If we can take the word of a Junior A pupil, vessels sailed on land in Pizarro's time.

Whom does that Junior A young man claim to be his "Elaine ?”

Mr. Fletcher seems to be taking a great interest in the "ballet."

The young men ne'er Mo(o)re drill in calisthenics, especially in the thumb line.

One of the teachers of Shakesperean reading gently informed her class that Shakespeare was a great punster, even greater than Prof K.

Mr. H. delights in lectures as it gives him ample opportunity to farm "er" to attend to his other outside work.

Mr. R. to pupil in Physics-"What does this piece of iron look like?”

Pupil-"U."

Why are the pupils in the physical culture class partial to Prof. K-? Because he scolds Miss G for them.

A Middle B girl possesses a great geometrician (secret). She protects the complexion of her observations (?) by using a parasol.

A Junior B young lady was heard to ask the question, "When is Miss Bennett going to recite Shakespeare's Elaine?"

No wonder some of the Normalites arrived at Palo Alto at a late hour. They had borrowed Sell's “Giraffe” to conduct them thither.

One of the lunch parties of Palo Alto partook of "squeezer rooster" with a great deal of enjoyment and merriment.

Teacher-"Name some of the most important things existing to-day which were unknown one hundred years ago, Tommy. "

Tommy-"You and me."

"He who laughs last laughs best," quoth the Hollander and his partner as they wrathfully (Chew) ed their tongues when Baker's best horse was passed by the other plug.

Any question in Geometry will be promptly, if not satisfactorily, answered by a member of the fifth hour class. Her word is law-at least you would think so.

One of the Senior B2 young men claims that the increased size of his mouth is due to the fact that he makes so many long speeches in the Arithmetic class. Well, they say where there is a "Will" there is a way.

Did any one ever describe the Hudson River without using the words, "the river which bears his name?"

Which has the attraction for that Mid. A young lady, the tall young man or the tall bicycle?

We see by Mr. Fletcher's chirography that he does not practice his motto "Every line and every letter try to make a little better.”

Advice to students: Never close a window in the Laboratory without permission. If you wish to know why ask a Middle A2 girl who tried it.

The following definition of the word bachelor was handed in by a fifth grade boy. "A bachelor is a man who has no wife, nor wants no wife, nor can't get no wife. "

Some of the Middlers have already decided where they will go when they graduate. One young lady of the Middle B2 class is thinking of going to "Carson.”

Teacher-Tell me something about Sir Walter Scott.

Bright pupil-Scott strove for the historical and antiquarian style, and is still striving.

What do you think is becoming of us, when it is necessary for Prof. K. to ask one of the most dignified Middlers if she felt weak in Morals and Manners? She said she hoped not.

Teacher-"What part of speech is "but?" Small boy-" But is a conjunction." Teacher-"Correct. Now give me an example of its use."

Small boy-"See the goat butt the boy." "But connects the goat and the boy.

If you would learn the latest Art of seeming "the repose," Just study a few photos

Of the Senior girl, who knows.

There is no time for gossip,

Or any so-called fun; You now must surely study Or-get your hat and run.

Not even a Normal whisper
Must be heard within these halls;
And the incline of the head
Must be short or not at all.

ALUMNI.

Bessie G. Haslam, June '90, teaches at Gil

roy.

C. F. Bondshu, May 'S7, is teaching in Starkey, San Luis Obispo Co.

Anna Nichols, June '90, has taught in Shasta Co. since she graduated.

Georgia Thatcher, June '89, teaches the Parvay school, San Diego Co.

Bessie M. Rouse, June '91, has a school in the Mansfield district, Monterey Co.

Bertha Feibush, June '90, is instructing pupils in the Gazelle School, Siskiyou Co.

Miss Leoline C. Ladd, June '89, has taught the San Ardo school since February 2, '91.

Margaret B. Morrison, Jan. '90, is again teaching in the Oak Knoll District, Napa Co.

G. P. Hatch, June '90, has been elected as teacher in Happy Canon district, Fresno Co.

Mabel C. Pearce, June 91, is teaching the Aromas School, near San Jaun, San Benito county.

Virginia G. Dixon, June '90, is teaching in the Primary Department of the Warm Springs School.

Teresa Goodman, June '90, is teaching the Estralda school, Polar Star district, San Luis Obispo Co.

Carrie H. Bradley, Jan. '90, has been appointed primary teacher in the Fruitvale school, East Oakland.

Matilda Ryan, Jan. '91, is teaching in Bridgeport district, Amador Co. She has already taught the school one term.

Lizzie A. West, Jan. '90, has a position in the Intermediate Department of the school in Glendora, Los Angeles county.

Kate R. Smith, June '90, is teaching in the Wilson District, Santa Clara Co. She has taught seven months and a half.

Wm. W. Loche, May '85, is now preparing himself for Civil and Sanitary Engineering at the Massachusetts School of Technology.

Miss Serena Davis, June '90, has enjoyed nine months teaching at Loomis, Placer Co. She returned in September to teach another year.

Miss Isbister, June '87, is teaching at Willow Creek, Glenn Co.

Miss Grace M. Bickford, June '87, is teachat Willows. She is regarded as a very successful teacher.

Agnes G. Erb. June '90, is teaching the work of the seventh year in the Napa City schools. Mrs. Brower, nee Harris, '86, has a room there also.

Addie E. Howard. Jan. '90, has taught four months in Los Berros, San Luis Obispo Co., but will not teach this winter on account of poor health.

Fannie S. Cooper, Jan. '90, is now teaching the sixth and seventh grades of a school in Vacaville. Last year she was successful in her work in Ventura Co.

Mittie W. Myers, June '91, has secured the Principalship of the Sierraville Grammar School in Sierra Valley, Sierra county, Cal. The term commenced September 1st.

Ida E. Carter, June '90, has completed a spring term of teaching, and has now opened the fall term in Count's district, Mendicino Co. Her work is very successful there.

May E. Mansfield, Dec. '86, has taught thirty-nine months; three months at Jacksonville, seven at Shaws Flat and the remainder at Columbia, Tolumne Co., where she now is.

Rebecca Fox, June '90, commenced work on July 27, in the Intermediate Department of the school in the Mayfield district, Mayfield, Cal. All of the four teachers there are Normalites.

Miss Anna Dunlap, Jan. '91, is teaching in Oak Hill district, Eldorado county. She spent part of her summer vacation reading some of the valuable works of the State University.

Miss Kate Johnson, May '83, has begun her 4th year at Willows, Glenn Co., making her eighth year in the vicinity. The stars and stripes float proudly from her school-house. She is a member of Glenn County Board of Education.

With pleasure we note that C. L. Edgerton, May 'SS, has assumed the responsibilities of a better half. He was married recently to Miss Grace F. Fountain of Requa, Del Norte Co. Mr. Edgerton has taught in Del Norte Co. ever since graduating and is now President of the County Board of Education.

state; that our correspondence extends from San Diego to Tacoma; and that we, the TEACHER, and all our opportunities. are at your service; that we are willing to answer all questions and give all information possible.

The more you use us, the better we shall like it and you will find us at all times ready to carefully consider your suggestions and advice.

We trust that most of our readers have read the article by Supt. J. M. Greenwood of Kansas City, Mo., which appeared in an Eastern journal and also in the Pacific Educational Journal. In this article, Sup't. Greenwood finds fault with those Courses of Study that prescribe for beginners "all combinations up to 10" for the first term's work.

He writes a very strong article indeed, and substantiates his statements by giving the result of an interview with a boy six and a half years old, who had never received any instruction in mathematics either at home or at school. Mr. Greenwood claims that by following a course of study as above, we do not accord the child the "intelligence of an educated. pig."

He derides the idea that it is necessary to take a term to teach a child the combinations up to ten, and says, that by observing such a course of study, we stultify the child, destroy his enthusiasm and make school a bugbear.

We do not desire at this time to speak of the correctness or incorrectness of Mr. Greenwood's views. We will say, however, in this connection, that we believe the majority of California's teachers are sensible enough to advance their pupils as rapidly as circumstance will permit and as is consistent with true progress, regardless of the flimsy barriers of

a course of study. They are more likely to have the more serious fault of pushing ahead too rapidly than keeping back.

Our main object is to call your attention again to the boy upon whom Mr. Greenwood experimented. This boy occupies a most important position, for upon him and his capabilities depend the value of the article.

The mathematical knowledge of this boy is made the proof of the statements and the foundation of the writer's logic. This Missouri lad was six and a half years of age, and had never been taught either at home or at school. Yet, according to Sup't. Greenwood, he could write numbers up to 100; could add, subtract, multiply and divide up to 50; could read the dates on sundry coins; knew that 1⁄2 of 9 is 42; that in one mile and a half there were six quarter miles; could estimate the height of a rat in inches, etc.

Now, if the above lad is an average boy-and Mr. Greenwood intimates that

he is we do not blame him for being incensed at the prevailing courses of study. We agree with him in everything he has said, and we are forced to give the Missouri boy the palm of superiority over his California brother.

Our experience-a limited one perhaps-has taught us to be content if the six year old California beginner, untaught at home or elsewhere, is able to count his toes, knows that 2 and 2 are 4 and can spell c-a-t.

Our experience may have been unfortunate; we may not do the California boy justice; if so, we hope some one will set us aright. We are unable to account for the vast difference existing between the mathematical abilities of these two specimens of Young America, and until we receive more definite information are forced to lay it to the climate.

If Mr. Greenwood had tried hard to

find a boy belonging to that class o unfortunates called "dunderpates" an asked him questions, the article woul have been of vastly more benefit to Cal fornia teachers.

The attention of Normal graduates i called to the announcement made b Sec. Squier. This is a move in the righ direction and it is hoped that graduate will co-operate with the agency by send ing the Secretary notice of any vacancy that may come to their knowledge thereby enlarging the field of the agency and perhaps greatly benefiting som fellow-graduate. To secure the benefit of the agency, the teacher must be member of the Alumni Association Any graduate can join the same by send ing his name and a fee of one dollar t the Secretary, H. G. Squier.

No State makes more liberal provisions for the formation aud maintenance of

public school libraries, especially those in the smaller districts, than does Califor nia. An annual appropriation of forty or fifty dollars is amply sufficient in these days of good and cheap books to place the humblest district school in pos session of a good library within a few years. The library fund, although sub ject to much misuse through carelessness but more often, lack of wisdom, accom plishes much more good than any other small sum expended by our State Teachers and trustees everywhere, how ever, by giving more thought to this im portant factor in our public schools, can certainly increase ite usefulness many fold.

Herbert Spencer has said that in se lecting studies for an education, the useful should be preferred to the ornamenta! In selecting books for a library the same rule should apply. The best reference