The San Francisco call., 1898-04-24
TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.


ing community. Some of the outside school authorities do not agree with Mr. Edgar. but many others do, for to them it is not merely a question of playing keeps" but they believe that the more serious aspect of fostering the spirit of getting something for nothing should be considered.
 J. P Garlick, County Superintendent of Alameda County, in writing to Principal Edgar, expresses his views on the subject very forcibly: Your views and mine on the subject of playing marbles for Keeps are in perfect accord: l never permitted this game in any school I have ever taught. l think you are perfectly right authority to forbid it in your school.
 Not less earnest a stand is taken by A. H. Randall, principal of the San Jose
 My opinion is that such practice should not be permitted on the school grounds First, because the boy who wins the marbles gets something Tor which he renders no equivalent; second because it undoubtedly cultivates a desire to indulge in games of chance for the
 "This is a troublesome question, as it is so common in California. and so many persons who have not considered its ten Children should play such games for the satisfaction that comes from the ac- quirement of skill and the pleasure of
 The vice principal of the same school, R. S. Holway, writes Getting some thing from another for nothing always has a bad effect upon character. Playing marbles for keeps seems to me to be morally equivalent to gambling in stocks and buying lottery tickets-things, that CTS. I recognize of course that upright, manly boys are frequently fond of play ing marbles for keeps simply because they and the communityy in which they live have not seen the problem clearly,
 IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY
 Of all the many fine schools in Santa Clara County the Lincoln is one of the most progressive. Principal D. T. Bate man, with his twelve earnest and ener- getic co-workers, look to it that no point of improvement in methods or teaching or school discipline escapes their notice, and the standard of the school attests their careful management. This is the first school in San Jose to introduce sew ing, and at least beginning in manual training. So successful has the experi- ment proved that it is hoped in tbe future that the Board of Education will give these branches of necessary training a definite place in the course of study throughout all the schools.
 It was during the present year that sew ing was inaugurated in the fourth to the ninth grades. each class being in charge of the. regular grade teacher. For. the boys elementary carpenter work has been provided, though this must at present be carried on disadvantageusly in the class room, the pupils bringing their own tools. In time. no doubt, the large base ment will be fitted up for this purpose. Principal Bateman acts as instructor in woodworking, and already the boys under his direction have made for them selves rulers, tri and T-squares, brackets, shelves, and done odd work about the school.
 The latest innovation in the Lincoln School has been the formation among the teachers of an Educational Club, which was really an outgrowth of some psycho- logical investigations carried on by them The principal aim of the new club is to interest the children. who number 425. in nature study. Gardening was the first subject taken up, and already the large grounds of the schools have been DOT toned off into various plats for all the