Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-08
Bureau Of Education.

The appointment Of a new Commissi on
er Of education. calls attention to this
very important and useful bureau Of the
National Government about which IL has
been quite common for newspapers to
make damaging criticisms.
The Bureau Of Education, which Ia
attached TO the Department Of the Inter-
or was created by Act Of Congress Of
March 2, 1867. This was just after the
close Of the war when the attention of
the country was turned to the
condition Of education throughout
the States, and especially through
out the south, where 1t had been
greatly neglected during the years Of the
Rebellion. The first commissioner was
Dr. Henry Barnard OF Connecticut, who
was born at Hartford in 1911, and gradu-
ated from Yale in 1880. Dr. Barnard had
been President, successfully, OF Wlscon-
sin University, and 81. John College,
Maryland; had been identified with educa-
tionai work In New England, and for
many years editor Of the Journal
Of Education, which review he
had established In 1855. DIR.
Barnard published two annual reports
and was succeeded by Gen. John Eaton
Jr., in 1870 Mr.. Eaton was born in SUIT.
ton, n. H., in 1929, graduated from
Dartmouth in 1854, and became president
Of Marietta College, Ohio, soon after. He
was for n time captain in the army, sue.
ceedcd to the colonelcy Of the SD L. 5
colored Infantry, and was promoted
Brigadier General for meritorious services
He was appointed Commissioner of Edu-
cation In 1870, and held the position I'M
til August, 1856. When Gen. Eaton
took charge Of this Bureau it had
only two clerks in its employ. and had a
library Of about one hundred volumes
When his successor Mr.. n. IL. X. Dawson
was appointed, there were 80 clerks and
assistants ut work in the office, and ii
library contained Is, 900 volumes OF book,
and Il 900 pamphlets. Aside from sixteer
annual volumes OF reports issued by Gen
Eaton during his term OF Office he insti
tuted the publication OF the Circulars Of
Information, an important period
zeal bulletin Of the Bureau
aud has also published three valuabl,
special reports, viz On the Publ,
Libraries of the United States, centen.
NAL volume Of immense value, 1876; OF
Art and Industry, 1855, and on Educa
tional Exhibits at the New Orleans Expo
sition, 1885. These special volumes and
annual reports are a storehouse of giganti,
information upon the subject of education
in all States and all Nations, and form a
noble monument to Gen. Eatons industry
and ability.
Mr.. Dawson was appointed Commission
er in August 1856, The new appointee is DR.
W. T. Harris Of Concord, Mass, who is
now in France as one of the L. s. Com
nissioners to the Paris Exposition. He
was born in Connecticut in 1885, and
studied three years at Yale. Fo- - wears
he has been editor of the journal Of spec
ulatiye Philosophy, and has wide expert
ence in the administration of public
schools. Upon his return to his
country in November DR. Harris
will devote himself enthus iasticalIy to
the duties OF his new office with deter
minatiou of presenting to the educational
public statistics of Information. philosoph-
Teal conclusions and official papers of a
higher character and wider purpose than
have h, retofore been issued by the educa-
tional department of any modern Nation.