FOOTNOTES:
[3] These statements are based on many specific examples of fraudulent promotion.
[FIFTH SESSION.]
The Congress reconvened in the Murat Theater, at 2:00 o’clock p. m., and was called to order by President White.
President White—On account of Professor Fairchild’s being called away, having to leave on an early train, we will listen to his address first this afternoon. Professor Fairchild is foremost in the ranks of modern education, in teaching the conservation of human life, the conservation of the soil, and everything that goes to make up thorough manhood among the boys of the land. I now introduce to you Prof. E. T. Fairchild, of Topeka, Kan., President of the National Educational Association, whose subject is “The Duty of the Teacher.”
Address, “A Plea for More Education Opportunities.”
Professor Fairchild—Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congress: With your permission I want to change my subject as printed. It is not the subject of my remarks this afternoon. I should like to call it “A Plea for More Equal Educational Opportunities.”
In the few minutes allowed me, I can only hope to sketch briefly some of the conditions that confront us today. I shall have some things to say that represent definitely a great lack of progress, but that I may not be labeled as a pessimist, I wish at the beginning to state as my conviction that the present is the best moment educationally that the world has ever seen. Had I the time, I should like to describe to you the marvelous progress that has taken place in certain types of our educational activity.
The growth of our universities and colleges is little short of marvelous. In a single decade in these United States the increase in enrollment has been fully 98 per cent. This increase in enrollment has also been manifested in Europe, in England, where there has been a genuine increase in the number of provincial universities. The increase in enrollment in the past ten years is most marked in Germany. In Germany, where there have been no new institutions erected the increased enrollment in a single decade represents 60 per cent. Such is the history of the increased enrollment, which, with increased efficiency in the way of larger and more efficient faculties, has taken place in this country and in Europe. It is a world-wide movement, my friends, and so far as I can see, is a recognition that the best field of opportunity to the ambitious and capable youth is through the college.