National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-06
AMERICAN EDUCATION AT THE CENTEN.
NAL EXHIBITION,


terest with which all intelligent and patri-
otto citizens regard our various provisions
for public education have never been slim
ulated by an opportunity to make COM
prehensive examination of the various ap-
planes and methods in use throughout our
country, except with great difficulty and
expense. The first and only time that the
results of American educational effort were
ever brought together and arranged was in
1873. and the place Vienna. The Ameri-
can visitors at the Exposition were fortu-
nate, for though on Austrian soil they were
permitted to enjoy privilege so far denied
the American citizen in his native land
the inspection of its educational appliances,
improvements and methods systematically
grouped. That this exhibition was q yery
creditable illustration of American excel
lence and improvement is testified by the
official records, which show that for two
hundred and eighty five entries for the edu-
cational group by the bureau of education
forty-eight diplomas and medals of honor
and merit were awarded, while for all other
entries of articles from the United States
but thirty prizes were given.
The interest manifested by all nations in
the educational section at the Vienna Elk
position makes it certain that the European
nations will strive hard to eclipse each
other and the United States. in this depart
ment at the Centennial Exhibition, and it
therefore behooves American educators and
educational authorities to'use every possible
effort 10 make display of our means and
methods which shall be in every way COM
plete and valuable, and prevent our losing
at home the credit which we gained abroad.
The friends Of public education throughout
the Union recognize the indispensable ne
cessity of this; and the invaluable services
Of the Bureau of Education at Vienna com.
mend it to them and to the Government as
the proper agency for the work. There
resentatives Of the National Educational
Association, at their late meeting in this
city, unanimously adopted the following
resolution:
ReSOlVed, That reasonable appropriation BY
the General Government is necessary to secure
full and creditable representation of the edu-
cationsl interests of the country at the ap-
preaching Centennial Exposition to be held at
P Idelphia, and we sincerely hope that such
an appropriation may be made by the Congress
now in session.
The Association uniformly and en-
phatically Endorsed the action of the Bu-
reau of Education and sought 10 increase
its influence and usefulness. The body
numbers among its members the most emf
nent instructors and superintendent in the
country, irrespective Of political opinions,
and its annual proceedings have been
marked by the discussion of educational
topics by such men as Presidents Eliot, of
Harvard; Reed, of the University of Mis-
souri,; Porter, of Yale; Boyd, of the Uni
versity of Louisiana; White, of Cornell,
and McCosh, of Princeton; Professors
Venable, of the University of Virginia;
Shaler, Of Harvard, and Joynes, of Wash
ington and Lee University; and Superin-
intendents Ruffner, of Virginia; White, of
Ohio; Hodgson, of Alabama; Wickersham,
of Pennsylvania; Harris, of Missouri;
Northrop, of Connecticut, and scores of
others.
1t must be remembered and considered
that the intelligent foreigner who visits the
Centennial Exhibition will look for ma
tional display in the educational depart
ment. Our Government presents itself to
his mind as unit. While the value and
excellence of means peculiar to certain
States and cities will arrest his attention he
will see them only as parts of the
components which make up what
he will call the american system"
of education. He will come to study the
merits and methods Of the educational sys-
TEN Of the United States-not of Maryland
or Massachusetts, Vermont or Virginia
and the praise of full and successful or
the disgrace of an incomplete and imperfect
exhibition will be shared by our whole
country.
But not more as a matter of national
pride and emulation should the exhibition
be made a success than for its needed in
struction of our own people by presenting
for the first time, for their study and com