Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-05-18
For the Montgomery County Sentinel.

for the montgomery county Senunel.
Mr. EDITOR: A friend of the School
System, now being put into operation in
our county, in accordance with the law
passed at the late session of the Legisla-
ture, desires to present some observations
on that subject to his fellow citizens.
In his judgment, the better course
would have been to let the Act go quietly
into operation, and allow the people to
judge for themselves of its working. But,
as an opposition has arisen, that tends to
defeat the law, or cripple or prejudice its
action, before it has chance to be fairly
tried, the question of its merits is dis
tinctly brought before the public.
In this age of the world, it is quite
unnecessary to enter another plea for the
education Of the people. AS well might
Que feel called on to waste time in proving
that they need food, and air, and light.
The only question relates to the best mode
of effecting what is generally admitted to
be essential. Is the system, now about
to be tried in our county, likely to pro-
mote the great object? On this main
point, the attention of the people is ill.,
vited to the following considerations;
There is nothing new in the principle
Of the law. 1t proposes to adopt, in our
community, the only system which has
ever been successfully tried anywhere !;
and that is, to place education on the same
ground as the other objects for which
government is instituted, viz : to protect
life, liberty, property, and the pursuit
of happiness; to provide for the common
defence, and the general welfare" In
this view, it is right and proper, and in
dispensable-not unjust nor unequal to
provide for education in the same way as
those other no more important objects are
provided for. If the people are really to
be educated, the principle of the bill is
just and true. Objections may be made,
and probably with justice, to some of its
details But every thing must have a
start and what better start can we hope
to make, than in applying to ourselves
the measures which are found by expert
ence to work we'll in communities SINH
larly situated?
Hear what they say of the working of
a system, almost precisely the same, in
another county Of our own State. ]
quote from the last Report of the thir-
teen respectable gentlemen, School Com
missioners Of Baltimore county:
Gin presenting our Report for the
tenth year since the establishment of the
School System, we feel proud to say thai
we see the evidences of its complete sue
cess. Recent events clearly show that
the people are willing to sustain the sys
TEN by a liberal tax. Among the pc
TONERS for an increase of the tax, arc
very many Of our largest x-paycrs. F"
! had the fortune to pay visit, recent.
! ly, to Talbot county, where found the
people in state of considerable excite
ment, owing to the withdrawal of their
School Tax, through an accidental error
in codifying the laws. | was told that
they had been paying over 20 cents in
the 500 for the benefit Of schools for
several years; ana there seemed to be a
universal sentiment Of indignation at this
interruption Of the system.
Is il not reasonable to suppose that
what has been found by experience to
work well in other counties of our own
State, may at least be worth fair trial in
Montgomery
1t is not proposed to build up the plat
form of School System by taking a
plank from Connecticut, another from
New York, another from Ohio; but, es-
chewing all such patch work, to raise the
structure gradually, and adapt it care
fully to the condition of our own people
But, FIRST, good foundation must be
laid and to this, we invite the co-opora-
ton of all who feel real interest in the
great cause. There is enough work To
be done, if all such come forward to help
Do not turn the cold shoulder on this at.
tempt to dilfuse so great beueft, be-
cause there are some imporfcctions in the
method. These may DC corrected, as
experience shall develop needed improve.
ments. But if this attempt shall prove q
failure, through opposition from any
quarter, what hope is left for the future
Il.