know what is expected of her, A detailed and carefully prepared document on a proposed "mill-tax bill" was circulated by Melville A. Arnold, chairman of the Federation's committee on legislation. It was voted to favor the principle of equalization of taxes for the benefit of the poorer and more remote communities which Massachusetts stands almost alone among American states in never having recognized. Miss Katherine Dolbear, daughter of the late Professor Dolbear of Tufts College, gave some amusing experiences from her teaching in California. Superintendent George L. Farley of Brockton made a report on needed changes in school curricula, mostly in the direction of further democratization of education, on which recommendations three of the above resolutions were based. It was voted to extend the congratulations of the Federation to E. S. Cogswell, lately secretary of the state teachers' retirement fund, who has been promoted to be head of the workingmen's bureau. compensation MEDWAY. There was a most enjoyable event for the members of the school committees of the towns of Medway, Holliston and Sherborn, representatives from the boards of selectmen of each town, and educators, about twenty in all, in a banquet given them recently by the superintendent of schools, Carroll H. Drown, at the Quinobequin Inn. The post-prandial exercises consisted of addresses and impromptu remarks. Superintendent Drown briefly stated the object of the "get together," and emphasized the need of school committees getting together more often and giving far more consideration to the great problems of education, as well as to their more menial official duties. He also referred to some of the vital present-day problems which educators and those having the responsibility of the schools must meet. He outlined a scheme of re-adjustment of the grade system and high school courses, which, he thinks, will better meet the present needs and give opportunities for more practical education. The company was honored in being addressed by Mason S. Stone, state commissioner of education of Vermont. Superintendent A. O. Caswell of Milford gave a short response to a toast referring to incidents in connection with his work in the Philippines, while Mr. Stone was general superintendent of education there. MEDFORD. Charles N. Jones, former State senator, has resigned as member of the school board after a service of thirty-five years. The teachers of the city all contributed to a testimonial, in gold, of their appreciation. SANDISFIELD. Harold C. Bales of Wilton, N. H., was selected as the school superintendent for the district comprising the towns of Sandisfield, Granville, Tolland and Southwick by the school committees of the four towns. The new superintendent will succeed Josiah S. McCann. His salary for the first year will be $1,500. Mr. Bales is a graduate of Dartmouth College. He was an instructor in mathematics in the Concord (N. H.) high school from 1909 to 1912. From September, 1912, to June, 1914, Mr. Bales was principal of the Dalton High School. Since 1914 he has been a graduate student and assistant in mathematics at the Massachusetts agricultural college. His work at Amherst has been along lines of agricultural education with special emphasis on the supervision of rural schools. MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. PENNSYLVANIA, ERIE. The school board presen to the electorate of Erie a proposition to increase the bonded debt of the school district by $1,000,000. A systematic, well-directed effort was made in the way of enlightening all the people on the subject through articles published in the papers. The subject was very fully discussed and reasons given for the action of the Board. Every phase of the loan was explained, conditions were definitely detailed and every possible question or objection that could be raised was fully and frankly met. As the result of this action, the loan carried by a very large majority. TIOGA COUNTY. County Super intendent E. A. Reton has issued the first number of the Tioga County School Journal. It is a four-paged paper, packed full of helpful matter for every teacher. SOUTHERN STATES. OKLAHOMA. NORMAN. Dr. Walter L. Capshaw, for seven years professor of anatomy at the University of Oklahoma, died suddenly of pneumonia Christmas morning. He was a graduate of St. Louis University and intended studying in the East while on sabbatic leave this year, but was prevented by ill health. He was twenty-nine years old and leaves a wife and two children. CENTRAL STATES. INDIANA GARY. At the request of the United States Bureau of Education, Superintendent William Wirt, of the Gary public schools, has designated two periods for the benefit of those who wish to visit the Gary schools en route to or from the convention of the National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education, to be held in Minneapolis, January 20, 21 and 22, 1916. Mr. Wirt says: "The public schools of Gary will be pleased to receive visitors January 18 and 19 and January 24 to 29, 1916, to accommodate persons attending the meeting in Minneapolis." Gary is about thirty-seven miles east of Chicago and may be reached via Baltimore & Ohio or Pennsylvania Railroad. There is also hourly connection by electric from Chicago. It is announced from New York City that William Wirt, originator of the Gary system and superintendent of schools here, is to continue for another year as adviser to the New York Board of Education. LAPORTE. Arthur Deamer. for ten years superintendent of the Lahas porte public schools, been elected superintendent of the public schools at Fargo, North Dakota. TERRE HAUTE. Vocational Education was the theme in the discussions incident to the dedication of the new vocational building of the Indiana State Normal School, January 6. Governor W. N. Ferris of Michigan was the principal speaker. The forty-sixth anniversary of the founding of the normal school was celebrated in connection with the dedication. ILLINOIS. CHICAGO. Arithmetic will be supplemented by instruction in antigambling, if some of the Chicago school trustees have their way. They believe that if a boy is taught how to hand'e the financial situations incicent a game of craps or a hand at poker, he ought to be warned simultaneously that the path of the bankamateur gambler leads to ruptcy. John W. Eckhart, chairman of the special committee appointed to clean up the neighborhoods surrounding schools, expects to bring a recom mendation before the board asking authority to employ special investigators to gather evidence on the places of iniquity which he asserts abound in school neighborhoods. sult in instruction in avoiding the Another recommendation may repitfalls of youth. "The boys and girls in our schools ought to be warned against dangers that surround the schools," says Mr. Eckhart. "They are not taught to keep away from vicious poolrooms, from ice cream parlors where gambling is permitted, and from the other dens of vice. Two bad boys in a poolroom can demoralize a haif hundred good boys. "If the board of education can present good evidence to the city' officials I believe it will have no difficulty in cleaning up school neighborhoods." "I believe we ought to have a non-sectarian Sunday School in our schools," said Mr. Loeb, president of the board. "We ought to teach ethics. We ought to teach right living. We ought to make boys and girls understand that many courses before them lead only to grief or crime or shiftlessness. The University of Chicago, which is about to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary, really began its career in 1891 when the faculty was organized, rather than in 1892, when, on October 1, it opened its doors to students. The University authorities have already taken preliminary steps for a proper celebration of this quarter-centennial. A committee of arrangements consisting of thirty-five members has been appointed, including representatives of the Board of Trustees, of the Faculties, of the alumni and of students in residence. Numerous sub-committees are engaged upon the details of the celebration, which will take place June 9-13, 1916. A noteworthy feature of the quarter-centennial celebration will be the dedication of Ida Noyes Hall, and gymthe $500,000 clubhouse nasium for women. At the ninety-seventh convocation of the University of Chicago in addition to a very large number of Illinoisian graduates there will be others from Alabama (2), Washington, D. C. (1), Indiana (5), Iowa (2), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (3), Minnesota (4), Mississippi (1), Missouri (4), Nebraska (1), North Dakota (2), Ohio (5), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (2), Texas (1), Japan (1), Philippines (2), Russia (1). NEBRASKA. NORTH PLATTE. A junior high school building will be erected at North Platte during the coming year, the citizens having authorized an issue of $50,000 in bonds for that purpose at a special election this week. This building will contain all of the seventh, eighth and ninth grades of the city. It will be the first building erected in the state for this kind of a school. SOUTHWESTERN STATES. CALIFORNIA. FRESNO.. Should a child answer his teacher with "Yes" and "No," or should his reply be, "Yes ma'am-No ma'am" or "Yes sir,"-"No sir"? This question occupied Over an hour's time in a recent meeting of the Board of Education. The motion was passed that Superintendent Starr instruct the teachers that "Sir" and "Ma'am" should be used. Many of the teachers had instructed their pupils to say the plain "Yes" and No At the first state convention of high school principals ever held in California, which met here last month, Will C. Wood, State Commissioner of Secondary Education, acted as chairman, and in his address he said of the high school fraternity problem:"It is most important that false standards should not be fostered in the schools. High school fraternities existed only in defiance of law, and young and impressionable minds should not be given such ideals. Scholarship is lowered by memberships in these organizations. "Fraternities in high schools do not teach self-reliance, and the youth is likely to depend upon 'pull' instead of upon enterprise. The fraternities exist because the parents are willing that they should exist. To break them up, the first appeal should be MILES C. HOLDEN, President to parents and not to the SAN FRANCISCO. Results of two "There is no reason," Mr. Burke The conclusions drawn from the data, included in the sixty-nine page monograph, set forth that under the individual system practically all pupils would finish school before the ages at which they now seek to leave. "thus dissipating the appalling fact that sixty per cent. or more of the youth of the land enter upon world life without equipment of at least an elementary schooling." 1. The usual eight grades will be completed by the slowest pupils in not more than seven years and by the fastest in not more than five years. 2. The individual system must in principle and does in fact give a thoroughness and efficiency to every pupil quite beyond any possibility of the lock step schooling. Other conclusions dwelt upon the reduced cost because of the elimination of waste and "repeaters," the reduction of the number of pupils to each teacher for the same reasons and the greater adaptability of the system to the varied needs of children. "Under the class system," Mr. Burke said, "not only must pupils keep in lock step with one another, but also each pupil must make even progress in the six to ten subjects he may be studying at one time. If he keeps well the step in reading, geography, etc., but fails in arithme MASSACHUSETTS SALT LAKE CITY. Preparedness and a military program for the schools found little sympathy at the hands of speakers before the Utah Educational Association, which held its annual meeting here last month. Peace was the desire of the speakers, and preparing for war was not their idea of ensuring peace. Against his expressed wishes, State Superintendent E. G. Gowans was elected president of the association. D. C. Jensen of Brigham was elected vice-president. Professor Howard R. Driggs of the University of Utah, retiring president, and P. D. Jensen of Ephraim were elected trustees. The association made provision to enlarge the scope of its work next year by a greater degree of specialization, in that it was decided to incorporate three additional sections for sectional discussions next year. These sections are in home economics, English and history. Superintendent C. H. Skidmore of the Granite District so destroyed the widely circulated report that Utah spent eighty-eight per cent. of its total tax receipts on education that the association embodied his contention in its resolutions. Mr. Skid Winter and Spring Civil Service All teachers should try the U. S. Government examinations to be held throughout the entire country during the Winter and Spring. The positions to be filled pay from $600 to $1500; have short hours and annual vacations, with full pay. Those interested should write immediately to Franklin Institute, Dept. E 221, Rochester, N. Y., for large descriptive book, showing the positions available, and giving many sample examination questions, which will be sent free of charge. more said it was forty-four per cent., not eighty-eight. The resolutions adopted by the association follow: "Be it resolved that the Utah Educational Association affirms its approval of the American School Peace League, the organization of peace leagues among pupils, the observance of peace day, May 18, and the dissemination of literature bearing on international relations. The association views with satisfaction the efforts made by the American Peace League to secure the cooperation of teachers in other countries, and hopes that in the future similar school peace leagues may become active forces in the educational systems of the different countries of the world. "Whereas a false impression is wide spread that eighty-eight per cent. of the revenue of the state is expended for educational purposes, and, "Whereas such impression is resulting in grave injury to the schools of 'the state, therefore, "Be it resolved, that each member of this association act as a committee of one to do all in his or her power to correct this impression, and, furthermore, that the report of the special committee on taxation which has been adopted by this convention be printed and given as wide circulation as possible." NORTHWESTERN STATES. IDAHO. BOISE. The Idaho State Teachers' Association, which met in Boise December 28 and 29,_presented some unique features. There were the usual general and sectional meetings, also a meeting of the Educational Council, but, instead of devoting all of the time of the general sessions to the usual purposes, one afternoon was given over to the subject, "Educational Progress in Idaho." Superintendent Walter R. Siders of Pocatello, chairman of the Executive Committee, had sent a circular letter to all the county and city superintendents in the state asking them to report on any educational experiments or achievements which were worthy of note. A large number of replies were received. these replies the Executive Committe selected such things as would show the new educational features in the state. Among the subjects dis From cussed were: Rural School Libra ries, Hot Lunches in Rural Schools. Community Centre Work in Rural Schools, The Six-Three-Three Plan, Teachers' Cottages, One-Hour Study Recitation Plan for High Schools, A Free School Lyceum Course, Junior Civic Leagues and School Orchestra and Band. A number of Idaho city schools are using one hour for a combined study recitation. The recitation comes first, and from twenty to thirty minutes of the hour are utilized for supervised study. The Free School Lyceum Course is in operation in Twin Falls County, and the course offers lectures, readers, musicians, demonstrators of agricultural, household and vocational work. The community desiring the services of any of the persons scheduled for this lyceum work notifies the county superintendent at Twin Falls, who sends out the desired talent at no cost to the community other than the expense necessary to take them to the appointed place and back home. Most of the trips are made in automobiles at small expense. The schools at Buhl have a large number of country pupils during the noon hour. School band and school orchestra practice uses part of this time, a children's story hour is maintained and illustrated lantern lectures are given. Also pupils who have extra work to make up are drilled during this noon hour instead of after school. The plan is proving very successful. One evening was given over to a symposium on the Idaho School System. The president of the State Board of Education, the Commissioner of Education, the State Superintendent, the head of each state school, a county superintendent, a city superintendent, a high school principal, a teacher and a school trustee were each on the program to present the phase of Idaho school work which he represented. This was one of the most interesting programs of the session, giving, as it did, a bird's-eye view of the whole educational system of the state. Superintendent Siders presented to the Educational Council the subject of "Home-Made Survey as an Aid to Local Progress." The principles governing surveys were discussed, and the objective standards now available in education were cited as a means which might be used by local school people wherewith to test and compare their schools with school conditions elsewhere. OREGON. MEDFORD. At the annual State Teachers' Association meeting here, the last week in December, the constitution, as reported by the committee that has had it in preparation during the past year, was adopted. It effects a merger of the eastern and western divisions of the state association. The purpose is to place the organization in better working condition and in closer touch with interesting problems regularly arising in educational activities, and it is believed that, under the combined strength of the wo organizations nici ged int one, this general desideratum may be reached with more substantial results. The new body will have a central council composed of representatives from all of the various educational procedure in classes. They study the organization of the system and apply accepted standards to determining what in it is good, what not. They report their findings, both favorable and unfavorable, and make recommendations. Findings and recommendations alike are based upon personal investigations within the system of schools. Whether the report proves creditable to the system depends upon the completeness of their observations and upon their standards of judgment. So far as Mr. Watson is aware, no survey has yet tried seriously to determine in intelligible terms for any community to what degree its schools satisfy the demand for upright and intelligent citizenship composed of law-abiding, self-respecting, self-supporting men and women; to what degree the schools afford every individual of school age the means whereby he or she may discover the pursuit for which either is best fitted, that which will supply the best opportunity for using native talents and will give the requisite preliminary training. But the fact that this field of investigation is a most difficult field should not prevent attempts at investigation. It, however, is the duty of every school system, instead of invoking spasmodic survey by a special committee from time to time, to maintain a progressive and continuous "check" upon its effectiveness. There should be self-survey. We have for several years, through the cooperation of principals and teachers, conducted a "check" upon the Spokane schools. Attention is drawn to the brief outline of the plan and to some of the results attained. Our selfsurvey comprises the considerations determining progress, non-promotions, persistency in attendance at school, ascertaining the causes and extent of quitting school and the census of our schools. One of the determinants as to the success of a school or a school system consists of persistence in attendance. Assuming educative material and educational methods to be of the right kind, assuming also that the pupil attacks the material with reasonable vigor, the longer the pupil can be held in school, and the more nearly he approaches completing a prescribed course, the better for the individual and the community. Moreover, the degree of persistence in attendance forms one of the surest indicators of the fitness of the educa institutions and organizations in the SCHOOLS and COLLEGES state that hold regular meetings. This will be the governing body. It will also provide for the establishment of an educational journal, the policy of which shall at all times be controlled by the executive committee. H. H. Herdman presided at the meeting, and proved a great one for the association. WASHINGTON. SPOKANE. Speaking of surveys, Superintendent Watson says: Girls' School FOR SALE AT SACRIFICE Flourishing Girls' School in large city of Middle West. Established 25 years. I health of Principal only reason for selling. Address WINSHIP TEACHERS' AGENCY, 6 Beacon St., Boston. TATE NORMAL SCHOOL, Bridgewater, Mass. For both sexes. For catalogue, address the Principal, A. C. Boyden. M. A. The need of a scale of measurement of the output of our schools is S not a new discovery. It has expressed itself as school surveys. These, for the most part, are conducted by persons of recognized standing as educators. They it the city to be investigated, consult with the officials and agents of its schools, inspect records and reports, examine courses of study and note STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, Salem, Massachusetts, Coeducational Department for the pedagogical and technical training of teachers of the commercial subjects. J. Asbury Pi man, Principal. Minnesota (4), Mississippi (1), Missouri (4), Nebraska (1), North Dakota (2), Ohio (5), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (2), Texas (1), Japan (1), Philippines (2), Russia (1). NEBRASKA. NORTH PLATTE. A junior high school building will be erected at North Platte during the coming year, the citizens having authorized an issue of $50,000 in bonds for that purpose at a special election this week. This building will contain all of the seventh, eighth and ninth It will be the grades of the city. first building erected in the state for this kind of a school. SOUTHWESTERN STATES. CALIFORNIA. FRESNO. Should a child answer his teacher with "Yes" and "No," or should his reply be, "Yes ma'am-No ma'am" or "Yes sir,"-"No sir"? 4 This question occupied over an hour's time in a recent meeting of the Board of Education. The motion was passed that Superintendent Starr instruct the teachers that "Sir" and "Ma'am" should be used. Many of the teachers had instructed their pupils to say the plain Y "Yes" and At the first state convention of high school principals ever held in California, which met here last month, Will C. Wood, State Commissioner of Secondary Education, acted as chairman, and in his address he said of the high school fraternity problem:"It is most important that false standards should not be fostered in the schools. High school fraternities existed only in defiance of law, and young and impressionable minds should not be given such ideals. Scholarship is lowered by memberships in these organizations. "Fraternities in high schools do not teach self-reliance, and the youth is likely to depend upon 'pull' instead of upon enterprise. The fraternities exist because the parents are willing that they should exist. To break them up, the first appeal should be MILES C. HOLDEN, President to boards." Cover Cover Company MASSACHUSETTS parents and not to the tic, he is forced to 'repeat' and must SAN FRANCISCO. Results of two "There is no reason," Mr. Burke The conclusions drawn from the 1. The usual eight grades will be 2. The individual system must in principle and does in fact give a thoroughness and efficiency to every pupil quite beyond any possibility of the lock step schooling. Other conclusions dwelt upon the reduced cost because of the elimination of waste and "repeaters," the reduction of the number of pupils to each teacher for the same reasons and the greater adaptability of the system to the varied needs of children. "Under the class system," Mr. Burke said, "not only must pupils keep in lock step with one another, but also each pupil must make even progress in the six to ten subjects he may be studying at one time. If he keeps well the step in reading, geography, etc., but fails in arithme UTAH. It SALT LAKE CITY. Preparedness and a military program for the schools found little sympathy at the hands of speakers before the Utah Educational Association, which held its annual meeting here last month. Peace was the desire of the speakers, and preparing for war was not their idea of ensuring peace. Against his expressed wishes, State Superintendent E. G. Gowans was elected president of the association. D. C. Jensen of Brigham was elected vice-president. Professor Howard R. Driggs of the University of Utah, retiring president, and P. D. Jensen of Ephraim were elected trustees. The association made provision to enlarge the scope of its work next year by a greater degree of specialization, in that it was decided to incorporate three additional sections for sectional discussions next year. These sections are in home economics, English and history. Superintendent C. H. Skidmore of the Granite District so destroyed the widely circulated report that Utah spent eighty-eight per cent. of its total tax receipts on education that the association embodied his contention in its resolutions. Mr. Skid Winter and Spring Civil Service All teachers should try the U. S. Government examinations to be held throughout the entire country during the Winter and Spring. The positions to be filled pay from $600 to $1500; have short hours and annual vacations, with full pay. Those interested should write immediately to Franklin Institute, Dept. E 221, Rochester, N. Y., for large descriptive book, showing the positions available, and giving many sample examination questions, which will be sent free of charge. more said it was forty-four per cent., not eighty-eight. The resolutions adopted by the association follow: "Be it resolved that the Utah Educational Association affirms its approval of the American School Peace League, the organization of peace leagues among pupils, the observance of peace day, May 18, and the dissemination of literature bearing on international relations. The association views with satisfaction the efforts made by the American Peace League to secure the cooperation of teachers in other countries, and hopes that in the future similar school peace leagues may become active forces in the educational systems of the different countries of the world. "Whereas a false impression is wide spread that eighty-eight per cent. of the revenue of the state is expended for educational purposes, and, "Whereas such impression is resulting in grave injury to the schools of the state, therefore, and, "Be it resolved, that each member of this association act as a committee of one to do all in his or her power to correct this impression, furthermore, that the report of the special committee on taxation which has been adopted by this convention be printed and given as wide circulation as possible." NORTHWESTERN STATES. IDAHO. BOISE. The Idaho State Teachers' Association, which met in Boise December 28 and 29, presented some unique features. There were the usual general and sectional meetings, also a meeting of the Educational Council, but, instead of devoting all of the time of the general sessions to the usual purposes, one afternoon was given over to the subject, "Educational Progress in Idaho." Superintendent Walter R. Siders of Pocatello, chairman of the Executive Committee, had sent a circular letter to all the county and city superintendents in the state asking them to report on any educational experiments or achievements which were worthy of note. A large number of replies were received. From these replies the Executive Committe selected such things as would show the new educational features in the state. Among the subjects discussed were: Rural School Libraries, Hot Lunches in Rural Schools, Community Centre Work in Rural Schools, The Six-Three-Three Plan, Teachers' Cottages, One-Hour Study Recitation Plan for High Schools, Α Free School Lyceum Course, Junior Civic Leagues and School Orchestra and Band. A number of Idaho city schools are using one hour for a combined study recitation. The recitation comes first, and from twenty to thirty minutes of the hour are utilized for supervised study. The Free School Lyceum Course is in operation in Twin Falls County, and the course offers lectures, readers, musicians, demonstrators of agricultural, household and vocational work. The community desiring the services of any of the persons scheduled for this lyceum work notifies the county superintendent at Twin Falls, who sends out the desired talent at no cost to the community other than the expense necessary to take them to the appointed place and back home. Most of the trips are made in automobiles at small expense. The schools at Buhl have a large number of country pupils during the noon hour. School band and school orchestra practice uses part of this time, a children's story hour is maintained and illustrated lantern lectures are given. Also pupils who have extra work to make up are drilled during this noon hour instead of after school. The plan is proving very successful. One evening was given over to a symposium on the Idaho School System. The president of the State Board of Education, the Commissioner of Education, the State Superintendent, the head of each state school, a county superintendent, a city superintendent, a high school principal, a teacher and a school trustee were each on the program to present the phase of Idaho school work which he represented. This was one of the most interesting programs of the session, giving, as it did, a bird's-eye view of the whole educational system of the state. Superintendent Siders presented to the Educational Council the subject of "Home-Made Survey as an Aid to Local Progress." The principles governing surveys were discussed, anu the objective standards now available in education were cited as a means which might be used by local school people wherewith to test and compare their schools with school conditions elsewhere. OREGON. MEDFORD. At the annual State Teachers' Association meeting here, the last week in December, the constitution, as reported by the committee that has had it in preparation during the past year, was adopted. It effects a merger of the eastern and western divisions of the state association. The purpose is to place the organization in better working condition and in closer touch with interesting problems regularly arising in educational activities, and it is believed that, under the combined strength of the wo organizations niciged int one, this general desideratum may be reached with more substantial results. The new body will have a central council composed of representatives from all of the various educational institutions and organizations in the state that hold regular meetings. This will be the governing body. It will also provide for the establishment of an educational journal, the policy of which shall at all times be controlled by the executive committee. H. H. Herdman presided at the meeting, and proved a great one for the association. WASHINGTON. SPOKANE. Speaking of surveys, Superintendent Watson says: procedure in classes. They study the organization of the system and apply accepted standards to determining what in it is good, what not. They report their findings, both favorable and unfavorable, and make recommendations. Findings and recommendations alike are based upon personal investigations within the system of schools, Whether the report proves creditable to the system depends upon the completeness of their observations and upon their standards of judgment. So far as Mr. Watson is aware, no survey has yet tried seriously to determine in intelligible terms for any community to what degree its schools satisfy the demand for upright and intelligent citizenship composed of law-abiding, self-respecting, self-supporting men and women; to what degree the schools afford every individual of school age the means whereby he or she may discover the pursuit for which either is best fitted, that which will supply the best opportunity for using native talents and will give the requisite preliminary training. But the fact that this field of investigation is a most difficult field should not prevent attempts at investigation. It, however, is the duty of every school system, instead of invoking spasmodic survey by a special committee from time to time, to maintain a progressive and continuous "check" upon its effectiveness. There should be self-survey. We have for several years, through the cooperation of principals and teachers, conducted a "check" upon the Spokane schools. Attention is drawn to the brief outline of the plan and to some of the results attained. Our selfSurvey comprises the considerations determining progress, non-promotions, persistency in attendance at school, ascertaining the causes and extent of quitting school and the census of our schools. One of the determinants as to the success of a school or a school system consists of persistence in attendance. Assuming educative material and educational methods to be of the right kind, assuming also that the pupil attacks the material with reasonable vigor, the longer the pupil can be held in school, and the more nearly he approaches completing a prescribed course, the better for the individual and the community. Moreover, the degree of persistence in attendance forms one of the surest indicators of the fitness of the educa SCHOOLS and COLLEGES Girls' School FOR SALE AT SACRIFICE Flourishing Girls' School in large city of Middle West. Established 25 years. I health of Principal only reason for selling. Address WINSHIP TEACHERS' AGENCY, 6 Beacon St., Boston. TATE NORMAL SCHOOL, Bridgewater, Mass. For both sexes. For catalogue, address the Principal, A. C. Boyden. M. A. The need of a scale of measurement of the output of our schools is S not a new discovery. It has expressed itself as school surveys. These, for the most part, are conducted by persons of recognized standing as educators. They visit the city to be investigated, consult with the officials and agents of its schools, inspect records and reports, examine courses of study and note S TATE NORMAL SCHOOL, Salem, Coeducational Department for the pedagogical and technical training of teachers of the commercial subjects. J. Asbury Pitman, Principal. |