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orations were withheld at the St. Paul postoffice and forwarded to Washington because regulations regarding them had not been complied with. (See Sec. 6 pg. 4).

Every teacher can find time to do what is asked for in this movement, and it is her and his business to do it. For what is the business of the school, except it be, first and foremost, to fit boys and girls for enlightened citizenship.

A QUOTATION FROM A LETTER.

"The first day was indeed a hard one. I reached the school house at about seven o'clock and in half an hour the children came trooping along. A few minutes later the members of the board came to see if the new stove, which is fine, was in good working condition. When school called, I told a story, assigned lessons and got the pupils classified. When four o'clock came I was not at all sorry. I took up a book with which to solace myself and the first thing I saw was a quotation from some great mind: Shoe horses, pick up stones, plow, make hempen ropes and hang yourself with one of them, but don't teach school.' I agreed with him then. Tuesday and Wednesday were hard days too but by Thursday and Friday I liked the work very much."

JUST ANTS.

C. B. S.

Do you want some interesting entertainment for yourself and your school? If so, take a pan, fill it half full of water, and put in enough sand to make an island an inch or so above the surface of the water. Upon this island lay a pane of glass and at its corners place half inch cubes for supports for a second pane of glass. Now your cage is complete. Take a glass can and a big spoon and go out after some ants which can be found in any ant hill. Bring home a good colony in your can, taking care to secure the pupa cases as well as a good variety of ants. Place the ants, pupa cases and some dirt upon the first pane of glass and cover with the upper. If now, you will feed your ants with bread, sugar, etc., and will keep your cage covered with dark cloth when not under observation you will be able to learn much about the habits of ants and will find much entertainment in the learning.

C. B. S.

THE REASON.

Grandma Gruff said a curious thing,
"Boys may whistle, but girls must sing."
That's the very thing I heard her say
To Kate, not longer than yesterday.

"Boys may whistle." Of course they may,
If they pucker their lips the proper way,
But for the life of me I can't see
Why Kate can't whistle as well as me.

"Boys may whistle, but girls must sing." Now I call that a curious thing.

If the boys can whistle, why can't girls too? It's the easiest thing in the world to do.

So if the boys can whistle, and do it well, Why can't girls-will somebody tell? Why can't they do what a boy can do? That is the thing I would like to know.

I went to father, and asked him why
Girls couldn't whistle as well as I;
And he said, "The reason that girls must sing
Is because a girl's a sing-ular thing."

And grandma laughed till I knew she'd ache When I said I thought it all a mistake. "Never mind, little man," I heard her say, "They will make you whistle enough some day."

One Friday afternoon the boys of a certain school in the country were playing near a creek that flows by the schoolhouse. While playing they found a crab in the creek and carried it in to the teacher. She secured a shallow dish, placed the crab in it and teacher and pupils spent the remainder of the school hour studying crabs from observation of their captive and from such books as they had in the library. The language class that afternoon talked about the crab, described him and told of his habits. On Monday of the next week they wrote a composition about the crab and not · single blank was scored because they had nothing to write about. Some of the compositions were excellent both in form and substance. That was an

opportunity grasped as it came by.

C. B. S.

THE MOST LIBERAL CONTRACT. Look carefully at the contract you sign with a teachers' agency. The Parker Agency contract is the most liberal for candidate of any agency in the country. Write for a copy and enroll this month. THE PARKER TEACHERS' AGENCY, Madison, Wisconsin.

TEACHERS STUDY IN COLORADO

Thousands of teachers should be in Denver for the N. E. A. Why not plan to do your summer study at the COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA AND SUMMER SCHOOL? It is only thirty miles by Interurban to this "Ideal Place for an Outing." Send your name and address for 44-page descriptive booklet. Address F. A. BOGGESS, Secretary, Boulder, Colo.

Department of Administration

The School Laws and their Interpretation
School Boards and their Problems
The State Department of Education

At a special meeting of the state board of examiners held at Eau Claire, March 3, a county supertendent's certificate was granted to Miss Cynthia Carlisle of Durand.

The County Superintendents' Association will meet at the court house in Madison, Tuesday, April 13, to be followed on the 14th and 15th by the convention called by State Supt. Cary. Supt. J. H. Hamlin of Lincoln county is president of the association.

State Supt. Cary has issued in bulletin form his address at the Chicago meeting of the Department of Superintendence on "Proposed Changes in Accrediting of High Schools."

The Arbor and Bird Day Annual is just from the printer and is being distributed to the schools of the state through city and county superintend

ents.

A model list of the books required for high schools came from the office of the State Superintendent last month. Besides the usual features all the books are card-catalogued, which will be found exceedingly helpful to teachers.

PROGRESS OF EDUCATIONAL LEGISLATION.

Those who are interested in the progress of educational legislation may refer to page 114 of the March issue for a description of bills herewith noted. Unless otherwise stated, all bills are, at the time of going to press, in the hands of the committee on education.

130 S. In committee on charitable and penal institutions.

424 S. Passed Senate. In committee on public health of Assembly.

27 A. Passed Assembly. In committee on education of Senate.

130 A. Passed Assembly. In committee on education of Senate.

138 A. Amended.

166 A. 178 A.

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316 A.

Passed Assembly. In committee on public health of Senate. 327 A.

Passed Assembly. In committee on public health of Senate.

326 A. Wrongly numbered, should be 336 A. Killed:-11 A; 19 A; 28 A; 88 A; 109 A; 125 A; 197 A; 200 A; 248 A; 339 A; 426 A; 445 A; 654 A; 766 A.

Referred to Committee on Claims:-77 S; 106 A; 114 A; 142 A; 209 A; 210 A; 247 A.

In the March number (page 114) we published a list of educational bills introduced into the present legislature which had been printed up to the time of going to press. Herewith are those which have been introduced since.

277 S. 288 S. relating to

In the Senate.

Prohibits segregation in the University. Corrects the wording of Section 196 d special aid for graded schools. 314 S. Authorizes the University legents to establish and maintain agricultural experimental stations in different parts of the state.

334 S. Increases salaries in the State Superintendent's office: Library Clerk from $1,400 to $1,800; Deaf School Inspector from $1,500 to $1,800.

362 S. Corrects the wording of Section 388 W. S. relating to University tuition fees. 371 S. Applies to Milwaukee only. Authorizes the use of school houses for public meetings, reading rooms, etc.

404 S. Provides that in all cities of the second. third, or fourth class there shall be at least one woman on the board of education.

406 S. Provides for appropriations to the normal schools as follows:

La Crosse, $20,000 for changes in building and equipment.

Milwaukee, $60,000 for purchase of additional land and changes in building.

Oshkosh, $50,000 for purchase of additional land and erection of a separate boiler house. Platteville, $10,000 for the purchase of additional land and interior decorations.

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465 A. Provides for the establishment of a state normal school at Antigo.

Killed.

472 A. Defines the word "school" as a single room presided over by a teacher responsible for the same. Referred to committee on judiciary.

489 A. Permits boards of education to contract with a teacher for five years.

501 A. Provides that there shall be taught weekly in all public schools the causes and methods of prevention of contagious and infectious diseases. and compels the closing of schools where the ventilation is imperfect. Committee on public health.

508 A. Compels the printing of the official proceedings of school boards in the official paper of the city or village.

585 A. Amends the township library law. The main provisions remain the same but some details relating to the ten-cent tax are added. Passed Assembly.

588 A. Compels city councils to submit to a vote of the people any proposition for bonds for school purposes recommended by school boards. 606 A.

Same as 443 S.

634 A. Makes February 12 in the odd numbered years and February 22 in the even numbered years, legal holidays. Committee on state affairs.

644 A. Provides for the election of a city superintendent of schools for a term not to exceed three years.

646 A. Provides that all grade teachers may have their certificates renewed without further examination the same as primary teachers at the present time.

648 A. Provides for the printing of 4,000 instead of 3,000 copies annually of the proceedings of the Wisconsin Teachers' Association. Claims.

653 A. After three years' teaching in same position; re-election will not be necessary, the teacher holding the position during efficiency and good behavior.

654 A. Compels free text-books in all districts. 679 A. Gives the teacher who has taught twenty-five years a life certificate in the same grade of work.

685 A. Same as 406 S. Committee on claims.

686 A. Creates a state teachers' institute committee consisting of the state superintendent, a member chosen by the normal board of regents and a county superintendent chosen by the county superintendents' association. This committee shall have charge of the institutes of the state.

691 A. Provides for the renewal of county certificates without re-examination.

706 A. Authorizes cities to establish and maintain trade schools.

707 A. Authorizes the Milwaukee school board to maintain play grounds.

708 A. Establishes a chair of "race culture" in the University.

714 A. Amends the law slightly regarding city trade schools.

720 A. Provides that the graduate of any four year high school in Wisconsin shall be admitted to the University without examination.

723 A. Provides for the appointment of a city graded school inspector.

739 A. Prohibits the use of cigarettes by persons under the age of eighteen years, and of tobacco in any form under fifteen years of age.

740 A. Instead of countersigning normal diplomas and certificates a separate document will be given by the state board of examiners. Authorizes the normal regents to grant a rural school certificate under the same conditions as the county training schools.

762 A. Changes the name of industrial schools to parental schools.

766 A. Establishes a new state normal school at Rhinelander.

771 A. Authorizes the use of public school buildings for general educational purposes such as evening meetings, libraries, etc.

783 A. Authorizes the normal schools to grant scholastic degrees to students completing a full four year course.

784 A. Grants $500 to the state superintendent for purchase of books, etc., for the department.

son.

788 A. Relates to Milwaukee schools and authorizes a vote by the people upon all school bonds recommended to be issued by the school board. 794 A. Important to teachers holding county certificates. Provides that not more than two third grade certificates shall be issued to the same perSecond grade certificates are granted only upon an experience of eight months; passing the examination in all third grade branches and in addition Physical Geography, American Literature, and English Composition. They must also have attended a state normal school or a county training school for at least six weeks in addition to the six weeks required for a third grade certificate. This second grade certificate will be renewed once without examination if the holder has taught successfully two years during the life of the certificate and has attended a state normal school, or some other school ranking higher than a high school, for at least eighteen weeks and received credit in at least two subjects. The life of a second grade certificate is made three years. For first grade certificates the applicant must have taught at least one year, passed an examination in all subjects required for a third and second grade certificate and attended a state normal school the required number of weeks specified for the third and second grade certificates, and in addition must pass an examination in English Literature, Algebra, Geometry, Physics, and English History. This first grade certificate becomes an unlimited certificate if within eighteen months from its date the holder has attended school and received credits as required. The law further requires all questions for these certificates to be furnished by the state board of examiners.

807 A. Makes gymnastics a required branch in all schools of cities of the first, second or third class.

833 A. Provides that upon petition of twelve electors the voting for school officers at the annual school meeting shall be by ballot the same as at village or city elections in such districts as contain an incorporated village or city of the fourth class.

PROBLEMS OF SCHOOL LAW

Subscribers are invited to make use of this department and we are always pleased to answer questions sent to us.-Editor].

A Question of Majority:—

At our annual election last July sixteen votes were cast, eight for Mr. A, two for Mr. B, and six for Mr. C. Mr. A was declared elected by the chairman. Was he authorized to make such declaration?

No. The law plainly prescribes that the person elected shall have a majority of all the votes cast. Mr. A, to be elected, should have had nine votes instead of eight. If Mr. A is discharging the responsibilities and duties of the office to which he was elected, he is what is known as an officer de facto and his acts are binding if between third parties of the district. In fact, the only difference between an officer de facto and the one who has been properly elected is that upon complaint to the proper tribunal the de facto officer may be removed, and the officer de jure (by right) can not be moved.

Can the Payment of Tuition Be Enforced?

When parents send children to school from another district and pay the tuition once or twice and then pay no more, what means shall be taken to collect tuition?

The electors of the district in which those children have been attending school are authorized under the statute to direct the board to charge tuition of the parents or guardians of children outside the district who may attend. If the electors do not make this rule it is within the power of the district board to fix a charge for tuition upon the parents or guardians for the attendance of such pupils. In all cases of this kind an agreement in writing should be drawn up between the board and the parents before the child attends the school. If the children attend school and there is no understanding with reference to the payment of tuition, the supreme courts of some states have held that tuition can not be collected from the parents or guardians.

The Treasurer Is Responsible for Loss of School Funds:

The district elected a treasurer who had some property but was not very well off financially. He did not give bonds. He got to drinking, spent $200 of the district's money and then became insane. The clerk of the district died suddenly but has quite a good deal of property left. The director is all right and well fixed financially. Who is the looser of the $200? Is it the treasurer's estate, or

the clerk's estate, or the director's estate, or does the district loose it?

The treasurer's estate is responsible to the district. Neither the director nor the clerk is responsible for the loss to the district caused by the treasurer. It was their duty to require that the bond be filed as required by Section 443. If the bond was not filed it was their further duty to declare a vacancy in the office of district treasurer and appoint some one to fill the vacancy who would file the bond. This appointment should be made within ten days after the failure of the treasurer to file the bond. It is barely possible that because of the failure of the clerk and director to require the bond of the treasurer to be filed they might be held responsible as district officers under the provisions of Sections 4549 and 4550. These Sections may be in this connection made to read as follows: "Any officer of any school district who shall refuse or wilfully violate any provisions of law requiring to be done or prohibiting anything to be done by him in his offical capacity or appointment, or who shall refuse or wilfully neglect to perform any duty in his office required by law, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail or by fine." This statute may seem quite harsh. Section 507 provides for the removal from office of any school district officer for willful neglect of duty. Section 500 provides that "Every person elected to the office of director, treasurer, or clerk of any school district who shall neglect or refuse to perform any duty required of him under the provisions of the school law shall forfeit the sum of $10.00." Now the clerk's estate can not be held responsible by the district. Whether or not the director's can be held responsible to any extent is a question that can only be decided by the court. The reason why the bond was not filed was probably because of indifference and carelessness, and not because of willful refusal on the part of the officers. A general conclusion in this matter is that the treasurer's property may, as far as lawfully possible, be held responsible for the loss to the extent of at least $10.00, and the director to the amount possibly of not more than the penalty, $10.00. The clerk's property can not be attached. The district will loose the remainder.

The Teacher and the Board Must Enforce Discipline or Go Out of Business:

In

Certain pupils in a school refused to take punishment when they deserved it, making remarks that the teacher had no right to punish them either by the rod or by keeping them after school. this way they destroyed the discipline and the efficiency of the school. The father of some of these children takes the part of his boys. Lately several boys got into some mischief. They all took their punishment except one boy who left the school and brought his father back with him to the school. He maintained that his boy should not be punished. Would it be proper for the board to expel such a pupil from the school? Has any person a right to enter a school when in session and start an argument before all pupils and hinder the work of the afternoon? What punishment can a school board inflict on a person for this kind of behavior?

The courts have maintained that a teacher is responsible for the government and control of his school; that if he does not properly govern and control his school he is unfit for his position; that in order to enforce obedience to his command he may result to corporal punishment. This corporal punishment may also be quite severe. Whipping may resort to corporal punishment. This corporal his intermission or to remain after school. A parent that will uphold his child in misdemeanor in school is a damage to the entire community, so far as school work is concerned. His boy must submit to punishment if necessary in the school or be suspended or expelled. The board should under no circumstances allow a disobedient, unruly boy in the school who will not submit to all reasonable rules no more than they should allow a child with a serious contagious disease. The father in coming to the school and giving his views of what should and what should not be done in school may probably be held responsible under provisions of Section 4572 providing that "Any person who shall willfully, maliciously, or wantonly interrupt or in any way molest any private or public school while in session shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than thirty days in the county jail or by a fine not exceeding $50.00." If the father is to be punished it will be necessary to have the district attorney make the complaint and the matter will be prosecuted in the name of the state.

Allowance for Lincoln's Birthday:

Can a teacher hold Lincoln's birthday as a holiday if she taught on that day, i. e., can she claim allowance of two days' time?

No. If she taught on Lincoln's birthday it counts but one day. If she had not taught on Lincoln's birthday it would have counted just the same. No holiday shall be counted for two days.

Election Days Ara Not Legal Holidays for Schools:

Can a lady teacher who wishes to vote claim election day as a legal holiday, or must she teach another day for that day?

The law does not provide that any election day, primary, general, or spring, is a legal holiday for schools. On the contrary, the statute provides that election days shall not be legal holidays for schools. Spring election day never has been a legal holiday for schools or any other purpose. If the teacher wishes to dismiss school for the day of spring election, it will be necessary for her to have the permission given by the board assembled in a regular board meeting. It will also be necessary for her to teach one additional day if she desires pay.

The Clerk's Salary, if Any, Must Not Be Less Than $5.00:

The school law says that a school officer shall receive a salary of not less than $5.00 nor more than $10.00. If at the annual election the voters vote to pay the officers $3.00 must the clerk write orders for that amount or for $5.00 as stated in the law?

He can not write an order for any amount. The fact that the electors restricted the amount to $3.00 makes the vote taken upon the question of allowing officers a salary invalid; i. e., it is the same as if no vote had been taken.

Must Live Up to Terms of Contract:

If the following clause is inserted in a teachers' contract and signed by the teacher is it binding? "It is also agreed that if the school is closed on account of sickness or any unavoidable circumstance the wages will not be paid." Furthermore, if I agree to teach a school at a certain salary and nothing is said of the above clause until I have taught a week and then they bring to me a written contract with the above clause inserted, am I obliged to sign it in order to keep on teaching and draw my wages?

If the clause above referred to is a part of the contract it is the duty of the teacher to live up to it. If the contract was brought to you after you had been teaching a week you were by no means compelled to sign it. You could have maintained your position in the school without, for as nothing was said about this clause when you were hired the ordinary form of contract was evidently in the minds of the board and yourself. Since you have signed the contract you must abide by it.

Are High School Fraternities Legal?

What decisions, if any, have been made with reference to fraternities organized and maintained by high school pupils?

The courts of several states have sustained the

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