The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-01-29

Meeting Of the Friends Of Education,

v,
cal,d TO the char, and II. ROBINSON chosen
Secretary.
The meeting being duly organized the chair
ma arose and stated the 90 ect for which the
meeting was convened. He said the duty de-
yoly,nr upon HIM, as chairman, such he
felt himself but poorly qualified TO discharge.
Want of ability alone prevented him from enter
ing into an investigation OF The state and condl-
ZION Of the common schools of our District. But
said Le. il is unnecessary at this time to give a
detailed account Of the wrctched condition Of
our schools. The gentlemen present needed no
more intelligence IN this matter than they al
ready possesscd TO convince them that the time
for action had arrived. Now, said he, is an aus
picions moment. The friends of education
should awake from their lcttiargy and grid up
their loirs for action in the great work of educa
tonal reform. The rubbish of ignorance must
be removed or cease to have any guaranty
for the uerpctuity of our free institutions and
civil and religious liberty The cause ofeducation
he SAID is one which richly deserves the atten
ton of every philanlhrophist, every true patriot
and sincere lover of his country. He had view
ed the condition of the schools around hun; he
had Observed the want of system, the want Of
method, of uniformity in books. We have moth
ing lie sad, in Maryland, that deserves the
name of system-no laws providing for the APP
pointlncnt of IA Board Of Education-no school
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS commissioners appointed
for the examination of Teachers, to ascertain
their qualifications, both mental and mora in
fine, we have nothing, to our everlasting shame
and dsrrace, that can he called common
school system Of education. To make amends
for our past neglect, to concert such measures as
we can with proprety for the advancement Of
the cause of education, and for the elevation of
the standard of scholarship in our common
schools to consider the eXpedicncy OF Eetito
inr the Legislature Of Mary land for the purpose
of establishing system OF public education,
such system has been estab l'sl'cd IN many
CT our sister States and such a one as is now in
operation in the city Of Baltimore these are the
objects which have assembled US together this
day. viii gentlemen embrace the opportnn-
ties now presented 18th tina energy and vigor
which the importance Of the endsto he attained
and the desperate state Of the cause demand;
b. f. HEATH followed at some length, COM
menting upon the low standard of common
school education in Maryland, the iDadequacy
Of Teachers salaries to secure the services OF
competent Teachers. Good, competent teach
ers, he said, will not engage in the vocation and
make it their permanent profession because they
ave not allowed any thing like a fair compcnsa-
ton. They will engage in the business ui tea Oh
ing only for a limited period, until they can
make arrangements for catering some other
I employment that will afford them better liy-
| iig. We need common school system that
will afford to parents protection against impos-
turc ard ensure reasonable salaries that will in
ducc competent Teachers to engage and continue
in the professions; system that shall provide for
. the appointment of supervisors and supcrintcn-
dents OF the schools, in order that those pests of
the community, unqualified, unprincIpIed dis.
! sIputcd and immoral Teachers may be absolute
ly excluded from the profession of in strncting
/ our youth, and the services Of competent, moral
, Teachers secured and remuneruted. He allud-
| cd to the advancement OF the cause Ill other
States: in Delaware, New Jersey, New York
and the Eastern States They are advancing
rapidly towards perfection in Their school sys-
tens, while We havs not .akon the first step in
the improvement OF our common schools. lie
pointed 10 the Western States, alcd attention
to the cXcrtons there making for .he advance
mcnt of the cause of education and contr1stcd
the interest manifested in the infant West with
that exhibited IN Marylaud; the latter posses
sng for superior advantages Tor educational pur-
poses.
Mn. J. RAMSAY next followed, making some
brief and appropriate remarks relative TO the
: present condition Of our common schools. He
said that the cause Of popular education furnish
ed a wide and extended field for labor, and pro-
missed rich reward for all the labor bestowed,
amply compcmsating for all the anxiety eXp.r-
fenced in the prosecution OF the work. Every
thing, said hc, our country's best interests de-
mon schools must ever furnish the security If
any We have, for tho pcrpctuity Of our free IN
stiiutons, the liberty Of Our country. He Wa;
pleased to see the movement that was then max
ing. He hoped it would he crowded with sue
cess. He observed quite large number of the
friends Of education present, but he hoped TO see
more at the next meeting. He thought it ad-
vsabe that the meeting stand adjourned, to
meet "A, some future day, and that during the
cya he d, Inv uii
to arouse the people generally aud induce them
TO attend the next meeting that we might be
able to act with greater energy and effect.
, On motion Regoired, That in consideration Of
the Importance oithc subject which has assem-
hcd us together, aud also IN consideration OF the
fact that the citizens did not generally, IN con
: sequence Of the short notice, receive intelligence
OF this meeting in time to repair hitler, there
, fore, Resolved that second meeting be called
or that this meeting stand Adjourned.
Resolved, That the object of the next meeting
shall be to consider the propnoty Of pctitioning
the Legislature Of Mary land for the purpose OF
; establishing system Of public education; or OF
; prayinr that Honorable Body to enact snch laws
as shu Il authorize the people Of the seventh cleo
ton district OF Cecil county to adopt such rules
and regulations as they may deem necessary 10
, promote the cause of popular education, and ad-
II vance the interests Of their Common Schools
a Resoired, That Il committee of one be appoint,
ed to draw upa petition TO the Legislature. to be
presented at the next meeting of the friends c
. education for their consideration, SO that, il
\ adopted, it may receive the signatures ofthe mem
bers of the meeting; and also that SAID commit
t. tee be requested TO post up in public Places bills
, notifying the people Of the intended meeting.
II ReSo'red, That the Secretary Of this meeting be
requested to forward to each of the publishers u
this county, copy Of the proceedings of thi
It meeting, with the request that they publish then
e in their respective journals.
Resolved, That tins meeting be adjourned unit
~ the first Saturday in February next at O'Clock
+ NJ, when it will convene at the school no US,
situated at Principle Furnace, for the purpose o
} considering the subjects mentioned in the fore
Of going Resolutions; and that all the friends q