Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-09-16

Then, iellow-teachers, our attendance at
this Association is not with us matter of
choice, it is an obligation, it is duty re.
quired, as much so as making out our quar-
terly report But we hope this duty will be
willingly rendered. And | feel assured a
few well conducted meetings will so endear
our Association to our hearts that none of
us will have desire to stay away
Let me also congratulate you that the
auspices under which we commence the
present years work are so favorable
Twelve months ago we entered upon our
duties with the prospect of receiving pay
but for little more than halt years
work. And | feel proud to be able to say
that gloomy as the prospects then were,
| right nobly did you, my fellow teachers,
acquit yourselves TO your tasks and when
the funds run out most of you continued on
with little or no pay; thus proving that the
teachers of Montgomery county, serve not
for pay Alone but that their hearts are in
their work, and that they love their profess
sion. And right glad am l that our School
Board in their circular of Sept. LIST, 1881, ex
press proper appreciation of this fact
And this faithtulness to duty has, without
doubt in very great measure, had a telling
influence in rendering our present prospects
so cheering. 1t is evident our County Com
well at their hands, For Just at the time
when the difficulties of last year, and even
worse, were about to come upon us, the
County Commissioners RECONSTRUCTED their
former resolutions, and gave us all we asked
for the present year; and thus they have
cheered our hearts with the prospect of
full years work with full pay in cash.
We are just entering upon the duties of
another year. Our School Board has fully
organized every school district in the coun-
ty. Trustees, the best that the circum-
stances suggested, have been appointed
Teachers selected by these trustees and APP
proved by the School Board have been en-
ployed for every school, and every particu-
lar Except proper furniture in many of the
houses) is adjusted and in order.
And now for the work Let us prove to
the County Commissioners that we appre-
ciate their kindness, not only to us who
depend upon our profession but particu-
larly to the children depending upon our
Public Schools for their education, in giving
them the opportunity of ten months I'M
broken instruction in book-earning.
We are working for the State. Our pupils
are the wards OF the State. We are forming
the character Of the rising people. We are
training the future power of the land We
are educating the voters of the next genera
ton; giving life to the ballot box Here
is work indeed And experience proves,
strange ms il may seem, that the greatest
obstacle to the success of our work is the
cdretessnless of the parents. Our registers
prove this. The long lines of crosses mark
ing absence, stand on our registers II per
petuai record Of the carelessness of parents
in the educational interests of their children.
The State cannot educate the people unless
the children attend the schools.
propose we try new remedy this year.
Let us appeal to the sense Of shame in these
careless ones. They are not aware that a
daily record is kept of their Indifference to
the well-being of their offsprngs Let us
visit such families, carrying our school reg
listers with us, and show them what stands
recorded there to which their children in
future years can refer them with reproach
Let us show such careless parents the long
lists OF crosses standing opposite their chill
drens nameS-a perpetual record Of their
parental neglect. Let us tell them how un-
justly they are acting toward their little
ones, while the State has made such ample
provision for their proper training IN the
education necessary for the business Of life
Let us then prove by our work, not only Of
industriously teaching, but of procuring the
fullest attendance possible for the coming
year, that we feel the importance Of our
labor in coming up to the standard in our
profession required by the law, and required
particularly by that philanthropy which is
found in every efficient teacher.
And now, Mr.. Chairman, propose that
our exercises at our next meeting, after the
election of officers for the coming year, be
interchange of views and experience of
teaching and procuring full attendance the
present term; and that every teacher whose
name is now attached to our constitution
and bylaws use his utmost endcavors to
procure the attendance OF every teacher in
the county at that meeting.
Meeting then adjourned to meet No.
yember 25th, 1881.