Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-28
The saIIcksI EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION.


T.. Champlin. Bernard +. Janney DR. VIM
Iindall; ] X. JillSOn, state superintendent
Of South Carolina; Ii. F. Lloyd. John F.
Thompson. Superintendent G. r. Cook, John
Wilson, DR. L. ii. Steiner, and o. 4. Bur
CESS
Superintendent Wilson called the depart
ment 10 order and introduced DIR. A. y. Bell,
editor Of the SGrtitdTI1N, of New York, who
IL al paper on
BRAIN CULTURE IN RELATION TO THE
SCHOOL ROOM.
pT. Bell said that proper ventilation was
of the utmost Importance. and very small
opening was sufficient To afford the means.
Health next to eternal salvation should be
the great aim, and he regretted that so little
attention was being paid To the health of
pupils. Even now. with all the light we have,
school buildings and colleges are being
erected without any reference to the laws of
health. He quoted resolutions adopted by
The X L. Medical Society declaring THAT
physical culture is of prinIar Importance in
our public schools. and that gymnaStic eXer-
else should be made part of our school sys-
tenn. That the Kindergarten system should
be engrafted upon our public school system.
That the school buildings should not exceed
two stories in height. That 800 cubic feet of
air and p square feet of floor space should be
the minimum for each ch Id i'm a school room.
That proper rooms and pure air are of the first
Importance and should always be considered
before Orn2mentatiOn. That the scholars
should not be required to maintain the same
lOSltlOn more than half an hour at time.
That two short sessions are better than one
long on. That no child should be admitted to
the schools as now conducted under years
of age That under II years three hours per
day and over II years four hours per day is
sufficient long confinement To mental culture.
That study out of school should not usually
be permitted. That all incentives To emuIa-
ton should be used cautiously, especially
with the girls. That the half time system
should be introduced in our schools These
resolutions contain valuable SUGGESTIONS
and he urged that trustees. teachers, and
others consider them.
HEALTH IN THE SCHOOL ROOM.
called
and expressed his qualification that the de-
lariment was paying so much attention TO
sanitary matters, and endorsed the views
generally of Dr. Bell.
Gen. Eaton said il was true that i'm the
erection of buildings for schools the question
of health had not been considered. and he
was glad that educators were beginning to
see the Importance of health. He was glad
that the physicians had taken hold of the
subject. and hoped that the agitation would
at least continue, and that there would be
organized action i'm determining what to do
To benefit the public in this respect.
Dr- StuEer. of Md, said that there was hut
little improvement needed in the county
schools of Maryland a. to ventilation. for
they were in many instances tumble-dOwn
structures, which admit plenty of light and
air He suggested that if the teachers would
learn their pupils the importance OF ventila-
ton they would talk il at home. and the
parents would soon demand improvement as
To ventilation.
Dr. Bell said that the misfortune was that
many of the teachers had not az yet studied
up the subject.
Mr.. WickerSham said that the ignorance
was not altogether with the teachers. and he
called attention as to the want of harmony
among medical men on the subject. 1t may
be that much of the disease attributed To the
school room is really caused at home Heidi
not think that six hours in school would in
jurc a good healthy child.
Nh q. \. Burgess, of the Christian Univer-
Sity. Indianapolis. said that he knew moth
ing more injurious than to put a child i'm a
straight jacket-place ii on a bench with toes
just touching The floor. and compelling il to
sit in one position. He was in favor of plpnty
OF exercise, and he had seen tine benefit. He
has had to force the pupils TO gOOut and play.
ana had succeeded in getting the ladies to
play hall, and the benefit was apparent.
Mr.. Luckey. OF PittSburg moved that the
subject be referred to a committee of three
orcpoTt Thursday; adopted.
The chair appointed Messrs. Luclley. of
fItt$buT@; Hopkins. Of Indiana, and Marble,
OF Worcester, rs the committee.
Mr.. WIckerSham moved that a committee
OF seven be appointed In consider the topic OF
Hon W. Fl. RuffnCT, state SupeTintenleDf of
public instruction of Virginia entitled
Some points respecting the proper relations
OF the federal government TO educatiol;"
agreed TO.
MesSrs. Ruffner. Wickcrsham. JnIson.
Philips. Abernethy, Hopkins and Winthrop
were appointed.
The chair appointed Messrs. JiTson. Mar
DE ana Mcmillan committee Oh resOlu-
tons. Adjourned.
Interview with Secretary DeIano.
The members met this morning at 10
O'Clock at the Bureau OF Education. and
headed by General Eaton, Commissioner of
Education. and Mr.. j. O. Wilson, PRECEDENT
81 the department, called on the secretary of
the Interior
PRESIDENT WILSON'S REMARKS.
President Wilson addressed the Secretary
as follows.
The department of superintendent now in
session in this city To discuss subjects per-
tanning to education have calIci TO nav
a 10 of no Al.
~ which the bureau of education i located.
They regard the bureau as OF great banefit-a
llght; aud have learned with pleasure that
he had on every occasion aided in sustaining
The bureau, and for his cOunteSy they desired
10 thank him.
RESPONSE OF THE SECRETARY
secretary DeianO responded as follows:
gentlemen i am glad to meet YOU and
would say that ! do not take much credit for
Ire dement's resulting from the establishment
OF the bureau. for have lett its management
I" IT'S efficient head. Every year adds 10 the
evidence OF the usefulness Of the operations
OF The bureau. The condition of affairs i'm
many of the states under the jurisdiction of
Inc bureau furnish all the evidence. if any be
wanted, for the continuance of the bureau.
The success Of republican governments de-
pend on the intelligence OF the people and il
was duty TO make them intelligent There
are now sections Of tine country where there
Is great difficulty in diffUSing knowIe,lge
among the masses. so that there is a ncceSsity
o. continuing the bureau. i am glad 10 meet
H..
whoever succeeds me will be as ready To Co
operate IN advancing the cause of education
a. am.
The members Were then introduced indi-
NLdually 10 the Secretary.
The Convention To-day
Inc department Afterwards assembled at
W lizard Hall. and was called 10 order by
PRESIDENT Wilson. Rev. DR.. Butler Offered
prayer.
Prof. a. Enthoefer, of the L. s. Coast Sur
vey. read a paper on the origin OF the alpha
bet, illustrating il by drawings.
Hon. John =. WickerSham, State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction OF PennSylva-
MIA, read a paper on American education
at the Centennial Exposition" noticing the
progress made i'm getting up the exposition.
naming the countries which had accepted in
NltatiOnS. He urged that as many visitors
from foreign countries would toe present, il
was duty 10 make q good showing in the
educational department. At the exposition
IN France the American SchOOl-hOuse is said
10 have interested visitors more than all else
IN the American department, and il will be
a duty To make a good showing at home.
There could be no more appropriate selection
made for the head of the department than
the Chief OF the Bureau of Education, Gen.
Eaton.
EDUCATIONAL DISPLAY AT THE CENrEN-
NAL.