The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-01-02

The Board submit their annual Statement
in pursuance of law.
1t will be seen from table A. that there were
S,s23 different pupils attended the Public
Schools during the year, showing an increase
over the previous year of 1858 This may be
partly attributable to 45 Public Schools being
open during the summer term, The Board
kept the Public Schools in operation three
full terms, and offered to pay half the Salary
of the Teachers, less the Book Fees, of any
School taught during the Summer Term
Forty five School Districts availed themselves
Of this offer, and continued their Schools du-
ring the Summer. Many of the other School
Districts by little effort on the part of trus-
tees and patrons, might have embraced the
offer of the Board, and kept the remaining 80
Schools in operation during the Summer in
order to afford the opportunity to the small
children that cannot attend the Winter and
Spring Term i'll consequence of Indictment
weather The average daily attendance, we
regret to say, falls far below what ought to
be expected. How to remedy the evil of IL
regular attendance, or what remedy to sug-
gest, is a difficult question. We regret to
say, we see no marked change for the better
in daily attendance, but a lack of prompt
ness and regularity still exists. We may i'm
pute irregular attendance chiefly to the in
difference of some of the citizens to the edu-
cation OF their children or of those under
their care. We are not advocates for COM
pulsory attendance by law, but we believe
that universe. suffrage witllUI.rThentali llumi-
nation and moral principle is powerful for
harm. "In the 1neducated ballot is found
the nation'sgreatest danger; but the educat-
ed ballct~is the nations main tower of
strength"
1t is evident from inspection that our in
debtedness has been incurred by building, pur-
chasing, repairing and furnishing School
Houses. There have been two New School
Houses erected in the First Disrict-One at
Edgewood, the other at Magnolia. These
houses are AZ! feet from outside to outside,
and furnished with patent desks. These
hHus cost g., 200 and furniture 5000. These
S,.ools are well attended Magnolia has 81
and Edgewood 30 pupils in attendance No
houses have been erected in the Second Dis
trict. In the 3D., two have been erected
Churchville and Fallston School Houses !;
Churchville cost, including outbudings, ST.
ego, and Fallston 1,149, Including outbuild-
ings; furniture $500. In the 4th District lat
Dayis's Corner,) Il new house has been erect
cd which cost $1,62G.S5, including outbuild.
ings furniture $160. The lower hall at
Jarrcttsville was purchased from Bro of the
Union Society for $500, who agreed to put
and have put, slate roof on it. This hall
has been fitted up at an expense of 5000, and
furniture $50. In the 9Th District, there
have been two-No. 6, (Wilson'sD is built
of brick, but is not as large as the frame
school houses cost $1,016 furniture $1G1 ;
No. 3, near West Bangor, frame building,
cost $964S1; furniture $173. The school
house at or near Stafford was occupied last
january; it cost, including outbuildings S975
furniture $3.50.
Repairing School Houses has also been
source of Indebtedness. The Board has in pre-
vious statements given their opinion on the
subject of erecting comfortable and commo-
dous School Houses. Experience only
strengthens their convictions of duty on this
iI1nnrtn1t oi1Iinnt Ln I.