Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-03-19

cessary, and thai its proper aain:nistra-
ton may not resalt IN the bes: interests of
the pupil 50 pnnishei aud Of the schools.
That this mode Of punishne emit is much too
often resorted TO by young aud incxpe-
riencea teachers. il docs not eainsay, bat
that il should be absolutely and entirely
prohibited il cannot admit.
Parents occasionally require teachers Of
primary schools to instruc. as much a.
they can bat never to punish the pupils
l-"say ehildrea parficsiarly"-goneral-
ly concluding the admoni,ion. Such moth
ers. fashers. etc. may be reminded that
the teachers of public schools in MARYLAND
have no choice in the matter. Thew are
employed and paid BY the State. and by
the terms of engagement. are required to
keep order-in the school rooms. The pa
| rents Of the tender brood should FIRST teach
their teacher how order can be maintain
cd withogt recourse to the rod. st. Ma
rvs teachers will pay high fer such in
struetious. But, seriously. it may as vel.
De grsnted that punishment is sometimes
inflicted upon pupils injudiciously. cspe-
cially by inexperienced as we'll as by has
| ty and impetuous teachers. The fault in
such cases IS chargeaLle upon those who
imposed such men upon the school dis
triet: The only remedy is to remove
them.
Lynn c. Doyle writes to the Brooklyn
| On. y Eagle: 1.-THE public schools Of
our city are presided over by men aud wo-
men who shoali not be governed By pet
| ty spites, in such a manner as to place in
/ favor some scholars and others in disfavor.
| This habit has taken root in many Of our
schools, in classes composed Of young Ia
/ dies who have feelings, and although they
| should be above jealousy. they still have
hearts which feel every slight offered by
! their teacher. Admitting that some schol-
ars have more winning CT ways about
them. admitting that some scholars have
a way of currying favor with their teach.
crs, yet it is not just or right that those
scholars should take every good thing and
! leave naught but bones for the less lucky
Il kind word goes great way as regards
making = good scholar. and if teacher
| persists in Ignoring entirely tie rough
and ready scholars, aud offering every
| ;uduccmon; toward The advancement of
those who can work into he good graces
Of such teacher. it may do more harm than
good in the long run"
As pendant to the above, VIC give the
report Of the late Secretary Of the School
Board of St. Mary's county. j. Frank
Ford, to Prof. Newell, which furaisLc,
an admirable resume OF the workings Of
the public schools Of our county during
the past year. The interesting statistics
which accompany the report will be made
subjects OF future comment.
PRoF N a. NEWELL,
Sir II have the homer to transmit
herewith the annual report of the Board
| of County School Commissioners for St.
Mary's Coua'y, for the year cniing Sep
tenher 30'h, 1878, with the hope that 1t
may meet with your approval Our
schools were kept open for only niue
months of the year ending July 3isf,
1873. it having become ueccssary to sus-
( peud their operation for ouc month If the
! winter term, IN consequence of our iinan-
! ciai ombarrassmcnis; and teachers were
| paid $4,000 fer the remaining one-and-
| a-haif mouths of that term
by this mems the sum Of $3.50 90 was
| saved from the expenses of the schools for
the yea; just oDicd, which having been
applied to ;hc liquidation Of cur debts,
has relievedus Of our pecuniary Difficult
ties. and placed us in a condition which
iusiifes the indulgence Of the belief. that
! in the future there will be no recurrence
OF the necessity for suspension Of the
schools. You viii perceive from the ac-
c0mpanying statistics that the number Of
schools in operation during the gear just
ended, is one less than during the year
ending September 30th, 1873 This re-
duc;ion of the plumber Of schools was oc-
casioued by our inability to procure
suitable teacher for one OF the schools: ar
rangcmen,s have been made, however,
which will enable MS to reopen this school
for the year just about to begin. There
has been slight diminution in the num-
Der OF Gii!eren, pupils attending the schools
as compared with that of last year, and
also consequent falling of in the pupils
in average attendance, this however does
not indicate, as il would at FIRST seem. any
retrogressicn in the working OF the school
system, but is attributable to two causes:
I first the reduction of the number OF schools,
and secondly 20 the fact tina, during the
winter term the prevalence of small pox
| in certain localities rendered it necessary,
in some instances, 10 close the schools for
weeks, and in every instance caused .
grsa; reduction in the daily attendance
Of pupils. There have been nine eolored
schools in operation during the year end
/ ing July 81, 1873, at cost If 81 ESQ. 80,
and il is gratifying to report thar the
working of these schools has been highly
satisfactory. The number of different
| pupils attending these schools was 5l2,
and the pupils in average attendance LIS.
Their appreciation of the inestimable ai-
van.ages offered them BY system of free
schools, is manifested in this class of our
1 citizens. By the large MURDER Of children
attending the schools, and the regularity
of their attendance.
| Many Of our school buildings are sadly
in need Of repairs. some Of them indeed
50 much 50 as to render them almost en-
| tireiy unfit for occupation, and 10 conse-
I r a