25 1859. THE THIRD SESSION, OR SECOND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, was held at Washington, District of Columbia, on the 10th, 11th, and 12th of August, 1859. The following synopsis of the Proceedings is condensed from the Official Journal of the Secretary, published in pamphlet form.* LECTURES, PAPERS, AND REPORTS. INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS-Review of the Educational System, and the Sphere of the Association in relation thereto. By the President, A. J. RICKOFF, Cincinnati, Ohio. The Importance of Civil Polity as a Branch of Popular Education. By Prof. DANIEL READ, of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. The Place Christianity should occupy in American Education. By ELBRIDGE SMITH, Principal of the Free Academy, Norwich, Connecticut. Errors in the Agencies through which Mankind pass in the pursuit of Knowledge. By J. N. McJILTON, D. D., Treasurer of Public Schools, Baltimore, Maryland. Suggestions on Popular Instruction. By H. L. STUART, of New York. Condition of Education in Mexico. By J. ESCOBA, of Chihuahua, Mexico. * Journal of the Proceedings of the NATIONAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, held in WashIngton, D. C., August 10th, 11th, and 12th, 1859. Washington, 20 pages. This document includes none of the Lectures. That of Mr. Smith, on Christianity in American Schools, will be found in the "American Journal of Education," Vol. XIV. REPORTS ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION. Reports were made by Messrs. SHELDON, of Massachusetts; SMITH, of Connecticut; CRUIKSHANK, of New York; ROBERTS, of Pennsylvania; MCJILTON, of Maryland; TAYLOR, of Delaware; EDWARDS, of Virginia; ELLIOTT, of North Carolina; TURNER, of Florida, for South Carolina; CRUIKSHANK, of New York, for Alabama; TURNER, of Florida; DUNCAN, of Ohio; J. R. SMITH, of Indiana; STARKE, for Missouri; ELMAR and STONE, for Illinois; READ and CRAIG, for Wisconsin; and NESTLERODE, for Iowa; on the following questions: Have you a State System of Free Public Instruction, and how far does it meet the wants of the people? Have you Normal Schools? Teachers' Institutes? and a State Association? What educational progress have you made during the past year? Educational Periodical. RESOLUTIONS. Mr. VALENTINE reported the plan of a Periodical as the organ of the Association, as follows: 1. That its publication commence in this city on the 1st of October next. 2. That the form of said periodical be that of a quarto; that it be issued once a month at the subscription price of 50 cents per annum, in advance. 3. That one column of said paper be devoted to each State in the Union, to be headed with the name of that State, under which shall be properly arranged the items of educational news from that State, with such other articles as the Corresponding Editor of that State may furnish. 4. That one corresponding editor be appointed in each State, whose duty it shall be to furnish all items and general matter from his own State; that such editor be appointed by the Executive officers or Directory of this body, and that said editor be appointed annually. 5. That the immediate publication and control of the journal be committed to the charge of three persons, who shall be residents of the city where the same shall be published. 6. That no compensation shall be allowed to any editor or corresponding editor, except to those who prepare the matter and supervise its publication; and that such compensation be allowed to those as the Board of Directors shall deem proper. 7. That all profits accruing from the publication be paid over at the end of each year to the Treasurer of this Association, and that all deficits of the same, be paid from its funds. 8. That the name of said Journal be "THE NATIONAL TEACHER." Report and Plan was referred to the Board of Directors. DEATH OF HORACE MANN. Whereas intelligence has been received of the death of the Hon. HORACE MANN, late President of Antioch College, and a member of this body: therefore, Resolved, 1. That by this affliction the cause of education generally, and the world at large, have lost a friend whose distinguished efforts in the cause of human improvement entitle him to the lasting remembrance of every lover of his race. 2. That by his persistent and untiring labors for the advancement of education in this country, his zeal and enthusiasm in the great work of imparting instruction, his readiness to cooperate in enterprises of reform and philanthropy, not less than by his brilliant talents, great learning, and high moral qualities, the name of HORACE MANN, is sacredly embalmed in the memory of all those who were associated with him, and all who love the great cause in which his life was so devotedly spent. 3. That as members of this Association, we shall ever cherish a lively recollection of the interest which our departed friend took in the welfare and prosperity of this body; and that as the highest respect we can show for his memory, we will endeavor to follow his example and imitate his many virtues. 4. That we tender our warmest sympathies to the family of the deceased, to the students and officers of the institution over which he presided, and to the circle of personal friends upon whom this sudden blow must fall with crushing weight, and trust that the consolations of Heaven will be afforded them in this hour of trial and bereavement. 5. That a copy of these resolutions be made out and duly signed by the President and Secretary, and forwarded to the family of the deceased. Educational Statistics. A committee was appointed to confer with the Secretary of the Interior, respecting the Educational Statistics of the next Census, and to memorialize Congress in relation to the establishment of a National Agency, to collect and disseminate the statistics of schools and education in the several States and Territories. Messrs. READ, of Wisconsin, MCJILTON, of Maryland, and STARKE, of Missouri, appointed. School Registers and School Records. The subject was referred to Messrs. PENNELL, STONE, MCJILTON, and RICKOFF. Christian Religion. Resolved, That the inculcation of the Christian religion is necessary to the happiness of the people and the perpetuity of our institutions, and we should be pleased to see every teacher in our broad land imbued with its spirit; yet we would not shut the doors of our school-houses upon well qualified and apt teachers because they do not hold membership in any religious denomination. General Resolutions. Resolved, 1. That this Association finds much cause for gratification in the fact, that although this is only the second occasion of assembling so many representatives of the educational interests of our country from so many and distant States for the purpose of deliberating upon that inconceivably important subject, the right education of the youth of our land; and in the additional fact, that notwithstanding all the difficulties under which its members have labored, arising from a want of previous acquaintance and correspondence, of formal preparation for the specific business of such a body, and especially from the want of the reports of committees appointed at the last meeting to prepare business for this, that so many valuable suggestions have been made, so great an impulse has been given to the noble enterprise in which we are embarked, and so great a hope inspired that the future meetings of the Association will certainly contribute much to the advancement of sound learning and practical education in our favored land. 2. The thanks of the Association were tendered to Messrs. RICKOFF and BULKLEY, the retiring President and Secretary. To those Roads that have shown their liberality in reducing the traveling expenses of the members, by their generous arrangements. To the citizens of Washington, for their generous hopitalities. To the several reporters of the papers of the city, for the published reports of the proceedings. To the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for the use of its Hall. To the Hotels that entertained its members at a reduced charge. Visit to the President of the United States, and Mount Vernon. The Association paid their respects to the President at the Executive Mansion, (who also attended a session of the Association,) and after the adjournment, made a pilgrimage to the tomb of the "Father of his Country." collect an friends of e fusing inform istration, instru of the Troy Teac and friends of edu committee to arrange Mr. Bulkley was President, and T. Mr. Bulkley has not confined his labors to e city, county, and state. but has attended and addre of Instruction, and the American Association for ti. tion, as well as the Conventions and Associations of sever * A history of this Association will appear in the “Am. Journal of Education," for June, 1864. |