The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-12-07
The Teachers Association.


The Teachers Association ofthe 6t!.,
7th and Sth districts met at the public
school building. in Port Deposit, on
Saturday, December LIST, at half.past
l o'lock p. m.
The president, F. S. Everist, called
the Association to order. and the pro-
ceedings were commenced with prayer
by Rev. John Squier.
After the reading and approval of
the minutes of the November meeting,
Mr.. Squier gave an account of his at
tendance at the annual meeting of the
School Commissioners of the State, at
the Normal College, Baltimore, on the
9th and 2Sth of Novemper; and briefly
reviewed discussion by that body Of
the advisability of making manual
training part of our system of public
education. This report ELECTED remarks
from Rev. Jas. Conway, and Messrs.
Tammany and Thomas. In a similar
manner Mr.. Squier reviewed The dis
cussion. by the same body, OF the de
STABILITY of placing one lady ON each
board of school district trustees. This
review also provoked remarks from
other members of the Association.
At the conclusion of these discus
sions, Miss Ball charmed the members
by her exquisite rendition of the solo
Marguerite" and this was imme-
dlately followed by Miss Ida Gerry with
beautiful essay on Success" Miss
Jennie Johnson then read with fine
effect the dramatic poem. 1.-The Drunk
ards Dream" DIR. j. III. Mccullough
followed Miss Johnston with mastery
reading of 1.-THE Schoolmaster Con-
quest" which filled the audience with
merriment. Each of these renderings
was followed by volley of applause.
Miss II. l.. Owens then answered to
the entire satisfaction of the Associa-
ton. the question referred to her at the
November meeting. Her answer was
written; and at her request, was read
10 the Association by Mr.. Squier.
Next in order came the discussion
of the question, "How far may the
state in self-defence promote the edu-
cation of its citizeus?" Which was
opened by Mr.. James Thomas in
strong argument in favor of compul-
sorry education as the only protection
against the corrupting influence, and
the danger of ignorant suffrage to our
free institutions. Rev. Mr.. Conway
strongly endorsed the argument of Mr..
Thomas. claiming for the State not
only the right but the duty of using
the same means and powers of pro-
tecting the helpless children of inhu-
man parents from the curse and blight
of ignorance. that it exercises in pro.
recting them from hunger. cold and
other cruelties.
Mr.. Squier denounced the arguments
and claims of Messrs. Thomas and Con.
way as tyrannical and despotic; and
declared with emphases that free
State has no more right 10 perpetuate
itself and its institutions by such
means, than Turkey and the tribes of
South Africa have to perpetuate their
respective institutions and conditions
by similar despotic means.
The discussion was closed by Mr.. s.
j. Tammany, who cordially endorsed
the arguments of Messrs. Conway and
Thomas. He demanded universal and
liberal education as duty the State
owes its future citizens, thus enabling
them to render their labor and enter
terprise of every kind more effective
and productive by giving them greater
over their own powers of
invention, and over the boundless
stores of nature around them. He de-
iCanded liberal education as duty the |
State owes to itself, by promoting the
of lis own resources, and |
hidden wealth of soil, forest and mine:
o duty 1t owes to itself in decreasing |
the prevalence of pauperism and crime. |
and Ofpromotinga higher, intellectual |
social and moral condition of the whole |
people. He said that intelligence al. i
ways tends toward self government
ignorance toward despotism. That |
under our government, Intelligence
promotes independence, integrity and |
purity of the ballot box, while ignor-
ance invites and encourages dema-
goguelsm and corruption. II the State
has right to exist 1t surely owes itself
the duty of making sure of the chief
condition of its perpetnity and well
being liberal, intellectual and
moral training of each succeeding gen.
Grafton of its people.
At the conclusion of this discussion,
O motion was made and carried to ad-
journ, to meet at Port Deposit, on Sat.
urday, January 5th, 1889.
The following program was prepared
after adjournment, by the Executive
for the January meeting:
Music by Miss Reba Buckley, Essay by
Walter Kirk. Select readings by Misses
Belle Stewart and +. d. Wilson. For
discussi0n-"The Respective Spheres
of Men and Women in the Work of
by Miss II. L. Owens and
Messrs. Hanna (MitchelI, McNamee,
Tammany, Conway, Sqpier, McCul-
Tough lDF'l and Tho@as, !