Before closing, may I add a personal word of thanks? Years ago, when Mr. Roosevelt was the youngest member of the New York State Legislature, I had the pleasure of hearing him speak and of meeting him afterward. I have not forgotten what he said then, and I think I could almost quote his speech verbatim; his words made such an impression of sincerity upon me. I well remember what my mother said to me on our homeward journey: "My daughter, that young man is on the threshold of his career. I believe that he will be the president of the United States some day. See what he has already done. Try, if you can, to imitate him, and make as much of your life as he is making of his." Her words sank into my mind. I have watched his life with ever-increasing admiration. His fearless right-doing has been a stimulus and an inspiration to me, and in like manner to countless thousands of others. Little did I think, as I talked to him in my girlhood, that I should live to lay my tribute of praise before him, and to greet him, not only as the president of the United States, but as the most popular, the best loved man in all the whole round earth. Mr. President, I second the vote of thanks. DEPARTMENT OF SUPERINTENDENCE MILWAUKEE MEETING, 1905 SECRETARY'S MINUTES FIRST DAY MORNING SESSION.—MILWAUKee, Wis., TuesdaY, FEBRUARY 28, 1905 The department met in the Davidson Theater, and was called to order at 9:30 A. M. by Edwin G. Cooley, superintendent of schools, Chicago, Ill., president of the department. A chorus of five hundred boys from the city's public schools gave to the assembled superintendents the first installment of welcome in song. The welcome was continued by William George Bruce, editor of the American School Board Journal, and Carroll G. Pearse, superintendent of the city schools, representing respectively the civic and the educational interests of the city of Milwaukee. A response on behalf of the department was made by President Edwin G. Cooley. The topic, "Educational Features of the Universal Exposition at St. Louis," was discussed in papers as follows: 1. "From the View-Point of the Chief of the Department of Education": Howard J. Rogers, first assistant commissioner of education, Albany, N. Y. 2. "From the View-Point of the Chairman of Group 1 and Department Juries on Education and Member of the Superior Jury of Awards": Eliphalet Oram Lyte, principal of the First Pennsylvania State Normal School, Millersville, Pa. 3. "From the View-Point of a Member of the Jury of Awards, Group 1, Elementary Education": Ben Blewett, assistant superintendent of instruction, public schools, St. Louis, Mo. The president announced a complimentary banquet to be tendered Wednesday evening to Dr. W. T. Harris, United States Commissioner of Education, at the Plankinton House. A pleasant incident occurred at the beginning of the morning session, when a large picture of Dr. Harris was brought upon the stage and greeted with a round of applause. On motion, the department adjourned until 2 o'clock P. M. AFTERNOON SESSION.-TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 The afternoon session opened at 2:30 P. M., President Cooley in the chair, with music by the Glee Club of the Milwaukee State Normal School. Three papers were given on "Means of Increasing the Efficiency of Our Public-School Work." The first speaker was John W. Carr, superintendent of schools, Anderson, Ind. He took the place on the program allotted to Albert G. Lane, of Chicago, who was absent on account of illness. The second paper was given by Superintendent Carroll G. Pearse, of Milwaukee. The third paper on the topic was by William I. Crane, superintendent of schools, Marshalltown, Ia The general discussion which followed was participated in by J. F. Keating, superintendent of schools, Pueblo, Colo.; Gustavus R. Glenn, president of North Georgia Agri cultural and Mechanical College, Dahlonega, Ga.; F. Louis Soldan, superintendent of public instruction, St. Louis, Mo.; W. O. Thompson, president of Ohio State University, Columbus, O.; Elmer A. Lyman, professor of mathematics, State Normal College, Ypsilanti, Mich.; George H. Martin, secretary of Massachusetts Board of Education, West Lynn, Mass.; A. S. Downing, third assistant commissioner of education, Albany, N. Y.; Charles F. Carroll, superintendent of schools, Rochester, N. Y.; and George J. Miller, principal of Woodward Avenue High School, Kalamazoo, Mich. The discussion was summed up in the following resolution, introduced by John W. Carr, superintendent of schools, Anderson, Ind.: Resolved, That the paramount educational question of the hour is the employment and retention of sufficient numbers of well-qualified teachers to fill all of our public schools; and that this department pledges itself to use its best endeavors to secure sufficient compensation to enable teachers to prepare themselves properly for their work, and to justify them in remaining permanently in the profession of teaching: The president announced the following committees: EVENING SESSION.-TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 The evening session was called to order at 8:15 P. M. by President Cooley. The exercises were introduced by music by the Treble Clef Chorus of the Milwaukee Public Schools. Then followed an address on "Some of the Conditions which Cause Variation of the Rate of School Expenditure in Different Localities," by Dr. W. T. Harris, United States Commissioner of Education, Washington, D. C. Music by the Glee Club of Milwaukee-Downer College. An address on "The Group Morality of Children" was delivered by George E. Vincent, professor of sociology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. On motion, the meeting was declared adjourned to 9:30 A. M. Wednesday, March 1. SECOND DAY MORNING SESSION.-WEDNESDAY, MARCH I The department convened at 9:30 A. M., with President Edwin G. Cooley in the chair. Music for the opening of the program was furnished by the Mandolin and Glee Club of Marquette College. N. C. Dougherty, superintendent of schools, Peoria, Ill., referred to the serious illness of two highly esteemed members of the Association, President Harper, of Chicago, and Bishop Spalding, of Peoria, and offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That we, the members of this department, extend to President William R. Harper and Bishop John Lancaster Spalding, by a telegram, expression of our sympathy in their affliction, and of our sincere hope that each may soon be able to continue his good work. "Charter Provisions as Related to the Organization of School Systems" was discussed by 1. William H. Maxwell, superintendent of schools for the city of New York, and President of the National Educational Association. 2. F. Louis Soldan, superintendent of instruction, public schools, St. Louis, Mo. 3. Hon. Edward C. Eliot, former president of the Board of Education, St. Louis, Mo. The following telegrams were sent in accordance with the instructions of the department: President William R. Harper, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.: The heartfelt sympathy of the Department of Superintendence is extended to you, and the confident hope is expressed that you will fully recover your health, and with renewed vigor and energy continue the great work of service to your fellow-men to which you have devoted your life. EVANGELINE E. WHITNEY, Secretary. Rt. Rev. John Lancaster Spalding, Bishop of Peoria, Peoria, Ill.: E. G. COOLEY, President. The Department of Superintendence of the National Educational Association recognizes the great service you have rendered to the teachers and children of the public schools of the country, and of all schools, and sends loving greetings and heartfelt sympathy to you in your affliction. The department expresses the sincere hope that you may soon be able to continue your great life work. EVANGELINE E. WHITNEY, Secretary. BUSINESS SESSION E. G. COOLEY, President. The business session of the department was called to order by the president at the close of the morning session. A report of the Committee on Simplified Spelling was presented by the chairman, Superintendent W. H. Elson, of Grand Rapids, Mich. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SIMPLIFICATION OF SPELLING To the Department of Superintendence of the National Educational Association: GENTLEMEN: Your committee appointed last year to present to the Board of Directors of the National Educational Association, and to ask their acquiescence in, your resolutions petitioning them to appoint a committee of prominent and scholarly men to head and direct the movement toward simplifying our spelling, and to put in its hands for this purpose a fund not to exceed $2,000 a year for five years, on condition that an equal fund be given to the committee from outside sources, begs leave to report that, in accordance with the spirit of your instruction, steps were at once taken to ascertain the attitude, as far as practicable, of every active member of the National Educational Association on the points involved, in order that the directors and members of the Council might be duly informed as to the desire of all who were directly concerned in the proposed action. We are gratified to be able to report that the votes footed up 1,545 approving the proposed action, and only 171 opposing. A limited edition of the lists for and against, arranged alphabetically by states, was printed and distributed to the directors and members of the Council. It is an interesting document. The remainder of the edition is here for distribution to those who desire to examine these lists. At the St. Louis meeting of the Board of Directors your resolutions were duly submitted, together with two alternative outline plans for the business organization of the proposed commission. According to the usage of the Association, the resolutions and plans were received and referred for advice to the Council Committee on Investigations and Appropriations. This committee gave your representatives a patient hearing and carefully considered the whole subject, finally deciding to ask the advice of a committee of experts as to what course they had better recommend in the matter. They designated as this committee Superintendent W. H. Maxwell, President of the National Educational Association, chairman ex officio, H. H. Seerley, president of the Iowa State Normal School; C. M. Jordan, superintendent of schools, Minneapolis; George Hempl, professor of philology, University of Michigan; and Calvin Thomas, professor of the Germanic languages, Columbia University. This committee is asked to report to the president of the Council by June, 1, 1905. We are all awaiting with interest the action of this committee. The time seems ripe for a discreet, systematic, quiet, and thorogoing effort, on a business basis, to disseminate accurate knowledge in regard to English spelling and to promote its simplification. This effort must be more or less of an experiment, of course; but the more we study the problem, the more fully are we satisfied that the general business plan outlined in the petition of this department and indorsed with surprising unanimity by our active members, and by sixteen or more large state and section associations of teachers, is one that is practicable and which should be put into operation without needless delay. Respectfully submitted, W. H. ELSON, Chairman, Grand Rapids, Mich. F. T. OLDT, Dubuque, Ia. A. W. RANKIN, Minneapolis, Minn. EDWIN B. Cox, Xenia, O. Committee |