The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-02-20
Public ScIiOOIS.-There is no subject

Public Schools. is no subject
more important, in connection with the
present and future prosperity of the county,
than the successful operation of the Public
Schools, and it is the duty of every good
citizen to take an interest in their success.
The friends of education should avoid every
thing of a partizan character, and all allu-
sions of that kind in the public press,
whether so intended or not, have an evil
tendency. The persons who talk the most
about the Public Schools are those who do
not favor them, and the point with Msm is
not SO much the character of the school, as
paying the taxes for their support. There
is no use to attempt drawing an invidious
distinction between the present system and
that which preceded it. The details of
these systems are nearly the same, and the
Teachers in general are the same. and as
they had certificates of qualification from
the former Board, it is to be presumed that
their experience has made them more per-
feet. The writer took great interest in
the former system, and was instrumental
in an humble degree in getting it up, and
has reason to know that the vital defect in
that School Law, was the want of means
to carry it into successful operation. The
local laws remained in operation two years.
and during that time the County Commits
sioners levied literally, and the Schools
flourished, but the next year, the Board
having nothing to rely on but the State
tax, We're forced to borrow money to keep
them in operation part of the year.
When the former law was passed, the Legis-
lature refused to give the County Commits
sioners even discretionary power to levy
additional taxes for the support of Public
Schools. The late law is exceedingly liberal
on that point, and does not even leave it
discretionary with the Commissioners how
much they levy. but requires them to levy
such an amount as the School Board shall
deem necessary to keep the Public Schools
in operation ten months in the year. There
are very few States in the Union that have
made as liberal a provision for the support
ofPublic Schools as are made by the present
law of Maryland, notwithstanding we hear
very illlbcral dcnunciations of it. on merely
paltizan grounds, which should never
enter into the discussion of educational
subjects. An active and intelligent super
vision is an important item in the success
of Public Schools, but neither a State
Superintendent, nor Presidents of the State
Normal School, can possibly give any per-
sonal supervision to the Schools of the State.
The late Superintendent, II. Van Bokkelen
though a very active and energetic man.
L. II.
personal supervision-it was out of the
question. The present County Board have
appointed an Examiner, who is thoroughly
competent to supervise the School, and it
remains to be seen whether he will dis
charge his duties sufficiently.
There are many of the schools in the
county that will compare favorahly with
the Public Schools in any of the States
There are many others that are not by any
means what they ought to be. 1t is not Il
very easy matter to find real live competent
teachers. Many that have all the scholas-
tic attainments necessary, are not capt to
teach"
The indifference that is generally mani
tested in regard to the schools is discour-
aging to teachers, who in turn become
indifferent. If parents would visit the
Public Schools frequently, and show their
interest in the matter, teachers would be
encouraged. and excited to diligence, and
there would be less cause of complaint.
How many parents of the two hundred
children attending the Public Schools in
Elkton, have visited those Schools during
the two quarters pasto perhaps not half a
dozen. There is no reason why there
should not be good schools in Elkton. but
the Indifference fthe people. The present
School Board found the Academy aban-
doned, going to ruin, an execution of $1,000
hanging over it and sale threatened on
offer of the Trustees. paid the debt and
took the title. \ town of over two thous-
and inhabitants, situated in an agricultural
and manufacturing district, ought to main
tain first-rate school, and infuse life and
vitality into the schools of all classes. 1t
is idle to talk about systems where there is
no interest taken in their success VI.