National
Association of Principals of Schools for
Girls
The
beginnings of the National Association of Principals of Schools
for Girls were closely allied with the expansion of the work of
the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, which later developed into
the Association of University Women. At the biennial meeting of
the Association of Collegiate Alumnae held in San Francisco in
1915, a plan was made to include a "Conference Day" in the program
of the meeting in the hope that the particular interests of the
varied groups in the Association could be satisfied. One group for
which this plan was made was the principals of private schools.
The conference was so successful that it was continued at the next
biennial meeting in Washington in 1917 and in St. Louis in 1919.
At the latter meeting, plans were definitely made for the
formation of the National Association of Principals of Schools for
Girls, and the committee for this organization work was composed
of Miss Marion Coats, Chairman, Mr. Frederick E. Farrington, Miss
Elizabeth Faulkner, Miss L. Gertrude Angell and Miss Marion
Ransom. The first annual meeting of the new organization was held
in 1920 in Cleveland, at which time the constitution was adopted
and Miss Marion Coats of Bradford Academy was elected
president.
Until
1942 the organization held its annual meeting at the time and
place of the meetings of the Department of Superintendents of the
National Educational Association, often joining with the National
Association of Deans of Women for a dinner meeting and enjoying
other meetings which they generously shared with us. As our
Association had grown in numbers and as hotel accommodations
became more difficult to secure for very large groups meeting at
the same time, we made our own plans for time and place, and in
February 1942 met in Boston quite independently of any other
organization. In 1943 the twenty-fourth annual meeting was held in
New York City. Meetings were omitted in 1944 and 1945 due to
government restriction of wartime transportation, but resumed
again with the meeting at the Westchester Country Club in March
1946.
The
original plan in organizing this association was that it should be
representative enough to have weight; that it should not be an
exclusive organization; and that it should consider problems of an
administrative and academic nature as well as standards and ideals
for school life and work. In the past, the organization promoted
interaction between school heads and admissions representatives of
colleges; engaged in discussions of the College Entrance Board
examinations and promoted the exchange of teachers with foreign
countries. Throughout its history, the annual conference, held in
different locations around the country, has provided opportunities
for hearing speakers on a variety of topics, with a special
emphasis on the education and development of girls and young
women. Since 1985, the Association has also sponsored a bi-annual
administrative leadership seminar for women in independent
schools.
