Our Educational Convention
By F. G.
Our educational workers in all parts of the world have been looking forward with much interest to the educational convention soon to be held. This convention was decided upon at the General Conference held in Washington last May. The Department of Education, at a meeting held at that time, appointed committees to prepare reports to be submitted to this convention. The time, place, and general features of this convention received due consideration at the meeting of the General Conference Council just held in Washington, and it was decided to hold it on the Pacific Coast in the early part of July, provided suitable accommodations for entertainment and place of meeting could be secured. The Department of Education has received a number of most cordial invitations from different localities for this convention, and until the meeting of the council it had been thought that it would be held in the central portion of the country. But in view of the fact that the National Educational Association is to hold its meeting at San Francisco early in July, and that great reductions are made in the transportation rates, it was thought by the council that the total expense to our people of holding the convention on the coast would be no greater than to hold it in the central portion of the United States. Naturally our conventions which are held from time to time will21be in the central portion of the United States, owing to a very great extent to this item of expense; and inasmuch as there is now given us the opportunity of going to the Pacific Coast at no additional expense to our people as a whole, it seems wise to embrace it. It will undoubtedly be a long time before we shall have an opportunity to hold another of our educational conventions in the far West, and we are certain that our educational workers in this portion of the country will all avail themselves of it. Our teachers in the western portion of the United States have been very enthusiastic in their work, and they will be able to offer many practical suggestions to our teachers from other portions of the country, which may be of very material help in their work. We are unable to announce at this time the definite date of the convention and the exact rates, but as we have said, the convention will be in the early part of July. We shall make a definite announcement shortly. The question naturally arises as to who should attend. In reply we would say that every one of our educational workers ought to be present at this meeting. We shall have with us not only our own educators, but the leading workers of the General Conference and the Young People's work. The educational secretaries of our union conferences, the State superintendents of our church-schools, and the presidents and principals of all our colleges, academies, and intermediate schools should certainly plan to be present; and our conferences and institutions should take it upon them to see that these workers are delegated to attend the convention. We also earnestly hope that just as many of the rank and file of our teachers as possible will arrange to come. We desire that this convention shall mark the beginning of a period of great advancement in all phases of our school work. The committees which were appointed have been carrying forward their work, and should have very valuable suggestions for consideration. Altogether we hope for great results from this convention.