Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-02-22

trend OF elementary education at thai
time, il has been proved that Ann,
Arundel county, in this as in some
other respects, was being placed il
the path of a certain deve lopment
The so-called agricultural educa,
tion idea has been promoted il
Maryland until now the State authori,
ties have recognized the Importance,
the feasibility and the necessity OF
including in the course of public
school instruction this vital subject.
We know thst the public schools must
annually send into self-supportine
activity millions of boys whose high
est usefulness to themselves and to
the world is TO be found on the farm
and in the industries most closely
connected with agriculture. And OF
the girls, other millions must BECOME
the nomemakers on the farms, and
with the progress of civilization and
the equal rights of women. farmers.
too.
1T used to be proclaimed that the
public school had performed its func-
ion when il grounded the pupils in
reading, writing and arithmetic. In
fact, this is by no means the least i'm
portant of our instruction of today.
What has been done in the century of
free education in America in working
out its perplexing problems, and
bringing it closest in touch with the
needs Of the people is the demonstra-
tion OF the fact that public school in
struetlon must 20 hand in hand with
the practical things of life. In the
elementary schools oi today, in those
sections with which we as citizens of
an agricultural State are most con-
cerned, we see that all the really i'm
portant studies are directly inter
woven with the activities of after
life. Arithmetic, geography, Ian
guage and other studies can and
should be applied to the farm and the
home and the elements of agriculture
and of the domestic sciences natur-
ally and appropriately fall within the
teaching scheme that has been so long
followed. In short, modern educa-
tion is now based upon the principle
that industrial ana practical things
belong In curriculum together with
science Of accounts, with methods of
spoken and written speech, and the
culture that enables one to get the
most use and enjoyment out of the
adult life.
And the controlling reason for
the recent change in the idea of pup
lie school instruction is this: The vast
majority of our boys and girls 90 from
the school room to that life struggle
of labor which is the heritage Of man,
of the favored and wealthy equally
with those who must earn their Iiv-
ing without outside assistance, and
should have inculcated into them in
home and at school the right ideals
and the proper appreciation OF the
duty OF every one to do his or her
share of service to the world. AS
school officials, it is our duty to pro-
vide in the system committed to as
the best possible means and methods
to impsrt to the pupils gooI foun-
dation for the real and stern educa-
tion which is yet to come, after they
have passed from our care; and If, in
this county, as is their right, every
school boy and school girl cal find the
opportunity in this and our other
school houses, to be trained in the
hitherto recognized useful studies,
and in addition to this be also in
structed in the things of the farm
and the home, we have accomplished
a GOO deal.
= trust you will agree with me
as to the Importance of forming the
home and school association which |
have recommended, and that you will
do this at ouce, or in the near future.
1t will be fine agency for the de-
velopment and welfare of your COM
munity as we'll as your school. Each
should help the other. The school
house is the home of both. / know Of
no more important work for the bet
terment OF a neighborhood, for the
advancement of its local interests,
than such an association All of you,
as permanent residents, have a work
to do, have duties to perform, as
members of this community. AS each
individual does his share for the well
fare of all, he reaps his share of the
benefits. The spirit Of neighborly
cooperation, of generous service, of
helping one another, is brave and
an excellent spirit.
shall leave with your teacher a
little book recently published ou
Home and School, containing many
useful suggestions on the formation
OF home, school and community asso-
Citations, and ! quite from it this
beautiful thought:
To get the best for all of US each
one must do his best,
And give his highest service for the
good Of all the rest,
So the Home must give its mothers,
and the School its teachers send,
With the Children ready all the time
their loving help to lend.
We have no thought for selfish gain,
no time for Idle pelf,
For every Social Center loves its
neighbor as itself,
With you for me and me for you, that
is the golden rule
Oh, will you come and join us in our
work for Home and School,
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