The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-09-27

We doubt not that the above hint from
The Democrat of last week would be very
good advice for the g Radicals - to act
upon, if their aims were no higher than
securing large accession of Democratic
voters to their ranks. They have higher
aspirations fortunately. But this fine
phrase was the result of perversion Of
some comments on our Public School Sys-
tenn which formerly appeared in Tie Wig.
We have not a word to say in disparage-
ment of the efforts of our School Commits
sioners, or the pay of the teachers. The
system now established in the State of
Maryland, is expensive, clumsy and ineili-
cient, and is the offspring Of an attempt on
the part of the party at present in power
in the State, to kill out right, the Public
School System, as a system of education.
The pressure of public opinion, strong as
it manifested itself, was scarcely powerful
enough to prevent the Legislature from
leaving the State entirely without Public
Schools, after it had abolished the admira-
by their Republican predecessors. That
system needed some slight alterations and
amendments which experience had pointed
out, and it would have been one Of the best
systems Of Public Schools in the United
States 50 pronounced by men most com
petent to give opinions on the merits of
school systems, from thorough intimacy
with those Of several States. But that sys-
tenn was swept off the statute books and
the State was for Il time deprived of public
schools. After 4 severe contest with the
Democratic enemies of Public Schools un-
der any and all systems, which were large
ly represented in our Legislature, the pres
ent school law was got through in a patch
work form. And today men of sound,
practical views, who are entrusted with
the administration of the Public Schools of
our State, will tell you that it is needlessly
expensive and most absurd in the theory
of instruction it rests upon. That theory
involves a system of education which it
would require pupils of ordinary capacity,
tocelce gears to master. 1t is composed of
multitude of branches requiring the pupil
to study half dozen or more lessons at
orizing aud crammiag, requiring more time
than children of the masses have to devote
to the work, and the time which they have
to apply to education is in great part vast
al ,irinr tn, of
things, in place of thorough knowledge
of few Of the most useful branches of a
common education. The system proves Il
rich mine for a few favored firms of book
makers and stationers. And more books
are used, and consequently abused and
wasted than should be sufficient to supply
four times the number Of pupils under such
a school system as the needs Of the masses
call for. We cast no censure upon our
county School Commissioners, or any of
their officers or teachers. They enter
heartily into the performance of their ardu-
Gus duties. But the system is condemned
for its unnecessary expense, which is er-
trdUagdnce, it's iHet1cency for the needs of
the class for whom it is mainly designed to
benefit; and we condemn it as the abortive
attempt of strong feeling in the party
now in power, at its Inauguration, to utter
ly destroy all Public Schools and leave the
State without any means of education,
save that Of private schools. And these
bad features will never be removed, and
the system reformed till the present gov
erning party in the State is turned down.
1t is not alone education that has suffered
from their lease of power in Maryland, but
every interest as well. The State is ines
timable millions poorer to-day from the
baneful influence and wasteful manage
ment in every department, by the ''Demo-
cratic-C Conservative hybrid party of Mary
land, than it would have been had it re-
manned in Republican hands; and this
truth is beginning to dawn upon the intel
lisent mass of the people.