NEW YORK CITY CONFERENCE.
The New York Conference of History Teachers held its meeting on Saturday, December 11, 1909, at the College of the City of New York. After the opening address, Professor Henry Johnson, of Teachers’ College of Columbia University, gave the principal paper upon “Special Aids to Visualization in the Teaching of History.” This was followed by a discussion upon “The Solution of Some Practical Difficulties.” Miss Francis E. Chapman, of the Flushing High School, spoke upon “Lack of Judgment”; Miss Clara Byrnes, of the Normal College, on the “Lack of Vocabulary”; Miss Edith M. Tufts, of the Speyer School, upon the “Failure to Understand Alien Morals,” and Mr. James G. Croswell, of the Brearley School, upon “Lack of Imagination.” At the close of the meeting a luncheon was held in a neighboring hotel.
The report of the committee on nomination for officers for 1909-10 was adopted as follows: For chairman, Livingston Rowe Schuyler; secretary, Daniel C. Knowlton; treasurer, W. Franklin Brush. For members of the executive committee: Miss Clara Byrnes, Arthur P. Butler, William Fairley, James G. Croswell.
This New York Conference was organized in response to an unanimous vote of the third annual convention of the Association of History Teachers of the Middle States and Maryland, which authorized the formation of local conferences of history teachers. The announcement of the conference meeting states that “The primary purpose of the conference is the same as that of the association—‘to advance the study and teaching of history and government through discussion,’ and ‘to promote personal acquaintance among teachers and students of history.’ In these meetings a large number of teachers can be reached whose duties and location prevent them from attending conventions at a distance. Such conferences also afford opportunities for wider discussion than is possible at the meetings of the association. Free statement of opinion indicates lines of work of great worth and interest. The constitution and organization are of the simplest type, and the fee a nominal one of one dollar a year.”