Page images
PDF
EPUB

years. It has been quite definitely determined that the position of seniority belongs to the American Institute of Instruction which was organized in Boston, Massachusetts, in August, 1830, the

[graphic][merged small][merged small]

preliminary meeting having been held in March of that year for the discussion of educational questions. At this time a committee was chosen to prepare a constitution, and the organization

resulted, as stated, on the 19th of August, 1830, when the constitution was adopted and the officers elected, with President Francis Wayland, of Brown University, as president. Prior to that time there had been no educational associations barring here and there a temporary gathering of teachers and educators interested in the development of pedagogy and learning. This Institute was largely responsible

for giving Horace Mann to the educational leadership of America which, as Dr. A. E. Winship has stated, "is all - sufficient reward for its existence." This organization still exists. Of it Dr. Winship says:

"In age it is peerless, in historic educational prominence it is unsurpassed, in delightful professional com radeship it is in a class by itself, and the present prosperity is adequate for all of its necessities. The past is glorious, the present gratifying, and there is no reason why the future should not bear

[graphic]

out its early proph- D. W. SPRINGER, SECRETARY NATIONAL EDUCAecy of service to the

public."

TION ASSOCIATION

The Western Literary Institute and College of Professional Teachers came second in order of organization, though some still claim it to have been the oldest educational association in America. It resulted from the joining of two other organizations that date from 1829. The Western Institute existed from 1831 to 1845.

Then followed the American Lyceum Association which assumed national dimensions in 1831, and which held its last meeting in 1839.

In 1849, after these associations had disorganized, a new effort was made for the organization of a National Association of Teachers. This association assembled at Philadelphia, in the Hall of the Controller of Public Schools, October 17 to 19, 1849, under

ROBT. J. ALEY, PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY OF

MAINE, AND SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF

the presidency of Hon. Horace Mann, member of Congress, and late secretary of the Board of Education for the state of Massachusetts. It would not be out of place to date the history of the National Education Association from this meeting in 1849; though it was not until August 26, 1857, in Philadelphia, that the National Teachers' Association was actually organized. In 1870, Aug. 1719, at Cleveland, Ohio, it was changed to, and has continued under, the name of the National Education Association. The growth of

[graphic]

TRUSTEES, AND THE COUNCIL OF THE NA- the organization

TIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

can best be understood when we

state that when Dr. Irwin Shepard, who for nineteen and a half years was secretary of the association, took office, it was said he could hold all the records, materials, etc., of which it was then possessed in his hands. When the office was removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, it required two cars to bring the records and files, for they had a net weight of 68,400 pounds. In 1906 the association received its legal status when it was incorporated under a special act of Congress. Its charter was accepted, and its bylaws were adopted at the Los Angeles meeting, in 1907..

MEMBERSHIP

Besides its active membership, which is over eight thousand, it has an associate membership which varies yearly from five to ten

The active

thousand. membership is composed of persons who retain their membership from year to year, paying their dues whether they are able to be present at the meeting or not. People who make use of the associate membership are largely those who attend the meetings, if these happen to be held in the neighborhood where they live, or who take trips with the National Education Association, principally for a summer outing. Thus in Utah this year we look for at least a membership of 2,600, many of whom may perhaps not remain permanently

[graphic]

with the association.
Secretary Springer
states that, of the
eight thousand active members about seven thousand are personal,
the remaining one thousand being institutional, consisting largely
of libraries. The association has also a group of about fifty mem-
bers known as corresponding members, comprising foreigners who
have distinguished themselves in the field of education and for
that reason were elected as corresponding members.

SUPT. C. G. PEARSE, VICE PRESIDENT N. E.
A., CITY HALL, MILWAUKEE, WIS.

MEETINGS

The

Two meetings of the association are held each year. summer meeting, generally held in July, and which is by far the most largely attended, attracts usually from twelve to fifteen

thousand teachers in actual attendance, while there has been as high as forty thousand paid memberships in a year. The summer meeting lasts a whole week, beginning as a rule on Saturday.

STANLEY BROWN, JOLIET, ILL., TRUSTEE

N. E. A.

This year in Salt Lake City, the National Council meeting is held July 5. Sunday, 6th of July, known as Educational Sunday, will be observed here as it is generally throughout cities where the association meets. The sermons in the various churches are always of a character suitable to the occa

sion. The general sessions begin on Monday, continuing till the 11th. One meeting will be held each day during the convention, at a time. when none of the departments are meeting. The seventeen departmental committees connected with the association have from two to four departmental meetings

[graphic]

throughout the week, so scheduled that the departments shall not interfere with each other.

The mid-winter session is held during the last week in February and is known as the Department of Superintendents, although several other departments meet at the same time. This meeting is more largely given over to the administrative phase of educational activities, whereas, the summer meeting is devoted to a more general discussion of methods and educational problems. The summer and winter meetings are generally not held in the same section of the country. The winter meeting attracts the attendance of about twenty-three hundred, and this year was held in Philadelphia; while, as stated, the summer meeting will probably attract fifteen thousand teachers and will be held in Salt Lake City.

« PreviousContinue »