The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-09-13
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
What has been Done, and what remains
Ia Ia Dona

lnterdependcncc, no supervision, provision fni
been made 10 attain STATE system but ali had mi
ed either for want of funds because the operation
Of the Law was made contingent on the popular yot'
The law OF 1855 inst made Il possible 10 have 1
STATE system by giving ths schools partial support
y long enough 10 show is legitimate fruits lmt h
Fundamental principle, "the properly Of the Stat,
the State, has been re-asserted aud rmed by nj
subsequent legislation. The law OF 1865 removed
most OF the centraizing and unpopular fcatntes o
the original law hut len the essential paris of ihs
system unaitered. Many minor but important Inn
proyemenis were made In 1870 ls72 and is74; aud Of
the present time II Is the opinion of men outside ths
state who have r.rde school legislation special
study that the letter Of our school law snot surpass
ed for breyity, clearness and practical capabilities
by any other state in the Union I1T
~ us state briefly what our scho1law has done
/, Il has giycn us that which we never had before
| and without which no general system vas possible.
sgeeat AID IRON ne Sdts tedsarg There is more in
NolNed IN THIS than merely the right 10 take $4,000
year from the State and xend Il for the support
Of the public schools II Involves the great principle
pledged 70 Inc education 81 ihS ehiidcn i ,n sS
forms the obligation ~ mantnln schools from local
dnly 70 state obligation 1t makes the sovereignty
a the state responsible for general education The
Constitution Itself guarantees 10 the citizens IA thor
9ngh and enlcient system Of free public schools
but ihe mode OF distributing the state appropriation
marks even more clearly the universal character OF
our system as distinguished from the local systems
which prevail in many other States II is distribu.
means the city OF Baltimore and the Weather conn
ties are made TO contribute 10 the support Of schools
IN the poorercounties Some of them receiving from
the state school tax four times as much as they con
tribute TO IT, II is this that makes it possible 10 dit
] iuse elementary education orr ne rheio Sufc IN
| place Of continuing Il To a few favored localities
| y IL has given US the means OF supplementing the
Mate appropriation oy sufficient C6Hnty approprA.
10 county school tax of ten cents ON the hundred
dollars but by obtaining the consent Of the County
The county tax Is istrlbated on The same prinepe
as the state tax that the poorer districts have the
same advantages ns the more wealthy
8, II has given us continuous schools for at least
three terms (seyen months aud q half ia all the
eounties lasrett exeeptedE for nine months IN some
State.
4. II has given US continuous system Of school.
work, by which child may be transferred from one
school To another, or teacher from one school 20
another, without lnlerrnpting the regular progress
Maryland has taken the lead In this important mat,
yer OF 50 grading and regulating the common conn
Try school a. 81 ensure continuous instruction the
children under one uniform plan In spite OF hang,s
| either OF pupils or teachers
T. has given uniform text books In the several
counties. 80 that child may be removed from one
/ of books
g. Il has given us efficient local county and State
supervision. The local supervision belongs to the
Board Of District Trustees, three in number who
nominate the teacher subject confirmation By the
County School Board attend 70 the repair Of The
schoo-house take charge of the property look after
luel' hud hullt the teachers accounts. The county
supervision Is complete and the control almost ab.
solute. Limited only by the amount of money IN
their treasury, the County School Commissioners
build houses where they please furnish them they
like, pay teachers such salaries as they think proper
aud select such textbooks they approve. The
County Examiner Is their agent he 4 not allowed
by law attend to any other business ne Is raid far
giving his whole time TO school work he gives bond
for the faithful discharge OF his duties and IS re-
CURED 10 visit every school In his county at least
twice year. The State Board Of Education has no
direct control over either District Trustees OF School
Commissioners, but Il exercises Indirectly o great
influence in hannonizng the different pats al tlU
system and importing ,eprFgy when needed. The
STATE board Iaakes ~ Laws mot at variance with
schools. and school boards receives Regular roports
and eonsolidaics and tabnaies them aud Is author,
iEcd TO cpnsrne and explain the school law and 10
decide all controversies arising under il, IL iss no
power 10 appoint teachers or county examiners but
sSn sg1pd q, q dsi' any Of them qr cause The
tive Ohloer of The State Board Of Education under
9; II has given US facilities forsoourlns wen aual
Ned teachers hy means Of tho 1eaehorS institutes
and the state Normal School Partly by express leg
islaton, but principally through the necessities OF
the case, the State Normal School has become the
dome Of this great temple Of learning giving com
plcteness OF finish and roundness Of outline aud at
the same time binding the different parts of the
structure into one harmonious whole from il as a
centre difised 10 the most distant limits Of the
STATE those influences which make educational pro
grtss possible. II Is exactly IN proportion 10 the
tie sedoE SogSd bslsn AID %i' Pbpast 0 Sob ss
system OF The STATE VIII always begin with assaults
on the Normal school The enemy Knows exactly
wbere the key of the position lies
Such Is a brief statement of what the school sys.
tenn has done for Us. or 10 speak more accurately
what the school law has put in our power Ia do for
feet though perhaps Ii IL like the laws which sOlap
gave 70 the Athenians as good as they We're cana.
bic Of receiving" Jhai Z dgn b n the6
practice every otservant man will admit What
ihsn remains iar 70 sloq ~ ~
as la Ngr .rtfgt
be found men to po!n out deietts and eiroIs; M
lhe mo9 natural Femelly that suggests liselfis new
20 law as panaeea for every path iiiEe 6aSes witI
their nursing bottles is not yot extinct Hard times
and bad habits are equally supposed TO by under the
control OF the men who make our laws. II q school
house Is built In the wrong place or teacher proves
incompetent or there Is contest about the adoption
OF text books, Give Us new school law" cry these
infants In concert But the people Of Maryland will
think twice before they they root up this magnil-
cent tree which they planted themselves end (which
foS eleven ess fes, Until nov i gives tbea i reh
fruit and abundant shade,-they VIII think twice
before thoy lay the AZ 10 tho root of such tree fnf
the purpose ofplAntlng sapling In It's place
But what remains 20 be done Simply. 10 enforce
more vigorously the law as u now stands. When
sired let us have new additional legislation In
the mean time the spirit Of the law should be more
very letter Of the lag srinaenilp esecqt2d
vs. as, oss ~ ib olsesYalee and Rore
], As regards The CountY School Commissioners
These officers are appointed BY the Judges OF the
Circuit Courts Notwithstanding the sentiment that
has been Manufactured IN opposition 10 this mode
Of appointment- we have had better school commits
soner under II on the average then could have been
oy Popar flee Or my other mode Of
ceptions TO the rule. twould only right that
none but friends Of the school system should be
placed as guardians oyerlt. Vet ithas happened Ia
or sqslceted ofbefg eneinfes haze received these
appointments. proper exercise Of discretion IN
this imfDrtnnf matter WUtfid al
uf complaint =
PTaslles has q lele grown ug, contrary 70 tho
legos Of the Board Of School Commissioners among
the several memseTs The law imposes no duty
the duties and obligation arr assigned 10 The heard
OF County School Commissioners. All the customs
which divide the duties OF the corporation among
SndInH tR@I eas srse eaa s9 b. sSa Hs sa
from lnTeFieting Vim Ihsdatigs Assigned 70 sse al
nj SS iona On sST e P q SiS sGss rs IS
cSoSI pi ,S e a s ass; ,S q County
" relect impropeF nominations for places rs teach.
ers Local officers are peculiarly apt TO DO AFFLICTED
by local considoratons aud II was for the purpoes
OF scouting the schools against undue local indn.
ences that the central county Board wis given
veto power u this power e not used fearessy the
2 As regards the Trustees. II Is harl TO find men,
who, without any compensation, will devote theta
involving labor and responsibility YET this i what
is required Of school trlisless and the SELECTION 81
/ such men Imposes very dellchfe responsibility on
the County Board. The mosl important function Of
the trustees e to select tdacher II they aii 70 get
the best that Is procurabe the Law isneutalized Ia
y most essential particular. But common obscrya-
/ tion and common run0r warrant the assertion that
In many instances. perhaps In majority Of instnn-
ces, the Trustees do not search for the very hest
teacher ob,ainable; but for teacher good enough
ioE lhe psef wbq sbalI have ,periaip olhaf aualii
catione, which ate cotRidefed 10 be Df eyen more
Importance than mere professional skill
/ 3. As regards the County Examiner His most
essential duties are the examination Of teachers and
The 9ileal visitation Of schools He holds the key
W which candidates can get admission 10 the school
room as teachers. II he has back bone enough he
can IN three years rid his county Of all ncom
But his back bone sometimes needs stfenifg liz
Is reaqlFpd 20 visit ~ s schools Of his eQI!hlr II
least twice ypaT SOMETIMES he docs not gei round
once year There are schools that have not beell
visited once IN two year, The Examiner Il in fact
the Prnelpaiof AL the schools In his county Ieis r
qured by Law tOhe capable Of giving normal inslrc.
ton lie should, when necessary, show the teach.
eTs how 70 teach and manage their schools III ne
falls n this the sehoo-las Is MOI pnpcry executed
I. As regards Teachers Institutes and Association
II j made the duty. by law Of all school officers ID
assist and encourage these agencies As matter IN
. Al III