Maryland free press., 1866-07-19
Our Public Schools. g
Ely;yo. M E.

Our Public Schools. q
Editor Ma, Free Pre-. a
With your indulgence I design. rs lei.
sure may allow,to bring to the attention Of
the public, in series Of short cemmuuioa.
tions, the provisions and iniquities Of our
present school law, and the manner of in
administration. 'c
And in the beginning it may be conf
IDENTITY asserted, that of all the onerous and
Infamous Legislation that has taken Mac.
in this State, for the last five years, none
excels this law in its extravagance, il.
reckless appropriation Of the peoples mon
ey. and the total disregard of the princi-
Piles of right and justice. 'neeo'.
1t is complicated system contriyod for
the introduction of New England puritan
ism. and New England notions, and for the
purpose of making places and positions for
hundreds of men having no other claim or
qualification than brawling. prosecuting
hatred of every thing truly Maryland in It's
nativity and association, as opposed 10
yankeeism. The law itself is a yankee
coinage, and its very verbiage gives evil
dence of its origin.
That it has not elected opposition and
condemnation at the hands of the people il
simply because those made To bear the
burthens it imposes. and with whose feel
iugs and opinions it conflicts. have been
and are still. under the ban of prescription;
and it was by the selfish and malicious
contriyance of a merciless crew Of coward
ly Office seekers, under the protection and
by force of yankee bayonets, that 1t hes
been, with other kindred acts, imposed up
on an unwilling but defenceless people,
That such a law could ever have been in.
posed upon the State in ordinary times,
and when the people were free to speak
and act, is not to be believed for an in
slant. We have its sinfiction however, and
it becomes our duty to expose its designs
and purposes, and to get rid of it. and the
whole tribe of yankee propaganda sustain
ed by it,at the earliest possible period.
In examining the provisions of this law
it will be found that there is one interest
which appears to be paramount to all 9th
ers, and which is at least well provided for.
and that is the officers and superintendents;
and it is class by no means small in num-
ber. @ a .d4 y.a &
1t seems to have boen the purpose Of the
Trainer of the law. (the present Yankee
General superintendent to multiply su-
pervision ooer the same subject matter, for
no other purpose than to create Offices to
be filled by good loyal citizens. y
For instance. By chap. /, under title
supervision, it is provided that the supervi-
sion and CONTROL of Public Instruction shall
be vested in, 1st:. A state board Of Educa-
tion, consisting Of the Governor, Lieuten-,
ant Governor, speaker of the House Of
Delegates, and the State Superintendent Of
Public Instructor; I'd, A State Superin-
tendent of Public instruction; and 3dly.
In board of School Commissioners for
each County: and the incidental expenses
of the board, and the expenses Of The
members thereof, incurred in the discharge
of their official duties, independent ofsala-
ries. are directed to be paid by the Treas
urer. f,,,
BY SEQ. of chap. 8, il isprovided thas
the Office of the State Superintendent shall
be located in the City of Baltimore, and
the Superintendent is authorized to ap-
point Secretary, at an annual salary Of
$1,000, payable quarterly. by the Treasur-
er. And, by the Cd sec. of same chap.
the State Superintendent is 70 have the
Supervision Of all the Public Schools in the :
State. 5-s'..,s..: 80.
BY sec. of chap 4. it is required that
the State board of Education shalri ap-
point. to hold Office four years, such NUM- numn Z
Der of School Commissioners in each Coun-
ty, as the State Superintendent may direct. 5
Each Commissioner 10 have the special
charge Of such number Of school districts. ?.