The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-08-30

hated at home and despised away
from home, as these men are, Il
mighty big danger-signal is raised
which warns the public to down
them.
THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
On Monday morning next the
corps of public school teachers Of
Hartford county will convene in the
court room for a week especial work
along educational lines, with especial
reference to school interests in lIar-
ford county. 1t is with pardonablc
pride that Hartford county points to
the fact that without break during
the past twenty years she has obeved
the law on the subject which requires
an annual institute of one week :
duration to be held in each county.
Public sentiment in favor of teachers
Institutes has gradually become so
strong that at present every county
in the State has its annual institute;
but Hartford county claims the honor
of having done more than her share
towards creating this sentiment,
since she alone in the whole State
has without break o5eyed the law
and conducted an institute which
has received favorable consideration
and comment from the many special
lists who have annually assisted in
the work. She has led while others
have followed.
In the preparation CT his program,
Superintendent Wright has followed
the course long since found to be
most productive of practical good,
that is of assigning a large part of
the work to those of his corps who
are especially equipped along certain
lines and supplementing this by suffi-
Gent professional aid from without
to enrich local knowledge, add per-
ennial freshness to discussions and
thoroughly exhaust a theme before
it is abandoned. Thus every men,
Der becomes a teacher as we'll as
student and feels acknowledgements
bility for the success of the conven-
ton. While acertain degree of same
ness in the subjects discussed must
necessarily exist to meet the neeCs Of
new material in the corps, these same
topics when properly handled will
show as much variation in treat
ment as the western sky shows
beauty of tint after each setting sun,
and every teacher will learn some
thing on the subject which she never
knew before.
In recent years a custom has
sprung up in some sections of the
State Of combining several counties
for the conduct of a single institute,
in fact, such an institute is now
being conducted at Ocean City for
the benefit of Somerset, Wicomico
and Worcester counties. This
method has its advantages, notably
that of economy of management;
but it is expensive to the teacher, re-
curing many to bear the burden of
a two weeks stay among strangers
instead of attending county insti-
tute each day from their own homes.
It's most serious drawback however,
is that the institute is removed from
the people whom it should as largely
affect as the teachers themselves,
that is patrons and the general pub
lie. Unless a public institute is sup
ported by public opinion its useful
ness is narrowed, and nothing has
helped the cause of public education
in Hartford county more during the
past generation than the object
lesson of earnestness, industry, and
enthusiasm displayed by her corps
of teachers in their institute work.
1t is not unusual to find regular at
tendants upon all the daily sessions
because of their interest in the pro-
ceedings. Indeed, if there is one
point in which we would strongly
commend their modification, it would
be if possible to bring about the at
tendance of local trustees for at least
one session, so that a knowledge of
the law may be b-oadened, and the
duties of trustees and patrons be
learned, resulting in d more hearty
cooperation of all concerned.
During the coming week we believe
that the public citizen cannot spend
his time better than to attend as
many sessions as possible of our
teachers institute, and we will
guarantee in advance that he will
leave highly gratitied with the ener-
getic, enthusiastic work being done.
To the teachers cordial welcome
is always extended, and we hope
many of them feel that in coming to
Bel Air they are merely renewing an
annual visit to one of their various
homes
BUSINESS NOTICES.