Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1868-07-02

tNCNAI
NJ. Editor Although plain man
and unaccu>ioTned to the pen. | venture
10 send you thought or two upon sub
ject which lies quite close to my heart
Il is that of public educatiou / DO not
purpose, fer am not able 70 dc it, 10 dis
cu>s lis nature, but do purpose 10 say
something about it and thus relieve my
anxiety about an in;eres, Of supreme I'M
portance to my children. In consequence
Of the revolution through which We have
al passed am forced. as are many 9TH
ers, TO l. Ok TO the Public Schools alone
for the education Of my children. 1t Is,
therefore. with the most lively concern,
that | watch the doings Of the authorities
charged with the working of the School
machinery. have nothing to complain
Of. for | believe the schools. generally, as
far as l know. have done we'll, and the
Teachers have, in most instances. given
acknowledged satisfaction | do some
times query whether popular education BY
the State is looked upon by the lnhuen-
tial portion Of our County IS a settled
principle as well as fixed fact-Whcth-
err the character, thoroughness. conse-
quences and resulting duties Of the revo-
luton that has passed upon Us, are ade-
quately appreciated BY those of our M
munity WAC are our guides in public at
fairs? 1t is just here that | feel the an1-
iety which induces me TO write. am
parcnt-have Ave children, who, as have
said, depend on the Public Schools for all
the education they will ever get and with
out which it would be, in my fears. bet
ter for them to be out Of the world As
parent, therefore, | am interested IN the
| efficient operation OF the Public School
System and watch with interest the do
/ ings of the School Board. | am pleased
at the course of the New Board thus far.
! The School Law fixed the month of Au-
t gust as vacation and left to the discretion
| of the School Boards of the various coun-
i ) the selection OF the second month of
vacation. For reasons, which must at
once strike the mind with much force, the
month Of September was selected. Thus
the two mouths of August and September
are the regular annua. vacation, The
! present school term ends the last June
| As the .chools could have been hcpt open
during the month of July only, | think it
was very wise in the Board to suspend
the Schools until the 1st Of October, the
beginning Of the School year. The Board
it is thus seen. has really suspended the
| Schools for one month only-thc Law
having suspended them for two months
There is one thing which gives some anx-
ietv. 1t is IN impression, If not runner
somewhat general, that the New Board,
or some GIFTS members, are rather oppos-
ed to female Teachers Mr. Editor, | dc
hope this is not the case Those States
most experienced in the work of popular
education employ Ladies in preference to
men as Teachers in their primary Schools,
and the annual reports Of those who su-
pcrvise Public Schools are emphAtically
in favor of them Throughout the North
and West, Female Teachers are in the
ascendant, and it is 50 even in the city OF
Baltimore for one greatly prefer a
true lady Teacher for my cai}dtcn the
oldest Of whom are girls, and the young
est boys, needing the gentle treatment of
woman. The few ladies who teach pub
lie schools IN our county have not only
done we'll, but they have improved the
children in those important respects which
stamp value on moral character. ! sin
cerely bclicvs that teaching is one of wo-
mans true yocations-one which Heaven
has designed for her VIII she, Mr Ed
itor, be excluded from the honorable and
hyelihood-g gaining profession Of teaching
by the present Board of School Commits
sloncrs: If so will it be jest gallant
Where Will be our boast Of Southern JUS
tee and chiyalry! How CALAMITY the sue
cessul knight in the Tournament crowns
woman as the Queen of love and Beauty
All . that doesn't cost much. Will tn
noble knight aid the dependent Queen Of
Love and Beauty in getting into her true
position as Teacher and thus enable her
to support herself and perhaps dependent
parents and younger sisters and brothers
But, Nlr. Editor, | shall say no more at
TINS time. You find my pen Is not
a practical one Please excuse my plain
thou 5hts-I will just say, think as the
schools are not to re-open til lst Of Dc
tobcr, it would be we'll to defer c1amIna-
ton of Teachers I'LL about the last of Sep
TENDER, and thus give them the benefit O
the Vacation to prepare themselves. am
sure it would be appreciated by the leach
crs and especially by the ladies
PARENT.