The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-03-15
A Proper Public School Duildins .-Tha

the great needs, if not the greatest need o
Elkton, we think every one will agree wht
has given the subject any serious thought
We have been informed that Mr.. Jone
alluded to this subject in very forcibl,
terms in his address before the Teachers
Institute, held last week. And before
proceeding to what we propose to say OF
this subject, we wish to disclaim il
the premises, having had any collusor
or understanding with the speaker on thai
occasion, on the subject of Public Schools
or School Buildings. The substance o.
what we propose to say in this article We
had long before deliberately considered
and come to the same conclusion that every
one must arrive at who reflects on the mat.
ter of Public Schools.
That the accommodation for the Public
School of this town is not only insufficient
but disgraceful is humiliating fact. That
the old, one story abandoned brick church
situated on an obscure site in muddy,
squallid region ON Back street, is used as
the Public School house of this town, is
disgraceful.
The central town and county seat of the
county, numbering nearly two thousand
inhabitants lives under this stigma, appar-
emily unconscious of the disgrace, and un-
concerned by the crying evil. The miser-
able barrack located in dirty obscure
corner which serves as Public School house
for Elkton, has not the capacity to seat
more than half the children in town and
vicinity, much less properly accommodate
them, and consequently one of the assistant
teachers has to climb to the third story of
the Odd Fellows Hall to find quarters for
part of the pupils. What a farce to have
a principal and two assistants, when one of
the assistants is compelled to march several
classes off quarter Of a mile to find room
| for their imperfect accommodation. How
shall principal overlook the school which
is theoretically under his charge, when
| more than a quarter of a mile iutervenes
| between him and part of his pupils and one
| OF his assisting staff? The forbiddng, and
squalid appearance Of the building and its
surroundings, that is used for Public
School in this town is enough to discourage
| both teachers and pupils.
There should be first-class school
building, constructed with all the mod
ern Improvements and conveniences.-
1t should have study and recitation
rooms, and be fitted up with the best
school furniture. The house should be
large enough to afford ample accommo-
dations for all the children in the town,
and who live within convenient distance of
the town. The building should be con-
structed with a view to comfort and con-
venience, be handsomely finished and pro-
vided with pleasant grounds and shade
trees for comfort in the summer on the
play grounds. And in order that the
school should be convenient Of access in the
worst seasons, the building should have a
central location as near as possible, with
we'll paved streets leading to 1t from all
quarters. There is one such location in
the town which would make an admirable
site for Public School building with
grounds sufficient for the accommodation
of the children. That spot is the lot on
which the old Jail was located. There is a
fine lot large enough for every purpose re-
quired, and communication. with broad
we'll paved street. To replace the grated
cell of the felon with the school house
where intelligence and virtue are instilled
into the youthful mind, in order that the
man may become moral and useful citizen
in place of an outlaw to civilization, would
be proper tribute to the enlightened
spirit of the age.
We presume Mr.. Jones would sell the
lot for the purpose here stated, at its cost
to him, and contribute handsomely toward
fund to aid in erecting school building
that would be credit and great profit to
the community. The old structure on
Back street, the towns excuse for Public
School house, could be disposed of and
the proceeds used to help to pay for the
new building; and the School Board, if
they found the proper spirit manifested by
our citizens, would doubtless, contribute to
the extent of the ability Of the school fund
toward the enterprise. VIII not the citi-
zens show public and self-sacrificing spirit
enough to furnish the additional sum re-
uuired to purchase the lot and erect
Public School house, such as the pressing
wants of the rising generation call for IN
the strongest terms? 1t would be the best
investment ever made by this people,
Building Railroads, and fine Churches, and
Factories, are all worthy and commendable
enterprises, but providing the necessary
means to make men and women of moral
and intellectual standard suitable to the
age, is far nobler, and more urgently ne
cessary work. Let US begin the good work
at once. We will place our name down for
one hundred dollars toward raising the
necessary fund; let the rich men of the
town come forward with five hundred
each. 1t will be the best investment they
ever made. Nothing enhances the value
of property equal to an intelligent, moral
ana INDUSTRIOUS poPuiaIioh. IL 'his '""h
is even to take its place abreast of other
towns surrounding it, its people must wake
up and be doing, and proper education
for all the children is the first step i'll the
path of progress. Without comfortable,
commodious school buildings and grounds,
this desirable object can only be partially
attained A comfortable. pleasant school
room is Just as essential to cheerful spirits
and a tone of mind necessary to study, as
a pleasant home. And, yet the people OF
this town have no better accommodation
in the way of building and location for
their Public School, than an ordinary, barn
or horse stable; not near so handsome and
pleasantly located as the Jail stable will be
when completed. Are parents satisfied
that this disgraceful thing shall exist in
definitely? Large numbers of children
are sent to private schools, because the
Public School building is not fit for chill
dren to be placed in.