Frostburg mining journal., 1883-05-26
MINING JOURNAL.
FRosTBURG, MD, MAY 20, 1883.
THERE appears to be trouble ahead

THERE appears TO be trouble ahead
for the ambitious people who have
succeeded IN diverting the manage
ment of the public schools of the
State from the original purpose of
their establishment. In several of
the lower counties the subject is SER
iously discussed, and it is probable
the next Legislature will be asked to
reform tho system to smaller dimen-
sions.
1t is stated with much force that
the original design in the establish
ment of the system contemplated the
provision only of the rudimentary
branches of misunderstanding, writ
ing and arithmetic. To these have
have been added, however, varied
assortment of "high branches" the
teaching of which has tended to lessen
the attention given to the more i'm
portant primary departments. Hence,
the shameful illiteracy in Maryland as
shown by the last census is in great
part accounted for.
Two propositions appear self-evi-
dent-Q) that primary education is
indispensable to every child, and (2)
that the State cannot reasonably be
expected to provide for more than
absolutely necessary educational
wants. The addition, therefore, of
higher studies to the modest curric.
ulum of tie common schools is unlaw-
full.
AS between rich and poor the
State must he impartial ; it must con-
fine the common schools to the com
mon needs of all the people. That
need, it is almost unnecessary to say ,
consists simply in furnishing foun.
daticn upon which all may bull d ac-
cording to the opportunities, facilities
and circumstances enjoyed. More
than this for special classes works in
evitable injustice to those less favored
by the comfortable endowment of
wealth.
Popular education in Maryland
costs over fifteen hundred thousand
dollars annually-this for schools in
rare cases reaching the scholastic
term Of ten months. Were the stud.
les restricted to the legal limit it is
believed terms could be duly extend
ed. If this be correct assumption it
is safe to suppose that the existing
style of management is an e1tIava-
CANT one.
Tending to illegal excesses in all
directions alluded to, it can be stated
also that the system has promoted fac
titious and merely technical qualif-
cations for teachers and especially for
examiners. An instance is furnished
in a well-authsnticated report that
Mr.. Cochrane will not be candidate
for examiner next year. "Who will
probably succeed him ?" was asked.
"Some Nan from Baltimore or else.
where in the State, was the reply.
For our part we frankly express our
sorrow that Mr.. Cochrane has de-
termined upon the step indicated.
HIS administration, SO far as we have
been able 10 observe, has been salts
factory except to a few who would
doubtless be unhappy under any
regime. But if there is not one man
among the competent teachers of
Allegany who is not also competent
to become Mr.. Cochrane's successor,
then the county should go forthwith
out of business, particularly the
school business. Again comes the
conclusion that were the system con
fned to talegitimats sphere of action,
there would he no necessity for send
ing abroad for teachers or examiners
to the exclusion of home talent and
the suppression of home ambition.
To the people, nearly all of whom
are deeply interested, this subject
and all its adjuncts bear relation
co-intimate with the parental desire for
youthful advancement. l. is a topic
that should be taken up and sensibly
discussed with view of getting the
system down from the false pre-em.
insncs conferred by would-be aris.
tocratic ring of eruditcs.
The Cumberland Necs makes a
centre shot of tho following item:
Mrs. Lydia E. PinkIam, the well-known