Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-11-16
lCoMhuNicArep.

tSoA1uNtCATEO.
ST. CLEMENTS Bar. Nov. 3, 1877.
.Mesns. EDITORS LIN the psbIica.ioa
Of my essay which ! attempted to de.
liver before the Teachers Institute, =
~ Leonardtown on LIST instant. I have
not in view the reconciliation Of any
parties who may i.sgiss themselves
wronged thereby. but wish 70 submit to
the honest public VIA. I deem On sb-
solute, despotic. and tyrannical exercise
of power by Prof. Newell.
The subject, The culture that teach
ers owe to themselves" being under
discussion, made known to the Secre-
tsry, that I had IA essay on q kindred
subject elevation Of our profession, }
which I thought could be most sppro-
pziately delivered under this head. He
signifed the same TO the President who
soon called for its delivery; but when
] had taken my position. fearing nv
subject would take the audience by sur
prise. I stated to the Prof. that fact.
He said that the delivery Of an essay
on such subject would be out oil order,
faithosgh i,regSiayifies had frequently
been in6ulsed in, whereupon started
10 resume my seat.
lie then submitted the question, "Is
II the wish Of the teachers to hear Mr..
Holiness essay" The question being
decided unanimously in the affirmative,
! proceeded until arriving at that part
which refers to the candidates. This
furnished our President a good pretert
for the due exercise Of his eiemeacy, and
he called me TO order.
He said in a most vindictive and angry
manner. lam surprised that the school
board had not more sense than 10 en-
ploy such man as teacber-who 90 far
torgets his duties as teacher as 10 intro
tuee politics in an essay" SC. 1 asked
TO be heard through, but he wa. wholly
deaf to anything might say; where.
upon I laid my essay upon the desk and
calmly remarked. "well. Professor, your
conduct argues more in my cause than
my essay would have DONE" He re.
piled, III am NOT 80 thin skinned as "a
take on insult"
Col. Dent, under the impression that
I had assailed the County School Board
arose and addressed the audience, charg.
ing me with attempting TO create dissen.
ton among the teachers. After tax.
ing his seat asked to explain, but the
president persistently denied me even
that privilege. ! did. however, make a
sort Of explanation, which satisfied Col
Dent, that neither said or intended aughl
against the School Board, but that my
remarks were directed toward defects
in the school law.
Prof. Newell, not content with the
uncourteous remarks and abuse SO free
~ bestowed when in the chair, retired
to corner of the Hall after the ad.
journment, where he INDUCED himself
to his hearts content, all OF which |
treated with silence. believing that the
'JooF' oftener recoils upon him who
- most given to the use Of that word
To him who said ] did not understand
the force OF language | would say. that
! am more sincere than those who have
more wisdom To seem more true.
In regard to the idle threat made By
the Professor, that the Board should
annul my certificate | would say, that
the State Board OF Education, Of rhich
he as President, aud the County School
Boards have the came power. They
may annul teachers certificates for
incompctency, inefiiciency, immorali-
~, or delinquency. I'll have violated
the school law in any way wish to re-
ccive its utmost rigor. Every man
from the peasent TO the Lord in our
State is interested in public Schools
all patronize them. and | contend, there.
fore, since the desired change in the
School law can only come through oul
legislature, that it W as perfectly legiti-
mate, proper, aud right that | should
refer TO the present state OF politics.
A number Of teachers called upon me
during the last evening session, to as.
certain il would not deliver my ad.
dress after the adjournment of the In.
stitute. I told them that I could no,
be unmindiul OF such a compliment,
and that / would accede to their wishes
but being cnwell was forced to retire
before that hour. which fact necessi-
tates its publication.
must offer the public an apology foI
the force Of the language used in some
parts OF my essay. in others, for il.
horidity. but il must be remembered
that at the time Of writing, had no,
the most remote idea OF its public ation
Besides l wished to be mindful of the
request made by the Professor at ou,
last Institute, that We should restrict
our essays to the short space of fifteen
minutes. My only object therefore,
was, without entering into the minute
details, to elicit general discussion Of
the matter.
Very Respe ctfully,