Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-02-13
Wanted-A school History Of
Maryland.
From the Baltimore Sua

The Legislature of Maryland cannot 40
better. In the interest of local patriotism than
to institute a systematic inspection OF the
histories studied in the public schools Of the
State, with view to excluding such as vir.
tually ignore the achievements Of our people
in Colonial, Revolutionary and subsequent
periods While extolling to the skies the com
paratively trfling doings Of others. No
State has more picturesque and diversified
history than Maryland, and it's work in war
and peace has been prominent, important
and distinguished. In the Colonial Wars, In
the War for Independence, In the War Of
1919. and again in the Civil War. Maryland
soldiers won the admiration OF their con.
tsmporaries by their courage and dash.
They alone of the Contineutals, thanks to
the instructions of Baron Steuben, were pro.
fcient in b,yonet charges, by means of
which they saved the day on more than one
occasion. Yet Bunker Hill-a British vic
tory, by the way-is better known, even to
MARYLAND children, than the famous charge
of the Mary landers on Long Island, and the
stealthy looting of q teaship in Boston har-
Dor is set forth in school books ut fulscme
length, while the open burning at Annapolis
of the Peggy Stewart, tea and all, is scarcely
mentioned.
This results largely from the apathy and
neglect with which the State Government
treats the moral element of our resources.
Books are wanted to give incidents of Mary
lands history their proper proportion and
prominence in the State and Federal histo-
ries read in the public schools. Children
should learn first the great deeds of their
own progenitors before going abroad for
heroes. Their pride in their own State
should be fostered by every legitimate meals,
not systematically discouraged or utterly
suppressed, by putting into their hands
books that deal almost exclusively with the
three penny exploits Of States that "sang
small" in the "times that tried mems souls"
but have since had an active LITERARY bu-
reau" and publishers to manufacture the
patriotic legends in which their local history
was deficient. Justice to the distinguished
men of Maryland, from the beginning till
now, requires that the present Legislature
should take steps to keep inspirting exam
piles before the young. We want In our
Maryla schools an impartial history Of
Maryland. The present ignorance is owing
largely to the neglect Of the Legislature to
consider one of the States chief interests.
If the right book is in existence it's use in
our schools should be made compulsory; IL
it is unwritten Inducements should De offer.
ed to competent writers to write il.
The neglect Of the State TO spend few
thousand dollars has resulted In the scatter.
ing and loss of invaluable State and county
records bearing upon our provincial and
colonial history. Not few of the States
own papers have been purloined and are
now found In private collections Virginia
and other States have published their old
records aud haye thus saved them, at the
same time adding to their legitimate fame.
But Maryland has largely neglected It's an.
nails, Few of the present generation know,
iok VAo"piO, DC tHC iCpOis W tuC "Oih VI
the Maryland society of the Sons of the
Revolution, just published, suggests, that
Kent Island was settled years before Lord
Baltimore landed at st. Mary's, or that Prov
idence Town antedated Annapolis. Some.
thing has been done to iesurrect Peggy
Stewart Day, to mark the site of Old Con.
gress Hall, on Baltimore street, to erect a
monument on Long Island to Maryfand'a
immortal Four Hundred. to mark the grave
of Major General Smaliwood, to distinguish
the house on Madison avenue in which Gen.
r. e. Lee resided, and, very recently, to erect
monument to Revolutionary patriots on
Mount Royal Plaza. These memorials i'm
press those who see them, recalling great
names and great deeds. But school book
In the hands of the children of the State will
exert wider and vastly more constant and
permanent influence to the advantage alike
Of the people and the State.