St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-19
THE EDUCATORS.
Their National Assembly at the Capt.
tai of Wisconsin.
The Managers of the Affair Great on For
NAL Openings.
Interesting Discussions in the Several Sec
lions Friday .

MADISON, July IS The managers of the Ma
tonal Teachers association are great on formal
openings at any rate. They certainly have that
matter reduced to a science, whether or not, Gas
they have spent some time in discussingl, there
Is science Of pedagogy. On Monday they had
an opening of the Industrial, Art and Kinder
garten exposition. The Froebel institute had its
formal opening on Tuesday, and there were sew
eral imposing demonstrations, all designated as
openings which occurred last evening; but
this morning another ''grand opening was held
in the open air in front of the CAPITOL and in
point of numbers and in the display of elo-
quence, witand enthusiasm the ''opening" to-day
so far surpassed all others, that l hardly
think they will be able to arrange for another to-
morrow. Over five thousand people, visitors and
citizens, were assembled in the park this morn
ing 10 listen TO the addresses of welcome and to
the responses incident upon the opening
of the national association. The presi-
dent of the association, the governor of the state,
the mayor OF the city, Gen. Fairchild, Gen.
Eaton, Hon W. H. Chandler and other notables
occupied temporary platform erected on the
east portico of the capitol President Bcknell
introduced the speaking in his own felcitous
style, the first one being the chief executive of
The STATE OF WISCONSIN,, 11Du. u. NJ. IuSk, WHO
cordially welcomed the members of the associa-
ton to the state, coming as they do from every
state in the union for that laudable purpose of
consulting as to the best methods of teaching
and training the rising gene ration Of this great
and glorious country. The governor was sure
that any one who had looked ever the pro
gramme and the school exhibits must
be satisfied that great good will come from the
h. I,ad oP ?
extent Of the school exhibit until it had arrived
and been put on exhibition. From it one
see at glance that the industrial interests go
hand in hand with the education of the mind,
that physical training is necessary to develop
mental culture, and that one without the other is
deprived of more than half it's force and useful
ness He was glad to have SO many that are en-
gagged in this great work in our midst, and as
sured them of most cordial welcome, and Of
the kindness and Hberality of all our citizens.
Mayor Stevens then introduced, and in ex
tending to this great gathering of educators the
hospitality Of the city, spoke at considerable
length upon the growth and prosperity Of the
state Of Wisconsin, her educational work and
needs and the demands Of the age upon all edu-
Gators. He even branched out into some discus
sion Of philanthropy of education, and alludt to
Plato and Quintillian, and Pestalozzi, and some
other ancient parties, Familiarity as a profession
al pedagogue would have done. Then he spoke
Of developing methods, interchanging views"
and calculating results In q way that led your
correspondent to suspect that he had probably
risen to the exalted position of mayor of -four
ishing city from some such humble occupation
that Of an institute conductor or school super
intendent. He concluded by welcoming the
teachers to the city and to the homes and hearts
of the citizens.
Gen. Fairchild was then presented. His fire.
quent sallies oNwit and bumor provoked much
applause and laughter among the audience. He
said he was cha irman of the committee on enter
tainment. That committee had resolved itself
into committee Of chambermaids. They
had searched the town with fine -toothedrake to
get bedsfor the teachers. Chicago had been asked
for cots and other cities for bedding and blan-
kets. Every house in town, high and low, from
the most luxurious mansion to the lowliest home,
has been opened to you with no ordinary well
come, but with a right royal and hearty one.
Hon. W II. Chandler, assistant superintendent
If public instruction in Wisconsin, was the next
speaker. He spoke in an eloquent vein Of the
great educational institutions Of the state and of
The intense interest developed in the association
by the teachers Of Wisconsin. He referred in a
stirring strain to the advancement Of educational
interests all over the nation and predicted the
most benefcent results from the grand awaken
ing of educational affairs all over the land.
Dr. John Bascom, president of the State uni
versity of Wisconsin, was the next on the list of
welcomers He recounted a portion of the his
tory of Wisconsin, and told something about its
geographical position, and boundless resources
and mentioned a few of the excellent features
of Wisconsin university concluding by extend
Ing anotherwecome.
President Bicknell responded briily and prob
ably concluding that Wisconsin must by this
time be about out of cordial welcomers'' called
TOR DR.. Hager of Massachusetts who, he said,
was the author OF the constitution Of the Nation
al Educational association DR.. Hager read the
original call for meeting in Philadelphia made
August ~, 1857, sickly babe indeed, but which
had developed rapidly in the last twenty-seven
years that it was compelled to come TO the open
west for room to expand.
Prof 4. Richards Of Washington, D. c., was
introduced, and pleasantly referred to the fact
that he was the nurse of the baby the previous
peaker had mentioned.
DR.. j. L. Packard, OF the Iowa State university,
made happy speech, replete with good humor,
and withal full of hearty earne stness.
DR.. E. Z. White. of Cincinnati, spoke forcibly
and eloquently, but at too great length to be
fully appreciated by those who had been standing
an hour and Il half.
Gen. John Eaton, United States commissioner
Of education, was the next speaker. He said he
had been present on occasions when the welcom-
ing business seemed to be overdone, but he
thought that was not the case here lie did not
under the circumstances regard the welcome as
extravagaut.
Your correspondent, however, feels free to
express the opinion that there was little too
much welcome even for so large assembage as
is now convened at Madison. This mass meet
ing closed with lengthy address from Pres,
BricSnen, during which most of the assembled
crowd dispersed or gathered in groups around
the park and engaged in social converse.
The address was able and exhaustive, embrac-
Ing wide range Of educational topics, all of
which were thoroughly treated, but it was too
lengthy to be appreciated except by those inter
ested in the study Of pedagogics.
AFTERNOON SESSIONS.
This afternoon several meetings have been in
progress, The announcement that Col. Parker,
OF Quincy fame, would speak before the elemen-
tary department attracted an immense audience
to the Congregational church at $50. Humid
reds were unable to obtain admittance.
Col. Parker, though not so deep thinker as a
score Of others in the profession, though not q
man OF marked ability or great originality, has,
by combination Of fortuitous circumstances, by
his bold aud vigorous attacks on the ole systems
and methods by his fearless launching out into
q new and uneNpiored sea. been1borne on the
tide Of the new departure to fame and popu-
larity attained by other educator in America.
He * \ man Of powCrful build slightly inclined
10 portIiness, round, red. good natured face set
off by q heavy black morstache and dark eyes
twinkling with humor, man Of strong personal
rnagnetism OF infnit wit and humos and native