The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-09
NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.



MILWAUKEE, Wis. July s.-Wlth
the mercury towering around the nine
ties. 1000 delegates filed into the expo
sition building this forenoon TO attend
the first meeting OF the third days gen.
eral session OF the National Educational
Association.
The first paper Of the morning gen
eral session OF the National Educational
Association was read by Burke a. Hlns-
dale. professor of the science and art OF
teaching, University OF Michigan The
topic was the Rural School Problem "
He said:
Money has long been called the SIN.
ews OF war. II is equally the sinews or
public education. The cost OF such edu-
cation Is everywhere great and Is every
where growing. The states OF our Union
expended for common schools for the
years ls9i-95, not including the pay
ments on the bonds, 7s,2l5,OOO; and we
shall no doubt pass the century line
with an annual expenditure OF 100000
OOn The expenditures OF the ii3 cities
compared with the expenditures OF the
rest OF the country are, approximately
$685. TO $1,000; but the pupils enrolled In
the city schools are only S,l26 10 lO,SO9.
Public instruction furnished by cities Is
relatively expensive, but when all the
factors are taken into account, nothing,
perhaps, shows the inferiority OF rural
schools, as compared with city schools
more strlkingly than these figures.
Wealth is not always found where II
Is required for school purposes. Hence
It Is necessary, In the first place, IN
many states to enlarge the units OF
school taxation, II is most irrational TO
substitute such funds according to
school population since the cost OF main
tanning a good school depends only in
slight degree upon the number OF pupils
that It contains"
William T. Harris. United States COM
missioner OF education, read paper OH
Grading and Classification"
The speaker said the chief care In the
management OF a system of city schools
is Ia grade or classify the pupils In such
a manner that the interests OF some are
not sacrificed for those OF the others,
When pupils OF slower temperament are
strained to keep pace with quick and
bright ones they become discouraged
and demoralized He advocated fire.
quent Reconsideration, which should &C.
cur once In two or three months.
Henry sabin superintendent of pub
lie instruction, state Of Iowa. chairman
Of the committee OF twelve, spoke on
"The Kind of Supervision Most Needed"
The speakers remarks were confined
to the supervision OF rural schools. he
said state supervision is a blessing or a
curse in proportion to the intelligence
and skill with which II is administered.
The person who is chosen as supervisor
OF rural schools should have In the high
est degree the qualities OF leadership.
The true supervisor is much more than
n teacher and should know whit constt-
tutes good farming; must concern him
self with school extension, lectures and
library. He closed by saying: 1.-THE
supervision which have attempted to
mark out is that OF live. enthusiastic
man In sympathy with educational prog
ress, in touch with the common peopls,
consecrated to his work, who thinks no
sacrifice too great, no labor too severe,
when made In the cause OF the common
district schools"