The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-01-28
To Correspondents.
, The Public Schools of Maryland.

Professor M. A. Newell, Principal of the
State Normal School, has made his report to
the State Legislature, from which it appears
tkatthe public schools show healthy life and
vigorous growth, with prospects of uninter-
srupted progress. In regard to the difficult
ties under which the county school boards
labor, the Professor says
1.-THE annual income is not more than sufli-
cfent to pay the current expenses OF the
schools There is no building fund, and yet
houses must be had Under these circum-
stances the usual results follow. Houses are
built on credit, and the school board gets
into.debt. The contract prices are higher than
they would have been if they had been built
for cash; the houses are probably not as well
built, and before they are finally paid for
twenty-five per cent. is added to their cost
in the way of interest. 1t would seem to be
the wisest plan to acknowledge candldly that
we. cannot have school system without
school houses, and to make specific provision
for building Them"
This is followed by suggestion that
separate tax of two and a-half cents on the
hundred dollars, be levied, to be applied ex-
clusively to building purposes.
The report states that something should
be done to relieve those of the schools boards
which are in debt, of their financial embar'
easements, and it is suggested that the coun-
ties respectively should be authorized and re-
quired to fund these debts; and that the
school boards should be prohibited by law
from borrowing money or contracting debts
beyond q certain limited amount. The re-
port adds:
1--WE repeat here what was said in our last
report A school board has no right to con-
tract permanent debt. The school COM
missioners were not appointed for that pur-
pose but for the purpose of spending judi
ciously the money placed in their hands. They
may, with propriety, borrow sum ofmoney
for the prompt payment of teachers salaries
when they are able TO repay it at an early
day, but we hold that it is better 10 close the
schools for time than to incur debt which
there is no present means OF paying"
A school census is recommended, annually
in the city of Baltimore and bennially in the
several counties, for the purpose ofascertain-
ing the number of children between certain
specified ages who do not attend school, and
the number who go to other than public
schools. 1t would assist materially in the
collection of exact statistics if all schools
within the State were required TO report an
nually the number of children in attendance.
A representation of the schools of Mary
land at the Centennial Exhibition is advised,
and the Legislature urged TO give some pc
cunary help.
A full report Of the operations of the State
Normal School is given, the Institutes COM
mended, and inefficient Examiners recon-.
mcnded to do some good-by resigning.
On the subject Of donations to Academies
and colleges the report recommends the with
drawal of donations and the distribution of
the moneys already appropriated to the pub
lie schools Two methods in regard to AGA
denies supported by State aid are suggested.
First, making the academies free to all who
are qualified, and let the county school board
supplement the State donation so as to give
theprincipal living salary. Secondly, abolish
the academies with one or two exceptions,
and let the donation be distributed to teachers
of public schools as follows $40 for every
pupil able to pass the entrance examination
to the academic course; SIS for each pupil
completing the first years courses $40 for the
second and $25 each for those who should
complete tile academic course and thus be pre-
pared to enter college. These amounts being
additional to the ordinary salary OF the teach
Ell there would be strong inducement for
teachers to prepare themselves to give this
intermediate instruction, and the good effects
ofthe academic donation would be felt equal
ly in the primary school and the college.
The management of Maryland Agricultu-
raj College is sharply criticized, and the sug-
gestion made that the State purchase the
shares held by private stockholders, and turn
the college over to the management of the
State Board of Education.
The report concludes as follows;
ut would be pleasant to close with un-
qualified expressions of satisfaction with the
past and hope for the future. But candor
compes me to say that Willie, comparatively
speaking, our schools have done remarkably
well, considering the time they have been
organized, and the money that is expended
on them, yet, speaking absolutely, there is
large number of schools in the State that arc
very far behind the demands of modern
scientific education, and even the necessary
requirements Of practical life. To be plain,
mean that there are many schools in the
State in which the pupils are not taught to
read well, and to write well, the two lowest
steps in the educational ladder. How long
tlis shall continue to be the case will depend
ON the faithfulness with which the county eX-
aminers shall discharge the delicate and re.
sponsible duties with which they have been
entrusted"
Our OF THE FIGnT-The Washington
correspondent. of the New York Tribune
learns that President Grant has formally
signifed to Senator Conkling, Of New York