Evening star., 1924-06-29
BY j. w. CRABTREE

(Secre.ary. National Education Associat ton J
Since 1857 the National Education
Association has been a unifying and
stimulating force in the developmert
of American education. In the be-
ginning days its service was prima-
rily that of discussion and the pro-
motion of mutual acquaintance
among educational workers, who
were then doing pioneer duty on the
educational frontier Its early meet
ings were attended by only a few
hunored persons each year, but they
laid foundations of large significance.
Originally the organization was
known as the National Teachers AS
sociation. In 1870 there were ANAL
gamated with it the American Normal
School Association and the National
Association of School Superintendents
under the new name of the National
Educatlon Association. This was the
pes iiihs or d development which
mas gwen the association more than
score of departments representinp
every phase of educa tional actiyjty
and bringing together in one asso-
cation wider variety of interests
than are usually found in similar or
Marked Turning Point.
The meeting in 1884, just forty
Years ago. under the presidency of
1T. Thomas w. Bicknen, marked
another turning point in the associa
tion's history This meetine was
widely heralded and well attended
Held IN Madison, Wis. it attracted
ed9catlonal leaders from a wider
radius than any previous meeting
President Bicknells lengthy speech
suggests the beginning of the as
Sociation's more recent service pro
gram.
The Geatest advances in the asso-
cation development have occurred
since its headquarters were moved
to Washington, in 1917
Ihe bringing of headquarters to
the Nations Capital was followed BY
sharp increase in the associations
membership, from 1000 active mem
bers in 1917. to 10000 in 1918, %. 900
in 1919 and over 10000 in 1920 There
We're h2322 members on January I.
W. ll3,l32 on January l. 1928, and
140l91 at the highest peak of mem
bership during that year. While the
association has now enrolled very
large proportion of the better trained
and more highly paid teachers, it is
expected that the membership will
exceed 100000 during 1924
Power Grows With Size.
me power of the association pro-
gram depends upon the size of it's
membership. Plans are best projected
when they represent the great mass
OF the rank and file. Every added mem
Der gives increased weight to poll
c,es and becomes a center from which
the professional ideals of the asso-
clitlon may radiate. In enlisting
members the secretary has stressed
what the teacher can give rather than
what he can get, even though each
member receives an indirect service
worth many times what he con-
tributes in the small membership fee
state directors who represent the
association in the various states
through state and city superintend-
ents OF schools. through officers of
state and local associations, and
through principals of schools. who
nave been of the greatest service in
,enliSting members.
There are several classes of mem
oers. Institutions and persons wish
ing TO receive all the regular publica-
ions OF the association take out a
10 membership. Persons who have a
large and permanent interest in the
profession pay 500 for life mem
bership, giving the privileges of the
s. membership during life. By far
the greater part of the membership is
composed of 81 members who paw
their dues each year. 1t is little short
or marvellous that so small a fee
can be made to cover the journal
hnance the legislative program, main,