the institution. In the selection of his associates the object of the school will not be lost sight of, and only experienced and trained teachers will be admitted into the Faculty. J. L. M. CURRY, President of the Board of Trustees. Obedience. We listened to a sermon addressed to children, not long since, by one of our prominent city pastors. The subject was Obedience, and the importance of this virtue as a character-builder was forcibly presented. While listening to the eloquent remarks of the minister, we thought of the great advantage that any person must have in the avocations of life who has been trained to careful habits of obedience. Herein lies one of the great values of the public school. A child is taught from the first to yield to a law which is above and stronger than itself. It soon learns that not only one but all must be subjected to the same discipline. The strong hand of necessity is constantly felt, and in process of time any rightfully constituted authority is readily recognized, and a willingness to be obedient thereto shown. Thus when the child is grown, and he recognizes the relations which the citizens bears to the civil government, he very naturally becomes a law-abiding and a law-upholding member of the body politic. His whole training from the first has been such that a character has been developed which recognizes a certain sancity in authority. Obedience becomes to a certain extent a habit, and loyalty to government a fixed principle of character. Children who are thus taught from the time they enter the school-room that law is just and must be obeyed, become safe members of any community. But the value of this training is not circumscribed by the relations the person bears to the civil government. There is constantly present, since it is part of his character, a disposition to render obedience to properly constituted authority; and whenever a divine law is recognized there is a tendency, to say the least, to yield to its demands. We consider that herein lies a moral influence of great power, and one that appears to be entirely overlooked by those who are constantly prating about the "godless" public schools. A child subjected to the orderly arrangement of a public school for ten or twelve years, and thus imbued with its system, will make a safe member of society, because he has grown up with the idea that law must be obeyed.—Pacific School Journal. TO TEACHERS.-To the repeated question of teachers, "How shall I do good work?" we reply: By ever growing; by keeping pace with the march of progress in the profession through constant study and systematic reading, combined with judicious application of educational principles. Do not be content to plod in ruts, but as broader, wider methods are presented, prove them. Know all about your work you are able to learn; do all for your school you are able to do, realizing that teaching is a profound science, a divine art, to which the best energies of mind and soul should be consecrated. Make child-nature your particular study; remember the schools are altogether for the children, and consider them as mental nurseries in which only natural, healthful growth is desirable. Avoid all hot-house forcing, but enable the childplants to take deep root in good soil, and thereafter guard their growth that the processes of leaving, branching and blossoming may proceed under the most favorable circumstances. Work patiently, reverentially, hopefully.—Supt. F. R. Feitshans, Spring field, Ill. EDITORIAL PARAGRAPHS. IN Ohio the teachers have formed a society called the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle, for the purpose of systematic study of professional works. This body is directed by a Board of Control, who designate what books shall be read during the year. So far as we can learn the results have been very satisfactory. It seems to us that a similar organization among our Virginia teachers would be of immense value. It would form, in addition to the normal schools and teachers' institutes, an important aid in elevating the character of our teachers, in increasing their power of usefulness and in advancing the efficiency of our schools. Organized and systematic work in this direction could not fail of producing good results. It was while we were engaged in preparing something in furtherance of this plan that the following scheme, prepared by Prof. F. V. N. Painter, of Roanoke College, was placed in our hands. We present it for the consideration of our readers. It may need some modifications, as the Professor suggests, but is on the right line. Think it over, and let us hear your ideas on the subject: Reading Association of Virginia Teachers.-1. The object of this Association is to pursue a course of educational reading. 2. The Association should have a regular organization with President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. 3. The course of reading should extend through two or three years, and embrace the best works on the theory and practice of teaching, and related subjects. 4. The course of reading should be prescribed by a standing committee of prom inent educators, among whom I would include Drs. Curry and Ruffner. 5. Quarterly or semi-annual examination questions should be sent to the mem bers of the Association to be answered and returned to the Secretary, who shall keep a record of the standing of each member. 6. After the completion of the course, a certificate should be furnished each member who has pursued the course of reading faithfully. 7. After the completion of the first course, a more extended and general course of reading might be prescribed for those holding certificates. 8. The initiation fee should be sufficient to meet current expenses-say fifty cents, with the annual contribution of a similar amount. 9. The Secretary or other officer entrusted with the correspondence should receive a remuneration for time and labor. 10. Teachers as well as others interested in education should be eligible to membership. 11. After an organization has been effected, a circular should be sent to all the teachers of the State inviting their coöperation. 12. THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL would be an excellent medium for the discussion of topics and the publication of reports as to progress, methods, &c. 13. Arrangements should be made with publishers to furnish their books at a discount to members of the Association. 14. An annual meeting should be held, the Normal Institutes affording the most favorable time. 15. These points, hastily written down without due regard to order, should be subject to discussion and modification. LET GOOD MEN BE RETAINED.--The provision in your law, placing the organization and management of the Teachers' Institute in the hands of the County Superintendent seems wise, and worthy to be commended to other States, especially those that have not yet adopted this necessary feature in school management. Of course, the County Superintendent must be a competent man; one in whom the teachers have confidence, and one who is able and willing to direct the forces committed to his care. We can hardly conceive of a more important office in the gift of the people. Hence great care should be exercised in the selection of this officer; and when he is selected, and proves to be a good man, he should be retained. We all know how ruinous is the policy of continually changing teachers. We deplore this, and strive to avoid it; but the frequent change of County Superintendents is much more harmful to the settled order of the schools. The bane of our school is change: change of teachers, change of policies, change of administrations, etc. Therefore see to it that no unnecessary changes are wrought in your excellent school economy. If you have a good teacher, keep him at any cost. If you have a good Superintendent, see that he is not "ousted" by some wily politician, or uneasy mortal who thinks the world is all going wrong because he is not "running it."— John Ogden in Penn. School Journal. THE SCHOOL LAWS.-The Superintendent of Public Instruction proposes to begin in the May No. of the JOURNAL the publication of the school laws of the State. They will include the whole body of the school legislation so far as it is in force at this date. The publication will probably run through the numbers for the year. As the Board of Education has no authority for publishing the laws for general distribution this will furnish the only means of getting the laws into the hands of the teachers and school officers in the Commonwealth. How important this is each Su perintendent can best determine for himself. That all may know on what terms they can secure not only the school laws but other matter contained in the JOURNAL of interest and value to teachers we append our club rates. We should be glad if our friends, especially the county and city Superintendents, would take this matter in hand, and, should they desire copies for their teachers and trustees, notify us at once that we may make arrangements for printing the increased number of our May issue. TERMS: I copy, 30 copies, $26 40) 50 copies, 42 50 75 copies, 62 25 100 copies, 80 00 In advance. THE SUPERINTENDENTS' CONFERENCE.-The Conference met according to appointment in the Hall of the House of Delegates at 8 P. M., Tuesday, April 14. Seventy-eight members were present and quite a large number of visitors. A hearty welcome was extended to the body by Gov. W. E. Cameron, President of the Board of Education. Attorney-General F. S. Blair, also a member of the Board of Education, added other words of welcome. Dr. J. L. M. Curry then delivered an address which added to his already high reputation for wisdom and oratory. On Wednesday morning the Conference entered upon its regular work. The Superintendent of Public Instruction was very properly made its permanent President. The presence of Gen. John Eaton and Hon. M. A. Newell added much to the interest of the meetings. The University of Virginia was represented by Professors N. K. Davis and G. F. Holmes and the recently elected Director of the McCormick Observatory, Prof. Ormond Stone, a native of the great Northwest and a thorough-going public school man. The Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College was represented by Prof. T. N. Conrad, the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, by Gen. S. C. Armstrong, the Farmville Normal School, by Dr. J. L. M. Curry and the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, by Hon. A. W. Harris. There were more addresses of a general character than at the Conference last year, though much was done in discussing questions relating to the immediate work of the members. Some of the questions introduced produced very animated discussions. A number of the members visited our city schools with special reference to an examination of their organization and methods of teaching. Upon an invitation extended through Dr. Curry a number visited Richmond College, and the Conference in a body paid their respects to the Governor. The exhibition of books, school furniture &c., was much inferior to that of last year. One of the most interesting features was the exhibition of articles both of wood and iron manufactured by the pupils of the Miller Manual Labor School of Albemarle. The History Charts of Prof. N. B. Webster of Norfolk exhibited great erudition and a skillful classification of the events of history. The meeting has, no doubt, contributed much to a better understanding of the school interests of the State. The Superintendents know and appreciate each other better and feel increased interest in their common work. The details of the Conference will be found in this number in the Official Department. We had the pleasure of meeting many of our friends and the friends of the JOURNAL, and of forming the acquaintance of others. We missed the faces of quite a number. The next meeting will take place in this city in February, 1885. THE Century for May contains an article on Three Years' Experience in the Management of a Tenement House. The following conclusion, drawn from the experience of the managers, so fully corresponds in some respects with the results reached by the teacher in dealing with his pupils that we quote it for the consideration of our readers: "We have seen that in dealing with the poor there is nothing which is so important as to help them to preserve their self-respect, and this is a delicate and difficult task. We have had to stand by and see many a desperate struggle with poverty, many an instance of such self-denial as is unknown in a richer class; and yet no lesson has been so impressed upon us as that the best way to help these people is to allow them to help themselves. Those tenants who receive outside assistance for which they do not give a fair equivalent in labor, are almost invariably the most difficult class with which we have to deal." The following is taken from a private letter of an eminent Virginian now holding an important position in another State. What he says is true. The writer thinks that necessity is laid upon us to rely upon ourselves. We ought to do so as a matter of policy as well. Educational independence can never be secured unless we utilize the educational forces in our midst. The immediate result may lack somewhat of completeness, but the ultimate issue will be all that could be expected or asked. Let our people learn all they can from every source, but let them be charged with the administration of our affairs: "IN building up a school system in Virginia you must rely upon yourselves. There is more talent in Virginia now to do this work than in any other State in the Union, and what she wants is to steer clear of the mistakes of the Northern and Western graded schools and build up schools for herself upon sound educational principles." THE OFFICIALS of the Maury Literary Society of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, Blacksburg, will accept our thanks for an invitation to attend their Final Celebration on Thursday night, 24th instant. Book Notices. ELEMENTS OF MODERN CHEMISTRY. BY ADOLPHE WURTZ, (Senator) Member of the Institute, &c. Second American Edition. Translated from the Fifth French Edition, by Wm. H. Greene, M. D., Professor of Chemistry in the Central High School, Philadelphia, Member of the Amer. Phil. Institute, &c. London and Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1884. Price, $2.50. This treatise, the work of one of the finest chemists of France, has recently, in its fifth edition, undergone a thorough revision. The treatment is full and has been brought up to the latest developments of chemical science. The translator and editor has made some additions specially valuable to American students, and has changed the arrangement so as to secure convenience of method rather than a strictly scientific classification. It is adapted to college classes; it is too full and difficult |