The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-06-08
Close of the Port Deposit Public
School,

School.
The Tome Institute school will
in future take the place of the
public school in Port Deposit and
the latter will remain closed; at
least that is the situation at present.
Mr.. Everist in announcing this fact
to the teachers made the following
address, in which he dwells on the
indifference of many parents and
guardians to the importance of
having the children attend school.
Before we had public schools the
poorest and most humble of parents
were alive to and most anxious for
their children to attend school and
would manage in some way to send
them to school part of the time.
Parents and guardians appear to
be growing more and more careless
in the matter of an education for
the children under their care.
MIR. EvERIST'S ADDRESS.
PORT DEPOSIT, May %.
To the Faculty of the Port De-
posit High School:
1t becomes my official duty to in
form you that it is altogether prob
able that your services will not be
needed the coming school year in
the Port Deposit High School,
owing to the fact that the Tome In
stitute will be opened in the fall,
and | have assurances that the
great majority of the pupils will
avail themselves of the privilege of
attending this institution, l take
this occasion to place myself on
record by saying that you have per-
formed your duties honestly and
without favor or fear.
[ can bear testimony to the fact
that a more conscientious class of
teachers cannot be found within
the walls of any institution of learn
ing. Your faithful, efficient SER
vices are gradually bringing the
school up to a higher standard. If
your pupils have not advanced as
rapidly as you would wish the fault
has not been on your side, you have
much to contend with and | will
only mention one of your trails and
a great drawback in promotions,
that is irregular attendance, in
order to have steady and substantial
progress you must have regular at
tendance ON the part of the pupil,
irregularity of attendance, in a
majority of cases, the result of the
most astonishing indifference on the
part of parents is an evil against
which weare constantly contending;
no pupil can be absent from school
a day or even half day each week
and still keep up with his classes;
he soon becomes discouraged and
either leaves school altogether or
drags along year after year in the
same grade. The difficulty appears
to be that the parent does not realize
the loss the child sustains by its
irregular attendance. / frequently
see on the streets boys and girls of
proper school age who appear to
have nothing to do and from their
appearance one would think their
was no one to take any special care
of them. With this class of pupils
| care not how self-sacrificing or I'M
firing the effort on the part of the
teacher, success cannot crown their
efforts.
While l am fully convinced of
the fact that the schOol~in Port De-
post has been a success, yet you
would have been more richly re-
warded. If parents could be con-
WINGED of the necessity of regular
attendance on the part of their
children misunderstanding and
difficulties which frequently occur
would disappear, pupils would be
inspired with renewed interest and
faithful conscientious teachers
greatly encouraged. The life of
teacher is no easy one; responsible
ties and trials are many and a little
encouragement saves many heart
ache.
Taking everything into considera-
ton you have much to encourage
you, while l do not imagine that
all the days of trial are ended l
cherish the confident that your
future prospects, whether in the
school room or in other walks of
life will be insured, and know that
you will be faithfully rewarded by
consciousness of having done your
whole duty and assisted in making
others happy. Respectfully,
f. S. EVEREST.
q Ii