The San Francisco call., 1906-04-08


gathering a continuation of the other
The changes Of san Francisco itself, both
as a city and as a convention center, are
not more. pronounced than the gain in
strength Of numbers and in professional
Importance made by the National Educa-
tional Association, and this, their forty
fifth annual meeting, will be of unequaled
influence.
The army Of educators It viii bring to-
gether can suggest only by contrast the
small body Of determined men who laid
the foundation Of the organization almost
half a century ago, in Philadelphia
There had been since 1880, In Boston, an
association known as the American IN
stitute Of instruction which, though II
remained practically a New England in
etitution, had proved of great value TO
its members and the schools with which
they were connected
The educational force then was made
up almost entirely Of men, but the i'm
portance Of the women teachers was con-
ceded in a rule that read:
Ladies engaged in teaching shall be
invited TO hear the annual address, lee
lures and reports Of committees on SUBJ
5ects Of education.
This gracious invitation did not con-
template that the guests would ever at
tempt an active participation in the dis
cussions and il may be doubted whether
anything connected with the coming
meeting OF the National Association
would prove so amazing TO the founders
Of the institute" as the overwhelming
majority and the personal importance OF
the women members
In 1890 were discussed many questions
Of method that still engage the attention
OF teachers, together with others tnat
have long since been decided.
One OF these latter, considered at the
first meeting. seventy-six years ago, was:
fought anatomy and physiology con-
stitute part of education?" And It was
also debated: How far is 1t praet1ca bic
TO Introduce the physical sciences INTO
a few months later, In 1881, the Western
College Of Teachers was organized IN
Ohio. uniting in its membership the
States in the northern part OF the MIS-
sissippi Valley-a region then less wen
known than It is at present and far less
important.
The founding Of this association was an
evolutionary departure which Influenced
the entire West
There were a few other bodies of great
er or less importance and a number OF
state associations in this early day, but
II was not until May. 1857, that Pennsyl-
,-ania issued a call for a meeting OF prom
tnent educators from all sections OF the
country for the purpose of rounding a
national association. They met the rol-
lowing August, thirty-eignt OF lheih' rep
resenting ten States.
Membership was restricted TO gentle
,,er regularly engaged IN teaching in
school. college or university, or who are
regularly employed as private tutors as
editors Of educational Journals or as su-
Derintendents OF schools, the loea peiils
=. ,--,t,,5Id the teachers calling to the dig
1itv Of a profession by excluding every
one not actively connected with the work;
. 1'wentv-seven years had not caused
much change in the personnel OF the pro
fession. men still outnumbered the wom-
-, - e,,cb an extent that the latter We're
not eligible to active membership IN the
new order. The National Teachers AS
sociatiOn. - .a. At
IT was granted, however, that ladies
engaged in teaching may. upon recon-
.s1,,s. +fn,, of the board of directors, be-
come honorary members and thereby pos
sess the right of presenting IN the form
OF written essays Cto be read by the sec