Not only have the arts and sciences, a part of the curriculum of the public schools, been exploited in the educational exhibits from various States, but the pupils of St. Louis schools will be afforded practical lessons in floriculture. As the cultivation of flowers is a healthy recreation, the litle ones should be encouraged in their laudable efforts. These embryo gardeners will be habited in appropriate costume. The boys will don knickerbockers, while the girls will be gowned

in washable dresses of utilitarian gingham, their heads protected from the heat of the sun by wide straw sailors and quaint Kate Greenaway sunbonnets..

A generous piece of ground has been reserved for this purpose, the land being cut up into numerous subdivisions. Each of these in turn has been allotted to a school, until all of the St. Louis schools have been represented. The principal of each of these institutions chooses a class of pupils and supervises the work, both he and his charges remaining under the general superintendence of Professor Wheeler, of Michigan, the expert horti

culturist.

The pupils are left to work their own

THE STATE LEAGUE.

Organized December 5, 1903, in the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Organization completed and recognized by the State Teachers' Association December 29, 1903.

Annual Meeting for the election of one member of the Board of Control to serve three years, the discussion and revision of the by-laws, and the transaction of general business, at the High School section of the State Teachers' Association.

The Educator-Journal is much pleased with the attitude of the State State press toward the recent movement in athletics. The following is clipped from a recent editorial in one of the most widely circulated dailies in Northern Indiana:

"The advantages of the State League can hardly be estimated. It assures a per

OFFICERS OF THE LEAGUE.

Geo. W. Benton, Principal Shortridge High School, Indianapolis, President.

Lotus D.' Coffman, Superintendent Schools, Salem, Treasurer.

J. T. Giles, Principal Marion High School, Marion, Secretary.

The above constitute the Board of Control, and all questions as to interpretation, policy, settlement of disputes, official information, etc., should be referred to them, as their decision in all matters pertaining to the League is final.

fect schedule throughout the State, the establishment of a higher standard of athletics, the promotion of physical culture and muscular development in the student keeping pace with his mental growth, the establishment of a board of control to settle all controversies, and to maintain a uniform set of rules and regu

lations; it will determine the best athletes and the school holding the State championship; and last it will promote that high ideal of true sportsmanship and athletics, toward which all amateurs and true athletes strive. The day of petty jealousies and controversies in high school athletics is past. Here's to the best man."

Mr. Moran, of Purdue University, and a member of the "Big Nine" committee, will shortly favor this department with an article on "Athletics as a Factor in Education."

A manly boy, with a high sense of honor, a reasonable sense of his powers, a just recognition of the rights of others, a zest for the honors gained in fair competition, is the type of beginning manhood the schools ought to, and can, furnish the country with.

It does seem strange that the employment of teachers of physical culture in the public schools should be regarded as an innovation, doesn't it? How many have you?

FIRST ANNUAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL MEET.

ANNOUNCEMENT.

The first annual track and field meet under the auspices of the Indiana High School Athletic Association will be held on the Jordon Field of Indiana University, May 14, 1904, in the afternoon. Only those high schools will be permitted to enter this meet who have become members of the Association by paying their membership fee on or before May 4, 1904. All the high schools of the State are invited to join with us in making this first meet an unqualified success.

Every contestant in this meet must have previously made in a fair test a record equal to the following in every event in which he is entered:

2-E. J.

The above, together with a mile relay, will constitute the events of the meet.

The entries in each event are limited to three, and the contestants in each to two, from any school; except in the relay race, where entries will be limited to six and the number placed in competition to four, each running one-fourth mile.

Winning first place in any event counts five points; second place, three points, and third place, one point. Points in the relay will not be counted in determining the winning team.

All schools, in order to enter the contests of the State Meet, will be required. to certify that all athletic contests in which they have taken part since becoming members of the Association have been conducted in accordance with the rules of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, and that all their contestants in such contests have been qualified according to the rules.

The principals will be required to certify in writing that the contestants from their respective schools have all qualified in every event for which they are entered in the State Meet. Each principal must fill out entry blanks with the names of the contestants from his school and all the required data, and send it to J. T. Giles, Secretary of the Board of Control, Marion, Ind., on or before May 4, 1904. This requirement must be strictly complied with. Special blanks for this pose will be furnished to all members of the Association.

All protests and complaints against members of the Association for violation

of the rules must be made in writing and filed with the Secretary on or before May 4. Protests as to the eligibility of individual contestants under the constitution are to be decided by the Board of Control and protests should be filed with the Secretary.

The management of this meet rests solely with the Board of Control. The selection of officials, to be approved by the Board, has been delegated to Coach Horne, of Indiana University. The referee and starter are to be chosen from the A. A. U. in order that records made at the meet may be recognized by that body. The Board will arrange a program assigning places on the track by lot, and the printed program will indicate the order in which men will be called upon the track. The rules governing the meet will correspond to those of the Western Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association unless previously modified and announced by the Board.

No medals will be given at the meet, but the local associations are urged to reward good work by medal or payment of railroad fare or both. An appropriate trophy will be presented to the winning team.

Entertainment will be furnished free by the university to all contestants. Surplus receipts of the meet above expenses and a certain sum which may be regarded by the Board as a necessary reserve for the maintenance of the Association will be prorated to the contesting schools on the basis of mileage.

A railroad rate of one and one-third fare from all points in the State is guaranteed, and it is probable that a single fare will be secured.

An Intercollegiate Meet between between Northwestern University and Indiana University on Jordan Field has been arranged for the morning preceding the High School Meet.

Further inquiries regarding the meet may be addressed to any member of the Board of Control.

GEORGE W. BENTON, President,
LOTUS D. COFFMAN, Treasurer,

J. T. GILES, Secretary,

Board of Control.

NORTHERN INDIANA HIGH SCHOOLS

AND THE STATE LEAGUE.

For a number of years representatives of high schools in northern Indiana labored incessantly to effect an interscholastic athletic association comprising the various high schools in the northern counties. Failure to agree upon uniform rules regarding the eligibility of participants and the lack of a controlling body, which should be final authority in cases. of disputes, contributed largely to bring their efforts to naught. However, during the last three years track meets, participated in by Goshen, Elkhart and South Bend high schools, were held, and while successful to a certain extent, led at times to discord and enmity, instigated by unwarranted, although not always malicious prejudice and partisanship. Last autumn, before the State Association was formed, a meeting of representatives of northern Indiana high schools was called by Principal Keeler, of Michigan City. The meeting convened at South Bend and resulted in arrangements for a track and· field meet, to be held this spring. An executive committee, consisting of Messrs. Keeler, Michigan City; Sims, Laporte, and Smith, Elkhart, was appointed by Mr. Kiser, of South Bend, the temporary chairman, and was instructed to provide rules and regulations, which should govern the meet. Saturday, April 3, a meeting was held at Laporte for the purpose of deciding definitely upon the place of the meet and completing all other necessary arrangements. Principal Sims, of Laporte, presided. The high schools of Hammond, Michigan City, Laporte, Plymouth, South Bend, Elkhart and Goshen were represented. All representatives agreed that the formation of the State League had obliviated the necessity for a northern Indiana athletic association, but consented, however, to complete all arrangements for the track meet and to consider the latter a preliminary to the State meet, which was thought to be held in June under the auspices of the State Association. (A pamphlet issued by the Board of Control in the meantime gives the date of the State meet as May 14, however.)

Laporte, Goshen, Notre Dame and Elkhart were considered as suitable places for the meet. After a long discussion Laporte was chosen. It was decided to hold the meet Saturday, May 21. Laporte high school obligated itself to pay all the expenses, excepting the transportation of the contesting teams.

An invitation to participate was ordered sent to Lagrange, Wabash, Warsaw and Lafayette.

The meet will include the following events in the order given:

100-yard dash, 880-yard run, high jumps, 120-yard hurdle, 12-pound shot put, one mile run, pole vault, 220-yard run, discus throw, 440-yard run, broad jumps, 220-yard hurdle, 12-pound hammer throw, relay race.

The entries in each event are limited to three, the contestants in each to two from any school, except in the relay race, where entries will be limited to five, and the number placed in competition to four.

Winning first place in any event counts five points; second place, three points, and third place, one point. Points in the relay shall not count for the individual contestants, but toward the total made by the contesting teams.

The contestant winning the highest number of points will be awarded a gold medal, the second highest a silver medal and the third highest a bronze medal. The team winning the highest number of points will receive a banner.

The executive committee in making its report regarding rules of eligibility recommended that the meet be governed by the rules of the State Association. The report was unanimously concurred in. At this point the representatives of the Goshen high school, which has been a member of the association since the time of its formation, thought it opportune to advocate the affiliation of all high schools in northern Indiana with the State Association. Various rules of the association were discussed at length, and hardships which a strict enforcement of these rules might work, especially in schools isolately located, were mentioned. However, the friends of the association were successful

in convincing those present of the great advantages ultimately resulting from such a step, notwithstanding the sacrifices to be made by individual members at the present time. A motion, making membership in the State Association obligatory upon every high school participating in the meet, made by the writer and seconded by Mr. Sims, of Laporte, was unanimously carried.

This step taken by the high schools of northern Indiana is one of the greatest significance, and its accomplishment alone will make the meeting held at Laporte a memorable one in the history of the State League. With one resolve at least seven high schools, which have always recognized the value of athletics as an important factor in the high school curriculum, placed themselves upon the roster of the State League, thus adding their share to the effectiveness and permanency of the league as a State organization, and thereby giving an impetus to other schools to do likewise.

The chief objection to joining the league is made by schools so located that the scheduling of games with members. of the league only seems almost impossible on account of the large expense to be incurred. Surrounded by smaller high schools, which for some unaccountable reasons refuse to become members of the league, they will be forced to limit the number of games to such an extent that their athletic activities will be greatly reduced. How deplorable this may be, a radical stand for the association will give the best satisfaction in the end. It will exhibit a commendable willingness to sacrifice individual pleasures and conveniences for the benefit of the whole.

The rule regarding the 21-year age limit is frequently objected to. According to the latest interpretation given by the Board of Control all high school pupils who are not 21 on the first day of the semester are eligible during the semester. The high schools which can not see their way clear to subscribe to all the rules of the league should bear in mind that they will have an opportunity