music. We once knew a very musical teacher who couldn't read notes or sing a tune, but her life was a song, with few minor chords in it. She gave an inspiration of joy and peace, as well as of effective work, wherever she was. There was such a fitness in what she did that every one said that she was beautiful, although far from being good-looking. Who could be more musical? Once in a recitation in American history, while discussing the sufferings of the Revolutionary fathers, the patriotism of a certain class rose to such a pitch that almost involuntarily all commenced singing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," much to the astonishment of the rest of the school. The melody was only fair, but the music was excellent. Probably such an instance would never occur again, but, if there should be an occasion for it, it ought to be repeated. The singing of a set piece often does little good, sometimes harm, but music always does good and the more we have of it the better will be our schools.-The School Journal.

AN APPROPRIATE GIFT.

At the late session of the Superintendent's Biennial Convention, State Superintendent Hoitt and his wife entertained the members at their residence. After two hours or more of social enjoyment, refreshments were served and then followed an episode as delightful as it was unexpected to Mr. and Mrs. Hoitt. State Superintendent-elect J. W. Anderson, on behalf of the Superintendents of this State, presented to Mr. and Mrs. Hoitt a fine silver service, consisting of coffee and teapots, creamer, spoon-holder, bowl, sugar-bowl and salver, bearing this inscription:

Presented to Supt. and Mrs. Hoitt by the Superintendents of California, December 3, 1890.

"We'll take a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne."

Mr. Hoitt replied in a very touching and happy vein, supporting his wife, who was much overcome, upon his arm. Few who were present will ever forgot the manly and generous tribute he paid to her as his deputy. If there were dry eyes in the assembly the reporter's were too full to see them. Mr. Hoitt thanked heartily the Superintendents for their cordial support of his administration, and the sympathy between them was manifestly deep and cordial.

Superintendent Anderson continued his surprises by calling in turn upon editor Raymond, E. C. Atkinson, Superintendent Burns of Placer, Fisher of Alameda and Mrs. McG. Martin of Sonoma, all of whom were well received and generously applauded.

The events of the evening gave a fine example of that hearty and unanimous feeling which should exist between the hightest school officer of the State and the several County Superintendents.

Official Department.

J. W. ANDERSON,

JANUARY 1891.

Superintendent Public Instruction

The following official matter accumulated during the month of December and was kindly furnished by ex-State Superintendent Ira G. Hoitt.

The State Board met on December 27th, all members present except Governor Waterman. Superintendent-elect Anderson was also present by invitation.

It was resolved that a recommendation be made to the incoming Legislature that the Grammar School Course Schools be abolished, and proper provisions be made for the organization of Union District High Schools.

It was resolved that the Board would not issue a second Educational Diploma to the same person on the expiration of the first.

It was resolved that the Board would not issue Life or Educationel Diplomas to persons who have not had at least three years or twenty-one months' experience in the public schools of California.

It was resolved that the Board recommend the Legislature to pass a law forbidding the State Printer to print any editions of the State school books unless first ordered by the State Board of Education or its Secretary.

Supt. Hoitt recommended the following list of books to be placed upon the Library list, and they were so recommended:

"Teaching Patriotism," George T. Balch; "Raub's Methods of Teaching," Practical Rhetoric," "School Management," "Pickard's School Supervision," "Gordy's Lessons in Psychology," ›“ Pathfinder Series of Physiologies," "Union Series of Physiologies," Primer," "Compayre's History of Pedagogy," "Fiske's Civil Government," "Home, School and Nation "—a magazine.

Smith's

Prof. Childs reported the following list of books to be used in connection with the State Geography and State History, some of them being already on the list of Library books: "Tropical Africa," Drummond; "Little People of Asia," Miller; "Bird's-eye View of the World, "Physiography," Huxley; "The Boy Travelers," Knox; "Zigzag Journeys," Butterworth; "Geological Excursions," Winchell; "The Great Ice Age," Geike; "Sketches of Creation," Winchell; "Forms of Water," Tyndall; "Methods in Geography," King; "How to Study Geography," Parker; "The Earth as Modified by

46

Human Action," Marsh; "The Story of Creation," Clodd; "The Growth of Man," Clodd; "Great Cities of the World," Shepherd; "Longman's Geography," "Tales Out of School," Stockton; "Egypt, Past and Present," Adams; "Washington and His Country," Fiske; 'Building the Nation," Coffin; "Old Times in the Colonies," Coffin; "Boys of '76," Coffin; "Draper's History of Civil War," 3 vols.; "Young Folks' History of Civil War," Champion; "Lossing's Hisof U. S. Navy;" "Critical Period of American History," Fiske; "Montcalm and Wolfe," Parkman, 2 vols.; "How We Are Governed," Dawes; "Politics for Young Americans," Nordhoff; "Our Government," Macy; "General History," Meyers; "Schoulers' History of United States," 5 vols.; "American Statesman Series, "Story of the Nations Series," "Greece," "Rome," "The Jews," "Green's History of England." "The Making of New England," Drake; "History of the Colonies," "Fiske's Civil Government."

It was resolved that the law ought to be so amended as to allow Trustees to purchase books recommended by the State Board, as well as those recommended by County Boards.

It was resolved that all Life Diplomas issued after the 1st of January shall be on parchment.

Report as to the condition of the Text-book fund, number sold and on hand, will be forwarded for next issue.

The following State, Life and Educational Diplomas, respectively, were granted:

Life diplomas were granted as follows: Rebecca Alexander, Lucy J. Anderson, Evelyn R. Ashmead, Lizzie G. Atwater, Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, Alma S. Brigham, Mrs. Fannie P. Bronson, Lillie M. Blue, Belle C. Brown, Helene F. Buckley, Mrs. Clara R. Barlow, William L. Brown, Emma Crofton, Anna Dwyer, Emma L. Doherty, Helene Egl, Bernard R. Grogan, Jennie Gibson, Frank W. Hooper, Mary I. Hutchinson, Mrs. Lizzie A. Jones, Kate D. Jones, Clarence Laird, Mary E. Leonard, Mrs. Mary Q. Mauldin, Miss Marguerite Moore, Andrew J. Mikesell, Alice M. Mulgrew, Miss Lizzie McCorkell, Ella G. McCleery, Mrs. Fannie P. Osborn, Mary O'Connor, Lizzie A. Parker, Eben H. Parnell, Anna M. Parsons, Mrs. Libbie H. Rodgers, Cornelia Richards, E. Josephine Seaman, Minor L. Seymour, Zella Springsteen, Ellen F. Thompson, Louise Walters, Frank Anderson, Mary L. Westover, Nadine Crump, Wm. H. Hauert, Frank H. Walter, Thomas C. Welch, Esther Frank, Sarah Morrow, Cora E. Lamb, Ella V. Waitneight, Walter B. Ferguson, Parke W. Kaufman, Robert F. Burns, Preston W. Smith, Leonidas L. Evans, Nettie Getchell, William M. Friesner, Louisa J. Kendall, Mrs. Huber, Leroy D. Brown.

Educational diplomas were granted as follows: Mrs. Hattie E. Archibald, Ernestine J. Arnold, Lulu Ashcraft, Evelyn R. Ashmead, Walter J. Bailey, Lizzie M. Baxter, Evelyn Blakely, Leonora Boggs, Edgar T. Boughn, Isabella R. Brown, Georgie Brooks, Kate Brousseau, Lilly E. C. Cappelman, Agnes A. Carey, Kate A. Cleary, Sarah M. Cooley, Mrs. Annie E. Crawford, Florence A. Crichton, May Cutler, Charlotte A. D'Ancona, Rosa Danielewicz, Julia Daubenbis, Julia A. Donovan, Anna M. Durner, Carrie L. Easton, Annie C. Edmonds, May F. Ford, Daniel H. Forey, Rosetta E. Fox, Annie L. Frazier, Georgia M. Freeman, Ida A. Fulton, Margaret G. Gillespie, Frankie Ginn, Mary E. Gordon, Helen T. Griffin, Emily L. Hammond, May Holmes, Hallie M. Hood, Carry K. Houston, Addie L. Hughes, Katie M. Hughes, Anna T. Keeler,

Minnie M. Kiefer, Margaret C. Kelly, Birdine M. King, Emma S. Kleinsorge. Frederica de Laguna, Jennie Stoddard Lee, Lottie J. Matthis, Etta Meily, Mrs. Marv L. Metzler, Millie Myer, Maggie McFall, Thos. J. McGrath, Tomasena McKenna, Katie McMahon, Dora B. Newman, Edward Nolan, Mollie A. O'Connor, Mary A. Parmalee, Lillie K. Piper, May M. Randolph, Mrs. Carrie L. Remington, Mabel Rhodes, Lucy Richards, Kate J. Riley, Teresa M. Rivara, James E. Rodgers, James R. Saunders, Mrs. Essie Schmitt, Addie W. Seat, James E. Shafer, Elizabeth A. Spencer, Effie D. Stark, Rose V. Stitt, James T. Stockdale, Annie Linscott Swank, Kate Walters, John F. West, Addie E. Wilbur, William Francis Trainor, Mrs. Fanny L. Thatcher, Annette Futhey, Helen M. Gompertz, Viola A. Dillon, Clara L. Cleveland, Sallie E. McCauley, Ann A. Cordes, Ada F. Robins, Mabel H. Barber.

USE OF "LIBRARY FUND."

Q. Can the Library fund be used for the purchase of a book-case? A.-A book-case is part of the furniture of a school and cannot, legally, be purchased with the Library fund.

HIRING A DISTRICT CLERK.

Q. Can a Board of Trustees employ a person to act as clerk and pay him for such services?

A. The Trustees have no right to employ any outside person as clerk of the Board, and there is no fund to pay for such service.

TIME OF ELECTION OF CLERK.

Q. Can the Board of Trustees elect a clerk at any other time than at the first meeting in July?

A.-An election can be held only on the day specified in Section 1,649, unless a vacancy should occur from some of the causes mentioned in Section 996, page 46, School Law.

MOVING A SCHOOL-HOUSE.

Q. What steps must be taken when some of the residents of a district desire to change the location of a school-house?

A.-See Section 1,617, Sub. 20, I.

PAY AS MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOard,
OFFICE OF THE Attorney-General,
SACRAMENTO, December 5th.

Hon. Ira G. Hoitt, Superintendent Public Instruction:

DEAR SIR: In reply to the inquiry of *** which you inclosed I have to say that I do not think the Board of Supervisors of his county can deprive the County Board of Education of their per diem for three days, for the reason that it took three days for them to prepare questions for applicants for teachers' certificates.

The law says "the Board of Supervisors shall allow a per diem of five dollars to each member of the County Board of Education," and does not say that the questions shall be prepared beforehand, nor limit time for such meetings. Very truly yours,

G. A. JOHNSON, Attorney-General.