Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1867-12-19
ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL CON-
MISSIONERS.

Among other proceedings tue ioiio"
ing preamble and resolutions were unanl-
mollsfy adopted
Whereas, by the action of the late Con,
stitutional Convention the existing school
system of MARYLAND will expire with the
lose Of the next session ofthc Legislature;
sad whereas the members of this assoca-
ton. without pretending to dictate to that
J crislaturc, deem it due to the people OF
Iaryland. tothe members Of the Senate
and House of Delegates elect, and to them
selves, To submit the results of their OK
pcricnce in the practical administration OF
the system therefore.
Rcsoitrd, That in the judgment of this
association, based upon actual observation
in the. discharge of official duty, and, as
We believe, fully sustained by the status
tical REPORTS now in the office of the State
Board, the existing system of free public
schools in MARYLAND, as administered dur
ing the past two years, has greatly eleva-
ted the character and condition Of the
schools in many, if not all of the counties
oe the State, in the increased number and
improved quality Of school buildings, the
efficiency Of teachers, the attendance OF
pupils, the discipline of the schools and
the manifest advancement made by very
many Of the pupils in their studies.
Rr,olrrd. That whatever may be created
10 take it. place, the present system should
nc by Legislative enactment continued IN
sorce until the end of the current school
rear. to avoid the confusion and loss that
must necessarily follow the sudden arrest
of its functions by the adjournment OF the
legislature before official action can be
had under any other system that may be
provided for.
: 7Rrsdrcd, That without assuming to
claim that the system is perfect III all ITS
payts but freely admitting that. our own
experience has shown that changes IN some
0f It's details are desirable, the judgment
Of the associa-;or. IS that its leading fca-
lures ought to Ic preserved, and that the
following general provisions are essential
TO any efficient uniform system which may
b created, to W.T.
\ State Board of Eiueation.
g. 4 State superintendent, and county
s,.rcTi.ltcnlcnts, by whatever name called
rs essential to an effective supervision OF
the work, and to the collection and con
ccntration of important educational status
ties for public information
3. \ uniform State tax, to be applied
10 the support of the System, and to dis
tribute it among the ssVe~al counties and
the city of Baltimore, so as 20 secure, with
prnpcr local taxation, TO the children OF
nil sections, ample educational privileges
i The State Normal School and teach
cr.'siustitutes to lie under the direction OF
the professors of the Normal School, as
the best mode of clcyating the standard OF
thc profession, and the most efficient means
of supplying the schools with competent
and thoroughly qualified teachers, citizens
Of oar own State.
>. \ uniform system of textbooks for
the several counties. exclusive of the city
Of BALTIMORE as necessary to the efliclent
working of a uniform system of teaching,
and as promotivc of economy, oihcial and
parental.
Is. A board of school commissioners for
zach county :,
county supcr;"tendr ~ VIII shall
scl AS a member of the board fr oDc'o, TO
he appolutcdby thcState board oteducatlon
The rcsoluticns led toa lengthy and
xnimated debate, participated IN by a mum
Der Of members During the debate. DR..
Mel remarked that the onl y way to
pop,lari2e the school system was to put
good and competent teachers into every
school IN the state, and to pay them pro
cr-lsalarics In closing the debate and
Just pl, vs~gs to the question on the resell
utions beng taken, Or. Van BokkehR RS
kcd permission to make few remarks.
The Doctor commenced by saying that
while the statements made to the assocla-
fipn record educational progress and n
growing popularity of the school system,
vet we find that system condemned and
and abolished by the late Constitutional
Convention. For this there is sowe rca-
sos, which the members ought to endeavor
20 a,ecssam. Somehow the system is uu-
popular. 1t has not touched the chord
Of popular feeling, and responded as has
been hoped What is 1t Would, gen
tl.man. (said MIR. V b. that could TEX,
aot for my own sake, bat for the good ct
the children, as II is for them thss we Ia
Tor lie stated that the present school
ty.ttm is strictly 4 Maryland and not an
imported system. 1t was tried separate
" for SIX years in Baltimore and Cecil
counties. In the form that it grew up
and proved efficient in those counties the
system was extended 10y the act of 1869
over the State, with the addition Of SUI
prrvision which has Increased the value Of
school work and the uHnber of pupils -
He did not approve OF State beard OF ed
,lcatiou as now constituted 1t part,ok
too much of a political complexion. The
State board ought to consist Of gentlemen
selected for their intelligence and entrely
separated from political Offices lnomi~
nrut State officers have no time for the he
tail Of school work The administration
Of schools ought To be brought nearer TO
the people, and they should be made res
gunsihlc for their condition This could
only be dome Nv an election of school Off
GERS AT \ special school election and then
,he people woull be responsible. He was
wiltug 10 truss the people on this subject,
50 dear AVID near 10 their interests. II
,.rtn,s cannot lac trusted, who can : The
.prakcr felt csnidsnt that the General
Assembly would acst fully the wants OF
the people. The only matter about wl1sh
he had any great anxiety was the mode OF
IL t,l