Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-20
National Educational AsSociatiou.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPER


SPECIAL MEETING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPER
INTENDENCE.
The department of superintendent of the
National Educational Association re-asSembled
in the congregational church last evening
President Newell in the chair. Hon. j. NJ
Smart. OF Indiana, submitted hts paper on The
Best system OF Education for a state" and it
was discussed by MeSsrS. Philhrick. Harris, Ho-
Ney ana Beard Dr. Hoyt offered resolution,
which was adopted, that the association had
listened with great interest TO the able paper
presented by DR.. I. u. Randall. OF Michigan on
the education OF the poor and neglected classes:
that the success OF the system adopted by the
state of Michigan commends the Views of Mr.
Randall to the thoughtful consideration OF the
body. \ paper on university education was
next presented by Dir. d. c. Gilman, of 5ohns
Hopkins University, OF Baltimore. The paper
was discussed by MessrS. shepherd, Marble an1
noyt.
To-pAY's SESSION
openedat 10 O'Clock this morning, the president,
Mr.. NJ. A. Newell in the chair
The timeglobe was exhibited and Its workings
and advantages deScI ibed.
Hon. j. d. Dickinson, of Massa chusetts, real
paper on the High school question"
! ne next paper read was by Hon. J. D. Phi
brick OF Boston. on Technical Education.
DRAWING IN THE SCHOOLS.
An interesting feature was his ideas on draw
ing. lie said: But perhaps the greatest thi
that can be done in the common school TO pro
mote technical! education Is properly TO groun
all pupils OF both sexes, In drawing. DO h
geometrical and lree-hand. There is no other
Al
both TO general and technical education. 1t
affords the tanning of the eye and hand univer-
sally requisite and especially necessary TO the
skilled workman. 1t is the foundation OF all
Industrial art. And yet so great is the prevail
ing ignorance on this subject. even among the
more intelligent classes of the community, that
drawing IL The public schools is very generally
regarded as a supertlulty, and is stig-
matiZed as a mere accomplishment, an
ornamental branch. fancy study as an absurd
contrivance for converting all children into bad
nounced as hndrance and a Stuulbling-bloek
10 practical education. This popular sentiment
against drawing shows how far we are from
being prepared TO take the first effective step
towards providing wei organized system OF
national technical education. That first neces-
saly step is to make the teaching drawing OBJ
ligatory in all common schools, and to provide
for its efficient teaching by the establishment
of sufficient numbers OF normal art schools for
the training OF competent teachers and dlrec-
tors Of drawing not only i'll its elementary but
in its higher grades
Invitations were received from the Kinder
garteR schools, at 1921 18th street and g2S Ii
street. 10 visit these schools, which were ac-
cepted.
THE DELEGATES WHO ARRIVED TO-DAY
were DR.. d. Z. Gilman, president John Hopkins
university. Baltimore: Mrs. J.. 4. Butterfield
school OF culture. Boston; j. A. VI. Passmore,
president Board CT Education. Pottsville. Pa:
/. 70 DIN. New lerk; Gen; James Desha
Pickett, superintendent schools of kentucky;
Z. richards, Eclectic seminary, Washington:
Henry Il. shepherd superintendent Public In-
siiiu'e Baltimore, Md; W. X. Pendleton, super
intendent schools, West Virginia.
:IISCEiLANEoUS.
Mrs. Pollock was granted live minutes time
TO speak on the kindergarten system OF educa-
ton.
An announcement was made that the 57th
annual session OF the American Educational
Association will be held at Saratoga, COM
menCng July Is.
superintendent Wilson announced that the
National Association would be held at Chau-
tauqua, \. y, next July, commencing the 18th
and lasting iUur days.
BY request. DR.. Phil0rick gave a description
OF what he meant by chronological museum.
The next paper read was by DR.. W. T. Harris,
OF st Louis, On The Census OF 1850, from an
Educational Stand-Point."
II was announced that the teachers of the
District public Schools 500 In number, would
meet in the congregational Church to-day at
O'Clock, and would be addressed by MeSsrs.
Harris. Wickersham and Dickinson.
A discussion followed on the subiect-matter
contained in the paper read by Dr.. Harris on
school statistics.
DR.. Barnes Sears was introduced and made
remarks on 1.-The work of the Peabody fund"
in which he described his efforts through the
southern states. the condition Of education in
the south and the necessity for some general
eGOrt in behalf of education there and espe-
cially the encouragement OF normal schools, in
order to secure higher grade OF teachers
Mr.White, OF Tennessee. spoke upon the great
good which had been accomplished by DR..
Sears in his state in the way of free schools
and the Improvement of teachers, by the state
uUt llhl SCllODi tStdpllollCu NlOl
Girls FROM OUR NORMAL SCHOOL.
Gen Eaton stated that the work before the
convention being SO pressing and occupying SO
much time, it would be impossible for the dele
gates TO visit the public schools of the District,
and. as substitute for 1t. Mr.. Wilson had con-
sented TO bring a class OF ten children, under
instruction by teacher from District normal
school, before the meeting. The class or Ten
little girls ranging from six TO ten years OF rye,
were brought in and ranged facing the audi
ence when the teacher, Miss Gertie Cowllng,
proceeded TO hear the recltat1onS In singing,
reading spelling, &C.
OPINIONS ABOUT HIGH GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Mr.. Z. Richards spoke on the paper read by
Mr. Dickinson. He said there was much public
complaint at so much being done for the nigh
schools, and said 1t was matter OF conSdera-
BILE interest why it was so. Large amounts of
money are spent in the fitting of teachers for
their dUreS, while the lower branches OF educa-
tion are neglected. What is needed is better
system of training Tor the lower grades, a re-
form III the primary system of training This
Will stop the objections to normal schools and
higher branches OF education.
DR.. Sears spoke OF the absolute necessity for
a system OF high school training, in order to
give coed teachers TO the primary Schools. The
high school is the keystone to the arch and
without IL the whole thing falls to the ground
Our danger is in the few educated wealthy, and
the many ignorant poor.
Mr.. Wickersham spoke C the great stress that
had been placed upon WIN is called common
school education-reading, writing and cypher-
ing. He thought it a great mistake He Thought
$hiS range OF education did not go very far to
make intelligent voters or the best citizens.
The remainder Of the morning session was
spent in discussing the papers which had been
read.
X. OF P. ANNIvERsARY.-The 18th anniversary
OF the order OF knights of PythiaS (Which had
its origin in this city was celebrated by Mt.
Vernon Lodge, No. IS, at Tallmadge Hall, last
evening, by literary entertainment, in which
Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. E. DenniSon, Master Frank
LCSanna, Mr. Ii. Barley, the Mt. Vernon Quar-
tette, Nj. John Conner, Miss Ella Smith, MesSrs.
Mack and Ashford, Miss Barker and Mr.. Crump,
Mr.. g. NJ. Maynader, and Bakers Dramatic
Company lin the Widows Nictim) appeared. A
very enjoyable hop followed
AN EX-S0LDIER KILLED ON TIE RAILROAD
About eight o'clock last night fatal accident
occurred on the Washington branch OF the B. &
o. X. R., at Alexandria Junction, near Bladens-
burg, the accommodation train south running
into man at that point and killing him Instant
ly. The engineer saw him walking on the track
and signaled him by whistle, but he failed to
hear ii, and before the train could be stopped he
was struck. He was knocked into ditch, his
skull being crushed and arms broken, and was
dead when picked up. He was placed on the
train and brought to this city. In his pockets
were found two letters OF Introduction to Hon.
F. E. Beltzhoover, commencing to him Jesse F.
Grill, who was coming here TO urge pension
claim, dated at Mechanlcsburg, Pa, on Monday.
Recommendation, given to Edward Parker, an
eX-blacksmith's helper, from the Harrisburg car
works, was also found on him. A pipe, towel