The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-03-07
National supcrintondcnts' AssOcia-

National superintendent AsSocin.
s tiOn. .
Correspondence Of IuitNIgsNecr.
WASHINGTON, D. G., March ., 20.
| The National Association of School
Superintendent has been In session IL
this city for the last two days. The fol-
lowing Sthtc Supcrintedcnts IRE present
viz: Joseph White, Of Massachusetts; w;
johnson, of Illinois; D. G. Northrup Of
Connecticut; s. W. Bicknell, Of Rhode
Island; W. D. Ienkle, Of Ohio: 3. c.
Hobbs, Of Indiana; J p. Wickersham, OF
Pennsylvania; s. IS. Ashley, Of North
Carolina; J. X. Jillson, Of South Carolina;
R. NJ. Mauly, Of Virginia; n. Q. Newell,
Of Maryland; and A. D. Williams, Of West
Virginia; and also Dr.. Barnard and Gen.
Eaton, OF the National Bureau Of Educa-
ton, together with considerable number
of city and county superintendent.
Among the OBJ Gets that have engaged
the attention Of the Association, Is the
gathering and uniform classification OF
g1 u, SCHOOL STATISTICS. 4.
At first thought, this would seem
Of little Importance. But, IN the prac-
tiCal working of II school system, II Is
found To DO OF great Importance. Results
are thereby reached which are vitality
connected with the efficiency Of n school
system. But heretofore there have been
such discrepancies in making up these
statistics-som superintendent making
them up in one way, and some In another
that but little accurate comparison can
be made between the States; and thus Il
large part of their volume is lost. Aunt.
form method was adopted, md measures
taken 10 have 1t carried into operation in
the different Suites.
CADETslIpS.
Another subjcc that engaged the atten'
ton of tho Association, was that Of COM
petitiye examinations for cadetships at
West Point or Annapolis. The recent
revelations in Congress no doubt, gave In
portancc and interest to this topic. Very
likely, competitive examinations in some,
IL not in many cases, would result In pro-
viding our military and naval academies
with u higher clasS OF students-Of which
there Is probably need. And yet, there
have been so.callcd competitive exami.
nations, in which the successful applicant
was neither from tho first nor the second
class Of competitors. There needs to be a
public and Gtfcctual scrutiny ofthc cxami-
nations or even they may be made alArce.
AID TO THE SOUTH.
This was u topic TINT absorbed large
share Of attention. Representations were
made concerning the educational deSti-
tuition Of the South, which were deplOra-
Bile indeed. While most Of the States are
making some effort in tho direction of
SmlG education, it appearsas If there worc
the utmost need Of assistance from the
general Government. .....g
Conference has been had with Congress.
siOnal Committees, and II Is thought TINT
the result Otthc Association meeting, here
will I've productive. Of n better understand
ing, and gilmore effectual cooperation be;
tween Congress mud the different odaca-
tional agencies .. -rr
BUREAU OF EDUCATION.
Tic continuance of this bureau and Of
the turning over to II Of the effects and re-
manning work Of the FrecdmCn's bureau,
was another topic that engaged cOnsidcn-
bic attention. 1t is now III. 1cEstOOd that
the Bureau will he continued, though
there has been Il change in its managc-
mcnt. Yesterday, Gen. John Eaton was
unanimously confirmed US Commissioner
Of the Bureau.
This Bureau, however, does not con.
template Superscding State departments Of
education, but simply TO assist those de-
partnents where assistance is really
neCtled-CSpcCmlly at present Mt the South
and 10 do sOm6 things Of Il general ma
turc which the State departments cannot
well do. II il believed TO be present,
imperative necessity, and that there is
room and demand for permanent work, |
which sOmc such agency alone can do.
PAPERS AND ADDRESSES.
SnpL johnson. of Maine, read M able
paper on supervision, which was followed
by discussion, bringing out the unani-
nous conviction that thorough and COM
pctcnt supervision was Indispensable to !
any elective school system, On this
point there was complete unanimity. 1t
was also brought out that to the most ci-
icctivc system, not only State and county |
are q necessity, but that
there should be some kind Of township in
spcctiOn. .-..
Supt. Ashley, of North Carolina, read |
deeply interesting paper OH the education
al condition and wants Of the South. |
THIS paper was evidently prepared with |
great care, and Contained mass Of most
Important md significant facts, which
ought to be more widely known.
Gen. o. 0, Howard also read apnrer,
recommending the consolidation Of the
FrcGdmaI'S Bureau with the National
Educational Department. The AssoCia.
ton requested the publication of this pm.
per. "a, .-r i
.tSCEDESTAI.s. ... !
BY the invitation Of General Howard,
nliIny Of the members of the Association
visited Howard University in the suburbs
Of the city, where several hundred cOlOred
children are making very gratifying pro-
greSS IN education. There are no less than
thirty-tive students III the law Depart
mcnt, and still larger number in tho
Medical Department .......
The Association also made a call upon
the President, and each member had the
privilege Of aiding in firing Gen. Grants
right arm by hand shaking, They got
speech, out Of him, too! But 1t was not
long one. Here It is: "Gcntlemcn, our
republican Institutions arc SecUr6 only lehen
they reSt. Wpon tho bISis Of Intelligence"
Therewas, in It's delivery, and In all the
fnntrres Of the recentiOn. Mn mir Of eMbNr. |