Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-06-02
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NxAH LsosARDrowN,
May 28th, 1875. J
SCHOOL MATTERS.

NJ. Editor The meetings Of the
Teacher Association" Central Di-
vision is not 20 ven attended now n
when that organization was firstformed
With the increasing interest felt in the
subject of education in this county, this
falling of may, at first sight, seem some.
what inexplicable. But several causes
have conspired to produce it-soms
more, some less, and not the least Of these,
Think. isthe reduction in the salaries Of
thesecond gadeteaehers. Soouafterthe
torna4ion Of the Teacher Association,
and Ct . time when they were exhibit
ing much seal and interest in the cause
Of education, BY attending the instruc-
tory meetings and making earnest ef.
forts 10 render themselves more EN-.
Gent in the art Of teaching, which ef-
forts Involved both time and expense,
the salaries, which were already low
enough, were reduced Eve dollars per
term or quarter, and this at . time
when the school fund was believed to be
in an improving condition Under the
present law the amount paid in the
county for licenses 20 catch oysters
with tongs is to be paid into the school
fund Of the county, which is . consid-
cradle cash item-about s1,0O0-be-
sides, about ten Of the schools were
closed BY order of the Board at the
beginning Of the present scholastic
year, which also augmented the school
fund. This action of the Board in re-
ducing the salaries of the teachers at
such q time seems but small appreci-
alton of the efforts they were making
to improve Themselves, and I think
might very well be supposed to place a
damper upon the ardor of their efforts.
1t is true the salaries of first grade
teachers were raised to $50 per term,
and it was stated in defence Of this ac-
ton of the Board that the reduction Of
salary for the second grade and in
crease of the first was intended as an
incentive to induce teachers to qualify
themselves for first grade certificate.
But this is ike ordering q general to
take strongly fortified position and
at the same time depriving him of an
essential portion of his forces; for while
the Board held out the inducement,
they at the same time, by reducing the
salary, in a measure deprived the teach
ers Of the means of accomplishing the
object proposed. Soon after the pas
sage of the order by the Board redu-
cling the salaries, the Central Division
Teachers Association appointed Com
mittee to wait on their Horrors and re-
quest that the order be rescinded. They
were respectfully received, but the Board
declined acceeding to their request, Civ
ing as reason an insufficiency of funds,
but stated that if the funds should
hereafter justify it, they would not only
raise the salaries to what they were orr
ginally. but even make more, and re-
fund the deductions already made
The Board also expressed the hope that
it would not be long before most of the
teachers would be teaching under first
grade certificate. This would seem to
be q fair rejoinder, but if the Board can
now pay but $40 term, how will they
be able to pay $50 per term when most
of the teachers are teaching under .
first grade certificate. instead of one a.
at present? But whatever plausibility
there may be in the reason given for
the reduction of the salaries Of teach
ers with regard to the white schools on
account Of an insuf6ciency of funds, in
view Of the provision made by the last
Legislature the same reason does not
apply with equal force to the colored.
At the time when the State appropria-
ton for those schools was 10000 per
year, the teachers holding certificates
received SIS per term, and the money
was on hand to pay them at its expira-
ton. The last Legislature doubled this
appropriation, making it 100000 per
year, and now that the Board receives
twice a. much from the State for col.
ored school purposes as formerly, with
the same number Of schools in opera
ton (l2) they pay the teachers but $40
per term, yet no new school houses
have been built that I have heard of,
nor any repairs been made. In fact,
know Of one instance in which the Board,
refused to grant an appropriation for
repairs when they were much needed,
and the petition was made through the
proper channel. I disclaim any inten-
ton to cast reflection on the Board or
intimate that they are not acting hon.
estly with the funds at their disposal.
I only state few facts. Their Honors
may have some wise purpose to SUBJ
serve with any surplus they may have
on hand-perhaps the building of a
high school or the creation of sinking
fund to meet prospective contingencies
though / would suppose that any APP
preparation made for certain period or
year was intended to beexpended within
that period. The Board being but the
executive officers of the school interests
are not responsible for provisions made
by the Legislature for white or colored
schools, whereby funds are placed in
their hands sufficient to make the sala-
~ of one more than that of the other.
Mr.. Editor, some feeling having been
elected in consequence Of the closure of
so many of our public schools, 1 deem
it not out of place ,c quote the rrovis-
ion of law under which those schools
were closed. I quote from chap. 2, sec.
5, rs follows And whenever the av-
erage attendance in any school for any
two consecutive terms is less than ten
pupils. then the said school may be
closed by the Beard Of Cos,ntv S.bcol
Commissioners, provided, that the Board