Beginnings and meetings. The American scene of 1857 ; The educational scene of 1857 ; The birth of the National Teachers' Association ; From infancy to parenthood ; Who talked about what -- Development of American education. Rise of high schools ; Normal schools and teachers' colleges ; The advance of higher education ; The changing curriculum ; Commercially speaking ; Hails and wails -- Educational reforms. Object teaching ; The kindergarten ; Apostles of childhood ; Coeducation ; The Herbartian movement ; The progressive movement -- Lost causes. The national-university movement ; The simplified-spelling movement ; Teachers and temperance ; Other lost causes -- The NEA builds a profession. The greatest educational show on earth ; The guardians of correct thinking ; Departments of the NEA ; Committees and commissions ; Friends and allies ; Democratizing the association ; The NEA and teacher welfare ; Advances toward a profession ; Reaching toward world horizons ; Resolved : that-- ; Headquarters and staff ; The NEA today.
