Report on the Educational Exhibit. 405 



show the work of a whole class in a subject as the rule and in no case 

 to show the work of less than half the class. In every case the number 

 of pupils in the class, and the number whose papers were exhibited 

 were required to_ be stated ; second, the remaining portion of the 

 written work consisted of answer papers to the Eegents' examinations, 

 held throughout the State three times a yeai-. These papers after 

 being sent to the Eegents' office, examined and recorded, were bound 

 and placed in the exhibit. They served to show the Eegents' system 

 of examinations, as well as the standard maintained by the scliools, 

 were of undoubted genuineness, and consequently of more scientific 

 value than any other collection of students' work. About 1,000 

 volumes of written work were shown. 



Photographs ; The photographic exhibit of the nature previously 

 outlined, was the largest in the department, comprising no less than 

 3,500 photographs, the smallest, with few exceptions, being eight by 

 ten inches and the majority eleven by fourteen inches. Nothing gives 

 a better idea_ of an institution than good photographs, and the series of 

 splendid buildings here portrayed caused great admiration, specially 

 from foreigners, for New York's schools. 



The complete system of signs, labels, numbers, indexes and cross- 

 references to allied exhibits was a feature that caused New York to 

 stand forth in striking contrast to other exhibits. The one general 

 criticism on the fair was the lack of intelligible signs and explanations 

 attachisd to exhibits. New York not only remedied this, but furnished 

 a large staff of attendants who were always on hand to explain the 

 work to visitors. Nine persons were on duty during the whole of the 

 fair, and in July and August, the educational months, a larger force 

 was employed. The University of the City of New York, Eensselaer 

 Polytechnic Institute, Pratt Institute, Chautauqua and Oswego Normal 

 School kept attendants with their exhibits at their own expense. 

 Among the general staff were attendants speaking the principal foreign 

 languages, a provision much appreciated by trans-Atlantic visitors. 



The exhibit was also made the headquarters for New York people 

 in the south end of the grounds. Eeading tables, writing desks and 

 postal and telegraph facilities were among the means employed for this 

 purpose. 



Under the head of special features mention should be made of the 

 naval expedition of St. John's Military School, Manlius, to the exposi- 

 tion. A large lake steamer was chartered and fitted for the trip ; about 

 100 cadets and officers sailed in her. The ship left Buffalo the latter 

 part of June and lay off the shore of Jackson Park during the first half 

 of July. Naval regulations and discipline prevailed 'throughout the 

 entire voyage and it will readily be appreciated that it was the only 

 kind of expedition that could succeed where careful supervision of 

 a large school of boys was undertaken. 



Another noteworthy enterprise was the presentation of the Latin play, 

 " The Two Captives," by Plautus, by the students of the College of 

 St. Francis Xavier, New' York, an institution under the University of 

 the State of New York. It was given before a critical audience at 

 Music Hall, October nineteenth and twentieth, with decided success. 



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