be a nine-roomed structure of a splendid design, including the most modern improvements. At present it is the intention of the Commissioners to complete four rooms only, which will give accommodation to at least one hundred and sixty pupils. The elementary course of instruction will first be taught, but on the completion of the building no doubt it will be extended to that of a model school. -THE school authorities of Lennoxville have received the Medal and Diploma awarded to Lennoxville Model School at the World's Fair, Chicago, in 1893, for an exhibit of work done by the pupils. --AMONG the changes in connection with our Superior Schools, news of which has so far come to us, is the appointment of Mr. Von Iflland, who had charge of the Buckingham Model School last year, to Cowansville Academy. Mr. Rivard, for some years principal of the academy, has gone to his father's home in the United States. Miss Kate E. Cole, who did such good work at St. Hyacinthe last year, has been replaced by Miss Mackie, of Montreal. From the still incomplete Directory of Superior Schools, we learn that many of the old faces will be seen this year in the old places. This is as it should be, indicating, as it does, the much to be desired permanency of position in the teaching ranks of our province. Our headteachers should send in their names and those of their associates as soon as possible, so that the Directory may be complete for publication in the October number of the RECORD. -IN a letter to the editor of the Canadian Gleaner, Mr. Louis Simpson, of Valleyfield, says :-"Should the citizens of Valleyfield so desire and are prepared to work, I have no hesitation in saying, that it is possible, within three years' time, to place the Valleyfield school in the front rank of the educational institutions of the province. But nothing comes without work.........I would ask them (the citizens of Valleyfield), Do you want the best education for your families and for your future citizens? If so, are you prepared to work for it, with a single eye, with a view of obtaining it?" These words have the right ring about them and indicate a spirit which every public-minded man should have and express towards the district school and all that concerns it. -THE Kingston, Ontario, School Board, becoming convinced that practical as well as theoretical education would be advantageous to the pupils under their care, have prepared a scheme of manual training for introduction after the holidays. With this in view, Miss Jennie C. Shaw was sent to New York to study methods, and she has returned fully versed in the elementary plans, so that a beginning may be made in all junior classes. Sewing will also be introduced, the Cleveland, Ohio, system being employed. -WE are informed that there are no changes this autumn in the Montreal High School staff. In the High School for Girls, the Saturday session has, owing to so many complaints on that score, made by parents of the pupils and others, been abolished entirely. The hours of study will in the future be, for senior classes from 9 a.m. until 2 pm., and for the junior classes from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., for five days in the week. Provision has been made to supply lunch to the pupils during an intermission. The Board of Commissioners have instituted kindergarten classes in the Ann street, Berthelet street and Royal Arthur schools. The introduction of classes in cookery at the Aberdeen school has met with so much success that a class of instruction in thesame will be opened at the Riverside school, to be attended by pupils from the Riverside, Lorne and Ann street schools. --A DEPARTMENT of Architecture has been established in connection with McGill College, Montreal, and lectures will begin this year. The Department of Chemistry and Mining will also be placed in a thoroughly efficient condition. The erection of the new building, to be donated by Mr. W. C. McDonald, will be proceeded with immediately, and will be fully equipped with the most recent apparatus for the study of chemistry, mining and metallurgy. -THE following new appointments have been made in the Faculty of Applied Science at McGill: Professor Stewart H. Capper, M.A., of Edinburgh, to the recently en dowed McDonald chair of architecture; Professor John B. Porter, Ph. D., of Columbia University, New York, to the McDonald professorship of mining and metallurgy; Mr. Herbert W. Umney, of London, to be assistant professor of civil engineering; and Mr. Henry F. Armstrong, of Leeds, and more recently of London, to be assistant professor descriptive geometry and freehand drawing. These gentlemen are all well qualified for the positions they are to fill, and it is said that the testimonials and reputations of Professor Capper and Dr. Porter are such as to ensure the success and rapid development of the architectural and mining departments. -MANY of our Academies and Model Schools have issued neat and tasty calendars for the session which has just begun. Among the schools worthy of mention in this respect are Stanstead Wesleyan College, St. Francis College, Compton Ladies' College, Lachute Academy and Compton Model School. -BUFFALO, N. Y., is to have a truant school, which will be a temporary home for boys who persist in running away. Arrangements are being made to enforce the new truant law. Every patrolman will carry a book of blank reports, which will be filled out and returned each day to the superintendent of schools. These reports are worded as follows:-"The following children, apparently between the ages of eight and sixteen years, have been found wandering about the streets and public places of the city during the school hours of the school day, having no lawful occupation or business and growing up in ignorance, and are reported as proper subjects for investigation by an attendance officer of the department of education......... Each truant officer is required to send a written notice to the parent or guardian of a non-attendant. If the notification be to an employer of child labour, it is sent by the superintendent, and warns the employer that if he continues to employ a child who has not attended school eighty consecutive days during the present school year, he will subject himself to a fine of $50. When the parents or guardians are unable to compel the child to attend school, they must present a certificate to that effect to the superintendent, who will send the boy to the truant school. -THE annual convention of the National Educational Association, held in Buffalo in the early part of July last, was from all accounts a great success. The most distinguished educationists of America were there, and gave freely of their ideas on educational subjects to the great body of teachers assembled from all parts of the Continent. An exchange says: One remarkable feature of the convention lay in the fact that the faddist had no place given to him in the discussions. The broad questions of child nature, the true function of the school, and the legitimate developing lines from school-work to citizenship, were never lost sight of, and in this fact is to be found the hope that the proceedings. when published, will be read by the tens of thousands of the members with interest and the highest beneficial effect. It would be of excellent service to us in our conventions were the vainglory of the individual to give place, in this way, to the importance of the subjects. The man who can advise the practical teacher is the man who has been a practical teacher, and not the theorist whose name and fame may provide the newspapers with his biography and the ragged outline of his physique, after he has delivered what can but be styled perhaps the most excellent of addresses, but one in which there is no sound, practical advice to the young teacher struggling from day to day with the practicalities of the school-room. -DURING the school year last past, there were 4,334 children in 68 kindergartens in the State of Massachusetts, 38 of these being public kindergartens. -THE educational institution for coloured pupils founded at Tuskegee, Ala., by Booker T. Washington, has 78 teachers and an attendance of 1180. The pupils earned $45,288 last year in their shops and dairies, and the school received in gifts nearly $60,000. Here is an instance of what can be accomplished by a capable and resolute leader in a good cause. -HELEN KELLER, the marvelous deaf, dumb and blind child, will enter the preparatory school for Radcliffe College at the beginning of the fall term. This decision was reached by Dr. Gilman, principal of the Gilman Training School for Radcliffe, who for a week had under consideration the proposition made him by Miss Annie Sullivan, the life-long friend and teacher of Helen, that her young charge be admitted as a pupil to the elementary course. -THE latest report of the proposed charter of the municipality of Greater New York has a chapter which provides for the creation of a teachers' retirement fund. This fund is to be drawn upon to retire, and furnish annuities for, female teachers who have served thirty, and for male teachers who have served thirty-five years, and are certified by the city superintendent of schools as being either physically or mentally unsound. -A MOVE has been made in the right direction in connection with the schools of Brookline, Mass. The commendable attempt made last year to train a limited number of college graduates for the work of teaching met with such success that it has been decided to continue it during this year. It may confidently be expected that with the experience already gained, the facilities offered for gaining a knowledge both of the science and art of teaching will be ample and efficient. Those joining the " Brookline Training Class for College Graduates" are expected to give their time for the entire year, beginning September 22, unless some unforeseen necessity arises for doing otherwise. The elements entering into the training are as follows: 1. Observation in all grades of the Brookline schools. from the kindergarten to the high school. Special times will be appointed for this purpose. 2. Teaching under the direction of experienced instructors. Special attention will be given to interest, correlation, questioning, and reproduction. 3. Weekly lectures, with collateral reading upon (a) The History of Education; (b) Psychology applied to teaching; (c) Principles of teaching and school management; (d) Methods of teaching the various branches; (e) Attendance upon general meetings of teachers and the meetings. and public lectures of the Brookline Education Society 4. The preparation of a thesis upon some educational topic. Among those who are expected to give lectures or instruction during the year are many prominent educationists of the United States. -THE London, England, School Board has employed an expert oculist to examine the eyes of school children, in order to ascertain whether school work is causing "progressive myopia" Dr. Carter, the examining oculist, reports that out of 8,000 children examined less than 40 per cent. have normal vision in both eyes; that 12.5 per cent. had normal vision in the right and subnormal in the left eye; 8.6 per cent. had normal vision in the left eye and subnormal in the right. The per cent. of subnormal vision in both eyes was 39.7. Over 64 per cent. of the children |