The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-04-12
Condition and Wants Of our Public
Schools,

meeting of the Board with the County
Commissioners to confer with them, in the
matter Of making the necessary appropria-
ton for the support of schools the ensuing
year. One of the Board of County Com
missioners after hearing the very able and
School Board, replied that if he had his
way he would repeal the Public School lar.
Does not every intelligent man in Cecil
blush and hang his head in shame, to think
that the County has such an administra-
tor of her affairs. And the Democratic
party are responsible for this great shame.
Thank God such an outrage to the intelli-
gence of the age is not possible for the
Republican party. A representative of the
Elkton ring is alone equal to such senti-
ment.
To the Honorable County Commissioners
Of Cecil County:
We appear before you o-day as the School
Board of Cecil county, for the purpose of
stating few facts for your consideration.
The School Law, as you are aware, gives
you the power to levy and collect 4 sufi-
Gent amount of tax to carry out it's provi-
sionS. Popular education is now admitted
| by all to be the true policy of all enlight-
ened communities. Whatever difference of
opinion may exist upon political or other
| questions. no one will question for a mo-
ment the right of those in authority to pro-
vide for the education of the people. What
ever may have been our views in the past.
those preiudices have been removed and it
now enjoys a cordial support of an enlisht-
ened people.
| The total number of different pupils that
entered school during the past year, was
1853. Prof Newell in his remarks before
the Teachers Institute, at Elkton, con-
| graduated the teachers on the average
attendance, by saying that it was 90 per
cent better than any County in the State,
and still the average in daily attendance is
not what it should be. While some of the
schools in the County have an average that
is both creditable to teacher and scholar,
others are far from a fair average attend
ance. The value Of school privileges ought
| to be appreciated, and no wise parent
should object to compulsory law. Teach
ers all know the effect upon their pupils of
! frequent absence from school. Parents
often too indulgent, think little of the con-
sequence that follows in every case such
indulgence to their children, and yet they
expect the same improvement to be shown
by their children as by those who attend
regularly. And as a general thing the par
ents that make the most complaint of the
schools not being kept open the year round,
are parties that do not require children to
go regularly to school. This, of course, is
not in your power to remedy. Our teach
ers are generally active and conscientious
in the performance of duty, and we think
will compare favorably with the teachers
of the counties throughout the State. But
they receive poor encouragement from pa
irons and trustees; if they would visit the
schools frequently it would encourage both
teacher and pupil, making their labors
| lightr, and to some extent, make up for
their poor salaries; We have found schools
that are visited by parents and officers to
be the best schools. 1t is much better to
visit and see how they are conducted be-
| fore censuring a teacher. We earnestly
entreat every trustee and parent to visit
occasionally their respective schools, as it
is certainly effective in advancing the best
| interests of their children, by showing to
the teacher that the parents are interested
in the education of their children.
cannot speak too highly of the teachers
of the 9TH. It'll and Sth Districts. They
organized Teachers Association about
two years ago, which was a commenda-
BILE movement on the part of those en-
gagged in it. They have sacrificed both
| time and money in order to keep up per-
feet organization, and the first Saturday of
each month is day profitably spent, both
to the teacher and the public Their pro-
ceedings are varied by the reading ofessays,
select readings, discussions, &c. ] think
their expenses at least should be paid for
attending these associations, and hope they
may be organized in each Election Dis
trict throughout the County, as no teacher
can be united with Teachers Association
without being greatly benefited, and if it
is profit to them, the public will reap the
result. Some of our school houses are not
only in dilapidated, but disgracsfuI condi-
ton. During the year we will be COM
PEELED to build or repair some houses at no
small outlay of money; for instance in the
1st District, where some children are re-
quired to walk five miles to get to school
house. and not comfortable after the effort
of getting to it. Even in the towns of
Elkton, Chesapeake City and Port Deposit,
the accommodations for public schools is
disgrace to our County. We have graded
schools in each of these towns and until we
ject of 4 graded school will never be car
ried out. There should be in each of these
towns, first-class buildings with all of the
modern improvements, and abandon en-
tirely the renting of unsuitable buildings.
We believe it would be economy, as well as
add to the comfort and success of our
schools if suitable houses were erected
where ever required, as the greater part Of
the houses in the County are not adapted
for the use of schools and teachers and
pupils who are compelled to use them must
! suffer for want of proper and sufficient
space. light, and ventilation. Filled as
they often arc to repletion with children Of
an age at which they pay but little atten-
ton to personal cleanliness, with no posi-
BILE way Of ventilating the houses, it is no
wonder that pupils are so often restless,
and at times dull and stupid. We are re-
quired under the school law to establish
one or more colored schools in each Elec.
ton District: for this purpose the Legisla-
turc appropriated $50, coo for the State in
order that this provision might be carried
out. The proportion for our County is
about 81, 100; this amount We found insult
| fcent to carry on their schools in the Sue
cess we would wish for, and we determined
to place them on the same basis as other
| schools, providing we found their teachers
properly qualified. The result is that we
have eight schools devoted to colored chill
dren, that from personal observation We
find well conducted, though the majority
of them have very poor school accommoda-
tons as far as houses are concerned, being
compelled to occupy their churches for
that purpose. Our schools, we think, are
entirely free from sectarian influence or
political control. With these facts before