Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-21
n. f. A. CONVENTION
WILL OPEN TODAY
Pilgrimage to Unknown SOL
dier's Tomb on Program.
$1,000 Expected.

Washington today Is peopled by
the largest collective group Of edu
Gators ever to assemble in any city
of the world who this afternoon will
formally convene the fifty-sixth an
nual convention Of the Department
of Superintendence of the National
Education Association by making
patriotic pilgrimage to the tomb Of
the Unknown Soldier In Arlington
National Cemetery. Special trains
are bringing hundreds here hourly
and the total attendance at the con
vention is expected to reach $1,000.
Confining themselves today to ac-
uvities in keeping with the Sabbath,
featured by vesper service at Me-
mortal Continental Hall at $40
o'clock this afternoon when Rev. DIR.
James L. Freeman, Bishop of Wash
ington, will speak. The educators
tomorrow will take UP serious school
problems confronting them at group
sessions in scores of available audi
toriums, churches and Government
buildings.
Coolidge to Speak.
Tomorrow night the educators will
observe the 1a4th birthday of George
Washington by listening to an ad-
dress by President Calvin Coolidge
in the Washington Auditorium.
While the school heads and univer-
sity representatives have viewed with
apprehension the slight indisposition
Of the President, they We're cheered
last night when word came from the
White House that Mr.. Coolidge is
conserving his energy for his address
before them tomorrow evening.
President Coolidge's interest in the
impending convention of the depart
ment of superintendent last night
recalled to the veteran educators their
last visit to Washington in 1908, when
they were received by President Theo-
dore Roosevelt in the East Room.
While the speech Of President Cool
idge is eagerly awaited by 5000 Of the
distinguished men and women in at
tendance at the convention, tt will
bring keen disappointment to the ma
Jority. S. D. Shankland, secretary Of
the Department Of Superintendence
admitted last night.
Only 5000 tickets are being issued
to the Washington Auditorium tomor-
row night, two each to the
5000 members Of the department, so
those educators who are not able to
twin up" with a department of SUI
perintendence member must forego
entrance to the auditorium and rely
on the radio for the import Of the
Presidents message. Mr.. Shankland
is being beseiged for the precious
tickets and is spending much of his
time explaining the unfortunate stu
alton.
While the sessions of the depart
ment Of superintendent are the out
standing ones, significant meetings be-
gan last Friday and will continue un-
til Thursday which are sponsored by
the IA allied educational organizations
which always make a point of gather
ing with the department.
Majority From West.
The majority of the 1900 educators
who had registered at the Washington
Auditorium at closing time last eve
ming were found to be from the Far
West. These school heads. having to
travel for several days, arrived early.
A delegation of 15S from Texas is
scheduled to arrive this morning, as
Is delegation from Alabama. Those
visitors coming from nearby States
Will not arrive. for the most part, un-
til Monday morning.
Two outstanding educational move
ments will be stressed during the con-
vention. One is the merging of the
Junior high schools into the school
systems of the principal systems un-
der what is known as the 6-3-3
plan, while the other is the national
revision of school curricula.
Washington will play an important
part in both of these significant edu-
cational trends. DIR. Frank w. Bal
lou, superintendent of schools, who is
also president OF the Department Of
Superintendent, is a Junior high
school expert and as rapidly develop
ing junior high schools in Washington.
In the suggested revision of school
currtcula a committee of Washing.
ton teachers, under Miss f. K. Pee
pies. was assigned to handle the topic
Of nature study and its efforts have
already won the praise of N. E. A.
leaders. Committees from the vari-
Gus States handled the other subjects
scheduled for revision. 1t is made
plain that the suggested revised curric-
ula are merely for the guidance of
educators who may accept or reject
the findings of the committees.
Curtis-Reed Bill.
1t appeared a foregone conclusion
last night that the educators will
adopt resolutions supporting the Cur
tis-Reed bill providing for a depart
ment of education. The Department
Of Superintendent has consistently
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