The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-08
A POTENT CONVENTION

"A lUIENI OUN ENllON
One of the most potent causes contrib
uting to national unity in the United |
States is the large number of national
of numerous fraternal educa-
tional, charitable, religious and business
Among these conventions
the annual gathering Of the National
Association is remarkable
for its businesslike character, it's large
and the deep impression it is
sure to make on the educational thought
and conduct of the whole country for the
ensuing months and years.
National Educational Association con-
ventions are not mere picnics, mere eX-
cuses for a general good time under the
guise of serious business, as so many con-
ventions are. They~are conventions for
serious purposes, attended by earnest
people with definite objects in view and
determination to make the most Of the
short time allotted to the convention.
OF course members of this association
are more fortunate than most citizens in
the fact that their conventions are held
at time when all teachers are enjoying
vacation much longer than is granted
to any other class in the country. This
vacation gives the teachers the leisure
to pursue improvement outside of regular
channels. After the convention is over,
they have plenty Of time for recreation
and pleasure trips. They can, therefore,
concentrate themselves on the work of
the convention. -, = - = -"
An empire, such as the British may get
along very we'll with all sorts of an
tagonistic systems of education or non
education among its people, but repub-
lie which extends over 3,500,00O square
miles of territory must count upon MAX
ing it's people essentially homogeneous
else it will fail. Where the people rule
their main aspirations and their chief
interests must be compa ti'ble north, east,
south and west, or the republic will fall
a prey to sectionalism. The completely
different atmospheres in which men of the
south and men of the north were educated
sixty years ago created such divergences
that they could not be ended except by
war. But to-day the nation as whole
moves forward in the same channel.
Some parts of'the country are more back
ward than others, but there is no differ
terial causes, such as improved trans
portation and communication, have had
much to do with this, but the American
school and university systems have made
the best possible use of the means that
promote physical proximity.
Easy communication and rapid trans
portation have assisted to spread COM
mon education SYSTEM over the whole
country but it required a motive power
to use the routes. This has been supplied
| in a great degree by the National Edu-
cational association which meets at the
years pass in every section of the repub-
lie and makes each meeting place a cen
| ter Of educational inspiration and di-
rection from which emanate broad ma
tional views on the general subject OF
education. -.
Men and women from all sections meet
exchange views, get new points of view
part with provincialism. Returning to
| Jl6lT HOmSS, lu6y puC -IuS 0IiOuS pOWSI VI
their influence on the side of unity as well
as Of progress in American education
The same new ideas are tried, stimuli
taneously, in Texas and Maine. The
American school and the American uni
versity are everywhere alike, though not
without some minor and seasoning pc.
culiarities.
The American public school, as we'll as
the American university, continue to be
great centers of character building fol
this nation. From them come men anC
women of strong, earnest character anc
high ideals. The whole atmosphere o.
the schools and the universities is one
Of patriotism, honorable endeavor an6
mutual help. This high character is re
1ected by the National Educational asso
citation and it's conventions. They make
for better citizenship. for serious study
for careful thought, for we'll trained
minds and sound hearts.