Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-05-12
Proceedings Of the Teachers As

Story in the chair and Mr.. IL. j. Green, Sec
rotary. There was quite full attendance.
After reading the minutes of the last meet
ing, on motion of Mr.. Venable, the literary
part of the programme for the day was laid
over until next meeting in order to take up the
report of the committee on textbooks and
other miscellaneous business
On motion of Mr.. Armstrong, a commit
tee was appointed (Messrs. Armstrong, Wa
tiers and Prettyman) to make arrangements
for the reception of the committee selected
to award prizes in the reading contest.
On motion of Mr.. Grady, resolutions de-
claring that teachers in private schools and
governesses in families were entitled and
cordially invited to become members of the
Association.
On motion of Mr.. Amiss, the Treasurer
was ordered to supply the funds to pur-
chase necessary books and stationery for the
use of the Secretary.
Mr.. Grady moved the following additional
bylaw:
Sec. -. Any member of this Association
who shall apply for any school already &C.
cupied by another member shall be eX-
PEELED from the Association.
Laid on the table, under the rule, as I'M
finished business to be taken up at the next
meeting.
Mr.. Venable moved that the Board of
School Commissioners be requested to re-
or tta 10 rta n IN tha aiao
paid previous to June 30th, 1876, with
corresponding increase to assistant teachers.
This motion was agreed to unanimously
The report OF the book committee was
then taken up and considered seriatim, with
the result that the entire report, as hereto
fore published in the SENTINEL, was con-
Cured in, except as to Maryland Histories.
At half past eleven o'clock the reading
award committee appeared, when the Asso-
citation adjourned, and resolved itself into
competitive reading class.
There were some thirty contestants, and
the reading began at once, led off by Mr..
Wingate, who, as his own selection, read
Hallecks "Marco BoZzaris," and by direc-
ton of the committee, the "Wonders of AS
tronomy." Other contestants followed with
the rapidity almost of II school recitation,
until the whole number had read two selec-
tons each-one his or her own, and the other
that of the committee. Thus the time was
occupied until nearly o'clock, when the
committee retired to make up its report.
While the committee was out the teachers
from Hon. A. b. Davis, President of the
School Board. He rected his experience
both as pupil and subsequently as II friend
of popular education, and referred to his
earlier endeavors which he has later had
the satisfaction of seeing bear rich fruits
His address was listened to with marked at
tention and heartily applauded. At its close
there was great excitement, for soon after the
committee came in, and many an anxious
heart beat high with hope and fear to catch
every word that the chairman was about to
speak, but the suspense was not yet ended,
for owing to ties, two of the prizes could
not yet be awarded, and further reading
was required of some five or six teachers 10
"play off the ties" This increased the sus-
pense, especially on the part of the re-read-
ing contestants, nor was it lessened on the
part of others, for it was not known what
awards were certainly made. But this second
trial was a short one, and when Mr.. War
ner, of the committee, arose to read off the
names of the successful ones there was a
breathless silence Miss Laura Hammond, of
Damascus; Miss Lucy Garrett, Miss Blanche
Braddock and Mr. Forest j. Prettyman, OF
Rockville, were the lucky names that fell
from Mr.. Warmers lips, and then followed
applause, congratulations and general relief,
but so far as we could hear no murmur or
complaint except the general one on the
part of the male teachers that the ladies
had got all the money.
The school house was crowded with
teachers and spectators, and the interest
was so great that during the long sitting
from 10 O'clock to nearly there were very
few that left their seats.
Mr. Secretary White told the meeting as
secret that the money for the prize was
the gift of President Davis, and the fourth
prize the gift of Mr.. j. G. Moran, Of Balti-
more
The awarding committee expressed their
surprise and pleasure at the general excel
lence Of the reading and their regret at not
having more prizes " distribute. 1t can
hardly be doubted that the days proceed
ings will do much TO promote that most use
full of all accomplishments, good reading,
amongst our schools, and we doubt not that
the generous donor of the prizes feels al
ready that he has been fully repaid for his
liberality. We hope his example will be
followed by others.
The committee have supplemented their
Fridays report with the following:
The committee who were honored with
the appointment to act as judges in award
ing the prizes at the reading contest of the
teachers of Montgomery county, held at
Rockville on the 9th instant, feel that they
owe it To themselves, as well as 10 the
teachers who contended for the prizes, to
make the following statement:
The committee only express their own
sincere convictions in stating that the great.
est difficulty that perpexed them in max
ing their decision, was caused by the I'M
usually high standard Of excellence among
the large proportion of the readers ON that
interesting occasion. The record kept by
committee as the reading progressed, show
ed that none were graded at the lowest
mark The majority ranged among the
higher figures. 1t was this fact that caused
the perplexity, limited by time and the I'M
patience of the audience, in doing full jus
tice to the unusually creditabe standard
reached by 50 many contestants for the
prizes.
No decision under such circumstances
could possibly convey just idea of the gen
eral excellence of the reading. The com
mittee most cordially congratulate the teach
ers Of Montgomery county upon 50 brilliant
a success. They have raised high standard
and having by their success written Excel.
sior upon it, they must see to il that no rivals
shall wrest it from their grasp
r. w. SIMPsON.