The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-09-07

/ The fourteenth annual session Of the Hartford
County Teachers Institute commenced on
Monday morning in the Court House with a
large attendance. The exercises began at
| eleven thirty o'clock bv singing America"
whichwas followed by reading the eighteenth
chapter of at. Matthew's gospel by Rev. Kerhy
9. Miller. Prayer was offered. closing with the
Lords Prayer in concert.
MR.. GEORGE L. vANBIBBER
was introduced to deliver the address of well
come. He spoke of the great pleasure 1t AT.
forded him to welcome to Rel Air this body of
educators. "As regularly "a summer passes
away and autumn approaches do we look for
this annual assembly of the teachers OF the
county, and their presence enlivens our usually
dull town to a remarkable extent The real
work of the scholastic year is about to begin.
and Won should pause upon its very threshold
and reflect upon those duties and their import
ance. You have q serious duty to perform.
You have the mental and moral training in
hand of those who In few years will become
the active leaders in our community. Grave
responsibilities are resting upon Won with
force which Won cannot fai! to recognize. The
State OF MARYLAND haaapprouriated large sums
from the taxes which are paid by the people
for the purposes Of carrying on our public
schools. I am glad to say that our own county
Of Hartford has ever been in the forefront in
the matter Of education. Its Dor capita has
never been excelied in the State; amounting to
over one-third nf one per cent. of the taxes.
"As public officials, az officers of the State OF
Maryland you are required to give the best OF
your attention to the work in which you are
engaged. never had any experience as
a. Ill 1,I, NJ n
the best methods of instruction. All matters
of detail must rest with yourself.
II may have old foVy notions. 1t hes long
been the theory that the public owes it to itself
that there snail be no illteracy. / go farther
There should be compulsory education. so as
to make sure that there shall he no illiteracy.
How far does this 10? What does the pubic
owe to itself 40 great that It would cause it TO
increase the burden of taxation2 Surely Dot
to make all children scholars. That would be
an impossfbility. All have not the same capa-
bilities or advantages. Butthe province ofthe
public school should be give to every child
the rudiments of education so as to write
legibly and intelliRently. Train them in read |
ing. spelling and elementary arithmetic. If |
more attention were given to the rudmentai Il
branches instead of the natural sciences and
advanced branches the children would be bet
ter prepared to battle with the difficulties in
the arena of life. Three things are necessary.
A bright intellect. a good memory and increas-
ing industry. II the pupil is well grounded in
the rudimental principles, it would he i'm posi-
BILE to hold boy back. I could name people
from our own county. who, by their own ef-
forts. have become famous not only here but
throughout the country. and they were not ad-
b,,+ tod nd ground |
ed in the elementary branches
The response upon the part of the institute
was made by