The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1878-03-16
Correspondence Of The baltimore Sun.
COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Mossrs. Editors Much has been said OF late
in regard to the mode of appointing the County
School Commissioners. At recent meeting OF
the State association of these gentlemen IL wOuld
seem there was decided objection to any change
in the school law at this time which would inter-
fere with the present mode Of appointing School
Commissioners in the counties by the circuit
udees, the object of clothing them with this pow
err being il is said, to take these important APP
pointments out of politics On the other hand, IL
Is well known that some Of the judges are not DIS
nosed to perform the trust which the Legislature
has committed to Them because, in the first place.
it is no part of their judicial functions and, sec
ondy politicians will not regard the sacred ermlne
with sufficient reverence to keep away from II
with their slime.
Now, if the appointment of the County School
Commissioners by the Circuit judges is not prop
eriTNa judicial matter, and if they may not legal
Nv be required to perform this duty, cannot some
thing else and better be done? If you take the
appointment out of the hands of the judges 1t
does not follow that the Governor should have
ANYTHING to do with the matter, for, as was cor
rectly intimated by you when you touched upon
this subject in your paper some days since, he
would be less likely to resist the political pressure
that would be brought to bear upon him that the
Judges would. / have long since thought that ed
| ucationa matters should bein the hands OF edu-
| GATORS The different professions should be sup
posed to be the best fitted and prepared to deal
with whatever legitmately pertains to their prov
ince or sphere Theological, legal and medical
subjects are best understood by theOlogans, law
yers and physicians. Farming topics and affairs
| are best understood and conducted by farmers
| If So ask why should not educators be the most
competent and best prepared to have charge OF all
matters and duties properly pertaining to their
| business?
say, then, if no better method can be at pres
| ent devised, let the appointment of the County
| iccinp ha do hU ha IA
of Education, which should be composed of suf-
6eient number of the most intelligent and success
| full educators in the State, who would not find 1t
long difficult to become acquainted, directly or in
directly with the most suitable men in the differ
ent counties to compose the county school boards.
You strike the right key mote when you say =
awe have always believed that the main defect in
our system, since the law of 1868 adopted,
| was the want of q general administrative head,
| one whose whole time should be given to 1t, and
| having such peculiar abilities for the work and
enthusiasm in the cause as would animate the sys-
tenn from end to end"
Such has been our own belief. We want a State
superintendent whose duties shall be similar to
those of other State superintendent. AT present
the principal of our State Normal Schools expect
ed, to the extent he may be able, to superintend
the schools throughout the State. Theappropriatt
duties of his charge should be made, II they are
not already sufficient for him. lie cannot attend
|
perly at the same time. We want superinten
dent who will have charge of all the schools-city
and county-thrOughOut the State, including thu
Normal School, with such subordinate officers al
NAV be necessary-in other words, general ad
ministrative head that would animate our schOo
system from end to end. This State superinten
dent could appoint county superintendent to tax
the place of those called county school exam
liners. This county superintendent could appOln
a County School Board to perform appropriate du
ties, and this county board, unless the county su
perintendent thought proper to do So could ap
point the district board. By such an arrangement
as this we would have another, and think mucl
better mode of appointing our County School Com
} missioners than exists at present.
But if our legislators in the wisdom and in tn
, exercise of their legitimate rights, should deem
wisest and best not to change the present mode
let them at least so amend the school law as to re
0 qure the circuit judges, in the performance 0
their duty, to appoint the School Commissioner
at least a month two before the end OF the cal
endar year, and these commissioners should be re
quired to name day when they will receive ap
plications from all who may desire the office G
G School Examiners, who should be promptly ap
pointed or elected at the time stated in the schoC
law. viz, the first Tuesday in January, when praC
ticable. These suggestions are not without reason
) If the School Commissioners are appointed in goo
J time, and day is named by them to receive ap
plications all the applicants for the office state
1 are put upon pretty much the same footing.
e Otherwise, such is not the Only the favor
: ed few may know in time about the matter, an
thus be able to secure the vote and support of tn
newly-appOinted commissioners before others hav
: a chance to make their merits and claims known
! JUNIus