05/26/2020
John Eisenberg
The Early Beginnings of NASDSE: 1938 – 1947
The National Association of State Directors of Special Education, the lineal descendants of the Conference of State Directors and Supervisors of Special Education, had its origin on September 26, 1938, when fifteen top special education workers from thirteen State Education Departments convened in the Office of Education in Washington at the call of Commissioner John W. Studebaker.
This was the first conference of its kind in United States history. Dr. Studebaker opened the meeting with the statement that he had been vitally interested in the education of atypical children since he was superintendent of schools in Des Moines, Iowa, and expressed the opinion that the time was ripe for summoning the top state supervisors of special education to an informal conference which would afford ample opportunity for a free exchange of views and a frank discussion of the problems and issues encountered in the planning of state programs. After this brief introductory statement, he appointed Dr. Elise H. Martins of the U.S. Office of Education, then known as Senior Specialist in the Education of Exceptional Children, to serve as chairman of the meeting.
The term “Exceptional Children” was interpreted to include: mentally handicapped, crippled and other kinds of physically handicapped, mentally superior children, and other types of children in need of special considerations, including the neurotic and the emotionally maladjusted.
Recommendations from this first conference were: 1) there should be a full-time director and or supervisor of special education in every state department of education, and 2) there should be an annual meeting of the directors and/or supervisors to consider further plans for organized action to safeguard and expand educational opportunities for exceptional children in the respective states.
On June 28-29, 1940, the second conference of state directors and supervisors of special education was called by the United States Office of Education and was held in Washington, D.C. Dr. Elire H. Martins again served as chairman.
On February 19, 1941, the third meeting of this group was held in New York City in conjunction with the annual meeting of the International Council of Exceptional Children (CEC). Seventeen special education representatives from 13 states and United States Department of Education were in attendance. It was at this meeting that the group formally organized as the Conference of State Directors and Supervisors of Special Education, and elected Dr. T. Ernest Newland of Pennsylvania as chairman and J.E. Wallace Wallin of Delaware as Secretary. At this meeting, it was also determined that future meetings of the conference would be held in conjunction with annual CEC meetings. This practice continued until 1950.
Chairman T. Ernest Newland resigned to join the Armed Services on September 2, 1942. J.E Wallace Wallin assumed the chair and served until March 2, 1947. The conference survived the war-years constraints although the 1943 and 1945 meetings were canceled. A regional meeting was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, again in conjunction with AASA. Only five members were able to attend. The business was conducted by mail, and no dues structure was established.
The conference next met, in conjunction with CEC, on May 15, 1947, in Ottawa, Canada. This was the first, and only NASDSE Annual Meeting held outside the United States. Twenty-five representatives from 15 states, the USOE, and Canada were in attendance. The USOE was represented by Dr. Romanie Mackie. At this meeting the membership was opened to all state special education personnel, “regardless of rank.” Elected officers were Mildred B. Stanton of Connecticut, chairman and Ester Lipton of Maine, Secretary. Discussion topics at this meeting included: 1) training and certification of teachers providing home instruction to the handicapped 2) exclusion from school 3) mandatory courses in special education for regular classroom teachers and 4) appropriate services for children in state mental hospitals and tuberculosis sanatoria. Attendees at this meeting were asked to contribute one dollar to help defray the cost of stationery and stamps. This request brought up the questions, “should dues be fifty cents or one dollar”? After much discussion, it was agreed upon that the action should be tabled until the next meeting.
