directing the secretary of the Association, in printing the proceedings of the Department, to use such amended spellings regularly, until instructed otherwise by vote, as might be prescribed by a committee consisting of Dr. W. T. Harris, Superintendent F. Louis Soldan, and Superintendent T. M. Balliet. This committee designated the twelve words which by subsequent vote by the board of Directors have since been used in all the printed matter issued by the N. E. A. All will admit that the initial step has borne fruit. It gave standing and impetus to the spelling reform idea which were sorely needed. For the past ten years this Department has been the arena in which the contest for rational spelling has been waged. Echoes from the debates on the platform and on this floor have reached the outside world every year, and have served to convince it as nothing else has or could, that in this reform there is sound sense.

Eight years ago, I believe, in this very place, occurred the memorable debate as to whether or not the Department should petition the board of directors to appoint a board of 21 prominent public men to head the movement, with Dr. Wm. R. Harper as chairman-all of them being specifically named in the resolution with their consent--and to give it annually a considerable sum of money for promotion work. Many of you remember the excitement of that session. Its like has never occurred on any other occasion in the history of the department. Tho the proposition lacked seven votes, I believe, of carrying, the uniform courtesy and good humor which prevailed thruout, the cogent arguments which remained unanswered, and the fact that those 21 men had enough interest in and respect for spelling reform to allow themselves to be nominated in the proposed petition-this produced a strong impression in favor of the general cause and even in favor of the appropriation. Its practical effect was as intended, to fix in the mind of our educators, and as far as possible in the mind of the public, a definite process and policy by which this reform would be lifted from its estate of contempt and ridicule and could be pushed and kept within moderate lines, safe from radicals, and zealots. The plan of organized effort proposed and emphasized in that debate led directly to the establishment of the present Simplified Spelling Board, and eight of the proposed members nominated at that time have seats today on the present board.

The next salient move was at the Atlanta meeting where a decisive victory of nearly 3 to I was scored in favor of petitioning the directors to appoint the board and to appropriate money for its use. The matter was duly laid before the board of directors who according to the rule referred it to the Council of Education where dilatory if not unfair tactics in regard to it prevailed for two or three years. In the meantime, thru representations originating from the same source that had shaped the various propositions which year by year had been brought before this department, Mr. Andrew Carnegie decided to finance a trial of the "Board" plan of a simplified-spelling propaganda, and the present Simplified Spelling Board, on his invitation and promise to furnish funds, came into being a year ago, and has been at work since.

Ten years is a long time "to labor and to wait," to labor and to wait so strenuously. But the fruit is coming, slowly to be sure, but with certainty I believe. While I regret that the N. E. A. did not take what seems to me its logical and natural step as petitioned by the superintendents, it is of the greatest credit to the educators that it has done what it has, that it has fairly and fully faced this question, that it has focused public attention upon it, that by discussion it has clarified the spelling reform propositions, and by its own example and precept has shown how progress can be made. I believe the majority of you appreciate and commend the courage and the progressive spirit of the millionaire philanthropist who, by his timely and effective support of this reform, has added a unique epitaph on his monument for posterity to read.

Before submitting my resolutions it seems fitting that I should make a brief statement of the present situation as reported by the secretary of the Simplified Spelling Board:

More than 14,000 persons have signed the promise to use the simpler spellings recommended by the board, among them 4,000 educators-superintendents of schools, professors in colleges and universities, presidents of colleges and universities, etc.

Simplified spellings have been adopted or authorized in many school systems, normal schools, colleges, universities, and libraries, and recommended by state and local educational associations.

Not only have the philologists and linguistic scholars generally reaffirmed their urgent approval of simplified spelling, but a large number of scientists have done the same.

President Roosevelt has adopted simplified spelling in his personal and official correspondence, and in further testimony of his approval of the principle and the practice he has accepted membership in the Simplified Spelling Board. The principal circulars of the board have been reprinted by the government and circulated in government offices everywhere.

Altho no formal canvass has yet been undertaken abroad, inquiries come daily from Great Britain, Canada, and Australia, and from every country where English is spoken or taught. In England and Scotland especially there is great interest. Six eminent scholars in Great Britain and two in Canada are members of the American board and will assist in the plans for an international effort to promote the reform.

About 150 periodicals, many of national circulation, are now using simplified spellings, and more have agreed to join a general league of periodicals in an advanced step.

More than 2,000 business men, firms, and corporations are using the simpler spellings in their correspondence and advertisements.

I submit, Mr. President, that this is a pretty good record. It shows that every man and woman who believes in this movement may now lend a hand with safety and with assurance that his influence will count. Whether the time has come for an advance step we all leave, of course, for the Simplified Spelling Board to decide. But I desire to submit two resolutions, to be voted on separately, which for its own sake as well as for the sake of the cause, I hope the Department will adopt. These are the two resolutions:

Resolved: (1) That the Department of Superintendence, N. E. A., hereby expresses its gratification at the creation and the policy of the Simplified Spelling Board, and at President Roosevelt's active and conspicuous support of the simplified spelling movement.

Resolved: (2) That it is the judgment of this Department that all school authorities should permit and encourage the use of the simpler spellings, recommended by the Simplified Spelling Board, by all teachers and pupils who feel inclined to use them.

I move the adoption of the first resolution.

John MacDonald, Topeka, Kan., moved that the resolution be referred to the committee on Resolutions.

J. D. Simpkins, Newark, Ohio, opposed the motion of Mr. MacDonald, on the ground that it throttled free discussion.

The motion to refer to the Committee on Resolutions was then put and lost.
The vote then recurred on the original motion, which was carried.

Mr. Vaile then moved the adoption of the second resolution. Arthur Powell, Middleton, Ohio, moved that the words "and encourage," be stricken out of the resolution. This amendment was accepted by Mr. Vaile and his second, and with this modifica tion the resolution was put and lost.

A reconsideration of the vote on the first resolution was then called for. This was granted, and on a standing vote, the first resolution was again carried. President Stetson then announced the following committees:

The evening session was called to order at 8:15 by President W. W. Stetson. The first number on the program was a selection by the Imperial Quartette of Chicago.

The address of the evening was delivered by Chancellor E. Benjamin Andrews, of the University of Nebraska, on the subject, "The Problems of Greater America.". Adjournment was taken to 9:30 A. M., Wednesday, February 27.

SECOND DAY

MORNING SESSION.-WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1907

The morning session of the Department was called to order by President W. W. Stetson, at 9:30 o'clock.

An invocation was offered by Dr. Nathan C. Schaeffer, of Pennsylvania. The following communication from the Science Department of the University of Chicago was read, and, on motion, referred to the Committee on Resolutions:

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

RYERSON PHYSICAL LABORATORY

CHICAGO, February 25, 1907.

W. W. Stetson, Esq., President of the Department of Superintendence:

MY DEAR SIR: It has been suggested to me that possibly the Department of Superintendence might like to co-operate with a number of other organizations in the country in a very interesting piece of educational work. This work is an extensive investigation into the shortcomings of the work in physics in the schools, and an attempt to suggest methods by which this subject may be made more valuable to the students. The work was begun last year by the North Central Association of Colleges and Preparatory Schools, acting in co-operation with the Central Association of Science and Mathematics Teachers. These two associations have invited others to co-operate in the work, and fifteen have responded by appointing committees to take part in it. Among these associations are

the American Physical Society, the New England Association of Colleges and Preparatory Schools, the Association of Colleges and Preparatory Schools of the Southern States, The New York State Science Teachers' Association, etc. The committees appointed by these seventeen associations have organized into one large committee, with fifty-seven members, and are engaged in framing a new set of requirements for the unit in physics, and in drawing up a set of suggestions to help the teacher in making the subject more truly educative.

The fifty-seven members of the committee are all physics teachers excepting four, who are specialists in education, namely, Professors P. H. Hanus, John Dewey, G. H. Mead, and M. V. O'Shea. The work is being carried on by means of printed circulars and letters, samples of which are inclosed.

In the course of the investigation there have several times arisen points of administrative policy, which would be of great interest to your body, and in the solution of which we need your assistance. One such point now under discussion is that of the certification of physics teachers, the admission to college by certificate, and the accrediting of secondary schools. As chairman of the large committee or commission, I take this liberty of writing to you to suggest that we would be much pleased to have the Department of Superintendence appoint a committee of three or five members to help us in this work. We are finding that the investigation cannot be confined to the subject of physics alone, but is bound to include before it is finished the other sciences. Hence the work is bound to be one of considerable scope and importance before it is finished.

During the past year, I have had some light correspondence concerning this work with your second vice-president, Mr. R. J. Tighe, with Mr. E. E. Brown, the national commissioner, with Mr. J. H. Van Sickle, and others, to whom you could refer for further information. I also expect to attend most of the meetings, and would be glad to furnish additional information. I hope it is not too late to bring this matter before the section for action at this meeting. Thanking you for any attention you may be willing to give to this, I am,

A paper on the first topic, "What Fraction of the Pupils in Our Secondary Schools Cannot Derive Compensating Advantages Therefrom?" was read by W. J. S. Bryan, principal of the Central High School, St. Louis, Mo.

The theme of the second topic was "What Has Been the Effect on the Pupil of the Multiplication of Subjects of Study and of Refinement of Methods?" The subject was discussed by Commissioner E. A. Jones, Columbus, Ohio.

The third paper of the morning, on "Order of Development and Studies Suited to Each Stage," was read by W. E. Chancellor, superintendent of schools, Washington, D. C. Discussion followed by J. W. Crabtree, president of State Normal School, Peru, Neb., and Francis G. Blair, state superintendent of public instruction, Springfield, Ill.

At this point Dr. W. T. Harris, former United States Commissioner of Education, was invited to the rostrum and given an ovation of enthusiastic applause by the Department. He spoke briefly on the topics under discussion.

BUSINESS SESSION

President N. C. Schaeffer, of the National Educational Association, then addressed the Department on the subject of the fiftieth anniversary meeting of the Association, explaining the reasons for holding the meetings in Los Angeles instead of in Philadelphia. Mr. E. C. Moore, superintendent of city schools, of Los Angeles, was then introduced, and extended a cordial welcome to the superintendents and teachers to the meeting at Los Angeles.

Superintendent W. H. Maxwell, of New York, chairman of the Committee on Nominations, then read the following recommendation of officers for the ensuing year:President-Frank B. Cooper, Seattle, Washington.

First Vice-President-Stratton D. Brooks, Boston, Massachusetts.
Second Vice-President-Ella C. Sullivan, Chicago, Ill.
Secretary-George B. Cook, Hot Springs, Arkansas.

On motion, the report of the committee was accepted, and the nominees declared elected.

The question of the place of meeting for the year 1908 was then taken up, and Superintendent W. E. Chancellor, of Washington, D. C., extended an invitation to the Department to meet in that city. Superintendent E. G. Cooley, of Chicago, invited the Department to meet again in Chicago.

Superintendent M. A. Whitney, Elgin, Illinois, moved that the Department accept Superintendent Chancellor's invitation to meet in Washington. Superintendent C. G. Pearse, of Milwaukee, seconded the motion, and, on vote, the invitation to meet in Washington in 1908 was unanimously accepted.

The morning session closed with a song from the Imperial Quartette, commemorative of the birthday of Henry W. Longfellow.

AFTERNOON SESSION

ROUND-TABLE SESSIONS

The following programs were carried out during the afternoon from 2:30 to 6:00 o'clock P. M.

A. ROUND TABLE, STATE AND COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS

Leader-Thomas C. Miller, state superintendent of free schools, Charleston, W. Va Topic-"The Country School and Its Betterment."

(a) How to Improve Rural Schools: Miss Katherine L. Craig, state superintendent of public instruction, Denver, Colo.

(b) Rural School Supervision: J. W. Olsen, state superintendent of public instruction, St. Paul, Minn.; Discussion led by R. B. Cousins, state superintendent of public instruction, Austin, Texas; C. F. Baxter, State Superintendent of public instruction, of New Jersey.

(c) A Course of Study for District Schools: M. Bates Stephens, state superintendent of public education, Annapolis, Md.

(d) Manual Training in Rural Schools: Arthur H. Chamberlain, dean and professor of education, Throop Polytechnic Institute, Pasadena, Cal.

(e) The Consolidated School and the New Agriculture: O. J. Kern, county superintendent of schools, Rockford, Ill. Discussion led by E. E. Balcomb, department of agriculture and physiography, Southwestern State Normal School, Weatherford, Okla.; Cap E. Miller, county superintendent of schools, Sigourney, Iowa.

(f) The Value of Educational Campaigns: J. L. McBrien, state superintendent of public instruction, Lincoln, Nebraska. Discussion led by Mason S. Stone, superintendent of education for Vermont.

(g) School Board Convention: C. P. Cary, state superintendent of public instruction, Madison, Wis. Discussion led by Mason S. Stone, state superintendent of education, Montpelier, Vt.

B. ROUND TABLE, CITY SUPERINTENDENTS OF MEDIUM AND SMALLER CITIES

Leader-George B. Cook, superintendent of schools, Hot Springs, Ark.

(a) The Advantages and Disadvantages of Changing the Elementary Course from Eight to Seven Years and of Making the High-School Course Five Years: James M. Greenwood, superintendent of schools, Kansas City, Mo. Discussion led by J. H. Phillips, superintendent of schools, Birmingham, Ala.; R. B. D. Simons, superintendent of schools, Hannibal, Mo.

(b) What Should the Smaller Cities Attempt for the Education of Defective ChildrenPhysical, Mental, and Moral? John Dietrich, superintendent of schools, Colorado Springs, Colo. Discussion led by Geo. A. Franklin, superintendent of schools, Faribault, Minn.; J. W. Kuykendall, superintendent of schools, Fort Smith, Ark.

(c) The Relation of the Physical Nature of the Child to His Mental and Moral Development: George W. Reid, superintendent of schools, Monroe, La.; John A. Stewart, superintendent of schools, Bay City, Mich.

(d) An Overcrowded Curriculum: G. V. Buchanan, superintendent of schools, Sedalia, Mo.

C. ROUND TABLE, CITY SUPERINTENDENTS OF LARGER CITIES Leader-W. H. Elson superintendent of Schools, Cleveland, Ohio. Topic "The Need for Special Classes."

(a) Is There Need for Industrial Schools for Pupils Unlikely to Complete the Regular Elementary School Course and Go on to the High School? Should It Provide Trade Instruction? Samuel P. Orth, member of board of education, Cleveland, Ohio; L. D. Harvey, superintendent of schools, Menomonie, Wis.; F. B. Dyer, superintendent of schools, Cincinnati, Ohio. Discussion led by Henry P. Emerson, superintendent of city schools, Buffalo, N. Y.

(b) At What Should the Ungraded Room Aim and for What Class of Pupils Should It Provide? C. R. Frazier, superintendent of schools, Winona, Minn. Discussion led by W. L. Stephens, superintendent of schools, Lincoln, Neb.; C. F. Carroll, superintendent of schools, Rochester, N. Y.; George A. Chamberlain, principal East Division High School, Milwaukee, Wis.

(c) The Separation of Physically and Mentally Defective Children from the Regular School: C. G. Pearse, superintendent of schools, Milwaukee, Wis.

(d) The Separation of the Insubordinate and Incorrigible Children from the Regular School: W. C. Martindale, superintendent of schools, Detroit, Mich.; W. N. Clifford, superintendent of schools, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

EVENING SESSION

The evening session of the department was called to order at 8:15 by President W. W. Stetson.

Music was furnished by the Imperial Quartette.

The address of the evening was delivered by Rabbi Emil G. Hirsch, of Chicago, on the subject, "Many or One."

THIRD DAY

MORNING SESSION.-THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28

The session was called to order by President Stetson at 9:30 o'clock.

The invocation was offered by Rev. Joseph Stoltz of Chicago.

The first topic of the morning-"Should the School Furnish Better Training for the Non-average Child ?"-was discussed by John R. Kirk, president of the State Normal School, Kirksville, Mo.

The assigned speaker on the second topic-Professor P. P. Claxton, of the University of Tennessee-was unable to be present, and his place was taken by Superintendent J. M. Greenwood, of Kansas City. The subject was "Are We Experimenting Too Much and Devoting Too Little Time and Effort to the Fundamentals?"

The third topic of the morning-"What Are the Essentials in Subjects in the Elementary-School Course ?"-was presented by Elmer E. Brown, United States Commissioner of Education, Washington, D. C.

President N. C. Schaeffer then read an invitation to attend the International Peace Congress, New York, April 14-17.

The papers of the morning were discussed by Chas. H. Keyes, supervisor of South District Schools, Hartford, Conn.; C. F. Carroll, superintendent of schools, Rochester, N. Y.; Chas. A. McMurry, acting president State Normal School, California, Pa.; Mrs. Grace Reed, principal of John B. Drake School, Chicago, Ill.; F. Louis Soldan, superintendent of instruction, St. Louis, Mo.; Geo. E. Gay, superintendent of schools, Haverhill, Mass.; F. D. Boynton, superintendent of schools, Ithaca, N. Y. James H. Van Sickle, superintendent of schools, Baltimore, Md., then presented a report of the Com mittee on History, of which he was chairman.

The morning session closed with music by William Wade Hinshaw, of Chicago.

AFTERNOON SESSION

The department was called to order at 2:30 P. M. by President Stetson.

The first paper of the afternoon was read by Superintendent A. V. Storm, Iowa City Iowa, on the subject “Minimum Qualifications for Teachers of the Elementary School."