Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1895 — TEACHERS IN DENVER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TEACHERS IN DENVER

MEETINGhOF NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION. & Thousands of Kducatora from All Parts of the Country Assemble to Discuss the Best Methods for CarryIns; on Their Work. Is a Brainy .Body. Denver during the past week has been filled with educators from ail parts of the country; who assembled by thousands to attend the annual convention of the Rational Educational Association. It is the largest educational body in the world. The .claim is also made that it is the most influential body, not only because it 1# the largest body, but also because it is differentiated into so many specialties. There are in the association thirteen departments, each independent in Itself, yet forming a- part of the whole. The constitution provides for eleven departments and a National Council of Education. The

thirteenth department is found in the Herbart Club. This is perhaps to be regarded more as a group than a department. It is an association of Herbartians to whom philosophy is both food and drink, and who take advantage of the association meetings for their gatherings, making a very welcome accompaniment. The other ..regular departments of the association are school superintendence, normal schools, elementary schools, higher instruction, industrial education, art education, kindergarten instruction, music education, secondary education, child study, and business education. Each of the morning sessions was devoted to the discussion of a special subject. The debate began with the reading of papers prepared by educators of experience, followed by a general expression of opinion. All addresses were limited to five minutes. The topics discussed were as follows: 1. The co-ordination of studies in elementary education. 2. The duty and opportunity of the schools in promoting patriotism and good citizenship. 3. The instruction and improvement of teachers now at work in the schools. Papers on the first topics were’read by President DeGanno, of SwSrthmore College, Prof. Jackson of the Cook County, 111., Normal School, and Prof. Charles McMurey of Illinois .University. The second topic had treatment at the hands of Supervisor Martin of Boston, Principal Johnson of the Winthrop Training School at Columbia, S. C., and Superintendent Marble of Omaha. The leading speakers on the program for the third topic were: Prof. A. D. Odin of Kansas State Uni-

versity, and Superintendent Jones of Cleveland, Ohio. At the evening sessions addresses were made by the president of the association, by Chancellor W. B. Payne of Nashville, Prof. Joseph LeConte of the University of California, President Baker of the University of Colorado, and by Hamilton W. Mable, editor of the Outlook. Of the twenty-eight names which appeared on the program for the general sessions, fourteen are those of persons engaged in public school work, six in normal schools and seven in colleges and universities. The National Teachers’ Association was established in 1857 in Philadelphia, and In 1870, at a convention held in Cleveland, the name was changed to the National Educational Association. The objects of the association are to “elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching and to promote frhe cause of popular education in the United States.” Any persons in any way eon-

nected with the work of education are eligible to membership and the enrollment, which now includes Canadian educators, wgs last year 6,000. The officers are:'President, Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler of Columbia College, New York; first vice-president, A. G. Lane, superintendent of Chicago schools; secretary, Irwin Shepard, President of the Minnesota State Normal at Winona, Minn.; treasurer, I. C, McNeal, assistant superintendent of schools, Kansas City. These, together with Assistant Superintendent N. A. Calkins of the New York schools, president of the Board of Trustees of the National Educational Association, make up the executive committee of the association. The National Council of Education, which met in advance of the general association, is composed of sixty members, also of the NationarEducatTonal Association, and chosen from that body to membership Jn the council on account of special prominence in educational and association work.

PRESIDENT N. M. BUTLER.

VICE PRESIDENT A. G. LANE.