The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-01-13
le's Column
Dur School System Is Weak
the CECIL WING,


years ago, appeared the follow
Intelligent interest in, and dis
IN Of public education, is the order
NE day in most quarters and we be-
re should be the order of the day in
Ar own State and county. Our columns
are always open to 1t. No subject is
peoples opinions more entitled to a
hearing" These words ! now recall be-
cause of the truth embodied in them
and also as forming my excuse for ask
ing your readers to once more turn their
attention to the present method of ad
ministering public education. The sub
ject of education in any of its phases is
a vital one and has an enormous influence
on the public and private lite of every
person in the community.
Early in December, 1910, at a conven-
ton of educators in Baltimore, Mr..
George o. Carey, one of the School Com
missioners from Cecil county, read a
paper on Better School Buildings in Rural
Communities. Leaving aside the. body
of his address, in which he pleaded for
consolidation of rural schools, let me
present for consideration the following
extract: (This is from a report of the
speech published December 10, 191O)-"In
many instances the farmer seems to pay
more attention to the housing of his
stock than to the buildings in which his
children are taught. The time has passed
when any old building will do for a school
house" To throw the blame for such
conditions as exist, on the farmer, SEEM
ed indeed the height of the ridiculous.
But unlike o. w. Holmes servant when
at such dizzy height, rallied instantly
from it's effect and set about investigat-
ing the truth or falsity of the statement
and the basic "Why?"
AS a matter of such investigation and
inquiry in this county and others
throughout the State, on the conditions
thus represented, it was shown that
while in some districts there is a com
mendable cooperation between parents
and school. it is SO rare as to be in this
discussion a negligible quantity The
general attitude is one of apathy or in
difference. Reports of conversations with
various farmers and taxpayers on the
situation, and an abortve endeavor to
remedy it, might form piquant reading,
but would need a separate chapter apart
from this letter. A few attempts have
been made by the State authorities in
cases where the local sentiment has been
hostile to the school administration, to
bring them to an intelligent apprecia-
ton of each others attitudes. But we
need something more radical than these
spasmodic efforts to bring parents and
taxpayers into the live circuit OF sym
pathy with educational methods.
Why should not the farmer pay more
attention to the buildings housing his
herds than to those in which his child
ren pass their schols days? He can
build a barn that will allow sunshine
and proper ventilation for his COWS and
horses, he can provide them with good
drinking water, he can place them in
sanitary conditions and do his best to
safeguard them from disease. CAN HE
DO A SMuCH WITH THE CONDITIONS
IN WHICH HIS CHILDREN ARE PLAC-
ED FIVE OR SIX HOURS EACH DAY?
He pays his money in taxes, but he has
no choice. He sees the Governor appoint
Lie NDuitS DGlCDl COMMISSIONERS anu
knows cases whore such appointments
have been made contrary to the desires
of the people. He sees these commits
sioners appoint, and at their own pleas
ure remove, the dist let trustees The
latter have nominally to elect the tea
cher of their school, but from many
points in the State some complaints of
pressure being brought to bear in favor
of certain candidates, by the County
Commissioners The farmer can read
his daily paper brought by the govern
nnents rural delivery of mail, his agri
cultural paper and his magazines, and
!trcn them learn how neighboring States
demand trained teachers sanitary water
supply, compulsory education, superin-
tendents trained for their office by years
of teaching. Then he can compare this
with the nepotism displayed by officials
in his own State, the general indiffer-
ence to the vital points of education and
the rights of taxpayers. Taxation with
{ out representation is as CALLING to him
: as ii was to his forefathers. 1t is i'm
possible for the Governor of great
state like this to know the personal and
intellectual fitness of the county school
commissioners, whom he appoints; the
residents in each county are far better