P. Brockett, of New York, whose historical writings on the subject of education are well known, has undertaken to aid in the preparation of a historical representation of text-books.

Two hundred and forty-eight institutions for the benefit of the young, such as reformatories, asylums, industrial schools, &c., have already been visited by an agent of this Bureau, and a large collection of facts gathered with reference to their history and administration, which is now ready for the printer, and which will be made to constitute a portion of the Centennial publications upon education by this Office.

The progress of the medical art and medical education prior to the Revolution was the subject of a recent publication by this Bureau, the material having been collected by Dr. J. M. Toner, of this city. N. S. Davis, M. D., of Chicago, Ill., is now preparing an account of medical education in the United States during the century for this Office.

This Office has also in course of preparation a work on libraries in the United States, past and present, which will shortly appear.

The subject of art-education in the United States during the past century is also receiving attention, with a view to early publication. The attention of all the officers of systems, institutions, and associa tions of an educational character is specially called (1) to the desirableness of making the graduating exercises of academies, normal schools, commencements of colleges, and the several annual gatherings of alumni, of teachers, and other promoters of education, in some form commemo rative of the centennial anniversary of the foundation of the Republic; (2) that the donors of funds for educational purposes be invited to mark this year by the increase of their endowments and benefactions; (3) that a special effort be made to collect at institutions, offices, and other appropriate places, busts, portraits, and other fitting memorials of eminent educators and promoters of education, and that these also, as far as expedient, be made part of the educational exhibit at Philadelphia. Other outlines of the great forces of education in the country are under advisement, and all interested are generally invited to offer suggestions.

A considerable number of inquiries having come to the Office with regard to the form of State organizations, the Commissioner of Educa tion takes this opportunity to suggest that, where appropriations have been made by States, and commissioners appointed to prepare the State representation for the Centennial, a committee be designated by this commission, consisting of the State school officers and others of well-known fitness, to take special charge of the State educational exhibit. This plan has already been adopted in several States with the happiest results.

It is difficult to express in a classification or programme of arrangements all the details of the methods by which education will be illus trated: (1) as increasing the productiveness of industry; (2) as diminishing pauperism; (3) as diminishing vice and crime; (4) as increasing the Dablic wealth; and (5) as specially qualifying man for the pursuits of

life and the duties and privileges of citizenship. It is hoped that no one who has worked out any valuable material which would contribute to this end will hesitate to make it known.

It is suggested that the several annual educational reports in the country may be made to have some special reference to the Centennial Exhibition, and so relieve other documentary statements, and that surplus copies should be furnished at the Centennial with a view to distribution.

The duty of the educator in this matter is twofold: (1) to aid in the exhibit of educational facilities and (2) to use the material thus collected at the Centennial-nay, the Exhibition itself-for the purpose of future instruction.

Among the further details already under special consideration are: (1) the manner of investigating and comparing the work of students so as to bring out the best results; (2) what attempts shall be made to provide special arrangements for formal visitation to the Exhibition by students of institutions of learning, under the guidance of experts, for special investigation and study of the exhibition; (3) the arrangement of an educational congress.

It is hoped that further special consideration will be given to these subjects at the meeting of the National Educational Association in August, at Minneapolis.

JOHN EATON,

Commissioner.

REVISED CLASSIFICATION.

DEPARTMENT III.-EDUCATION AND SCIENCE.

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND LIBRARIES.

[The following is the educational classification published by the Centennial Commission:]

CLASS 300.-Elementary instruction: Infant-schools and Kindergärten, arrangements, furniture, appliances, and modes of training.

Public schools: Graded schools, buildings and grounds, equipments, courses of study, methods of instruction, text-books, apparatus, includ ing maps, charts, globes, &c.; pupils' work, including drawing and penmanship; provisions for physical training.

CLASS 301.-Higher education: Academies and high schools.

Colleges and universities: Buildings and grounds; libraries; museums, of zoology, botany, mineralogy, art, and archæology; apparatus for illustration and research; mathematical, physical, chemical, and astronomical courses of study; text-books, catalogues, libraries, and gymnasiums. CLASS 302.-Professional schools: Theology, law, medicine and surgery, dentistry, pharmacy, mining, engineering, agriculture and mechanical arts, art and design, military schools, naval schools, normal schools, commercial schools, music.

Buildings, text-books, libraries, apparatus, methods, and other accessories for professional schools.

CLASS 303.-Institutions for the instruction of the blind, the deaf and dumb, and the feeble-minded.

CLASS 304.-Educational reports and statistics: National Bureau of Education; State, city, and town systems; college, university, and professional systems.

CLASS 305.-Libraries: History, reports, statistics, and catalogues. CLASS 306.-School and text books: Dictionaries, encyclopedias, gazetteers, directories, index volumes, bibliographies, catalogues, almanacs, special treatises, general and miscellaneous literature, newspapers, technical and special newspapers and journals, illustrated papers, periodical literature.

INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS.

CLASS 310.-Institutions founded for the increase and diffusion of knowledge: Such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Royal Institution, the Institute of France, the British Association for the Advancement of

Science, and the American Association, &c., their organization, history, and results.

CLASS 311.-Learned and scientific associations: Geological and mineralogical societies, &c. Engineering, technical and professional associations. Artistic, biological, zoölogical, medical societics, astronomical observatories.

CLASS 312.-Museums, collections, art galleries, exhibitions of works of art and industry; agricultural fairs; State and county exhibitions; national exhibitions; international exhibitions; scientific museums and art-museums; ethnological and archæological collections. CLASS 313.-Music and the drama.