Institute Department. The teachers of Placer County held their annual meeting in Auburn, December 15th to 18th inclusive. Prof. G. R. Kleeberger, Vice-President of the San Jose Normal School, was present as Instructor, and Rev. A. C. Herrick, as Historical Lecturer. Dr. Dille of Oakland delivered an address at an evening session which deserved and received the highest praise. Supt. Burns is entitled to credit for arranging an unusually interesting and original program. Special exercises were provided at roll-call for the expression of sentiments of patriotism, for repeating the sayings of eminent educators, for reciting literary gems, educational conundrums, historical incidents, facts regarding trees, flowers, grasses and Arbor Day and anecdotes of public men. Another interesting feature of the Institute was an exercise celebrating Whittier's birthday. If the interest and enthusiasm of the teachers at the Institute was any indication of their work in the school-room, the people of Placer County should be grateful that they have been served by a Superintendent and corps of teachers so enlightened and enthusiastic. All the exercises of the week were not only enjoyable but thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated in them, and the teachers returned to their schools encouraged and strengthened for their future labors. The Institute was fittingly closed by the presentation to Supt. R. F. Burns, on behalf of the teachers of the county, of a fine gold watch and chain. The whole affair was so planned as to prove a perfect surprise. He was entirely overcome by this evidence of regard, and required some time to so recover himself as to be able to respond, which he finally did in his happy manner. The watch is an Elgin timekeeper and bears the following inscription: "Presented to R. F. Burns by the teachers of Placer County as a token of their esteem, Dec. 18, 1890. " The annual Institute of the teachers of Tulare County was held at Visalia, December 16th, 17th and 18th, and attended by every teacher in the county. Prof. John Dickenson of Los Angeles, Supt. Will S. Munroe of Pasadena and Prof. Herbert Miller of San Francisco were the Instructors. Supt. Charles H. Murphy presided with his usual grace and executive force. At the close of the Institute a handsome compliment was paid Mr. Chas. H. Murphy, the retiring County Superintendent. He was tendered a farewell reception by the teachers and presented with a goldheaded ebony cane, a gold match-safe studded with a diamond and sapphire, and a neat album containing the autographs of the teachers of the county. There was universal testimony of the good work done by Mr. Murphy during the eight years that he supervised the schools of Tulare County. Mr. Murphy has accepted a position in the Cogswell Polytechnic College, San Francisco. He has been one of the ablest, brightest and most progressive County Superintendents in the State, and the county has sustained great loss in his departure. He is a man well grounded in modern educational principles, quick in appreciating their successful application, able as an executive and highly esteemed as a gentleman. THE TEACHER'S TASK. Yes, sculptor, touch the clay with skill; While soft-winged fancies come and go- And thy name ring through all the land. And, painter, wield the brush with care; But, teacher, mold the tender mind And the young powers bloom forth and bless -The American. Another year, with all its joys and sorrows, with its successes, with, perchance its many failures, lies behind us. And as somewhat sadly we think of it, we recall the words of the poet "Whatever hath been written shall remain, Nor be erased, or written o'er again; Take heed and ponder well what that shall be." The unwritten pages of the New Year lie fair before us, upon which our stories of child life are to be traced. There is something in the bright holiday time that seems to arouse all the better part of human nature, and few indeed are there who turn their faces to the New Year without an earnest wish that it may be attended with mental and moral growth. And so it has come to pass that conscious of our own needs, we wish our neighbor a "Happy New Year," meaning that life for him may be a success. "A Happy New Year" for the teacher means so much; the real success in the highest plane means light to so many little lives, while failure is attended with results so disastrous. Teachers, least of all, can afford to be failures since so many little lives are so closely bound up with theirs. How to make one's life a success is a problem which each one of us must solve for himself, but there are certain things which all may do. To make one's year a healthy, happy one there must be growth, and that strong, mental growth can be obtained only by study. Tired and nervous from the worries of the day, the average teacher does not care to study, and so, unconsciously to herself, there is a retrogression, since there can be no standing still. Is it not a wise plan in this time of good resolutions to form one for careful, systematic study for true mental exercise, so that there may be no unconscious lowering of standard, but instead there may be mental strength to stand on a higher plane, thereby lifting and upholding the weaker minds of dependent pupils? Many opportunities will be given to the young teacher for moral growth, since patience, self-control and self-reliance are attributes most needful in her daily life, and these combined with careful study cannot fail to produce for her a well-spent year. For those of maturer years we have only to add, "It is not yet night," only to remind them that in all the great scheme of creation there is growth. "And age is opportunity no less Than youth itself, though in another dress, And as the evening twilight fades away, The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day." And so with this number we send to our many readers the compliments of the holidays. May the year '91, bring to us all, that of which each of us has most need, and may it be for the little one's and their teachers a Happy New Year! We publish in this number of the JOURNAL an abstract of the Civil Government of California, prepared by Mrs. Julia B. Hoitt, and a concise outline of our Federal Government, compiled by Professor George Chandler of Iowa and published for the teachers of that State by State Superintendent, Henry Sabin. Together they form an abstract of the State and National Governments which may be used by the teachers of California in place of a text-book on Civil Government. We recommend that time be taken during each term to read and briefly discuss these extracts. Teachers will find no difficulty in making such an exercise not only interesting but exceedingly valuable. The pupils in all the schools of the State have heard more or less during the past year about patriotism and love of country, and they are ready to learn something about the machinery of the Government under which they live. Each teacher can readily devise some way whereby all the pupils of the school, who can read fairly well, can be interested in the subject, and some, no doubt, will not only interest the school but get the parents to asking and answering questions on this all-important subject. We give, on another page of the JOURNAL, a likeness of our new State Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. W. Anderson. Entering upon the duties of this important office, as he does, after more than a quarter of a century of service in the schools of the State as teacher and Superintendent, we bespeak for him a successful administration. Our personal acquaintance with Mr. Anderson for a period of thirty years warrants us in saying that his highest ambition is to so perform the duties of his responsible position that the schools of the State shall be improved and the cause of education advanced. PERSONAL NOTES. WE ARE pained to learn of the death of Prof. O. S. Ingham at the residence of his son-in-law in Seattle, December 14th. Prof. Ingham was a well-known educator in California. He was at one time City Superintendent of Alameda, and afterward editor and publisher of the Alameda News. He was an accurate scholar, a fine teacher and a genial and true friend. Although gone from the earth, he still lives in the hearts and affections of a host whose lives have been made richer because of his influence. MR. CHARLES H. MURPHY, for eight years the able and popular Superintendent of Tulare County, has just been placed at the head of the mathematical department of the Cogswell High School of San Francisco. Mr. Murphy is a graduate of the Missouri State Normal School, and has spent all his life in teaching, mostly in California. The city is to be congratulated upon the additio 1 to its corps of teachers of a man of Mr. Murphy's youth, vigor and eminence in his profession. PROF. E. KNOWLTON has been transferred from the Cogswell High School to the English Department of the Boys' High School. This is the same place he held some six years ago, when he was transferred on account of a reduction in the force of teachers. The Boys' High School numbers now 510 pupils, of whom 180 are girls. RICHARD WHITE of Chico has been elected to the position made vacant in San Leandro, Alameda County, by the resignation of Charles Woodman, recently deceased. D. W. BRADDOCK has been elected Principal of the Chico Grammar School. Mr. Braddock has had twenty-five years' experience in teaching, and for the past twenty years has taught in Butte County. Eight years ago he was elected as Superintendent of Public Instruction of this county, and his second term in that office expired the first of January. CHARLES WOODMAN, Principal of the San Leandro School and Principal-elect of the Tompkins Grammar School in Oakland, died quite suddenly December 22d. As a teacher Mr. Woodman had few superiors. He was earnest, conscientious, and gifted with a rare insight |