The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-03-21

The REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF
Baltimore county contains a large amount of
interesting information. There were expended
for building, repairing and furnishing school
houses during the year ending Septembe 30th,
1873, So, 533.06. There have been three High
Schools established in the county, one at Tow
sontown, one at Waverly, and one at Woodbe
ry. There were 1851 white pupils in attend
ance at schools at different times during the
year. with an average attendance of 3,567.-
There were 400 colored pupils in attendance at
the eleven celored schools in the county, max
ing an average daily attendance of 2l5. The
total cost of white schools during the year was
$1l1,25570. House rent was $l,502.2A. Books
$S,766.23. Fuel $3,36l.3S. There were eleven
colored schools whose aggregate cost was ST.
1888. The fuel for them cost $142.59. The
rent for houses nothing. For repairs and fur
niture S2210. For books $414.46. The pupils
of these schools paid as book fees S502.O3.-
There were received tor book fees from white
schools 81 ,6S29S.
The houses that have been erected for High
Schools as far as we can learn, are very credit
able edifces, and buildings of their capacities
have been needed in Towsontown and Waverly,
and we doubt not in Woodberry, for some time
past. But we fear the Board of School Commits
sioners and the public generally attach much
more importance to these schools because they
are called High Schools than really belongs to
them. As far as our knowledge goes they are
taught by the same teachers who taught them
or would have taught in the same places with
out these spacious buildings. 1t is altogether
possible that some school in an unfamiliar
place, with modest house, may have pupils
that are farther advanced and in higher branch
es than are any of the pupils that are in either
of the High Schools mentioned. We do not
wish to be misunderstood. We think the places
need the buildings. But it does not follow be-
cause these buildings are better than any others
in the county that children are better instruct
ed in them than in any other school.
We cannot endorse the resolution asking for
the repeal of the law giving the trustees the
power to elect the teachers to their schools and
place that power in the hands of the School
Board. 1t has always been our idea that the
patrons of the school should have some voice
in the selection of their teacher and the man.
agement of the school. This they should have
to oblige them to take personal interest in
the schools and to make them in measure re-
sponsble for the conduct of the school. This
they can have through their trustees whom
they elect. 1t might be we'll enough to give
the Board the power to elect the teacher in the
event that the trustees cannot agree upon one.
The trustees should not be allowed to select
teacher who is incom petent to teach the scholars
in that school. But we think it unwise to de-
prive them of the power of selecting one of a
half dozen of competent teachers. This COM
pels them to take an interest in the school,
something that is dreadfully needed among us.
1t puts upon them responsibility that obliges
them to be cautious and to look after the in
terests of the school. We of the opinion
that if it is continued for number of years,
until the patrons have all become interested as
they should be IN their school and teacher, the
people would not consent to having it abolished
The Board have done we'll under the circum-
stances for the colored schools, but we think
now that we have three High Schools in the
county and quite number of fine houses for
the white children, an extra effort should be
turned towards furnishing ample facilities for
all the colored children in the county. There
is more need for this than for High Schools and
it will be q better investment in the end 1t is
better to have all educated in the rudments
than to have few highly educated. We trust
our criticisms will be taken in a friendly spirit
1t is in that spirit that they are given.