THE

OHIO EDUCATIONAL MONTHLY.

PUBLISHED AT

57 EAST MAIN ST., COLUMBUS, 0.

C. T. CORSON, EDITOR.

MARGARET W. SUTHERLAND, ASSOCIATE EDITOR.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

PER YEAR IN ADVANCE, $1.50. In clubs of four or more, $1.25 each. Single Number, except August, 15 cents. August Number, 25 cents. All club subscriptions not paid within three months, $1.50.

MONEY should be sent by express, draft, money order or registered letter. Make all remittances payable to O. T. Corson.

THE MONTHLY is mailed the first week of each month. Any subscriber failing to receive a copy by the tenth should give notice promptly, and another will be sent. Any person wishing his address changed must send notice not later than the twenty-fifth of the month, and must give both the old and the new address. Notice will be given to each subscriber of the time his subscription expires.

THE next State Examination will be held in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 19, 20, 21, 1900. All communications regarding it should be addressed to W. W. Boyd, Painesville, O.

STATE Association, Put-in-Bay, June 26, 27, and 28.

NATIONAL Educational Association, Charleston, S. C., July 7-13, National Council, meeting, July 7 and 9, and the regular sessions of the general association being held July 10-13.

UPON what we deemed the most reliable authority, a statement was made in the May MONTHLY that Section 4074 had been amended so as to require an examination in music by all teachers after January,

1902. We are informed by Commissioner Bonebrake that the bill containing this provision did not become a law, but that Section 4017 was supplemented as follows:

Section 4017a. Each board of education may employ a teacher or teachers, whose duty it shall be to give instruction and training in vocal music to the youth of all the schools of the district, and said board is empowered to purchase and supply all appliances and books necessary to the proper pursuit of said branch of study.

The reason for thus supplementing the law which already empowered boards of education to employ music teachers, is not plain, but if special attention to the importance of teaching music in the schools will thereby be emphasized, some good may follow.

WE gladly give place to the following statement from Dr. White, which explains itself:

My Dear Editor-You evidently misunderstood my reference to the Normal College feature of the normal school bill. The mistake alluded to in no way involved the popularity or merits of the Ohio State University. I hold President Thompson in high esteem and fully appreciate the excellent work which he is doing. The mistake in incorporating the Normal College in the bill was due to the fact that the provisions establishing the four State Normal Schools were not applicable to the establishment of a Normal College in

connection with the State University. The outlined course of training and the conditions of admission -conditions unwisely inserted in the bill by the School Committee after the bill was introduced into the House-were also not applicable to the Normal College. I am now clear in my judgment that the Normal College should have been provided for in a separate bill, or possibly in separate sections of the same bill. Most truly yours, E. E. WHITE.

May 12, 1900.

THE August number of the MONTHLY will be published the first week in July, and will contain the proceedings of the Put-in-Bay meeting, and other material of value and interest to the teachers. The September number will contain a full account of the Charleston meeting, which will be prepared by our special correspondents. Any one who may know of any item of special interest relating to the meeting or the trip to Charleston will confer a favor by notifying any one of the following representatives of the MONTHLY:

Miss Margaret W. Sutherland, F. B. Pearson, R. E. Rayman, E. L. Harris, R. W. Mitchell, John A. Heizer and N. H. Chaney.

THE announcements of elections and re-elections which have reached us, and which we note in this issue, are encouraging. In many instances faithful work has

been recognized, either by an election for a term of years, or an increase in salary, or both. The MONTHLY extends congratulations to all who have been thus recognized, and it seems hitting in so doing to congratulate in a special manner Supts. Parker, of Elyria, and McDonald, of Wellsville, who have so faithfully served their communities for so many years, and who still retain the confidence of their patrons in an unusual degree. Such records are surely deserving of special mention, and should serve in a measure at least to encourage others who may have been less fortunate.

THE report of Supt. W. N. Hailmann, of Dayton, for the year ending August 31, 1899, is a very interesting document, which discusses in a vigorous manner many of the live educational problems of the day. Under the topic of "Admission of Pupils to High School," we find the following eminently sensible remarks:

"The admission of pupils from the district schools to the High School on the exclusive basis of recommendation by their teachers was found to be inexpedient. Variations in the personal equation of the great number of teachers whose judgment entered into the decision, had brought about variations in the standard for admission which seriously enhanced the difficulties of the initial work in the First Year class of the High School and had unduly increased the number of

admissions. In order to meet these difficulties, it was decided to subject recommended candidates for admission to a suitable supplementary examination, and to decide their claims for admission upon the combined result of the recommendation and examination. At the same time teachers were given to understand that the effectiveness of their work would be tested, not upon the number recommended for admission, but rather upon the percentage of admissions on the basis of their recommendations. This measure accomplished the desired. results."

We believe that a careful investigation on the part of many other superintendents who have been carried away with the theory that examinations have no place in school, and that promotions of pupils can be made on the "exclusive basis of recommendations by their teachers," will prove to them also that such a plan is "inexpedient." The fact that examinations have been grossly misused and abused in the past is no reason for abolishing the proper use of them at present. They ought never to be made the sole basis of promotions, but when properly conducted they can be made a valuable aid to the teacher and superintendent in determining the fitness of pupils to do the work of the next grade. The foolish and harmful worship of examinations. and per cents by a few, is equalled only by the efforts made by extremists of the opposite class to devise ways and means to abolish

them entirely. In this matter as in all others of importance, there is great need of constant exercise of that common sense which is the only safeguard against the tendency to attempt to right a supposed wrong by creating another equally as bad.

THE program of the State Association to be held at Hotel Victory, Put-in-Bay, June 26, 27 and 28, speaks for itself, and tells plainly that the executive committee has done its full duty in preparing a good bill of fare. The The subjects to be discussed are important, and those who are to discuss them are men and women of experience who will have something helpful to say. The Association is specially fortunate in securing Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh for the annual address. He is well known in many counties in the State, where he has done most acceptable institute work, and he will receive a most cordial welcome at Put-in-Bay. Hotel Victory is an ideal place to meet. The sessions will not be long, and there will be abundant opportunity for that social intercourse and restful recreation which have always been so characteristic of all our State meetings-especially those held at this beautiful hotel. There should be a large attendance of teachers and their friends, both young and old, and no one should forget that he should show his practical appre

ciation of the program and privileges arranged by our faithful executive committee by paying his membership fee of $1.00 to the treasurer early in the session. Do not forget the place, Hotel Victory, Put-in-Bay; or the time, June 26, 27 and 28; or the fee, $1.00.

THE CHARLESTON MEETING OF THE N. E. A.

The interest in the meetings of the National Educational Association is always twofold. The program in itself is attractive and the meetings always furnish an opportunity to see and hear some of the most prominent educators of the Nation. We trust that the program at Charleston will not be a disappointment to those who attend. The editor's close connection with its arrangement forbids that he should speak of it at length, but the following outline of topics and speakers for the general sessions will be of interest to our readers:

TUESDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 10

Meeting called to order by chairman of the local executive committee, W. H. Welch, Esq., Charleston, S. C.

Prayer-music.

Addresses of Welcome (30 minutes)

His Excellency Miles B. McSweeney, Governor of South Carolina, on behalf of the State.

Hon. John J. McMahan, State

Superintendent of Public Instruction, on behalf of the educational interests of the State.

Hon. J. Adger Smyth, Mayor of Charleston, on behalf of the municipality.

Henry P. Archer, Superintendent of Charleston schools, on behalf of the educational interests of the city.

Responses (30 minutes)

Dr. Wm. T. Harris, Commissioner of Education of the United States, Washington, D. C.

Dr. E. Oram Lyte, First Pennsylvania State Normal School, Millersville, Pa.

J. W. Carr, Superintendent of city schools, Anderson, Ind.

J. A. Foshay, Superintendent of city schools, Los Angeles, Cal. Music.

President's Address (30 minutes)-President O. T. Corson, Columbus, O.

Appointment of Committee on Resolutions.

Active members will meet at their respective state headquarters to select nominees for the general Nominating Committee.

TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 10.
Music.

The Small College