The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1866-01-27

proportion of those who cannot read has
been reduced, and perhaps largely reduced
within the last ten or twelve years partly
through the instrumentaiity Of tire Schools
and the liberal use Of the Free School Fund,
and partly from the influence of an indus
tlious and enterprisng class of citizens from
other States, who have caused many parts
of the previously barren hills to rejoice and
blossom.
believe the general intelligence Of the
people of this county to be fully up to, if
not above, the ordinary level The wealth
of the county is not concentrated in the
hands Of a few large propretors, but is diff
fused among an active, industrious, and en-
terprising people Of moderate means.
may say, upon the f0wrM topic, that
there is evidence Of zeal in sustaining the
Schools, not perhaps 50 much as the ardent
friends of the system would desire to find !;
but decided general feeling in favor of a
uniform system of public instruction. There
may be few, but, in my Judgment, com.
paratively small number, WHO are eXerting
what influence they possess TO discredt the
systeAl, and nentralze the labor its friends.
There are others who We're opposed to its
Introduction, but who are now disposed to
accept it as the established policy of the
the public good requires it should be made
as perfect as possible. There are others who
are simply indifferent ; having no direct per-
sona interest in the subject, they evince no
care for its success. There is still another
class, who have always been sincere friends
Of public education, but who, because the
introduction Of the present general system
has been so closely associated with other
great political measures which have divided
our people, are more or less influenced by
prejudces which it is hoped forbearance and
a prudent administration Of the System will
speedily remove A large majority of our
people, however, as | believe, sincerely and
heartily approve it, and are willing to sustain
the Schools and contribute to the develop
ment and perfection Of the system. AS an
evidence of the favor with which the Public
Schools are regarded may remark thatSspt
few private Schools are sustained in hon
tire county Up t. the present time. in the
experience Of the officers in the late County
system and that Of the present Board, a dis
position to aid ii The erection and proper
furnishing Of School Houses. has been met
with in few localities only. The idea seems
to have pcrvadcd the minds of the people
that the entire expense of the system, in
cluding the purchase and enclosure of lots.
The erection and furnishing of houses and
the sinking Of wells for supply of water,
as well as the employment of Teachers, and
the supply of all needed apparatus, was pro-
vid"d for in the tax and the ordinary rev
cnues of the Board and to such an extent
has this idea prevailed, that the County
Board has not umtrr1uensly been called upon
to refund to individuals money voluntarily
contributed by them years ago toward erect
ing School Houses for their own immediate
ncighborhoods. This subject, however, is,
believe, gradually becoming better under
stood. Your late official visit to the county,
and the explanatory addresses delivered dur
ing your tour, to assemblies of citizens in
different districts, has had, in this respect |
believe, salutary effect. Nevertheless |
am persuaded that sufficient interest on this
subject can never be awak crCd in all sections
of the County and that, as the Board must
be the instrument Of the law for carrying out
its fall purpose and design, its revenues
must be made equal to the task of supplying
every School District with material aid in
this enterprise, the system is to be made
as it should be, perfect and efficient.
In regard to the questions presented as the
.ftth topic named in your communication,
reply to the first query that the Board have
adopted. for the last and the current term.
the scale of salaries in force under the late
County system, viz:-For Schools Of from
IS to %, a salary of $50 per term, and gra-
dually increasing up to Sl35 per term for a
school Of one hundred pupils and over
Assistant Teachers are paid $50 to $50, ac-
cordng to the size of the school.
Special provision is made for the large
schools at Elton and Port Deposit, leaving
the subject Of adjusting the scale, as suggest
ed in the bylaws, for further consideration.
The Board supplies the books and station
cry to the schools, and charges each pupil a
fee Of fifty cents per term, if able to pay.
Number Of boys attending school
for the term ending Novem-
1,ar