Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-31


history OF education in the United States. Edu-
catIOnsl conventions have frequently been held
heretofore, but they have generally lacked
dehniteness of purpose, and, beyond the limited
dissemination Of individual theories on the sub
ject of education, have been comparatively
barren of results. The convention which re-
Gently assembled in this city differed in Its
composition from many other educational gath
erings in that it was made up, in the main, of
school superIntendents, town, county, city and
stste-not mere theorists, but the practical
educators of the country, and men who, perhaps
more senslbly than any other class, appreciate
our educational needs and possibilities. Calling
70 their aid and councils such prominent educa-
tors as President White, Of Cornell, the national
Commissioner of Education, and others, the
convention met for certain well defined pur-
poses. among which were the ascertainment
and settlement so far as was possible of the
relations OF the general government to educa-
ton; the ma king of arrangements for our educa-
tiOna' representation at the Centennial EXPOSE
ton in 90; and the preparation Of a uniform
plan Tor the publication of statistical tables on
education; all of these being subjects well wor-
thy OF the careful consideration of the friends
OF education. The reports of the proceedings
of the convention published in The STAR
showed the earDestness and uRanimity which its
members evinced in dealing with the matters
towards the accomplishment Of their purposes.
The able address of President White on the
true policy OF national and state dealings with
advanced education, in which he took the view
that Individual benefactiOns in behalf of edu-
cation are insufficient to meet the educational
requirements of the country, and that some
provision By the government necessary H.
order that private munifcence may be wisely
directed and probably aggregated, was I'M
the members OF the convention on the subject:
and in consonsnce with this is the resolution
unanimously adopted that it is the duty OF Con-
gress 70 furnish special aid to the school au-
thoritics establishing and suggesting, and sup
porting system of public education in the
District of Columbia And in this connection
AZ NAV be proper to state that the committee
reporting this resolution was composed of some
of the oldest and ablest educators in the Unitod
States, and comprised Mr.. J. p. Wickersham,
state superintendent OF education OF Pennsyl-
vsnis; Mr. VIM. h. Ruffner. state superin-
tendent OF education OF Virginia; Nr. John ID.
PbilbTick, superintendent OF the public schools
OF Boston; State Superintendent Hopkins, of
Indiana, and State Superintendent Harvey, of
ONO. This committee gave the subject the
most careful consideration, and the reasons ex-
pressed in their report why the general govern
ment should extend special aid to education in
the District of Columbia. were so cOgent and
conclusive as to receive the unanimous endorse
ment of the convention, consisting. a. it did, OF
the best representatives of education from all
sections OF the country. The convention di-
rected the report and re;ommen nd atoms OF the
committee to be forwarded to the proper com
mItteeS IL each House of Congress, where they
Will doubtless receive the careful consideration
10 which they are justly entitled by reason of
the high character OF the source from which
they emsnate.
The address of Mr.. PhIlbrick, superintendent
OF the public schools OF Boston, comp airing the
systems Of pubic instruction in Europe and
America. was an unusually interesting dis
course and contained much information not
generally known in this country. Mr.. Phil
brick SPOKE from personal knowledge of both
the American and European systems of educa-
ton. but restricted his remarks relative to for
eign instruction mainly to the schools Of Vienna,
which he believes to be the most instructive
point Tor students in the wo rid. The city is
especially conspicuous for Its Industrial and
technical schools, and at the head Of these
stands the government polytechnic institute.
With, perhaps the exception of the New York
College, there is not a school in the United
States that can compare in excellence with the
gymnssUms of Vienna. In regard to the
knowledge Of the science and art Of education,
the instructors of Vienna are far superior to
those OF America, and, in respect to equipment,
they greatly excel the high schools of the United
States. some of the school buildings recently
erected in Vienna surpass any in America. The
tuition II u true, Is not free; butt is very cheap
In some of these schools there are as many as
% professors and from 800 to 100 pupils, and the
aggregate number OF professors in Vienna is
5I5 with 5 500 pupils, the latter equaling the
whole number OF bows receiving sseen-
In ~ La 40
cities OF the United States. The schools
of Vienna for the professional training of
teachers are also superior 10 ours. Within a
lew years nee these schools have been reor-
gained and there are now four in Vienna, not
including schools for the training of kinder
gsrten teachers. Besides these there are schools
Tor special and technical education of almost
every kind. The speaker referred to the atten-
ton ven TO gymnastic training in Europe, aud
regretted that physical education is wholly
ignored in the United States The only respect,
perhaps, in which America excels Europe in
the matter of education is in school furniture,
but in school buildings we are far behind
Vienna and many other European cities. In
fact, We are surpassed in almost every
respect ty northern and southern Germany.
Referring TO the numerous art schools in
Vienna, ard our own poverty in this regard,
the speaker SAID that at the Vienna Exposition
the specimens of drawings sent TO the exhibit
ton from the United States were excelled by
those from any public school in Vienna. Inre-
gard to the employment of female teachers, the
speaker gave as his opinion that we must en-
ploy more male teachers, who make teaching a
lifelong profession, if We would ever hope to
attain the excellence Of the best European
schools. The inevitable deductions of Mr.. Phil
brick IL favor of European schools are some
what humiliating, but 1t was the sense of the
convention that the address should be widely
read in the United States in order that our
teachers and educators may know that they
have Lot reached the ultima hale of excellence,
and that they may strive for q higher standard
than thes now possess. The various committees
appointed by the convention aro composed of
earnest and practical gentlemen who will give
the important subjects committed to them early
and thorough consideration
There is good deal of squirming amongst