The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-04-03
PNbIic SIhocI RiIE.

The general public free school bill has fl
nally passed both branches of the General
Assembly, so that compliance with the man
date of the constitution TO establish through
out the State a thorough and efficient system"
is at least attempted. Whether the bill is all
that it ought to be remains to be proved {;
yet there are apprehensions with many that
it is not In view of the great importance of
the subject, there was too much delay in
bringing it forward but we have been will
ling to assume that there was an earnest eff
fort on the part of the education committees
of the Legislature to avail themselves of all
the lights that could be obtained beforehand
to aid them in producinga satisfactory meas
ure. Yet we have not been able to relieve
ourselves of the apprehension that under in
fluenccs based upon unrcasoning prciudiccs
against the present system there has been an
effort to create something different from
what existed, without reference to what, in
the present system, may be really meritori-
Gus and worthy of preservation, and that n
good deal of the difficulty which has occurred
in concentrating their labors has come out
of disposition to make the present system a
point of departure which was to be rot away
from in any event, without reference to what
kind ofa port the voyage might terminate in
The bill which has passed embraces n general
tax of ten cents on the 500, distribution of
the fund according 10 population, white and
black, 1.-TWO cardinal features which have at
last been adopted from the present systcm,O
boards of county school commissioners, on
for each district in county, TO be elected by
the people, and to whom the general control
is given for their respective counties school
house trustees for each school-house district
= be elected by the people of the district, and
the appropriation all taxes collected undo r
the bill from colored people to such schools
as may exist in counties OF elsewhere for the
education Of colored children. In regard to
school books, their selection is left to the re-
spcctive boards Of county commissioners, so
that instead of uniformity of teXt-b books, as al
present, they may be different in each county,
and for the books Il charge not exceeding 81
per quarter may be made for each pupil The
commissioners are also to fix salaries of
teacher Such are the leading provisions
Of the bill, and we are disposed to hope the
best from whatever there is Ill the measure.
The election of school commissioners by
the people brings the system as near as pos
siblc TO the people, and where there is any
desire for educational improvement at ali,
their sympathies and influence will be enlist
ed i'll the work. To the principal Of the nor
nal school, who is to be appointed by board
of three trustees who are to be nominated by
the Governor to the Senate, is assigned the
duty Of making the yearly report, he having
sort Of general supervision but there is
neither superintendent nor State board and
so much being thus left entirely to the county
commissioners, it is incumbent on these Off
GERS to realize the heavy responsibility which
is devolyed upon them. As the people have
the selection of these commissioners, they
must see to it they get the rightmen, of large
popular sympathics, who love their fellow
beings and feel an ardent and intelligent in
terest in the advancement and enlightenment
of the rising generation. The people are left
to themselves in this matter and they must
come to the rescue with an understanding
and appreciation of the profound concern
they have in the education of their children.
The bill, in full, as passed by the General As
sembly, it given in our columns to-day. The
lrw is to take effect the first ofApril, though
the present schools may continue in opera
ton under existing authorities until their sue
ce8sors are duly appointed-Bah Sun, Nh.
&c.