Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-08-17
Communication

Mr. Editor-A joint meeting Of the
Maryland and West Virginia teachers
was held at Mt Lake Park. Garrett Co
on the 18th, 18th. l9:h 4ud 2t,h alt.
The teachers who we're appointed as DEL
egates from this county, in company wiili
Drs. Cobey and Carrico, members Of the
school board, left Washington on Tues
day the 18th, by the way Of the Il. & o.
4. II. To the true lover Of nature this
is indeed pleasant trip. Moving on
with the steady pulling motion one is
whirled past cool farm houses appearing
through the thick shade trees. smoothly
mown fields dotted with the thickly stand
ing shocks Of wheat waiting for the
thresher, green pastures with the cattle
lazily grazing, aud beautiful country on
both sides. The land thus far is not too
billy for improved agricultural imple-
ments nor 50 level as to require extern
siye drainage, but as we 60 on. the coun-
try becomes mere broken and the views
from some high trestle, or the side Of
steep hill, are more extended The gen
tly slopng fields Of grain and corn and
the green pastures give way in part to
steep rocky hill-sides and narrow dark
gorges. The large trees Of the natural
forest are interpreted and replaced by
mountain fir AMI spruce pine The
round hills yield to sharp ones. in places
rough aud rocky The road is more
tortuous aud winding and the rate Of the
train much slower The high steep hills
and the beds Of bare rock, make this on
up into the higher parts an attractive
study for the geologist As we are
drawn along with that rapidity which
only the power of steam can carry US;
following the tortuous and winding
course Of the Potomac, which we are fire.
quently crossing generally leaving the
minds Of the weary traveller in doubt as
to whether he is in the State of Mary
land or West Virginia Probably the
most importont points of interest TO the
traveller is Harp,rs Ferry a small town
situated in secluded valley ovcrshad-
owed by towering mountains The his
torical record Of this place in connection
with its sublime and magnificent scenery
renders it place of unnatural interest to
all VITO visit it, as it has been said by
one of the most intelligent men Of this
country that "the scenery at Harpers
Ferry was worth trip across the At
lantic. " The interest Of the traveller is
also excited when he begins to ascend
the seventeen mile grade at Piedmont,
where he is elevated over one thousand
feet in seventeen miles. After having
reached the summit Of this grade, we
we're quickly whirled to our destination,
and reached there in time to attend the
frst meeting. which was called to order
by Vice President Lewis Ford, Of Prince
Georges COUNTY Mr. Filter will not
cncroach upon your valuable time by re-
ferriug to the many interesting and in
structive discussions which were entered
into by the finest teachers Of the State
upon a subject, that stands second to
none, and that is the education Of our
youth In this capacity Charles county
ound true advocate in her young aud |
accomplished teacher from White Plains,
lr. v Il. Pennington, who read a pa
,er entitled The chirfReeds Of our pub
&c schools, which was considered an ex-
client production A motion was put
cfore the association by Alexander
'haplain, Of Talbot cosnty. aud adopted
lat reading circle should be formed
nder the care and direction of the Ma
yland State Teachers Association A
GARD consisting of three members sery-
& one, two and three years respective
! Shall select course Of professional
aa- literary reading. and shall ISSUE GER
fcaies of progress aud grant dipl mas.
he ,,otkmgs Of taiS botrd is to be I'M
cr the directions nfthe State association
paper was read, the sentiments of
hich was highly endorsed by every
,achcr present. it says the salaries of
ne teachers IN Ibis State are ridiculous
: meagcr, aud where the mere pitiance
{ three hundred dollars is given one
as to manage with the Strletest economy
/ order to support himself, and where
here are families they can not rely alto
ether upon This meager income. As such
the case. can we arrive at higher
tandard of education than now exists?
] pst empha'icaly we eau not, for they
MY enter the profession as a stepping
tone to Something better. aud will drop
when such an opportunity occurs. =
'rof. NJ. 4. Newell discussed the ques-
ion Of free and new text books He
aid: Text books should be as free as
esks and blackboards. There was a
ime when fuel and text books were not
rec. Pens and ink are not free in sou
ounties of Maryland. Opponents of
rec text books should be required to
rove why they think So The consti-
ution of Maryland guarantees system
t free public schools. This is not the
ase 80 long as children are required to
,uy their books. A school should be
provided with everything necessary dur
ng school hours As the association
ould not agree upon the place for the
Iaxt meeting. it was left to a committee,
Who were appointed for that purpose -
Although many of the teachers were not !
t FIRST charmed with this beautiful park
Ipon the mountain top, for reasons which
our correspondent is not at liberty to
peak allowed their prejudicies to van
sh before the winning smiles of the fair
ex. We have been somewhat alarmed
or Brother Dent of Cobb Neck since his
eturn, we fear he has become dement-ed.
TEACHER.