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EDUCATION AT THE CENTEMIAL 



ifExtracts from the proceedings of the Department of Superintendence 
of th e Na tional Educational Association, at its meeting in • 
Washington, January 27 and 28, 1875,] 



REMAEKS 



OP 



'Hon. J. p. WICKERSHAM, op Pennsylvania; 
Baron von SCHWARZ-SENBORN, Austrian Minister; 
Hon. J. D. PHILBRICK, op Boston; 
Hon. a. ABERNETHY, op Iowa; 
Hon. B. G. NORTHROP, op Connecticut; 
Hon. a. C. HOPKINS, op Indiana ; 



ANT> OTHERS. 



• »• 



WASHINGTOlf: 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1875. 



GmsKMsm 




DBRARY 



• MS" 



i 



; 



SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. 



/ 



EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 

DEPARTMENT OF SUPERINTENDENCE. 



SECOND DAY. 



Thursday, January 28, 1875. 

Hon. J. P. Wickersham, State superintendent of common schools of 
Pennsylvania, read the following paper : 

AMERICAN EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

So much been published concerning the Centennial Exposition to be held at the city 
of Philadelphia in 1876, that no statement of its design or account of what is purposed 
to be done seems now necessary. A brief outline of the progress made in the work of 
preparation, however, and of the prospects entertained of its successful completion, 
may be of interest, and will serve as an introduction to the special purpose of this 
paper, which is, to make some practical suggestions in reference to the representation 
of the schools and school>sy stems of the country at the exposition. 

The exposition will be held. Whether it shall be creditable to the nation or other- 
wise, we must go on with the work. To stop, to even halt, now, would be to disgrace 
ourselves in the eyes of the whole world. American energy and pluck have accom- 
plished marvelous things in the past ; they will not fail us now in pushing to com- 
pletion this great enterprise. Much has occurred within the last few months to 
encourage the friends of the Centennial. Obstacles have given way ; interests threat- 
ening antagonism have been harmonized; help has come from unexpected quarters, 
and the indications are that the whole nation will make one united effort to secure 
success. 

More money will be needed, but the management of the Centennial have now in 
hand available funds amounting to nearly $5,000,000. Of this sum, the State of Penn- 
sylvania has appropriated $1,000,000 and the city of Philadelphia $1,500,000. The 
balance is made up from subscriptions to the stock-fund. Five millions of dollars will 
go far toward the erection of the necessary buildings for the Centennial ; but large 
subscriptions to the stock are still hoped for, and, without doubt, in the end, Congress 
wiU make a generous appropriation. 

Fairmount Park, in the city of Philadelphia, contains three thousand acres. Several 
millions of dollars have been expended in improving and beautifyiug it. Nothing of 
the kind in this country is now equal to it, and the day is not far distant when it will 
compare favorably with the finest parks of the old world. The Lansdowne Plateau, 
upon which the exposition buildings are now being erected, is an elevated part of 
Fairmount Park. No better site for them could be chosen. Its advantages are said 
by competent judges to excel those of the sites of either of the great expositions of 
Europe. 

The buildings are, first, an art-gallery, covering a space of about one acre and three- 
quarters, the material being of brick, granite, iron, and glass, the law requiring that 
it shall be perfectly fire-proof. The art-gallery is 365 feet long, 210 feet wide, and 59 
feet high to the ceiling and 150 feet to the top of the dome. For the erection of this 
building the State of Pennsylvania and the city of Ph Jadelphia have appropriated 
$1,500,000, The inner walls of the building are now erected up as high as the square, 
and the granite is being set with marked rapidity. The contract requires its perfect 
completion six months in advance of the opening of the exhibition. 

The main Exhibition building, covering a space of twenty acres, and to be con- 
structed mainly of iron and glass, was contracted for some months since ; the founda- 
tions are now nearly ready, and the material is being produced at the mills and facto- 
ries. This building is in length 1,880 feet, in width 464 feet, and in height 70 feet. 
Height of central towers 120 feet. It will cost about $2,000,000, and will be paid for 
out of the funds arising from the sale of stock, and is also to be completed six months 
before the beginning of the celebration. The remaining buildings are the machinery- 
hall, of twelve acres ; agricultural department, of six acres, and a conservatory of two 



6 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 

and a half acres; all of which within a few weeka either have heen placed under con- 
tract, or are abont to be. The fands for the machinery-hall and conservatory are fara- 
ished by the city of Philadelphia. 

The contemplated buildings are large, but already, it is said, that applications for 
space have been received from our own people sufficient, if accepted, to take up nearly 
the whole of that set apart for the United States. I extract the following summary of 
what is promised by foreign nations from a recent address on the Centennial to the 
people of New York : 

The indications as to the display from foreign countries at this date, a year and a 
half in advance of the beginning, are far more favorable than had been anticipated by 
the managers. The following-named countries have taken action, to wit : the German 
Empire has accepted the invitation of the President ; France has accepted, and has 
appointed commissioners-resident in Philadelphia and New York: Sweden and Norway 
have appointed a commissioner, and have gone so far as to provide for defraying the 
cost of transportation of goods of their subjects to the exhibition and return . Eng- 
land's acceptance of the invitation has been communicated by telegraph, but the par- 
ticulars are not known. In several of the British colonies, especially in Canada, Aus- 
tralia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and others of the Australasian Islands, exhibitions of 
unusual completeness and interest have been prepared. In Austria a large number of 
manufacturers and artisans have solicited space in the exhibition buildings. The 
governments of Central America and South America have manifested special interest 
in the exhibition, and the President's invitation has been accepted by Peru, United 
States of Colombia, Nicaragua, the Argentine Confederation, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecua- 
dor, Chili, Guatemala, and Salvador, and for these countries commissioners have been 
appointed and money appropriated for their expenses. Mexico, Honduras, and Hayti 
have also accepted the invitation. Brazil and other South American nations have 
made application for space. In addition, tbe Netherlands, Belgium, Liberia, the Sand- 
wich Islands, China, Japan, and Switzerland have accepted the invitation. Spain has 
accepted, and appointed Senor Emilio Castelar, the eminent republican statesman, to 
be her resident commissioner at the American Exposition. 

Philadelphia is now well supplied with hotel accommodations. Projects are now 
on foot to increase these very largely. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of boarding- 
houses will be opened. And if all these be insufficient to accommodate the great 
throng of strangers, the railroads centering at Philadelphia have agreed to provide ex- 
cursion-trains, to run at rapid speed and cheap rates, to all the neighboring cities and 
towns, and to New York. These trains will run directly to the exhibition buildings, 
so that visitors comifig in this way can enter them without the payment of carriage- 
hire, and under cover. 

One of the most encouraging events in the interest of the Centennial was the mes- 
.sage of the President of the United States, sent last week to Congress, accompanied 
by a report from the board, composed of one person named by the head of each Exec- 
utive Department of the General Government, to secure materials proper for represent- 
ation at the Centennial. The several Departments of the General Government are pre- 
pared, it seems, to enter heartily into the work of putting in shape for exhibition the 
long lists of interesting articles they have to show. The expense of this part of the 
•exhibition is estimated at $971,000, not including the cost of erecting a suitable build- 
ing for the special use of the General Government. The President recommends that 
an appropriation be made for the purpose of meeting these expenses, and it is thought 
probable that Congress will make it. But what shall be done to secure the proper 
representation of the school-interests of the country, and how shall they be repre- 
sented ? A gentleman prominently connected with the management of the Centen- 
nial writes me within a few days : " The educational department is, in my humble 
judgment, one of the most important to be presented by our Government." This is 
the universal sentiment. We have been boasting of our systems of free schools so 
long, that our own people have come to think them the best in the whole world. They 
will demand there full representation. Failure here will, I am satisfied, bring severe 
censure down upon the heads of the Centjennial management, and prove deeply injuri- 
ous to school-interests of the country. More strangers, too, from foreign countries, 
will visit the exposition for the purpose of witnessing our school-work, and acquaint- 
ing themselves with our school-systems, than for any other object, possibly than for 
all other objects put together. The American school-house at the great French Expo- 
sition is said to have attracted more attention than all else from America on exhibi- 
tion. The test will be a severe one, I admit ; but there is now no shrinking from it. 
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, England, Belgium, Holland, will come, doubt- 
less, prepared to submit their systems of public instruction to a comparison with our 
own, and we must be ready to meet them with the best we have. It was easy to say 
^t Paris, at London, at Vienna, that we left our best at home ; but at Philadelphia we 
will be at home. 

I have no doubt that a proper place and ample room will be allowed by the manage- 
ment at Philadelphia for the display of material relating to education. What, then, 
should be done ? What should we do f 



EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 7 

A beginning was made here at oar meeting a year ago. General Eaton, chairman of 
a committee on the subject, presented the foflowing outline of plan of procedure, which 
was adopted with great unanimity : 

1. That each State and Territory be invited to prepare a representation of its educa- 
tional condition for the Centennial. 

2. That each State and Territory also be invited to prepare an historical record of its 
educational progress for the same purpose. 

3. That each city be invited to act with the State authorities in preparing such 
records, and that it present an exhibit of its own educational growth and condition. 

4. That each educational institution be invited to participate in the same way. 

5. That a census be taken in 1875. 

6. That the Commissioner of Education be requested, on behalf of the educators of 
this country, to correspond with the prominent educators of the world, and invite 
their co-operation in the matter of the Cpntennial. 

7. That an international congress be held in connection with the Centennial. 

This is an admirable plan. I approved it then ; I approve it now. But to carry it 
out there must be a great amount of hard work done, and there will be needed a con- 
siderable sum of money. Who is to do the work, and where is the money to come 
from ? 

In my judgment the head of the United States commission on the subject of edu- 
cation at the Centennial can be no other than the head of the United States Bureau 
of Education in Washington. He is already a commissioner to the Centennial, ap- 
pointed by the President. Through him, and in no other way, can character, system, 
and unity be given to the work, and all these are absolutely essential to success. The 
educational part of the exposition must not be a mass of ill-assorted fragments, with- 
out order or relation. Foreign commissioners, too, will give attention to an officer rep- 
resenting the United States, rather than to those representing States and cities. 

The appointment of General Eaton as chief commissioner will no doubt be cheerfully 
concurred in by the management of the Exposition, who, in conjunction with him, 
should select the needed number of competent assistants. The number may be small, 
but it should embrace several of the ablest and best-known American educators. The 
commission thus constituted should have full power to act without restraint. Auxil- 
iary to this central commission, but acting for their several localities, there may be 
individuals or committees representing States, cities, or institutions. 

The central commission will need a considerable sum of money, for to do what ought 
to be done well will require mouths of hard work, and to make the exhibition a credit 
to the nation it is easy to foresee that it will be necessary not only to invite the bring- 
ing forward of educational material, but to provide it. The money to be used by the 
central commission must come out of the United States Treasury, or the treasury of 
the Centennial, or both. Without money, little can be done ; with it, I am satisfied, 
the educational part of the exposition will prove a success. Can an appropriation for 
this purpose be obtained from Congress ? What amount of money can be spared for 
the educational part of the exposition from the treasury of the Centennial ? These 
are vital questions, but I am compelled to leave them unanswered. It is hoped the 
President's late recommendation will move Cojigress to take some favorable action. 

So far as States, cities, institutions, or individunls make preparation for the Centennial , 
they will no doubt provide the necessary funds ; but it is time to begin the work every- 
where. State superintendents of schools should ask the legislatures of their respective 
States for an appropriation for Centennial purposes. The superintendents of schools 
in cities should insist upon the setting apart of a fund by their several boards of direc- 
tion to be used in the preparation of educational material for the exposition. The note 
of preparation should be at once sounded all along the line, and a determination be 
evinced to achieve success in a matter where so much honor is to be lost or won. 

The exposition must be a full, fair, and systematic representation of American edu- 
cation. No possible credit can come to us by filling our space mechanically with the 
ten thousand articles that may be offered. Material could be had for the asking, I 
doubt not, sufficient in bulk to fill the whole exposition building. A huge mass of mis- 
cellaneous articles, with endless repetitions and duplicates, even though they could be 
so arranged as to look well to the inartistic or unprofessional eye, is not what is wanted. 
The whole display must be representative. It must be somewhat of an organism, with 
its several parts nicely adjusted, if not closely related, to one another. In the selection 
and arrangement of material, I take it, will be found the most difficult and delicate 
duty of the central commission ; but with a fair fi.eld in which to work, and a reason- 
able amount of money with which to pay expenses, a presentation of the leading feat- 
ures of American education can be made that will be an honor to the country, and a 
wonder to the older nations that may come across the water to compete with us. 

At the close of his paper, Mr. Wickersham said : In connection with 
this paper, I beg leave to offer the following resolution: 

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to act for this body, with the 



8 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 

authorities of the Centennial, in perfecting a plan, for the proper representation of 
the educational interests of the country at the approaching National Exposition at 
Philadelphia. 

General Eaton. May I ask whether the gentleman intends to have 
this committee take the place of the one appointed last year, or is it an 
executive committee to act immediately, and in harmony with the 
committee of last year f 

Mr. WiCKERSHAM. The committee of last year was composed of one 
member from each State, was it not? 

General Baton. Yes. 

Mr. WiCKERSHAM. I think it is wiser to make this an executive 
committee. It is necessary that we should have some small body of 
eflBcient men to represent this larger body or organization — to represent 
the educational interest of the country — ^to act in connection with the 
Centennial. There is no one authorized to do business with the 
authorities of the Centennial. Any one that lookB at this matter in a 
buisness way (a Fourth of July oration on the Centennial is out of 
place and out of date now) will see that we have come to the time 
when we must ipeet this as business men. In order to do business in a 
proper way, it is absolutely necessary that this body should appoint an 
executive committee to do the business for us with the authorities of the 
Centennial. As it is we cannot do anything. We cannot contract for 
space. The authorities have, in a general way, set apart already a certain 
amount of space for educational purposes. They have allowed that it 
would be necessary that a certain amount of space should be dedicated 
for educational purposes, but for how large a space or where that space is 
to be remains to be settled. We do not know whether the authorities of 
the Centennial will allow any one outside of the commission to conduct 
this business. There will have to be a large amount of correspondence 
between the representatives of this body and the authorities of the 
Centennial if we are to make a creditable exhibition. It seems to be 
the universal agreement that we will have such an educational exhi- 
bition at the Centennial, and under the auspices of this department, if 
possible. It is yet to be seen what the authorities of the Centennial 
are absolutely willing to do in regard to this matter. I think that with 
proper communication with the Centennial authorities through a com- 
mittee of business men, representing this body, we can have all our 
demands satisfactorily answered. Such a committee it is proposed 
shall be created ; a working and an efficient committee authorized to 
open communication in a business-like way. Then let the Centennial 
Commission take charge of the matter under the general rules of that 
organization. That must be the method if we would be successful in 
this enterprise. But we never can have any proper communications nor 
any satisfactory arrangements as matters are now. I am very clear 
about this one thing. We must have a small, efficient business com- 
mittee to take in charge the necessary steps in this matter. They will 
have to. give the preliminary information at once, and proceed to act 
upon it. There is no time to be lost. They are to see that space is 
allowed and filled, and where the money is to come from to carry on 
this work. They are to see if Congress is going to do anything for us. 
They are to see whether the Centennial authorities will appropriate 
any money for this purpose. Because, as I said before, it is a question 
of business, and the amount of money at the bottom; and I feel 
sure of this, that we have the means, both the men and the material, 
to make a creditable exhibition in this department. 

The resolution was seconded. 



EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 9 

General Eaton. I think Mr. Wickersham bas met the full necessity 
of the ease by the introduction of this resolution. I have no doubt 
that the gentlemen here representing the different States have already 
had inquiries made of them about how this matter was to be promoted, 
which inquiries could not be answered. Certainly such inquiries have 
come to us. I have, in reply to some, stated what was done at the 
last meeting of the superintendents in regard to the matter. I have 
said that I would have to wait until this might be acted upon before I 
could say anything further. And it seems to me that this resolution 
meets the necessity that now exists in the premises. I would like very 
much before the resolution is acted upon, to hear from some of these 
gentlemen on the subject. 1 have the pleasure of knowing that Baron 
von Schwarz-Senborn, his excellency the minister from Austro- 
Hungary, is present. He had charge of the exposition at Vienna. I 
hope he will say a word or so on this occasion. 

The request made of Baron von Schwarz-Senborn was greeted with 
applause. 

Baron von Schwarz-Senborn said : 

Mr. Chairman akd Gentlemen : I feel myself highly honored to-day at being; pres- 
ent and assisting in this meeting of sach enlightened men, and I remark this because 
nobody appreciates more than myself the importance of public instruction. I regard 
every teacher as a missionMry for whom I have the highest respect. 

You remember, gentlemen, there was an old European general by the name of Mou- 
tecuculi, who said that if you are preparing for war, and wish to become victors, you 
must have three necessary things : first, money ; secondly, more money ; thirdly, much 
more money. [Applause.] Now I think every teacher is a general, that is, he is a 
combatant of ignorance and of superficiality. Now I think that the want of knowledge 
is the root of all evils that exist in the world, and that they can only be successfully 
combated by three things. Those three things are, fi st, education ; secondly, more 
education ; and thirdly, much more educatiou. [Applause.] 

1 think, too, that the education of a people must begin in the family circle, and that 
then every man, every woman, every village, municipality, and corporation, and every 
State government, and the General Government itself, must aid and contribute to the 
accomplishment of this vitally important object. 

I have been traveling for thirty years, and I have found that the impressions gained 
in traveling are one of the means of obtaining an education. I think a universal 
exposition is also like a journey ; bnt with this advantage, that you see in a few hours, 
and at a trifling expense, that which would ordinarily take years of traveling to learn. 

You will allow me, gentlemen, to say that, for I am an old exposition man. I wa9 
appointed by my government as commissioner to the exposition in Leipsic in 1850. I 
was commissioner to London in 1851 ; then, again, in London at the exposition of 1862. 
I was at Paris as commissioner, and class president of the jury at the exposition of 1855, 
and assisted also at the Paris Exposition in 1867, but on that occasion did not accept 
any appointment, as I wished to have the whole time for study and observation, which 
are incompatible with the duties of an official position. Lately, while I was consul- 
general of Austria-Hungary in Paris, during the siege and the commune, I was called 
to Vienna by His Majesty, my Emperor, to plan and superintend the universal exposi- 
tion in that city. As director-general of that last exposition, I was more strongly con- 
vinced than ever that universal expositions are the very best of schools. 

I must say that these expositions are not established to satisfy the idle curiosity, or to 
furnish food for thoughtless amusement of the people. I also consider these exposi- 
tions as institutions for the improvement of the public tastes and the enlightement of 
the minds of the people; and especially so, as they thereby learn what most nearly con- 
cerns the great intert'Sts of a country. I think there should be written over the door of 
each exhibition building, the two golden words of the old Greek, TC)vd^i aeavrdv^ which, 
you are aware, when translated, means " know thyself." It is a fact that many persons 
are ignorant of what exists in their own country, and au exposition is the means of 
their obtaining that knowledge. 

Since I have had the hoBor and pleasure of being in the United States — only six 
months — I must say that I have seen in that short time a great many things that are 
not known either by the people abroad, or by all the people of this country, which 
onght to be known, and with « hich they can be made acquainted in the shortest time 
by an exposition. I know that at these expositions one can learn more of a country in 
a few days than he could by wandering through it for a long time. I must confess to 
you, gentlemen, that the United States of America are not known in Europe. For 



10 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 

America has been very badly, or, I may say, not at all, represented in the five universal 
expositions held in Europe since 1851. 

JEad it been well represented on those occasions, the people of Europe would have 
obtained a far better knowledge of your country than they now possess ; and the in- 
tellectual and material intercourse between the people of foreign countries and your- 
selves would have greatly increased. 

On the other hand, it is true that the number of Americans visiting Europe has been 
increasing every year during the last decade, but that number is immensely small when 
compared with your entire population of forty millions. 

However, a great improvement in this respect I have mentioned has resulted from 
those expositions referred to ; and I think we can look forward to still greater benefit 
from the International Exposition in this country which is now preparing in Philadel- 
phia for 1876. It will be a great benefit in every respect. A great many people will 
come here from Europe and other parts of the world. They will profit by the occasion 
to also see the whole country, as I have no doubt that the various railroad companies 
of the United States will arrange for excursions to every part of your broad domain. 

All these strangers will be enlightened ; they will be cured of prejudice, and they 
will become your very good friends and admirers hereafter. Not only this, but very 
many people will come from all the different States of your own country to Philadel- 
phia to visit the Centennial Exposition. And I am sure that they, too, will then for 
the first time fully realize what are the productions of the United State.«, and also 
what the educational system of their country amounts to. 

Since I arrived in the United States I have taken occasion to visit some small but 
very notable expositions. I saw the exposition of the American Institute at New 
York, the industrial exposition at Newark, the exposition of the Franklin Institute 
at Philadelphia, and the industrial exhibition at Cincinnati, besides many agricul- 
tural fairs. It was my intention also to visit the local exhibitions at Chicago and 
Cleveland, but the shortness of my time prevented. I must confess that at all of 
these exhibitions I obtained a great deal of fresh information. I saw many things 
and learned many new facts that 1 rejoice to know. 

I have thus given you, gentlemen, my idea of the value of expositions in general. 

Now, as far as my experience in Vienna as director-general is concerned, 1 compre- 
hended that it would be useful and a great benefit for my country, to learn of the differ- 
ent educational systems existing in the different parts of the world ; and some of the 
gentlemen now i)resent, who were at Vienna in 1873, will agree with me that the 
educational departments of all the nations represented at the exposition at Vienna 
were the most interesting and most important part of the exposition. It was appre- 
ciated by all enlightened classes of men ; by all those who are the well-wishers of the 
civilization and welfare of the people. I think such a section of the exposition at 
Philadelphia will also be the most valuable, and in its consequences the most benefi- 
cial feature. I think that every American citizen who may contribute in any way to 
the exposition in Philadelphia will thereby bestow a great benefit upon his fellow- 
men. 

And I may add here, that I have lately been in Philadelphia, and during the two 
weeks that I remained there I took what observations I could, assisted by the court- 
esy and hospitality of all the intelligent men I had the pleasure of meeting there, and 
I umst confirm the remark of the honorable gentleman, Mr. Wickersham, who read the 
paper, that the location for the exposition in Fairmount Park is charming, and really 
better than that of either of the universal expositions in London, Paris, or Vienna. I 
had opportunities, through the kindness of the different members of the Centennial 
Commission, when in Philadelphia, to see all the plans, drawings, and specifications, 
and I know what they are doing now toward the erection of buildings, and I am not 
at^all fiattering in saying the truth that all that has been done and prepared, and all 
that is now being done, shows great skill and ability. The most honorable and intel- 
ligent men who are the leaders of the great work are using all the experiences gained 
in the former universal exhibitions, especially that of Vienna. 

I am sure that the exposition in Philadelphia will be a great success in every respect, 
as I wish from my heart, and as I have seen from the beginning that it will be so. 
[Applause.] I am also sure that all intelligent citizens of America will appreciate 
more and more the importance of this exposition. They will see more clearly every 
day that it deserves all the support that is required, I am sure that every man who 
thinks of it and looks into it — every Senator as well as every member of the 
House of Representatives — will do whathe can to make this exposition a success, as it 
should and will be, because — if you will excuse me in saying it — I consider that the 
exposition in Philadelphia is not a private enterprise ; \p is not at all an enterprise to 
make money ; it is not an enterprise for serving local interests and for the benefit of 
the city of Philadelphia alone. I put a much higher estimate upon it, and regard it as 
an enterprise to be carried out on the most liberal scale. 

I repeat, therefore, that whatever the honorable gentlemen here and elsewhere, as 
well as the Government, will do for the exposition, it will redound to the benefit of 
the whole people of the United States of America. [Applause.] 



EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 11 

Mr. Hopkins, State superintendent of Indiana. I simply rise, sir, to 
say that I am heartily in favor of the resolution, and I can assign one 
or two reasons why 1 think such action is necessary in order to make 
effectual our exhibition. 

The State of Indiana has already commenced to make preparations 
to have our educational interests represented in the exposition. That 
matter has been canvassed more or less for two years, and, in a 
recent report from the department of public instruction to the legis- 
lature, among the recommendations was one that an appropriation be 
made for the purpose of enabling the proper authorities in that State 
to have a representation in the Centennial Exposition of our educa- 
tional interests. I have taken great interest in looking after this 
matter in our State. I have already done what I could, and hope to 
succeed still further in securing a sufficient appropriation from the leg- 
islature to enable the State board of education to see that the educa- 
tional interests of Indiana are thoroughly represented. Of course this 
is an independent movement to some extent. And if we can have five 
men, representative men of the country, to whom we can communicate 
our desires, it will certainly facilitate very materially the representation 
of these educational interests. 

As far as Indiana is concerned, Indiana will be represented in that 
Centennial Exposition. And we shall be only too glad if this arrange- 
ment could be adopted so that we can be represented as a whole, and 
not so much as independent States. 

Mr. NoRTHRUP, of Connecticut. When I seconded the motion, I did 
not intend to offer any remarks. But there is one suggestion which fell 
from the lips of our friend Baron Senborn which is worthy of notice. 
He tells us, and tells us truly, that the exposition at Vienna was a 
school for Austria, and that this proposed exposition will be a school 
for America. It was a school for Austria, especially in the direction 
in which Austria needed a school. Unification in Germany and in Italy 
was greatly facilitated by unity of race and language ; but Austria in 
attempting unification, on account of the many different nationalities, 
has had the toughest problem of any government in Europe. How to 
unify these heterogeneous and sometimes antagonistic elements has 
indeed been a problem. And I believe that that exposition, showing 
as it did the intense earnestness of that government for the education 
and elevation of the whole people, has been an important school. Our 
friend has said that it was never designed for money-making, and only 
some frivolous and superficial newspaper-writers represented the Vienna 
Exposition as a financial failure. As if the great Austrian government 
entered upon that magnificent enterprise for money-making ! So our 
International Exposition will be a financial failure if we enter upon it 
for money-making. And yet I am confident that it was of immense benefit 
in Austria. That exposition in its influence effected precisely what 
Austria needed — a school in the promotion of unification. And, in my 
indgment, that is the great demand of the United States to-day if the 
problem of reconstruction is to have a final and happy solution. Cer- 
tainly this will tend in that direction. And if we can, in the educational 
departments, create co operation and sympathy, and the educators ot 
all the States of America will come forward with their full zealln this 
work, it will greatly promote what we most need in America — unification 
and reconstruction. [Applause.] 

Mr. Phtlbrick, of Boston. I don't feel that I ought to occupy time 
upon this subject 5 but, still, my judgment so entirely approves of the 
idea as suggested, and my heart is so thoroughly enlisted in the project of 



12 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 

makiug a complete exhibition of the edacational interests of the country 
at the exposition, that I hardly feel that I would be doing justice to myseif 
without, at least, saying that I hope the friendsof education in every part of 
the country will make special efforts to give entire success to that depart- 
ment. The proposition now before the meeting of appointing an exec- 
utive committee seems to me very good, and, of course, I shall be happy 
to vote for it. It seems to me that the main feature, the principal thing, 
the substantial thing, is that which was referred to bv Mr. Wickersham 
in his paper, and that is, that we must have one head to this whole move- 
ment, and that head should be the head of the ^^ National Bureau of 
Education,'' and that head should have a sufficient number of assistants. 
All the authority should be put in their hands, and then they can lay out 
the proper plans and make the proper announcements at the proper time. 
They can state, having ascertained what space will be accorded, what 
is most desirable to be done by the superintendents and other friends 
of education in the different States and Territories in regard to this Ex- 
position. 

As Mr. Wickersham well ^ays, it is worse than useless to have a great 
mass of undigested or unarranged matter sent from the different States 
and piled up at the exposition. The best must be selected, the exposi- 
tion must be arranged systematically, and a mutual plan for us in carry- 
ing out the prqject, it seems to me, is best. We have need to look to it 
that the plan is the one which was adopted by Austria, the one which 
has had a representative speaker here this morning. It was a most 
perfect plan in all its departments; and I wish to say that I was par- 
ticularly struckwith the remarks of his excellency, Baron Senborn, in 
regard to the great educational advantages of the exposition. Certainly 
I can say this on sufficient ground, fur we have heard to-day remarks in 
regard to this subject, in this hall, from the gentleman most competent 
of all men in this world to speak upon this subject. [Applause.] 

But the most interesting point, Mr. President, if you will allow me to 
mention it as it seemed to me, was this allusion made to the famous 
Greek saying Fvatdt (reauzov^ which saying, it was said, from heaven came, 
as it was claimed that it could never have come from any other place. 

Now, certainly until we know other people we can not know ourselves. 
We have no standard to go by. But it is jusi because these universal 
expositions furnish the means for observing and judging in regard to 
the results of civilization in other nations that they offer us the best 
opportunity for knowing ourselves. The information which they supply 
contributes in every way to that kind of enlightenment which most thor- 
oughly instructs mankind in regard to his race, and its achievements 
and possibilities; and so instructs him in regard to himself. The infor- 
mation thus afforded constitutes not only a school, but something more 
than a school. Qow do we find our relation — our standing — in this 
world! It is by examination; and at a great universal exposition, 
which may be regarded as a school in the highest sense, there is a^ con- 
templative examination of the civilized nations of the world. Hence, 
sir, when I went to Vienna, I went to make that examination. I will 
here remark, by the way, that I should never have gone if it had not 
been the earnest desire of my friend, the Chief of the Bureau of Educa- 
tion, who was most anxious that I should take the trip. 

Well, sir, we came over some things which we supposed in this country 
were tolerably good. We have a way of thinking that there are 
some things in this country which are tolerably good, and sometimes I 
think it may be said we carry that opinion a little too far as compared 
with the productions of the rest of the world. I will mention some 



EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 13 

among other things which I carried over with me. We have said we 
claimed that we had very fine school-houses in this country. We had 
some of them in Boston, and so I carried photographs of these build- 
ings, and a photograph of the State Normal School. These photo- 
graphs were put in guilt frames, and were to be displayed in the Edu- 
cational Department. That we thought was the best way, under the 
circumstances, to represent that particular matter. We expected t6 
produce something of a sensation with this exhibition. We were very 
sanguine of it. The pictures were put up. I found that many persons 
passed by without giving much attention to this eihibition ; this rather 
surprised me, until, in the course of explorations over that vast area, I 
came upon the Austrian exposition of her educational affairs. Never 
shall I forget the profound impression made upon my mind when I had 
examined that particular department, devoted solely to the exposition 
of Austrian educational interests. Every portion of the department, 
commencing with the primary schools and carried up to the highest 
development in the process of instruction, was represented there. 
There were represented also the technical schools with all the special- 
ties and all the apparatus of their instruction. There was a full idea 
given of the working of their schools, and among other things I found 
some plans of school-houses ; and then, sir, if you will believe me, I 
found that I began to know a little of myself, that is, of my 
country ! Well sir, I will say this — and I certainly have no 
wish to disparage my own country — I think a good deal of my 
country — I will say that I was overwhelmed. I did not know 
much about Austria before I went to Vienna. It was impossible to 
have any such idea of it as was conveyed at that exposition, from 
a mere verbal description. I had no idea, not any true suspicion, of the 
condition of educational affairs until I paid this visit to the department 
to which I have referred. In the examination of this department I 
looked at some drawings and examined them. Well, sir, we carried some 
of our drawings from America; some from Boston, New York, 
Philadelphia, Cincinnati, from all the principal cities of the 
Union. We had drawings there from some of our higher insti- 
tutions, supposed to be very much devoted to science and art. 

Now, what I wish to say in this connection is, as a little illustration, 
l)erhaps, (the point was put forward so admirably by his excellency,) 
I actually found drawings there from one of the elementary schools in 
Vienna far surpassing in quality, and, if yon please, quantity, all that 
had been sent from the whole of our great American nation. That was 
instruction to me ! It was good, though somewhat mortifying, to me 
thus to be brought to " know myself." I found that these drawings 
were from one of the inferior schools, not from one of the highest schools, 
but from a school that corresponded in the age of the pupils to what we 
call our grammar-school, embracing boys from eight to fourteen years 
of age, and very few older. I said at once that I wanted to visit that 
school. I wanted to see the master at the head of that school. I wanted 
to see the apparatus and witness the methods in that school. I paid 
that visit. 1 examined the school in every department. 1 looked into 
its methods of instruction, its system of inducement and encouragement. 
I examined its library. I noticed its industrial features. I examined 
its technical books of reference adapted to youth. All was in perfect 
order, and the pride which that master exhibited in showing everything 
about that school was wonderfully encouraging; it was delightful. 
Now, as I have intimated, I am not going to disparage America. I am 
full of the spirit of the *' Fourth of July." I live under the shadow of 



14 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 

Bunker Hill Monament. I will not disparage my country, and I will 
not permit any other man to do it in my presence without an attempt 
at a fitting protest ; and if any one gets up to say that America is not 
the greatest country in the world, I am one of those who propose to rise 
immediately afterward and re-assert the proposition. [Laughter.] But 
I want to '' know myself,'' and I want to know my country ; and if there 
is anything better in any little department, I want to know that, because 
we will go to work and beat it. [Laughter.] And now I say here was 
exhibited to us a field and method for vast improvement. 

Now, about the scnool-houses. Here I made a most remarkable dis- 
covery. It had been proposed, an4 estimates had been made on the 
proposition with some care, to carry the school-houses over with us to 
the exposition, and fit them up. I found that this could be done for 
one-half the money that one American commissioner put in his bill ou 
estimates. But I made the discovery in my tour through the exposi- 
tion that I had made a most fortunate escape. The school-houses were 
not carried over because we could not obtain funds for that purpose. 
Now, mark what I have to tell you. I had regretted my inability on 
this account; but when I stepped into the school-house there which 
had been sent to the exposition, and put up by the government of 
Sweden, I trembled to think of what might have been I Then, by the 
way, this building was not sent over as a school-house exhibition, but 
as a specimen of carpentering. There was a school-house conapletely 
constructed and fitted up. There it stood, all fitted up for a school- 
house for educational purposes. When I went in and took a seat on 
the platform, I took a long breath. It was partly through fear, and 
partly through relief. I was almost afraid that I had brought over 
that American school-house. ^ [Great laughter.] But then I was re- 
lieved, and realized the fact that a kind Providence had prevented 
my committing such an ill-advised act. Well, I did not profess to 
know much about education. [Eenewed laughter.] I felt quite weak 
and humble. Here was a building, sent as a mere specimen of car- 
pentering, which was so much in the way of adaptability as a house 
of instruction that every minute of the hour spent in looking at it 
increased a sense of appreciation and wonder. After I had taken my 
seat, and remained quiet for several minutes, I began to look around 
and give audible expression to myself of my congratulations. I said to 
myself, "How fortunate you have been. O, presumptuous man ! you have 
escaped a disgrace, not to say a national disaster.'' And I reflected 
again and again. If I had the money which we so much desired, if I 
had command of the resources of the national treasury at Washington, 
I could not, so far as I know, have procured from any architect or com- 
mittee, or any superintebdent of schools in America, such an edifice as 
this; so complete, so admirable in all its parts. And I said to myself. 
Now, I think I know better than any other American how to fit up a 
school-room! 

I saw not only, Mr. President, an abundance and a profusion in every 
department, but there was such perfect taste and such just proportions. 
And I have said that if that school-house could be taken from Vienna, 
where I suppose it may be still remaining, and put up ou the ground at 
Philadelphia, in our national exposition, it will attract more attention, 
and elicit more applause, and produce more gratification jn the breast 
of every visitor coming from the Atlantic or Pacific coasts than any 
other item of the exhibition. I know it would appeal to the universal 
sense of propriety and adaptability in the judgment of every experienced 
teacher from Massachusetts to. (3alilbrnia, and from the northern lakes 



EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 15 

to the Gulf. And I say it deliberately, and with a caution against ex- 
aggeration, that that one thing, as an instructive exhibition, would pay, 
in its benefits to this country, for the whole exposition at Philadelphia. 

Now, this all comes under the t€xt which has been presented by our 
distinguished friend, the minister from Austria, who did such a great 
work at Vienna. I congratulate this convention that we have had this 
statement and illustration from our distinguished visitor, who has proved 
such a tower of strength for his nation, and for this class of instructing 
enterprises, whose directing genius and executive ability kept that 
grfeat exposition moving, and so shaped all its machinery that there was 
no disorder, but perfect harmony. And he will agree with me, I am sure, 
in what I have said of the benefits that would spring from a transplant- 
ing of that little Swedish school-house to the exposition at Philadelphia. 
We boast, sir, of our school-houses. Perhaps I spoke of them last year 
with a little too much severity. I have been sometimes a little sorry for 
some things which I said. I am inclined to change my phrase to this : I 
will say that the school-houses of this country are the glory of thiscountry, 
and they are ; but, at the same time, they are also the shame of this coun- 
try, because there has been so much money spent upon them, and yet so 
much money illy spent. There are very good school-houses. Of many 
of them we may boast in some measure ; but how much better they 
might have been with a proper use of the same amount of money. Or, 
on the other hand, they might have been just as good with a great deal 
less expenditure of money. 

I went and found in Vienna that there was a school-house far sur- 
passing any of which we could boast; better adapted, and better fur- 
nished in every respect, and I felt that it was my duty to return and say 
that we need to instruct ourselves by the experience and accomplish- 
ments of other nations. I have said as much and more than this in 
Boston. Yes ; I have said as much under the shadow of Bunker Hill. 
As an American, loving mj^ country, and proud of her, I feel that I must 
make this condition and statement everywhere when occasion seems to 
call for it. [Applause.] 



BBMARKS OF BARON VON SCHWARZ-SENBORN. 

I feel compelled to say a few words about the suggestion which was made by the 
honorable gentleman who has just spoken, in regard to the Vienna Exposition being a 
financial failure. 

I am not of the same opinion. It is true that both our Houses of Parliament granted 
only three million dollars appropriation for the exposition. And it is also true that 
the cost reached about six million dollars. From that sum must, however, be de- 
ducted the total amount of the receipts. The accounts of those revenues have not 
yet been cloSed. Besides, all the exhibition buildings, built of stone, brick, and iron, 
and representing many millions, are still standing. I think that not a cent has 
been lost, or was uselessly spent in the exposition ; but when you come to strike a 
balance, and consider the value of the buildings, I reckon the balance which remains 
is very small. I will not prove that even that cost will be covered. The account is 
very simple. Supposing that we had even expended the whole of the twelve million 
florins, or six million dollars, which is not the case, we must remember that the total 
number of our visitors at Vienna reached nearly six millions. Well, if every person 
who visited the exposition gained an intellectual benefit of only two dollars in value, 
there was made an actual gain over the money that really was spent by the govern- 
ment, besides the cost of the permanent improvements. I must confess for my part 
that I gained more, much more, and I would not give my experiences, knowledge, and 
instruction which I got at that exposition for many thousand dollars. I am advanced 
in years ; I cannot make materially profitable the knowledge which I gained in the ex- 
position ; but I am sure that a great majority of the younger portion of the people 
who visited there will use that knowledge to their future advantage. If you will allow 
me, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I wish to say one thing more, and that is, that in 



16 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 

Austria we attaeb the highest importanee to a certain system of education, which wo call 
eyesiglit or object teaching. May I at first make some remarks upon public instructioa 
as it now exists in Austria? The condition of the school-masters has there been greatly 
improved. Their position once was a very bad one. We have now made great advances 
in our system of instruction and in regard to the teachers. They did not^ formerly get 
as much money for their time as was necessary for a common livelihood ; but in the 
last ten years we have realized some of the great improvements of teaching for our 
children, and appreciate the teachers more than ever before ; and we are improving 
every day as much as we can. Our children have better instruction than ever, and 
our teachers are better. I think the time is not far distant when every child in 
Austria will not only be compelled to learn reading and writing in the primary schools, 
but also, at the same time, drawing. Thas have we provided for the youth ; but what 
must be done for those grown children, the adults, in Austria who have learned little 
or nothing? They did not have such large opportuuiti 3S of schooling as their children 
now enjoy. A man thirty or forty years of age cannot go to school, but he can be 
instructed by eyesight on object teaching, such as is afforded by the exhibitions, and 
other similar means. One of those means just referred to is traveling. What is travel ? 
Travel is education. Ton learn many things in traveling, by observation ; you are 
taught in that way. Therefore this is also teaching. A great German savant. Professor 
Yirchoer, made a verj' interesting and a very accurate remark, which could apply here. 
He said that ^' nothing which comes through your eyes into your head ever goes out." 
And so say I. The impressions which we obtain by the sense of sight affect the brain 
and change our views in the most favorable manner. That was the meaning, and the 
man who has seen many things — who has traveled a great deal, will have his intellectual 
faculties greatly improved. We observed in Austria, as well as in other parts of Eu- 
rope, another striking effect of these exhibitions. They improve in a remarkable way 
the public taste. The taste in former times in Austria was also a bad one. The people 
had not seen examples of tasteful and beautiful productions ; they had, therefore, no 
artistic judgment. They had no museums and schools for applying fine arts to indus- 
try ; for improving and correcting their taste, and for thus giving them the right ideas 
of the beautiful. The consequence was that in their buildings, furniture, and other 
things of common life, no taste was shown. But now, within a few years, and espe- 
cially since the Universal Exposition and the establishment of museums and schools, 
there has been a remarkable improvement. 

The same may be said of England. Every one who visited England on the occasion 
c^ the London Exhibition in 1851 will remember that the English manufactured arti- 
cles were very cheap, useful, and of the best quality, but the taste displayed thereia 
was awful. And now the English have, as a consequence of that exhibttion, im- 
mensely improved in their tastes ; and in the Vienna Exhibition of 187:5 we saw new 
evidence of this fact. Allow me to say, gentlemen, that a sincere friend should speak 
the truth, and that, as a sincere friend of America, who has the greatest sympathy for 
its people, in whose country I have learned, since my short stay of six months, a great 
deal, and where I hope to learn much more, it is my duty to say to them, in all truth 
and candor, that their public taste is in the same awful condition as was the public 
taste in England before their great exhibition of 1851. [Applause.] 

I am sure that the public taste in American can be improved to as great a degree 
within as short a time after the exposition of 1876 as that of England was improved 
after the London Exposition of 1851. I attach, therefore, immense importance to the 
cultivation of the fine arts as the means of refining the feelings of every man, and 
thereby improving the public taste. And I think this most desirable result will be 
attained, among other valuable ones, by the approaching international exposition in 
Philadelphia in 1876. 

Baron Von Schwarz-Senborn took his seat amid great applause. 

Mr. Philbeick. For myself, and I think I speak for all present, I 
am truly thankful for the remarks which his excellency the minister 
from Austria has given us. I fear that perhaps my remark in regard 
to the financial failure, so called, of the Austrian Exposition, may have 
been misunderstood by his excellency. I meant to say that the common 
rumor to that effect, shed abroad by newspaper reporters, was a super- 
ficial and erroneous statement. I intended to have said that the Aus- 
trian government appropriated six million florins at the outset, and, as 
I understood, was ready to foot the bills which might be brought in on 
account of the exposition in the end ; but there was no idea of going 
into the enterprise as a money- making speculation. I wanted to set 
aside that sordid idea for ourselves. Austria, realizing the grand bene- 
fits of such an exhibition, stood ready to pay its cost. The Austrian 



EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 17 

govern men t heartily approved the project, and expected the benefits 
which would indirectly flow from the exposition would more than com- 
pensate the government for any outlay that might occur. And I will 
say here, that there has been a marked progress in that country of late. 
During the past eight years, no country in Europe has made a greater 
progress in education and general enlightenment than the empire of 
Austria-Hungary. 

A discussion [see full reports of proceedings] upon matters of detail 
here ensued, in which the Eev. Mr. Harold, of Washington, D. C, 
Z. Eichards, esq., of Washington, General Eaton, and Mr. Wickersham, 
of Pennsylvania, participated. In the course of his remarks General 
Eaton paid an appreciative tribute to the management of Baron Von 
Schwarz-Senborn, as director-general of the Vienna Exposition, and to 
the widening educational influences of the exposition itself. Discussion 
upon the main question was resumed by Col. A. Abernethy, of Iowa. 

Mr. Abernethy, of Iowa. It seems to me, if I apprehend this mat- 
ter aright, that the chief purpose and duty of this committee will not be 
the securing or care of money, not at all. The object will be to system- 
atize and unify the educational representation at the exposition. But 
I wish simply to express my approval of the views submitted by Gen- 
eral Eaton. I am of the same opinion with him. I have come more 
than a thousand miles to attend this meeting, and I feel a great inter- 
est in the question which has been brought under discussion. I am 
glad it has been so thoroughly debated here to-day. Now, to show the 
point from which I view this matter, I will refer to the fact that we 
have a centennial board or commission in our State. We are taking 
this year a census, which will be much more complete than any we have 
taken before. I think it will be the most complete census of any State 
in the Union. Taking, of course, the last United States census as a 
basis. But a large number of items are to be added to it. The blanks 
are now in the hands of the oflScers, and they are taking a Very full ac- 
count of educational statistics. Statistics as to the age of children and 
their advance in education, and in regard to all the school agencies and 
the attendance; such statistics as we cannot get in our regular annual 
school-returns. The State board, which has the preparing of these 
statistics, allowed me to suggest any topic which I thought might be 
properly named in this connection. So that we shall have brought all 
that I can think of as desirable in such a collection of statistical facts. 
Now, I say, we desire to cooperate with a central organization in this 
matter of the exposition. Our State board of managers are anxious in 
regard to it. They have made me the offer of the secretaryship of the 
groups comprising the educational districts of the State. It is made up 
of thirty-two groups. It is desired to represent our educational inter- 
ests in as thorough a manner as the same interests were represented at 
Vienna by the Austrian government. * Now, then, having been tendered 
this secretaryship, I came here desiring to know how our statistics 
could be best represented. To illustrate our State system, I understand 
that it is not desired that we should bring any of our school-houses to 
the exposition. Is it desired that we should bring photographs of our 
best school-houses ? As to books, the publishers of text-books will be 
represented, and I presume it will not be expected that we should fur- 
nish samples. 

So will it be, I presume, with school manufactures; the manufacturers 

of school-furniture and the publishers of text-books will probably desire 

to represent those things. Now what can we bring from our State ? 

We can give a little brief history of our educational progress. Our 

2e 



18 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 

State associations will prepare such a history, but it will ouly make up 
a few pages. What we desire to learn is, how are we to represent our 
educational progress, our educational status, at the exposition ? How 
shall we show the manner in which the work is going on, and the stand- 
ard which has been reached! How are Pennsylvania, and Massachu- 
setts, and New York going to present their educational interests 1 If 
we had answers to these questions we would know how to begin, and 
how to move on. That is what we want to learn to-day, and I should 
be glad if the discussion should turn in that direction. We want infor- 
mation upon this very point; how can we present our educational 
matters at Philadelphia? We want to know that immediately. If I 
am to accept this secretaryship I want to know to whom I am to address 
circulars 5 what information w^e wish to try to gather for the purposes 
indicated ; how we shall present a fair statement of our educational 
matters at the exposition. I do believe that our State desires to be 
fully represented at this exposition ; and I think that if there is any- 
thing in which I take a just pride, it is in our school system. But I 
want information on this subject ; how are we to present ourselves at 
the door of the exposition ? 

Mr. WiCKERSHAM. That is the very question in point. We wish to 
to have this needed information disseminated. Now, here are gentle- 
men from all parts of the Union seeking this information. ' I found 
the same inquiry at Philadelphia. We must have some head from 
which this information can be sent abroad. First we must know what 
space we are going to have. Then some person in authority must de- 
termine the character of the exhibition. I take it that when this business 
committee is' appointed by this body, its members will confer with the 
centennial authorities and ascertain what their views are on the subject, 
and they will make some arrangements with the centennial authorities 
which will be specific and thoroughly intelligible, and upon which sat- 
isfactory communications can be sent to the superintendents in Iowa, 
and to all the proper educational authorities in the various States in 
the Union. The first duty laid upon this centennial commission, when 
our committee is appointed, will be to supply information in reply to 
these questions. I have been asked similar questions in Philadelphia, 
but I had to confess my inability to answer them. It is high time we were 
up and doing. I made inquiries myself at Philadelphia of the centen- 
nial authorities, but of course I could not obtain any thoroughly satis- 
factory replies. I had not the time to press inquiries that were proper, 
nor had I the authority to do so. The commission will tell j'ou in a 
general way that they mean to have at the exposition a large amount ot 
space devoted to educational purposes. Some will say that they want 
to devote more attention to that department than to anything else. But 
they have no clear ideas as to its character ; when you come to details, 
they can give you no reply. The question must be put authoritatively, 
how many square or cubic feet of space are you going to allow for the 
educational department ? And in regard to the characteristics of that 
department there must be courteous consultation with the centennial 
authorities, for they are the authorities in the premises. I repeat, it is 
necessary to get down to business principles, and when your committee 
has the proper authority to communicate with the centennial managers 
the information required will be rapidly obtained and promptly dissem- 
inated to all parts of the Union. Then we can go into the work of har- 
monious arrangement. Then the different States can fall into line in 
co-operation and contributions without hesitancy and without doubt, 
and all the desirable variety of exhibition can be secured to the satisfac- 



EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 19 

tion of each State, and for the promotion of the general interests of the 
exhibition. 

Mr. A. P. Marble, superintendent of schools at Worcester, Mass. As 
I understand the proposition, it seems to me that this is the most direct 
method for obtaining the result which we all desire. I understand that 
an executive committee is, under this 'resolution, to be formed out of the 
general committee, which embraces all the superintendents represented 
in this department. The object will be to have an efl&cient body of men, 
who can consult with the centennial authorities, and also raise the funds 
necessary for securing proper representation in the forthcoming exposi- 
tion. I think there will be entire unanimity in debating this proposi- 
tion ; but I rose more particularly to make a remark which I think will 
bring my friend Mr. Eichards into perfect harmony with the last speaker. 
The action of this body last year was published to the friends of educa- 
tion, and carried more particularly to the officers of the educational 
boards in the different States. That action was virtually adopted by 
the National Educational Association. I was an officer of that associa- 
tion and present at its last meeting, It seemed to be conceded that the 
action taken here was proper and sufficient. And although 1 am not 
authorized directly to speak for the National Educational Association, 
yet I am convinced that I am correct in saying that the action of this 
body wai5 virtually approved by the national society ; and that reliance 
is placed upon your action here in carrying out the objects which have 
been set forth by Mr. Wickersham. The National Educational Asso- 
ciation looks to this body, to this department, to adopt all necessary 
means for the end proposed. That, 1 understand, covers the objection 
raised by my friend on the left. 

Mr. Wickersham. I am very glad to hear of the explanation which 
has been made by the gentleman who has just taken his seat. I 
think it must remove any objection that can be properly raised against 
the adoption of this resolution. As far as I am concerned I take great 
pleasure in expressing my approval now of the motion as it stands. 

The resolution was then adopted by a unanimous vote of the conven- 
tion, and the president was instructed to appoint the committee. 

He subsequently named the following gentlemen : 

General John Eaton, United States Commissioner of Education, Wash- 
ington, D. C. ; Hon. J. P. Wickersham, State superintendent of com- 
mon schools, Pennsylvania 5 Hon. J. D. Philbrick, ex-superintendent of 
public schools, Boston, Mass. ; Hon. Alonzo Abernethy, State super- 
intendent of public schools, Iowa ; Hon. Wm. H. Ruffner, State super- 
intendent of public instruction, Virginia. 

Information of this action of the department was immediately for- 
warded to Hon. Mr. Goshorn, director- general of the international cen- 
tennial exhibition at Philadelphia, who replied as follows : 

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 

1876. 

United States Centennial Commission, 

Office of the Directoh-General, 

Philadelphiaj January 29, 1875. 

My Dear Sir: Your note of 28tb instaDt is received. I shall be pleased to confer 
with the committee of the National Edncational Association any day next week yoa 
may name. Please advise me of the day and hoar that will suit the convenience of 
the gentlemen. 

Yours truly, 

A. T. GOSHORN, Director-General 
Hon. John Eaton, 

Commissioner of Education, Washingtorij D, C, 



20 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 

It was convenient for four members of the committee, namely, Messrs. 
Wickersham, Pliilbrick, Aberuetby, and Eaton, to meet in Philadelphia, 
Wednesday, January — . After a discussion of the subject committed 
to them among themselves, they met the Hon. Mr. Goshorn at the rooms 
of the Centennial Commission, and had a full, free and very satisfactory 
conference upon the whole subject of the representation of education in 
the Exposition. 

The committee called attention to the action of the department of su- 
perintendence of the national educational association at the meeting a 
year ago, which they recommended : 

(1) That each State and Territory be invited to prepare a representa- 
tion of its educational condition for the Centennial. 

(2) That each State and Territory also be invited to prepare a histor- 
ical record of its educational progress for the same purpose. 

(3) That each city be invited to act with the State authorities in pre- 
paring such records, and that it present an exhibit of its own educa- 
tional growth and condition. 

(4) That each educational institution be invited to participate in the 
same way. i 

(5) That a census be taken in 1875. That the Commissioner of Ed- 
ucation be requested, on behalf of the educators of this couptry, to 
correspond with the prominent educators of the world, and invite their 
cooperation in the matter of the Centennial. 

(6) That an international educational congress be held in connection 
with the Centennial. 

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 passed last year. 

Eeferring 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 in- 
stitutions of learning, arising from the want of some definite plan, and 
the need of some immediate and authoritative action. 

State and city superintendents, officers of various institutions, are in- 
quiring, '^ 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 educa- 
tional 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 super- 
intendence of this national association, only as a medium of communi- 
cating 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 educa- 
tional, 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 



EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 21 

successfully represented ; and his gratification that this action had been 
taken by the department of superintendence of the National Teachers' 
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 
lioped that this communication would act provisionally, calling atten- 
tion to the subject, gathering information, and forming plans for his con- 
sideration 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. 

-Sik: 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 $40,000, 

* International Exhibition, 1876, United States Centennial Commission, Phil- 
adelphia, January 30, 1875. 

Sir: la behalf of the Uoited States Centennial Commission, I have the honor to di- 
rect your-attentioQ to several subjects connected with the International Exhibition of 
1876, of great importance to your Commonwealth, and for which provisions should be 
made this year. 

It has already become manifest that a large proportion of the articles to be exhibited 
win be provided for in a creditable manner by the manufacturers and producers of the 
several 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 minerals, soils, 
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 emigration and of investment of capi- 
tal. 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, geograph- 
ical position, government, laws, and punishment of crime, system of State and munici- 
pal taxation, revenue and expenditures, benevolent institutions and charities, educa- 
tion, scientiiic, industrial, commercial) learned and religious societies, agricultural and 
manufacturing interests, the extent and efiects of railroads and other means of trans- 
portation, the history and growth in population and wealth of the State. All these 
subjects, among 'others, ought to be 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 contemplates a rep- 
resentation 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. 

It is hoped, therefore, that each of the States, either by legislative action, or other- 
wise, will adopt such measures as may be deemed necessary to empower existing or- 
ganizations, or agencies to be created, to prepare an exhibition of its native resources 
and moral and political advancement — as herein indicated. A collective representa- 
tion 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. 

I How far your State will participate in these suggestions is a question that I have 

I the honor to most respectfully submit and recommend to your early consideration. 

Your obedient servant, 

A. T. GOSHORN, Director-GeneraL 
His Excellency, 

Governor of 



22 



EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 



for the 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 Eepresentatives. 

Very respectfully, yours, 

J. P. WICKERSHAM. 
JOHN D. PHILBRICK. 
ALONZO ABERNETHY. 
General John Eaton, 

United States Commissioner of Education^ 

Bureau of Education^ Washington^ 1). C. 



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RESOLUTIONS AND MEMORIALS 



RESPECTING 



THE BUREAU OF EDUCATION. 



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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 Saperintendence of the National Educational 
Association, recently held in Washington, D. C, the following resolution^, upon " The 
relation of the General Government 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 perform- 
ance of this duty we herewith present the proceedings above referred to, and most 
respectfully as^ for them such consideration on the part of your honorable body as may 
be proper. 

RESOLUTIONS. 

Besolvedy That this body reiterate and affirm the positions fcaken at its meeting in 
this place one year ago, as follows : 

First. That the Federal Government should leave to the people and local govern- 
ments of each State the management of their own educational affairs without inter- 
ference; 

Secondly. That great service was done to the cause of education by Congress in 
establishing and maintaining a Bureau or Department of Educatior^ whereby appro- 
priate information from all parts of the world may be gathered, digested, and dis- 
tributed, 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-author- 
ities 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 specially interested in the work of education in the 
different States and Territories, would do an incalculable amount of good, we there- 
fore respectfully patition Congress, in the interest of the education of the people, to 
take the necessary steps to bring about these desirable ends. 

ResoJvedf That a reasonable appropriation by the General Government is necessary 
to secure a full and creditable representation of the educational interests of the coun- 
try at the approaching Centennial Exposition, to be held at Philadelphia, and we sin- 
cerely hope that such an appropriation may be made by the Congress now in session. 

J. P. WICKERSHAM, 
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Pennsylvania, 
J. K. JILLSON, 
Superintendent of Public Instruction, South Carolina. 

JOHN D. PHILBRICK, 

Late Superintendent of Public Schools, Boston, 

ALONZO ABERNETHY, 

Superintendent of Public Instruction, Iowa, 

ALEXANDER C. HOPKINS, 

Superintendent of Public Instruction, Indiana, 

B. G. NORTHROP, 
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 Massachu- 

3e 



26 EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 

f 

setts 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 Governm^t 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, 
toward 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., 

6. 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^ystems e£(tab- 
lished 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, crimd, and pauperism. 

7. That as no State can justly be expected to collate such information and freely dis- 
seminate 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. 

8. 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 Na- 
tional Bureau of^ducation 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, 
JOHN D. PHILBRICK, 
A. P. MARBLE, 
CHARLES HAMMOND, 
A. P. STONE, 
Committee of the Massachusetts State Teachers^ Association. 



RESOLUTION OF THE INDIANA STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, DECEM- 
BER 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 h'im to carry on more successfally 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 effectual super* 
vision of schools a law should be enacted providing for the appointment of a compe" 
tent 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 pub- 
lic 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 United States Commissioner of Educa- 
tion, and fully indorse'that work ; and we respectfully ask our Senators and Represent- 
atives in Congress to render the Bureau of Education every possible facility for collect- 
ing 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, dis- 
tributing the interest accruing among the several States on the basis of illiteracy. 



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EDUCATION AT THE CENTENNIAL. 27 

Resolved, That as citizeDship under onr form of government throws npon eaeh oiti 
zen 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 
tbe United States and the State of Missouri, as well as the general principle 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 recom- 
mend 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 desir- 
able. 

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, 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-COM- 
MISSIONERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS AT SYRACUSE, DECEMBER 30, 1874. 

Whereas the people of the United States have admitted, or are rapidly admitting, to 
fnU political privileges, millions of freedmen and refugees, utterly uninstructed and 
destitute of that preliminary knowledge necessary to the safe use of the elective fran- 
chise; 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 Congress of the United States 
calculated to meet this emergency : 

Resolved, That, in the opinion of ^his 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 land 
sales, 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 
on the part of a large number of Representatives, of the Bureau of Instruction at 
Washington, the great value of which we have learned by our individual experience, 
not as building up a central power in education at the national capital, which it 
appears to us inadequate ever to do, but as enabling those engaged in education in the 
various States to have access to the information necessary to make their work thorough 
and efficient. 

Resolved, That we tender our thanks to those Representatives who have endeavored 
to carry out a statesman-like policy on this question, and that a'copy of these resolu- 
tions be sent to each of the Senators and Representatives from this State, and to the 
papers for publication. 



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