A copy of this circular is sent to each county and city superintendent, and each county and city treasurer.

JNO. L. BUCHANAN, Superintendent Public Instruction.

Five Months the Minimum Term.

Schools must not be opened for a shorter term than five months. The aim of school officers should be to lengthen rather than shorten the term. But they should not do this by lowering the already meager pay of the teachers.

Sub-Apportionment of School Funds.

State and county school funds must be sub-apportioned by the county superintendent among the several districts of the county on

the basis of school population, and a statement in writing must be furnished the clerk of each district and the county treasurer, showing the amount and date of the sub-apportionment, which statement shall be recorded in the county superintendent's record-book.

Twenty Days the School Month.

The school month prescribed by regulation of Board of Education consists of twenty school days-four weeks. A teacher cannot lawfully protract his school month beyond twenty days, in order to make up the average daily attendance required to form a legal school. County superintendents will please bear this in mind.

Examination Questions.

Several superintendents have not complied with regulation of Board of Education (see School Laws, section 350) in this matter. In the October JOURNAL we shall publish a list of the delinquents, should there be any at that time.

Blank Forms.

We again remind superintendents that a supply of blank forms was sent them in July. We kept only a small surplus on hand, and cannot undertake to furnish another supply. Hereafter, in their applications for more forms, superintendents must state the number received in the package already sent them, and give the reason for needing more than were sent them in July.

THE FOLLOWING SUPERINTENDENTS of schools have been ap pointed: Joseph G. Swartz, for the city of Fredericksburg, in place of James Taylor, resigned; Cary Breckenridge, for the county of Botetourt, in place of R. S. Burks, deceased; George R. Mapp, for the county of Northampton, in place of James T. Nottingham,

deceased. These appointments are for the unexpired term ending June 30, 1889.

WHEN A PLAIN CIRCULAR of instruction is sent to school officers, why should any of them write to know if they may not have the special favor of exemption from compliance.

OUR SCHOOL OFFICERS will please bear in mind that this office is not responsible for any advertisement which appears in the Journal.

THE GRAPHIC COPY-BOOKS are required to be used in all the public schools of the State, and it is not lawful to use any others. Superintendents will please see that this requirement is strictly en

forced.

AN UNUSUAL PRESS OF WORK in this office has prevented prompt attention to many letters received. Their writers will please be indulgent. We hope to be able to give attention to them all after a little while.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS will please report fully under every head in the blank forms for their monthly reports. Some of those sent in are not complete, and particularly is this the case with respect to the list of books in use. Let us have full reports, gentlemen, and let them be sent within the time prescribed. See section 347 of School Laws and Regulations.

Peabody Scholarships.

After competitive examinations held in Salem, Staunton, and Richmond, scholarships in the Nashville Normal College were awarded to the following persons: Miss Bessie H. Blanton, Miss Alma Kenyon, Messrs. Hugh S. Bird, John J. Miller, Philip B. Jones, and John W. McCaleb.

Treasurer's Report.

For the benefit of those Superintendents who have not sent in complete reports of their county treasurer, we quote the following sections of the school law :

146. The treasurer of each county shall once a year, or oftener if required, render to the county superintendent an account of all receipts and disbursements of school moneys which have passed through his hands during the year, and exhibit his vouchers for disbursements; and the county superintendent, having examined the said accounts and vouchers, shall transmit the account to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and report whether the vouchers are satisfactory.

147. It shall be the duty of the treasurer of the county to furnish for the use of the county board, at its annual meeting, August 1-15 of each year, a full report, together with his vouchers and other official papers, which contain all accounts, evidences of payments, and other transactions pertaining to the receipt and disbursement of funds for public free school purposes during the year next preceding; and in like manner it shall be the duty of the clerks of all the district boards to lay before the county board at the annual meeting their official record and account books, vouchers, contracts, deeds, and all other official books and papers pertaining to the school business of the year just closed. Upon the examination of these records, accounts and other papers, should there appear to have been any delinquency or irregularity in the acts of any treasurer, district board of trustees, or of any officer or member thereof, it shall be the duty of the county school board to make a minute of the facts upon its record, and to take such other action as the case or cases may require.

148. Should any county treasurer, or clerk of any district school board, fail to produce and lay before the county board his books and papers, as required in the preceding section, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the county board to enter upon the minutes of that meeting a fine of five dollars against every such delinquent treasurer or clerk, which amount shall be deducted from the pay or percentage of such officer. Moreover, it shall be the duty of the county superintendent, before sending his annual report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to visit and examine the books and papers of every such delinquent officer, and to make a special report thereon in connection with his annual report. It is hereby provided that the county board shall have power to remit the fine of five dollars on the presentation of good and sufficient reasons for so doing.

Virginia Teachers' Reading Association.

The second annual meeting of the First Virginia Teachers' Reading Association was held in the Town Hall, at Salem, August 2d.

The President, Professor F. V. N. Painter, read his annual report, in which he took opportunity to congratulate the Association upon its success. About four hundred teachers, he stated, had joined the Association since its organization at Wytheville two years ago, and read, in whole or in part, the course prescribed by the committee. The course comprises the following works on the science and art of education: Raub's "Methods of Teaching," Raub's School "Management," Johonnot's "Principles and Practice of Teaching," Hew ett's "Pedagogy," and Painter's "History of Education." A certificate or diploma will be awarded to those teachers who have completed the whole course. The President's report concluded with these words: "The Association has done much good, and there is, perhaps, at present a more general interest in it than at any time in the past. It may become a very efficient auxiliary in the cause of popular education in our State. With an increased membership, it may be made instrumental in elevating, in a high degree, the standing of our teachers in their professional work.”

The report of the Secretary, Mr. Robert Snavely, was read, and indicated a faithful discharge of the duties pertaining to that office. The report of the Treasurer, Major W. G. Repass, showed a balance in the treasury of $20.31.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Hon. John L. Buchanan; First Vice President, Professor F. V. N. Painter; Second Vice-President, Miss Bettie Urquhart; Secre tary, Professor W. F. Fox; Treasurer, Superintendent William M. Graybill.

A new committee on Course of Reading, to serve for two years, was elected as follows: Dr. John L. Buchanan, Professor L. R. Holland, and Professor F. V. N. Painter.

Dr. M. A. Newell and Dr. John L. Buchanan were called on, and delivered brief addresses, in which they cordially approved the objects of the Association, and urged the teachers of the Institute to avail themselves of its advantages.

Prof. J. T. Davenport and Misses Ezekiel, Eubank and Urquhart were appointed to solicit new members, and a considerable number of names was added to the membership of the Association.

The organic basis of the Association is now as follows:

1. This body shall be known as the First Virginia Teachers' Reading Association.

2. The object of the Association shall be to pursue a course of educational reading.