The committee expressed the satisfaction that had been shown by the different State and city educational authorities that an attempt was to be made to show the progress of education, and stated, so far as they were acquainted with them, what had already been done to carry out the recommendations past last year. Referring to the resolution under which they were appointed, they stated to the Director-General the embarrassment now felt by the officers of the different State- and city-systems of education and the several institutions of learning, arising from the want of some definite plan and the need of some immediate and authoritative action. State- and city-superintendents and officers of various institutions are inquiring, "What shall be the educational representation? What shall my State, my city, my institution do?" No one now feels prepared to answer. It is a public, and not a private, interest. Its exhibition must be made largely from motives of public good, and only partially from any considerations of private profit, such as would arise from the manufacture of furniture and the publication of text-books. The plans adopted must accord with the methods of public educational action. The vast diversity of systems, institutions, and facts will require time to consider and arrange what shall be done by each and to harmonize the whole. The committee consider themselves sent by the department of superintendence of this National Association, only as a medium of communicating these facts and impressions from the different educational workers in the country to the Director-General, and of securing from him any communications.he may wish to return to them. The Director-General, in behalf of the commission, expressed an earnest desire that the influence of the Exposition should be thoroughly educational, and especially that the growth of educational facilities in the United States and their results, as shown in our country's progress, should be most successfully represented, and his gratification that this action had been taken by the department of superintendence of the National Educational Association. He had just written to the governors of the several States, calling attention to a class of subjects, of which education is one,* and hoped that this * INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 1876. UNITED STATES CENTENNIAL COMMISSION, SIR: In behalf of the United States Centennial Commission, I have the honor to direct your attention to several subjects connected with the International Exhibition of 1876, of great importance to your Commonwealth, and for which provision should be made this year. It has already become manifest that a large proportion of the articles to be exhibited will be provided for in a creditable manner by the manufacturers and producers of theseveral States; but there remain large classes of objects whose collection is essential to a complete representation of the material and social condition of the community, yet which it is not to the interest or within the power of an individual to collect. Of this description are the unwrought natural resources of the land, such as mineras, scils, woods, vegetation, &c. It is so largely upon their wealth in this direction that the growth of the States depends, that this department of the Exhibition will be critically studied by those interested in the problems of immigration and of investment of capital. On merely economical grounds, every State would do well to provide liberally for the thorough and exhaustive representation of the actual and possible products of its soil. Another department that should be inaugurated and prepared under the auspices of the State-government is that which may be termed historical and statistical. Unless done by official authority, there will not be a complete presentment of such matters as the history of the early settlement of the State, its physical features, climate, geographical position, government, laws, and punishment of crime, system of State and municipal taxation, revenue and expenditures, benevolent institutions and charities, education, scientific, industrial, commercial, learned and religious societies, agricultural and manufacturing interests, the extent and effects of railroads and other means of transportation, the history and growth in population and wealth of the State. All these subjects, among others, ought to be so represented as to afford a summary view of the history, progress, and present condition of every State. Unless this is accomplished, the Exhibition will seriously fail in that part of its purpose which contem. piates a representation of the nation's growth during the first century of its existence. Official resources, only, are adequate to the satisfactory execution of the task thus proposed. committee would act provisionally, calling attention to the subject, gathering informa tion, and forming plans for his consideration until the meeting of the executive committee of the Centennial and formal action has been taken by them. The committee retired, and agreed to act as suggested by the Director-General, Hon. A. T. Goshorn. The following statement was made to the United States Commissioner of Education: "CONTINENTAL HOTEL, "Philadelphia, February 3, 1875. "SIR: In connection with our duty as members of this committee, we have observed the action taken by you, as it appears in the message of the President, in reference to an appropriation by Congress of $50,000, for general educational representation at the approaching Centennial Exhibition, which shall be in aid of, and supplementary to, any efforts made by States, cities, institutions, or private individuals. "We wish to inform you that we highly approve of this action, and have so expressed ourselves in appropriate ways to members of Congress. We believe that this recommendation on your part should be made known to educators throughout the country, and that it would receive the universal approval of the friends of education, and that they would take early steps to communicate their views to their several Senators and Representatives. "Very respectfully yours, "J. P. WICKERSHAM. "General JOHN EATON, "United States Commissioner of Education, "Bureau of Education, Washington, D. C." APPENDIX B. MEMORIAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION. To the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled : At a meeting of the department of superintendence of the National Educational Association, recently held in Washington, D. C., the following resolutions, upon "The relation of the General Govern ment to public education," were passed unanimously, and the undersigned, the committee who prepared and presented the resolutions, were instructed to embody them in the form of a memorial to Congress. In the performance of this duty we herewith present the proceedings above referred to, and most respectfully ask for them such consideration on the part of your honorable body as may be proper. It is hoped, therefore, that each of the States, either by legislative action or otherwise, will adopt such measures as may be deemed necessary to empower existing organizations or agencies to be created, to prepare an exhibition of its native resources and moral and political advancement, as herein indicated. A collective representation of this character will not only be interesting as illustrating the prosperity of the country, but will also be of inestimable value for preservation in the archives of the nation, as a correct history of the birth and progress of the several communities that have contributed during the century to the growth and strength of the union of States. How far your State will participate in these suggestions is a question that I have the honor to most respectfully submit and recommend to your early consideration. Your obedient servant, His Excellency A. T. GOSHORN, Director-General. Governor of RESOLUTIONS. Resolved, That this body reiterate and reaffirm the positions taken at its meeting in this place one year ago, as follows: First. That the Federal Government should leave to the people and local governments of each State the management of their own educational affairs without interference; Secondly. That great service was done to the cause of education by Congress in establishing and maintaining a Bureau or Department of Education, whereby appropriate information from all parts of the world may be gathered, digested, and distributed, and whereby much useful aid is furnished to the practical work of education throughout the country; Thirdly. That the proposition to set apart the public lands of the United States exclusively for the purposes of free education meets with our heartiest approval; and Fourthly. That it is the duty of Congress to furnish special aid to the school-authorities of the District of Columbia. Resolved, That as, in order fully to perform the work pressing upon it and make its usefulness still more widely felt, we are satisfied the National Bureau of Education needs increased clerical force, and as it is equally plain to us that the distribution directly by the Bureau of at least ten thousand copies of its annual reports each year, among school-officers and those especially interested in the work of education in the different States and Territories, would do an incalculable amount of good, we therefore respectfully petition Congress, in the interest of the education of the people, to take the necessary steps to bring about these desirable ends. Resolved, That a reasonable appropriation by the General Government is necessary to secure a full and creditable representation of the educational interests of the country at the approaching Centennial Exposition to be held at Philadelphia, and we sincerely hope that such an appropriation may be made by the Congress now in session. J. P. WICKERSHAM, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Pennsylvania. Superintendent of Public Instruction, South Carolina. Late Superintendent of Public Schools, Boston. Superintendent of Public Instruction, Iowa. Superintendent of Public Instruction, Indiana. Secretary of Board of Education, Connecticut. WASHINGTON, D. C., January 29, 1875. MEMORIAL OF THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. To the honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: We, the undersigned, respectfully state that, at the annual meeting of the Massachusetts State Teachers' Association, held in Worcester, Mass., December 29, 1874, we were instructed, by the unanimous vote of said association, to memorialize your honorable body in behalf of the continuance and the liberal support of the National Bureau of Education. We therefore respectfully represent: 1. That the intellectual, moral, and material welfare of the people of the United States depends chiefly upon their general education. 2. That without such education the security of the Government and of liberty itself must always be in peril. 3. That it therefore becomes the duty of those who have the control of national affairs to do, within the limits of the Federal Constitution, whatever can be wisely done, towards promoting the education of the people. 4. That one of the readiest and most effective means of accomplishing this end is the general diffusion of information on educational subjects. 5. That the information which has already been furnished by the National Bureau of Education has been of inestimable value to educators and to those who legislate on educational affairs, embracing, as it does, knowledge in regard to school-systems established in the several States and in foreign countries; the various modes of organizing colleges, seminaries, normal schools, and educational institutions of every sort; and a vast variety of important facts relating to every department of education, among which are those which show the influence of education upon labor, crime, and pauperism. 6. That, as no State can justly be expected to collate such information and freely disseminate it for the benefit of other States, it is evident that by the national authority alone can so useful and important an object be accomplished. 7. That while we do not ask for, but, on the contrary, should, if need be, protest against, any interference on the part of Congress with the school-systems of the several States, we, in behalf of the teachers of Massachusetts, do earnestly pray that the National Bureau of Education may be continued, and may be so liberally supported as to enable it to perform its functions in the most comprehensive and efficient manner. All of which is respectfully presented by DANIEL B. HAGAR, CHARLES HAMMOND, Committee of the Massachusetts State Teachers' Association. RESOLUTION OF THE INDIANA STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, DECEMBER 31, 1874. Resolved, That, to enable General John Eaton, Commissioner of Education for the United States, to secure the necessary appropriations from Congress, for which he is now asking, to enable him to carry ou more successfully the Bureau of Education, we respectfully ask the Representatives and Senators of Indiana to vote for and render him such aid as the exigencies of the case demand. RESOLUTIONS OF THE MISSOURI STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. Resolved, That it is the sense of this body that, in order to secure an effectul supervision of schools, a law should be enacted providing for the appointment of a competent school-commissioner for each State senatorial district, who shall employ his entire time under the direction of the State-superintendent in promoting the interest of public education, said commissioner to be paid by the counties composing his district, in proportion to their population. Resolved, That we recognize the value of the work of the United States Commissioner of Education, and fully indorse that work; and we respectfully ask our Senators and Representatives in Congress to render the Bureau of Education every possible facility for collecting and distributing the important facts and statistics embraced in the circulars and annual Report of the Commissioner. Resolved, That in our opinion no better disposition of the public lands can be made than to set aside the net proceeds for educational purposes as a permanent fund, distributing the interest accruing among the several States on the basis of illiteracy. Resolved, That, as citizenship under our form of government throws upon each citizen the liability of making laws, as well as the duty of obeying them, this association recommends a more careful study in all our schools of the history and Constitution of the United States and of the State of Missouri, as well as the general principles of the science of government. Resolved, That we recognize an appropriate and dignified place in our educational work for the academies and colleges not connected with the public system of the State, and that we most earnestly desire the fullest harmony of action among all educators. Resolved, That, for the purpose of unifying our entire educational work, we recommend to teachers of both public and private schools, in fixing their courses of study and requirements for admission, to consider carefully those things in which they have a common interest, in order that there may be nothing to prevent the proper work of each class of schools or interfere with the complete harmony which is so highly desirable. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the faculties of all higher institutions regarding the feasibility of a common course or courses of study in these institutions, such committee to report at the next meeting of this association. Resolved, That the president of this association be, and he is hereby, instructed to appoint a committee of three members to confer with the State-superintendent-elect, in relation to the school-law of this State, and, on behalf of this association, to co-operate with him for the purpose of securing such legislation as the best interests of the schools demand. RESOLUTIONS OF THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL-COMMISSIONERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS AT SYRACUSE, DECEMBER 30, 1874. Whereas the people of the United States have admitted, or are rapidly admitting, to full political privileges millions of freedmen and refugees, utterly uninstructed and destitute of that preliminary knowledge necessary to the safe use of the elective franchise; and Whereas the danger thence arising threatens every State in the Union and the country at large; and Whereas there are various measures now pending in the Congress of the United States calculated to meet this emergency : Resolved, That, in the opinion of this body of school-officers of the State of New York, representing eighteen thousand teachers of the State, the policy of the General Government should be no longer to make large grants from its public domain to moneyed corporations, but to consecrate the proceeds of all sales of the public lands, sacredly and irrevocably, to the purpose of aiding and encouraging the States in the thorough education of the people. Resolved, That, in this view, we respectfully recommend to the careful consideration of Congress the bills introduced by Hon. J. S. Morrill, in the Senate, and Hon. G. F. Hoar, in the House of Representatives, for the consecration of proceeds of public-landsales, in part for the improvement of instruction in the various sciences applicable to the industries of the country and in part for the establishment and maintenance of public schools, making the distribution as regards the latter object upon the basis of illiteracy, for a term of years, thus bringing education to bear upon that uninstructed mass, set free by the events of the last fifteen years. Resolved, That we have noticed with deep regret the apparent want of appreciation, 121 |