Live To Your Utmost And Your Best
THE ORIOLE
A Genius Creates, Talent Merely Copies.
Vol. 2-No. 4
DECEMBER, 1922
Published Monthly by Students of the Maryland
State Normal School, Towsen. Md.
GOV. ALBERT C. RITCHIE'S
SPEECH TO THE STUDENTS
OF THE MARYLAND STATE
NORMAL SCHOOL,
In introducing the Governor to
the student body, Miss Tall remarked
that the only preparation we had
been able to make was taking stock
of conditions in and about Normal
School; whether they were such as
would please the Governor, and
whether they were such as to please
ourselves.
Governor Ritchie was greeted enthusiastically,
The group before
him were people who admired the
sterling characteristics which have
so often been seen in the public life
of our Governor.
"My friends, I appreciate the opportunity
afforded to address you.
You know when I came Into this
room a rather familiar sight met
me. The manner in which you are
arranged makes me feel that we are
attending a political convention."
The Governor paid tribute to Miss
Mary Risteau, and voiced the opinion that the endeavors of Miss Risteau represented the type of political endeavor in which schools should
engage. To Miss Risteau, a Baltimore teacher, he attributed the success of the passage of the Equal
Rights Bill.
I think that this very fine student
body is a tribute to the public sentiment of Maryland; to have hetter
teachers. It gives me pleasure to
pay tribute to the splendid loyalty
and talent represented in this gathering and to Miss Tall for the graciousness for which she Is so well known.
I am interested in just what your
view point may be with respect to
the profession you have elected to
follow.
To some, teaching is a means of
making a livelihood, just like other
lines of business, yet when you mention the teaching profession, I would
like to think that you regard it not
only as a means of earning a livelihood, but that you feel toward your
profession a love and responsible attitude and realize the seriousness of
your obligation to the State and the citizens of the State."
The Governor expressed the opinion that from the teaching force the
State realizes a -benefit second to
none. That heretofore, the State
has not given freely and adequately the necessary support modern edu¬
cation demands in furthering the opportunities for proper educational
facilities, and this phase of State administration is one of the most important obligations which the Stato
government has to deal with-
Personally, he seemed confident
that there would be a more harmonious realization of the State’s financial obligation as well as the personal obligation, of teachers to the
State.
“Some people," the Governor said,
“arc apt to regard government as a
business organization, the sole purpose of which is enforcement of
laws, and the thing in which it shows
greatest interest is taxes.”
"National administration, State
administration and City administration, we look on as great business
agencies, they have tfrheir business
aspects, but there is the greatest
difference between government and
business. Business deals with property rights, government deals with
human rights. In the course of
events business and government
come into conflict, and when property rights which are the basis for
business come into conflict with human interests, then the property
rights (have to give way under the
human rights, so that the basis of
government may not be imperiled or
endangered' (or -hampered. Essentially the duty of the government is to see that the human rights
are protected. You realize the
necessity of this the more you come
in contact with that class of people
who carry the bulk of the load of
human activities and endeavors. You
can go into the mines of Western
Maryland, and see that men digging
out coal run great danger. You can
go into the important railroad work
shops and see men stripped naked
to the waist, working in boiler
rooms. The strength and security
of the State is affected by the manner in which the work is done, as
well as the safety' of the men who
are doing that kind of work. State
government must never let property
rights conflict with human rights.”
The Governor referred to the many
agencies of State government that
dealt with problems of human rights.
He specially emphasized the Department of Health. He expressed the
opinion that in so far as the State
recognized and fulfilled its obligations to the citizens of the State in
just so large a measure would the
citizens of the State Tealize and fulfill their obligations to the State. He
said the State can never |hope to he
stronger than the strength of its
citizens.
Governor Ritchie felt that the
work of teachers was of paramount
importance. The public school was
the only absolutely vital factor to
the welfare of the Stato. In order
to realize the fullest development of
the children of today, who become
the citizens of tomorrow, they must
be capably taught not only the fundamentals of education, but there
must he inculcated in children ideals
of honesty, fairness towards all, and
the desire to give one hundred per
cent, efficiency in whatever the undertaking may he. Of great importance in developing this attitude is
the personality of the teacher.
Teaching will then not only be a means of livelihood, hut it will become something sacred. It will become a profession.
MABEL A. PIELERT.
THE TEACHER.
(Margaret Weant)
The teacher is at all times a being
of unlimited influence. She deals
more directly with a larger group of
very young people than almost any
other professional person. She directs in big and little situations; she
leads in times of schoolroom peace
and arbitrates in times of childish
wars; she sympathizes with failure
or congratulates in success; she
heartily co-operates in all phases of
work. She is the most dominant
personality in the life of every child
who comes within her care. Upon
her leadership and direction depend
the future happiness and welfare of
the world.
