The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-03-12
By EZEKIEL CHEEVER.
In the Baltimore Sunday Sun

tludged several miles to one-room
schoolhouse, and at the appointed
time rang the bell. School was "in,"
and he-the new teacher.
His preparation for the job was
not deep or wide, although it was the
best that Cumberland Valley State
Normal School, at Shippensburg, Of
fered in those days. But if his meager
professional training, his youth, and
the pally salary attached to the job
were not sufficient to steep him in
humility, then the duties Of the posi-
ton were there to do it. In addition
to teaching all subjects prescribed for
each elementary grade he was obliged
to tend the school fire when the wealth
er was cold, and to sweep the class
room every day that school was in
session.
At that time many American school
systems still required pupils to pro-
vide their own textbooks. In conform
ity with this practice, the boy-teacher
in due course requested two husky
country sisters to have their father
procure a geography for them. The
sire's response, conveyed to the teach
er next morning, was to the effect that
his daughters did not need a geogra-
ply - they were not going to be
sailors.
Weighs The Rebuke
The novice pedagogue pondered this
message long and seriously. There was
no resentment against either pupils
or parents; rather out Of his medita-
tons came meek self condemnation.
perhaps, geography as l am teach
ing it could be Of value only to some
body who will follow the sea-"
AS the problem finally cystallized
in his mind, it was up to a teacher
himself and others Of the craft-to
effect such changes in subject-matter
and method of presentation as to
make pupils and parents see advan-
tage in every subject taught He spent
the next fifty-three years Of his life
on that self-imposed assignment.
Even though the narrative stopped
here, readers who have not had per
sonal contact with him should have
gained a mental snapshot of the AL
bert S. Cook who today Sunday re-
tires as State Superintendent Of
Schools.
He quickly sensed the fact that the
scant scholarship with which he began
his career would not enable him to
carry on as he aspired to in the pro
fession to which he was to devote his
life, and so, whenever opportunity
offered, he supplemented his normal
school training. After two years in the
one-room rural school, he spent full
term at Gettysburg College. From
there he went to Princeton where, in
1895, he was awarded the A. B., cum
laude. Subsequently he got his masters
degree at Princeton and also put in
a year Of summers in graduate work
at Teachers College, Columbia Uni
versity.
While the ink was still damp on his
A. B. diploma he ventured, 1895, into
the more dignifed position of head OF
the Academy and Graded School at Bel
Air, where he spent three years. After
that he served two years as principal
of Franklin High School, Reisters-
town. From Franklin High he was
called, 1900, to the superintendency OF
Baltimore county schools where he re-
manned until his election, 1920, as
State Superintendent.
Not so long before he became county
superintendent the heads Of the vari-
Gus county systems were designated
examiners" a term suggestive OF
the narrow scope of the office. Not
long after he became head of Balti-
more county schools, he made county
superintendent" synonymous with ed
ucational leaders," With discrimina-
JlOn ne SeIeCleu q group VI SoocllIle'l
supervisors, and in cooperation with
them stimulated, directed, and trained
the entire teaching force of the county
to a point where Baltimore county
system won recognition throughout
the country for its excellence.
One of the means employed for this
in-service growth Of the teachers was
the construction or an adequate course
of study. The fimsy syllabus Of those
days - skeleton on which the teach
err might or might not be able to hang
whatever textbooks he was using -
was of doubtful aid to the beginning
teacher and a hindrance frequently tC
a really competent instructor. His SUI
pervisor- teacher made course of study
tried out, revised, tried again, rewrit-
ten, and then worked over again and
again, finally had his approval anc
was issued in printed form in 1915.
Early Work Remembered
Jesse H. Newton, head Of Lincoln
School, New York City, writing in the
May, 1885, issue of School Executive
Magazine, said: "Some Of the most
important contributions to American
education have come from small cities
and towns. -. The famous Balti