The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-03-03
THE EEZy.
BEL AIR, FRIDAY, MARCH Sd, 1876:
The Public Reform ctrench.
mant.

introduce bill to authorize the County Com
missoners OF this county, to fund the indebted
ness of the County School Board, and to issue
bonds and levy taxes for the payment of the
same.
In these times of reform and retrenchment, il
would be well for the people of Hartford to take
view of our public school system-its manage
ment, and Its expenditures; and see how this
Indebtedness has been brought about, and where
in reform and economy may be exercised.
We are all conyersant with the strict ccono-
my, and due regard both to the interest of the
pupil and the people that characterized for years
the course of former Boards. They seemed to
look upon the school fund as something for
which they were more responsible than common
appropriations. Something which they should
study to use with economy. 1t was an appro-
priation set aside to educate the needy, the or.
phan and all that would accept ii. And in re-
viewing the annual expenditures of the late
Board, (the Board that has had the management
of the public schools since 1901 and the in
debtedness that has grown up under their SUI
pervision, we do not wish to reflect in any way
upon the integrity of any member of that Board
not at all. But we desire to notice, fairly and
without prejudice, the policy that has been pur.
sued with regard to our public schools and the
Indebtedness thereby brought about.
Our present school law, as you are aware, was
made in the year 1870; or important changes
made at that time on the public school law of
1868. 1t was then that the elective system was
changed-abandoned- the appointment of
School Commissioners by the Circuit Judges of
The courts was instituted, which took place in
January, 1872 The School Board elected by
the people in the fall of 1869, was organized in
January 1870, and although the law was altered
at the session of that year, il provided that the
same board recently elected should continue in
Office until the expiration of their term, Janua-
ry, 1872, when the Judges ofthe Circuit Court, as
empowered, appointed and continued in office
three of the former board; who organized in
January, 1872, as the Board of School Commits
sioners for this county
Another essential and important change in
The law, as was supposed, was that "the School
Board was authorized to levy through the Coun
ty Commissioners Tor The support OF Public
Schools, TO the amount of 10 cents on the $780,
but not more without their consent"
In reviewing the several School Reports for
the past five or six years, as far back 1869, it
appears in that year there was then no indebt-
cdncss of the School Board on hand, Tor none
such as reportcd) but small balance to their
credit of S40S. There were then &c public
schools; and the Boards demand on the County
Commissioners for additional funds that year,
was six cents on the 500. The year previous,
1865, it was pa cents on the 500; in 1870 20
cents, and but 10 cents granted. In 1871 20
cents and but 10 cents levied. In 1872, 10 cents
levied; and so on, varying from 10 to - cents.
Thus were the boards ofPublc School Commits
sioners in 1870 and since, elected and appointed,
and thus empowered; with no burden or en-
barrassment of debt to any extent, so far as the
Report of 1869 shows, and with annual appro.
priation from State and county, and in addition
the fees on books, to an amount in all VARYING
from 49,, 900 to $4,000
Without pursuing the policy of previous
boards in building public school houses by de-
grees, and as they had the means, or exercising
the same economy, we sec from the Reports
that in the year 1870 nine public school houses
erected, ct cost of S9,557. And again in the
year 1878, with an Indebtedness on hand of $40.
$50; we see in The Report for that year nine
more school houses erected, at cost of SO 9i1,
-,,I f,.,, tf,.4 HlN
"Harford, like many other counties of our no
BILE Slate, has been hitherto q pioneer in the
matter Of commodious school houses" This
seems like progressive policy, surprising and
veing with other counties, and outstrippng
the times. 1t throws in the shade former
boards. 1t seems almost Us if the building of
public school houses with the board was pri-
mary-the all important thing and an efficient
corps of teachers but secondary. AS the law ex.
presses it, "The school fund is primarily in
tended to pay the salaries of the teachers"
First, efficient teachers, and it matters not so
materially whether the hourse has q bcliry or
not, If commodlous and comfortable.
Where are the school houses in which the bust
ness men, the learned, the professional men,
now active in life, not many years ago in this
county received the greater part of their cduca-
ton? Not one of them can be found in any
way equal in structure to the public school
houses recently erected The latter have grown
up into young academies, costing twice the sum
of the public school houses heretofore built /;
and the plain and comfortable school house has
become obsolete-passing away.
1t is right and proper that the public school
buildings OF this county, as erected, should be
comfortable and commodious, and some of them,
as where situated either in village or county,
more architectural. But we must bear in mind
that they are chiefly primary schools-houscs
for the education ofthe young, and often wanton
ana sportlve understanding unoccupied two
or three months each year-no one to take care
of them-teachers absent, and constantly
changing; and none but the eye of the passerby
over them. And besides, what class of pupils
may occupy some of them few years hence:
Is there not point in the building and furnish
ing of public school houses beyond which il
would seem eXtravagant 10 go? And there GER
tainly seems a wide, wide difference between
the former school boards, and our late board in
this expenditures; making all due allowance for
the difference in cost of material
Since 1870, as set forth in the last School Re.
port, there have been erected and purchased %
new school houses, for the sum of $31, 74G at an
average cost of 81 $3.50; the ground We presume
included And among the items of indebted
ness, as reported, there is the modest sum OF
$1,000 for black-boards, and accordingly for pat.
ent desks.
We would pause and ask: Is the treasury
of the public school board overlooking? Has il
been richly endowed, since 1870 by Peabody OF
some other wealthy philanthropisti &? We lave yl
never heard of it. We see in the reports that
money has been borrowed, and borrowed again
for this progressive policy. We see the oft re-
fusal Of the County Commissioners to levy more
than ID cents, and then to reduce that, and why:
They saw no disposition on the part of tho
School Board TO retrench. They saw, as the
Secretary sets forth in his report "that the Pub
lie Schools were too many, or too close TO caci
other; some with less than ten scholars anG
thereby expensive, and might be closed in pon
of economy" And they further dsccmed thi:
too progressive disposition of the board TO &C
beyond what was properly appointc ed for them
aud they were aware too, and very considerate
ly, that the funds of tie county were the take.
paid chiefly by the industrious farming commu
nifty, and should be cautiously expended.
Would'it not seem clear to any board of com
nissioners, either for public schools, orany othe
purpose; that when they judiciously expended
The funds set apart, or levied for them, ant
lived up TO the requirements Of the law unde
which they were to act their duty was done
lfnot sufficient funds, TO cXpend with cconom,
as far as they went.
This Is the course pursued and required b,
and of all boards or committees either NUM-
cipal, State or national, when there is an nppro
priation placed in their hands to be expended
for any purpose. And when the School Com
lnissioners of our county should cxpcnd .ccc
nomically the funds set aside by the State an,
county, for the support of the Public Schools
their duty was done. This was the universe
course of previous school boards; but our lat
Board thought otherwise. They seemed T.
think they had in regard to public schools a
unlimited power. A power to establish an
support schools; to build school houses Dor
row money; establish graded schools, and all
10 any extent And If the County Commission
ers would not aid them in their onward and ex
pensive policy, (far beyond what was require
Of them before,) they would not hesitate but g
on. What use were the provisions of the law G
1870, asking for levy from the County Com
missioners A law and no law! Its provision
ignored-stepped over. The County Commits