the esthetic tastes of the children cannot be overestimated, and Ventura is to be congratulated that, in this respect, she stands second to no town in California.

SAN BENITO COUNTY.

The Teachers' Institute of San Benito County convened at Hollister, Monday, September 29th and continued in session five days.

The officers were: Superintendent J. N. Thompson, Presiding; Prof. J. W. Cutler, Vice-President; James T. Lahiff, J. L. Hardin and Miss Carrie Poage, Secretaries; and Miss Ella McCray, Organist; all of whom received and merited the thanks of the members for the courteous and efficient manner in which they performed their several duties.

To say that James G. Kennedy of the Cogswell Polytechnic School was the Conductor of the Institute is a sufficient guarantee that it was a success, and the philosophy of method is better understood and more thoroughly appreciated in San Benito County than ever before. Mr. Kennedy discussed the following topics: "Philosophy of Methods," "Drawing," "Practical Psychology," "Geography," "History," Arithmetic" and "Language" at the sessions of the Institute, and on Wednesday evening delivered an address on "Industrial Education" to a large and appreciative audience at Wells' Opera House.

Hon. Ira G. Hoitt dropped in on Thursday and spent half a day participating in the work of the session,

The programme included the following: Paper, "The New Education," Will Acton; song, Mrs. Hattie Archibald; essay, “The Augustan Age of English Literature," H. B. Newton; song, Miss Mattie Hardin; paper, "The Need of Reform in Spelling," A. B. McKean; paper, "Primary Language," Miss Katie Murphy; select reading, Miss Ruth Miller; paper, "English," Miss Josephine Chapman; select reading, Miss Mollie McCroskey; paper, "Class Exercises in Phonic Reading and Spelling," Miss Mariana Day; recitation, Miss Annie Week; paper, "Spelling," Miss Katie McMahon; select reading, Miss Elizabeth Norton; paper, "Utility in Education," C. F. R Rubell; recitation, Miss Laura Carlisle; paper, "Quotations in School," Miss Mina Cole; paper, "Clay Modeling," Miss Carrie Hain; recitation, Miss Helen Sprague; essay, “Faces, "Miss Hattie Meyer; song, Miss Maggie Martin; paper, " Primary Reading," Miss Flora Conover; song, Miss Alice Christenson; select reading, Miss Lucy Young; paper, Oral Instructions," Miss Leoline Ladd; select reading, Miss Annie Orr. The discussion on arithmetic was conducted by Prof. J. W. Cutler, assisted by Mina Cole, Leoline Ladd, Miss Maria G. Pierpont, C. M. White, Mrs. Archibald, Frank B. Abbe, C. F. Rubell, Will Acton and Superintendent Thompson, each of whom opened the discussion of some topic. Select reading, Miss Lottie Chase.

After the usual complimentary resolutions were adopted, another was introduced and approved, which requested the Board of Education to confine the study of technical grammar, by the use of the State textbook, exclusively to the highest Grammar Grades.

Hollister, Oct. 4th, 1890.

AMADOR COUNTY.

ALPHA.

The teachers of Amador County met at Sutter Creek, Sept. 30th, for a three days' session. The roll having been called, eight teachers were found to be absent. Superintendent P. M. Fisher of Alameda and J. F. Chandler of Oakland were present and participated in the exercises. State Superintendent Hoitt was not able to meet with them, as he was filling engagements in other parts of the State.

Superintendent Fisher gave an entertaining and instructive lecture on "Practical Entomology" which was highly appreciated. An interesting feature of the Institute was the presentation of an elegant cane to Superintendent Mack by J. F. Chandler on behalf of the teachers of the county. The exercises of the week were highly enjoyed and the teachers went to their several fields of labor encouraged and strengthened for the work of the coming year.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.

Tuesday, Oct. 7th, the teachers of this county assembled in Pioneer Hall, San Luis Obispo, and were called to order by Superintendent Armstrong. After an organization had been effected, the teachers were classified into Grammar and Primary sections, Superintendent Armstrong presiding over the former and Vice-President Meredith over the latter.

In the Grammar section Mrs. I. M. Blochman of Santa Maria gave a model lesson on "Insects," which was received with great favor and elicited an interesting discussion. In the Primary section Prof. McGrew gave an address on "Stories," in which he showed their educational value and he also pointed out methods for their use in the school-room. In general assembly addresses were made by Prof. McGrew on "Psychology," Prof. Messer on "Memory Gems' and Mrs. Blochman on "Development of Character in the Study of History."

The Institute met on the morning of the second day for section work. Mrs. Blochman gave the primary teachers an exhibition of a "Model Lesson on a Plant," a class of pupils from the San Luis Obispo schools having been called in for the purpose. At the close of this interesting exercise Prof. McGrew asked the attention of the teachers to an address on "Objective Methods in Primary Arithmetic." In the Grammar section Prof. McGrew gave an address on "Language and Literature" and Mrs. Blochman gave another interesting model exercise using "The Fish" as her subject.

The principal exercises of the third day consisted in a class-work exercise by Prof. McGrew, in which he gave some methods for interesting children in the study of nature; in simple experiments in chemistry by Mrs. Blochman, and a class exercise in music, conducted by Miss Lida Lennon.

"Mrs.

The final session was held Thursday evening, when Blochman gave a lecture on the "Influence of Science in the Development of Character" and Miss E. L. Angier read a paper on "The Kindergarten-A School of Duty."

MONTEREY COUNTY.

The teachers of this county organized for their yearly Institute on the evening of September 22d in Salinas City. Very few of the teachers of the county were absent and there was a general disposition to make the week a profitable one. Professors Childs and Rattan of the San Jose Normal and Superintendent Anderson of San Francisco were present to assist in the exercises. Although these veteran teachers took a leading part in the discussion, still they found that Monterey County had many teachers whose long and successful experience in the school-room gave them a complete knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of the educational topics which came up for review. For the high grade of efficiency for which the schools of this county are noted, much is due to the faithful and enlightened labors of Job Wood Jr., the County Superintendent.

A pleasing and somewhat unusual feature was the interest taken in the Institute by citizens not directly connected with the schools. This is as it should be, and it is to be hoped that County Superintendents generally will make more of an effort to induce citizens to take a part in the proceedings of the County Institutes.

Among the resolutions adopted were the following:

Resolved, That we are in favor of having a uniform course of study throughout the State.

Resolved, That we recommend that, in the revision of the State text-books, the State Board of Education cut out all impractical work in arithmetic and grammar.

Resolved, That we thank Superintendent Wood for his assiduous labors for the benefit of this Institute and for the systematic manner in which the work of the Institute has been conducted.

Resolved, That the teachers do not waste midnight oil over examination papers, and that all school work be done in classes.

Resolved, That, inasmuch as the present method of making out teachers' reports is cumbersome, productive of misunderstanding, and false as well, we request the State Board of Education to modify it so as to count all days' absence as such, and ascertain the average daily attendance by dividing the actual number of days' attendance by the number of days really taught.