But mamma said we'd better exchange She said he was getting very old And just a little blind. Then papa said, "I made a mistake." But, next time we hang up our stockings, Which of the stockings belong to me, And which to brother Joe. 12. RECITATION... -Lizzie Wills. While Shepherds Watched. Like small curled feathers, white and soft, The little clouds went by, Across the moon, and past the stars, And down the western sky; In upland pastures, where the grass Like snowy clouds the young sheep lay, The shepherds slept; and glimmering faint, Only their fire's crackling flames The tender silence broke Save when a young lamb raised his head, A nesting bird would softly stir, With finger on her solemn lip, Night hushed the shadowy earth, And only stars and angels saw Then came such flash of silver light The wondering shepherds woke and hid And all their gentle, sleepy flock Looked up, then slept again, Nor knew the light that dimmed the stars Nor even heard the gracious words That down the ages ring "The Christ is born! the Lord has come Good-will on earth to bring." 13. SONG.... Then o'er the moonlit, misty fields, Dumb with the world's great joy, The shepherds sought the white-walled town, And oh, the gladness of the world, The glory of the skies, Because the longed-for Christ looked up In Mary's happy eyes. -Margaret Deland. ..O, Little Town of Bethlehem. (We have had several inquiries for the Christmas play, published in the December JOURNAL of last year. We still have a few copies we can furnish if needed). EDITORIAL. CHRISTMAS. The Christmas chimes are pealing, softly pealing; the joyous sounds are ringing, ever louder and clearer, ever nearer and nearer, like a sweet-toned benediction falling on the ear. Glad ringers are pulling the ropes, and in one grand swell of melody Christmas, with its old yet ever new and marvelous mysteries, bursts triumphantly upon the world once more. The cattle have turned their heads to the east and knelt down to worship the king cradled in the manger; the houses are decorated with holly; the yule-log burns brightly; the gray shadows sweep away; the sun is up and the bright-eyed children, who have lain awake all night listening for the patter of old Saint Nick's tiny steeds on the roof, only to fall asleep at the eventful moment, wåke hurriedly to find the stockings running over with toys and sweetmeats. Beautiful and right is it that gifts and good wishes should fill the air like snowflakes at Christmas tide. And beautiful is the year in its coming and its going-most beautiful and blessed because it is always the Year of Our Lord.-Washington Irving. THE BROOKLYN RETIREMENT FUND. BROOKLYN, N. Y.-The retirement fund for school teachers in this city consists of one per cent. deduction from the salaries of all teachers appointed subsequent to January 1, 1896, and a similar deduction in the case of teachers who, prior to January 1, 1896, elected to come within the provisions of Chapter 656, Laws of 1895, which authorized the establishment of a retirement fund for teachers. Teachers at time of retirement must be sixty years old in the case of males, and fifty-five in the case of females. They shall have had thirty years experience, of which twenty years shall have been consecutive service in Brooklyn public schools immediately preceding retirement. Teachers, before retirement, are required to pay into the fund twenty per centum of their annual salaries. This may be paid in lump sum. Teachers may be retired on personal application or upon recommendation of the local committee of the school in which they are employed, provided such application or recommendation receives the approval of the committee on retirement of teachers, and board of education. Annuitants shall receive half pay, but no person shall receive more than $1,200 per annum. Ten public school teachers have been retired under the Teacher's Retirement Fund Law; their pensions ranging from $325 to $1,100 a year. The fund now amounts to $9,000.—N. Y. School Journal. SINCE the last issue of the JOURNAL an election has taken place and everybody knows the result. David M. Geeting, the present incumbent, was re-elected to the office of superintendent of public instruction. Mr. Geeting is so well and so favorably known to the teachers of Indiana that no extended notice is necessary. Having served as deputy for four years under Mr. LaFollette, he entered upon the duties of his office specially prepared for the work. Since he has been in office, he has worked indefatigably and is making one of the best superintendents that ever held the position. Mr. Geeting will retain his present corps of able and obliging assistants and the people who have business with his office can rest assured that they will receive courteous treatment. W. B. Sinclair, Mr. Geeting's opponent in the campaign, is now hard at work as superintendent of the Starke county schools, a position he has filled with credit for nearly twelve years. Mr. Sinclair made a thorough canvass and was everywhere kindly received and courteously treated, and during his canvass did not utter a word or do an act that could justly be criticised. He highly appreciates the kindness with which he was uniformly received. The acquaintances he made during the campaign will be remembered for years to come. Mr. Geeting and Mr. Sinclair were good friends when the campaign opened and they are good friends to-day. Please RemeMBER.—Will each unpaid subscriber please remember that his subscription was taken with the distinct understanding that the money should be paid before January 1, 1897. Many subscribed with the understanding that they were to pay at the county association the last of November. Teachers, above all others, should hold their promises sacred. Let every one pay "according to contract" or give a good reason for his failure. Pay the agent or send direct to the editor, the result will be the same. THE STATE Board of Health has issued a long list of rules in regard to preserving the health of school children. Every possible precaution is taken to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. Some of the rules may seem unnecessary, but experience and careful observation have demonstrated the necessity of every rule given. For a copy of the rules, address the secretary of the Board, Dr. J. N. Hurty, Indianapolis. WITH this issue closes the Forty-first volume of the INDIANA SCHOOL JOURNAL. This is the largest volume [nearly 900 pages of reading matter] ever issued, and the uniform testimony is that it is the best. The present editor has been at the helm for more than twenty-five years and has endeavored to keep at all times in the current of the best educational thought. No educational paper employs an abler corps of regular contributors, and therefore it always presents to its readers the results of the latest and best there is going in the school world. The JOURNAL, will continue to devote itself faithfully to the best interests of Indiana teachers. A CURFEW LAW is very much needed and every teacher in the state should work for it. The work should be done with the senators and representatives before they come to Indianapolis. For the benefit of those not familiar with the term, "Curfew Law," we will say that this is an old English name applied to a law that requires all children under sixteen years of age to be at home after nine o'clock at night, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Such a law would be the means of saving to good society, thousands of boys and girls. THE program for the State Teachers' Association, found on another page, speaks for itself. This meeting ought to enroll one thousand members instead of about half that number, as is usually the case. Last year, both the northern and southern associations were larger than the state meeting. This ought not so to be. For any information not found in the program please write to the chairman of the executive committee. W. A. Hester, Evansville. THE EDITOR Wishes to call attention particularly to Prof. Dennis's natural science article found on another page. How many JOURNAL readers will make use of the article and would like to have some more along the same line? Please read this article and also one in the same line in the November issue, and drop the editor a card. ESPECIAL attention is called to the extensive and suggestive comments given this month on the Township Institute work. What is said on grammar and history will be profitable reading for persons not interested in the township work. The "literary interpretations" also has an interest independent of this work. THE several counties interested in the "premiums" offered by the JOURNAL for the largest number of subscribers, will please remember the conditions. The premiums go to the counties sending the largest per cent. of their teachers as paid subscribers, and the payment must be made on or before Jan. 1, 1897. TO ACCOMMODATE the teachers in a few counties that held preliminary institutes, and thus got a month ahead, we publish the outlines for township institutes for two months in this issue. This will make them in time for all. AN EXCELLENT article on the Reading Circles, setting forth their purpose and their work, by F. A. Cotton, deputy state superintendent, recently appeared in The Indianapolis Sentinel. The JOURNAL regrets that it can not make room for it this month. IN SENDING pay for the JOURNAL, either register the letter or send postal money order. Money sent in an ordinary letter is at the risk of the sender. THE "Food for Thought" has been crowded out this time but will appear next month. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. STATE BOARD QUESTIONS USED IN OCTOBER. SPECIAL NOTICE.-For six months beginning with November the questions in the Science of Education will be based on the following: For November, 1896, not confined to any particular text. For December, 1896, on McMurry's General Method. For January, 1897, on McMurry's General Method. For February, 1897, on McMurry's General Method. For March, 1897, on McMurry's and DeGarmo. For April, 1897, not confined to any particular text. For the same examinations, the questions in "general culture" will be based on Guizot's History of Civilization, covering one of the Township Institute outlines at each examination. See order of State Board of Education, May 14, 1896. PHYSIOLOGY.-1. Define physiology. 2. Describe the sweat-glands and explain their functions. 3. What is the function of the tympanic membrane. 4. What is the function of the sclerotic coat? 5. How is the sense of smell produced?. 6. What is paralysis and how is it caused? 7. What is the objection to alcoholic drinks? tem. 8. The poison of snake bites has a depressing effect on the nervous sysWhat is the advantage or disadvantage under these circumstances to administer large doses of whisky in case of snake bites? (Any five.) READING.-1. Why is the process of teaching the new words in the primary grades so important? Why not so important in the higher grades? 10 2. Define preparation, presentation and application. Show how a knowledge of these terms will help the teacher in her reading. work. 10 3. "To read in the fullest way is to construct pictures as vividly as the author did; see clearly all the truths he embodied in the selection; in short, the reader must live what the author lived in the production." Show that this is true. 4. Discuss the reading work in the State Course of Study. 10 |