The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-04-18
'MsAe Gttil Mhi9
ELKTON, APRIL IS, 1874.
TWO PETITIONS.

We print two papers this week on the
subject of our Public Schools, which ought
to command the earnest attention of every
Board of School Commissioners appeals
strongly to every parent, to every property
holder in Elkton. The condition of the
Public School Building as described in that
memorial of the Trustees of the school is
cause for public shame and reproach.-
And the men who sign that petition to the
Board are men who are not likely to pre-
sent any other than a statement of naked
facts. That the school building is in as
sorry plight as they represent may be
taken as literal truth, and if anything
worse than described. A room in the
third story of the Odd Fellows Hall has
for number of years been rented as an
additional school room, which is about as
unfit place as could be found for the
purpose, but which is the only place that
can be had for that purpose in town.
The Public School building is in every
way unfit for the purpose and in the most
Objectionable neighborhood for school to
be found in the town. To attempt patch
ing it up would be like throwing money
away. A new house of proper size, and
with the necessary divisions, to contain
two hundred pupils, at least, should be
erected in more accessible neighborhood,
and the old building be sold or torn down.
Will the School Commissioners give Elkton
new Public School Building suitable to
the wants of the town? They will if it
is in their power. But the Board is terri
bly, cramped with debt of $4,000 or
thereabouts, which consumes interest
enough every year to build frst-class
school house. In such an emergency the
citizens should take the matter under con-
sideration and try and assist the Board.
If the Trustees of the Public School would
call meeting of the citizens and state
the deplorable condition of the school
house, and the heavy obligation they are
under to provide comfortable quarters for
their children, surely liberal subscription
could be had toward building new house,
and the School Board would be only too
glad to do all in their power to second the
efforts of the town. The citizens of the
town are more directly interested in having
decent, comfortable Public School build
ing than any other of the people of the
county or district, and if we had school
building commodious and we'll furnished
with shade trees and other necessary sur
roundings, we would have no difficulty in
town would be always sure of first-class
school.
And now word on the memorial ad-
dressed to the Board of County Commits
sioners by the President of the School
Board. The paper sets forth the great
need for liberal levy for the Public
Schools the ensuing year, and while urging
this fact upon the County Commissioners,
the President gives succinct statement Of
the condition and steady growth of the
= Public Schools of the county. Grea. i'm
provements and advances have been made
in the schools, but a great deal remains to
be done. A policy has governed former
Boards of County Commissioners which
might be aptly termed the penny-wise and
pound-foolish policy, and every levy for
schools has been made with the most
grudging hand. Tens of thousands of
dollars are wasted on the roads, while the
children of the tax payers are starving,
mentally, for the proper facilities for edu-
cation. A road supervisor will work out
double his allowance, wasting two thirds
of the amount in many cases, and when
he presents his bill the demand is accom-
panied with a threat that the Board dare
not refuse; but a sufficient sum has been
persistently refused to the Public Schools
ly former Boards of County Commission
ers, and, we believe, through fear of injur-
ing their future popularity. We hope the
present Board are too wise to be influenced
by such childish weakness. That this
course did not increase the popularity of
any of the members of former Boards is
evident from the fact that none of them
have ever been reelected. We hope the
popular demand and the crying need of
the six thousand children of the county
will stand above every consideration and
siren whisper of future popularity with
the present Board of County Commission
ers, and that they will levy enough tax to
pay the Public School debt, and let the
education of the children Of to-day 90 on
without so many drawba as the schools
have in the past been subjected to. 1t is
of vastly more importance to expend the
money of the fathers and mothers of the
present day in educating their children, and
the children of their poor neighbors, than
for anything else. No other investment
will return such heavy interest. And
we believe no measure will be more popu
lar with the mass of tax payers as levy
of money sufficient to pay the heavy debt
OF the School Board, and keep the schools
open the full school year. We trust that
an enlightened policy will prevail with the
Board of County Commissioners, and the
wants of the children, who are incapable
of speaking for themselves, will be serious
ly considered. The education of the chill
dren is the only hope of popular govern
ment, the strongest bulwark of morality
The wealth and power of the State lies
mainly in the intelligence of it's citizens.
The tax for public education is growing
more and more popular every year; and
in those sect ions of the country where the
colers on the census chart show the high
est degree of education, the most money
is levied for public education, and paid
the most cheerfully. The most popular
tax in the future will be the tax for pub
lie education.
The Casho Machine Company, of
Newark, Del, advertise their celebrated
Diamond State threshing machine this
week in Tile Wing, the manufacture of
which the company make a specially. The
machine has proved itself a very superior
thresher and cleaner in several competitive
trials with the best machines in use; the
Company also do general manufacturing