The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-03-07
SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS.
FOURTH DISTRICT. Mar. Sd. Isl

|
ern end of this District closed with great
demonstrations in the way of examinations
| and exhibitions.
On Thursday night of last week, Mr.. H.
Ii. kimble had his at the Jackson. The
scholars acquitted themselves well, greatly
to the delight of the spectators and to the
credit of their teacher. There were at
least four hundred persons present, and all
were much pleased.
On Friday, Miss Rachel Harland had an
all-day's examination of her school at the
Big Elk School, which l learn was very
satisfactory to those interested, and sus-
tanned fully the high reputation of the
teacher.
On Friday night, John II. Kimble, at the
Fair Hill school, held an examination of
his school in the presence of an immense
crowd; everything passed off satisfactory.
Then on Saturday night, Mr.. S. T. Kim
BILE, who taught the school at the Centre,
had very successful examination of his
school.
Finally on Monday night, Miss Bella
Waid trotted out her school No. 9, but she
was so cramped for room that only those
who were in the house could hear or see;
while eager crowds thronged the windows
and doors, few of whom could catch a
word. A number left, in despair of hear
ing or seeing anything, and scores remain
ed, who could not get near either windows
or door. Such a miserable coop is not fit
feature was the following address of the
teacher:
We omit tue opening paragraphs of the
address, as however true, the reflections on
to put in print. The balance of the ad-
dress is very creditable indeed.-ED, J.:
KIND PArRoNs:-This is the end of my
second term in this place, and yet it is the
first time have had the pleasure of seeing
some of you in the school room. We make
you welcome; and hope you will be salts
fed from what you see and hear, that we
have not been spending our time in vain.
The opinion is too generally entertained
by parents, that if they send their children
to school that they have done their whole
duty respecting their education. This is a
great mistake. 1t is your duty to see for
yourselves, what progress they are making,
to assist and encourage them at home in
their studies, and by every proper motive
to ncite them to diligence. How many of
you can say that you have done all in this
direction, that you might have done?
Parents who feel no interest in the edu-
tln; nff.,1
the name of man, and yet l am obliged to
believe that there are those who regard them
only as CONVEX i.nce-something to be kept
for their services, or profits arising from
their physical labors; while altogether too
many waste on sensual indulgence-on rum
and tobacco, the earnings of their children
at the age when they ought to be attend
ing school to fit themselves for their proper
position in society.
Many thus rob their children of an edu-
cation on the miserable plea that they can
not afford the expense of sending them to
school, while they. are wasting on their
vices more than would suffice to school
their children. Shame on such men the
very brutes are their superiors. No won
der there are in Maryland 1876, 400 persons,
over the age of ten years, who cannot read
or write. | feel the blush of shame on my
In answer to the complaint that our
school system is too costly, let me say that
it is shamefully too low, which is manifest
ed in the ignorance and poverty of the
people compared with other parts of our
country. Take for example Massachusetts,
where public schools have reached their
highest state of perfection, and compare
her with Maryland. In Massachusetts, the
cost of schools is S20.G6 a head for the
school going population. In Maryland it
is only 81 10 per head. Now, mark the
difference in the condition of the two
States: Maryland is the larger State, and
has great advantages in soil, climate, and
mineral resources and yet with all her
advantages Maryland has only one half the
population of Massachusetts, and about the
same proportion of property per head
The assessed value of property in Mary
land is but $542.76 per head of the entire
population, while in Massachusetts it is
$972.39 per head, Maryland has 1856 49G
persons who cannot read or write; that is
II to every 100 of the people, while Mas
sachusetts has 81, 742 or only six per 100,
unable to read or write.
These are humiliating facts. Let us
ponder them and for shame, never COM
plain of the cost of your schools which is
only one fifth that of Massachusetts, while
your illiterate population is three times as
great, and your thrift and wealth is only
about one half as great. Is there in this
District father who has not been doing
his duty to his children, let these startling
facts rouse him to a proper sense of
duty, and raising to the full stature of
man let him resolve to do his whole duty
to his neglected children, by giving them
that intellectual aud moral culture, due
from a rational being to his offspring.
A word now to the scholars and l am
through. My dear pupils a short time ago
we were strangers; now, think we may
claim to be friends. | know | have none
but the kindest feelings towards you, and
Judging from your behavior to me- can
hardly misnterpret your feelings to me.
| commend you for your attention to your
lessons. my dear children, and for your
general good conduct, crowded as we have
been for room and hurried for time, you
have done as well as could reasonably have
been expected. If in the confusion or ex
element, consequent on these unfavorable
circumstances, l have wroDged or offended
any of you hope you will pardon me, for
| assure you of the innocence of my inten-
ton, and ! make every allowance for you.
Let us part friends, and if we never meet
again, let us SO live that We may meet in
heaven, never more to part.
THE FARMERS MUTUAL OF York, PA,
is acknowledged to be one of the safest
Mutual Fire Insurance Companies in oper-
alton. Its Agents do large business in
this county. Risks on farm property taken
at low FateG. f. f. EWING,
uapt at E,ll,tnp