SUPERINTENDENT'S DEPARTMENT.

TO DISTRICT CLERKS.

If any teachers are found negligent in keeping a register, you will please call their attention to Section 33, Chapter 24, Revised Statutes. Upon examination of Reports made by the several Town Clerks of the State, it appears that but little reliance can be placed upon the reports of school attendance, because of a misunderstanding as to what was wanted, or inability to arrive at the desired results, through carelessness or remissness of teachers. Each teacher is required by law to keep a daily register of attendance. The District Clerk is obliged to furnish the teacher with a suitable register for the school. I believe that, with very few exceptions, some kind of a register is kept in all the schools of the State. It is my wish to obtain from such registers the actual number of days' attendance of pupils during any one term, or during the year. The process is simple. We will suppose the teacher marks the pupils who are present as follows:

This mark (\) indicates present in the forenoon; this, (/) present in the afternoon; his, (X) present all day.

The figures at the bottom of the column show the actual number of days' attendance for that particular day. Each night, the teacher should foot the column for the day, placing the number of days' attendance in figures at the bottom. The sum of these numbers for the several days of the term will give the days' attendance for the term.

If, on the other hand, the teacher prefers to mark absences, it may appear thus: (/) indicates absence forenoon; (\) indicates absence afternoon; (X) indicates absence all day. The record will then appear in the form represented on the next page, and the blanks will be counted instead of marks.

If you will see to it that your teachers pursue the above plan for the year, you will be able to make your next Annual Report with greater ease and accuracy, so far as this item is concerned.

It is very desirable that each district in the State be fully and accurately reported. If one district in a town fails to report this item, the whole town suffers from this failure, in comparison with other towns that may be fully reported.

That the register may be kept neat, it will be best for the teacher to use a small blank book, in which may be registered the absences for the day, and then at night the register may be properly filled and footed.

OPINIONS.

QUESTION 1.-Are Third Grade Certificates transferable to other towns in the same county?

ANSWER.-They are not. Third Grade Certificates are given for some particular town, and the design of the law was to limit such to the town for which they were given. The County Superintendent may give a certificate for another town than the one for which the applicant was examined, without re-examination, if he is satisfied as to the ability of the applicant to teach in the town to which he wishes to be transferred. The certificate thus given should be a new certificate, bearing date at the time of the examination. When any doubt exists, it is better to demand a reexamination.

QUESTION 2.-Has the District Board a right to apply the money raised by tax, for teachers' wages, to the payment of an unqualified teacher, provided the three months' school required by law has been taught by a qualified teacher ?

ANSWER.-The Board has no such right. The law gives the District Board no power to contract with or hire any other than a qualified teacher. The Board is personally liable to the District for all moneys paid to unqualified teachers.

QUESTION 3.-Is a County Superintendent justifiable in granting a certificate to a candidate who is well qualified, in learning and ability to teach, but who is known to be habitually intemperate ?

ANSWER. He is not. A person known to be addicted to any openly immoral practice is not entitled to a certificate, under the law. Care should be taken in determining all such matters. The Superintendent must himself be satisfied of the facts. The past bad character of an applicant should not be allowed to prejudice his interests, unless it be known that there has been no reform. The past reputation of a person thoroughly reformed may prevent his usefulness in a particular district, or town, but this can not be a valid excuse for withholding a certificate. Kindly advice should be given; and if given in a proper manner, and with a proper spirit, it will be well received, and acted upon, by all such persons. J. L. PICKARD,

State Supt. Pub. Inst.

WHO IS A PROFESSOR ?

Is the title of Professor applicable to the teachers of our public schools, academies, and other incorporated institutions of learning? Webster says that a Professor is "one that publicly teaches any science or branch of learning; particularly an officer in a university, college, or other seminary, whose business is to read lectures, or instruct students in a particular branch of learning." This definition certainly does not include one who has charge of a school, or system of schools, and who teaches no "particular branch of learning" Among educated men, the title of professor has hitherto been applied to two classes of teachers: those who have been called to a professorship in a college, or other institution of learning of high rank, and those who are eminent scholars in some particular science or branch of learning, and who make the same a speciality in the work of instruction.

It is a matter of pride with us that the solid teachers of Ohio who have not actually filled a professor's chair, so generally eschew this appellation. Here and there a teacher permits himself to be separated from the common herd of pedagogues, evidently regarding the title as a sort of red-ribbon badge, indicating that he has taken the first premium for his scholastic attainments!

The practice of calling the teachers of every little academy, seminary, or graded school, "professor," is prejudicial to the highest interests of sound learning. It makes unjust distinctions among teachers, and often subjects those who are innocent of any such pretensions, to very great annoyar.ce.-Ohio Educational Monthly.

EDITORIAL MISCELLANY.

"MORALS AND MANNERS IN OUR SCHOOLS."

The subjoined letter, as will be seen, was not designed for publication; but we trust the writer will pardon the liberty taken. We published the suggestions of Mr. Gregory in the July number, and in the present issue we give not only the article by Mr. Wells alluded to in his note, but another, from his last Report, upon a point of no less importance: Home Influence. The whole subject cannot be too frequently urged upon the attention of parents and teachers:

CHICAGO, November 7, 1862.

Rev. J. B. Pradt, Editor of the Journal of Education:

Dear Sir:-I have read, with much interest, the article of Hon. E. Root, in the November number of your Journal, on "Morals and Manners in our Schools." Of all the subjects that are now enlisting the attention of educators, this is by far the most important. Of all the evils that threaten to undermine our free school system, the most serious, by far, is the exposure of children to injurious social influences, as they are thrown promiscuously together, at times when they do not have the immediate oversight of either teachers or parents. About two years since, I had the pleasure of a walk of seven miles, after eleven o'clock at night, with the Hon. J. M. Gregory, of Michigan; and so deeply impressed were both of us of the importance of this subject, that we entered into an agreement to make it a matter of special consideration in our Annual Reports. This was the origin of an article in my Seventh Report; and Mr. Gregory, in his Report of the schools of Michigan, for the year 1861, pages 70-76, has presented some of the most valuable, practical suggestions on this subject that I have ever seen.

I sincerely hope that you and others will continue your efforts in this direction, till the attention of teachers to the habits of pupils out of school hours shall be increased at least ten fold.

Yours, very truly,

W. H. WELLS.

P. S.-The foregoing is written on the impulse of the moment, with no reference to publication, but from the deep convictions of a full heart.

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE JOURNAL.

W.

We are indebted to Supts. Barlow, Whitcom, Cheney, Root, Hammond, Hooker, Dodge, and Mather, for recent and former lists of names for the Journal. Also, to Mr. Kilgore, of Evansville Seminary. We would repeat the suggestion that subscriptions commence with the volume (July); or, if preferred, a remittance may be made sufficient to cover the proportionate price of the subscription from the time of beginning till the close of the volume in June next. Vol. VIII will then begin, if the Hon. Legislature of Wisconsin do not previously withdraw the state patronage. We have room for more names on our books.

THE INSTITUTES.

We continue our notices from last month:

ST. CROIX Co.-The Institute was convened at Hudson, on Tuesday, October 14th, under the direction of Superintendent J. N. Van Slyke. It was quite fully attended, and a very good degree of interest was manifested. No county in the State has a larger proportion of well qualified teachers. Mr. Van Slyke is a plain, earnest, working man. He has made a very thorough canvass of his county, and has done much towards elevating the schools. In very many of the teachers he has earnest and efficient co-laborers.- Communicated.

EAU CLAIRE Co.-The Normal Institute at Eau Claire was held for two weeks, commencing on the 8th of October. The exercises were under the charge of Prof. J. C. Pickard, of Madison, and were attended by forty teachers, or more. The departure of companies assigned to the 30th Regiment interfered somewhat with the attendance, and for a day or two diverted attention, and diminished the interest; but on the whole, the exercises were of interest, and of great profit to those who attended. Prof. Pickard is admirably adapted to the work assigned him at this Institute. No time was lost. Supt. Pickard was present, and assisted his brother several days. Rev. A. Kidder, Superintendent of Eau Claire County, was an efficient helper, as also Prof. Hall, of the Eau Claire Wesleyan Seminary.-Communicated.

LA CROSSE Co.-Our Teachers' Institute was at this place [West Salem] during the week commencing October 20. I employed Prof. J. C. Pickard to take charge of the exercises, in which he appeared to be at home. Supt. Pickard was also with us Tuesday afternoon, and during Wednesday. He lectured to the teachers, on Tuesday evening, and to the citizens, on Wednesday evening, and proved to the people of La Crosse County that we have "the right man in the right place." Very acceptable lectures were also delivered by Mr. Meggett, of Eau Claire, Rev. J. W. Collins, of Neshonoc, and Rev. E Brown, of La Crosse. The people showed their interest in the subject by their attendance. Thirty "live" teachers were present, and the interest continued to increase from the commencement until its close. P. S. ELWELL, Co. Supt.

PORTAGE CO.-A Teachers' Institute was held at Stanton, on the 13th, 14th, and 15th days of October. The proceedings were participated in by some of the principal men of the county, and were conducted to the satisfaction of all present. The elementary and most of the more advanced studies were thoroughly analyzed and discussed, and very many important suggestions were advanced on the Theory of Teaching. The Rev. J. Edwards delivered an instructive lecture, and W. H. Alban, Esq., made an appropriate speech-both on the subject of education. The attendance was not large, but it represented the intelligence of the county. G. W. HULCE, Co. Supt.

ROCK Co.-We have not heard of Institutes in this county, except a small one at Edgerton.