Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-11-08
MARYLAND PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
State Superintendent Stephens in
an Address at Eikton Answers
Criticisms rlade Against
the SYSTEM.

dress TO the Institute, said:
"You have all noticed, perhaps, that
during the present year our American
school system, and indeed our State
school system. has been roundly criti
cised First, the State Normal School
which is considered the head of public
education in Maryland, was on the grid
IRON, and finally the entire system wa:
matter of much discussion during the
session of the last Maryland legislature
Bills were introduced looking TO the ap
pointment of a commission to make q
thorough investigation into its work
ings. and many of us wondered what
terrible wrongs were being committed
in the name of public education. Final
~ committee was appointed to inves
tigate the management of the Balti
more Normal School, and the young
legislature of Baltimore City who has
evinced so much interest in the matter
and who thought he had remedy fol
all the ills of school work, was appoint
ed chairman. During the taking OF
testimony this Young chairman was
dazed. and he held up his hands in hor.
ror when he learned that our average
county teacher has more than one grade
in her room ut the one time.
How much we all wish such con.
dition were possible And we all felt
better when we discovered his delusion.
If the critics will just arrange one grade
for each teacher we will show them the
best state school system in the country
l wonder if there are not many other
misapprehensions concerning our work
l wonder if our people generally have
any proper conception of the many de-
mands made upon. and the high charac.
ter of the work done by, the average
teacher.
''There should be an awakening of
interest among the people, that they be
better informed on this question
more serious. however, than any
system was the severe arraignment OF
of the whole American school system a
few days ago by the president of one OF
our great Eastern universities in an
address delivered before the State
Teachers Association of Connecticut.
He held that public education had not
L ,.,1
condition, and laid at its door the re.
sponsibility for increased strikes, in
dustrial wars, love of vaudeville. dime
novels, and, indeed, lawlessncss general
ly Can you imagine a more remark
able criticism, or one which will excite
greater controversy: Is it possible that
DIR. Eliot has such a vague idea of the
mission of the public school that he
holds it absolutely responsible for the
comprehensive education of the child
No one denies that it is the most int1uen
tial, but are we to forget that the home,
the church, the social circle, the news
paper, the reading book and many
others are each and all factors which
enter into the education of our BOYS and
girls and cannot escape their share OF
responsibility if education has failed to
prepare our youth for complete living:
Parents sometimes entertain the
idea that to the teacher has been relegat-
ed the full control of the child for NOR
al as well as mental instruction; that
the teacher must at once be parent,
preacher and teacher. aud to be held
responsible for not only the mental but
also the moral development of the child
rem. Then again it is claimed that our
schools are guilty of lack of thorough
ness i'll the subjects taught. There is so
much trutn i'll this charge that | have
no desire to challenge the statement
Branches of study have so multiplied d
that not enough time can be given TO
each of them To make our pupils entire
" thorough, especially i'll our districts,
where as many as seven grades are
taught by one teacher. We must re-
member that the people themselves,
through their representatives i'll the
General Assembly, have prescribed all
the branches that are taught, and no
blame can be attached TO our teachers
and school officers In my opinion the
number will not be reduced, and there
is probability II will be increased. 1t
will not be reduced because none of US
will take the responsibility To say what
subject should BE- eliminated.
"I see there Is but one way out of the
difficulty, and its necessity must he re-
cogniZed sooner or later We must CON
solidate our rural schools. The consoli-
Latinn of schools would bring equal
advantages 10 all pupils, who would be-
I'm with the kindergarten and con
tinue unt:l the high school course is
completed, and the plan of paving for
the transportation of pupils should be
no barrier The cost to educate the
pupils in these schools would be less per
pupil than III the present county school.
Altogether, there would be no increase
in school expenses unless the teachers
salaries were increased. When this
comes there will be no charge of lack of
thoroughness."