The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-03-07
For tie Hgis dHd InteHigenceT.
RECOBLEt'TIONS OF FIFTY YEARS
Schools.

In the days of my childhood the schools were
conducted very differently from those of the pre-
sent day. A teacher at that time, wishing to
teach in certain place. went around the neigh
borhood with subscription paper, kind OF
article OF agreement, stating the branches he or
she was competent and willing to teach, the price
per term &c, and obtained the signatures of as
many of the patrons as possible. There was
fund set apart for the use of poor children whose
parents were unable to pay for them, and it was
ahe duty of the teacher to keep a strict account
of the number of days such children attended
school SO that the county should only have to
pay for the actual attendance of that class of
pupils. - -.-,
then than now, and also much more primitive in
their construction and furniture. plain log
rough boards and often Of slabs. A ' broad Hi
board fastened to each eide of the house in
an inclined, position, with high bench along
side, was tho arrangement made for writing,
required to furnish a new quill every Monday
the entire week. Each alternate week included
Saturday, and was called the long week As to
the S"mps,,ssney Of the l.aehcr that varied very
the writer to have as good instructors as we're to
be found IN tibet day IN common schools. The rich
men who had sons To educate had private tutors in
their families, many of whom came from the old
world.
While there is 10 doubt of the vast superiority
of the means employed in this day for the cduca-
lion of the young there were many good things
done. and good principles taught, in the old time
schools. The discipline was in most cases rigidy
enforced, and child were taught at home to
respect their teachers, and so far as could Judge
the majority of the pupils were more studious
and made greater progress than they did years
after, hen entered the arena as a teacher, and
ut the present day, with all the modern advant-
ages, there are many pupils who do not respect
themselves nor their teachers, and do not care
whether they get an education or not.
In the time speak of there were very few class
books, the pupils using what ever book the par
ens chose to send: The copy books were blank
paper scwed together, many of them not even
ruled. The teachers wrote the copies. There
Were some very good books used in the schools,
but they We're of so many different kinds that
but few of the pupils could unite together in any
of the exercises, and of course the duties of the
teachers were very arduous. But the position of
teacher will always be that if he or she is earnest
in the work, Notwithstanding the unity of books
and the Improvement in the surroundings. Much
good has been done by the public school law of
this county but in this age of progression there Is
still room for Improvement. think 1t would
be well if some kind Of compulsory education
could be enforced, by which all children might be
enabled 10 enjoy the advantage resulting from the
public school law, and thus grow up wiser and
better fitted to make their way thorlIgh the ups
and downs of this world for we all know that
education is the best gift the young can receive.
In another article will try to tell of some of
the hooks used and how the different parts of the
school machinery were run nifty years ago.
MEMORY.