Commercial Correspondence. By Albert G. Belding. Here is a book in which the exercises and forms have been taken from actual correspondence and from real conditions encountered in a great variety of business pursuits. The contents show that everything relating to business writing has been treated and in a manner to be immediately usable, not only by the student in a commercial school but by persons actually engaged in business. Among the subjects considered are: the wording of a letter; folding and addressing letters; letters ordering goods; remittances and enclosures; credits and collections; letters of application, introduction and recommendation; telegrams; handling correspondence, etc. With each topic is given an abundance of exercises which the student is to employ in perfecting himself in this most essential part of business. life. It is one of the completest and handiest books of its kind yet issued and will be certain to obtain prompt recognition in all schools where commercial branches are taught. American Book Company.

Life in the Eighteenth Century. By George Cary Eggleston. This is a little history of colonial life in America, told in Mr. Eggleston's inimitable style and furnishing a picture of days full of strenuous life but picturesque and attractive. The book is not a labored account of life among the colonists, but a series of graphic pictures which depict life in the settlements along the Atlantic coast from New Hampshire to Georgia. For teachers of history the book is invaluable; for the general reader it is serviceable and interesting as a contribution to the literature of a period which is more and more receiving the attention of students. A. S. Barnes & Co.

City Government for Young People. By Charles Dwight Willard. This is a study of the American city, and is adapted for school use and for home reading for children. Mr. Willard is Secretary of the Municipal League of Los Angeles, California, and demonstrates his ability in his most excellent little study. The National Municipal League urges that a study of a city government rather than that of the national and state governments be used as the basis for the teaching of citizenship; with this expressed conviction has the author prepared his work. He takes the student through the various departments of a city, showing in general how each is conducted, leaving details for the student to secure by personal research and investigation. The book makes for good citizenship, for an understanding of all that concerns the welfare of an inhabitant of a city, and for intelligent city citizenship. Macmillan Company.

Choral Song Book. By William M. Lawrence and Frederic H. Pease. This is prepared to meet the needs of students in the higher educational institutions, the editors keeping ever in mind the intrinsic musical value and correctness of the various settings. In order to relate the songs closely to the work in literature and the languages, translations are used that are as close as possible to the original. Among the poets represented are Shakespeare, Goethe, Milton, Schiller, Tennyson, Burns, Scott, Moore, Longfellow, Bryant, Lowell, Whittier, Holmes, Riley, Lanier, Tabb, Larcom, etc. The list of composers is equally representative, thus making a collection that is rich and strong both in songs and settings. The variety of musical forms is complete, there being trios and quartets for both men's and women's voices; songs in unison, two-part, three-part, and four-part arrangements, many of them with pianoaccompaniment. Rand, McNally & Co. Price, 50 cents.

The Teaching of Modern Languages. By Leopold Bahlsen. Dr. Bahlsen is an eminent educator of Germany and has delivered lectures in Columbia University on methods of teaching French and German. His monograph on this subject has been translated from the German by M. Blakemore Evans, and is a valuable addition to the literature of a subject that is at the present time attracting the attention of all teachers of modern languages. Dr. Bahlsen is one of the leaders of the "moderate reformers," and his book offers excellent material for all interested in educational and pedagogical progress. Ginn & Co.

Special Method in Language. By Charles A. McMurry, Ph.D. This is the seventh volume in Dr. McMurry's series of educational books covering the general principles of method and its special applications to the common school. The volume is designed for elementary teachers, and aims to give a broad and simple treatment of the language problem below the high school. The topics treated are: value and purpose of language study; relation of language to other studies; economy in language exercises; method in language lessons; function of the teacher in language; language books and grammars; illustrative lessons; and course of study. Dr. McMurry's incisive manner of treatment of methods has been commented on when other books by him have been noticed in EDUCATION; suffice it to say that in this latest book he maintains his position of being the ablest writer on the subject; his books are found among the most valuable on teachers' shelves. We have need but to call attention to the issue of this volume to feel sure of its immediate use by teachers interested in the study of language. We know of no worthier series of books for a teacher to own and study than this by Dr. McMurry. Macmillan Company.

New American Music Reader. By Frederick Zuchtmann. This is number four and completes the series of a set of music readers that is every year receiving the commendation of teachers. The first three books of the series were reviewed in EDUCATION as they appeared; it is only for us to note the fact of the publication of the concluding volume. The methods of the book naturally follow those of the preceding numbers in the series, and the needs of the classes in the advanced grammar grades are fully met. The author believes that the methods and material in the book are well adapted to work in high schools where a text-book is needed. The material for the book has been drawn not only from the author's actual experience in teaching, but also from the experience of many leading supervisors of music in this country and Europe. The material employed makes the book pre-eminently a song book, the exercises being reduced to the least amount practicable. The melodies are from the best composers, and the words and poetry are of the highest order, the best poets being fully represented. Macmillan Company.

A Primer. A First Reader. By Joseph H. Wade and Emma Sylvester. In this new series the best features of the various methods for teaching children to read have been utilized. The books are made to be used as reading books, not for picture study nor teachers' edification. They are the outcome of actual experience in teaching reading to first-year pupils; they bear strongly the impress of the schoolroom; they are real pupils' books. The selections or stories are unusually interesting, being made with due regard to children's experiences. They are perfectly graded and each story is exquisitely illustrated with a picture that tells the story. Both Primer and Reader are substantial additions to the

library for first-year readers and will receive cordial welcome from teachers. Ginn & Co.

Elementary Latin Writing. By Clara B. Jordan. This work is planned for the second, third, and fourth years in secondary schools, it being assumed by the author that the student has studied Latin for one year. The topics have been arranged to follow in some degree the order in which these are presented in Latin grammars, rules of syntax preceding the different exercises. The English sentences in the exercises have been selected with judicious care and are so progressively arranged that the advance of the student is even and steady, from short simple sentence to connected story. The directions are explicit and luminous, and aid the student directly and intelligently. Latin prose will not be the grind and bugbear it is commonly found to be if studied through the agency of this splendid book. American Book Company.

The Gospel of Love. By Rev. Edmund G. Moberly. This is a handy little volume full of spiritual sustenance. The author discourses upon such topics as The Signs of the Times; The Disease of Sin; The Scope of the Gospel of Love; The Warning of the Past; Definitions of Faith, etc. The publishers, The Nunc Licet Press, Philadelphia, have a faculty for making attractive books. The present volume is bound in light blue cloth with a white dove upon the front cover above the gilt title. The appearance of the book is so attractive that one is tempted to put it in his pocket for the mere pleasure of having it by to look upon. Price, $1.00.

Nature Study Lessons: For Primary Grades. By Mrs. Lida B. McMurry, with an introduction by Charles A McMurry. The name of the author is a guarantee of the thoroughness and pedagogical breadth of this book. It presents a series of Nature Study lessons which were worked out practically in the class room, and in outdoor excursions with children. The objects dealt with can be found almost anywhere. The method of treatment is suggested by the numerous questions and answers. The common house pets and domestic animals, the familiar birds and insects, together with some of the ordinary flowers and more common trees, are the subjects of study. The book will serve a useful purpose in introducing younger children to the great scheme of nature. The Macmillan Company. Price, 60 cents.

Periodical Notes

Every parent and every educator should read Ralph Bergengren's article in the August Atlan tic Monthly arraigning the daily and especially the Sunday papers for the mischief wrought by "the Colored Supplement."-The August Century is notable for the strong opening chapters of A. E. W. Mason's latest novel, Running Water," and for new light on the Vesuvius and San Francisco disasters from William P. Andrews, Benjamin Ide Wheeler and Louise Herrick Wall.-The August Lippincott's has made "diversion" its standard, strictly excluding any. thing heavy or likely to contain a sleeping-potion. The result is a well rounded number of infi. nite variety." The College and the Drama" is the title of an interesting article in Appleton's Magazine for September.-The Delineator for September marks the initial appearance of Jean Marie Devaux as its culinary editor. M. Devaux is considered one of the greatest living au thorities on matters pertaining to culinary art and science.-There is a city in New England with schools for every class of citizens: schools for mechanics, for busy mothers, for backward chil. dren, for adults who do not speak English. They call it "A City of Special Schools," and Marion Melius has written a wonderfully interesting article about it for the September number of Every body's Magazine.

Devoted to the Science, Art, Philosophy and Literature

of Education

VOL. XXVII

OCTOBER, 1906

No. 2

The College Versus the High School—

I

Methods

ROBERT J. ALEY, INDIANA UNIVERSITY, BLOOMINGTON

N the beginning of this discussion it is well to agree on the definition of certain terms that will be used frequently. The term "high school" refers to the four years of school life immediately following the grammar grades, and reaching approximately from the age of fourteen to the age of eighteen. The college covers the next four years of school life. It will be understood that the term "college" as here used does not include technical study nor direct professional training. The word "methods" will be used in a rather broad and general way, and will include the whole plan and manner of instruction.

It is a well known fact that the college has always exerted a great influence upon the schools below. This has been so for two reasons: the college has exerted a dominating influence on the course of study of the lower schools, and she has furnished the teachers. Through the course of study the educative material has been selected and fixed, and through the teachers the methods of instruction have been determined. The bondage of the high school to the college has been long, but in the main it has been pleasant and profitable. At the present time there are many indications that the fetters will soon be loosed if not entirely broken. The college has already yielded much to the

demands of the high school, and it seems certain that much more must be yielded before the final adjustment is made. The past decade of close study devoted to the high school problem is already bearing fruit, and within the next decade we may expect a bountiful harvest.

The commonly accepted aim or purpose of education at any time or in any school exerts a controlling influence upon the methods used. Back in the olden time the teacher was everything, for he alone could satisfy the blind craving to know. Then instead of the school, there was the itinerant teacher going to and fro, talking, questioning and being questioned. Sometimes he was accompanied by bands of eager students, disciples, who in turn became teachers. The aim of such education was to perpetuate the views of the teacher. Nothing was learned until it had first been filtered through the brain of the master. Every truth was purified in the furnace of the teacher's mind before it was allowed to reach the student. For the purpose intended the method was very effective. The one who doubts the power of this method needs only to remember that it was exclusively used by Jesus.

The life of any school depends upon the purpose worked out in the course of study, and the means of realizing that purpose as revealed in the methods of instruction. Laurie says: "All educational institutions must die which do not directly and conspicuously promote either the spiritual or material interests of men." Most students agree with Laurie's conclusion. History has furnished many verifications. The present widespread interest in technical education is due in part to the definiteness of aim of the technical schools, and to the certainty with which they promote material interests.

There are various ways of stating the present aim of education. Among those who have given thought to it, there seems to be substantial agreement to the following: The purpose of education is to produce in the individual efficient power to adjust himself to his environment. This calls for an all round education; an education that brings hand, head and heart into harmoniously related action.

The clear recognition of the aim of education by advanced