The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-10-29
CECIL TEACHING CORPS
Meets n Thirty Second AspuaI Comfy
Institute AT EIIrfon


The thirty-second annual institute
Tor the teachers oi CccIi county was
opened in Mechanics hal. Elkton, at
10 a. nj. on Monday with the singing
OF Onward Christian Soldiers By
the entire audiesvce, and Rev. William
Schouler, rector Of STrinity Church,
then offered prayer. President George
a. Blake ,of the School Board, well
coined the teachers briefly saying
that he had no doubt that they would
ENJOY and profit by the institute He
comDlimeDted them for their fidelity
and said he was sure that the people
appreciated their worth. He referred
feeiingly to the late Superintendent
George Biddle, whose absence for the
hrst time i'll the long series Of insti-
tutes was noted by all present II was
hitting that before the gathering re-
ference should be made to his life and
services. The State Teachers Asso-
ciation, at its last session had paid
hitting tribute to his memory. The
progress made by the schools Of Cecil
since he began his life work for their
Improvement was his best monument
and it was fortunate that one SO wor-
thy to succeed him had been found in
Superintendent BraIton.
AS for the institute Mr.. Bake said
he might say what are we here for7
The old style Of institute would 90 out
OF use with the present one, as it was
long outworn. The schools had been
reyolutionized since 1873, when the
first institute in the county was held.
| Then there we're but few children in
| the schools who we're taught beyond
the sixth grade. There are now eleven
| grades in the schools. The high
schools provided quite adequately for
higher education. Three OF them had
manual training courses, the excellent
character OF which was attested by
the array of specimens OF the pupils
| skill shown in and about the room.
Two of the schools had excellent COM
mercial courses, and two also had
promising courses in domestic science
Institute work had not kept pace with
the progress OF the schools. But the
nehsttutes could not be abolished, nor
4 think that teachers would favor
did ne day rne5 it were proposed. The
their disuse, ''s'i'u.es ., wouia ps
work OF future 'ne p,,.naly ,al..ss.
sectional, devoted toar va" c. Co., =
grammar and high schooIe .a,o,,er.
and special work on teachiial wo.A.arlx sl
Grafton would be needed and ".
would be drafted for special
Inc date, too. would be changed tc
the first week in September. The
cshange OF plan would require time to
be worked out successfully. The new
would be on the lines Of a
teachers summer school. There was
great room ior progress, and the al
tered me OF work would give heart
ana courage to teachers and lead to
III methods OF teaching.
Or. Charles b. Gilbert, of New
York, spoke briefly but informingly
on the potentiality of the schools
which had never been greater than il
IS in our day. We are now on the
threshold of the Age OF Reason. The
age OF war was passing and that of
Sentiment had passed with the last
one OF the Crusades. Even China il
awakening from her sleep OF ages
Peope are doing their own thinking.
News is effective in the press but edi-
tors now WELD little influence. Great
issues are presented for settlement,
but how many Of our newly made citi-
zenS OF foreign birth in our great cit
les are competent to pass judgment on
those issuse. AS are the schools and
teachers OF the present so will be the
of the future. What call
ing is superior to the teachers? IVh
wields greater potential or actual in
1uence.
Reports on tie work OF the Teach
ers Reading Circles OF the several
school districts were made bv teach
ers, and Principal Hugh w Caldwell,
OF chesapeake City High School, not
ed the fact that Cecil leads all other
counties in the State in this line OF
work
The work fthe institute as ar
ranged, was conducted according to
program on the several days, closing
Yesterday. Prof. 7. Leslie Carpenter, =
who had charge OF the singing, gave
4 fine organ recital in the Presbyterian
Chuch on Wednesday evening. which
was greatly enjoyed by the teachers
and residents. Miss Alice II. Frazer.
eacher OF music in the Cecil County
High School, aga,n served as pianist,
using a splendid Stieff instrument,
,ourteously loaned by the makers OF
Baltimore