The National Education Association: Its History, Work and Mission

Improvement Era Vol. XVI JULY, 1913 No. 9 The National Education Association' Its History, Work and Mission BY EDWARD H. ANDERSON Salt Lake City and Utah have for their guests this month the largest education association in the world — the National Education Association, which meets July 5 to 11. While it is the largest organization of the kind in the world, some of the readers of the Era may not have an adequate conception of its purpose and mission or the great volume of business done by its officials, nor of the great number of people who are interested permanently and temporarily in the association. Secretary Durand W. Springer reports that his postage bill amounts to something over $2,000 a year and that since last September over 20,000 letters have been deposited in the local postoffice at Ann Arbor, Michigan, the present residence city of the secretary. The permanent fund of the association amounts to $190,000, and yields an income in interest of $7,000 a year. For the year 1912 the association received from various sources nearly $50,000, and the total expenses for the year, including nearly $10,000 which was transferred to the permanent fund, approximated $45,000, leaving still a balance of $4,000 in the treasury. HISTORY AND GROWTH OF THE ASSOCIATION It is difficult to determine the question of priority of organization among several educational associations of a national or semi-national character that arose in the early history of the United States. It appears that the earliest activity in the direction of a national organization for the advancement of educational interests in the United States took place in 1830 and the following *The writer is indebted to Secretary Durand W. Springer for reports, bulletins, and historical documents from which the facts in this article are culled ; also for the portraits accompanying.

844 IMI'U* >'!MI NT I < \ years. Tt has been quite definitely determined that the position of seniority belongs t<> the American [nstitute of Instruction which was organized in I '»< •- 1< >n. Massachusetts, in August, 1830, the DR. EDWARD T. FAIRCHILD, PRESIDENT NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION preliminary meeting having hecn 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

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 845 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 comradeship 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 out its early prophd. W. SPRINGER, SECRETARY NATIONAL EDUCAecy of service to the TION ASSOCIATION public". 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.

846 I.MI'Ki IVEMENT I R \ 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 tinMall of the Controller of Public Schools, October 17 t<> 1''. 1X4*'. under the presidency of Hon. Horace Mann, member of Congress, and late secretary of the Board of Education for the state of Massachusetts. Jt 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 w a s 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 the organization 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 itbylaws were adopted at the Los Angeles meeting, in 1907. ROBT. J. ALEY, PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY OF MAINE, AND SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THE COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 847 MEMBERSHIP Besides its active membership, which is over eight thousand, it has an associate membership which varies yearly from five to ten thousand. The active 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 rein a i n permanently 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 members 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 Two meetings of the association are held each year. The summer meeting, generally held in July, and which is by far the most largely attended, attracts usually from twelve to fifteen

S4S imi'k< ) vi-: mi-: nt i:ka 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. 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 occasion. 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 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. w 1 ' jfo^ STANLEY BROWN, JOLIET, N. E. A. ILL., TRUSTEE

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 849 WORK OF THE ASSOCIATION A highly important part of the work of the National Education Association is the educational investigation carried on under the direction of the National Council, a body of one hundred and twenty members representing every phase of educational activity. Several of the departments often appoint committees to make special investigations, and reports are published in pamphlet form including such subjects as, "Teaching Morals in the Public Schools of the United States," "Provisions for Exceptional Children in Public Schools," "The Place of Industry in Public Education," etc. In the history of the organization, hundreds of these committees, composed of the greatest educators in the country, have submitted reports which stand as the very highest authority on the different subjects with which they deal. Some of these were published years ago, but many of the ideas which they present are still entirely in accord with those of the present day. These pamphlets are selling in large numbers. At the last meeting of the association $8,735 was appropriated for the use of committees making these investigations, for this year. The members from Utah in this National Council are State Supt. A. C. Nelson who has held the position since 1908, and Supt. D. H. Christensen, of the Salt Lake City schools, since 1911. Aside from the publications of the National Council, there is a book which contains the proceedings of the mid-winter meeting entitled, "Proceedings of the Department of Superintendents," also a book entitled "The Addresses" containing all that takes Jy. JOYNER, RALEIGH, N. C, STATE SUPT. PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

K5<) I.MI'K* iVIMI NT I R \ place at the summer meeting; then a year book which contains a report "i' all business, and the names, titles and positions of all the active members. Since there air 350 pages in this volume which ci mtains the names and addresses of e i g li t thousand members, kept upto-date, it may well be imagined that this requires .threat labor on the part of tlic secretary's office. OFFICERS AND STATE DIRECTORS At the annual meeting a director from every state is elected ; also a president, eleven vice-presidents, and a treasurer are elected. The Board of Directors consists of these persons, and the expresidents of the association hecome life-directors. The president and vice-president, and the treasurer, are elected every year, and the retiring president always becomes the first vicepresident. The directors hold two meetings each year, and in the interim business is carried on by the executive committee consisting of the president, vice-president, treasurer and the chairman of the hoard of five trustees, and one director selected from the board. All the property owned by the association is held by the Board of Trustees, who are also the custodians of the permanent fund. These trustees are elected by the directors for a period of four years one being elected each year. The hoard of trustees elects th • secretary who is the .administrative officer of the organization. There is also an Executive Committee of five. The intent of so placing the election of the secretary, was to give the office an element of permanency. The last incumbent, as stated, held the office for nearly twenty year-, and then resigned. Each of the departments selects its own officers— president, vice-presiGEORGE B. Cook. STATE SUPT. PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, LITTLE ROCK. ARK.

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 851 dent and secretary, and the National Council, having' charge of all the educational investigations, have in addition an executive committee of three members. Utah was first connected with the Education Association by a state director in the year 1874, when Territorial Superintendent of Schools O. H. Riggs was chosen to that position, holding the place until 1877. From that time up to 1884, Utah was not represented in the organization. At this date Prof. J. M. Coyner became state director for Utah and held the place until 1886. The association met at Topeka, Kansas, in that year, at which time Edward H. Anderson, then superintendent of schools of Weber County, became state director, 1886-7 ; he was followed by Prof. W. M. Stewart, 1887-88 ; J. F. Millspaugh, 1888-89. Three years again passed, to 1892, when Utah was not represented ; then J. F. Millspaugh was again chosen for 1892-3 ; Ella M. Dukes, 1894-5 ; W. R. Malone, 1895-7; Dr. J. M. Tanner, 1897-99; F. B. Cooper, 1899-1901 ;W. J. Kerr, 1901-4; A. C. Nelson, 1904-5; D. H. Christensen, 1905-10; G. N. Child, 1910-13. THE SECRETARY Practically all the business of the association is handled through the office of the secretary, excepting the collection of dues at the summer meeting. Mr. Durand W. Springer, the present secretary, was elected in 1912. Mr. Irwin Shepard, who preceded him, acted from 1893 to July, 1912, and he devoted his entire time to the work of the association since 1898. During his incumbency the association's permanent fund grew from $40,000 to $190,000 in 1912. The Secretary is charged with great responsibility, his list of duties being long and varied. He is the administrative officer, the secretary of the Executive Committee, of the Board of Directors, and of the active members at the annual meeting. He is charged with issuing all the volumes of proceedings, with making arrangements for holding meetings, and with the printing and distribution of the bulletins and official programs. One of the great problems requiring careful attention is the railroad rates, and concessions. He must deal with eight different railroad systems in the United States, securing rates for the members wherever they reside. The second problem is the local conditions in the city in which the meeting is to be held. In order to handle such a large number in a satisfactory manner the preliminary arrangements must be carefullv worked out ahead of time. The third problem, much more easily met, is the arrangement for receiving the annual dues, distributing badges, and printing and distributing the annual programs. Members who attend the annual meeting must pay their dues at the tfme, but all the permanent members who do not attend the meeting must receive notice of their dues.

852 IMPROVF.MKNT ERA The editing of the manuscript for the "Addresses," and "Proceedings'' ( 1 .427 pages for 1912) and the proof reading are no small tasks. Furthermore, at least a third of the 3,000 active meml era change their residences each year, and every name on the "Year book" must be checked before the book can be issued. The office is a center for all kinds of questions in regard to educational matters, requiring considerable time in looking up the information desired. At the meeting in Salt Lake City it is likely that the headquarters of the secretary's office will be changed from Ann Arbor, to Washington, since the permanent heado|iiarters are determined by the board of directors, and Mr. Springer asked that the office be only temporarily located in Ann Arbor. MISSION OF THE N. E. A. At the national gathering of teachers and superintendents in Philadelphia, in 1849, which movement was destined to continue through the National Teachers' Association, and later the National Education Association, Hon. Horace Mann, its president, gave an opening address from which we quote. His inspiring and even prophetic words may be said to outline the mission of the association up to our own day, and are as applicable now as then, insofar as they have not yet been fulfiled : "By the communion and the sympathy of assemblies like this we can not only enlighten the guiding forces of the mind, but we can generate the impulsive forces of the heart. We cannot only diffuse new intelligence, but we can excite new enthusiasm. Throughout the whole country the machinery of education needs to be increased in strength, and worked by a mightier power. In all material interests we are proverbial as a people for our enterprise. Let us seek for our country the higher honor of becoming proverbial in our regard for moral and spiritual interests. Let us devise systems of education that shall reach every child that is born in the land; and, wherever political privileges exist, let the intelligence be imparted and the virtues inculcated, which alone can make those privileges a blessing. ***** "Look, too, at the condition of our country, and see what need there is of comprehensiveness in our plans and of energy in their administration. We have a higher object than to prepare a system of education for any one locality, or for any one party. To the West a region spreads out almost interminably — a region to be soon filled, not with savages, but either with Christians, or with men as much worse than savages as Christians are better. On the East, there comes pouring in upon us a new population, not of our own production, not of American parentage nor the growth of American institutions. Owing to the marvelous improvements in the art of transportation, the

THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 853 Atlantic Ocean has been narrowed almost to a river's breadth. The western and the eastern continent by the power of these improvements lie side by side of each other. Their shores, for thousands of miles, like two ships, lie broadside and broadside ; and from stem to stern the emigrant population of Europe is boarding us, tens of thousands in a day. We must provide for them, or we will all sink together. "And what are we doing to prepare for the great exigencies of the future, which the providence of God seems to have placed in our hands; and, I speak with reverence, to have left to our disposal? A responsibility is upon us that we cannot shake off. We cannot escape with the lying plea of Cain, 'Am I my brother's keeper?' Let us then be aroused by every consideration that can act upon the mind of a patriot, a philanthropist', or a Christian; and let us give our hands, our heads, and our hearts to the great work of human improvement, through the instrumentality of free, common schools. As far as in us lies, let us save from ruin, physical, intellectual and moral, the thousands and hundreds of thousands, aye, the millions and hundreds of millions of the human race, to whom we are bound by the ties of a common nature and of kindred blood, and who, without our assistance, will miserably perish, but with our assistance may be saved to usefulness and honor, and immortal glory." RESIDENCE DISTRICT, EAST ON SOUTH TEMPLE ST., SALT LAKE CITY