judgment they have become too much soiled to be usable further or where they have been exposed to contagious diseases, even though they have themselves shown no signs of having been diseased. This they should be compelled by law to do.

In non-free text-book territory, where the books are purchased by the pupils, the question is not so easily solved, for the same books are bound to be handed down from child to child in the same family, and it is not easy to prevent the sale and circulation of second-hand books locally through the dealers although this traffic could be surrounded by safeguards to minimize possible danger. The real danger comes from the second-hand books that are imported by the dealers, purchased from second-hand jobbers in the large cities and by them purchased whereever they are obtainable, regardless of the condition of the books or the surroundings. If germs are to flourish and contagious diseases are to spread, here apparently is their splendid opportunity.

It would seem that a law preventing the importation into any community of second-hand books might be expected to have the hearty support of every parent and every voter who has at all at heart the welfare of the state. A move of this kind once properly started is sure to create the same wide-spread interest which has developed in the case of other relics of an unsanitary age fast disappearing. There are few patrons of the schools who would not regard it as criminal if the clothing of a scarlet fever or diphtheria patient were passed along to other children; yet practically the same thing is done whenever children are compelled or allowed to use books which may be reeking with disease. It would seem that the present is an appropriate time to commence campaign that will insure clean books for the children of Wisconsin.

-The Crusader.

Whitewater's New President

Prof. A. H. Yoder who comes from New York City to the headship of the Whitewater normal school on June first, is an Iowaian by birth, the event of his life having occurred in that state in 1866. His professional training was obtained at the state normal school, Madison, S. D., which he finished in 1888, and at the University of Indiana from which he took his A. B. degree in

son, S. D., from 1888 to 1891; later instructor in pedagogy in Indiana University; for one year principal of the city normal school at San Francisco; from 1896 to 1900, president of Vincennes University; 1901-1906, professor of education in the University of Washington; 1906-1910, superintendent of schools of Tacoma, Wash. His present position is in the School of Philanthropy, New York City, which is a heavily endowed special school for the preparation of social workThis is a subject in which Mr. Yoder is greatly interested. He is also noted for his

ers.

work along the line of child study.

More Efficiency Demands More Salary It will in my judgment be impossible to show marked improvement in rural school conditions in Wisconsin without almost doubling the salaries of county superintendents and of rural teach

ers. In connection with these increases it is equally important to demand more in scholarship and professional preparation of the county superintendent and to make a radical increase in the minimum certification requirements of teachers. Higher salaries make it easier to fix higher standards and in turn higher standards force higher salaries. These two naturally belong together. The sooner that the rural life organizations and educators and all others interested in improving the country realize fully the importance of increasing salaries and standards and the sooner that all forces unite in an effort to bring this condition about, the sooner will they see actual progress towards the improvement of rural life and rural education in this state.

J. W.CRABTREE,

President River Falls Normal. Pension Fund News

Secretary Elizabeth Herfurth of the state teachers' retirement fund reports progress in the organization of the office and in the preparation of the necessary material for carrying out the provisions of the law. This has been almost a hopeless task, but the end is in sight. There has just been issued by the board of trustees a circular of information giving an interpretation to doubtful phases of the law as passed upon by the board of trustees. The law itself is published in pamphlet form and may be obtained free of charge by writing to the Secretary.

It will be recalled by Journal readers that in the September 1911 issue of this publication, Miss Herfurth explained many doubtful points regarding the law. We will not repeat these here, merely commenting upon some of the more important additions and changes made by the board of trustees since last September.

Eligibility of Former Teachers Any person who may have taught twenty-five years or more, but who had retired from the teaching business before the enactment of the teachers' retirement fund law, and who was not in school work during the winter and spring terms of 1911, will not receive credit for past years of service, even though, since the enactment of the law, such ex-teacher should return to school work. The term "retired," however, does not apply to a teacher who may have

taught twenty-five years or more, and who, through illness or some other unavoidable circumstance, may have been compelled to discontinue work for a temporary period only. Such last-mentioned teacher, therefore, on returning to regular school work, will receive credit for past years of service, provided that such teacher furnishes the board of trustees with satisfactory written evidence from the superintendent or the supervising principal under whom she may have taught, and from any other person the board of trustees may designate, that such temporary discontinuation of school work was due to illness or some other unavoidable circumstance.

Meaning of the Term "New Teacher"

New teachers include_ (a) Those who have never taught before. (b) Those who have taught, but who were not regularly employed as teachers in the public schools of Wisconsin outside the city of Milwaukee during the winter and spring terms of 1911.

Teachers Who May Elect to Come Under the Law (a) The law is elective for any person who was regularly employed as a teacher in the public schools of Wisconsin outside the city of Milwaukee during the winter and spring terms of 1911, irrespective of the time that such person may have made the contract to teach during the school year 1911-12.

(b) The law is elective for any such aforesaid new teacher whose contract for the school year 1911-12 was made prior to June 12, 1911; and who, in accordance with the contract, became a teacher in such school district.

Note. - Any person who has taught twenty-five years or more and who, during the whole (or a part) of the school year 1910-11, was out on a leave of absence duly granted by the school board may be considered as such aforesaid new teacher who made with the school board, prior to June 12, 1911, a contract to teach during the school year 1911-12; provided that such person who was out on a leave of absence returned to regular school work at the expiration of such leave of absence. Any person, therefore, who so made and fulfilled a contract with the school board to return to regular school work at the expiration of such leave of absence is qualified to make application to come under the law.

(c) The law is elective for any such aforesaid new teacher who, at the beginning of the school year 1911-2, was regularly employed as a teacher in schools that opened prior to September 1, 1911, irrespective of the time that such

new teacher may have made the contract to teach during the school year 1911-12.

Teachers for Whom the Law is Compulsory The law is compulsory for all such aforesaid

new teachers whose contracts for the school year 1911-2 were made after June 12, 1911, if the schools in which they were regularly employed as teachers, at the beginning of the school year 1911-12, opened after September 1, 1911. Previous service in the aforesaid public schools of Wisconsin does not exempt them from the assessments provided for in the law.

Time for Election Expires September 1, 1912 Any teacher who may elect to come under the law must make application by September 1, 1912, or forfeit all rights to its benefits in the future. Teachers should bear in mind that if they wish to come under the provisions of this act, application must be made to the board of trustees before September 1, 1912. The Secretary urges early action by those who expect to come under the law. Do not delay this matter until the summer vacation. Write to Miss Herfurth at once for proper application blanks.

Lack of space prevents us from calling attention to many other and very important features of this law as outlined in this special circular. We respectfully refer all interested to the Secretary at Madison, who will be glad to furnish this and other information upon request of Wisconsin teachers.

Wisconsin at the St. Louis Meeting According to the official returns, Wisconsin's delegation to the meeting of the Department of Superintendence of the N. E. A. at St. Louis last month numbered forty-nine. There were eight representatives from our normal schools including Presidents Keith, Sutherland, Crabtree, Cotton and McKenny. The program was much stronger than last year's at Mobile. The attendance was the largest in the history of the department and numbered close to 2,000. Philadelphia was voted for the next meeting place.

common

Use the Fibre Towel in Your School Following the abolition of the drinking cup, the free-for-all towel must go out of the school. To provide individual towels would be altogether too expensive. The remedy

lies in the fibre towel which can be purchased by the thousand at a very small cost. The Holden Patent Book Cover Company of Springfield, Mass., has just brought out a towel of this kind made from the strongest known fibres similar to those that have made the Holden book covers so famous.

Next to the drinking cup as a medium for the spread of disease comes the common towel. Eye and skin diseases, not to mention scarlet fever, small-pox, tuberculosis, and other severe types, have been traced to the use of the towel in common use in our schools. Teachers and school officers should take up this matter immediately and apply the remedy without delay.

The 1912 State Meeting

The next meeting of the state teachers' association will be held at Milwaukee, November 78-9. Supt. Mary D. Bradford of Kenosha, the president of the association, reports that the program is well under way and that she has been successful in securing some speakers of national reputation for the event. Among these are William H. Allen of New York City, whose work in the bureau of municipal research has brought him fame. Dr. Henry Suzzalo of Columbia and Dr. Charles H. Judd of Chicago University are scheduled. Dr. Clifton F. Hodge, author of the well-known book "Nature Study and Life" is down for a talk. Mr. C. A. Fullerton of the Iowa State Teachers' College will be the star in the music section. Prof. Ernest Burnham of the Kalamazoo, Mich., normal school, strong in agricultural work, will be on the general program. The evening lecture on Friday will be delivered by Hon P. P. Claxton, United States Commissioner of Education. Among the women from outside who will be present are Miss Julia Richmond, asssstant superintendent of New York City, Miss Anna Logan, famous kindergarten director of Oxford, Ohio, and Miss Margaret Lennon of St. Paul.

There is no questisn but what the attendance at this meeting will be even larger than it was last year which was the largest in its history.

Come forth into the light of things,
Let Nature be your teacher.

No man hath ever known or said

How many there may be,

But each tree helpeth to make a shade;
Each leaf to make a tree.