ACCOMPANYING the papers on arithmetic. in this number of the JOURNAL we republish the list of omissions recommended by the committee of the superintendents in this state. It is evident that argreement has not been reached even as to the intepretation of the principle which should determine omissions, and therefore, of course, not as to the list of subjects to be omitted. In the March number of the Public School Journal, Supt. Frank H. Hall, author of the Werner arithmetics, in discussing this subject accepts the conclusions of our committee "with one or two important exceptions." They are the first half of 6, in 7 the words of percentage with double commission, and those "-and in 15 "teach square root without requiring explanation." Principal Schuster's suggestion that one function of the

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teacher of arithmetic is to "bring within the child's activities the various experiences which represent typical social life," is deserving of attention. But probably the differences of our teachers in this matter are less than they

seem.

PHYSICAL culture is to receive proper attention in the summer school this year. For the first three weeks Miss Mayhew will give instruction in the subject with gymnastic train

ing to young women-a rare opportunity. Still more important is the opening of the university gymnasium, with courses of instruction of six weeks duration for young men. They are, like other courses in the school, for teachers, and include plans and methods for teaching. We feel sure that these courses will be appreciated. Another important feature is the three weeks training in drawing, to be given by Miss Tanner, of the Stevens Point normal school. These courses are to be practical, by one who has made a name as a teacher of drawing to teachers, and it is to be hoped that drawing teachers, and grade teachers who have to direct work in drawing, and others who do not venture upon it although they feel it ought to be done, will appreciate the opportunity to secure such excellent instruction this summer.

SALARIES for grade teachers in Chicago have been advanced in consequence of the vigorous campaign of the women teachers for that end, some echoes of which were printed in our last issue. When it was found that an increase of wages was impossible without legislation increasing the school tax the necessary measure was carried to the legislature, and thru the legislature and made law. The cause won by reason of its inherent justice. The larger cause of grade teachers in our village and city schools can be made to win. They are held down by starvation wages, and the schools suffer in consequence. A higher standard of attainments is necessary to improve the character of these schools; growth on the part of the teachers, by summer work, reading, travel is necessary, and these things cost money. bare living wage does not give opportunity for such things. Live teachers must seek these

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things, and in time our communities will respond by paying more for a better service.

PROOF of the necessity of further study of the rural school question, such as was provided for at the association by the appointment of a special committee, is afforded by the vigorous reply of Superintendent R. E. Smith to President Salisbury's paper on that subject. We publish the reply this month. It is fair to say that Manitowoc is exceptional among our counties in the condition of its rural schools, due in part to the vigorous administration of a succession of able county superintendents, and in part to the traditions of its inhabitants. Take a single fact, that there are seventy-four men teachers in the rural schools and but thirty-three women. In Sauk county, which is certainly one of the best, according to the last report of the superintentendent two hundred and twenty-nine women hold certificates, and but fifty-four men. In Manitowoc there are more than twice as many men as women teachers, in Sauk more than four times as many women as men. In Manitowoc 204 received In Manitowoc 204 received diplomas from rural schools last year, in Sauk 193. The Sauk county superintendent says: "My hands are tied by school boards. They They grasp like starving men after poorly qualified third grade teachers." What the county superintendent can do for betterment of rural schools is shown by these two counties. We need, however, to know more accurately conditions in the state at large.

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WAGES of grade teachers we spoke of last month as "stifling." They are for the most part so low as to deaden ambition and make progress practically impossible. "I cannot save up enough money to go to a summer school," says one. Many another has reluctantly cut off subscription to an educational journal because economy was imperatively necessary. But these are the sources of inspiration, the means of knowing the best that is being said and done in the teaching world. The teacher who goes without them knows, perhaps, that she is narrowing her interests and repressing her own life, but does not see how to escape the necessity. "She lives at home," we are told, when we express surprise at the meagre wage. Yes, entirely. She has no excursions into that larger world, with the life and meaning of which she ought to be somewhat familiar in order to teach properly the children in her charge. Confined to a narrow beat by the stifling wage she moves in it dully, drearily, hopelessly, and becomes a routine teacher. It is competition of unqualified persons which brings about this state of things, and the remedy is to demand higher qualifications. Those

who are to do seventh and eighth grade teaching ought to have not one whit inferior qualifications to those of high school assistants.

EMPLOYING COUNTRY TEACHERS BY THE YEAR.

E. R. Smith's statements at the State Teachers' Association about Manitowoc county are worthy of very serious consideration. Every teacher in that county is employed by the year, and the great majority are engaged for successive years in the same school. Nearly all the schools are eight months or more in length. The average enrolment is fifty-four, and the average salary for women $31.50 and for men $40.00 a month. All are organized under the course of study and last year there were 204 graduates from that course. The county had sixty students at normal schools, twenty-five at the state university and many other higher institutions.

We do not think that this condition of things can be easily excelled anywhere. The writer can speak from personal experience at institutes in Manitowoc and other neighboring counties which have the same system, that there is a larger proportion of men, a greater age of teachers, a better professional spirit, a more regular attendance at the institute, a greater use of note books and other signs of serious work, and a less number of pupils not actually teachers than are usually found at insti

tutes.

These conditions in the lake shore counties were favored by their German population, with its traditions of schools in Germany. But Green county in the southern part of the state has also a German population, but has the reverse of these conditions in its schools. The real cause has been that a succession of capable and courageous county superintendents in Manitowoc county have secured a series of reforms, of which the most essential one is the employment of teachers by the year, and that the neighboring counties have imitated these reforms, as active superintendents have been elected from time to time. These superintendents have roused public opinion; they have not been content to follow it. They have used the machinery now provided by law, and have secured all the reforms needed for the schools in the true democratic method by educating the people in their localities and making one locality an example for another.

The same thing can be done, and is now being done in other counties. Aggressive superintendents are educating one district after another into the idea of employing teachers by the year instead of by the term, and with

this reform, other changes also come naturally. A permanent teacher can become the educational leader of his district, as a transient one cannot, and can shape the school very much as he wishes. W.

THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENCY.

The establishment of legal qualifications for candidates for the county superintendency has already justified itself as wise and necessary. In the state at large its effect is to improve the superintendency and increase its influence. The next step in advance will naturally be to better the conditions of this branch of the ser

vice so that intelligent superintendents may be able to do efficiently the work placed in their hands. Our normal schools and colleges are now supplying a large number of men and women trained for educational work, many of whom may naturally be expected to seek positions as superintendents; and they will do so as the conditions of the work are improved.

One needed improvement is so to reduce the number of schools under one man's charge that he may be able to supervise them properly. It is not difficult to determine about how many visits a superintendent may reasonably be expected to make in a year. The law requires that rural schools shall be in session six months

in a year, which gives twenty-four weeks or one hundred and twenty days. Considering the distances to be traveled it is obviously impossible to see more than two each day, supposing the superintendent loses no time in the discharge of his duties. Such a condition, however, is impossible to realize. We republish elsewhere from the Baraboo Republic, the experiences of one superintendent, which are probably not exceptional. The narrative

serves to show clearly how unreasonable it is to expect the visitor to reach two schools every day. Let us suppose that he is able to make two hundred visits during the school period, and the number is certainly too large rather than too small. It is obviously bad policy so to plan that the visitor's whole energy will be required to see each school once. His work would thus become purely formal, and his influence over the schools be reduced to a minimum. Some he ought to see two or three times at least if he is to give real help and direction to them. He will have under his care each year a considerable body of beginners in teaching to whom he ought to devote enough attention to aid them in properly meeting the problems of their work. He will find conditions in some of his districts which require conferences with the directors, and it may be with other citizens. We assume that his work

is not merely to visit the schools but to promote their real interests, educational and material. Such work requires time and perhaps several visits to make it fruitful. The statutes expressly require this counseling and advising with district officers regarding the studies, management, buildings and needs of the schools, and give the superintendent considerable authority in such matters.

When these duties are taken account of, and those of examining and licensing teachers, keeping proper records, reporting to the county board, to town clerks and to the state superintendent, conducting institutes, attending conventions, etc., it will perhaps be conceded that one hundred and fifty schools is a very large number for one man to look aftera larger number than he can supervise satisfactorily. That our superintendents are often charged with more is due in part to a failure to appreciate the conditions of their work, and in part to the fact that readjustments have not been made as population increased and conditions changed. Is it not time to take account of these things? It seems to us that an assistant superintendent should be provided in counties with a large number of schools.

When the office was first created it was expected that the county superintendent would

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be an educational leader for his district. was expected to deliver frequent addresses on educational subjects, to conduct institutes himself, to lead and instruct the teachers and develop the educational spirit and interest of his district. Can the office be restored to this

larger relation? We believe it can; but to accomplish this it is necessary both to keep up the standard of admission to it and to create conditions favorable to a better kind of work. S.

THE MONTH.

WISCONSIN NEWS AND NOTES.

-The dates fixed for the National Association meetings in Washington, D. C., this summer, are July 7-12th.

-The Gramophone is the title of a new six page monthly issued by the pupils of the Black River Falls high school.

-Supt. E. H. Marks, of Louisville, Kentucky, was elected president of the department of superintendence of the N. E. A.

-Prin. Rienow, of Brodhead, delivered an address on education before the farmers' institute held in that city Feb. 18th, which seems to have awakened considerable interest.