The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-05-25
haVRE De GRACE HIGH SCHOOL,
A Brief History OF our NefghborIns
City's Fine IustttustOu of Learning,

Il saAS lN4'AN W. SN-'
as having the highest system of education af
fort!ed by the public schools anywhere. TIL:
foundation of the success which has beer
achieved has been the absence OF politics Ii
the fountain head, the School Commissioners
| For years past men have been chosen solely OF
the ground Of fitness, regardless Of anything
else. When the appointing power was tsker
from the Judge and lodged in the Executive
the same rule wes Iigidly obacrvea. The
boards IN turn have followed in the samt
footsteps, and examiners aud teachers were
chosen regardless of political afi,i4tion.
| With such care and judgment used in the
necessary preliminsIies OF organisation, Of
course. only one result could follow. Tina:
result one ana all point TO with honest pride
Il has cos money too, to run the schools, but
J = iibsrai Amount has always baGl levied; and
| Us aid in bringing about the present prosper
! O|s condition of affairs muet not be overlook
cd.
Believing that an article o. tbe method o!
conducting one Of The best schools in III,
cf Tie 4hgjs, IN company with tie School tx
srniner. Htcf. 7. Z. Gaib-eath, visited the
High School in ilayTo dc Grace. Right here
few words about our rev Examiner would
rot bo Inappropriate. We have had excellent
examiners during the :ecoIiectton of the
writer-no county IL the State has had airy
beforehand the least we can say for MIR. Cal
breath is, that he compares fayorabIy with his
predecessors. Although Father Time has
dealt gently with him, yet he shows rare tact
and affability, coupled with determination,
which fits him well for the trying duties ex-
acted by the office.
The faculty of Havre de Grace High School
consists of Prof. Charles T. Wright, principal,
and Prof. Charles T. Wilson, vice-prIncipal.
The assistants and their grades are Miss Mat
lie NJ. Oflley, sixth; Miss Sall!o 2. Galloway,
fifth; Miss NJ. Nellie Barron, fourth; Miss
Laura V. Tsmmany, third; Miss Elizabeth
Reed, second, and Misses Mary Gibson and
Elsie Penning, first. An overflow Of the first,
second and third grades is under the direction
OF Miss Josephine Wilson.
The school house at Havre de Grace is the
pride Of the town, and we'll 1t might be. 1t
wss erected in 1896 by building committee
consisting Of Messrs. John d. Worthington,
William II. Harlan and Robert X. Vanneman.
The cost Of tho building and lot was $24, 155,
OF which tho city authorities contributed
S., 900. 1t contains IL rooms with convenient
coat closets. The recitation rooms, on the
south side, can easily be thrown together
forming assembly rooms for each floor. Miss
Anna l.. Hawkins was the architect, and her
work wss we'll done. All available space is
utilized for some purpose. The ventilation
and heating arrangements are Of the most
modern design, and the sanitary arrangements
are we'll provided for. Port Deposit granite
is the foundation, and the superstructure is Of
brick with slate roof. The building is ad-
located on four acre lot on the
outskirts of the town, and, from the roof, q
beautiful view Of the surrounding country can
be had. handsome bell In the belfry calls
the unwilling, as well as the willing, pupil to
school, and slso proclaims the glad hour of
noon and recess.
On entering the building, our appearance
being unannounced, the most striking thing
noticed was the perfect good order and dicip
line which prevailed. Prof. Wright is an Or
ganizer born, not made. He is a veteran in
the ranks of the teachers corps; and he has de-
voted his life work 20 this sole purpose. He
Ia not unfamiliar to the people Of Bel Airs
having been the first principal of The combined
Academy and Graded School. While here, be
showed ability In the untried experiment OF
conducting these t"o institutions Of learning
under ore executive head. His success is
we'll remembered, aud the losa Of so valuable
: principal was dspiored by all the patrons.
TIE figst room visited 1888 Pref Wilson'S. |
s..a unexpected visitors CAUSED 20 confusion,
aaal. Iupi pursuing bis accustomed task in !
h. most orderly manner. This lnsg be attri-
uteI ler7aiy 20 the self possession OF the |
aacacg. Children GTa APP iE,i: a:ors; aud |
I!No tea5her ike parii'' Is u.on,iiy true the |
5orld OYER. Many interesting point: attracted |
1ur attention., among Which xas tLe prepare,
ion of papers for the annua! exhibition, which |
will take place today, May 25'h. THO novel
Lea owes i55 Introduction TO Eayrc 10 Grace's |
principal. This Is the second one OF lis kind |
'9hich has teen held there, and promises 10 be !
IS much Of success as lis predecessor. |
samples of each pupils handwriting and |
progress are displayed, and the parents and |
others interested in the advancement OF educa.
tion, are invited to attend and make critical
inspection. Much can be learned as to the
of the children, and the addi-
tional incentive is held out to show the best
individual Us we'll as class work.
{ IPref. Wilson explained his ingenious
method Of marking each pupil on daily recita-
tlons, which counts one-hslf on promotion.
zero; while perfect counts two. On basis of
fifty school days in each term this would make
one hundred perfect points. On seven recita-
lions day, all perfect, fourteen points would
be counted on the basis of seven hundred.
Another commendable feature Of this room is
premiums at the County Fair is used in sub
scribing for current periodicals which any
child is allowed to use who has finished bis
work satisfactorily for the session. This In
practice proves an additional incentive to an
ambitious pupil; and is an apt reward to his
earnest efforts.
Probably the most interesting part Of any
school is the primary department. Here the
frat lessons in the hard struggle of life are in
stilled into the infant mind. Here ideas
which may hereafter form the stepping stones
to high and lofty careers receive their first In
ception. To teach the infant grades requires
greater degree of patience and forbesrancs.
Thoroughness should be the constant aim, as
this 10 the most critical period il the child's
life. II carelessness or lack Of application is
permitted Il will follow through life. The
power Of expression is brought strongly 10
test. Things must be explained in such SIM
pie, yet convincing, language as the untutor-
ed mind can easily grasp and absorb. Many
teachers who make excellent educators in the
higher grades are dismal failures in the lower.
The Havre de Grace school is particularly
fortunate to possess in her corps teachers with
the ability of Misses TSmmany, Gibson, Pen
ming, Wilson and Reed. Each Ia an adept in
her sphere. In Miss Tammany's room states
are rarely used. Cheap blank books take
their place and ell the work is thus preserved.
The history of the Boston Tea Party was re-
cited in concert. 1t was arranged in easy
verse and thus these tiny tots unconsciously
receive their first lessons in the history Of
the Revolutionary War. sCGlistheuics are
taught, accompanied by nicely arranged ht-
tie song; ard the bright, happy, faces of the
CHILDREN showed how much they enjoyed the
exercises. Several quotations we're a!so given
By members o. Tic elisa. Hiss Tammaoy
seens to be 4 born Giscir iia&rian. Oar attoa-
:i4p WIS brought to This Eaen taa lower grades
.Uern asSe.uhlrl FOR flag drill They marched