cents, of the Third Reader, two cents, and of the Speller, one cent, thus making the price of each book, when sold by dealers, a multiple of five, and reducing the price of the four books by six cents.

ARITHMETICS AND NEW BOOKS ORDERED

The action of President Bartlett and Secretary Hoitt, on the 25th, in ordering 25,000 copies of the Arithmetic printed and bound, was unanimously approved.

The following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the supervision of the work of compiling an Elementary Arithmetic be and is hereby assigned to Professor Ira More.

Resolved, That the supervision of the work of compiling an Elementary Physiology be and is hereby assigned to Professor Ira More.

Resolved, That the supervision of the work of compiling an Elementary Grammar be and is hereby assigned to Professor C. H. Allen.

Resolved, That Superintendent Ira G. Hoitt, and Professor C. H. Allen, be and are hereby appointed as a committee to negotiate for the purchase of the plates, and right to use the same in California, for an elementary and advanced Geography, but without power to complete the purchase of the same until their action is confirmed by this Board.

Resolved, That the Superintendent of Public Instruction be and is hereby authorized to keep an edition of at least 10,000 of each text-book on hand, and whenever, by filling orders, the number is reduced below 10,000, the Executive Committee is hereby authorized to make an additional order on the State Printer for what books are necessary to keep up the supply to that number.

THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

The National Educational Association is to be strongly urged to meet in San Francisco in 1888, and in order to further that end, the following Senate Concurrent Resolution was passed by the Legislature at its last Session:

Resolved by the Senate of California, the Assembly concurring, That the Superintendent of Public Instruction and two other persons connected with the educational interests of the State, to be selected by the Governor, be and they are hereby appointed as a committee to represent California at a meeting of the National Educational Association to be held at Chicago, in July, 1887, to urge its members to hold their annual session for 1888 in this State. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is hereby granted permission to be absent from the State for five weeks during the months of July and August, 1887, for the purpose of attending said meeting, and visiting such other educational institutions as his time will permit; and the committee so appointed shall defray the expeses of such committee.

A joint resolution was also passed authorizing the expenditure, by the State, of $1000 to print such circulars, programmes, etc., as may be necessary in case the Association accepted California's invitation.

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.

THE NEW NORMAL SCHOOL.

The Normal School Commission met Friday, April 2d, to resume balloting on the question of a site for the branch Normal School, to be located in Northern California. The choice fell on Chico, Butte County. The school will be erected on a beautiful eight-acre tract of land at Chico, donated by General Bidwell, of the famous Rancho Chico. The building will be located within a stone's throw of the General's elegant mansion, on the bank of Chico creek, a stream clear as crystal. No prettier spot could have been selected. A walk of a few yards will carry a person from the school building into the charming groves, drives and orchards of the Rancho Chico. Work will be commenced in about four weeks clearing away trees on the site, after which ground will be broken for the foundation. The building will be of brick, much after the style of the Normal School at Los Angeles. It will be a three-story building. A large force of men will be employed, working by the day. It is expected that the school will be running inside of a year.

A SENSIBLE RESOLUTION.

At the recent meeting of the Department of Superintendence, in Washington, a resolution was passed, unanimously recommending that the next meeting of the National Educational Association be held in San Francisco. It is to be hoped that, when the latter body holds its meeting in Chicago, in July, it will endorse the action of the superintendents, and decide that the 1888 meeting shall come to California. Here, our welcome shall be hearty; our accommodations ample; our skies serene, and our climate conducive to lively and interesting sessions of the association, and enjoyment after their conclusion. Moreover, we are confident that in California our Eastern visitors will find the American public school at the acme of successful operation. Here, in some degree at least, teaching is recognized as a profession, and teachers are paid living salaries. Our Superintendents are constitutional officers, elected for a long term of years, fairly remunerated, attending exclusively to the duties of inspection and supervision, and generally the leaders of the profession within their respective jurisdictions. If the National Association will come here, we shall take its members by the hand, individually and collectively, and give the same kind of reception accorded the Grand Army of the Republic but a short time ago. This we can guarantee.

IS OUR SCHOOL TRAINING ONE-SIDED?

At a late meeting of the State Medical Society, in this city, the President, in his annual address, took exception to the training given in our public schools as being "one-sided." What is meant by the phrase was not clearly set forth, but it may be presumed to be a reiteration of the old charge that our schools neglect the physical for the mental well-being of the child; and that not enough attention is paid to hygienic conditions. There may be some foundation for the accusation in localities; its general application we deny, and wherever true, even partially, the fault lies primarily in the community, not in the schools or their teachers. Let us explain. The American public school ideal is based on the theory that all true education must be symmetrical, comprising the equal development of the mental, moral, and physical being; that there

can be no sound brain without a sound body; no pure life without a sound brain. Every competent teacher, male and female, in the land, builds his work on this foundation; every course of study recognizes it; every method of teaching is its exemplar. That all teachers do not fully carry out this idea, must be acknowledged, and we have noticed that complaints of the efficacy of the system, of its "one-sidedness," so to speak, always come from members of the community where such teachers are employed. And further, the citizens who are the most severe in their criticisms of the failures of of the schools, are invariably those who, by their apathy or hostility, foist upon their neighbors the teachers who produce a “one-sided" system of culture. Under proper conditions the American school does more for the child than its own home. It gives him more fresh air, better light; keeps his body in better position; rests him oftener when tired; gives his muscles more exercise when needed; and his lungs and larynx development when required; his mind, profitable and appropriate occupation; employment without weariness; in a word, does for him what only the exceptional homeone in a thousand-can do. We suggest to the gentlemen who find fault with our schools, on account of that deficiency or this, that they look closer before "speaking out in meeting;" look at home. Just see if you have done all required of you. You want a dollar's worth-have you expended one hundred cents? Have you employed teachers the best teachers? Have you placed them in buildings with the best possible ventilation and light? Have you given them any of the appliances which modern progress has furnished all the sister arts and this, to best accomplish the best results in the shortest time? And have you come occasionally, nay, frequently, to watch over their work, to criticise it with a friendly eye, to guide it, to suggest improvements from the standpoint of the looker-on, to encourage it by your very presence? When you have done all these things, come back and report on the state of our one-sided public school education.

GENERAL NOTES.

The officers of the National Association and the railroads are doing all in their power to make the Next meeting at Chicago, July 12-16, the largest assemblage of teachers and friends of education ever convened.

The meeting of the National Council will open its sessions July 7, and continue until the meeting of the National Educational Association opens.

The meetings of the nine departments will be held on the afternoons of July 13th, 14th and 15th.

The railroads will sell "round-trip tickets" from all principal stations, to Chicago and return, for one fare plus two dollars ($2.00) to a py for a membership coupon. Tickots good going from July 5th to 15th, and returning to September 10th inclusive. How about the Inter-State Law?

Governor Church, of Dakota, has nominated Eugene A. Dye, County Superintendent of Schools for Spink county, and Frank A. Wilson, of Bathgate, as Territorial and Assistant Territorial Superintendent of Instruction.

Governor R. L. Taylor has appointed Professsor Frank M. Smith as State Superintendent of Pvblic instruction in Tennessee.

LAKE COUNTY.

The last issue of the Lake County Press contained an able article on school government from Professor Benson, of Middletown. Mr. Benson proves himself a good disciplinarian and excellent teacher.

Miss Eunice Tremper, a graduate from Lower Lake Public School, has been engaged to teach the Fair View School, Long Valley.

Mrs. A. Deuel opened school at Morgan Valley last Monday. As Mrs. Deuel has been retained the second year, it speaks well for her ability as a teacher.

Professor George A. Gillett, principal of Kelseyville school, has been appointed by the Board of Supervisors to the vacancy on the Board of Education caused by the resignation of J. H. Renfro, Superintendent. This is a good appointment.

The Board of Education had occasion to compliment Superintendent Renfro on the neat and tidy appearance of his office and the systematic arrangement of his books and papers.

County Superintendent of Schools J. H. Renfro visited the Lakeport School in April, expressing himself highly gratified with its management and in progress second to none in the State.

Mr. W. H. Adamson, of the Lakeport School, edits a very interesting educational department in the local paper. This is an idea worth imitating throughout the State.

ALAMEDA COUNTY.

The Oakland School Fund is $4,000 short this year. The schools may, therefore, be closed a week earlier than usual, and the teachers "docked" of their salaries to that extent.

Mr. Sullivan, Superintendent of the Alameda Public Schools, has received a note from Professor Cooke, of the State University, stating that the Alameda High School has again been placed on the list of approved schools by a vote of the Academic Council.

The graduating class of the Alameda High School will this year consist of fifteen members, nine girls and six boys-the largest class yet graduated.

Sidney Dickinson completes his course of art lectures at Mills College this month, following Professor Knapp. His course is very different, but very fine. One of the trustees has added some valuable apparatus to the astronomical department the past week. Many strangers have visited the college of late. The grounds were never more attractive. It is worth one's while to visit the college to see the fine wistaria upon the south side of the main building. It climbs to the third story, and, in full bloom, it is just now a beautiful sight indeed.

SISKIYOU COUNTY.

We are informed that Mr. D. C. Reed has been employed to teach another term as Principal of the Yreka Public School; also that Mrs. Pritchard will be retained in the Primary Department, and that Mrs. Redding does not desire another term.

Miss Ida Cleland has been busily engaged for some time past in schooling a number of small children in the Kindergarten system of educational training, for the purpose of giving an interesting exhibition, which took place on Friday evening, Mar. 11, at Turner's Hall. She was assisted by several well known accomplished vocalists in a variety of choice songs, duets and choruses, in addition to the children's exhibition. An examination of pupils for diplomas of graduation from the public school of Fort Jones was conducted at the public schoolhouse of that town on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th of April by Professor John Kennedy, President of the County Board of Education. There were fourteen applicants, nine of whom succeeded in reaching the standard of proficiency prescribed by the County Board of Education.

The Mugginsville school opened Monday for a seven months' term, in charge of Miss Laura Cummings, who recently closed a successful term in the intermediate department of the Fort Jones Public School.

The Mound District School, of which Charles S. Abbott is teacher, is doing excellent work.

Last Thursday afternoon the anniversary in memory of the eminent American poet and scholar, Henry W. Longfellow, was celebrated in the Principal's room of the public school at Yreka by giving recitations of a number of his poems, accompanied with superior vocal music. The head of the schoolroom was decorated with Longfellow's portrait, surrounded by evergreens and flowers, including the date of his birth, February 27, 1807, and his death, March 24, 1882. Beneath it were some lines of the poet, and also a picture of the village blacksmith, handsomely executed in colors, with crayon. On the blackboards all around the room were quotations from Longfellow's poems; also representations of Excelsior, Hiawatha, etc. The large hall was crowded to its fullest capacity by the children, parents and citizens generally, and the teachers marshaled their pupils with good order and discipline. Principal D. C. Reed had charge of the exercises.

The Grammar Department of the Fort Jones Public School closed last week. The report of A. G. W. Davis, the Principal, includes the term between September 13, 1886, and March 18, 1887, and the result of his work and that of his pupils has been substantial improvement and strong and rapid progress of pupils in all the branches taught in his department. The Intermediate Department, which was in charge of Miss Laura Cummings, as well as the Primary Department, under the care of Miss Elzora Robboth, both closed some weeks earlier, but both show good results in the rapid advancement and thorough training of the younger pupils of the school.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY.

Among our teachers who have recently left for their different schools are the following: E. C. Goodrich will teach the Mountain Dell School, in this county; Miss Minnie Pedlar will teach in Monterey County, and Charles Wayland will continue as teacher of the Llagas.

The Normal School Trustees met in San Jose in April, and the following business was transacted:

As the Governor was not present, the Board was called to order by Vice-President Lowe, Trustees Archer, Beans and Denman. State Superintendent Hoitt and Secretary Allen being also present.

The Secretary read the proceedings of the last semi-annual meeting, and they were approved.

Prof. Allen set forth the desirableness of keeping the school year divided into two terms of twenty weeks each, with a week's vacation in the middle of each term. A vote taken in the school favored this plan.

The Board decided, after discussion, that the course of study should be so framed for the next year as to bring the Summer vacation in July or August.

It was decided to raise the course of study so that it shall supplement the highest work of the best Grammar schools. The Normal schools should not be required to do Grammar-school work.

The proposed organizations of a model class in the training department was, after extended discussion, referred to the Faculty.

Prof. C. W. Childs was elected Vice-Principal of the school. He has been acting in that capacity since the death of Prof. Norton.

Prof. Allen announced that the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Normal School will occur in May next, and that it is proposed to issue a memorial volume, in which shall appear brief notices of the 1500 graduates of the institution. The work will be done at the State Printing Office.

The course of study was examined by the members of the Board, and with slight modifications was adopted.

It was decided to purchase works on pedagogics as good ones are issued.

Mr. Denman called up the subject of purchasing charts and models. More are needed in the school for illustrative work. He moved that the Executive Committee be authorized to expend $2500 for apparatus, charts, models, etc., and the motion was carried.

A discussion now followed as to strengthening the work of instruction of reading. Mr. Denman, in speaking on this subject, said that he had met with remarkable success in teaching his pupils in San Francisco to tell stories they had read in their own