The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-31

was Introduced DY General Eaton as "a
chip of the old block" Fred. lifted
his military cap, and when one of the dele.
gates good-humoredly inquired if be was as
modest as his father, he blushed aud bowed
himself out.
A moment afterwards the Governor
made his appearance and Superintendent
Wilson introduced Mr.. Bindford, who
said the members of the convention came
to pay him their respects as the executive
head of the capital city, from which origi-
mated many wise educational measures.
The governor replied: 81 am very
glad, gentlemen, to meet you and extend
to you the hospitality of the city. | hope
to meet you all at my house before your
departure from the city,"
The delegates were then severally intro
duced to the Governor by Superintendent
Wilson. after which they proceeded
TO THE coRcoRAN ART GALLERY,
where they were met by Assistant Curator
Barbarin, who supplied them with cata-
logues Of the paintings and statuary, and
conducted them through the gallery. AT
ter spending few minutes in the gallery
the delegates proceeded to the Depart
ment of interior to pay their
RESPECTS TO SECRETARY DELANC.
They were received in the Secretary's
Office. Mr.. Binford was introduced to the
Secretary by General Eaton, and said the
members of the convention were pleased as
educators of having an opportunity Of
paying their respects to the Secretary of
the Interior who, with his commissioner Of
education, have done so much to advance
the cause of education.
The Secretary responded as follows:
II am very glad to see you, gentlemen,
not less so because you are engaged in one
Of the most interesting and important
occupations Tat can have bearing upon
our civilization. The stability and well
fare of our institutions must necessarily,
for their ptrpetuity, depend upon the pro-
motion Of education. A well-educated
and intelligent community ought, and l
trust will. be able to sustain republican
form of government and so long as per-
sons continue to pursue the promotion of
this great interest and make it q success,
so long shall have hope of the institutions
which we have established"
The delegates then proceeded to the hall
of the House of Delegates-where the
CONVENTION WAS CALLED TO ORDER
by the President, Mr.. Binford.
Mr.. George j. Luckey, superintendent Of
schools at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, read
paper in favor Of uniform plan and form
for publishing the principal statistical tables
on education. He pointed out the great
difficulty of obtaining reliable statistics,
owing to the lack Of uniformity. The
Commissioner of Education, for instance,
sends out circulars all over the country,
asking for certain information, and in too
many instances some of his questions are
lnapplicable to the institutions to which the
circulars are sent, and cannot be answered
with any degree of accuracy, because diff
ferent systems prevail in different localities.
The readers of educational reports imagine
that there is uniform system of education,
and place great reliance in statistics, when
in too many instances they are grossly in
accurate, and calculated to deceive. In con-
clusion, Mr.. Luckey presented a report
embodying such tables Of information rela-
tive to educational institutions as would
have national application.
Mr.. Bicknell moved that the paper just
read be referred to committee, to report
either to this convention or at some future
time, but withdrew his motion on the sug-
gestion that members might like to discuss
the matter.
Mr.. Wilson said that it would
scarcely be possible to dispose of the
question, which was one of great import
ance. during the session of the convention.
He felt the very great importance of the
subjects presented in the paper, and
thought perhaps it might be better to APP
point committee, with the Commissioner
of Education as chairman, to consider the
subject of educational statistics and pre-
pare tables embodying such facts as may
should not be disposed Of hastily; time
would be required to perfect such system
of uniform tables. Mr.. Wilson also spoke
of the necessity which exists for uni
formity in the matter of obtaining statis-
tics, especially with reference to the cost of
education in different localities.
The subject was further discussed by
Messrs. Creepy of Baltimore, Bicknell
of Rhode Island, Parish of New Haven.
Mr.. Philbrick, of Boston, also spoke in
favor Of uniform sytem Of accurate enu-
meration of children of school age.
Mr.. Stevenson, of Columbus, Ohio, ex-
planned the system in vogue in the city
mentioned especially with reference to the
manner of computing attendance, and the
cost of instruction per capita.
Our report closed while General Eaton,
from the committee on the Centennial, was
making report.
This evening, President A. D. White,
Of Cornell University, will deliver an ad-
dress on the true policy of national and
state dealings with advanced education,
both secondary and superior. The Presi-
dent has promised to visit the convention
at IL O'Clock tomorrow.