Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-19

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indeed, the Legislature that has just ad
journed took up the matter and made
an effort TO redeem the party pledges,
the result is the Pension Law. The
State has decided that it is incumbent
upon her to look out for the teachers
who have grown old in the service. tx
cellent idea-Noble Inspiration. Now
we poor teachers have no thought for
the morrow. we will be provided for, he
more boarding of few paltry dollars
for a rainy day. We will not be left
destitute i'll our helpless old age. Now,
young and care free, we may spend with
a lavish hand our large salaries, the
State of Maryland. in all her munifi.
cence and goodness of heart is back OF
us. Now the Lawmakers are happy,
they have done their duty to the poor
teachers ana the poor tax payer is not
Directing in the least Why is not the
tax payer raising howl over this ex
penditure of the States money: The
law makers are very careful TO sci
around this Bill four most excellent
watch dogs.
First-No married woman shall teach
in the Public Schools of Maryland.
Second-The candidate for State aid
must have taught i'll the Public Schools
for twenty-five consecutive years.
Third The candidate must be physi.
cally unable to teach.
Fourth-And most fatal of all she
must be sixty years of age
What becomes of the chance of the
unmarried lady teachers: Don't you see
that although they may teach twenty
five years, may be ever SO feeble and
may live ever ST. long they will never
reach that impossible age:
am sorry for you young ladies, | see
no chance for you to live on the State,
unless you choose TO marry some of the
young men teachers in Worcester coun.
ty, but even il would be long and
dreary wait.
Granted that the State has not been
very generous towards the teachers.
vet we of Worcester have good reasons
for self congratulation
He who works cannot always choose
his Master yet had we choice among
even so many we could not find men
more conscientious. more honorable or
more capable of managing the schools
than are those whom the Governor has
placed over Us. Ii our salaries are not
y
not theirs, if our schools are not fitted
up with all modern improvements the
blame cannot be laid at their door, they
use the comparatively small amount of
money at their disposal as carefully as
they would their own. placing it where
it is most needed and where it will do
the most good. Run after by the pa
iron of the school and teacher, arbiters
of all disputes, pulled and hauled, pc.
titioned and threatened, they serve the
county TO the best of their ability, for II
salary not half So large as that received
by the negro teachers i'll the county.
The school commissioners and examiner
constitute board whose acts and char
acters are above question, whose admin.
istration is clean, honest and above
board, and they have given to our coun,
ty, public schools second to none in
Maryland; i'll fact we, the citizens and
teachers of Worcester should be proud
of the part that our county has played
III the State management of schools.
The only two laws passed in the fifteen
years of any Importance to the Public
School were both introduced and cham
pioned by Representatives, from Worces.
ter. Could our Senator have had his
way the pension law would have been of
great practical benefit To the teachers,
but his bill was amended by the poll
tlclans until isassumcd its present shape.
The gentleman We send To the Legisla.
ture remember the pledges they made
to the teachers and do their best To keep
them. The people of Worcester have
the best interests of schools and teachers
at heart.
have been associated with the Snow
Hill High School FOR the past twelve
years first as pupil. then as friend, now
as teacher. | have always found the
citizens of the town ready and willing
to help the school both by kindly words
and advice. and when called upon, by
money as well.
What is true of Snow Hill is true all
over the County while il is true that
charity begins at home and is very nat
ural that the people of Snow Hill should
feel deeper interest in this school than
i'll the others in the County yet want
you To know that we have only the kind
est and most brotherly feeling towards
all of you, that we feel deep interest
in YOU aud your work and that we feel
honored by your presence.
Mr.. Superintendent, Ladies and Gen
tlemen who are To give us OF your exper-
fence during this institute we welcome
you 10 our town, we realize that many
of You are sacrificing your valuable time
for our good with no gain to self We
are deeply grateful and feel confident
that you will make this week profitable
to Us and that you will send us back to
our schools better equipped to carry on
II IL.
feel that this is not to b. week wholly
devoted tn work. that Snow Hill wants
you To enjoy your stay and that while
her resources for pleasure are not very
numerous. yet the best she has she free
ly offers TO you-make yourself at home
and stay with Us as long as you CAN
the town is yours.
Prof. II ]. Handy. Principal If POGO
moke City High School had been named
to respond TO the address of welcome
but was taken i'll after reaching Snow
Hill. Mr.. f. G.. Clarke, vice Principal
of Pocomoke City High School, by re.
quest took Prof Handy's place and
briefly, but pleasantly, spoke of the
pleasure of the teachers in being so kind
ly received.
AT the conclusion of this address the
audience sang "AmerIca" and Mr.. Me
Master announced that the Institute
was now turned over to the teachers
Prof. Stephens made some happy re
marks and said, "'he expected the teach
ers to take some part in the proceedings
during the week
Prof G.. Edwin Coulbourn, Principal
of Girdletree High School, was made