Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-08-03

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~ Hassrshs Board Of Csxsfy SCI
Q..issisaersefN 81. Aasy's Cor
sGnlt~n.-Isel elect this .ethod Il
t1Fsszs;ng 10 you some views. relative p
@ prc@ui regulation ofsalarics IL = ~
taehers ia this. eoune1. When tho csu.
y suthorities responded % the cslf m.ac
upon them 4 yexf OF more age b evying
an amount sufficient 20 cancel the then
accrued deficiency in the school Fund. il
was believed that the salaries q teachers
would heuceforsh be a least SIS PER
term. But owing TO . subsequent de-
preciaticn Of the Fund il vas found ne
ccssary 10 cut down the salaries 70 $40.
for the first quarter OF the last scholastic
year; But when at the expiration Of that
quarter they were again raised to SIS.
the teachers entered upon the discharge
of their duties rcanimased and encouraged
NTH the confident expectation and belief
that the reduction in their salaries had
reached its acme. and that they would
no longer be 1t the mercy. Of q fascinating
school fund and would thenccforsh receive
for their services at least the last stated
amount. Thu hope however was destined
20 Be disappointed; Al the last meeting
OF the Board their salaries were the sub
|ject Of still further manipulation and re-
ducsion. The following is the substance
Of the order passed il l have been cor
reesly informed viz: Those teachers whose
schools average from eve TO ten scholars
per day are to receive City dollars. Those
whose schools average from ten 10 fifteen
scholars are to receive sixty dollars and
those whose schools average from fifteen
10 twenty scholars per day, seventy dol
lars Per term and 50 on up. the average
attendance to be asccrtaincd by dividing
the number Of days in the school term
Now with all due Difference to the Board
considering the small number Of children
in attendance in many Of the public schools
Of this county. I respectfully submit that
this is putting the salaries Of teachers down
pretty los, especially when they have re-
ceived but forty dollars for the 6rst quar-
ter. .-.tt.tt ~.
have no doubt that this change has
been made BY the Board with view to
promoting the best interests of education
and TO urge the teachers TO increased dill
igence in stimulating. the .sscndance-of
pupils. But you may not have consider
ed at the time, what drawbacks there
might bcin the average attendance Of pupils
by reason Of sickness and other causes
over which the teacher has no control, as
has been the case with some Of the schools
during the last quarter. or how n nigh,
often Happen that the best teachers would
sometimes have the smallest schools, and
besides the order not having been pub
lished .msAy Of the teachers we're not aware
Of It's existence until very recently, per-
hsps some have not yet heard Of its pas
sage. Il would Also cali 70 your consider
alton the fact that the teachers are the
only school officers whose salaries are sub
jcct to . continued auctuatio3 Of the school
fund. The Treasurer. &c.. and the Board
have their fixed and regular salaries. 1t
is the teachers alone who have to suffer,
when there is falling of in the school
fund they who have 70 endure tho heat
and burden Of the day. and gire nearly
their whole time ard attention to the dis
charge of their duties. Perhaps this is
as it should be. but since il is so. Is it not
sufficient to evoke the sympathy Of the
Board And viii theS put this dampcr
upon the energies and hopes of their
teachers. which this order imposes? and
that too at the very end Of the scholastic
year. when their obligations are most pres
sing. i do not pretend 70, speak for all
the teachers bat all with whom 1 have
conversed concur in the views 1 have cx.
pressed. I would therefore appeal to the
Board to revoke this order. At least for
the prescnt, which can the more easily bc,
since, - I understand il. is in coutempla.
ton TO pay the teachers for tho last term
in certificates Of indebtedness, and the
County Commissioners have responded
.lberally 10 ellie late call made upon them
fr levy Tor school purposes.
Very Respectfully. % II =. ..
=, ,I :at a. A TEACHER.