The Second District of the Congress of Mothers, the federation which includes San Francisco and the neighboring counties, gave a luncheon on Thursday, September the thirteenth, at the St. Francis Hotel. Several stimulating addresses were made, notably by Mrs. Cable, president of the California Federation of Women's Clubs, Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt, and Mr. Hunter, Superintendent of Schools in Oakland. Mr. Hunter drew the attention of educators to what is happening in Germany. A country has been transformed in a few decades by the relentless process of education. The Germany of today is the result of the work of her school system. So can it be with any country. So Greece achieved. So may we, if we adopt any definite, glowing, or relentless ideal. He urged the glowing ideal; the remaking of the school program, and sketched for his listeners an enriched Course of Study which would fit the needs and aspirations of all the children of all the people. The San Francisco State Normal School The Parent Teacher Association of the San Francisco State Normal held its regular meeting on Friday, September the fourteenth. Departing from their custom of meeting in the school which gives it its name, the members assembled in the auditorium of the Girl's High School to hear an address by Miss Charlotte Ebbits, director for California under Mr. Hoover, of Home Economics. Miss Ebbits was followed by Dr. Adelaide Brown who explained the purpose and use of the food charts prepared by the members of the Public Health Committee of the San Francisco Center. A special meeting of the Perent Teacher Association of the Normal School was held on Friday, September the twentyeighth. Dr. Frederic Burk gave a talk on "Mothers and Movies," giving valuable suggestions as to woman's responsibility in this immediate problem. The newly formed orchestra gave several musical selections. McKinley School The Parent Teacher Association of the McKinley School met on Wednesday, September the nineteenth, in the auditorium of the school. After a musical program of the school's standard of excellence had been enjoyed, the important subject of "the school bonds" was discussed. Mrs. George Wale covered carefully her subject, and the club gave its eager endorsement to the civic measure. Sherman School The Mothers Club of the Sherman School met on Tuesday the eleventh. The bond issue and the food crisis were the subjects of one exhortation, by Mrs. Aiken; Miss Musto following with a plea for co-operation in the benefit for the San Francisco Congress of Mothers. Parkside School The Mothers Club of the Parkside School met regularly, Mrs. Frank of the Public Health Committee of the San Francisco. Center giving an address on the Food Charts. Mrs. Frank explained their purpose and value, and appealed for the sympathy and co-operation of the women of the Parkside School in this national and international emergency. Bids Wanted for Manual in Physical Education for Use of Teachers The State Board of Education hereby invites authors or publishers to submit sealed proposals or bids for the sale or lease of the right to publish and distribute in California the following: A manual in physical education for the use of teachers. Manuscripts or sample books of the above should be submitted to the Secretary of the Board, at his office in Room 706, Forum Building, Sacramento, on or before October 15, 1917. Bids for the sale or lease of such rights, inclosed in a separate sealed envelope addressed to the Secretary of the Board, itemized according to specifications, and marked "Bids for manual in physical education for use of teachers," may be submitted on or before the hour of 4 o'clock p. m. of October 15, 1917. Specifications giving rules and particulars concerning this matter may be had upon application to the Secretary of the State Board of Education, Sacramento. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, Sacramento, California. Edward Hyatt, Secretary. KRAFT FIBRE The new material for making Baskets, Trays, Hats, Etc. The Teachers' Association of San Francisco Representing: Principals of High School, Mr. F. H. Clark. Principals of Intermediate Schools, Mr. R. D. Faulkner. Principals of Elementary Schools, Mrs. M. Fitzgerald, Miss Alice Rose Power, Miss A. M. Hagarty. Representing Supervisors of Special Subjects: Miss Katherine Ball, elected at Governing Council; Miss Margaret Burke, Mrs. R. Eisenschimel, Miss E. W. Grant, Miss S. A. Hobe, Miss A. J. Johnson, Miss C. Gilchrist, Miss Frances A. C. Mooney, Mr. A. Altmann, Dr. M. E. Blanchard, Dr. I. C. Hatch. Presidents of Councils : Council No. 2, Miss A. G. Duffy; Council No. 8, Miss Nellie Sullivan; Council No. 11, Miss Mary Elliott; Council No. 12, Mrs. Mabel A. Sykes; Council No. 14, Miss Alice Corbett. Presidents of Clubs: Annuity Association, Mrs. M. Stuart; Teachers' Mutual Aid Assn., Miss K. F. Casey; Kate Kennedy Club, Miss E. E. Kelly; Yerba Buena Club, Miss Janet Wade; Ideal Club, Miss N. Livingstone; Adelante Club, Miss Emily S. Smith; Teachers' Round Table, Miss Edith M. Gilmore; Grade Teachers' Assn., Miss M. F. Mooney; Men Teachers' Club, Mr. A. J. Cloud. Communications were received from: Mme. Jules Clerfayt,, who desires to give a Course of Lectures before the teachers on "Travel and Art in France and Belgium." It was decided that the time is not opportune for lectures, but that at some future date the Association would take up the matter. From Council No. 3, notifying the Directory that it has reorganized under the name of the "Teachers' Round Table." Miss Edith M. Gilmore of the Haight School is president and Miss S. A. Webster of the Redding School is secretary and treasurer. From the Grade Teachers' Association, stating that it had been organized with 159 paying members. Miss M. F. Mooney of the Horace Mann Intermediate School and Miss S. A. Corpstein of the Fairmount School have been chosen president and secretary respectively. From Council No. 9, which has changed its name to the Adelante Club, Miss Emily S. Smith of the Frank M. Coppin School, president, and Miss Anna T. Crowley, secretary. From Council No. 1, certifying that its name had been changed to the Men Teachers' Club of San Francisco and that Mr. A. J. Cloud had been elected president and Mr. F. H. Clark, secretary for the year 1917-18. that her committee had held a conference. with the members of the Board of Education to work in unison with it for the passage of the school bonds. The Board of Education will inaugurate a campaign to secure their passage. Every teacher is urged to put his shoulder to the wheel to help in this drive. for the year 1917-18: The following officers. were re-elected President, Mr. A. A. Altmann (Lowell High School); Vice-President, Miss Margaret Burke (Hancock School); Secretary, Miss Frances A. C. Mooney (Bryant Cosmopolitan School); Treasurer, Mrs. Mabel A. Sykes (Mission Grammar School). The Treasurer reported: Cash on hand at beginning of term..$280.19 Dues collected at Governing Coun cil It was decided that the Teachers' Welfare Committee be asked to request the Board of Education at the beginning of next term to arrange a permanent cal- Expenditures endar for the year in advance as is arranged in other cities. Dr. M. E. Blanchard, Chairman of the Committee on Education, reported that he had been working on a plan to bring the School Survey before the teaching body. He had hoped to be able to place a copy of the three most important chapters in the hands of each teacher. This was found impracticable on account of the expense attached. A vote had been taken in twenty-five of the larger schools, in varied districts of the city. It was found that seventyfive per cent of the teachers in these schools are anxious anxious to attend district meetings where the Survey shall be read and discussed. A lengthy discussion was held in reference to the manner of presenting these Chapters of the Survey to the teachers. The manner of conducting the meetings in reference to the Survey which are held Saturday mornings at the Palace Hotel was explained. It was decided finally that the Committee on Education secure satisfactory Digests of the important chapters of the Survey. These will be ready early in November and the Education Committee will formulate a plan to present the same to the teaching body. Mrs. Marjorie Stuart, Chairman of the Committee on Civic Welfare, reported Cash on hand 133.00 $413.19 30.10 $383.09 A. Altmann, Pres. ** WHY THE UNITED STATES IS AT WAR -PRIZES TO CALIFORNIA TEACHERS -STATE CONTEST The sum of $300 has been placed at the disposal of the National Board for Historical ServC., to be expended in prizes to the public ice, 1133 Woodward Building, Washington, D. school tetchers of the State of California for the best essays on the subject: "Why the United States is at War." It is intended that the treatment should be primarily historical in character, bringing out those facts of recent or more remote history which seem to have a bearing on the question. It is proposed to offer the prizes as follows: Group A-For Teachers in public High Schools: A first prize of $75; a second prize of $30; a third prize of $20; a fourth prize of $15; a fifth prize of $10. Group B-For Teachers in Public Elementary Schools: A first prize of $75; a second prize of $25; five third prizes of $10 each. All communications should be addressed to Waldo G. Leland, secretary, National Board of Historical Service, 1133 Woodward Building, Washington, D. C. California School of Fine Arts Formerly Mark Hopkins Institute Affiliated College of the University of California California and Mason Streets SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA LEE RANDOLPH, Director of the School Fall Term Opens August 13, 1917 Courses in LIFE, PORTRAIT, ANTIQUE, STILL-LIFE, COMPOSITION, SCULPTURE, ANATOMY, SKETCH, ILLUSTRATION, ETCHING INTERIOR DECORATION, DESIGN, COSTUME DESIGN, ARTS AND CRAFTS, MECHANICAL DRAWING, COPPER WORK, COMMERCIAL AND PROCESS WORK, NORMAL ART LARGE AND VARIED NIGHT CLASSES Students may enter at any time modest or timid in their demands. We The Western Journal of Education have always felt, not that high school perience at Columbia University. The pro HARR WAGNER, Managing Editor. EDWARD HYATT, Supt. of Public Instruction, Editor Founded in 1895, it commands the support of every teacher who is interested in the newest lines of educational thought, and of every trustee who desires to keep in touch with movements for the betterment of the schools. It is not run in the interest of any special organization, of any interest or type of educational doctrine. Its field includes an optimistic support of the best class of educational uplift, both of men and measures. of Manuscripts, Contributions of an educational character, including Methods, Devices, School News, Matters Special Interest to School Trustees, etc., desired. Published Monthly Subscription, $1.50 per Year Single Copies, 15 Cents Address all Communications to THE WESTERN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION 239 Geary Street, San Francisco, Cal. Entered at San Francisco Post Office as second class matter. salaries were too high, but grade salaries are too low. It costs a grade teacher in a city just as much to live as a high school teacher. Why the difference in salary of $300 to $600 per year? Preparation? It is nearly all at the expense of the state. And there are other evoluments for the high school teacher. The question, however, is for the grade teacher to get more salary. Bulletin No. 49, U. S. Bureau of Education, prepared by Harold F. Foght, specialist in rural schools, ranks California as low as the lowest in professional preparation. We are glad to note that C. L. Phelps of the Fresno State Normal in the "Elementary School Journel," Maay number, replies to Mr. Foght's bulletin. The U. E. Bureau of Education has a lot of underdone young men gathering unrelated, and unreliable statistics that cause just and indignant criticism. Mr. Phelps concludes his article. with the following virile sentence: "Mr. Foght's statistical study of forty-one rural teachers from two counties not one of whom is a normal graduate is grossly misrepresentative of the training of rural elementary teachers in California." The great teachers have always had the wisdom of experience. The great military leaders have as a rule been impetuous youths. The rule of our government and of some big business corporations to consider no application for civil service examinations fro positions over 35, has led some school boards to adopt the same or similar rules. The teacher is not a product of a pedagogive factory. The teacher is not limited as to age. The teacher is the one who has demonstrated in the class room the ability to get results. We understand the San Francisco Survey has commented on the age of San Francisco teachers, as though age was a detriment to the school system. This is wrong. Where the teacher is progressive, successful and alive, there is no age limit. * turned from a two months' educational exfession of teaching has advanced so rapidly the past twenty years that the progressive teacher is ever after the newest approved experience and results. What hospital knowledge is to the medical profession, the educational research work of teachers is to the teaching profession. Will C. Wood is a man of distinct achievement. He works ffrom the right viewpoint. He is an expert who has remained human. And whether as principal of an Alameda school, or in the larger experience as lecturer at Columbia and representative of the tate, he is still Will C. Wood without pedagogical or official frills. * The ninth session of the Del Norte County Teachers' Institute convened at Crescent City on September 11, 1917, the session lasting three days. Two very interesting speakers were introduced by Superintendent Hamilton. They were Preston W. Search and Arthur I. Street. Mr. Search is a well known figure in the educational world and was well qualified to speak on the subjects he chose. His talks were especially inspiring to the teachers present. Mr. Street is sent out by the Extension Department of the University of California, his special line being Current Events. He gave some very helpful hints as to the use of current events in the school. Vocal selections and reading by local talent completed the program. Marysville opens with part of her classes in her new building. in her new building. The school world of this end of the State is growing so rapidly that it is becoming a problem to make room fast enough. Grass Valley opened the elementary schools with an enrollment of 725. This is an advance over last year. * * * Miss Esther Arnold of San Jose will have charge of the new kindergarten work in the Red Bluff schools. Extensive alterations have delayed the opening of the city schools in that place. Glenn L. Allen, former principal of the Red Bluff High School, is now a lieutenant in the army. The Kate Kennedy School Women's Club of San Francisco, Miss E. E. Kelly, president, gave its quarterly luncheon on September 15, in the beautiful Italian Room at Hotel St. Francis. The topic for the day, "Efficiency-Social Service," was handled inspiringly by Miss Florence Hall, head of the Department of Salesmanship, High School of Commerce; Miss Mildred Tibbals, Educational Director, O'Connor, Moffatt & Co., and Mr. Frederick Birdsall, head of Drafting Department, Union Iron Works. Mme. Lia Cadenasso, charmed all by her singing, and the Misses Pagliettini of the Monroe School rendered delightful music on their violins. * * SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS OF STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SEPTEMBER 3-8, 1917 By C. S. PIXLEY The State Board of Education met in special session September 3rd, for the purpose of selecting a State Supervisor of Physical Education, and disposing of other lesser matters. After consideration of the several candidates and others who were not avowed candidates for the position, the Board tendered the appointment to Professor Clark W. Hetherington of the University of the University of Wisconsin. Commissioner Snyder was authorized to confer with the Federal Board of Vocational Education in Washington, D. C., in September. The Board authorized the printing of posters for the high schools, showing the requirements for entrance to State Normal Schools, and also ordered the printing of posters containing the rule governing moral conditions on the schools. In view of the necessity of securing additional help to do the work connected with the new textbook laws, the Board tendered the appointment as textbook assistant to Mr. Sam Cohn of Alameda. The requirements in Physical Science, for admission to the regular teachers' course in the State Normal Schools, was amended to read as follows: Physical Science. One unit of General Science, including the applied elements of physics, chemistry and physical geography, or two units of physical sciences; provided, that for students entering before June 30, 1918, one unit of physics, or chemistry, or physical geography may be accepted as meeting this requirement. The original resolution fixing the pedagogy required under section 1775, P.C., for the elementary certification of certain college graduates, was modified by elimination of the proviso requiring that four units be based on practice teaching. The Commissioner of Secondary Schools was authorized to appoint necessary critic readers of high school tevtbooks for the purpose of the law passed by the 1917 legislature. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23 was taken up and referred to the commissioners to plan the necessary procedure and blan kforms to be submitted to the Board in October. The following resolution was adopted by the Board: "Whereas, present war conditions in the nation have resulted in unusual opportunities for the youth to enter the industrial field without due acedemic training, and "Whereas, these war conditions may deprive the nation of sufficient trained experts in science and administration necessary to world progress, therefore be it "Resolved, that this Board urge upon all public school authorities of the State the necessity for encouraging pupils to continue their school training, entering higher institutions of learning whenever possible, to the end that the development not only of the nation, but that of the individual shall not bze unnecessarily re Pending applications for high school credentials, State credentials in special subjects and health development certificates were disposed of. The commissioners of education were instructed to formulate rules for the certification of teachers of atypical children, commercial Spanish, oral teaching of the deaf and citizenship. Most criticism of phonics is due to ignorance in regard to the structure of the English language and a misconception of what is meant by phonetics. To many teachers, family phonograms and devices associated with them-including diacritical markings -constitute the science of phonetics. This error has been perpetuated and spread by the so-called authorities on reading; such as Huey, Klapper and McMurry. These men are well informed on educational psychology and pedagogy, but they are not informed in regard to phonetics. They discuss family phonograms and other devices seriously just as they find them in the socalled method readers. Very little has been published in English on the phonetic structure of our own language. About the only authorities are Sweet, Rippman, and Bell, and "The Guide to Pronunciation" in Webster's Dictionary. Family phonograms and similar devices are not recognized by these authorities. To teach English phonics in the primary grades requires, in the way of scholarship, a knowledge of: (a) the sounds of the let ters, (b) about seven phonetic principles, (c) the correct way to blend the sounds of the letters into words. A-THE SOUNDS OF THE LETTERS I. The sounds of the consonants: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m. n, p, r, II. The sounds of the vowels: III. The sounds of the diphthongs : IV. The sounds of the vowel digraphs: ai, ay, ie, oa, oe, ow, ue, ew, ee, ea V. The sounds of the consonant digraphs: sh, ch, tch, ck, th, wh, nk, ng B-SEVEN PHONETIC PRINCIPLES 1. Vowels are short except when modified by position: sat, rip, cot, cut, set, scratch, notch, fun, with 2. Final e lengthens the preceding vowel: cube, plate, tube, shade, hose, size, glade, robe, mete 3. In vowel digraphs the first vowel has its own long sound and the second vowel is silent. heap, rail, slay, roar, tie, hue, sleep, plea, hoe, own 4. Vowels followed by r have sounds modified, making the "murmur" diphthongs: stir, mar, clerk, churn, jerk, cur, dirt, her, sir, corn 5. There are four diphthongs, made by the union of two vowels in each case: oi (oil), oy (boy), ou (out), ow (cow) 6. C is soft before e, i, and y; otherwise it is hard. G is generally soft before e, i, and y; otherwise it is hard: ice, city, fleecy, can, cut, cot, gem, gin, gypsy, got, gun, gang 7. In open accented syllables the vowel is usually long: no, notation, nation, diner, fry, so, caliph, me It is to be noted that the accepted rules for the syllabic division of words apply to the written or printed word and are made primarily for the writer, the printer, and the typist. These rules are in part arbitrary and in part based upon etymology and pronunciation. However, syllables in the spoken word are frequently different from syllables in the written word, e.g., hunt er, pronounced hun ter, and din er, pronounced di ner. The spoken syllable, in distinction from the syllabic division in writing, is the important factor in phonetics. These two kinds of syllables are being recognized by lexicographers in the case of an increasing number of words. C-THE BLEND The stress is on the first part of a word. an initial consonant, or a consonant between two vowels, is usually sounded with the vowel following, and so there is no difficulty in sounding a consonant if it is joined with the vowel following. For these and other reasons, in blending the phonetic elements to build words, blend the sounds in the order in which they occur: bad, dra g, plu m, rid (NOT bad, dr ag, plum, rid), etc. Diacritical markings are unnecessary until the fourth or fifth grade, when they should be introduced in connection with the study of the dictionary. In the earlier grades, before the dictionary is introduced, they are not needed, because in every word that is phonetic there is something that enables one to recognize the sounds of the letters-e.g.: can is phonetic because the consonants have their usual sounds and the vowel is short. cane is phonetic because the final e shows that a is long. car is phonetic because the r shows that a has the Italian sound. call is phonetic because the final 11 shows. was is phonetic because after w, a usually (If we were to write "rage" we should The spelling of phonetic words offers little or no difficulty to one familiar with these few phonetic facts. In unphonetic words, where letters do not have their usual sounds and where there is nothing to show what the real sounds are, the problem is quite different. Such words must be taught as sight words, and in spelling the pupil must visualize these words, and write them, and spell them orally, giving the letters in the order in which they occur. Dun and done illustrate the difference between a phonetic and an unphonetic word and the difference in the spelling problem. Teaching "family phonograms" is like. teaching sight words. It is not phonetics at all. The use of the family phonograms and the blending of initial consonants with these family phonograms have brought discredit upon the subject of phonetics. It tends to produce stuttering and stammering. It trains the child to look at the ends of words, then to back up, and then to go ahead-all of which is a hindrance in spelling. The sounds of the letters. should be blended in the order in which they occur. This prevents stammering by putting the vowel with the initial consonant, and it helps in spelling by training the children to look first at the beginning of the word-where the stress belongs (bi d, not bid). A knowledge of the sounds included in Groups I to V, with a few phonetic principles, enables pupils to recognize more than eighty per cent of the words used in GHOSH'S WONDERS OF THE JUNGLE 190 PAGES, CLOTH, PRICE 48c A very popular supplementary reader for third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades. Highly regarded by principals and superintendents, as shown by the following comments: "It's fine."-J. D. Sweeney, Supt., Red Bluff. "I read it with my nine-year-old boy; we enjoyed it."-Roy Cloud, County Superintendent, San Mateo County. "An exceedingly interesting book."-Mr. Selden Sturges, Principal Everett School, San Francisco. "I tried it on my four-year-old niece. I confess I enjoyed it as much as she."-A. J. Hamilton, Principal of Washington School, Berkeley. "The children enjoy it very much."-Mrs. N. A. Wood, Principal Franklin School, San Francisco. "It gives pleasure to both teacher and pupils."-Miss T. T. Spencer, Principal Emerson School, San Francisco. "It is instructive and holds the deepest interest of the children."-Miss Fannie Martin, Principal Marshall School, San Francisco. "It stands in a class all to itself."-H. C. Petray, Principal of Grant School, Oakland. "The children are delighted with it."-Miss B. J. Barrows, Principal Hillside School, Berkeley. "Has afforded great pleasure to my boys and girls."-Mrs. I. M. C. Smith, Principal Palmetto Heights School, Sacramento. "A very desirable addition to our school library."-J. B. Monlux, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Los Angeles. "Delightfully written and highly instructive."-A. C. Wheat, Assistant Superintendent, Los Angeles County. A second volume of Prince Ghosh's Jungle Stories will be published in September. "Types of Reading Ability as Exhibited Through Tests and Laboratory Experiments, by Clarence Truman Gray, Adthe first three grades. This knowledge is junct Professor of Education in the Uni helpful in four ways: 1. It gives power in WORD RECOGNITION. 2. It leads to ACCURATE PRONUNCIATION and CLEAR ENUNCIATION. 3. It helps with SPELLING. 4. It leads to CONTENT READING. HAVE versity of Texas, has just been issued by the University of Chicago Press. Mr. Gray carried on a series of studies of reading for one year with the aid of a subsidy supplied by the General Education Board. He photographed the eyes of a CHICAGO Charles F. Scott types. Reports on these special cases are included in the monograph. "Pieces and Plays for October Days," by Grace B. Faxon, has just been issued from the press of F. A. Owen Pub. Co., Danville, New York. Price, 30c. This little book is a most timely one and contains many recitations, dances and stories which teachers will be glad to get. There are plays and dialogues for autumn festivals for Columbus Day celebrations, and for Hallowe'en entertainments, es pecially adapted for primary and grammar grade children. * "A Brief Account of Radio-Activity," by Francis P. Venable, professor in the D. C. University of North Carolina. Heath & Co., publishers. Price, 50c. Dr. Venable in this monograph gives a brief account of what is best worth knowing in the subject of radio-activity. The work contains chapters on The Discovery of Radio-activity, Properties of the Radiations, Changes in Radio-active Bodies. Nature of the Alpha Particle, Structure of the Atom, Radio-activity and the Chemical Theory. The work is based upon the writings of Rutherford, Soddy, and J. J. Thomson, and should prove of value not only to students of general chemistry and radio-activity, but also to busy men in other branches of science who wish to number of children who had been selected through carefully conducted tests in the Elementary School and in the High School Healthy, Strong, used Murine Eye Remedy of the University of Chicago. By means Oculists and Physicians Beautiful Eyes of the tests he was able to distinguish different types of ability to read; by means of the laboratory experiments he arrived at an explanation of a number of these many years before it was offered as a Domestic Eye Medicine. Murine is Still Compounded by Our Physicians and guaranteed by them as a Reliable Relief for Eyes that Need Care. Try it in your Eyes and in Baby's Eyes-No SmartingJust Eye Comfort. Buy Murine of your Druggist-accept no Substitute, and if interested write for Book of the Eye Free. MURINE EYE REMEDY COMPANY, Chicago, Ill. · know something of radio-activity and have scant leisure in which to read the larger treatises. |