The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-12-25

In compliance with the School Law, the
Board submit their Annual Statement, re-
GREETING that they are obliged to exhibit con-
tinued financial embarrassment, being ham,
pered in their operations by carrying over
debts from year TO year. The 70 Public
Schools of the county have been kept open
three Terms during The year. At the urgent
solicitations of many of the patrons, the
Board appropriated $50, less the Book Fees,
to assist the Trustees and patrons in keeping
the schools open during the Summer Term.
Fifty-eight School Districts availed them
selves Of this appropriation, and continued
their schools during the Summer. The
Graded School in Havre de Grace was in op-
Grafton during the Summer, the cost of which
was $729, of which the Town Commissioners
contributed out of the rent 5000 as hereto
fore.
The total cost Of the Summer Term was
$3,0311 Is, which was an addition to the
Boards Indebtedness.
The Board have built new School House
ut Norrisville, 4lh District, at cost of
81, PAT so, including outbuildngs one at
Dry Branch cost 81 ,100 and one at Amos's,
or Summit Hall, cost 5000; and furnished
them with desks and black boards. The old
log houses were too small, cold, dilapidated
and totally unfit for school purposes Nor
risville has an attendance of 20 pupils, in
charge of an efficient principal, who requires
an assistant. Many of the school houses
have been repaired and furnished with desks,
and many of the patrons are soliciting re-
pairs and asking for furniture. Several of the
old houses have virtually no black boards,
and merely piece Of board fastened to the
walls for desks. There are at least 90 new
school houses needed in the county-2 in the
list, 4 in the I'd, 8 in the 3D., 8 in the 4th and
in the 9th districts, to make the pupils COM
Portable, and carry out efficiently our Public
School system i'll the county. The Board re-
iterate their settled conviction, that good
school house, furnished with the appropriate
apparatus, is an essential condition of sue.
cess" The board have positively refused to
build any more school houses until the debt
is liquidated. The repairs on the old school
houses cost $742. Some of them were
scarcely worth repairing, but the Board was
compelled by sense of duty and the impor-
tunities of patrons, to repair them or close
the schools.
1t is the imperative duty of the citizens of
the county to contribute of their means to
to build good school houses for the educa-
tion OF the rising generation. They form a
part Of the real estate of the county
There were 4,043 white children attended
the schools during the year-an increase
over last year of 223. The average daily at
tendance does not show correspo ndng in
crease.
Seventy -nine schools, exclusive of the
Havre de Grace and Bel Air Graded Schools,
are in operation.
The Havre de Grace School has been pros
porous and gradually obtaining high degree
of efficiency. There are Teachers and 400
pupils. The five rooms are ver-crowded.--
nrati ia hoot
means of charging the building. The sala-
ries Of the seven teachers will amount in the
aggregate to $4,000 per annum. The Graded
School in Bel Air, with one principal and 3 as
sistants, is doing its work as well as could be
expected, and perhaps better. 1t has not
suitable buildings. II reported 81 pupils on
roll for the past term, and will, doubtless, un-
der the management of its able principal, ac-
complish all that can be reasonably expected
under the present circumstances. The sala-
ries of these teachers will he $4,000 per an.
mum.
There have been 10 Colored Schools in OPP.
Grafton during the past year, attended by 5S1
scholars. The 100000 appropriated by the
State, will be paid out of the State School
Tax; consequently, our distribute share of
this tax will be less than last year.
Our teachers are trying to discharge their
arduous duties faithfully and efficiently, and
manifest commendable zeal in their profes-
sion, and evince q desire to improve them
selves in methods of teaching and skill in the
conduct and management of their schools
They will compare favorably with the teach
ers of any county in the State We deem it
superfuous to impress an intelligent peo-
Pile with the necessity of sustaining this inos
portant interest-an interest on which our
political and social welfare depends.
BY intelligent supervision, wise economy
and good management this judicious system
Of education must promote the intellectual
and moral elevation of the citizens The
County Commissioners are disposed to be
liberal towards the Public Schools. As in
+elligent gentlemen and servants of the peo-
pie, we trust they will continue to be favora.
bly, disposed, and as anxious to see good
school houses as good bridges. 1t remains
with the tax payers to urge these gentlemen
% provide the means to carry out efficiently
he system of Free Public Education in the
county. By order,
ROBERT HENRY,
dec95 Secretary,