fully and accurately made, and renews the recommendations of the report of last year for a new survey. CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION. In reference to the representation of the educational interests of Massachusetts at the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, the Board of Education, in compliance with the request of the governor and council to take charge of the educational department at the exhibition, and under the impression that the success or failure of Massachusetts in the educational department of the exhibition depended upon its action, took measures to authorize the Secretary of the Board, with such assistance as he might need, to make all necessary arrangements for the representation of the educational interests of the State at the exhibition. Before anything had been done, except to engage the services of Hon. John D. Philbrick, commissioners for the State of Massachusetts were appointed by the governor and council. In the matter of the action of the commissioners, and in explanation of the views and action of the Board of Education, the Board adopts, as a part of its Report, an extract from a circular issued by its committee, entitled, "International Exhibition. Department of Education and Science. "The commissioners of Massachusetts, with the approval of the governor and council, have committed the special interests of Massachusetts, in the department of education and science, to the State Board of Education, which has appointed Messrs. Gardiner G. Hubbard, A. A. Miner and Joseph White a committee on the subject, with full power. This committee have selected an agent, Mr. John D. Philbrick, who, in addition to his experience as superintendent of schools in Boston, was commissioner for education in Vienna. "Entire harmony exists between the various commissioners, and each will coöperate with and aid the others. "The chief interest in the department of education must necessarily attach to the state exhibitions, each of which will occupy a place according to its relative value. "The exhibition of each State will be so arranged that its system of instruction, from the lowest kindergarten school to the highest university, can be examined step by step, and compared at each step with that of other States. "Massachusetts has always been noted for the advanced position she has taken in the education of her children. Hers were the first free Public Schools and the first Normal Schools, and Harvard College was the first university in our country. Her system of High Schools is almost unique. Her technical schools are in some respects superior to those of other States. Her Normal Art-School is the first and only one in the country. Her colleges for women are of the highest order, while the Smith College in Northampton is the only one in the country whose standard for admission is the same as that of most of the colleges for men. Massachusetts is at present making a more liberal outlay for the education of her people than any other country of the world. She alone, of the States of the Union, received the grand diploma at the Universal Exposition at Vienna." The committee of the Board requested their agent to prepare a statement of the space required for the educational exhibit at the Centennial, and had plans made showing the disposition of the space, which were presented to the executive committee of the Centennial by Mr. Hill, of the Massachusetts commission. This was the first application for space in the department of education and science, and required as much room as had been set apart for the entire educational interests of the whole country. The Hon. G. B. Loring, of the Massachusetts Centennial Board, and also one of the executive committee, having made an earnest appeal to the committee for the erection of a building to be devoted exclusively to the department of education and science, a vote was passed by the executive committee requesting the finance committee to appropriate the sum of $25,000 for this purpose, and we have reason to think this appropriation will be made, and a suitable building erected. In order to crown our own educational exhibition with success, there is needed a representation of several of our institutions, which will make our display attractive to the eye, and also of great interest, as being unique; but then a proper exhibition requires a larger appropriation than has been made. Unless these institu tions are represented, Massachusetts will not take the place in this department which it should occupy. We have received from the commissioners of the State every aid which they could render, and are greatly indebted to them. It is the opinion of the Board that it will be impossible to do justice to the educational character of Massachusetts at the Centennial Exhibition upon the amount which the commissioners have felt at liberty to appropriate for the purpose, and that in some way a larger sum should be realized. In view of the honorable record of the State, the Board of Education makes its annual report to the legislature with the firm conviction that in order to enable her future to compare favorably with her past, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is bound to be liberal in her appropriations, and faithful and unremitting in her care for all objects the tendency of which is to improve and elevate her educational institutions. WILLIAM GASTON, ex officio. HENRY CHAPIN. ALONZO A. MINER. GARDINER G. HUBBARD, WILLIAM RICE. CONSTANTINE C. ESTY. EDWARD B. GILLETT. CHRISTOPHER C. HUSSEY. PHILLIPS BROOKS. |