To give unity to the four years’ work in English, it is essential that all the teachers of English in each high school meet at frequent intervals to discuss organization, methods, and progress of the work. Each teacher will thus familiarize himself with the English work of the whole school, and can do his particular part of it more intelligently and more effectively. As the success of high school English also depends in no small degree upon the character of the instruction which the pupils have received in the grades, and particularly in the seventh and eighth grades, it will be found very profitable to have similar conferences occasionally between the seventh and eighth grade teachers and the high school teachers of English. A closer relation ought to exist between the English work of the last two grades and the high school, and there seems to be no better way to accomplish this than to bring about cooperation between the teachers through the medium of these conferences. The benefit to the teachers and the great advantage that results to the English work of the school repay many fold the time and effort devoted to these conferences. If local conditions make these meetings of grade and high school teachers impracticable, the high school teacher of English should make every effort to familiarize himself with the amount and character of the training which the pupils have had before entering the high school, by visiting the schools and conferring with the teachers in the seventh and eighth grades. The knowledge thus acquired of the earlier training of the pupils will be of great service to the high school teacher in planning his work both in reading and composition. III COMPOSITION The ability to write clearly and accurately can generally be acquired only by practice. If this practice is to be really effective it can not be confined to one semester or one year, but must extend through the whole course in English. Training in composition naturally includes a study of the principles of the art; and since these principles are of different degrees of difficulty, all can not be presented in one year, but must be developed from year to year as the ability and maturity of the pupil makes possible the comprehension and application of them. Practice in writing and instruction in the principles of composition, therefore, must form a part of all instruction in English throughout the four years. 1. Theme Writing