The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-10-10

| Looking to the future operations of the
system, and to the necessities of the Schools
as they gradually develop themselves; with
the heavy expenses to which we have been,
and are still likely to be, auhjected, for the
repairs Of old houses and the erection of
new ones where they are actually required
we regret to be obliged to state that, with
the present resources Of the Board, it will be
impossible to keep the schools open as Pub
lie Schools even for the period Of nine months
yearly and every year. If there were no
other demands upon the Treasury but the
supply OF Books and Stationery, the salaries
OF Teachers and the ordinary incidental ex-
penses of the Schools Tor Furniture, Fuel,
&c. the strctest economy in every other
branch Of expenditure would not enable us
to continue the Schools for three quarters
in each year, as q very brief statement will
demonstrates.
The Receipts of the Board are confined
almost exclusively to the Taxes at the linz
tied levy Of Twelve Gents in tho Hundred
Dollars, and the State 3 annual contribution.
The other resources of the Board are so in
considerable in amount, and at best so en-
lirely contingent and variable that no relia-
Bile calculation or estimate can be based upon
them. We submit therefore the following
statement:
The amount to be received from taxes
may be estimated at. .f....$ 9,5UO
The States donation "a large esll-
marcy. ................ o,4oo
Making an aggregate OF. ...........$l3,0O0
Judging from the past, and with special
reference to the cost Of the system Tor the
past year, we are not warranted in estimating
tha quarterly demand upon the Treasury
for Teachers salaries and School lnciden-
tails, after crediting all Tuition Fees received
at Il less sum than hree Thousand Six Hun
dred Dollars, which tor three quarters will
make $40 800. Add to this the cost OF Books
and Stationery, which at the present advanc-
ed price of Books and the increasing demand
for those of the more expensive kind, cannot
be safely estimated at less than $500, a
very low estimate; and We have an aggregate
annual demand OF SIP 900, leaving but S4OO
to meet all the other expenses OF the Board,
viz Building and repairing, general Incl
denals, Treasurers' Salary and Commission.
eIs' per diem, which during the past year
amounted to 81, 24S.S 5, and can rarely be
reduced much below that sum.
The fines for violation Of the License Law,
small as they were, having been diverted
from School purposes by the authors OF the
Revenue is the excess of the tax upon dogs
over and above the regular demand upon
that fund. What amount may be received
from that source We are wholly unable to
estimate. During the past three years not
dollar has BEEN realized from that fund. 1t
will be seen, therefore, that very simple
statement shows the absolute necessity of
additional means, il the Schools are to be
| properly sustained.
The economical administration of the
system is shown in single item. The
expense for the services Of the nine mem.
| bers of the Board for .he past year, it will
| be seen, is $33l.31, or less than S37 year
for each member. This, considering the
expenses that members are subjected to in
attending meetings of the Board, at dis
lance from their homes, will be regarded
as anything but remunerative.
The advancement which some of the
pupils have made in their studies, while it
Is source Of pride and qualification to the
Board, brings with it corresponding re-
sponsibility upon US to furnish them with
the means of further progress, and this
leads to the necessity of procuring class
books for more advanced studies, and, of
course, of more expensive character.
The act creating the Board conters the
power of establishing High Schools. But
such an enterprise with our present re-
sources is wholly out of the question:
Nevertheless we find it incumbent upon US
to supply the more advanced scholars in
some schools with the necessary books for
what are understood to be High School
studies. Hence the expenses Of the system
are gradually increasing upon US, and it is
now manifest that the Board must be sup
piled with additional means, if the system
no d., l,nt, - Oh S1l no
its friends, and we believe the citizens of
the entire county now desire to have it.
The question presents itself, from whence
can this additional support be derived?
We are far from believing that in the pres
ent state of public interest in the Schools,
the people of the county would interpose
any serious opposition to an increase OF the
tax tor their support, and In view OF the
fact, that the improved condition of the
finances OF the State, may lead to the II mo-
val OF the State tax-an lncreasein the levy
forSchool purposes, might we believe with
safety and great propriety, be made.
1t, however, an increase in the tag shall be
deemed inadvisable, the Board would respect
fully suggest that the attention of the clti-
zens Of the county be directed to another
source of relief BY reference to the last
report Of the Comptroller Of the State, it
Will pG seen iHdI lueTe Is SJanulnP W tne
credit of Cecil county, in the Department
of that officer, large sum of money
being part Of this county's proportion of
the fund pledged to the counties of the
Eastern Shore, for internal improvement
which up to this time remains unappropri
ated to any actually existing work or enter.
prise. The suggestion has been made, and
as we believe with great propriety, that
properly and perhaps without violence to
the object OF the original grant, this fund
or the interest thereof might be devoted to
the improvement of the Educational System
of the county, and thus supply your School
Authorities with the means of perfecting
most desirable public good, and to a very
considerable extent relieve the taxable pro-
perry Of the county, from the burthens that
must rest upon it, If the Public School Sys-
TEN is to be continued and perfected.
The Board feel that they have done their
entire duty in the premises, by thus calling
public attention to these subjects in the
hope that the people Of the county, inter
ested as they must, and should be, in the
education of their children, will take such
steps, if deemed practicable, as may be
necessary to give the ennd alluded to the
direction we have indicated.
All which is respectfully submitted.
+. A. ELLIS,
JEFFERSON RAMSAY,
G. G. BRUkAW,