Resident Editors' Department. SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOLS.-We acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the Annual Report of Superintendent Pelton, of the city schools, for the school year ending June 30th, 1866. It is a neat pamphlet of forty-eight pages, and contains valuable and interesting statistical tables. If Mr. Pelton's name did not appear on our covers, as one of the Editors of the TEACHER, we should be inclined to say something complimentary; but as it is, we forbear, lest some ill-natured critic should say it was all in the family. We have already published many of the statistics of the city schools. Mr. Pelton thus speaks of the condition and progress of the schools: During the year our school facilities have been greatly increased, and our schools have not only been multiplied in number, but improved, if not perfected, in classification and discipline, in efficiency and usefulness. Not only have several thousands of pupils been added to the schools of the Department, but the general character of scholarship and deportment of those attending has been improving throughout the year-the standard of every merit has been raised higher and higher, till we feel that our public schools may safely be compared with those of any State or country, or be judged from any known and attainable standard of excellence. He makes the following comparative summary of figures and facts: Number returned per census of 1865-6 as applying for admission to the Public 1,142 Number returned per census 1866–7 as applying for admission to the Public Schools (and these have now been admitted). . 55 Decrease 1,087 Last year there were two High Schools, this year there are three. Last year there were six Grammar Schools, this year there are seven. Last year there were twentytwo Primary Schools, this year there are thirty-one. During the present year ninety-one pupils have been added to the High Schools, 1,206 have been added to the Grammar, and 2,021 to the Primary Department; and eighty-three additional teachers have been employed over the average of the previous year. The per cent. of increase in the number of teachers in the Public Schools during the past year is forty-three. The per cent. of increase in pupils added to the Public School Department is forty-two and three-tenths. Two-thirds of the increase in pupils have occurred in the Primary Schools. HIGH PRICES OF SCHOOL BOOKS.-We have received from a school trustee a communication complaining of the high prices of school books, and attributing the fact to a monopoly induced by the adoption of a State Series of Text Books. It is true that school books are high; but so are all other books, and the rise in the price of school books has not been greater than that of miscellaneous books. When greenbacks were at forty and fifty cents, of course the book dealers in this State could afford to sell cheaper than now, when currency is at seventy cents. The adoption by this State of a text book, such as Willson's Readers, does not, in the least, affect the New York publishing price of the Harpers, because the California demand is but an insignificant item in the immense sale of those readers. We have taken the pains to secure a comparative table of the wholesale prices of the different series of readers, and find that Willson's costs no more relatively than other series of readers. The competition of dealers in this State is sure to keep prices down to a reasonable profit; but the high prices in New York cannot be remedied, as those prices are owing to the heavy internal revenue duties on paper and material, and to the inflation of the currency. The adoption of a uniform State series of text books has saved the people of this State many thousands of dollars, and the present high prices are by no means the result of "a monopoly." VOICE OF CONNECTICUT.-We extract the following item from the Connecticut Common School Journal for October: First Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of California, for the years 1866 and 1865.-This report of Mr Swett presents the condition of the Public Schools of California in a very favorable light. It shows a large increase in the number of schools and the number of children attending them, and also in the means provided for the support of schools. We condense the following from the report: Whole number of white children between four and eighteen years of age, 95,067; whole number enrolled on Public School registers, 50,089; average number belonging to Public Schools, 33,706; average daily attendance, 29,542; percentage of average daily attendance on the average number belonging to the schools, 88; percentage of average daily attendance on the whole number enrolled, 59; average number of months during which schools were maintained, 7.36; percentage of tardy pupils on the average daily attendance, 8.8; number of Primary Schools, 324; number of Intermediate Schools, 43; number of Grammar Schools, 44; number of High Schools, 6; number of ungraded schools, 530; number of new school houses erected, 102; number of school houses which disgrace the State, 149; whole number of School districts, 821; number which have raised a district tax, 108; number of male teachers employed, 603; number of female teachers, 552; average monthly wages of male teachers, $74; of female teachers, $62; both payable in gold. We believe no other State in the Union pays its teachers such liberal salaries as California. This report of Superintendent Swett is a valuable document, filled with important statistics and suggestions. COLUMBIA HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT-H. Mullen, teacher. Term closed November 2d. Roll of Honor: Minnie A. Grove, age seven; Helen E. Cobb, age fourteen; John C. Shirley, age seven. The above are eminently worthy of the distinction given them. THE TEACHER'S VISION.--One of our city teachers has favored us with a copy of the following poem, written some years ago, by J. W. Barker, of Niagara Falls. We deem it worthy of enshrinement in these pages: Far off upon the village green, Were heard some wild and varied notes; Like bursting shells on battle field, Had burst a hundred noisy throats. The joy and life of childhood's sport Were kindling many a pleasure there, While in the study room a form Sat dreaming in his "easy chair." Thro' "real life" the weary day Had passed away on leaden wings, And fainter grew the tinted ray Which hope around the spirit flings. The words of love, the gems of thought So kindly given, now seemed to be The tiny drops of summer rain That fall upon the yearning sea. He saw the faithful husbandman Throw wide around the shining grain, . Green grew the fields, and day by day, Not thus the teacher's earnest eyes On fields of golden fruitage rest, Not thus the sun and genial rain His earnest labor seem to bless. But often wastes and desert lands More precious than the earth e'er knew, Where idle fancies never dwell, "Whence are these gems?" the dreamer said, "And what the sky that gleams o'er head?" It cannot be that earthly bliss Can claim such scenery as this. "Dost thou remember?" said a voice, And shadows o'er the spirit lay?" That kindly look, affection's token. These are the jewels-precious seed, Nor unrequited is thy toil. Be patient; great is thy reward, well attended, about 90 Lectures were delivered THE SAN JOAQUin Co. Institute was convened in Stockton, October 31st, and continued its sessions through the week. It was per cent. of the teachers of the county being present. by the President, Melville Cottle, Esq., on Practical Education; and by Messrs. Burke, Woodward, Rev. Mr. Birdsall, and H. P. Carlton, Principal of State Normal School. That on Language, by Rev. Mr. Birdsall, is said to have been a very fine production. That on Physiology, by H. P. Carlton, is characterized by the Independent as "one of extraordinary interest; " an evidence of the growing interest in that branch of our schools. Miss Slater, of the Nor mal School, kept the convention in a lively condition and up to concert pitch, by her exercises in Calisthenics. Miss Kendall, a normal pupil, gave an interesting and instructive exercise in Phonetic elements. Miss Carswell, also from the State Normal School, gave an object lesson on Animals, based upon a cow: this exercise was an exceedingly amusing and interesting one. It had been well prepared, was given in an animated style, and developed some astonishing information on the part of the young men who did not appear to be much acquainted, as to details, with the animal in question. There are six or seven pupils from the Normal School, in this county, and their action in the convention was prompt, and their influence manifest. San Joaquin County appreciates normal school instruction, and will be well represented at the school next session. Some other counties we could mention had best wake up and look to their laurels. This convention was a success, and the utmost good feeling existed throughout the session. The Independent says, it was one hundred per cent. ahead of the one held a year ago, owing to a very big disgust created last year by some outsider. Mrs. Edgerton read an Essay on the Relation of Science and Religion; and Mrs. Grove, one upon Woman's Influence on Education, said to have been very fine. Dr. F. O. Barstow, County Superintendent of Calaveras, gave a series of evening readings which were well received and applauded. On the last evening he again read and personated Dr. Valentine's Ventriloquist, causing much mirth; and H. P. Carlton recited Poe's Raven to an attentive and appreciating audience. The Institute closed with a re-union, and all went home to duty, refreshed and invigorated with the exercises and social stimulus of the convention. MARYSVILLE INSTITUTE.-The Joint County Institute of the counties of Yuba, Sacramento, Butte, and Sutter, was held at Marysville, October 23d to 28th. About eighty teachers were in attendance, and the exercises passed off pleasantly. The teachers of Sacramento county and city, who are not excelled in professional spirit and pride by any corps of teachers in the State, were there in a body, and added greatly to the interest of the occasion. Able addresses were delivered by Rev. Wm. H. Hill, City Superintendent of Sacramento, Dr. F. W. Hatch, County Superintendent of Sacramento, Rev. C. V. Anthony, of Marysville, D. C. Stone, of Marysville, and Dr. E. J. Schellhouse, of Butte County. A State examination, at which twenty-eight applicants appeared, was conducted by the State Superintendent, and the sev eral county superintendents, assisted by members of the various county boards of examination. SCHOOL STATISTICS-The whole number of children in this State under fifteen years of age is shown by the last school census to be 136,189. According to the census of 1860, the children under fifteen years of age in the Pacific District comprising California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Washington Territory, constituted twenty-eight per cent. of the whole population. It is probable that for California alone the children under fifteen constitute thirty per cent. of the entire population, which would give for the present population of California 450,000. The average number belonging to the public schools in 1865 was 33,706; in 1866, 48,091, showing the large gain of 15,385. The number of free schools maintained without rate bills has increased from 293 to 453, or a gain of 160. It is safe to assert that more than three-fourths of all the children who attend public schools are included in the "free schools." The total expenditures for the year are about the same as in 1865; but the school year for 1866 was for ten months only, and of course, the expenditures were only five-sixths as much as a full year of twelve months. GUYOT'S GEOGRAPHICAL SERIES.-We have received from A. Roman & Co. the first two books of this long expected series-the Primary Geography and the Common School Geography--both published by Chas. Scribner & Co., N. Y. The Primary Geography is small quarto in size, numbering one hundred and eighteen pages; the Common School, large quarto, one hundred and forty-seven pages. Those teachers who are familiar with "Guyot's Earth and Man," and "Physical Maps," will be prepared to expect a radical departure from antique text books-and they will not be disappointed. These books were prepared under the general direction and supervision of Prof. Guyot, by Mrs. Mary H. Smith, of the Oswego Normal and Training School. In a double degree, therefore, these books are full of natural methods; and consequently, cannot fail to be unpopular among teachers who stick to the good old way of teaching geography. Ten years of teaching from the old-style text books, and five years' observation on the same kind of teaching by others, has thoroughly convinced us of the need of a reformation in teaching geography. Our State series of text books is adopted, and cannot at present be changed; but we ask all teachers to obtain these new books, and study them for the purpose of learning how to teach. They are beautifully illustrated; the maps are executed in the highest style of art; the typographical appearance is neat; the binding is substantial; and the subject-matter is the most valuable and the most interesting that we have ever seen inclosed in the covers of a school geography. We have no time to go into any detailed review of the book, and close by quoting from the preface the words of Prof. Guyot : "During more than nine years it was my privilege to address thousands of teachers in the normal schools of Massachusetts and New Jersey, and in the Teachers' Institutes, on the subject of geographical teaching, and on the reform so much needed in that important department of instruction. To answer their eager and repeated request, I promised my earnest efforts to furnish them with the appropriate instrumentalities, maps and books, needed for carrying out successfully the plan and the method of teaching geography which I so strenuously recommended to them. "This pledge I have begun to redeem by offering to them, and to all their fellowlaborers in the noble field of public education, the first and most important instrument in that department of knowledge, a series of physical and political wall-maps, without which the best books would be of little avail. These maps, the aim of which is to picture to the eye, in a bold manner, the grand and characteristic traits of the physical structure of the continents, and their relations to the political divisions of the globe, have been constructed entirely anew from all the geographical materials made public up to the date of their issue. "The nature of our mind is such, that the acquisition of knowledge is always grad |