VOLUME IX.

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WHEELER PUBLISHING COMPANY,

A recent census bulletin shows that "The relation of men to women among teachers appears to vary from a minimum of 10 men to 92 women in Massachusetts to maximum of 100 men to 10 women in South Carolina. If the colored teachers of South Carolina are taken separately there appear to be 100 men to 58 women. The other New England States shown in this table approach the relation shown in Massachusetts, while Ohio shows a higher ratio of men than any other Northern State, or 100 men to 113 women, closely followed by Arizona and Pennsylvania."

A CODE of ethics for the profession has been often talked of but never actually formulated. Last year the Wisconsin Teachers' Association appointed a committee for this purpose.

No. I.

At the last meeting a report was made but action was postponed for one year, As a whole the report is an admirable one. The principles enunciated, if followed, would go far toward making the world feel that teaching is a profession. There are five articles, and the topics treated are: "The Teacher and His Vocation," "Duties of Teachers Toward Each Other," "The Teacher and the School Board," "The Teacher and the Pupils," "The Teacher and the Public." All are important, but especially so is that section which treats of the duty of teachers toward each other, and we give it in full.

ARTICLE II. "DUTIES OF TEACHERS TO EACH OTHER."

1. Every teacher should entertain a due respect for the wisdom and judgement of his seniors. In turn, teachers of experience and standing should extend every courtesy and render every assistance possible to young teachers just entering the work. In general every teacher is under obligation to aid and encourage his fellow teachers by a friendly recognition and appreciation of their work.

2. For a teacher to apply for a position before a decision has been reached in regard to the incumbent, to send out applications at random, or to underbid other applicants in matter of wages, shows a wanton disregard for the rights of others.

3. For a superintendent or principal, without the consent of the proper authorities, to make tempting offers to teachers in other schools, or to recommend the appointment of any teacher to a position, the acceptance of which offers or position will necessitate the breaking of a previous contract, is inconsistent with the principles of ethics.

4. It is unbecoming to the dignity of the teacher to criticise a predecessor. It is the part of the true teacher to adjust himself to the conditions as he finds them, and to plan his work according to the needs of the situation.

5. It is the duty of a retiring teacher to make all conditions as favorable as possible for his successor, and to hold himself in readiness to give him necessary aid and encouragement. For a teacher, however, to claim any proprietary right in his former school, to manifest undue interest by frequent visits, or to assume a dictatorial manner towards the new management, is prejudicial to the interests of the school and embarassing to the new teacher.

6. Every teacher is entitled to testimonials containg fair and truthful statements of facts. Lack of discrimination and candor on the part of persons giving testimonials, or recommendations, is to be condemned. No superintendent, principal, or person in authority, is justified in recommending for a position any teacher whom he would not recommend, under similar conditions, for a position in his own school.

7. It is derogatory to the dignity of the vocation to gossip about the failures and faults of other teachers. The very act

of tale bearing and detraction is vicious. To slander a fellow teacher is not only a violation of a teacher's code of ethics, but is dishonorable and base

NO BODY has been made a more complete success than the Tennessee Press Association. This work has been done in the last four years. In that time, from being composed of a body of men assembled for junketing purposes, with the responsible men of each paper, to a large degree absent, it has become an organization that considers the important problems that confront every newspaper manager. The good can be seen already and the Association is beginning to have the force and effect that a well organized body will always have. To a very great degree these results are due to the earnest efforts of the Secretary, Pitkin C Wright of Memphis. He has given treely of his time and money and every member of the Association acknowledges the debt due him. The pro

cer dings of the last meeting of the Association, now on our table, is only another instance of his work and interest. It is a well edited pimphlet of 65 piges and contains a full account of what was done at the meeting of 1890. The JOURNAL is a member of the Association and acknowledges with pleasure the value of this well arranged presentation of its work.

MEETING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPERINTENDENCE.

The most successful meeting of the department ever held has just closed at Philadelphia. Superintendent Draper, the President, has shown that he can wake to interest the superintendents of the country as successfully as he can those of his own State of New York The papers were remarkable for their excellence and the discussions were full of vigor and interest. There was no lagging; the President called time promptly and all obeyed. A delightful feature was the offhand discussion of the papers read. The subjects discussed and those leading were:

"The Compulsory School Legislation of Illinois and Wisconsin," N. C. Dougherty, Peoria, Ill; "Compulsory Education in Massachusetts," George H. Martin, Agent Massachuretts State Board of Edncation; "The National Educational Association, its Organization and Functions," William T. Harris, U. S. Commissioner of Education; "The Highest Office of Drawing," Frank Aborn, Teacher of drawing, Public Schools, Cleveland, O.; "Qualification and Supply of Teachers for City Public Schools," William E. Anderson, Superintendent of Schools, Milwaukee, Wis; "Art Education in the Public Schools," James McAlister, President of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa;" "The Public School and Civil Service Reform," George William Curtis, Chancellor of the University of the State of New York; "Universities and Schools," Oscar H. Cooper, Superintendent of Schools, Galveston, Tex is; "What Present Means are available for the Preparation of Teachers for Their Work," Henry Sabin, State Superintent of Iowa.

STATE PUBLICATION OF TEXT BOOKS.

Recent developments seem to show that the publication of text books by the Stite is a craze that has had its day. It never had in it any real vitality, if considered calmly and

fairly. It has just had sɔ ne hard blows from those who are capable of forming a fair judgment upon its merits. One is an opinion from the Ohio Supervisor of Printing, whose report we publish elsewhere. And now ex State Supt. Hoitt, of California, and the present Superintendent, J. W. Anderson, have given their views on the subject. It must be re membered that California is the State that has given the mat ter a fair trial, and invested immense sums of money, believ ing that in this way the problem of cheap text books could be solved. Both letters will be convincing, and States now thinking of publishing their own text books will no doubt take the lesson to heart. Ex Supt. Hoitt says in part:

While our State Board has been zealous and done the best it could in making a State series, I regret that its efforts have not met the requirements of the schools or the expectations of our leading educators, as shown by the following resolution adopted at the Biennial Convention of California School Superintendents, held December 2 and 3, 1890:

Resolved, That while certain of the State text books, notably the Primary Language Lessons" and the "Elementary Geography, have met the approval of the public school teachers of the State, we desire to record our severe criticism and

disapproval of others of the State series, and express our judgment that their thorough revision by competent authors, so as to adapt them to the wants of the schools, is imperative, and should be entered upon at once.

In the light f our experience, after four years of trial, I am therefore compelled, with persoal reluctance, to acknowledge to the comparative want of success in our California experiment in making and publishing school books.

Taking into consideration the large appropriations made, and the constant further outlays for revisions, new plates, etc., the same number of books can be purchased in the open market at wholesale prices for less than it costs the State to manufacture them.

I am therefore constrained to admit that I would not advise any other State to enter upon the publication of school books.

Supt. J. W. Anderson writes:

"For the period of four years California has given her plan of State publication of text books a very fair and impartial trial. The office has rendered to the plan every assistance that was in our power, and the State official, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, complied cheertully with the provisions of the law. My predecessor, the Hon. Ira C. Hoitt, began his term four years ago with his predilections He closed his term satisfied greatly in favor of the plan.

that, after his careful and faithful observation and experience, he could not advise any State to embark on the venture of State publication. The principal argument, and, in my opinion, the only argument of any force that can be urged in favor of this plan, is the fact that it favors uniformity. But State uniformity may, and can be secured, without the adoption of

this means.

"The cost has been tremendous--even $400,000 for an edition of 50,000 of each of the ten pooks published. The cost of the books, it is true, has been reduced; i. e., the private book publishers have been compelled to reduce the cost of their books. But now the cost of books, as published by

the State, is more than superior books could be purchased for in the open market, even without discount. The books are inferior in matter. adaptability and execution. The Superinintendents of the State, at their biennial convention, held in this city on the 2d and 3d days of Deoember, 1890, passed a strong resolution of condemnation upon all of the ten now published, except two.

"While, as a State officer, it is my duty to see the law fully and faithfully carried out—the best way to make an objectionable law dious-honesty demands that, in view of he vast appropriations required, the interest on the appropriations,