The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1869-12-18

Recommendations Of the Public
School Commissioners COnUen-
fifl7a Tn the Le0iSZnfaE9se. -

Messrs Longneckers Dc Conner I'm response
to published invitation given by the Presi-
dent of the State Normal School to the public
school commissioners Of the State, about twen-
ty commissioners and a dozen examiners as
sembled on the 7th inst, in the Normal School
building in Baltimore, for the purpose of con-
sidering the existing school law and recon-.
mending to the approaching legislature such
alterations and amendments as in their judg-
ment it might need. Thirteen or fourteen.
counties we're represented by this body. The
city of Baltimore wa-~,-.anresented by the
Superintendent of its schools, Dus MS 'sss4timore
has its peculiar system-separate and distinct
from the remainder of the State-it was not
justly entitled to representation, or voice and
vote, in the body met to deliberate upon law
pertaining exclusively to the counties.
In their examination of the school law, this
heterogeneous body, consisting of commission
ers, examiners, Normal School teachers and
presidents of colleges, adopted just such reso-
tutions and proposed just such recommends
lions to the legislature as would have been ex
oected from men, the most of whom were pc
itical office holders; for the Office of public
chool commissioners, it is well known, is at
present a political one and needs only larger
alary attached to it to make it as much sub.
ect of political trickery, and personal interest
IS any office in the county. 5H 4A .6-aa-
One of the recommendations of this body is
THAT the teachers be appointed by the coun
" board of school commissioners" The law,
IS it now stands, confers this authority upon
The trustees. Another recommendation is
'fThat the county board meet as often as they
desire" The present law limits them to four
times year, and to two days each time
Another recommendation is, "That they be
allowed to fill all vacancies occurring in their
bodies" Another, "That only one halfof their
number be elected biennally." Another,
''That they be incorporated" &c. Whatever
effect these recommendations, if adopted, may
have upon the schools, it is clear that they
benefit the commissioners. Every recommen
dation made during their two days session,
was a recommendation pertaining to their
own interests. 1t is to be hoped that instead
of attending so carefully to the interest of
| commissioners, our Legislature will consider
the inter, st Of the people. If it wishes to pro
mote the cause of public education, let the
public voice be heard. The teachers and the
patrons of schools are the proper parties t.
| ask for recommendations commissioners
and State superintendent. ..i-
Every parent is the natural and proper guar
dian of his child, and to the people belongs the
right to employ teachers and visit schools
The present trustee system not only acts as {
proper check upon the commissioners, but i
makes education subject Of public interest
by bringing authority and control directly tc
the people themselves. When the commits
soners had the power of appointing teachers
it is we'll known that if a teacher failed to give
satisfaction to the people he was discharged
Is it not likely that the trustees, who live
among the people and are patrons of TIM
schools, know best what teachers are likely t.
give satisfaction? The teacher upon whom thu
success of the schools depends, is lost sight o
in their desire to benefit commissioners. II
our own county the school tax is greater thai
it ever was, yet the teachers are paid little. i
any more. Why is this Instead of listenin.
to such suggestions as offered by few com
missioners, would it not be well for the Legis
lature to consider the propriety of totally abol
ishing the Office ofschool commissioner? Coult
not the examiner perform Gas he nearly doe
now,) all the duties of the commissioners ?
Could he not pay and examine teachers. selec
text books, &c 1t would be easy for him t.
visit the teachers association, pay teachers
and furnish them with whatever they nigh
require.
/ We have also State Normal School sup
ported at great expense, for the training Q
teachers. This could be dispensed with, an
the money better appropriated in securin
good teachers. There are plenty OF good teach
ers to be had for proper salaries. Besides, ca
perience alone can make good teacher. J
training school in Baltimore will not do it, a
the experience of many prepared therein ha
| showed. 4efI " h. G.
| DECEMBER 11th, 1859.