Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-10-17
TCoMMuxrcATED.
70 THE PUBLIC.


woui1 hen - have for snch explanation
in ihe mSlfSr Of he charges AGAINST the
School beard and ExamnBeF - seem
proper - nosice. ! Fesume my state
meat, end will take up The remaining
points renardina which the thinking and
intelheens public may desire some au-
thositaiiNk Information.
4. TIE les i held out that an effort
Is being n4de 60 turn down and out our
native is8xhers, and substitute Tor them
teachers from dislance-more psrtic-
uIaFiy Nofnsai School graduates. ] re-
piled to THE charge in public address
on The Els. alt. thai there were no Nor
NAL Sch0Nl graduates teaching IN the
coanty: tIs there were three ladies'
teaching 10 had been in part educa-
ted al the Normal School, one Of whom
was a nat of the county and that the
Others we're qearly related to some ofour
bestknown Citizens, and SO came 10 cast
their lots among as. ] stated further,
that SO far u Introducing Normal School
graduates VAS concerned, was moi
sure that I was in accord with Prof.
Newell on BE subject Of Normal School
education. regret that misappre-
bension Of ~ words onthispoint should
have made nse seem 10 have been gull
ty Of the bad TASTE Of denying that
Prot. eweIlpnd l were on good terms"
| added thai the number Of our young
men teaehs - other sections Of the
Statesm aaer ahan ne number
Of teachers frCTa distance nov working
with as in the camse ofeducation. Iwill
here add thai have in no case that ]
can recall directly or indirectly, by re-
COMMUNICATION or otherwise, InteTiered
with the rights of the local trustees to
select their own teacher unless by them
or BY the patrons requested so to do.
s.. A point has been attempted to be
made against the Board regarding the
grade Of teachers for the celored schools
being lower than that fxedBorthe white
schools. Explanation On this point Is
very simple. The supply OF teachers
for the white schools equals the demand,
very nearly, and so the Board can in
sist upon certain scholastic require
ments, in almost every case, and still
keep open The schools. With the col
ored schools it is dtfferent-the supply
falls tar short OF the demand. While,
then, the Beard can obtain teachers of
the requisite qualifications for some of
the colored schools they cannot for all,
and so, rather than close these, they ac-
cept, not sgboinf or choose, teachers OF
lower grade. The rule, in fact, In both
cases, u the same. The best material
offered or obtainable is accepted. For If,
In any particular case, the Board is sat-
isfied that a rigid adherence TO the
standard will close a school, white or
colored, the rule is relaxed. This has
been done in the case of some white
schools. but oftener in the case OF col
ored schools. The school law no where
determines the mode OF fixing the grade
or paw ofteachers. An intelligent pub
lie officer will seek TO obey the spirit of
the law under which he acts. Now the
spirit Of the school law undoubtedly is
10 provide for both white and black the
best teachers that can be had. This !
conceive the Board has done.
6. The idea seems to prevail, and IS
not a little dwelt upon, that the stand
ard has been suddenly raised, and's
prise has heen expressed that certain
certificate teachers of Mr.. Tippett's ap-
pointment have been rejected or graded
lower by the present Examiner. There
has been no sudden raising ofthe stand
ard. The examination for Isl grade Of
last August did not differ very materi-
ally from the one held two years ago.
Il was more difficult-but not much
more so. The standard has been grad
ually raised since my connection with
the Board, and believe that in this
am but following in the steps of my
predecessor, for | know him TO have
been the advocate of frequent re-exami-
nations. As to his teachers having been
turned down, can only say that had
to act upon the papers handed in by the
several candidates as my only guide and
that each was awarded his exact due.
And | am quite sure that in my judy
ments | was more lenieDt than Mr..
Tippet, would have been, his system Of
awarding credits being more exacting
than the one / have adopted. The
same Board examined the papers in
both instances. Then the matter can
be explained, as l conceive, in one of
these ways. The examinations may
now be more difficult than formerly.
The white schools are all filed, except
two. by teachers who teach the stand
ard. and so this objection must fall-for
surely all must admit that the schools
are established for the benefit Of the pu-
pils. and that the higher the education
Al requirements of the teachers the bet
ter the object and purposes OF the law
are attained. The last papers handed
ia may have been worse than the form
err. This matter can't explain. Again
Mr.. Tippett may have done, and | am
advised did do, in some cases, as | have
done, viz: to meet particular needs be
NAV have granted certificates to some not
exactly qualified IN the hope and belief
that Improvement would take place.
Any one of these suppositions will sat
isfy the possibilities involved without
the assumption Of uniairness or unrea-
sonsbleness. All the papers. however,
are in the Office. and ifthe offended par
ties demand IL. am quite sure that the
Board will allow such publicity to De
made OF them a. will forever set at rest
all doubts as to the justice and ProPrie-
ty Of the action Of the Board and Exam