At the beginning of this new year, 1911, let us confess our faith in the importance and dignity of our profession, and in the boys and girls of our nation, by saying with Edwin Osgood Grover, "I believe in the boys and girls, the men and women of a great tomorrow; that what so'er the boy soweth the man shall reap. I believe in the curse of ignorance, in the efficiency of schools, in the dignity of teaching, and in the joy of serving others. I believe in wisdom as revealed in human lives as well as in the pages of a printed book, in lessons taught, not so much

by precept as by example, in ability to work with the hands as well as to think with the head, in everything that makes life large and lovely. I believe in beauty in the schoolroom, in the home, in daily life and out-of-doors. I believe in laughter, in love, in faith, in all ideals, and distant hopes that lure us on. I believe that every hour of every day we receive a just reward for all we are and all we do. I believe in the present and its opportunities, in the future and its promises, and in the divine joy of living. Amen."

SHAKESPEARE'S HOME AND ON TO LONDON.

PRIN. M. H. JACKSON.

[This article is the first of a series to apper in the JOURNAL from the pen of Prin. M. H. Jackson of the Wood County Training School, Mr. Jackson led the JOURNAL party through Europe last year. His remarkable power of seein' things is clearly shown in these descriptions of his experience. Editor.]

Think of an average of three hundred and fifty visitors a day to a village not in itself of special interest. Here at Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare was born, and here he lived and died. In the old, old church, first built probably in the year 600, and in which he worshipped and in which his body lies buried, are the records of his birth and of his death.

The inscription on his tomb was probably written by himself:

"Good frend for Jesus sake forbeare To digg the dust enclosed heare Blese be ye man who spare thes stones And curst be he who moved my bones" Near this is the slab marking his wife's resting place:

"Heere lyeth interred the body of Ann, wife of William Shakespeare who departed this life the 6th day of Aug. 1623, being of the age of 67 years."

Out in the yard is a stone seat which the villagers call "Longfellow's Stone." Upon it the great American poet used to sit beside the Avon and under the spell of the place, write his matchless songs.

The Ann Hathaway cottage is a mile away and in carriages we go out to visit it. You are all familiar with it from pictures scattered broadcast in homes and schools. Here is where Shakespeare wooed and won the fair Ann Hathaway. Villagers here claim to be able to point out the path made by him in his daily visits to the Hathaway home. We did not try to trace it.

The thatched roof held together by wire netting, much of the furniture and interior decorations are of a former age and are intimately associated with Shakespeare's time and with the poet himself. We then return and visit the birthplace and early home of the great man. In the birthroom in the second story of this building are to be found thousands of signatures on the walls, among which we find that of Carlyle, Browning, Byron and Thackeray.

This little village is not then merely the home of the greatest English dramatist. It has been

and is the spot made sacred by the visits of many English and American writers. The visitors' registers contain many names familiar to us all in the field of literature.

On the way from Stratford to London, we pass through Oxford, the seat of the great Oxford University, the colleges of which date back for centuries in English history. We can not pass through here without making it a short visit.

Here Roosevelt a few weeks ago donned the cap and gown and received his honorary degree from Oxford. Here he delivered his address which so stirred the English nation, that they are still talking about it. I asked an Englishman at Oxford what he thought of Roosevelt's address and his answer was: "I think, sir, that 'e is not well versed in Egyptian politics." Another said: "He told us some facts sir."

The "American bunch" of college boys are making things lively in Oxford. The old, old professors are looking through their gold-rimmed spectacles aghast at the rough-and-ready element from the United States that have gained admission to Oxford through the Cecil Rhodes scholarships. Classic Oxford finds them hard to analyze.

But the crowd from "the States" will do Oxford good. They will give more than they take. It was a fortunate day for Oxford when the "American boys" were admitted to that institution.

But our train is rushing on toward London and we must get ready to move as soon as we reach the depot. We pass Windsor Castle in plain view on our right. I wish we could stop for a short time, but it is not so planned.

London at last! The largest city in the Empire! The largest city in the world! We climb the winding stairs to the top of our omnibus, and sit near the driver that we may ply him with questions as we go. Liveried servants insist on opening and closing doors for me at the hotel. We go to the "lift" and move slowly to our comfortable room on the fifth floor. Here we unpack our possessions and proceed to make ourselves at home. We shall be here six days, and in that time we can touch only the very highest places. We shall live the "strenuous life" here so we retire early to rest ourselves for the work before us.

NEXT MONTH.

It is well to bear in mind some big events in February and to begin preparation now for holding appropriate exercises in commemoration of some of them. Do not attempt to celebrate all of these events with a special program, for that would be detracting too much from the regular school work. Select one or two for special observance and make comment at the proper time of all the others. Here are the principal ones: February 12, Sunday, Lincoln's Birthday. February 14, Tuesday, Valentine Day. February 22, Wednesday, Washington's Birthday.

February 27, Monday, Longfellow's Birthday. For helps in celebrating these events consult the January and February numbers of the Journal of previous years. Helpful literature at a very moderate price can be obtained by writing the Educational Publishing Co., or the A. Flanagan Co., Chicago. Use the Perry Pictures, Malden, Mass., for decorations.

SONGS UNSUNG.

As we stand on the threshold of a new year with our minds and hopes turned to what may be beyond the "doorway," this little poem by Herbert Norton Roe in "The Rocky Mountain Educator" seems to have a fitting place and may mean a bit of inspiration to some of us.

1

Sweet the song of the thrush at dawning When the grass lies wet with spangled dew, Sweet the sound of the brook's low murmur 'Mid reeds and rushes wandering through. Soft and low is the west wind's whisper That croons in the branches all day long. But the songs unsung are the sweetest music And dreams that die are the soul of song.

2

Somewhere, dim in the days to follow
And far away in the life to be,
Passing sweet is a strain of music.
The spirit chant of a soul set free

Chords untouched are the ones we long for
With heartstrings tuned to hopes still young.
With our faces turned to the years beyond us,
We listen still for songs unsung.

BETWEEN US.

We were glad to hear from a few of our readers during the past month. We will do our best to help you solve your problems. Come again with your questions.

No one has yet volunteered to tell us about the devices he is using in his work. Please help us in this new department. That means you.

Among the topics suggested this month which will be touched upon in other columns are:

1. "What is of most vital importance to children in the study of United States History? We can not teach it all. What shall we leave out ?"

2. "Have my pupils a right to ask 'What is the use of it?' concerning work required of them by the course of study?"

3. "I have a fifth grade-my chief problem is discipline. What shall I do?"

FUNCTIONS OF HAND WORK.

Too frequently, I fear, we teachers do not have the right ideals as aims for our hand work or manual training in school.

The aim of all this work in school is to train pupils in action as well as in thought, to help them to see themselves in relation to their environment, and to aid them in becoming efficiently adjusted to their social environment. By an efficient person I mean one who can do as well as one who knows what to do. Because a boy is taught to make a chair or a table, it is not to be supposed that he is to follow the vocation of furniture-maker. Cabinet-work is simply a factor of the educative process. Let children make things of some practical value. Let them be things that will awaken interest in some of the great human industries.

GRADE TEACHERS WANTED FOR THE NEXT

SCHOOL YEAR.

This is the time when the wise teacher enrolls for a position for the next school year. Already superintendents have lodged with us requests for some good, strong grade teachers for the school year 1911-12. We have a special offer for all who register this month. Write for our 1911 booklet.

THE PARKER TEACHERS' AGENCY,

Madison, Wisconsin.