Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-06-15
FOR THE SENTINEL.


Mr. EDIroR: Your paper has, in the
the variety of its contents for the last few
weeks, had several very spicy articles,
touching the Primary School Law, enacted
by the late legislature some approving,
and others disappearing Of it. It's oppo-
nents assert that it is defective, but show
us none of its jacksonville its advocates
acknowledge its imperfection, and aver
that nothing in its primal existence has
ever been found mature. On the con-
trary, all nature and experience teach us
that incipient undertakings are feeble.
The ill-disposed, not satisfied with this
statement of fact, must still raise tae
voice of opposition on account Of some
other invisible reason, which now and
then glitters forth to the gaze in the
shape of the almighty tucre. Why not
be honest at once and acknowledge the
truth that you think it unjust to be taxed
for the education Of children not your
own? Why not openly avow you do not
like the idea, that your money should
eniighten the masses, that all the indi-
gent Of our county should enjoy the great
benefits which education confers? Why
not directly assert that you ignore all
philanthrop;c and patriotic schemes that
are effected at your expense?
The practice Of kicking slyly il the
dark at any thing without any definite
aim, :" eCen # the candle IS" not "hid
under bushel," is rather bad one, and
would look far more respectable, adding
considerably to the intelligence of Mr..
=" Voter, if he would quit it instaater
The salary of the teachers seems to
have made a deep impression upon the
minds of both " Voter and i" Medley's,
hard to be erased. The one in con-
temptuous phrase, no doubt written with
sheer, designates those who may hap
pen TO serve the community in teachers
capacity, three hundred dollar hire
liags;;" the other calls it a "pitiaae
sum-" and hardly sufficient compensa-
ton, yet at the same time oery conSis-
fently complaining of the burdeusome
taxes it will impose upon us by awarding
such a salary. 1t would certainly be
gratifying to the teacher employed in
Mr.. " Voters" neighborhood, to know
how highly his services are appreciated
by that gentleman, and the great respect
he most naturally deserves for such an
teiligem estimation. A birding, is he :?
Thus it is your gratitude is expressed for
the constant labors of faithful teacher !
Verify the old saying is still trite, that
teaching is a thankless vocation. Bat
enough of this, and more mon, ifappro-
pirate.
Let US look at The assertion Mr.. q o-
ter" makes, {" that the present system is
scorse than the old one" The system now
becoming defanct is very objectionable,
because it affords but limited opportu-
nifty to the many children whose parents
labor under pecuniary disability. There
are at the present time in Berry's dis
trict some 600 children, 400 of whom
cannot be educated without foreign
aid. Each school is allowed to take
from six to eight county scholars, and
thus but one hundred of the four hundred
are accommodated by the old efficiency.
Hence there are not more than three hun
dred, or one. half Of the whole number,
attend the schools The State appropri-
ates $1.75 per year for the instruction of
the four hundred who are unable to pay
their own tuition, and this too inclusive
of other incidental expenses, which must
be deducted Now, how can these chill
dren obtain any education by the bet
ter old systen,,' as Mr.. "Voter" under
stands it 1t is utterly useless to think
of such thing. And yet Medley's"
maintains that it is an effective system.
accomplishing all that was desired or ne
cessary.
Now compare this state of affairs with
the new order of things that is shortly to
be ushered in. This will educate all,
while the other does it only in part.
Every parent can send his or her chill
dren, who viii do it, while before they
were unable. Which system then APP
pears the worse, that which does the
whole work of education, or that which
administers but feeble aid towards its ac-
complishment? 1t certainly requires
but little wisdom to decide when the
truth is known, and if Mr.. "Voter' can
conscieatioasly still designate it '',eorse
oae," tits only the ,eorse for him, per-
haps, because he permits the love of the
dollar to tarnish his soal, when it is de-
manded to support worthy and righte-
Gus cause. Here we pause until another
opportunity. TEACHER.