The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1919-03-07
A Letter.
To The People of Prince Georges Coun-

ty or Hope for Education:
I deem it great privilege to have
lived with the children and teachers of
Prince Georges County as their helper
during the terrible days of war. Even
a great privilege is mine now that l
can aid in the Educational Reconstruct
ton that is one of the greatest prob
lens of today. My Superintendent
has asked that lay special emphasis
this year upon the Rural School prob
lens. As a.servant of the people of
Prince Georges County. 1 wish them
to know what am trying to do to aid
this social, economic and spiritual prob
lem of Rural Education for their boys
andsgirls.
Nv first aim is to promote the
HYGIENE and Physical welfare of our
children. Disease and physical defects
caused the rejection of over thirty per.
cent of the men examined for the
Army. In almost all cases, failure to
acquire good health habits in childhood
was responsible, therefore it behooves
US now to. profit by our past mistakes
and see that our children's health is full
ly safe-guarded. am glad to report
that arrangements have been made
with DIR. VIM. Burdick, Supervisor OF
Health Education in Maryland, whereby
one of his assistants may come to this
County and give series of Saturday
morning courses in PHYSICAL Education.
This will enable the teachers to better
prepare themselves for this important
work. MIR. Burroughs and / hope to
plan for the Hygienic phase of work by
means of Health Crusade among our
children. thus creating the spirit among
the children for better health.
My second aim is to make course OF
study that will give our teachers a
definite idea of what to teach in each
grade, suggest many problems and
places of research, references and
methods. With the great number of
inexperienced teachers in Prince Geor-
ge's County, it is most essential that
they have a carefully planned guide.
The initial step towards the making of
this course of study was taken at
Hyattsville on Saturday, January 18th.
when committee of teachers repre-
senting every section of the county as
sembled to consider plans for formulat-
ing such course.
It was unanimously agreed by those
present that the Course of Study from
the stand point of Rural Education
should have one main purpose, namely
to prepare country people to get the
most out of country life for themselves
and for their posterity; to make life in
the country as heathful, as beautiful.
as joyous as life anywhere, that country
people may love it more and be more
content to live it.
With this main purpose in mind we,
divided into groups, each group select
ing one subject of the curriculum for
special study. These committees will
meet again about the first OF March to
report upon the progress made.
The teachers and find there is parti-
cular weakness in reading. The main
cause for lack of supplement tary read
ing material and we feel sure our
Board OF Education will give US more
of this much needed material next
year. We are using current events
and fiji d them great stimulus to read
ing. 1t is often said God helps those
who help themselves and we have
quite bit of truth in that old proverb.
We are availing ourselves of every
opportunity in making money by en-
tertainments, etc, 80 that we may have
a public library in each school. I hope
next summer to begin in my office a
circulation library for teachers, thus
placing professional literature at their
disposal.
There is too. a beautiful phase of
social education that is being developed;
namely that of Community Singing.
This had its beginning at Beltsville
about one month ago. Last Thursday
night l had the very great pleasure
being present with those two hundred
men, women and children at their first
big Sing. Well, was it inspiring? !
should say it was beyond all description.
In the past month l have been able
to attend several public school meet
ings. There is a growing spirit here in
Prince Georges County in behalf of
Education. The people are beginning
to realize more money must be avail
able for teachers salaries if the schools
are to reach the high standard set by
our Maryland School Law.
They have proven that they are re-
alizing this by their petitions to the
County Board of Education, and
furthermore, by the unanimous endorse.
ment of the Smith Towner Bill pro-
viding for Federal Aid to Education.
The people are making q brave fight
for Education and I am with them.
My heart goes out with gratitude to
my teachers, pupils, patrons, and to
my loyal School Commissioners of
Prince Georges County for the wonder
full cooperation they are giving me.
BLANCHE E. OGLE,
Supervisor of Schools.