The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-02-26
For The Cecil Wig.
COMMON SCHOOLS. NO. I.

have probably observed that several
Meetings have recently been held by the
FRIENDS OF EDUCATION, most honour
able designation, and one happily covet-
ed by some Of the worthiest and most
enlightened men of Our age and country.
The Adjourned Meeting on Saturday last
at the Court House, was a very intelli-
gent and respectable one; but as it was
by no means numerously attended, and
as the questions agitated are fraught with
deep interest to the whole community,
few remarks, explanatory ofthe objects
sought to be effected, will hardly be
thought improper or unnecessary.
Now, L suppose, no one will contend
that the system of Education existing in
this county, if we may honour with the
title Of system that which
''Shspe has mono
! Dstinguishabie in member, joint or limb"
is the best possible, or even a tolerably
good one. In many parts of the more
sparsely settled districts, the remunera-
ton afforded to the Teacher is utterly
inadequate to secure the permanent ser
vices of a respectable man; the schools
are consequently, left for months at a
time without Teacher, till perhaps, af.
ter a long interval, some destitute stran-
ger, who has vainly tried every other
means Of obtaining an honest living, in
utter desperation, consents to take charge
of the establishment, and he Is with all
due ceremony installed at a ricketty
desk, in log hut, open to all the winds
Of heaven, built by the way side, on
some patch Of waste ground that could
be turned to no more profitable account.
Too often, like the far famed school-mas-
ter of Waldbach, who had been set to
preside over the village children because
he had become too old and infrm to tend
the village pigs, Ga charge which he APP
pears to have deemed disadvantageous
one,) knowing nothing himself, he can
teach nothing to the children, though he
may not always initiate the candour of
his prototype in making the avowal.
The most such districts can hope for
is, that some student, preparing for an
other Profession, should be willing to
spend a vacation in teaching in their
ol;-but the best energies of such a
man, will be reserved for his own studies,
and it is too much to expect him to put
his heart into his daily occupation.
appeal to many OF my readers if l
am exhibiting a lanciful, or even an eX-
aggerated picture. You know that even
this is not the worst. You know that
there are districts where it would excite
no surprise and very little reprobation,
were the Teacher found sleeping off the
fumes Of lntoXicatlon under fence or in
a fishing shanty And now | ask, Fellow
Citizens, how long shall these things be?
How long shall the dearest interests Of
your children, for time and for eternity,
be thus miserably tempered WITH How
long will you mock with stones and SCI
penis your offspring who are helplessly
crying to you for intellectual food!
The present System is SO utterly bad
that no amendment or modification OF it
Can supply the urgent need Of the com
munity; and if Maryland is to hold her
place among her sister States, or Cecil
among her sister counties, the whole mon
strosity must be swept forever from the
face of the earth.
You naturally ask what it is conten-
plated to establish IN its stead. | answer
something resembling the plan which
raised New England 10 her proud pre-
eminence, and made her smiling villages
the ornaments of the country, and the
admiration Of the world. A plan which
most of the States around us are epdea-
vouring, more or less closely, 10 initiate
and reaping, IN various measure, cor
responding rich reward. A plan that
shall make the blessings of Education
common as the light and air; that shall
put it in the power of the industrious
poor to qualify their children, the foun-
dation of their fondest hopes, to act their
parts with honour in whatever station
the good providence of God may see fit
to place them. To effect this CONSUME
nation, SO devoutly to be wished, it is
proposed, in the first place, to divide the
whole State, or at least our own County
into School Districts of suitable extent;
and, in the most convenient position in
each district, to locate comfortable
school-housc, and a competent Teacher,
to be paid, not by individuals but by the
County, or State. The amount of COM
pensatlon must be sufficient to induce a
qualified Teacher to undertake the work
and make it permanent employment.
Feb. 22nd, AS. X. Y.
| Never defer that fill TO morrow which