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DEPARTMENT OF SUPERINTENDENCE

WASHINGTON MEETING, 1908

SECRETARY'S MINUTES

OFFICERS

President FRANK B. COOPER, superintendent of schools, Seattle, Wash.

First Vice-President-STRATTON D. BROOKS, Superintendent of Schools, Boston, Mass.
Second Vice-President-ELLA C. SULLIVAN, district superintendent of schools, Chicago, Ill.
Secretary GEORGE B. COOK, superintendent of schools, Hot Springs, Ark.

FIRST DAY

MORNING SESSION.-TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1908

The Department of Superintendence of the National Education Association met in the Metropolitan Memorial M. E. Church, Washington, D. C., at 9:30 A. M., and was called to order by President Frank B. Cooper.

Prayer was offered by Bishop Cranston, of the M. E. Church.

President Cooper then introduced Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, speaker of the House of Representatives, who delivered an address of welcome on behalf of the United States government. Addresses of welcome were also given by Hon. Henry B. F. MacFarland, president of commissioners of the District of Columbia; Hon. Willet M. Hays, assistant secretary of agriculture, Washington, D. C.; and Hon. Elmer Ellsworth Brown, United States commissioner of education.

Response to these greetings was given by Dr. F. Louis Soldan, superintendent of instruction, public schools, St. Louis, Mo.

President Cooper then introduced S. L. Heeter, superintendent of schools, St. Paul, Minn., who read a paper on the topic, "In View of the Increased Demands upon the Schools, What Opportunities Are Offered for Economy in Treating the Course of Study?" The paper was discussed by F. B. Dyer, superintendent of schools, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Frederick E. Bolton, professor of education, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. A paper was also read by C. N. Kendall, superintendent of schools, Indianapolis, Ind., on 'What Modifications in Organization Are Necessary to Secure Suitable Recognition for Pupils of Varying Ability, Particularly for the Ablest?" A general discussion followed, led by John A. Long, superintendent of schools, Joliet, Ill., and W. H. Elson, superintendent of schools, Cleveland, Ohio.

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President Cooper appointed the following committees:

COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

L. D. Harvey, superintendent of Stout Training Schools, Menomonie, Wis., chairman. H. H. Scerley, president of State Normal School, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

W. H. Bartholomew, principal of Girls' High School, Louisville, Ky.

Miss S. Belle Chamberlain, state superintendent of public instruction, Boise, Idaho. Henry Snyder, superintendent of public schools, Jersey City, N. J.

COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS

F. Louis Soldan, superintendent of instruction, public schools, St. Louis, Mo., chair

N. C. Schaeffer, state superintendent of public instruction, Harrisburg, Pa.

Lawton B. Evans, superintendent of public schools, Augusta, Ga.

R. E. Denfeld, superintendent of city schools, Duluth, Minn.

Lewis H. Jones, president of State Normal College, Ypsilanti, Mich.
The department then adjourned to 2:00 P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION

The afternoon session was called to order at 2:00 o'clock by President Cooper.

The program for the afternoon consisted of a symposium entitled "The Place of Industries in Public Education." This symposium had been organized and the speakers secured by Jesse D. Burks, principal of Teachers Training School, Albany, N. Y.

The following propositions were introduced for discussion:

1. The ideals of a democracy require a system of public education that shall provide equal educational opportunity for all. Discussion by James E. Russell, dean of Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City.

2. Equality of opportunity can be secured only by proper recognition of (a) individual differences in native capacities and in social environment, (b) the requirements of vocational efficiency as well as of (c) general intelligence and executive power. Discussion by Edward C. Elliott, professor of education, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.

3. The most urgent need of our educational system is an adequate provision for the vocational needs of children destined for industrial and domestic pursuit. Discussion by James F. McElroy, president, Consolidated Car Heating Company, Albany, N. Y.; Benjamin R. Andrews, secretary of departments of domestic economy, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, N. Y.; W. E. Roberts, supervisor of manual training, public schools, Cleveland, Ohio, and Howard D. Brundage, Stout Manual Training Schools, Menomonie, Wis.

4. A comprehensive program of industrial education requires:

a) Constructive activities as an essential and important factor in the elementary school course. Discussion by Miss Euphrosyne Langley, School of Education, The University of Chicago; Frank M. Leavitt, assistant director of drawing and manual training, Public Latin School, Boston, Mass.

b) Intermediate industrial schools, admitting children at the sixth school year and equipping them for specific industrial pursuits. Discussion by Charles H. Morse, secretary of Massachusetts Commission on Industrial Education, Boston, Mass.

c) Technical high schools for the training of industrial leaders. Discussion by Geo. H. Martin, secretary of Massachusetts State Board of Education, Boston, Mass.

EVENING SESSION

The evening session of the department was called to order by President Cooper at 8:15 o'clock. The following announcement was made by Roland P. Falkner, secretary of the National Civic Federation, New York City:

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Your Committee has kindly given me two or three minutes in which to outline briefly the plan and purpose of the National Civic Federation to send next winter certain teachers of the United States to England and continental countries for the purpose of inspecting schools of elementary and secondary grades, industrial schools, manual-training schools, and schools for the training of teachers. The scope of the undertaking is indicated by the schools to be visited and the teachers to be selected would naturally be those who in this country are engaged in the same work. The scope of the undertaking is, as you see, practically identical with the universally recognized field of public-school education. The teachers who are selected for this tour of inspection will enjoy the benefit of greatly reduced rates in the steamships of the National Mercantile Marine Company. Recognizing the benefits which would accrue to the teachers of the country and desiring to promote as far as possible the friendly feeling between the two countries, this company has generously offered to these teachers passage to and from Europe at a rate which is about one-fourth of the regular rate. The teachers to be selected will go, not as a body, but a certain contingent in each ship. On arriving in England they will find that Mr. Alfred Moseley, well known to all American educators for his philanthropy and for his public spirit in organizing the Moseley Educational Commission, and later in organizing the trip of the English teachers to the United States, will have entire charge of the arrangements for the reception of the teachers. They will be met on arrival by committees; schedules will be made up of the schools which can be visited with most profit by the different types of teachers interested in corresponding types of education, and all arrangements will be made by these committees to insure to the visiting teachers a cordial reception. The advantages of such a trip to England-and some few can also go to the Continent-are so obvious that they have met with the cordial approval of all to whom this project has been broached; and a considerable number of prominent educators have expressed their approval of this plan and have consented to serve upon an advisory committee. I hesitate to tell

you who they are, because some of them have told me that they did not want to have any correspondence in regard to the matter; that they want all the correspondence to be conducted by the New York office.

The interest of the National Civic Federation and its desire to promote the public welfare is evidenced by their taking hold of this matter. This organization, moreover, as an organization, is profoundly interested in all the problems of industrial education and believes that these problems of industrial education cannot be solved except in connection with the general problems of the public school; and it is desirous that all information that can be obtained thru a visit to foreign countries to see what they are doing along similar lines should be obtained and spread among our people.

In the selection of the teachers who are going to make this trip, of course, our desire is to make as wise a selection as possible. It is not a pleasure trip. It ought not to be so regarded. We feel that it should be looked upon as an opportunity for professional advancement; and it is desired to make the wisest possible selection of the teachers who will profit by such a trip; and to this end the National Civic Federation asks the co-operation of the educators here present. We hope that the teachers to be selected will be predominantly those who are chosen by the superintendents of schools, and by the principals of industrial and normal schools, and who are duly nominated for that purpose by the board of education, or other corresponding educational authority. It is perfectly clear that the nomination should come to us; it is our desire that it should come to us by those bodies who are by law in a position to grant to the teachers leave of absence for this period, and preferably leave of absence with pay. As this is, and should be, an opportunity for professional advancement, we solicit your co-operation that the matter be considered by the educational authorities as a matter of professional advancement, so that the teachers who participate in the trip can do so without sacrificing, or without forfeiting, their regular compensation. We believe that a trip of this kind can be made of great value, not only to the teachers who participate in it, not only to the teachers of the United States as a whole, but that it should be beneficial locally.

We believe that in every community there are certain specific problems to be worked out, and that those in the direction of educational affairs would be helped by sending to foreign countries representative teachers selected by them, with the distinct purpose of investigating those particular things which constitute their own home problems.

This, briefly, is the plan and scheme of the National Civic Federation in this matter. On your return to your homes you will find awaiting you invitations to take part in it. You will find, with these invitations, circulars descriptive of all conditions in regard to the visit. These circulars have been printed, and so far as opportunity is given me after this session and during the meeting, I will be very glad indeed to give them to those who may be interested and to answer any questions that I can in regard to this matter.

We hope that this project, undertaken for the benefit of the teachers of the United States, will receive the sympathy and support of the educators here present, and that thru that co-operation the National Civic Federation and those who are associated with it may be permitted to make their contribution to the advancement of education in the United States.

The address of the evening was delivered by Hon. Willet M. Hays, assistant secretary of agriculture, Washington, D. C., and his address was illustrated by a variety of stereopticon views. A general discussion followed, by E. T. Fairchild, state superintendent of public instruction, Topeka, Kan.; Lorenzo D. Harvey, superintendent of Stout Training Schools, Menomonie, Wis.; and A. C. Nelson, state superintendent of public instruction, Salt Lake City, Utah.

SECOND DAY

MORNING SESSION.-WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1908

The morning session of the department was called to order at 9:30 o'clock by President F. B. Cooper. The following program was presented:

Topic: The Nurture and Protection of the Physical Well-Being of Public-School Pupils 1. How Can the School Make Contribution of Permanent Value to Physical Development ?-Luther Halsey Gulick, director of physical training, public schools, New York City.

2. The Mission of the Play-Ground.-W. M. Davidson, superintendent of schools, Omaha, Neb.; General Discussion led by A. H. Yoder, superintendent of schools, Tacoma, Wash.

3. Medical Inspection in Public Schools as Contributing to Health and Efficiency.Thomas F. Harrington, director of physical training and athletics, public schools, Boston, Mass. General Discussion was led by E. C. Moore, superintendent of schools, Los Angeles, Cal.; Miss Sadie American, executive secretary of Council of Jewish Women, New York City.

BUSINESS SESSION

President Cooper, at the opening of the business session, called for the report of the Committee on Nominations, which was made by the chairman, L. D. Harvey, superintendent of Stout Training Schools, Menomonie, Wis., nominating the following as officers for the ensuing year:

President-W. H. Elson, superintendent of schools, Cleveland, Ohio.

First Vice-President-David B. Johnson, president of Winthrop Normal and Industrial College, Rock Hill, S. C.

Second Vice-President-Ida C. Bender, supervisor of primary grades, city schools, Buffalo, N. Y.

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Secretary A. C. Nelson, state superintendent of public instruction, Salt Lake City,

On motion, the report of the committee was accepted and unanimously adopted, and the nominees declared elected.

The question of the place of meeting for the year 1909 was then taken up. Invitations were received from Oklahoma City, Okla.; Rochester, N. Y.; Albuquerque, N. Mex.; and Chicago, Ill. After the presentation of brief arguments in favor of each city as a place of meeting a formal ballot was taken, which resulted as follows:

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Oklahoma City was therefore declared the choice of the department as the place of meeting in 1909.

Señor Ezequiel Chavez, under-secretary of the Department of Public Instruction of the Republic of Mexico, was then introduced by President Cooper, and extended greetings to the Department from the Republic of Mexico.

GREETINGS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO

Yesterday evening I had the honor of presenting the greetings of the Department of Public Instruction and Fine Arts of the Republic of Mexico to the Department of Superintendence of the N. E. A., at which time I expressed the earnest wish felt by the department that in the plans which prepare for the future formation of the coming generations of Mexico and the United States, there should figure not only the ideas, but also feelings of good-will and cordiality which would realize to a great degree the co-ordination of efforts of both countries in the working-out of the progress of the whole American Continent.

I now beg to say that for the purpose of drawing the already existing ties of affection and mutual consideration closer and closer, the Department of Public Instruction of my country has commissioned me to come to state to the Department of Superintendence that the Department of Public Instruction would be highly pleased if the Department of Superintendence of the National Education Association of the United States should hold its annual meeting of the year 1910 in the City of Mexico, and there attend the meetings of the chief educational authorities of Mexico, or, failing this, that a commission of representative superintendents be selected to go to Mexico in the said year.

The occasion will be dignified and memorable: at that time the completion of the first century of the independence of Mexico will be celebrated. Mexico has proved in the course of the century of her life that she has made good use of her emancipation. At the cost of heroic wars, she won for herself the complete separation of church and state, as far back as nearly fifty years ago. Isolated from all nations, except Spain, in the long period of Spanish rule, she now has relations with all the nations of the world. She is proud of her long and bitter struggles which have served to bring, with the price of her blood, her independence

and her political rights. The satisfaction afforded to us by a visit of such a delegation will be very great, and more so as it is the intention to form at the same date a national university, the plans for which she has already adopted. She will gladly share that satisfaction with a select group of men such as form this Department of Superintendents, whose work she considers of supreme importance in the organization of the people of this continent.

Next year when the department meets an official communication from the Department of Public Instruction and Fine Arts of the Republic of Mexico will remind you of the invitation which I now share the honor of tendering, so that it can then be acted upon, whether the whole Department of Superintendence hold its session of 1910 in the City of Mexico, or whether only a delegation be appointed.

In one way or another, my presence here, the announcement that I here make that next year the said communication will come, and the acceptance thereof, whether in the full form as we hope, or in the limited one, will permit, I earnestly hope, the very near realization of a great Pan-American Conference of Education, and will bind anew the ties of friendship and good-will of all citizens of this great American continent.

Secretary George B. Cook then reported the following resignations from the Committee on a Universal System of Key Notation, viz.: F. Louis Soldan, of Missouri, and Aaron Gove, of Colorado. To fill these vacancies, President F. B. Cooper appointed President H. H. Seerley, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Superintendent W. H. Maxwell, of New York City.

There being no further business, the department, on motion, adjourned.

AFTERNOON SESSION

One of the most interesting events in the history of the Association occurred at 2:30 P. M. In accordance with a previous invitation, President Roosevelt received the members of the department and a few invited guests, numbering in all about 1,500, in the East Room of the White House, and delivered an address, a report of which will be found among the papers of the department.

The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to various meetings of societies holding sessions in connection with the department convention.

A session of special interest to the Association was the meeting held in the parlor of the New Willard Hotel at 4:30 P. M. for the organization of the new Educational Department of National Organizations of Women, authorized by the Board of Directors of the N. E. A. at their meeting in Los Angeles, Cal., July 12, 1907.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING FOR ORGANIZATION OF THE
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS OF WOMEN

The meeting was held in the sitting-room of the New Willard Hotel, February 28, 1908, at 4:00 P. M. Dr. E. Oram Lyte, of Millersville, Pa., called the meeting to order in accordance with the custom that the one who presented to the Board of Directors the petition for the organization of a new department should preside at the meeting for its organization.

On the motion of Miss Laura D. Gill, Miss Lillian W. Johnson, acting president of the Southern Association of College Women, was elected secretary pro tem.

The chairman read from the Proceedings of the National Education Association for 1907-8 Article VI of the By-Laws entitled "Departments" (see pp. 7-8 of the Los Angeles volume). He then asked the Secretary to read from the Proceedings of the New Board of Directors for 1907-8 (see pp. 51-52 of Yearbook, 1907-8) the petition for the organization of the new department and the minutes of the action of the Board of Directors approving the same.

The chairman announced that the first order of business was the nomination of officers of the new department. The following ticket was presented by the secretary:

For President-Miss Laura Drake Gill, of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae.
For Vice-President-Mrs. Frederic Schoff, of the National Congress of Mothers.
For Secretary-Mrs. Philip N. Moore, of the National Federation of Women's Clubs.

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