The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-12-03
Annual Statern9n
OF THE BOARD OF
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS
OfHarford County,
FOR TIE FISCAL YEAR, ENDING
SEPTEMBER BOTH, 1875.

Board publish their Annual Statement,
The Graded School in Bel Air and the
High School in Havre de Grace were in on
Grafton four terms, but the rural schools
were open only three terms. The Board
were obliged, by their financial embarrass.
ment, to discontinue the rural schools du-
ring the summer term. The Board assisted
the patrons who kept their schools open du-
ring the the summer term of 1872 and 1873,
by an appropriation of $50 to each school,
which was continued during those terms
These two terms cost the Board about 81 900,
which, but for the opportunities of several
OF the trustees and patrons, would have been
applied to the reduction of their indebted.
ness
| When this Board came into Office, January,
they found debt of $11, 261S5 for Books
and Stationery. They have paid off this
debt and can show assets, the property of the
county, that will overbalancc their present
Indebtedness. They have built and furnish
ed the following school houses with desks,
blackboards and stoves, viz: In the LIST Dis.
trict, Abingdon, Furnace, Magnolia and
Edgecwooo; in the I'd, Lapidum, Hartford
Seminary purchased, and Aberdeen; in the
I'd, Forest Hill and lot, Mcchanicsyille, above
the Hickory, Calvary, Union Chapel and
Reeses purchased and repaired, Churchville
| HiiN NV, phu 4 Ill Inc 4lll, baDtlSt,
kirkwood's, Chrome Hill Davis's Corner
Rutledge's purchased, Jarrettsville purchas
ed and repaired, Norrisville and lot, Dry
Branch, Amos's or Summit Hall and Van
SAINTS purchased and in the 9TH District,
they built Stafford and paid $50 for the lot /;
Wilson's or Sylvan Retreat, lot cost 500,
and Rock Hill; No. and lot purchased at
S125 Amounting to over $31 TAG. 80. Twen-
| ty-three school houses have been erected.
which are commodous and well adapted for
school purposes. Many of the old dilapi-
dated school houses have been repaired, and
| several require constant repairing to make
them comfortable.
1t Will be perceived from table A, that 4,
O47 different pupils attended the public
schools of the county during the three terms
OF school, an increase of four over the four
terms OF school last year. Had the rural
schools been open during the summer term,
the number would have been probably s.
900. The daily average attendance ofpupils
does not exhibit corresponding increase
This irregular attendance may be partly as
cribed to the severe winter, and perhaps to
the indifference of some parents. The
amount paid for fuel is largely in excess of
that paid i'll former years. This is doubtless
owing 10 the rigorous winter We trust
That our incidentals will be confined to the
limit in our estimate 1t will require econo.
my on the part of the Board to keep the ~
penses of the schools within the bounds 81
the estimate. Our rent, it will be perceivoJ
Is considerable item. We pay $3.50 fnr,
rent OF Town Hall in Havre de Grace and
Sl50 for the Graded School in Bel Air, Tho
corporation in Havre dc Grace have hereto.
lore abated $500 of the rent to pay the salo.
RES OF me teachers 1t is very doubtful that
tney VIII De SO literally disposed to donate
the $200 for the past year now due.
LISA source ofinconyeniencet to the Roord
as well as injustice to the teachers. tLot No
County Tax is not paid promptly and rerp-
larly on the days designated by the school
law, IN order that the Board may be able IN
pay the Teachers salaries at the cypirotion
OF each term. "The laborer is WORTHY of his
hire" although it be a pittance. Retrench.
ment In the salaries of skillful and experienc
ed teachers is calculated to drive them ont
and bring in an inefficient CORPS.
We have established three grades of teach.
ers. The wisdom of this action is, we thinL
apparent. The apprentice cannot expect tho
pay OF his master, and the artist in teaching
and scholastic attainments is entitled to more
salary than the artisan. Our schools have
increased in all the districts since 1865 when
There were 60 scholars in the county: now
there are u, taught by o. teachers. This in
crease has been gradual, arising probably
from the increase of children, from tbe ny.
gent solicitation of citizens and patrons To
avail themselves of public school ADVANTAGES
and their desire to have school in their i'm
mediate neighborhood. While this anxiety
TO have school facilities convenient, is com.
mendaOle, yet 1t is expense to the tax PAYERS
There are schools which have less than ten
daily pupils in attendance. These schools
are very expensive to the Board, and might
be closed in the point of economy. Besides,
In many localities the schools are too close
to each other; consequently, these schools
are small. Some are not more than n mile
apart. Retrenchment must begin in this di-
rection, ifthe people desire the debt reduced
and the expenses confined within the limit
of our estimate.
Let it be said, to the liberality and credit
OF the intelligent and large tax payers that
they do not grudge the tax levied for The
public schools of the county, although thew
generally do not participate in their bene
iii. No good and exemplary citizen will
grumble at paying his share in contributing |
to SO grand a result as the welfare and ele. |
Walton of the rising generation.
There have been fifteen Colored Schools |
In operation during the past year, and we |
expect to have IL open during the present |
scholastic year Six hundred and forty.one |
colored pupils attended the Is schools. Their
teachers are improving; we are securing a
better class OF teachers for them, and VIC hone
to carry out the benign intention of the Leg.
islature towards this class. In conclusion.
the Board trust that by strict economy thew
will be able to reduce the Indebtedness 10
the amount stated in their estimate of cx-
penses for the ensuing year.
BY order,
DnDEDT