Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-29
rRANsMrsSISSIpPI EDrC,7oBs.

The Transmississippi Educational con.
vciltion, which holds n tlrce.dny session
here this week, ought to be one of the
most successful meetings planned in
connection with the Omaha exposition.
1t VIII be remarkable as the first great
gathering of notable educators brought
about without the agency of an estab-
liShcd national or Interstate organiZa-
ton. On the contrary. it has been pro-
jccted and promoted W the voluntary
efforts of philosophical schoolmcn
throughout the country who have real
lied the fact that the TranSmissiSsippi
Exposition offers IL great educational OBJ
portunity of which advantage should be
taken for the school interests of the
west.
The conception of this educational
gathering originated with The Bee after
the effort to secure the 1898 meeting of
the National Educational association
suggested by The Bee had failed. The
proposal to call II meeting of transmits
sissippi educators was made in the is
sue or The Bee of November %, 1897.
under the caption, why Not II Trans
mississippi Teachers Convention" as
follows:
The failure of Omaha, although the choice
OF the governing board, to secure ratification
by the executive committee of the National
Educational association of its selection as
the meeting place of the 1898 convention
should not prevent Us nom having "a great
meeting of teachers in this city during he
exposition. 1t is simply a physical impossi-
bility for any great number of teachers in
the transmississippi states to make the long
and expensive trip to Washington to attend
the sessions OF the National Educational as
ISOLATION. If, on the other hand. the proper
organization is secured and an interesting
and instructive program prepared with edu-
Gators OF national reputation as the attrac-
ton a large percentage of them would take
advantage of the opportunity to combine
business and pleasure by a visit to the great
Transmississippi Exposition. The exposition
alone VIII offer visitors an education in it
sell and no more profitable vacation outing
could be planned for teachers guiding the
growth of the children who in the near flu
turc will be called upon to continue the work
or developing the resources of the western
country. In no other way could they obtain
In a short time so comprehensive a view of
the character, products and possibilities of
the western half of the continent.
So far as is visible no insurmountable
obstacles stand in the way of a project for
a transmississippi teachers convention, if
taken up at once by the right parties and
pushed with unremitting energy. There Is
every reason to believe that the suggestion
VIII be received with favor by the educators
in influential positions in all the western
states and meet with hearty cooperation ey-
erywhere from state superintendent down TO
uistrlct schcol teacher. According to the
most reliable statistics there are nearly TO-
900 teachers In active pursuit of the occupa-
tion in Nebraska alone and there are not
less imam SIX times as many more in the add
Joining states of Iowa. Missouri. Kansas.
Colorado wyoming and South Dakota. With
favorable conditions the teachers convention
at Omaha ought to attract as many attend
ants as the National Educational association
at Washington.
The question of a transmississippi teach
ers' convention in conjunction with the
Transmississippi Exposition should be dis
cussed in all its phases at the meeting of the
Nebraska State Teachers association the
coming month, and the ~ issued by that
organization concurrently, if possible, with
the associations of the surrounding states
which will be in session about the same time.
The plan originally outlined by The
Bee has been carried Out and the sue.
cess of the great convention Is assured.
To the educators who have accectCd IN
vitations to participate in or attend its
discussions, Omaha extends cordial
greeting II hearty welcome.