Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19
MARYLAND.

Maryland has just concluded the thirty
r,inth annual session of it's State Teachers
Association. In his address to the assem-
bled teachers State Superintendent M.
Bates Stephens, in referring to the rapid
progress in school work which has recently
been made in Maryland, said:
II congratulate myself that my official
connection with the state school system
commenced with the beginning Of the pres
ent century, fer in 1900 we had reached
not only one of the great landmarks OF
time, but we then in a pre-eminent sense
occupied a position which was not only ia
vorable for observation and reflection, but
actually invited them. Distinguished ed
uca tors like Harris, Butler. White, Sedan,
Greenwood, Brown, McMurry were then
about u.s. and pedagogical literature, itch
in thought and suggestion, was the herl-
tage of every teacher. The stirring thought
and action, which marked the close of the
nineteenth century, had settled many prob
lens which vexed educators; teaching was
no longer aimless, and public opinion had
become more pronounced that the solu-
ton of the ordinary problems of the race
depends upon and awaits broader and
deeper public intelligence, which In the
main must come through the instrument
tality Of public school education
1t was before an audience Of Maryland
teachers Illuminated by what DR.. Stephens
calls 1.-The great searchlight Of inquiry and
criticism that has recently been turned
upon the state school system" that the SUI
perntenGent had occasion to congratulate
the public upon the facts that increased
salaries have come to the teachers that
heightened terms have been kept in all the
schools of the counties: that school super
vision has been improved; that Industrial
education has been promoted; that sec
ondary education has gained splendid
foothold and is going forward by leaps
and bounds promoted by the organization
Of a high school teachers association, a
good curriculum, annual inspection by the
department of education, published lists of
accredited high schools. alumni associations,
high school ANIMALS and the interest of the
state executive. Governor Warfield. Con-
tinuing, he said liberal appropriations had
been well made to encourage colleges, bust
ness and technical courses been developed
and the great problems of compulsory edu-
cation and child labor brought prominently
before the minds of an awakened and SEN
sitive public.
1t is interesting to turn from these move
ments which stimulate the teacher of today
and look into the ideals of the first Mary
land educators and public-spirited men.
The first effort to establish college In
Maryland was made by the general assem-
bly, convened in the city Of st. Mary's In
the year 1871.
The act of the legislature which granted
i, the charter of st. Johns College at Annap-
oils In 1854. was the outgrowth Of nearly a
century of effort to found an institution In
sity of crossing the Atlantic for the compile
ton OLA classical and polite education.
The seat of Maryland state government
was removed In 1904 from st. Mary's city
to Annapolis, and in 1894 an act was passed
which resulted in the establishment Of King
Williams school for the propagation Of
the Gospef and education of youth in good
letters and manners" as the act recites.
Thus was created by the state of Maryland
the first public free school on the North
American continent, which was placed I'M
dor ia Qfrnn a 90 n he whnCa
1t was to bear, while the archbishop Of
Canterbury made Its chancellor. In
1854 the charter of st. Johns College was
granted, and by the act of 11SS the prop
erty, funds, masters and students of the
King William School were conveyed to the
college, which may now claim more than
two centuries Of continuous life and most
excellent educational work, exemplified by
the careers of her many ilustrious sons.
On November II, 1850. the college was for
mally opened and the dedication was per-
formed with much solemnity, all the public
bodies being In attendance, and forming a
long procession from the state house to the
college hall.
Active among these promoters were Samuel
Chase William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles
Carroll of Carrollton, Daniel of st. Thomas
Jenifer, John Eager Howard. Richard
Ridgely. George Platter, Luther Martin.
Jeremiah Townley Chase. Alexander Contes
Hanson. Ri. Rev. Thomas ]. Claggett, Rob-
ert Bowie, Matthews and Charles Evers-
field. Benedict Calvert. Benjamin Stoddard.
"
Charles Carroll Of Cafrollton and others
Of its original incorporators were graduated
from St. Johns College, Oxford, England,
and to this the institution Is said to owe its
pane The charter provides that 1.-THE col
lege shall be founded and sustained forever
upon a most liberal plan for the benefit OF
the youth of every religious denomination,
and 1t shall be fitted to train up and per-
petuate succession Of able and honorable
men for discharging the various offices and
duties of life. both civil and religious, with
CONTINUED ON Faith Page.)