DEATH OF DR. J. W. STEARNS. The death of Dr. J. W. Stearns at Santiago. California, on the 6th of last month, came as a shock to his many friends in the educational field of this state. Only a few months before, his wife passed away very suddenly.

Dr. Stearns was a man who had no frills in his educational record. He was thorough in whatever he undertook any many a successful schoolmaster in this country today owes the solid foundation of his educational career to Dr. Stearns. In his early teaching Dr. Stearns was a professor in the old Chicago University, later he was principal of a normal school in the Argentine Republic, and in 1878 came to the presidency of the Whitewater Normal School which position he held until January, 1885, when he resigned to accept the chair of pedagogy in the University of Wisconsin. His work in this position was trying, for the reason that the so-called Department of Education in those days was looked upon by his associate professos as little less than a necessary evil which had to be tolerated in connection with higher education. But Dr. Stearn's work in the institution was lasting and he knew how to teach young men and women, which is not a virtue possessed by all college professors. In 1904 Dr. Stearns gave up his professorship in the University of Wisconsin and retired to private life on a fruit farm near Santiago, California. He was 70 years old at the time of his death.

Dr. Stearns will probably be remembered mostly as the editor of this publication, which he assumed in 1885 and continued until 1901 when he relinquished his interest in the same. To his untiring efforts is due in a large measure the success of the Wisconsin Journal of Education.

DEATH OF PRINCIPAL A. D. TARNUTZER.

When Andrew D. Tarnutzer, principal of the Sheboygan high school, gave up the struggle for life in the early morning hours of February 28, 1909, a good man and a good schoolmaster offered another sacrifice to the educational work. For too long he had stood by his post and fought against the ravages of tuberculosis and kidney trouble. Possessed of a spirit that never meant surrender, it was only when his physicians finally

ordered him to quit the schoolroom that he consented to go in search of health. But, like too many others, he had delayed this act too long, and after some two months of intense but patient suffering the Grim Reaper called him hence.

Mr. Tarnutzer was born in Sauk City in 1867, was a graduate of the Whitewater Normal School and of the University of Wisconsin. In 1898 he became an assistant in the Sheboygan high school, and in 1903 was advanced to the principalship which position he held at the time of his death.

THE CAMPAIGN FOR STATE SUPERINTEN-
DENT.

With one exception the campaign for the office of State Superintendent among the four contestants has been clean, dignified, and entirely consistent with the schoolmaster's code of ethics. The exception is the anonymous printed slip, circulated freely among school people and others, reflecting upon the integrity and character of Mr. L. W. Wood. This mess of political excrement is the work of a coward-nothing more or less-and if the guilty party can be located, he should be made to pay dearly for the charges of authorship which have been laid at the doors of innocent parties.

The circular has been mailed mostly on Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays, from the Madison postoffice, or on trains going through Madison. Some are sent in unsealed and some in sealed envelopes. The subject matter is plainly libelous in character, and a suit for damages may yet make the sneaking perpetrator of this act smart under the whip of the law.

KERN'S REPORT.

The famous annual report of Superintendent O. J. Kern of the Winnebago County, Illinois, schools is out for this year. This is the most comprehensive report we have ever received from any county superintendent. superintendent. The author is famed far and wide for his great work in the upliftment of country schools. Here is an excellent report which is timely in that it has the most valuable practical suggestions for the proper celebration of Arbor and Bird Day. Its illustrations supplement the text to a great extent. Every county superintendent in Wisconsin should have a copy of this report.

April!

The umbrella month!

Arbor and Bird Day is Friday, May 7.

Have you been re-elected at an increased salary?

The publishers' page this month is worth looking

over.

The county superintendents meet at Madison, April 13-14-15.

The March number should have been No. 3 instead of No. 2.

Miss Marie Powell is the new principal of the Ridgeway state graded school.

Miss Mary E. Hannan is the new president of the Milwaukee Teachers' Association.

An orchestra has been organized among the students of the Waupun high school.

The city superintendents and supervising principals meet at Milwaukee, April 16-17.

Physical training will be a new branch of work in the Oshkosh public schools next year.

Supt. G. M. Murphy of Peshtigo has been reelected at an increase of $100 per year, or $1200. This is the month when re-elections and promotions begin in earnest-the season of unrest for the teacher.

Are you going to Europe, to Denver, or the Yellowstone Park? We can show you the way-the only way!

Put just as much enthusiasm into baseball this spring as you did into football last fall-it's the national game.

No successor will be named to the late Prin. A. D. Tarnutzer of the Sheboygan high school the ́ present school year.

Supt. Thos. R. Lloyd-Jones of Wauwatosa goes to the headship of the Fond du Lac schools next year at a salary of $2400.

The athletic associations of the different ward schools in Racine have been consolidated and a field meet will be held on June 4.

Prin. A. A. Blandin of Port Washington has been elected to the principalship of the Crandon schools next year at a salary of $1,400.

Are you doing what you can for 267 S, the pension bill? If not, get busy right off and see that your representative is "right" on the subject.

The subject of semi-annual promotions is interesting the patrons of the Madison schools and receives the strong endorsement of Supt. Dudgeon.

Don't worry about the kindergartens being put out of business by the passage of the so-called Ainsworth resolution. It is dead-dead-dead!

The Northern Wisconsin Teachers' Association was held at Ashland on March 26 and 27. A full attendance and an interesting meeting is reported.

Supt. E. P. Crain of Fond du Lac county issues in very neat pamphlet form an interesting directory containing much information relating to the schools of his county.

The Eau Claire Bock & Stationery Company have put out in pamphlet form the minimum list of books recommended by the state superintendent for high school libraries.

The women may vote on April 6, for state and county superintendents. If you are a woman and have convictions on candidates, get out and exercise your right of suffrage.

On January 1, Prin. George A. Works of the Menomonie high school assumed the superintendency of the city schools. Mr. Harvey now devotes all his time to the Stout Institute.

Carroll College of Waukesha received a legacy of $30,000 recently, bequeathed by Elizabeth McNaughton of Vernon. This matter has just been decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

The Women's Relief Corps of several cities in the state have recently installed Lincoln bronze tablets in school buildings. The Kaukauna high school is among those thus honored.

On April 16th, a joint debate will be held in Fond du Lac between the Sheboygan and Fond du Lac high schools, on the question of the election of legislative bodies upon a population basis.

Principal L. A. Jones, of the Humboldt Park School, Milwaukee, was the hero last month in the rescue of one of his pupils who nearly drowned in an open sewer near the school building.

Bonds to the amount of $275,000 have been issued for the building of the new high school at Superior and it is expected that the building will be ready for occupancy sometime in 1910.

In the inter-normal oratorical contest held at River Falls on March 19, Mr. James Wallin of Platteville won first place and Mr. Easton Johnson of Whitewater carried off second honors.

Supt. B. E. Nelson of Racine carries off the honors this year in re-election, having been chosen for another year by his school board at an increase of $200, making the salary for 1909-10, $2,700.

A recent fire in one of the Marinette ward buildings showed the efficiency of fire drills. In exactly one minute after the alarm was sounded every child was out of the building and safe from harm.

Another free text-book bill has found its way into the legislature (by request) making such introduction compulsory. The number is 654 A and has already met its just fate-death!

The executive committee of the Wisconsin State Teachers' Association has named Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 7th, 8th and 9th, as the time for the next annual meeting of that organization.

Mr. F. A. Lowell, publisher of the Rhinelander New-North, and formerly principal at Berlin and Rhinelander, is a candidate for superintendent of Schools of Oneida county and will no doubt be elected.

Press reports from Racine indicate that the night schools the present year have not been so well patronized as last year and the board of education may find it feasible to abandon further work along this line.

The citizens of Clintonville were entertained early last month over the question as to whether or not school entertainments should be held in a church. There are some cases where education and religion don't mix very well.

The Minnesota legislature has recently been wrestling with a state teachers' agency bill, but consigned it to oblivion after an investigation which led to the discovery of the revengeful motive that prompted its introduction.

Many Wisconsin educators are familiar with the commercial text-book business of Powers & Lyons. This firm has been dissolved and Mr. J. A. Lyons assumes full ownership, continuing the business under the name of J. A. Lyons & Company. .. .. The board of normal regents appear to have devised quite a clever scheme for the placing of their graduates in positions through a central bureau at Madison in charge of the secretary. A fee of one dollar per year is charged teachers for the service. A big teachers' meeting was held at Baraboo, Sauk county, on March 12 and 13, the principal address being given by Pre Superior normal school. and the training school work.

V. E. McCaskill of the Local county princinals faculty assisted in the

The Reedsburg schools were closed last month on account of the prevalence of scarlet fever in the city. Several other schools in the state have been closed on account of contagious diseases, but, on the whole, there have been fewer cases than last year.

Superintendent Hamlin of Lincoln county is offering medals to all students in the rural schools for perfect attendance. These medals are given for eight perfect attendance certificates, each certificate representing twenty days without absence or tardiness.

Recently the Domestic Science students in the Stanley high school entertained the members of the board of education at luncheon. This is a pretty good scheme for educating the citizens in the value of such a practical department in the public school system.

Dr. Edward C. Elliott of the University is the author of Volume II of "State School Systems" issued by the United States Bureau of Education. This is a most comprehensive digest of educational laws which have recently been enacted by the different states in the union.

Last year the subjects of Domestic Economy and Manual Training were introduced into the Ashland public schools. Press reports from that city indicate that both have proven an immense success and citizens generally are proud of this new phase of educational work in their city.

Spelling, adding, writing, and other contests are quite the rage throughout the state. The last report in this line we have received is from Racine County, where on Saturday, June 5th, a big spelling contest of the rural pupils will be held by County Superintendent Zimmerman.

After thirty years of service in the Cedarburg schools, Mr. Chas. Lau has been compelled to resign on account of ill health. He has been a teacher in Wisconsin for over fifty years, never missing a day in the schoolroom until about three months ago when he suffered from an attack of rheumatism.

A number of cases of truancy in Chippewa County have been corrected through the prompt and ef

ficient action of County Superintendent Brumstad and the District Attorney. This law in some counties is a dead letter for which there is no excuse where a competent county superintendent is in charge.

According to the progress legislation is making, it looks as if the segregation idea of President Van Hise would not be carried out in the University, as the bill introduced by Assemblyman Hambrecht of Grand Rapids, against such a practice has passed the lower house of the legislature, and will, no doubt, become a law.

Shullsburg boasts of a rapid growth in the number of pupils choosing the language work. In the last two years the increase in the number of students taking Latin has been from thirteen to twenty-two. One of the elements which has assisted in this new interest is the organization of a Classical Club by Miss Elizabeth Abaly, the instructor in this subject.

A statement in these colums last month that Mr. C. F. Greenwood had offered a cup to the Jefferson schools was in error. This should have been attributed to the Lake Mills school, where Mr. Greenwood resides. There are to be held a series of inter-class contests and the cup is held by the class winning in the finals. The winner has his name and the class he represents engraved upon the cup.

Last year the Black River Falls high schol graduated a class of thirty-two of whom twenty-two are now teaching in the rural schools of Jackson County. This year's class numbers thirty-five, the majority of whom will probably take up rural school teaching. This condition has lead Superintendent Hennessey to introduce a semester's work in observation and practice teaching in the grades.

The La Crosse board of education has discarded vertical writing in all the grades and has adopted a slant writing system based upon muscular movement. At the beginning of the present semester two classes of penmanship were organized in the high school. The faculty of the La Crosse high school has opened a permanent lunch room in the high school building which is patronized by about one hundred students daily.

The Racine school board has increased the maximum wage for principals from $1400 to $1500 per annum. Kindergarten directors and teachers are hereafter to receive $650 a year, and kindergarten assistants $500. The board provides that any advance in salary the coming year shall be paid the teacher with his last month's salary. This means that those who resign during the year will not receive the benefit of the increase in salary.

The many friends of James A. Sheridan will be pained to learn of a stroke of paralysis which he suffered on the morning of March 9th and from which it is very doubtful if he will recover. But little hope is held out by his physicians. Mr. Sheridan will be remembered as a former superintendent of Jefferson county, and later as State High School Inspector under Mr. O. E. Wells. For many years he was a member of the Milwaukee school board, and for two years president of that body.

From Superintendent W. G. Mase of Lafayette County, we are in receipt of his annual report bound in substantial form and full of much live material pertaining to the educational work in his bailiwick. Among other features in this report we note a large half-tone of Professor John B. Parkinson, of the University, who was the first superintendent of Lafayette County. This report shows

that wages have advanced in the county during the last year. There are a number of teachers in the rural schools now receiving $50 per month.

The annual meeting of the Southern Wisconsin Teachers' Association at Racine last month was a big success and ably managed by President Banting and his fellow officers. President Bryan's speech was the feature of the meeting, but the sections and all the numbers on the general program proved profiable to those in attendance. There were about 800 teachers present. Supt. B. E. Nelson of Racine was elected president and Prin. E. W. Waite of Waterloo, secretary. The place of holding the next meeting will be determined later by the executive committee.

President J. W. Livingston of the Platteville Normal School has been granted a leave of absence by the board of normal regents and is now in California resting from his labors with the hope that a speedy return to health will soon bring him back to Platteville. His hosts of school friends in this state anxiously await his early recovery. Mr. Livingston is one of those men who has given his life to the school work and his rest is a well earned one. His resignation has not yet been accepted by the board of regents-and it may not be later. Regent McGregor is in charge of the school during Mr. Livingston's absence.

The last month in Milwaukee has seen a battle royal between the school authorities and the common council. Superintendent Pearse crossed swords with Mayor Rose and has won the battle. The mayor and the common council were for cutting down school appropriations, but Superintendent Pearse and President Pieplow of the school board destroyed the arguments of the municipal officers so completely that the latter were finally obliged to give in and the budget of some $310,000 will be allowed. Superintendent Pearse is one of the candidates strongly talked of for the Chicago city superintendency.

In some cities in the state much trouble arises over a conflict between the school board and the common council when the latter has the final decision in the matter of determining the levying of a tax to meet the school budget. The city of Beaver Dam is one of these sufferers, but Mr. W. W. Jones, the president of the school board, has the back bone to tell the members of the council of their shortcomings when they refuse even to give a respectable hearing to the Board of Education. It is to be hoped that the time will come when the boards of education of all cities will be the final judges in the matter of school taxation.

The boys and young men residing on the west side of Wausau who are employed during the day time recently met in the Lincoln school building of that city and organized a young men's club. On the preceding day a similar club was organized on the east side. The purpose of these clubs is to give the boys and young men an opportunity to meet socially and receive the benefit of gymnasium work. This is making good use of the school house other than during the day time and we are glad to note the same spirit is growing over the state. Just why a school house should be used only a few hours of each day, five days in the week, has never been satisfactorily explained.

The passage of bill number 729 A would mean that the state superintendent would be the sole determining power in the matter of entrance requirements to the state university. It provides that all

four year high-school graduates whose course of study has been approved by the state superintendent shall be admitted to the university without examination. It practically does away with university inspection. In the equitable adjustment of the matter of our present double inspection it would be unreasonable to eliminate the university. All parties interested should be represented, and certainly the university is vitally interested in the preparation of its students in the elementary schools.

On March 12th an important conference was held at Madison between the Normal schools and the University. The former were represented by presidents, McKenny, Keith, and Salisbury, and the latter by Professors Birge, Elliot, Monroe, and Kallenberg. The object of the conference was to bring about a more satisfactory accrediting of Normal school students who enter the University, also to adjust the differences now existing between these schools relative to the normals preparing teachers for the high schools of the state. The committee reports progress, but nothing more definite can be given out at this time until a report is agreed upon which will later be submitted to the regents of both the Normal schools and the University.

They do some good things in the Iron River, Michigan, schools which could be profitably followed by many Wisconsin cities. Supt. R. A. Brandt, the present incumbent, has just been elected for a three year term at a salary of $1,500 for the first year, $1,600 for the second year, and $1,700 for the third year. The board paid his entire expenses to the meeting of the Department of Superintendence at Chicago last month. Recently the same board issued an edict against extravagant expenditures on the part of high school graduates at commencement time. Their rule forbids any lady graduate from purchasing more than one dress for the occasion and that is to be plain and of inexpensive material. Violation of this rule means that the offending party shall take no part in the public exercises of commencement week. No flowers or presents of any kind are to be presented to the graduates at the public exercises. The board is also enforcing the state law against boys under seventeen years of age loafing in pool rooms, bowling alleys, etc.

ENROLL THIS MONTH AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR SPECIAL OFFER.

The Parker Teachers' Agency is now ready for business for next year. Already calls have been placed with us for teachers for 1909-10. February is a good month to enroll as an early acquaintanceship is much to be desired. Write for our special offer for February. THE PARKER TEACHERS' AGENCY,

Madison, Wisconsin.

NOW IS THE TIME TO REGISTER,

Get your registration in early and receive the benefit of the early calls which we receive from school officers. "The Parker Way" booklet tells about our work. It is free for the asking. Write at once for our enrollment blank.

THE PARKER TEACHERS' AGENCY,
Madison, Wisconsin.

FOR SALE. A full scholarship in one of the best Milwaukee business colleges at a discount if taken this month. Good at any time. For further particulars address H. B. C., care Wisconsin Journal of Education, Madison, Wisconsin.

FOR SALE. A good strong letter press with water bath iron pan. Costs new $6.00. Will sell for $2.00. Address L. P., care Wisconsin Journal of Education, Madison, Wisconsin.

FOR SALE. A Smith Premier typewriter, good as new. Trichrome ribbon. Used very little. Will last a life time. $50.00. Call for sample of work and particulars. Address M. M., care Wisconsin Journal of Education, Madison, Wisconsin.

FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE. A bran new set of Dodd, Mead & Co.'s New International Encyclopaedia, including polished oak case, $75. A bran new set of Ridpath's Library of Universal Literature, (25 vol.), $75. Neither of these sets can be bought for less than $100 from publishers. Will exchange the latter set for a good typewriter. Address, L. A. B., care Wisconsin Journal of Education, Madison, Wis.

FOR SALE. Three new Bausch and Lomb Microscopes complete in cases. Cost $75, sell for $50. Also Physics Cabinet, suitable for small high school. Cost $200, sell for $50. For information, address Geo. N. Danielson, Clerk, District No. 4, Appleton, Wis.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

Robinsono Kruso, Lia Vivo Kaj Strangaj, Mirindegaj Aventuroj De Danielo Defo Kun Multaj Illustrajoj. Philadelphia; Henry Altemus Company.

A Punctuation Primer. With notes on the preparation of manuscript. By Frances M. Perry, Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition in Wellesley College. Price, 30c. New York, Cincinnati, Chicago; American Book Company. Practical Elementary Algebra. By Jos. V. Collins, Ph. D., Professor of Mathematics, State Normal School, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Price, $1.00. New York, Cincinnati, nicago; American Book Company.

Physics for Secondary Schools. By Charles F. Adams, A. M., Head of the Department of Physics, Detroit Central High School. Price, 1.20. New York, Cincinnati, Chicago; American Book Company. How the World Is Clothed. By Frank George Carpenter, Author of Carpenter's Geographical Readers. Readers on Commerce and Industry. Price, 60c. New York, Cincinnati, Chicago; American Book Company.

A First Book in Phonics. By Florence Akin, Primary Teacher, The Lane School, Roseburg, Oregon. Chicago, Dallas, Boston; Atkinson, Mentzer & Grover. Cornell Study Bulletins for Teachers. Editor: Charles DeGarmo, Professor of the Science and Art of Education. No. 3. Questions in General and Educa

tional Psychology. By Guy Montrose Whipple, Ph. D., Assistant Professor of the Science and Art of Education. Syracuse, N. Y.; C. W. Bardeen, Publisher.

First Reader. By Maud Summers. Illustrated from original drawings by Lucy Fitch Perkins and Marion L. Mahony. The Summers Readers. New York; Frank D. Beattys & Company.

The Story of the Greek People. An Elementary History of Greece. By Eva arch Tappan, Ph. . Author of England's Story," "Our Country's Story," "American Hero Stories," etc. Elitor of "The Children's Hour." Price, 65c net, postpaid. Boston, New York, and Chicago; Houghton Mifflin Company. The Riverside Press Cambridge. Selections From the Works of John Ruskin. Edited with introduction and notes by Chauncey B. Tinker, Ph. D., Assistant Professor of English in Yale College. The Riverside Literature Series. Price, 50c net, postpaid. Boston, New York, Chicago; Houghton Mifflin Company. The Riverside Press Cambridge.

Practical English. By Angelo C. Scott, A. M., LL. M., President, 1899-1908, and Professor of the English Language and Literature, Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College; Dean of the Graduate School, Epworth University. Price, 80c. Chicago; Row, Peterson & Co.

A Manual of the Principles of English, Form and Diction. Harriott Ely Fansler, Ph. B., A. M., Instructor in English, Philippine Normal School, Manila, Formerly Instructor in English, Western Reserve University, U. S. A., and Dean Spruill Fansler, A. B., A. M., Instructor in Latin and English, Philippine Normal School, Manila, Formerly Instructor in English, Academy of Northwestern University, U. S. A. Price, 15c. Chicago; Row, Peterson & Co. Recollections of a New England Educator. 1838-1908. Reminiscences-Biographical, Pedagogical, Historical. By William A. Mowry, Ph. D., LL. D. List Price, $1.50 net. New York, Boston, Chicago; Silver, Burdett & Company.

Annual Report of the State Board of Education and of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of New Jersey with Accompanying Documents. For the School Year Ending June 30th, 1907. Somerville, N. J.: The Unionist-Gazette Printing House.