Volume I begins with the Commissioner of Education's introduction of the 1908 report. Chapter I is on current topics and discusses education relations, including professor, teacher and student exchanges. International congresses are discussed, including the first international congress of mothers, parents' national education union, universal…

The Commissioner of Education reports on the work of the office and its publications over the year. Statistical summaries and discussion are presented on enrollment; attendance; teacher workforce and pay; school finance; state and territorial education; kindergarten; city education; education of the colored race; institutions for the superior…

Influential historic documents in American education are presented in Chapter I, including legislation, land grants for common schools and universities and for agricultural and mechanical colleges, Bureau of Education role, early discussion on establishing a national university, and state constitutions' education provisions. Also included are the…