The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-04-28
TINE poet has said that some men
are born to honor, while Others
have honor thrust upon them. l

are born to honor, while others
have honor thrust upon them. l
believe that l am occupying the
place this afternoon Of an individual who
has been particularly honored in being
asked to address this cultured audience OF
Cecil county school teachers and friends.
The subject that has been given mo to dis
ouss is no ordinary ons "The Need and
Aim Of High Schools" but is subject
that deeply concerns every thinking man
or woman within the borders OF our fair
county. The schools are the best agents
for our civilization, and it is upon them
that much thought should be expended.
Before this Institute, now in session, many
important matters may be brought up, but
1 feel safe in saying that no subject that
will be considered will be OF greater i'm
portance than that Of High Schools
In speaking of High Schools, do not
want to belittle the Public Schools. Trained
as l have been under the Public School
system Of this county, would not be 80
ungrsteful as not to speak word OF praise
OF that system to-day. AS Mr.. Biddle
stated in an article in the Christmas num-
Der Of the CECIL WING, the schools were
never in more fourishing condition than
they are at present. l realize, however,
that with all that has been accomplished in
Public School work, much yet remains to
be done. We must not rest upon our
oars What means it, that at this, the clos
ing year Of the 10Th century we have in
Cecil county nearly one thousand illiterate
voters out of q total Of six thousand? Are
the schools Of our county doing all that can
be done, when they allow one-sixth Of our
voters to grow up in ignorance. Truly,
there must yet be room for improvement in
our Public School system !!
This is an era Of progress, Of advance
ment, Of expansion. 1t is not for me to
say, at this time, whether or not l am in
favor Of the present administration policy
in regard to the Philippines. l am not
here to-day to make political speech. I
am not here to criticise any political party.
But whether agree or disagree with the
expansion idea in it's broadcast sense, I want
to say that am unequivooally in favor Of
the expansion Of our schools unequivocally
in favor Of the High Schools with which
We have been provided.
It is hardly necessary Tor me to tell you
ut this time that there are in the county,
three Public High Schools, where an ad-
vanced education can be secured without
money and without price. One here, in
the Third district, at Elkton one at North
East and one at Chesapeake City.
The School Board recognized sometime
ago, that our educational advantages were
not keeping pace with the other develop
ments Of the county, and for this reason
the High Schools were provided. II would
be folly in you or to attempt to show that
we have no need for advanced schools. We
must bow before such scholarship as that
possessed by the members Of our County
School Board. Nor do we desire to show
that we have no need Of them. Could we
show that we had no use for necessity?
What possible argument can be advanced
to show that our school system to-day
should be no better than it was years ago?
In this age Of advancement and progress,
education must keep in step with other
thipuo For p>anu vpars thpra baa bapn n
feeling that the masses Of the people desired
a higher education than that afforded by
our Public Schools. This feeling grew and
assumed immense proportions. The School
Board was in sympathy with this feeling
and the advanced schools were given US.
Another need for the location Of High
Schools in different parts of the county was
on account of transportation. When the
High Schools were first thought OF for the
county by the School Board, it was thought
that the best plan would be to locate one
High School at Elkton, and let the children
from all over the county come to it. But
this was soon found to be impossible. The
lllSu pCuOOi was q "
Elkton and its immediate vicinity. A
great number of parents could not afford to
pay board for their children in town, nor
could they afford to provide them with
team to drive back and forth. So when it
was found that the children at distance
could not go to Elkton High School, the
school was brought to them the High
Schools being then organized at North East
and Chesapeake City.
Years ago, boy or girl who desired to
secure better education than that afforded
by our Public Schools would have to go
away from home, entailing great expense,
to crafty his or her ambition for study.
This now becomes unnecessary, the High