Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-08-02


Mr. Editor;--Please allow me a small space
in your columns to express a few thoughts =
have heard it said, that an average of 65 per
cent Of ans sers correctly given to questions
asked, by our county school Examiner, of APP
piicnuts for Teachers Certificates, entities
such applicant to such certificate of quai6ca-
ton Is this not low average, too loo in
deed, for any such license to tamper, as it
were, with the minds Of children An Average
| Of Is per cent! Monstrous fraud You know
| sir, and so does every other sensible man and
woman, who has the education aud welfare of
their children at heart that each aud every
one desires chiefly, that their children thor
u.hly learn, at least, Spelling, Reading,
Writing, Arithmetic, English Grammar and
Geography. If thoroughly instructed ia these,
we know then that the foundation is broad
enough to build upon. But, what if in these
rudmental subjects, the Teacher himself, to
whom We are often compelled to send our chill
dren, can answer tut so per cent of Arithme-
tic or Grammar, or even allow thai he can
answer 65 per cent of these very, ave, these
most important branches or subjects, let me
ask, III reason and common sense, how are our
Chi dsen to become mast rs of English Grammar
and Arithmetic? Is it not clear, that no man
who is not the master Of these two subjects
has any equitable right to be called Teacher,
or to hold TEACHERS certificate? Is il not
an imposition upon the taxpayers at Target
Is it not indtect-l might even say direef-
robbery of the youth of our county Of their
priceless opportunities, and even defeating the
object of the school aw2 Let me ask yoa sir,
IN all candor-yes, | will also pu, the question
TO MIR. Maddox, the Examiner, and TO the en-
tire School Board, would you, gentlemen any
one Of you, if you wanted to build hnmse
employ, or enter into a contract with ear
pentel to build that house, who barely under
stood sixty odd per cent of his businessp If
you would not then would you give him a
letter or certificate of endorsement and there
by palm him on your neighbour What is the
difference between this case and the c,sn IN
question: None of you would dare to employ
as teacher and educator of your children in
telect man, whom you kae,o was not mastsr
OF the subjects IN which you wished your ,bil
dren instructed. How then can YOU VIII
good conscience, thrust such man upon 9th.
ers by certify ing that he is authorized 10 tsaea
IN the Public Schools of the county2 q h,tI
am sure Won ale ready. to say, itbat II l;es
with the local trustees, as to whether sucb an
one shall teach or not. If the trustees emnloy
him, then you ought not TO be blamed mi
you are, and ought 70 be. Ifyou have the al.
ucation of the children Of Charlie; county rosl.
ly at heart, as good, honest guardians If The
Public Schools, you ought 10 see to il ,Ea,
none but thoroughly competent men and women
be authorized to teach in the Public SchorIs.
andyou 40 kEosc that no man OF woman wbocsn
make an average of only 65 or 20 per cen, IL an
examination for Teachers Gerti6c,,a i
thoroughly competent; and, if you have hoen
lenieut enough to issue Teachers Cert;Gna,s |
to any such incompetent and unqualified rnsn
or woman, you ought in Justice to the 18th 18th
Gf Caraes toaaty, immediately Is reyoia s,,ss,
certificate; otherwise, you certainly ara chs ~
principal, and the unqualified teacher i osIv
the accessory to the crime of depriyin, on ~
children of an education, and using the nDonsv
of the Taxpayers, 10 that extent. unw;sa,s
unjustly, and without valid considera,;oSses "
return II is also an injustice d the fbara,a;1.
iy qualified Teacher. Indeed, it is even y, ~.
justice to the 65 or 20 per center. becsas ny, :.
rarely, ifever, advances in knowledoe b,s. -
contentjusi there, knowing that, fper chez
or otherwise, he can get school. he win ~,
a Teacher pay, equal to the best of them
let justice be done though the Heavens lali .
Nebo.