The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-24
More Than 1000 Edu-
Gators Arrive, With
Others on Way.
VARIOUS GROUPS
ALREADY AT WORK
Opening Session of Department.
of Superintendent at City
Auditorium Tonight Ex-
perts Discuss Questions of
Vital Interest to Schools.
To-Day's Program.

More than 1000 delegates to the an
nual meeting Of the National Education
Association were registered yesterday.
and the rush was so great that the
hotels found difficulty in giving accom-
nodations TO all. The attendance Will
be greatly augmented to-day, when the
conference of the Depar rtfncnt OF SUI
perintendence, the largest OF the many
allied organizations represented in the
national group, begins. j. W. Springer.
registration secretary, said last night
that II was the largest first days reg
istration in the history of the associa-
ton, and 1t is expected that the full
attendance Will reach nearly $500.
Every department Of education is
represented. Among the delegates arc
college presidents. State and city su-
perintendcnts. supervisors, medical in
spectors. teachers of elementary schools
and others more or less indirectly in
terested in the broad subject OF educa-
tion.
Many Prominent Delegates.
Among those OF national reputc who
arrived yesterday are Mrs. Ella Flage
Young. whose appointment to the SUI
pcrintendency of the Chicago schools
occasionod such y stir in that city:
Dean Russell, q. y. Streyer. Il. L.
Thorndikc and W. l.. kirkpatrick. of
Columbia University: Dean c. s. Par
ker, D.. c. H. Judd, DR.. X L. Layman.
of the University Of Chicago: DR.. ]. "
Greenwood. Superintendent OF the Kan
sas City schools; Ben Blcwett, Superin-
teident OF Instruction IN 81. Louis, No:
Mrs. Josephine Preston, state Superin-
tcndent OF Washirrton: Alvan y.
White. State superintendent, OF Sante
Fc. y. Nj; Robert !. Alley, president of
tho University OF Maine. and many
others.
Several meetings were held yester-
day President Joseph Swim held u
meeting OF tho Department of Presi-
dents in the morning. The National
Council of Education met in the Jeffer-
son Hotel auditorium last night to con-
slider Health Problems Of the American
Public School and at the same hour
the National Society for the Study OF
Education met in the annex of the
seventh Street Christian Church to dis
cuss generally the problems in high
school instruction and administration.
Some Leading Topics.
While the Department. OF Superinten-
dcncc Is the main branch of the asso-
citation, and will hold meetings every
day, there are numerous other branches
which will he meeting constantly to
SohS'ner matters tnat no one bouy
would have the time 10 take up The
whole subject of education will be
treated broadly. and numerous tcchni-
cal questions ranging through the
whole ramut of child and adult up-
bringing ana training will be consid-
cred separately and in detail. Com
posed as 1t Is OF men and woman who
arc directly Interested and concerned
In the broad field OF education. the Ma
rI,.x. IL.
largest ana most important organiza-
tion of its kind in the country. and is
made up of hundred and one subsid-
iaIy association
The topic of Health Problems Of tho
American Public School" was discussed
generally and informally last night.
Thomas d. Wood. OF Teachers College.
Columbia University, presided. and pre-
sented an Interesting report. He said
that statistics show that most physical
defects are as prevalent, or more pro-
valent, among pupils In rural schools
than among those who go TO school in
the city. He advocated that the coun-
try school be made sanitary and as
wholesome in all essential particulars
as the best private dwelling in the
community. G.
Welfare Of Rural Life.
The welfare OF our country" he
said, depends upon no factor more
indispensable. more vital than the well
fare OF rural life. The rural school
Is the universal the strategic the in
compa able agency fc- improving ru-
raj life. These influences of the rural
school affect not only methods OF agri-
culture. but all phases and standards of
the lives of the people-physical, men
tai. social and moral" He said that
medical inspection OF pupils has been
"a f,ttt aP
country, but that not one State In five
provides even nominal medical inspcc-
tion and health care for children In
the public schools. The subject was
informally discussed by President Rob
ert J. Alley, of the University OF Maine;
James Y. Joyner. Superintendent OF
Public Instruction OF North Carolina,
and many others
There was "A large attendance, de-
spite the weather, at the meeting OF
the National Society for the Study OF
Education, held in the annex of Sew
enth Street Christian Church, where
was discussed the topic, Some Prob
lens in the High School instruction
and dministration." The president OF
this society is Martin q. Brumbaugh.
superintendent of schools In phila-
delphia, and 5. Chester Parker dean
of the College Of Education, Univer-
sity Of Chicago. is secretary. The dis
cussion was participated in by H. c.
Morrison State Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction Of Concord, N. H.; Da-
vid Snedden Commissioner of Educa-
ton for Massachusetts,; e. r. Breslich
OF the University of Chicago: C. H.
Judd, director OF the School OF Educa-
tion of the University of Chicago; L.
d. Coffman, professor OF education In
the University of Illinois and III. l..
Smith, superintendent OF schools in
Bloomington. Ind.
Opening Session Tonight.
The Department OF superintendent
opens lis annual convention in the City
>---------c,-.-