The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-09-28

Public School Opening at Mount Vernon.

An impression exists that the Carroll coun-
y public schools have opened this year a
little more successfully than ever before
The persistence of most of the teachers in
properly grading and classifying their schools,
has been tended with so many favorable re-
suits that the people generally are placing a
higher value than formerly on their public
school system; and the consequence is. that
more of the better classes of pupils are sent
to the public schools; and that the select
schools, some of them being of very high
merit, are less patronized than they deserve.
The little village of Mount Yernon-for-
merly Jewsburg--a few miles south of New
Windsor, has recently become deeply inter
ested in public school education. With the
very limited means at the disposal of the
School Board, the members had not taken
measures to lay off new district and build
school-house at Mount Vernon; but the peo-
pie of the village and neighborhood, short
time since, nobly took the matter in hand.
and with means supplied by themselves they
have built of brick, in a beautiful location. an
admirable school-house, 22x30 feet with a
ceiling ''l2 feet high in the clear" as Mr..
Haines, the efficient builder, expressed it.
10 leave nothing undone to ensure success.
the trustees, after much careful inquiry, have
been so fortunate as to secure the services as
eIIcleut
lady who, after two or three years service.
has made for herself high reputation in Car.
roll county.
On Saturday last, after a few invitations
had been issued, quite number of the villa
gers, nearly crowdIng the school-room with
men, women, and children, assembled to
welcome their teacher, and dedicate the new
house to its honorable service with appropri-
ate ceremonies; and 1t is doubtful whether as
much interest was not felt in the opening of
Mount Vernon public school, in that little
country village, as is often witnessed on much
more pretentious occasions.
The ceremonies were opened with PRAYER
by the Rev. W. A. koontz, of New Windsor,
who, on the invitation of the trustees. deliver
ed an able and highly appropriate discourse
deservedly complimentary to to the builders
and all who participated therein, and much
of it addressed to the teacher, the pupils. the
trustees and particularly to the parents of the
children, showing in forcibleterms how much
can be done to sustain good school. and how
a thoughtless word of undeserved disparage-
ment may do untold mischief to the teachers
best directed efforts
The County Examiner, being present and
called on TO say something encouraging occu-
pied few minutes chiefly in support of the
views so ably expressed by Mr. Koontz, clos.
ing what he had TO say with tn public intro
duction of Miss Duvall, the teacher, who
gracefully arose, turned respectfully to the
audience, and said that she would deliver her
address to the pupils on Monday morning,
embracing other proper occasions to pay her
regards to, and cultivate friendly relations
with the parents of the children and the
friends of the school.
The exercises were closed with the bene-
uiCtlOu. all naSSiuu ont undar tho
that 1t had been good for us TO be here