Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-07-29
Report Of State Teachers Association.

wac 'ue odtn annual event OF It's kind In the
A organizations history, it ranks perhaps first
IN uegree OF interest and importance to the
teachlng body OF the State, inasmuch as il
n Is the flrst meeting after the enactment of a
q school law that provides at once for the gen.
eral betterment of the profession and the
= youth oil the State, and which law, too, had
Its birth in the Association.
I The address of Governor Warfield added
, much significance TO the political features
OF the convention, and enabled the teachers
70 get their bearings for future effort His
E&cellency spoke in q purely informal man.
ner, and while in the early part of his re-
marks he was not In close touch with the
teachers, at their close, II was evident, he
was very near their hearts
Mr.. Wilson, of Cumberland, gave very
frank account OF the passage of the new
school law, and the marked attention he re-.
celved during his recital Of the names of the
friends and enemies of that law, showed the
deep interest of the teachers on the subject.
by this account the teachers and school Off
clas were impressed not only with the
power of their united action, but with the
necessity for their united action 10 improv.
ing the public school system of the State.
And II is quite safe TO say that In the future
the Maryland State Teachers Association
will have some consideration in whatever
legislation pertains to the public schools OF
the State.
DR.. Stephens, the enthusiastic Superin
tendent of Education in the State, seemed
especially pleased with the classic features
OF the convention, and his genuine sympa.
thy with and for the faithful teachers was
distinctly set forth In his presentation speech,
delivering the Associations gift of $l25 90
TO our superannuated brother, that battle
SCARED veteran, Prof. A. q. Harley. DR..
Stephens is quite happy speaker on edu-
cstional topics.
1t was inspiring to note that while the
talent brought to the convention on an edu
eating mission, may not have been wholly
native II was at least Maryland talent through
its adoption. And the message OF the alien
not being sought, that individual was con-
spicuous only by his absence. Though there
are times when an educator from sister
Stale brings refreshment into our midst, the
9th annual convention of the M. s. t. A..
was so pregnant with native interest as to
exclude his presence.
Among the very interesting addresses de.
livered at the convention were the plea for
manual training In the public schools, made
by DR.. Chaplain, Superintendent OF Schools,
OF Talbot county; the plea for the classics,
made by DR.. Fell, President Of St. Johns
College, and DR.. Lewis sympathetic plea for
the relief OF the public school teachers from
many unjust demands made OF them 10 the
present. day. DIR, Lewis is President of the
Western Maryland College, and Is rather a
q humorous speaker. In his address plead
| ing for the relief OF the teacher from such
high pressure under such low pay, he fire.
quently convulsed his audience with laugh
ter by his sallies of wit and sarcasm directed
against the class of officials and patrons Of
the public schools ditiuguished only by their
demands upon the teacher.
Mr.. Norval Foard, of the Baltimore Sun,
read very interesting paper on Industrial
Training, but the acoustic conditions were
80 unlaVorable at that time that many teach
ers did not realize the weight of his address
until they read it the following day In the
Sun. In his address Mr.. Foard mentioned
the name OF that old pioneer in Manual or
Industrial Training, Benjamin Hallowell,
and the general outburst Of applause that
followed showed clearly that teachers have
long memories and appreciative hearts.
The addresses OF Messrs. Chaplain and
FOard we're greatly emphasized by the nu.
merous exhibits from the Manual Training
Departments of various high schools Of the
State. These exhibits comprehended speci.
mems in miniature Of almost every branch
of industry, and the degree OF perfection at
talned in their construction is a strong argu
ment in favor of the introduction OF Manual
Training into all the public schools OF the
State. The great interest manifested by the
teachers generally, in their inspection Of
this work, did not seem 10 be born Of curl
osity, but Of appreciation, and the genera
introduction of the subject into the schools
would doubtless strike a sympathetic chord
among them.
The address of DIR. Fell carried an en-
phatic warning against too much enthusi-
asm being engendered for Manual Training
at the expense Of the Higher Education
And the persstency with which Abraham
Lincoln lamented his lack Of the higher cd e.
ucation will come TO mind when DIR. Fells
address is read.
The convention greatly appreciated the
diversion given 1t by Miss Olive Gertrude
Johnson. of Homecoming, Ia her several hu-
morous sketches and recitatiOns which were
well.timed and well rendered.
In the selection OF Ocean City as the rem
devious of the convention. the executive
committee of the NJ. s. Il. A. is TO be cOngratu.
lated on the wisdom Of It's choice. The place
Is reached after pilgrimage of some six and
a half hours from Baltimore, about equally
divided between boat and rail, and Is almost
| absolutely free from any vicious influences
whatever. Situated, as II Is, on narrow
peninsula beach between the rough and
restless Atlantic, mysterious la Its majesty
and its vastness, and tn smooth and placid
waters of the Sinepuxent, 1t can never be
large. Though there Is good reason 10 be.
leve, judging from this unique environ.
ment, that IL is some day destined 10 be
city Of magnificent length Ocean City en-.
Joys the peculiar distinction Of having all
those features which go 10 make q seaside
resort attractive, and being free from most
Of those that mar the peace and pleasure OF
people seeking rest and recuperation. II
there are any mosquitoes there II is quite
evident that they do not relish the thin
blood OF the Maryland pedagog.
Then, too, there Is such q home like cir
pervading the hotels and inns, such genial,
warm hearted disposition 10 entertain that
the portals Of the most diffldent and self.
conferred heart stand ajar 70 let this sunshine
10. This was particularly true Of the Mt.
Pleasant House, where the Montgomery
delegation had its headquarters. The genial
proprietor, Mr.. W. A. Fenwick, and the
various members OF his family seemed 70 vie
with each other In their efforts 10 make
their guests comfortable and happy. And
while there have been several Invitations
extended 10 the NJ. 3. L. A. 70 hold Ia next
annual convention In other places, II Is
hoped that the management will continue
10 select Ocean City until every teacher in
the State has beheld the splendOr OF sun.
rise In that city by the sea.
The Montgomery delegation consisted Of
Messrs. George T. Rice, President Of the
School Board s. X. White, Superintendent
Of schools; q. ID. Luckett, A. X. Watkins,
X. W. Stout, and the Misses Cecilia Xii.
gour, Clara V. Mace, Virgie Brewer and
Beulah Henderson, teachers The following
visitors from Montgomery, some Of whom
are teachers, were also present at the con-
ventlon Mrs. James r. Henderson and
daughter Ella, Miss Beulah FAwcett, Mrs.
q. d. Luckett, and Messrs #. r. Griffith
and son, Of Potomac.
OF the eighty nine elected aud appointed
officials Of the Association, Montgomery
county has three-the second vice-presi-
dent, q. ID. Luckett, Of Rockville; member
OF the committee on English, Miss Mariana
/ H. al