The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-25
By FREDERIC j. HAskINs.

tendents of hundreds Of cities and coun-
ties throughout the country Will take part
in the deliberations. and each will con-
tribute some new idea toward the ad-
vancement OF the cause Of public educa-
ton.
The average city superintendent Of
schools is a typical American. He Is a
man OF superior educational training. He
Is not only a professional man. but he
carries the marks of business man as
well. This is a requirement in the man
agement Of a large city system Of schools.
This combination of professional and
business capacity makes of him man of
affairs. and a strong factor in our Ameri-
can life. He it is, more than any one
else, who carries American ideals in his
vest pocket.
About forty years ago a handful OF men
met in the city % Philadelphia TO organ
lie q National Teachers Association. The
movement started IN Massachusetts, and
New York. A call had been sent out 10
every section of the country for all
practical teachers" North South. East
and West. 10 meet for the purpose of
uniting in a general effort 10 promote the
welfare of education throughout the en-
tire country. The first annual meeting
that was here organized convened in the
city Of Cincinnati in August. 1858 Here
began that splendid series OF discussions
on educational themes that characterize
the proceedings OF the association from
year 10 year. and which has guided the
educational thought and action, and hence
largely directed the civilization OF this
country through these recent dacades OF
industrial political. and religious develop
ment. After its inception and a few
years growth, the association grew 10
such gigantic proportions that it counted
among its membership the flower OF the
educational world and the moving factors
in American progress.
The association holds its meetings either
in August or July in one Of ehe leading
cities of the country. Boston. Chicago,
Denver. 81. Louis. Atlanta. Cleveland
Minneapolis. New Orleans. New York. and
San Francisco are places where large
meetings have been held. Some of the
leading men OF the association have been
Horace Mann, S. s. Green. Z. E. White.
j. p. Wickersham. and w. r. Carrot. ali
OF whom are now dead. More recently
the leaders have been such men as w. 7.
Education F. L. Sedan, Of ST. Louis; Mich
oas Murray Butler. OF Columbia Univer-
sity; W. w. Stetson Of Maine; President
Elliot, OF Harvard. John W. Cook, OF Hi
nois; William H Maxwell OF New York
and other like men Of strong educational
faith, who are leaving their stamp upon
the pRpgress Of the association
The number Of teachers in attendance
at the meetings has ranged anywhere
from 800 to l2.CC0. Two of the largest
meetings We're the one held at Chicago in
1887 and the one at San Francisco in 1855.
Two years ago, at Asbury Park, there
were in attendance over 1900 educators
The president OF the association is elected
annually; the secretaTy's Office is of life
tenure. and is held by Irwin Sheppard. OF
Winona. Mimi a treasurer. an executive
council. and committees appointed BY the
president complete the organization. The
reports of the committee Of fifteen. the
committee OF twelve, and the committee
OF ten. made some years ago, are now
fundamental in educational thought and
practice in this country.
In order 10 carry on special investiga-
tons in the different fields Of education.
the central association is divided into
eighteen different departments. some Of
which are school superintendent. normal
schools. kindergarten. manual training,
art. child study. secondary education. &c.
Some of these departments are absorp-
tons OF distinct and independent associa-
lions. Prior 10 1870 there were three ma
tonal associations considering educational
questions. At the Cleveland meeting ef-
forts were consummated whereby the
Eame was changed TO the National Edd-
Cational Association. with the various
other associations as departments of the
great central association. These different
departments do not meet simultaneously
but hold their sessions at the time and
place determined upon by each body
The membership OF the National Edu-
cational Association is made up Of men
and women who are in any way connect
ed with the work Of education. Adnis-
sion 10 membership is secured by the
payment Of an annual fee of So Life
members pay a lump sum. The annual
membership Of the association varies with
the migratory meetings-one year in Chi
cago. the next in San Francisco. and still
against in Boston or New York There is
an interesting bit Of tradition connected
with the election OF officers of the associ-
alton. II a person is known TO seek the
Office in any way he IS sure not TO be con-
sidered for the place In this way the
best men are found in these positions. and
a geographical distribution is easily OBJ
tanned. The annual fees have amounted
20 a large sum. so that the surplus is at
present about S155000
The discussions at these annual meet
ings arc compiled and published every
year. u is not TOO much TO say in this
connection that out Of these discussions
las evolved the present high standard Of
efficiency OF the American schools A
glance over the LIST OF subjects treated
al the various meetings will reveal that
the whole field Of education has been
covered and the manifold problems OF
public and private education have been
thrashed out. 1t is the battle-ground
where the educational ideals, of the ma
ton are determined and set in operation.
To have a complete set Of the thirty-Ave
volumes OF the proceedings is to have
the best pedagogical library one can col
lect
The amount Of original matter presented
at each of the meetings is now six times
as great as the amount presented at each
during the first fifteen or eighteen years
OF work. The authors OF the various pa
pers are frst-class educators who give
20 the work the best and the ripest
thought of the educational era. In all
there are over 1000 papers making I'D the
proceedings Of the association. not men,
tioning the reports OF committees assigned
20 do special work These proceedings
cover at least 25000 pages.
One OF the results Of the annual gath
eriag Of teachers from the length and
breadth OF the land Is in the language