The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-10-27
Our Public Schools.

| IL 10 w WIN pow III
public schools of today with tn
common schools of fifty and sixt,
years ago. All schools then wer
subscription schools. There is i;
singular feature about the educa
tional business of children. A hal
century and longer ago, the poores
families made Sacrifices to give theil
children the best opportunity t.
acquire an education which lay il
their power, and managed to save
enough from their scanty earnings
to send their children to school
while quite young, before becoming
able to work on the farms, and al
other occupations, the greater part
of the year. Now, when education
can be had and "free gratis fol
nothing" many parents neglect
sending their children to school,
and thousands are allowed to run
wild out of school; so much so is
this Indifference of parents and
guardians, that compulsory educa-
ton laws are becoming very
common.
The style of education now and
then is also marked. The children
were rough and hardy then and
discipline was enforced by fogging
like sailors on shipboard, the ropes
end in one case and a stout hickory
in the other, administered by an
Irish teacher in the majority of
cases. Such discipline would not
be tolerated now a-days for a single
moment. Then it was considered
the thing, and if the abused pupil
and it often was gross abuse
complained at home he or she was
more likely to get another whip
ping than sympathy.
The system and branches of edu-
cation were as different from those
of the present refined age as the
methods. Books were scarce and
costly and the principal branches
taught might be classed as the
" three RS" The lessons not being
numerous, as now. a. days, were
pretty thoroughly mastered by the
brighter and more apt class, while
the dull ones Jared rather badly.
The public schools of the State at
this day are a very different inSti-
tuition. Many branches in addition
to the "three RS" are taught, or at
least supposed to be taught. In
addition to the scholastic lessons
there is degree of polish or
"culture'' and refinement incul-
Gated, and enforced, and is as truly
a part of the curriculum of the
school as the fundamental studies.
A visit to the public school of
this town, Of which Eugene A.
Reynolds IS principal and Miss
Minnie Briokley assistant, brought
this sharp contrast between the old
and the new foroibly to mind. The
occasion was on Friday afternoon
when the pupils hold their Par
thenian society, which is semi
monthly. The school room was
handsomely decorated with flowers
and autumn leaves. REGULATIONS,
declarations and music were the
most prominent features of the
society's program. But not the
least entertaining feature of the
occasion was the exercise In phys
ical culture. The pupils went
through several marches, the evo-
lutions of which were very enter
tanning and remarkably well ex-
ecuted. The nurse baby march
that for better name-was "too
comical for anything" We will
not describe it, but suggest that all
parents and patrons of the school
should make 1t point of duty to
visit the school or schools and see
how Systematically they are edu-
Gated and note the society polish,
the accompanying elements of
higher civilization, that are taught.
The rising generation, in addition
to liberal education, should
develop courtly and polite bear
ing that distinguish the manhood
and womanhood of the future as
members of advanced civilization.
There are some lessons or studies
in our public schools that could
doubtless be prottahly exchanged
for others that are not In the cur
riculum. But comparatively few
will find the opportunity to make
use of much they are taught in the
public schools, or at least gain
smattering of, and there areyery
useful studies which might take
their place and which they would
find almost daily opportunity to
employ in their life work,