CHAPTER XVII.

EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND CONVENTIONS.

National Educational Association-Department of Superintendence of the National Educational Association-American Institute of Instruction-American Philological Association-American Associa tion for the Advancement of Science-Modern Language Convention-Chautauqua Assemblies for 1887.

NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

The twenty-sixth annual meeting of the National Educational Association was held at Chicago, Ill., July 12-15, 1887. Speeches of welcome were made by Mayor Roche, of Chicago, George Howland, superintendent of schools in Chicago, and A. G. Lane, superintendent of schools in Cook County, to which President William E. Sheldon responded.

The introductory address was delivered by Richard Edwards, LL. D., superintendent of public instruction of Illinois. In discussing "The Problem of To-day" he stated that history shows that to every race and generation belongs some special work. The great problem of the latter decades of this century pertains to education, and upon the fraternity of teachers rests the responsibility of so moulding and strengthening the character of the men and women of this and coming generations that they shall not succumb to the unwonted strain of prosperity or be enfeebled by luxury and indulgence. The second session was devoted to the discussion of the "Psychological and Pedagogical Value of the Modern Methods of Elementary Culture." The following papers were presented: "The Socratic Method in Education," by Thomas Davidson, LL. D., of New Jersey; "The Objective Element," by Hon. J. W. Dickinson, of the board of education, Massachusetts; "The Philosophic and Scientific Element," by F. L. Soldan, St. Louis, Mo.; "The Natural and Developing Element," by W. N. Hailmann, La Porte, Ind., and by A. E. Winship, Boston, Mass. A treatise by Dr. James H. Hoose touched all the elements of the subject, and a paper prepared by Dr. W. T. Harris discussed the "Prescriptive and Assimilative Methods of Education." The examination question was treated by H. S. Tarbell, of Providence, R. I., John J. Tigert, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., and George A. Littlefield, Newport, R. I. C. C. Rounds, principal of the State Normal School, Plymouth, N. H., presented a general discourse upon the topic of the session. "The Ordinance of 1787" was the theme for consideration of the third session. The president made an introductory speech which he devoted principally to "The Educational Influence and Results of the Ordinance." "The Historical Bearings upon the Problems of Social and Political Life in the United States" were shown by I. W. Andrews, LL. D., of Marietta, Ohio; and J. L. Pickard, president of the State University, Iowa, analyzed "The Lessons Taught in Regard to the Future Educational Policy of our Government." B. A. Hinsdale, Cleveland, Ohio, mentioned "Some of the Indirect Educational Results of Opening the North-west Territory to Civilization."

"The Relation of the University, College, and Higher Technical Schools to the Public School System of Instruction," was the topic of the fourth session, and formed the subject of papers presented by J. B. Angell, president of Michigan University; Rev. J. W. Strong, president of Carleton College, Minn.; Rev. I. S. Hopkins, president of Emory College, Ga., and Prof. T. H. McBride, State University, Iowa. In the general discussion, remarks were made by a number of those present, and, in clos ing, Dr. J. B. Angell expressed his belief that both State and denominational universities should be maintained, and that all possible good must be extracted from both classes of institutions.

The dissertations presented at the fifth session had for their subject, "The Means and Ends of Culture to be Provided for the American People Beyond the Ordinary School Period." A. P. Marble, Worcester, Mass., described the value and sphere of evening schools; Dr. J. H. Vincent, Chautauqua, N. Y., spoke of the opportunities offered by reading circles; and General T. J. Morgan, principal of the State Normal

School, Rhode Island, showed the relations that should exist between the public school and the public library.

The sixth session was occupied in the discussion of "The Place Mannal Training Should Occupy in a System of Public Schools," by General Francis A. Walker, president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M. A. Newell, State superintendent of schools, Maryland; and Miss L. A. Fay, superintendent of drawing, Springfield, Mass. The general debate was of more than usual interest.

The seventh and last session had for its topic, "What can be Done by Educators to Enlighten and Arouse the People, and Excite Public Sentiment in Favor of Education ?" Mrs. Ella F. Young, Chicago, Ill., Prof. W. W. Parsons, principal of Normal College, Terre Haute, Ind., and Henry Sabin, Clinton, Iowa, presented papers.

During the meeting, resolutions were adopted recommending the more general study of physics, pointing out lines along which our school system should be developed, commending the National Bureau of Education, reaffirming the conviction of the necessity of temporary Federal aid in the education of the illiterate masses of the South, expressing interest in the education of the Indians, etc.

The National Council of Education was called to order at Chicago, Ill., July 7, 1887, by the president, Daniel B. Hagar. After the reading of a communication from Dr. W. T. Harris on the "Fanction of the Public School," and the report of the committee on pedagogics on the same subject, several members participated in the discussion of the question under consideration.

The report of the committee on secondary education on the "Relation of High Schools to Colleges," was received and discussed at the second session. Other reports were rendered as follows: by the committee on normal education, subject, "Teachers' Institutes;" by the committee on hygiene in education, subject, "Relation of Mental Labor to Physical Health;" by the commitee on State school systems, subject, "Teachers' Tenure of Office;" by the committee on educational statistics, subject, "Points for Consideration in the Statistics of Education." All these reports were fully discussed by the members present. A paper was presented by J. M. Greenwood on "What Teachers Read," in lieu of a report by the committee on educational literature. Upon the invitation of the council, Mr. Poole, librarian of the public library of Chicago, delivered an address on the use of the public library by the teachers and pupils in the public schools.

The Kindergarten Department was opened by President W. N. Hailmann with an address upon the application of the kindergarten idea, its objections and merits. Miss Kate L. Brown, of Massachusetts, described the steps necessary for the "Application of Froebel's Principles in the Primary Schools;" Mrs. Clara A. Burr, of New York, read a paper upon the Value of Kindergarten Training in Normal Schools;" and Miss Eleanor Beebe, of Kentucky, showed the "Value of the Kindergarten in the Education of the Blind."

The Department of Elementary Schools, over which W. H. Bartholomew presided, considered at its first session a paper by Mrs. N. S. Williams, of Kentucky, on the "Union of Oral and Book Teaching in the Several Grades." "The Meaning and Limitation of the Maxim, 'We Learn to Do by Doing,' in Elementary Schools," was treated by Dr. N. C. Shaeffer, of Pennsylvania. F. W. Parker, of Illinois, discussed the paper in a general way, and was followed by Prof. George E. Little, of Washington, D. C., who spoke on the "Value of Illustrative Teaching." "The Importance of Religious Motives and Sanctions in Moral Training" was the subject of a paper read by Dr. Robert Allyn, of Illinois.

The Department of Secondary Education was called to order by Vice-President H. L. Boltwood. Papers were read by A. F. Nightingale on "A Plea for the Classics;" by Miss G. Clark on "Some Thoughts on English." These papers provoked an animated discussion resulting in the adoption of a resolution, "That in the opinion of this department, the English language should be given at least an equal place with that of the classics and science in high school courses of study." The paper read by Samuel Thurber, of Massachusetts, on the "Order and Relation of Studies in the High School Course," also gave rise to a long and interesting discussion, at the close of which a resolution was adopted requesting a committee to report at the next annual meeting of the department a general course of study, calculated to express the complete function of the high school.

The Department of Higher Education was under the presidency of Dr. W. A. Mowry, of Massachusetts. The paper read by H. B. Sprague, of California, on the "Place of Literature in the College Course," gave rise to considerable discussion, in which President Andrews, of Marietta College, Ohio, Prof. C. H. Ford, Dr. H. A. Thompson, and Dr. Jerome Allen participated.

The Normal Department was called to order by President A. R. Taylor. Papers were read as follows: by T. J. Gray, of Minnesota, on "Methods of Instruction in Use in the Normal Schools of the United States;" by Charles De Garmo, of Illinois, on the "Normal School System of Germany;" by G. S. Albee, of Wisconsin, ou "Psychology in

Normal Schools." J. A. Barnard, Dr. J. H. Hoose, George P. Brown, S. S. Parr, and others took part in the discussion of the first-named paper.

The Department of Superintendence was presided over by Charles S.Young. The theme of the first paper, that read by John Hancock, of Ohio, was "School Supervision in the United States and Other States Compared." J. W. Akers, of Iowa, and Solomon Palmer, of Alabama, took part in the discussion. The paper by N. C. Dougherty on "The Superintendent and Good Literature in the Schools" was discussed by Messrs. Richardson, Strauss, Hoitt, Colston, Wolf, and Mrs. Rickoff.

The Department of Industrial Education was opened by a speech from the president, Prof. J. M. Ordway, of Louisiana, in which he reviewed the progress of manual training, and expressed his hopes of its future as an educational force. The subject, "In Schools of What Grade may Manual Training be most Properly Introduced?" was discussed by Prof. Z. Richards, Professor Woodward, H. M. Leipziger, and Professor Miller. "Čan the Teaching of Needlework in Girls' Schools be Advocated on Pedagogic and Sanitary Grounds?" was answered in the affirmative by the president of the department, Mrs. Nellie S. Kedzie, Professor Potts, Professor Hatch, Prof. J. D. Walters, and Professor Rickoff, each of whom made a few practical remarks that were listened to with interest. Professor Murch opposed the introduction of manual work in the public schools, and Professor Brown spoke of the danger attending a sudden and radical change from the purely intellectual to the extremely practical in instruction.

The Department of Art Education was called to order by the president, W. S. Perry, who made a short talk, confining his remarks principally to the importance of drawing. A paper prepared by Mrs. E. F. Dimock on "Drawing in Primary and Grammar Schools" was read by Mrs. Ella F. Young. An exercise in clay modelling was given by a class of young children under the direction of Miss Jennie McWhorter. Drawing in Ungraded or Village Schools" was treated by W. S. Goodnough and Miss E. A. Hills. Papers were also read on "Drawing in the High Schools," by C. N. Harrison and W. S. Perry; "Drawing in Normal Schools," by Miss M. L. Field and Miss Harriet C. Magee.

In the Department of Music the president, Oliver S. Westcott, delivered the opening address, taking as his theme, "What Has Been Done in the Public Schools for and with Vocal Music" The following subjects were also treated: "Shall the State Teach Music?" by T. J. Morgan; "Vocal Training and Singing," by Frederick W. Root; "The Educational Value of the Tonic Sol-Fa System," by Daniel Batchellor; "Fervent Voice-its Nature and Reflex Influence," by William L. Tomlins.

THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

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The winter session of this department was held in Washington, D. C., March 1517, 1887, Charles S. Young, of Nevada, presiding. The first address made was that of Hon. N. H. R. Dawson, United States Commissioner of Education, who described the objects and methods of the Bureau under his charge. F. M. Campbell then described at length "Public Education on the Pacific Coast." Dr. A. J. Rickoff discoursed upon A Teacher's Certificate-County, City, State, and National;" and Hon. L. D. Brown spoke on "Civil Service and Public Schools," which subject was also discussed by B. S. Morgan, W. N. Barringer, T. P. Ballard, G. J. Luckey, and H. R. Waite. A. P. Marble read a paper entitled "Powers and Duties of School Officers and Teachers, Absolute and Relative." E. E. Higbee treated "City and County Supervision," and was followed by W. R. Comings, H. S. Jones, W. H. Bartholomew, F. W. Parker, A. G. Lane and others, who discussed the same subject. F. W. Parker, in the absence of James MacAlister, made an impromptu address on "Industrial Education in the Public Schools." J. W. Dickinson and W. B. Powell spoke upon the same theme. H. W. Compton told "What a Small City (Toledo, Ohio) is Doing in Industrial Training," and Maj. R. Bingham spoke of the need of such training in the South. J. W. Holcombe, of Indiana, presented a paper suggesting a "System of Grading for Country Schools," which was discussed by D. B. Johnson, H. C. Speer, John MacDonald, and others. Warren Easton's paper, "The Best System of State School Supervision," was then read, and discussed by Richard Edwards, Solomon Palmer, John L. Buchanan, J. W. Holcombe, and others. Fred. M. Campbell resumed his description of the status of educational matters in California, referring particularly to the recent amendment of the State's constitution in regard to textbooks. "The Relation of our Public Schools to the General Government" was analyzed by United States Senators Blair and Stewart, and Dr. M. A. Newell. Sheldon Jackson spoke of "Education in Alaska."

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION.

This association held its fiftieth-eighth annual meeting at Burlington, Vt., July 58, 1887; J.Milton Hall, of Rhode Island, in the chair. The first topic discussed was

"The Township versus the District System of Schools," the principal paper being read by W. E. Howard. The president delivered an address presenting a general view of the state of education. He advocated compulsory education, opposed industrial training as a part of public school instruction, commented upon the improved methods of teaching English, and recommended the publication by a national commismission of an authoritative, standard dictionary. Following this address came a paper on the "Professional Training of Teachers," by A. W. Edson, of Jersey City, N. J. Ungraded Schools" were described by G. S. Aldrich, of Massachusetts; and the "Feelings and their Culture" were effectively presented by T. M. Balliet, of Pennsylvania. "The Extra-Professional Duties and Privileges of the Teacher," was the subject of an essay presented by John O. Norris, of Massachusetts. "Individualism in Teaching," was treated by J. C. Greenough; "The Literature of our Boys and Girls," by J. M. Sawin, of Providence; "Free Text-books," by Thomas Emerson; "Elements of a Liberal Education," by W. I. Scott; the "School and the Citizen," by A. M. Edwards.

Resolutions were passed urging the substitution of the township system for the district system, recommending the adoption of the free text-book system, and favoring national aid to education.

THE AMERICAN PHILOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.

The eighteenth annual session was called to order at Ithaca, N. Y., July 13, 1886, by the president, Prof. Tracy Peck, of Yale College. The following were the titles of the communications read, with the names of their authors:

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(1) "Hebrew Words in the Latin Glossary, Codex Sangallensis, 912," by Cyrus Adler, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. (2) "The Birds of Aristophanes: a Theory of Interpretation," by Prof. W. S. Scarborough, of Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio. (3) "The Word Election in American Politics," by Prof. Fisk P. Brower, of Grinnell, Iowa. (4) "Contributions to the Grammar of the Cypriote Inscriptions," by Prof. Isaac H. Hall, of the Metropolitan Museum, New York, N. Y. (5) "Ashtoreth, the Canaanitish Goddess; a New Etymology Proposed," by Prof. James S. Blackwell, of the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. (6) "The Sources of Seneca's De Beneficiis," by Harold N. Fowler, PH. D., of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. (7) "The Vowels o and u in English," by Benjamin W. Wells, PH. D., of the Friends' School, Providence, R. I. (8) "A Translation of the Katha Upanishad," by Prof. William D. Whitney, of Yale College. New Haven, Conn. (9) 'Provincialisms of the Dutch ' Districts of Pennsylvania," by Lee L. Grumbine, Esq., of Lebanon, Pa. (10) "Notes on Homeric Zoology," by Julius Sachs, PH. D., of New York, N. Y. (11) "The Inter-relations of the Dialects of Northern Greece," by Herbert Weir Smyth, PH. D., of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. (12) "Assyrian, in its Relation to Hebrew and Arabic," by Prof. Morris Jastrow, Jr., of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. (13) "Roots," by Prof. William D. Whitney, of Yale College. (14) Analogy, and the Scope of its Application in Language," by Prof. B. I. Wheeler, of Cornell University. (15) "Southernisms," by Prof. Charles Forster Smith, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. (16) "The Dative Case in Sophokles," by Arthur Fairbanks, of Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H. (17) "The Sequences of Tenses in Latin," by Prof. William Gardner Hale, of Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. (18) "The Survival of Gender in this and that," by Prof. Lemuel S. Potwin, of Adelbort College, Cleveland, Ohio. (19) "Once-used Words in Shakespeare," by Prof. F. A. March, of Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. (20) "Consonant Notation and Vowel Definition," by Prof. Francis A. March, of Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. (21) “The Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews," by Rev. Dr. C. K. Nelson, of Brookeville Academy, Brookeville, Md. (22) "The Derivation of 'Meridie,'" by Prof. Minton Warren, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. (23) "Phonetic Law," by Prof. F. B. Tarbell, of Yale College, New Haven, Conn. (24) "The Method of Phonetic Change in Language," by Prof. William D. Whitney, Yale College, New Haven, Conn. (25) "Horace vs. his Scholiast (De Arte Poet., 175, 176)," by Prof. Lemuel S. Potwin, Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio. (23) "Munda," by Prof. William I. Knapp, of Yale College, New Haven, Conn. (27) "Aristophanes and Low Comedy," by Alfred Emerson, Þí. D., of Milford, Nebr.

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

The thirty-sixth annual meeting was held at New York City, August 10-13, 1887, Prof. S. P. Langley, presiding. The association is divided into eight sections, and before each of these there were read a number of papers upon various topics relating to that particular branch of science to whose investigation the section is devoted. The following were among the subjects treated:

In Section A (mathematics and astronomy), "A Method of Computing the Secular Contraction of the Earth," by R. S. Woodward; "A Completed Nomenclature for the

Principal Roulettes," by F. N. Willson; "The Phenomena of Solar Vortices," by Frank H. Bigelow.

In Section B (physics), "Measurement of Surface Tension of Liquids," by W. F. Magie; "A Method of Telephonic Communication between Ships at Sea," by L. I. Blake; "On the Pyromagnetic Dynamo-a Machine for Producing Electricity Directly from Fuel," by Thomas A. Edison.

In Section C (chemistry), "Percentage of Ash in Human Bones of Different Ages," by W. P. Mason; "Amount of Moisture Left in a Gas after Drying by Phosphorus Pentoxide," by E. W. Morley; "Some Higher Homologues of Cocaine," by F. G. Novy; "On the Occurrence in Nature of a Copper Antimonide," by T. H. Norton.

In Section D (mechanical science and engineering), "The American System of Water Purification," by A. R. Leeds; "On the Deflection of Girders and Trusses," by H. T. Eddy; "On the Uniformity of Planimeter Measurements," by T. C. Mendenhall and John Mack.

In Section E (geology and geography), "On the Different Types of the Devonian in North America," by H. S. Williams; "The Upper Hamilton of Chenango and Otsego Counties, New York," by Charles S. Prosser; "Discovery of Fossils in the Lower Taconic of Emmons," by C. D. Walcott.

In Section F (biology), "Evidence Confirmatory of Mastodon Obscurus Leidy, as an American Species," by R. P. Whitfield; "The Pineal Eye in Extinct Vertebrata," by E. D. Cope; "Origin of American Carnivora," by W. B. Scott; "On the Phengodini and their Luminous Larviform Females," by C. V. Riley.

In Section H (anthropology), "Illustrative Notes Concerning the Minnesota Odjibwas," by F. E. Babbitt; "Aboriginal Dwelling-Sites in the Champlain Valley," by D. S. Kellogg; Sensory Types of Memory and Apperception," by Joseph Jastrow; "The True Basis of Ethnology," by Horatio Hale.

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In Section I (economic science and statistics), "Physiological and Pecuniary Economy of Food," by W. O. Atwater; "Food of Working Men and its Relation to the Work Done." by W. O. Atwater; "The Science of Civics," by H. R. Waite; "On the Rates of Interest Realized to Investors in the Bonded Securities of the United States Government," by E. B. Elliott.

MODERN LANGUAGE CONVENTION.

This convention was held in Baltimore, Md., during the latter part of December, 1836. Among the papers read were the following: "Recent Educational Movements in their Relation to Language," by Professor Painter, of Roanoke College, Va.; "The Courses in English and its Valuo as a Discipline," by Professor Garnett, of the University of Virginia; and "Poetry in the Chronicle of Limburg," by Dr. Goebel, of Johns Hopkins University. Philadelphia was selected as the next place of meeting, and James Russell Lowell, of Harvard, was elected president.

THE CHAUTAUQUA ASSEMBLIES FOR 1887.

Chautauqua, N. Y.-July 2-August 28.-In the summer assemblies, Chautauqua, "Mother of Assemblies," is placed first, as the model upon which the long train of followers have been formed. The plan for the summer session was full of life and vigor, as well as novelty and popularity, and these qualities were expressed by new features and by a refining and crystallization of those already introduced. The programme was skilfully and wisely arranged with regard to the taste of the constituency upon which it must depend for support. The speakers were carefully selected out of the multitude, the timeliness of every subject weighed, popular and technical lectures were grouped with due consideration for the needs of students and people, and the platform exercises were invariably made to harmonize with the current specialty.

The meetings of the fourteenth Chautauqua Assembly may be divided into the Popular Programme, the work of the Chantauqua Literary and Scientific Circle ("C. L. S. C."), Church Congress, Summer Session of the College of Liberal Arts, Summer Classes, Teachers' Retreat, Institute of Music, Missionary Institute, Assem bly, and After-week. The special departments have crystallized into more refined, clear, and permanent shapes than ever before. A classification of the subjects discussed by the various speakers includes literature, language, science, theology, history, religion, political economy, social science, law, and travel, with the addition of a large amount of miscellaneous matter, such as concerts, classic organ recitals, aud entertainments.

The sessions of the schools and summer classes were largely attended. Some 60 teachers were present at the three weeks' session of the Retreat, and 800 students were enrolled in all the various departments of the Chautauqua College of Liberal Arts. The launching of the college was an event of more than usual importance in