The Cecil Whig., 1875-09-11
Tenth Annual Meeting of the State Teach.
ers' Association, at Cumberland, Md.


There were eleven counties, the Normal
School, Baltimore City and st. Johns Col
lege represented. Your correspondent left
Baltimore on Tuesday morning at 6:15 in a
rain storm; arrived at the Relay Hotel for
then by the Metropolitan Road to Point of
Rocks; and then by B. & o. Road to Cum
berland, distance 100 miles from Baltimore,
arriving there at o'clock.
At 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning the
session opened at the Maryland Avenue
School buildings. The house was filled
with an audience of some sixty delegates
a large number of teachers from the county
and citizens from the city, representatives
of the press of Baltimore and the city were
present.
The hall had been decorated with pro-
fusion of floral ornaments arranged in hang
ing baskets and rose bouquets.
The following is a list of those promi-
nent among the delegates: Prof. NJ. A.
Newell; Prof. Elliott, of Baltimore City
College; Prof. Shepherd, Superintendent
of Public Instruction of Baltimore City;
Prof. Garnett, President of st. Johns Col
lege; DR.. Shepherd, of Ellicot City; DR.. G.
X. Nelson, ST. Johns; NJ. f. Wartenburg;
P. A. Wilmer, Examiner of Washington
county; B. Tippet, Examiner St. Mary's;
J. W. Thompson, Queen Anne's; G. F.
Perkins, Kent.
The session was opened with Professor
Elliott in the chair; Secretary, G. F. Will
kinson; prayer by DR.. J.. W. Butler, of
Washington City.
Address by the President: He traced the
work of the Association since it's organiza-
ton in 1865. 1t had since it's first organi-
zation for its object the more thorough
preparation of the teacher for his vocation,
and the formation of an enlightened pub
lie opinion on educational matters. The
speaker stated that out of every hundred of
the population of this State over the age of
ten years, twenty-three could neither read
or write. In view of this deplorable state
of affairs it might not be a question of the
very remote future whether the strong arm
of the law should not be called in to COM
pei attendance at school.
Mr.. N. NJ. Ambrose addressed the meet
ing. An exceedingly able address was then
delivered by Prof. II. E. Shepherd. His
theme was Latin. He recommended the
Roman method of pronunciation. At the
cloca Of tho a65racc 1iye1y RI fol
lowed, which was participated in by Presi-
dent Garnett, Mr.. Wartenburg, DR.. Shep-
herd and others.
The Association reassembled at 7:30 P.
NJ. After music by Queen City Band, the
President introduced Hon. H. W. Hoff-
man, who delivered an address on educa-
ton. Rev. Doctor Shepherd followed on
astronomical weights and distances. Prof.
Hartley presented memorial for the estab-
lishment of Teachers Relief Association
for the State. 1t was referred to commit
tee. The Convention then adjourned to
meet at Lonaconing.
There was an excursion train from Cum
berland to Lonaconing for the Association.
About 300 ladies and gentlemen left Cum
berland at 8 o'clock; arrived at Lonaconing
at 1O45. We were there met at the depot
by large assembly who were warm in
their greeting. AS soon as they landed the
body proceeded to the Homecoming school
house.
After the meeting was called to order,
John Ryan, Esq, extended a cordial well
come to the visitors. This was responded
to by Prof. Newell. Prof. Jackson, of
Havre de Grace, next delivered an address
upon the method of teaching-being con-
else and logical and full of truths, and
which was loudly applauded. Judge Dou-
glas was at this point introduced to the
audience, and for awhile entertained his
audience with sensible and witty speech.
On motion, the Association adjourned to
partake of lunch, provided by the ladies OF
Homecoming, of which about four hundred
partook and did ample justice. After lunch
we divided into two parties, and proceeded
to examine the mines in the vicinity under
guidance of Mr.. Frost and Judge Douglas.
| Returned to the train at o'clock and
started for Cumberland, stopping at the
Borden shaft, Frostburg, and Mount Saw
age. The committee stopping at each
place to examine the places of interest,
and arrived at Cumberland at s o'clock
Pm.
The session was resumed at z o'clock at
| Cumberland, where, after an interesting
session, the Convention adjourned to meet
at Easton. j. Z. w.
The following is a synopsis Of the address
delivered by Mr.. p. A. Wilmer, of Wash.
ington county, on the "Relation OF the
People to the Public Schools
Ladies' and Gentlemen Of the association:
The act of the General Assembly of Mary
land establishing the existing system OF
| Free Public Education in the State recon-
mends, among other instrumentalities fol
| promoting the success of the system, Teach
| ers' Associations " as an important means
of elevating the standard of public educa-
ton by mutual conference aud interchange
of views"
The call in obedience to which this AsSo
citation is canvened, quotes the language OF
the law with appreciation and adds that the
| almost universal testimony OF the leading
educations of the country, as to the utility
of this and similar organizations indorses
and confirms the suggestions of the Legis-
| lature.
We are here then, not only in Difference
to the recommendations of the Legislative
wisdom Of our State and the most eminent
educators of our country, but in obedience
also to the voluntary prompting of our
hearts and from considerations of personal
duty, as representatives of the educational
forces and influences at work in our State,
to do what we may towards reaching a
higher plane of professional excellence fol-