The country school should be as sanitary and wholesome in all essential particulars as the best home in the community. Further, it should be pleasing and attractive in appearance, in furnishings and in surroundings, so that the community as a whole may be proud of it; so that the pupils and teacher may take pleasure in attending school and in caring for and improving it.

The second pamphlet report of this joint committee is entitled "Health Essentials for Rural School Children," fifty thousand copies of which have been printed. Twenty-five thousand copies of this report have been distributed, by request, to over 100 state normal schools, and these reports are being used for study by normal school students, most of whom will be teaching in the rural schools within the next year or two.

The third pamphlet report of the joint committee is entitled "Health Charts." This pamphlet contains illustrations of the charts which have been prepared and made available by the joint committee for use when desired, not only in rural schools but also in city schools or communities.

These health charts are intended to present important facts and beliefs affecting particularly the health of the school children and the health conditions of the schools. Some of the charts are as well adapted for city schools as for those in rural regions. Other charts readily show their special adaptation to rural problems and needs.

These charts are reproduced on thin, durable, white paper of good quality in the size of 22 by 28 inches, and these may be shipped by mail at a very small expense.

It is the purpose of the committee to make these charts and copies of this chart pamphlet available at the lowest reasonable cost. No school, organization or community need be deprived of the benefit of these charts because of even the moderate cost.

MARK TWAIN ON HUMAN MACHINERY

Every man is a suffering-machine and a happiness-machine combined. The two functions work well together, with a fine and delicate precision, on the give-and-take principle. For every happiness turned out in the one department the other stands ready to modify it with a sorrow or a pain-maybe a dozen. In most cases the man's life is about equally divided between happiness and unhappiness. When this is not the case the unhappiness predominates-always; never the other. Sometimes a man's make and disposition are such that his misery-machine is able to do nearly all the business. Such a man goes through life almost ignorant of what happiness is. Everything he touches, everything he does, brings a misfortune upon him. You have seen such people? To that kind of a person life is not an advantage, is it? It is only a disaster. Sometimes for an hour's happiness a man's machinery makes him pay years of misery. Don't you know that? It happens every now and then. From "The Mysterious Stranger."

MOTION PICTURES IN GRADUATION

EXERCISES

BY NELLIE B. ALLEN

State Normal School, Fitchburg, Mass.

That the method of studying geography by the memorizing of miscellaneous facts from a textbook is gradually becoming a thing of the past and that the subject as it will be taught in the future will be alive and full of interest to both children and "grown-ups" was well exemplified by the graduation exercises of the Grammar School and High School in Webster, Mass. Instead of the customary essays and recitations by members of the classes, or addresses by persons of note, the pupils entertained and instructed their parents and friends with motion pictures.

In the High School exercises the films shown were descriptive of two great staple industries, cattle and wheat. One member of the class gave some simple introductory remarks, after which three of the boys took charge of the machine. The machine used is small enough to be carried in a receptacle about the size of a dress suit case and can be attached to any electric light. It runs almost noiselessly and carries a non-inflammable film. The operator can stop the machine at any point in the reel for as long as is desired and a study of the picture then in sight may be made.

This very advantageous feature which makes the machine particularly valuable for school use was illustrated in the exercises at Webster. The film representing the Chicago Stock Yards was halted at several places while Roy Maloney, a member of the graduating class, explained the scenes at length. The films showing the wheat industry were also stopped several times while Genevieve Burby and Helen Gorton told the audience interesting stories concerning this product, about which the public is hearing so much at present.

The exercises in the Webster Grammar School were no less interesting. Here some fishing scenes and pictures of the woolen industry were shown. While the machine was stopped at various points in the reels, six members of the class explained the scenes to the audience. The manufacThe labor of this courageous band of teachers who turers are doing a pioneer work in Education. dared to give up their positions as teachers and undertake a new and untried enterprise will accomplish wonderful plish wonderful things in our schools. Their projector can be purchased by any enterprising school; its mechanism is so simple that a child can easily learn to operate it; it can be stopped at any picture on the film while the teacher explains or the children question or describe.

Films are already made or planned which cover courses of study in geography, physiology, history, literature, and other subjects in the school curriculum. Descriptions of the pictures written by experts on the subject accompany each film.

Thanks in the name of Education to the Lincoln and Parker Company for the work it is doing.

Thanks to the Webster schools which, through their graduation exercises, so well illustrated how more life and interest can be introduced into subjects so often dry and uninteresting to pupils.

Thanks to the legislatures of the various states

which have enacted laws in favor of visual education.

Thanks to many teachers and superintendents who are trying to cut out from the daily routine

of the schools, the memorizing of meaningless, disconnected facts and who are substituting in its place pictures and descriptions of real life and occupations.

"Recruit for the schools as well as for the army."

This was the motto proposed by Dr. Nathan C. Schaeffer, Pennsylvania's astute state school superintendent, presiding over a remarkable Wartime Educational Conference which brought together over 140 superintendents from all over the state, at State College this summer.

The general topics included: "Shortage of Teachers and How to Meet It"; "Effect of the Changed Condition on the Curriculum and on Compulsory Education Laws"; "Pupil Employment and Supervision on Farms and Industries"; "The Opening of Schools and the Length of the School Term," there being a score of apropos questions for impromptu discussion in which were heard such leading educators as President Sparks of State College, who announced the slogan of State College "Business as Usual"; M. B. King, Harrisburg; M. S. Bentz, Ebensburgh; J. S. Carroll, Dunbar; T. A. Bock, Westchester; Henry Pease, Titusville; J. C. Wagner, Carlisle; S. E. Weber, Scranton; P. B. Albert, Bloomsburg; J. F. Bailey, Pittsburgh; G. Davies, Wilkesbarre ; S. E. Downes, Ardmore; G. P. Stradling, W. D. Snyder, Philadelphia; Principal Lehman, Shippensburg; Shippensburg; J. W. Snoke, Lebanon; W. W. Rupert, Pottstown, and many others.

That all educational work should continue in order to train for the technical needs of the war and to avoid making the mistake of other nations in cutting off the supply of competent experts, was the general opinion.

If the educators of Pennsylvania can help it, there will be no suspension of or change in the child labor and school attendance laws. They reasonably agreed, however, that the state superintendent in real emergency would be justified in temporarily modifying the enforcement of these laws. It was also agreed that the school terms

PORTLAND HIGH SPOTS

The Institute for Public Service, 51 Chambers street, New York, issued the following suggestions for teachers going to the National Education Association :—

High school civics-junior commercial clubs study and debate all problems handled by the Chamber of Commerce.

Girls' trade school civics-local conditions studied, field work at all times, budget at budget time. -Co-operates with the Municipal Reference Library.

High school girls serve luncheon for defective. children in nearby school.

School cooking for home use-children who

should be as long as finances would permit; that ten, nine and eight months' schools should be opened during the first week of September and in other districts during the third week, with the period of compulsory attendance as long as local conditions demand. Physical training, thrift, and plant propagation (intensive courses) were emphasized, Superintendents Hoban of Dunmore and Adams of Warren, and Dr. Becht, of the State Department of Education, being appointed a special committee to study and report on physical education. It was urged that trained vocational teachers (who cannot be replaced by others not subject to draft) be exempted from draft; that food materials be conserved and not be used in the manufacture of any supplies tending to diminish our efficiency; that high school boys be not permitted to leave for farm and industrial service "when such absence from school and college is not absolutely necessary to the best interests of the country."

It was estimated by Dr. Schaeffer that because of the war fully two million negroes have come north within the past few months, adding to the educational problems of the state. "If brains are needed in peace times, they are needed even more in war times," declared President Sparks, who predicted that (unless we are invaded) America will have the burden of rehabilitating the world after the war.

The 800 teachers attending the summer session of the college, as well as students in the state library school and the vocational school, the Federal classes in ordinance work, and the Country Church Conference added to the numbers in attendance, all keen that "Education must go on," and that war should not be allowed to interfere with educational work and progress in this state..

J. A. S.

bring their own material may cook enough food for home meal.

The neighborhood house-one school's cottage where the teacher lives. All work done by pupils, all furniture built entirely by boys' classes.

Domestic science classes self-supporting in Girls' Trade School-cafeteria buys all food cooked. Three blocks of garden cultivated by the Girls' Trade School in co-operation with cafeteria. Course in cafeteria work is given in the Girls' Trade School.

Infant care and home making are included in every girl's course in the Girls' Trade School.

All school cafeterias are in charge of Domestic Science Department at the Girls' Trade School and each is run in connection with domestic science work and gardening.

Class for maids already in domestic service is given in the Girls' Trade School-a ten weeks' course, Fridays 2-3.30, in general cookery, methods of cleaning, waiting on table, and so forth-30 girls enrolled.

Misfits specially studied—and work planned to meet the needs of each.

Learning by doing in the Boys' Technical School has recently included the purchase and reconstruction for use by the School Board of two automobiles which had been in a fire; also, making over of old generators purchased for $50 so that they are worth $200 each.

While waiting for a job girls and men can take commercial courses in public schools.

Credit for homework in dishwashing, bathing, cleaning teeth, music, etc., is given.

Adult classes for blind-blind teachers make men self-supporting who have been county charges in the poorhouse.

Art museum mobilized-a teacher helps children from all parts of the city study and appre ciate art works; and takes exhibits from the museums to different schools.

Short day for health reasons-about 100 children given only one-half day-parents urged not to force children to overwork.

Grocery store in every school-to aid in teaching arithmetic, geography, economy, courtesy, etc. Laboratory fee charged, fifty cents a month to everyone in Girls' Trade School.

Millinery and dressmaking so practical that grown women wishing to make a living attend school.

GOD'S COUNTRY

BY S. M. MEEKER

When yo' hike out fer God's country,
Which same means down on th' farm,
When yo're sick an' tired an' ailin'
An' jist ain't worth er darn,

An' yo' go an' lay out on th' ground

An' look up at th' sky

An' see them funny little clouds,

Jess go skyhootin' by

Then yo're gettin' all thet Nature
(Biggest doctor of 'em all)
Kin jist possibly give yer.

Cain't yo' hear her croonin' call?
"Breath th' fresh pure air o' Heaven,
Feel th' gentle breezes blow,
See th' wonders all about yo',
Watch the corn an' taters grow,
Look things over an' then tell me,
(Curled up comfy on th' sod
Gazin' deep ento th' Heavens,)
Can yo' doubt thet they's a God?”
When th' twilight shadows linger
An' th' west ez molten gold,
Dogs in fur-off hills a barkin',
Birds begin ter softly scold

Sayin': "Kiddies, close yore peepers,
Cuddle down 'neath mother's wing;
God's up thar en his high Heaven,
(Cose he knows yo' want ter sing,)
But et's time fer beddie bye-low,
He will keep yo' from all harm."
Oh, those precious twilight moments
Seethin', bubblin' with their charm.
Hear th' cattle lowin' softly
Makin' leetle plaintive calls,
An' th' horses softly munchin'
As yo' pass erlong th' stalls;
Mebby yo' doan know et, pardner,
But yo're livin', boy, thet's all.

-In Boston Transcript.

THE RURAL SCHOOL FROM

WITHIN. By Marion G. Kirkpatrick, Ph. D., Kansas State Agricultural College. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company. Frontispiece. 303 pp. Price, $1.28 net. No phase of education is favored with more varieties of information and advice regarding the past, present and future than is the Rural School, and each writer adds something worth while to the sum of modern thought on country life.

Dr. M. G. Kirkpatrick of the Kansas State Agricultural College at Manhattan has had the best of opportunities for the study of rural schools and it is refreshing to have him care and dare to put his opinions in the form of experiences, using the first person singular from first to last.

The title of the book, "The Rural School from Within," indicates clearly his purpose. He has written no sentence from the standpoint of an onlooker. He makes no wild charges against rural school and country life as has been done all too often. He is in no sense sensational. He blows no soapbubbles, chases no ignes fatui, is deceived by no mirage.

No better book for a rural teacher, rural preacher, county superintendent, or resident in a rural district, has come under our observation.

THE MAGEE READERS. By Annie F. Magee and John F. Reigast, Ph.D., Public School 166, New York. Illustrated by Ethel F. B. Bains and Eugenia M. Wireman. Boston, New York, Chicago: Ginn & Co. Cloth. Price, 36 cents each.

Miss Magee with the co-operation of Dr. Reigast has discovered, invented or developed a science and art of teaching children to learn to read which challeges admiration. We have never heard any children read more intelligently, spiritedly, joyously in a first or second grade than do the little people in Public School 166, New York.

Miss Magee's method and principles weave all school work of little people around the eurythmic idea, So that writing, spelling, physical exercises, and language connect up delightfully.

A half-day in Public School 166 is as refreshing, invigorating, and vitalizing pedagogically as any experience we have ever known, and her books have all the charm that her work has.

ESSENTIALS IN MECHANICAL DRAWING. By L. J. Smith, B. S. New York: The Macmillan Company. With diagrams. Price, 50 cents.

This brief treatment of the essentials of mechanical drawing is designed for instruction in the rudiments of plan drawing as it occurs in every-day life, so that the student will be able to read and understand ordinary drawings and be able to do ordinary mechanical sketching. Lists of exercises are merely suggestive for draughting room or wood shop in schools of agriculture.

A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FOR SCHOOLS. By Andrew C. McLaughlin and Claude H. Van Tyne. New York: D. Appleton & Co. The authors of this history have epitomized a vast amount of information, and brought the story of the discovery and development of the United States within the comprehension of boys and girls. To make the study unusually attractive there are numerous and illuminating illustrations. Our youth need to be informed as their land, and as to the great movements which have shaped the national life. To prepare such a textbook is a superb work of condensation, without squeezing the life out of it.

to

Furnishing Industrial Education, Commercial Education, Agricultural Education, Household Arts, Historical Development of Vocational Guidance, Vocational Guidance in the Public School, Vocational Guidance in the Public School (Continued), Vocational Guidance, Surveys for Vocational Education and Guidance, Introduction of Vocational Education in the Grades, Vocational Education and the High School, Local Program.

The Outline is especially complete because it is comprehensive, it is wisely annotated and widely referenced. It will save the student of vocational activities, past and present, more than half his time, and time is money.

E. Austin, B. S., E. E. Published by the author at Hanover, New Hampshire. Price, $1.20.

As a connecting link between the studies of arithmetic and algebra and as an auxiliary in conjunction with other textbooks, this volume shows how to solve problems. It is adapted for pupils of the eighth grade and below, for high schools and junior high schools. Problems, examples, applications of theories, a comprehensive index, tables of interest and measures are all here. Sample examination papers for entrance to different colleges are also given.

HOLIDAY PLAYS. By Marguerite Merington. New York: Duffield & Co. Illustrated. Price, $1.50.

These five one-act plays are particularly welcome to high school students for production for patriotic celebrations. Thanksgiving, Washington's Birthday, Fourth of July, Lincoln's Birthday and Memorial Day are represented in a manner well within the powers of clubs or classes. Each play is founded on historical facts and has good interest to the end.

"The First Flag" has always been extremely popular and should be especially so at this time. Good typography is part of a satisfactory whole.

August 30, 1917

11-13: Lake Superior, Wis., Teachers' Association. Miss Bertha J. Bauer, Superior, secretary.

12-13: Lake Superior Teachers' Association, Superior, Wisconsin. Ashley T. Conrad, Superior, president; Miss Agnes E. Bury, vice-president; Miss Bertha J. Bauer, secretary; R. A. Quick, treasurer.

12-13: Illinois School Masters' Club. 18-20: Illinois State Teachers' Association, Western Division. Galesburg.

18-20: Illinois State Teachers' Association, Illinois Valley Division. Ottawa.

19-20: Western Wisconsin Teachers' Association. W. H. Saunders, La

Crosse, secretary.

1-3: Colorado Education

Association, Eastern Division. Denver. James H. Kelley, Gunnison, president; H. B. Smith, Denver, secretary general association.

13: Iowa State Teachers' Association. Sixty-third annual session, Des Moines. Eva M. Fleming, superintendent, Decorah, president; Superintendent O. E. Smith, Indianola, secretary.

2: Essex County, Mass., Teachers Association. Tremont Temple, Boston. Superintendent William F. Eldredge, Rockport, president; John H. Bosshart, Salem, secretary.

8-10: Kansas State Teachers' Association. Topeka W. H. Johnson, Lawrence, president; F. L. Pinet, Topeka, secretary.

12-16: Newcastle County Teachers Institute, A. I. Dupont High School. Kent and Sussex Counties, at Milford. State Institute for Colored Teachers at Milford. Charles A. Wagner, State Commissioner of Education, Dover, Delaware, chairman committee on arrangements. 15-17: Missouri State Teachers' Association. Kansas City. President, Ira Richardson. Maryville; secretarytreasurer, E. M. Carter, Columbia.

15-17: Joint meeting: New England Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Superintendents Association, American Institute of Instruction and Massachusetts

Teachers Association. Boston. 26-28: Virginia Educational Conference. Richmond. State Teachers' Association, William C. Blakey, Richmond, secretary; State Cooperative Education Association,

J. H. Montgomery, Richmond, secretary; Association of Division Superintendents, Superintendent F. B. Fitzpatrick, Bristol, secretary; Association of Trustees, M. C. McGhee, secretary.

26-28: New York State Teachers' Association. Syracuse. Herbert S. Weet, Rochester, N. Y., president. 26-28: Wyoming State Teachers' Association. Buffalo, Wyo.

26-28: Maryland State Teachers' Association Baltimore City. Sydney 9. Handy, president; Hugh W. Caldwell, Elkton, secretary.

26-28: Montana State Teachers' Association. Helena. Dr. H. H. Swain, Helena, secretary. 29-December 1: North Carolina State Teachers' Assembly. Charlotte. A T. Allen, Salisbury, president; W. Walker, Chapel Hill, Vicepresident; E. E. Sams, Raleigh, sec

retary. 29-December 1: Texas State Teachers' Association. Waco. Miss Annie Webb Blanton, Denton, president; R. T. Ellis, Forth Worth, secretary. DECEMBER.

7-8: New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Springfield, Mass. Professor Walter Ballou Jacobs, Brown University, secretary.

26-30: Florida Educational Association, Daytona. Miss Agnes Ellen Harris, State College for Women, Tallahassee, president; Hon. R. L. Turner, Inverness, secretary.

27-29: Associated Academic Principals of New York State. Syracuse. Charles W. Lewis, Gouverneur, N. Y., president.

FEBRUARY.

21-23: Northeastern Oklahoma Educational Association. Superintendent J. Norwood Peterson, president, Tahlequah. Place undecided. 21-23: Southeastern Oklahoma Educational Association. McAlester. Superintendent J. P. Battenberg, Atoka, president; Superintendent M. A. Nash, Idabel, Secretary.

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CAMBRIDGE. Harvard, which has been hit as hard by the war as any institution in the country, expects to suffer heavy losses in rollment in the three upper classes this fall. The indications are that the incoming freshman class will be of practically normal proportions, but that is due to the fact that the is average freshman not of conscriptive age. Sophomores, juniors and seniors, as well as graduate and professional students, are included in the draft ages. In addition to sustaining heavy losses of men who are called into service by the draft, Harvard, in common with other colleges, must also lose the men who volunteered for service many months ago. Altogether the loss of students in the college itself will probably run between twenty-five and thirty-five per cent.

normal

Southwestern Oklahoma Educational Association. Hobart. Superintendent R. M. Caldwell, Mangum, Oklahoma, president; John W. Bremer, Weatherford, secretary.

Association. Alva. James W. Rackley, Pond Creek, president; Miss Minnie Shockley, Alva, secretary.

22-23: East Central Oklahoma Educational Association. Ada. Superintendent John T. Hefley, Henryetta, president; Miss Nora R. Hill, Sulphur, secretary.

NEW ENGLAND STATES.
MASSACHUSETTS.

BOSTON. The Women's Education Association of Boston has published for use in schools, social centres, evening schools, or any club or settlement where efforts are being made to Americanize the foreign-born, four plays illustrating salient points in American history, and depicting, as far as possible,

every college president.

LOWELL. Carl D. Burtt has been elected principal of Arlington High School. He has taught in Lowell High School since 1895, and is a graduate of Williams College.

AMHERST. President Alexander Meiklejohn of Amherst College announces the appointment of Robert Frost, the poet, to give a course in advanced English to the junior and senior classes.

CONNECTICUT.

EAST HARTFORD.. Dr. E. H. Greenbark, until recently principal of the High School in Norwalk, has been elected to succeed J. W. Kratzer as superintendent of schools in this town.