The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-09-10
The Proposed High school.

Mr. EwING:-The anxiety manifested in
regard to the proposed High School in Elk
ton. and the reference that has already been
made to 1t !" the papers, seem to render it
necessary for me as Commissioner of Public
Schools for the District and President Of the
Board to make the following statement.
At the last session Of the School Board the
establishment Of the three High Schools
required by the recent Act of the Lcgisla-
trre, came up for special consideration. 1t
was apparent to the Board that the means
supplied are wholly inadequate to the object
proposed and the Commissioners of the
Sixth and Seventh Districts. within which
two Of the three schools are located by the
Act, having with commendable liberality
waived the claims Of these respective Dis
trlctS for the present, the Board determined
to made the experiment of one High School
at this place. make use of this term be-
cause it is clearly and emphatically an crpcri-
ment, the success OF which will depend in a
great degree upon the interest which this
community shall take in it.
1t is the first attempt to establish High
School in any OF the counties of he State
and perhaps in the rural districts of any of
the States. The Legislature in imposing
this responsibility upon the School Board
provided for the support Of each school an
annual appropriation of tonr hundrcd doiiulw.
with which the houses are to be supplied and
| furnished and the teachers supported.
Fortunately for the experiment at thi
place the Trustees OF the Elkton Academy
have rendered % the Board the use of that
huIding for the present, and the Commits
,ioncrs with Il view to unite all interests in
the enterprise have determined to associate
with myself as Commissioner of the District
and President Of the Board a com nitee of
the Trustees as Visitors Of the High School.
The committee of the School Board hay
ing the subject in charge will report to the
Board in session on Tuesday next. the 18th
instant. What the details of the plan will be
! am not prepared to say; but | make this
statement III advance, as must leave home
Immediately upon the adjournment of the
! Board. to be absent some two weeks.
The schools required by the Act are called
"High .Schoois or Icoienies." and the
appropriation Of four hundred dollars being
not above one.third of the amount necessary
to secure the services of competent teachers.
| it is manifest that large proportion of that
amount must be derived from tuition fees.
which will have to be graded according to
the classes of studies to be pursued by the
pupils and the state Of their advancement
wnen hdmltt'I' Inc scE1oI cannot :. he
| surety an" trchhlcally H'9@ Srho'f' to
Wh,cn on'F nose VINO nave passed through a
certain class Oh Sto"leS III the PuhIic schools
are aIn'''eu. II must I9r 'he present. AT
east ne open TO an chli'reh VINO nave at
"Hnt" t"T rp4"'s"e sc""IaSIc S'ahdaro'
"noF er 'hey nave attended NE puohc
Scnno'S OF no'. 1T mus, receS ''riy Pnrtakg
~ I. !ne r''a'"gIrr pI "'"".m'" '>G"o'' ana
"Y" '"''" p"'" '''' ~ 10 say th' stand
ara OF Sch"'aStc advancement 10 secure aa-
n'''r'J'l nv, r , I"l w '''"' az n'S" mH II
""',H ne 'pr F." HT" '>''""' Slrlc'lE SO called.
A''noH@h am ny no means convinced OF
'"e "!s''1'h "' P,I"P'lcN ct separating 'ne
SeN's III ti' Schoo'' YET II the patrons prefer
an" ,"' hummer III "''et"ail'c WIZ justly II,
,''' Ara''ll'E p"'''In& Is a"nl'r"olY a"ap'ea