Next was installed the exhibit covering the professional training of teachers, equally divided between the State Normal School system and the work of the training schools and classes in cities and villages, each occupying five units. Every Normal School of the State was represented, each making a special exhibit in the particular subject or subjects assigned it by a committee of Normal School principals, to whom was delegated the duty of preparing an exhibit. All of the city training schools in the State, save four, were represented, as well as the great majority of training classes, the whole exhibit having been arranged by the State Supervisor of Training Schools and Classes.
In the next section was installed the exhibit in higher education, exhibits being in place from Colgate University, Hobart College, Manhattan College, the College of Pharmacy—allied with Columbia University—and Syracuse University, the latter institution making an exhibit both in applied sciences and in fine arts. Next were installed the exhibits of technical and trade schools, which contained interesting displays from the leading institutions in the State engaged in this line of work. Just beyond was the exhibit of the industrial schools, and then the display of special work in education which is being done by institutions not wholly educational in character. A unique unit was that devoted to the work of the Indian schools of the State, each of the several reservations being represented, and the whole exhibit being arranged by the State Inspector of Indian Schools.
The next alcove was devoted to the education of defectives. It contained concise exhibits from the institutions of the State devoted to the instruction of the deaf, dumb and blind, and was carefully studied by those engaged in this work.
The exhibit of summer schools and extension courses adjoined this and was designed to show the work which is best exemplified by the Chautauqua institution. In a manner allied with this work is that of the Education Department in visual instruction, which is carried on by lantern slides to aid in the teaching of geography, history and kindred subjects. It was, therefore, installed under this head. The exhibit received hearty commendation from educators generally, but particularly from foreign visitors. The scheme is thoroughly practicable, and nowhere else is it carried on with the same careful attention to detail, nor is the same perfection of slide making reached as in the State of New York.
The last exhibit before leaving the booth was that of the University of the State of New York.
SPECIAL FEATURES
There were many features of special interest. A series of thirty-two charts were prepared as the special exhibit of the New York State Teachers' Association, and will be reproduced in the forthcoming report of that body. To one interested in following the tremendous progress made in every branch of educational activity within our State during the past decade, these charts are invaluable. The two charts here reproduced and which formed a part of the exhibit of the Department of Public Instruction were the subject of much comment.
The model of the new State Normal and Training School at Fredonia, which was prepared by the manual training and art classes of the institution, came in for its share of attention. It was an accurate model of one of the State's finest educational structures.
The State Normal School at New Paltz sent a doll house made by the seventh grade boys for the first grade children in the practice department, the entire structure being completely furnished and appointed by the children.
A special feature was the exhibit of clay modeling from the State School of Clay Working and Ceramics at Alfred, the only school of its kind in the United States receiving State aid. Near by stood a cabinet full of home-made apparatus sent from various institutions, but a large part of which came from the physical laboratories of Pratt Institute, Brooklyn. The exhibit contained much of interest to a science teacher.