The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-13
PLATFORM ADOPTED
.caERs MAKE A DECLARATION
IbN OF PRINCIPLES.
THEY TAKE HIGH GROUND.
EDUCATIONAL PROBLEM
THE uoporGHLY REVIEWED.

entary Education Declared to
The states Most Important
.,,-Rureau of Education En-
81 and Its Extension to Our
possessions Urged-ComPul-
rducatiOn and Consolidation
-, rural schools Favored-Niews
.1,. Tenchers~set Forth in De-
tail.
.i+ Mich. July 12.-The National
..;o,al Association tonight at the
49,, session of its fortieth annual conven-
80 .donted a declaration OF principles
,,.,oring that the problem of elementary
.s,o,tion is the most important one with
.,,h the state must deal. The work Ut
b,rsau of education was Endorsed, and
-. association declared that its powers
..,ld he extended so that it should have
,.,.,sdiction over educational matters in
III ~ orr new possessions. Compulsory
,,,,ational laws and the consolidation of
.,ral schools were Endorsed and state
.nnnort of institutions for the training Of
n teachers is recommended.
Tho last session was devoted to music.
h THOMAS Whitney Surrette of New York
read paper on THE Relation of Music
& 10 Life"
& Mics Anna Often of New York and F..
Abel of Detroit assisted Mr.. Surrette
& with Illustrations on the violin and cello,
respectively.
81 Declaration of Principles.
The declaration of principles says in
a part:
q First. The problem of elementary ed
p,ation is the most important problem
Il with which the state must deal. The
progress and happiness of a people are
& in direct ratio to the universally of edu-
cation. A free people must be developed
q by free schools. All the residents of the
& territory under the direct control of the
general government, including the Indian
Territory, Alaska and our new posses
81 sons, must receive the benefits of free
education at the hands of the government
81 We note with satisfaction the steps that
81 have been taken by the present admins
tration to place the blessings of American
81 free schools within the reach of all the
children of all the peoples under our
81 flag.
Second. The Bureau of Education un-
Ger the direction of William I. Harris
commissioner of education, has rendered
81 invaluable service to the cause of educa-
81 ton throughout the United States. II
81 is the judgment of this association that
the powers of this bureau should be great
81 ly enlarged, and that the general direc-
81 ton Of public education in all the terri
tory of the United States not under state
81 control, including our new possessions
4 should be part of the duties of the bu-
n reau.
Third. We reiterate the statement
that the public school should be the
center of the educational life of the COM
munity IN which 1t is located. Especially
q should this be true in rural districts
& Freed from the ravenous influence of par
tisan politics, untouched by the narrow
ness of rigid sectarism, the public school
should become the real center of the
broader intellectual life.
Fourth The subjects that may prop
erly be taught in elementary schools in
8 elude those that bear upon the ethical
s. physical and aesthetic nature of the child
as well as its purely intellectual nature
Fifth Our system of education will
not be wholly free until every grade OF
SCHOOL from the kindergarten to and in
cudlns the university, shall be open to
every boy and girl of our country
Depends Upon the People.
sixth. The hberality of men o.
wealth IN making large donations to in.
sulutions of learning is to be strongly
commended and encouraged At the same
time it should be borne in mind that
q popular education rests upon the people
slu should look to them for its chic
support and control. The relation be
tween state and local support should b,
50 ADJUSTED that communities will main
schools
Seventh. The public school system o.
state should be a unit with the kinder.
sai'eh to and including the university
Gnu all private institutions should en-
1eaVor 10 work in harmony with tn.
meas OF public education so far as theil
'p gy, purpose will permit them.
e Mshth' School legislation should
mereiore be under the general direc.
Wv" OIL educational experts.
compulsory Education Endorsed.
Nlhth. The National Educational AS
Ia t,a'ion recognizes the principle that tn,
''p mas the same right to be protected
"a" from ignorance as from abuse
sect and hunger; and it therefore rec
l.1eS with approval that many of the
auns states Of the Union have com
books avs upon ehelr statue