St. Mary's gazette., 1867-03-21
rcb!ic Iu5tract!on.

rcb.lc In5trtction.
u. have received the hr.. an1-:n re
r-1r. Of the State Superintendent Of Pub
lie Inr,ruo,lon, Dr.. Van Bo.kclsn' which
chow. tie condition 4 the Public SCHOOL,
:, MARYLAND for the School year. eadilg
June s0.h, 1865 It is q voluznineaasoo-
nmeut. containing over three hunSRcd pa
pss and embraces. in addition IA many
x:.s practical suggss,ions. much valuable
s.a,;.tical information in reference to the
working Of the present school sy'tem.-
The results already reached By the system
are of character. We think, to sa'i'fy any
candid aud intelligent understanding that
.he people Of tho State haro bu* to s'vs 1t
time to mature to realize all that its friends
hare claimed for it. Hy . comparison Of
.h;s ,vstem ritS those which prevail IN
srelre different Stats Of the Uui.n, i, is
shoSn, tia. the Maryland schools have
boon ker. opea hs a l>nges aversss period
during the year. q, less x~erAec soss per
pupil and with hishsr average paJ to
tc.chor, than id shy Of the stsocs n'.med.
And .hi. superiority has bssa a':4ined in
tho incipiency Of the sys*eD and in the
teeth both Of gtest naueii.l difficulties and
of strong popular opposition. What
MAJ not &c bop.a vixen the system has
been reduced to oasy working order. when
al financial difficulties have been removed
ana popular opposition has subsidized! -! 1t
i admitted cn all hands, that the old sys-
tom Of public instruction. after the fal1est
test. has resulted in failure. It has been
superoeded by another system. which is
s.il in ito infancy. Common fairness
would seem to domand that this should
have the game latitude Of experiment that
~.s permitted to the. sy stem it has replae-
ID and an extension Of time for operation
sufhcient TO allow Of fair trial. And
this i al that it's friends ask for it. From
shat it hs. already accomplished. n it not
entitled to this indulgence from the public?
But this line cf comment is somewhat for
eigp to our present purpose, which is to
introduce to out readers the report Of DR..
Bunting. President Of the School Board
for this county. We give it iD full be-
low.
Ryv. Dx. Wax BoxKslss.
State Sup.rin,endes. Puu'c Irs'r"ct'o''.
You have received my statistical report.
Its figures not only show the condition and
doings Of tho nav system in St. Mary's
County, but demonstrate its marked and
steady progress They prove. | think
clearly, it. ftncss fer its Important WORK
At least 80 far IS concerns this County. !
no% send you, at your request, some OF the
results Of nv observation Of it's working,
and cach suggestions. as think, may pro-
mote its interests.
shall not discuss any QUESTION either
abstract or practical. but conhne myself to
. simple history of the operations of the
sy.tom. cannot think it pertinent in a
report which | think should be strictly his
.orical, to argue the necessity of the object
NJ the system. and Of tho conditions noces-
sary to accomplish it.
The necessity of popular education has
been throughly discussed, and argument
concluded. The new systcm is the organ
i.ed result Of discussion, experience and
purpose. This people Of the State have de-
ended that the children of the State ought
20 be NUT, and shall be educated. To
do this work, they have framed system
Of agencies, and the simple question no'r
is, does it answer its purpose Results OF
its operation is the true answer to this
ouestiop. As remarked above. my tahu-
lar exhibits show that in St. Mary's the
new system works well-answers its pur-
po.c fully. The people of St. Marys arc
IN favor Of poprk,r education At hrs',
owing 70 ,nisapprchen,ion Of thc dc'igns Of
the new system--naturally growing of the
circumstances of its orig'n-thcrc was very
general dissatisfaction, which was not les
sensd by unavoidable dciia5 in organising
our Board and opening tho schools. 80
soon, however, ns tho true and only object
OF the system became apparent, the char
actcristc candor of the people determined
shat i: should have fair trial. Accord
ingly, throughout the County. VIC were en-
eouraged by gentlemen whose influence
vas tower of strength, and au.picious OF
our success. | must avail myself OF this
occasion to thank those gentlemen for their
support; and especially the talented editors
Of the ..Leonardtown Gazette. who. from
,hc first, personally and through the col
umus of their paper, gave une9uivoeal and
perhaps. indispensable aid. Indeed. that
paper h.. seemed to US much like one of tbs
component agencies of the system. SC
marked and centinuous has been its CO.
Blu. tho people Of St. MaTy's favor moi
only the object. but the organic character
of the new system. They like the idea OF
it. oncus.s. or unity. The sSmc feature