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OFFICIAL. -The only publication reporting the news of the State Department of Education, working in the interests of the State Teachers' Association, and devoting its pages exclusively to the advancement of Wisconsin schools. Official opinions on school law problems are rendered by the State Department of Education.

TIME OF PUBLICATION.-The Journal is mailed the first day of each month, except July and August. SUBSCRIPTION RATES.-$1.25 per year (10 issues) in advance. Single copies 15 cents.

DISCONTINUANCE. -The Journal is discontinued to subscribers when the time for which the subscription is paid has expired. An expiration slip is inserted in your last number. To avoid any delays remittance should be received before the 20th of the month following the expiration.

ADVERTISING RATES furnished on application. Entered at the postoffice at Madison, Wis., as second class mail matter.

Do You Read?

Yes, you read this publication, but do you confine that reading to one department only? In this number there is an excellent article by President Sutherland on economy in the assignment of lessons. Miss McCormick has a most practical and common sense treatment of the practical versus the concrete in arithmetic. Read what she says. Then refer to page 98 and read the article on the second hand school book "evil. Few of us have given any thought to the spread

O'Shea has some timely editorials on the first four pages.

April a Great Month

This month may be considered for the teacher the "battle" month. It is during this time that teachers decide to remain or seek other positions, and in April some school boards are unkind enough to determine this question without troubling the teacher. This means a constant shifting from place to place which unfortunately is the fate of the teaching profession. It's a battle royal till Sept. 1.

Teachers' Pensions

Attention is also called in this issue to the paragraph on the duties of school officers toward the pension fund. Officers must remember that they are compelled by law to withhold the assessment each month. It is important also that teachers should remember they can not elect to come under the benefits of the retirement fund act unless they make formal application to the secretary of the board of trustees at Madison, before September 1, 1912.

The Summer Vacation

The N. E. A. this year has not the usual attraction for Wisconsin teachers so far as a trip. is concerned. Being held at Chicago, however, and with Supt. Pearse of Milwaukee at the head, naturally many Wisconsin educators will attend. Quite a number of Wisconsin teachers. will take the trip to Europe, leaving about the middle of June and returning by the first of September. Those who wish to join the Journal party are urged to write to Mr. R. E. Towle, Bureau of University Travel, Boston, Mass., at once.

Teachers Going West

Those who have the western fever are again reminded that our western branch at No. 414 Rookery Building, Spokane, Washington, is able to take care of them. Registration in the home office at Madison includes membership in the western branch.

Helping the Pupil to use Imagination

is helping him to

get the full value
of the teacher's in-
struction. You
can stimulate the
imagination by il-
lustrating geogra-
phy, history and
other lessons with
stereopticon pict-

ures. It can be
done easily in an
entertaining way by using the

Bausch Lomb
Balopticon

This perfectly constructed instrument throws clear, brilliant pictures on the screen. It is strictly high grade-scientifically constructed— easy to operate. The Balopticon projects ordinary lantern slides and can also be arranged to project post cards, photographs, prints, etc., in the colors of the original. It is used in many schools with entirely satisfactory results.

Model C Balopticon is now only $25.00 The opaque attachment is $30.00.

carry present-day educational ideals, and still keep in touch with immediate needs. This adds one more to the group of capable men who are directing the professional work of the state.

Now, let these men have a large measure of freedom to work out their own conceptions and ideals, and only good can result therefrom. Men of this caliber ought not to be hedged about with any red tape whatever. As we pointed out two or three months ago, we have been assured by officers of the Board of Regents of the Normal Schools that it is the policy of the Board to grant the presidents of the schools and every teacher therein the largest measure of individual freedom compatible with a reasonable degree of harmony in the work of the state. This is precisely right; and this assurance will be a comfort to every person who is interested in the healthful educational development of this commonwealth.

Training Teachers We have heard people in various sections of this country express a doubt regarding the wisdom of our normal schools establishing college departments. Within the past few months, we have been asked by educational men in a number of states how it is possible for a normal school to be both a college, and a training school for teachers. We put this question up to President Cotton, of LaCrosse, a few days ago while we were visiting his Normal. He made it perfectly clear to us that his school is now and always will be first and foremost a training school for teachers. But he made it clear also that the presence of a group of men and women doing college work would be of advantage in accomplishing the supreme purpose of the school. For one thing, a number of the young men especially who have entered the college course have become interested in the work of teaching, and will probably adopt it for their life work. Heretofore the normal schools have appealed primarily to women, and the men have been inclined to pass them by. But if by entering the college department they can be led to see the attractiveness of teaching, it will be a tremendous gain for education in this state. We do not need fewer women in the schools, but we do need more men, and the experience of the La Crosse Normal School leads us to believe that the maintenance of the college department will

be a potent means of increasing the number of men in the teaching confession. A Man's Job

It would be a tragedy for this state if the energy of the normal schools should ever be drafted off principally into college work. This is what people in outside states are afraid of in the the Wisconsin experiment. But President Cotton has convinced us that in his school at any rate, and we have no doubt it will be true in the other schools as well, the supreme aim and object of the institution will forever be the adequate and effective training of teachers. In some places, normal-school faculties think it is more dignified to be doing academic rather than normal-school work proper, but to us this seems to be a monumental blunder. It is a very simple thing to teach algebra, say, as compared with instructing a novice how to shape the character of a child, and to give him possession of useful knowledge most attractively and economically. The training of teachers effectively in all that this means is certainly a good deal bigger job than teaching college subjects to freshman and sophomore students.

The

The Superintendents at St. Louis On a previous occasion we referred to the favorable impression made upon one by observing at close range those who attend the midwinter convention of superintendents. group of men and women who come together at this meeting seems to be larger and more distinguished each succeeding year. One who will study them, at rest and in action, can not doubt that the educational work of this country is in good hands, so far as the people at the head are concerned. They are distinctly above the average group in personality. age group in personality. They radiate intelligence, and have the marks of self-control and leadership. As a matter of fact, they play a leading role in directing human activities. Every day they solve a large number of intricate problems. The superintendent of schools in even a small city assumes greater responsibilities and administers a more complex system as a rule than does the head of the greatest industrial or commercial organization in the community.

If these men and women could be given a free hand in running the schools, one would not have any fear of the outcome. But unfortunately