The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-03-27

MARCH I'D, 1881.
Messrs. Editors of the Union Taking current
events as a basis for my conclusion, notice that
we are to be again subjected to the annual ordeal
"a fear that the schools will be closed at the end
of this term. This has been occurring every spring
since have been teacher. The stone breaker
on the roadside or the commonest laborer on our
county highways is more certain of the duration
of his service than we 1t has often been
marked that the dread of being bitten by dog is
almost as painful as the bite ITSELF SO is the fear
of losing one terms employment almost as bad as
the actual loss of it. Fearful Imagination is worse
than reality In this threat of closing the schools
the County Commissioners are the objective point
to be reached, but we the individuals panied
most by its unavoidable consequences. Theproper
time to announce the running of the schools for
three terms only is during vacation and not after
our contracts have been made for year. The
gentlemen placed in authority over us should
know at the beginning of each year how much
money is likely to be received into the school
treasury and whether it is adequate to keep the
schools in operation whole year. Should it not
be then they should publish how long they will be
kept open. A course like this would reach the
Commissioners more effectually, and let us know
the actual length of time for which contract to
teach. The summer term has always been very
uncertain for full schools In mine the at
tendance usually falls off about third, and |
fear the report every spring of the probable closing
of the schools has much to do with it. Parents in
this uncertainty mediate other arrangements for
the employment of their children and do not often
alter their plans even though subsequently as
sured the schools will not be closed. When / am
asked for my opinion 1 invariably say they will
be kept open, and said so to several of my fellow
teachers at the Association when such probabli-
ty was mentioned there. My confidence did not
calm the disturbed feelings of of my friends.
Since the meeting of the Association have been
examining the School Report for 1879, distributed
to us by Mr. Bruf and comparing it with the re-
port of 1875 and the result has strengthened my
conviction that the schools will be kept open.-
Your report of the action of the School Commits
soners last woek and their interview with the
County Commissioners has not alarmed me, and |
trust my fellow teachers will not get alarmed
either. As teachers and citizens we are doubly
interested that both official bodies should make
satisfactory arrangement, assuring the public the
schools will be open four terms next year. In
this we are vitality interested. But another care
full comparison of the reports for 1878 and 1879
fails to disclose any why the schools should
be closed at the end of this term, except the in
herent power of the School Commissioners.
In tho report for 1878 it appears that the Coun-
ty Commissioners paid the School Commissioners
ST., 101.94, and that the School Commissioners
after having paid all expenses had a balance of
cash on hand Of $24,l52.20. In the report for
1879, although the County Commissioners had
levied only $4,000 being cent less on the
500 than the year previous, it shows that these
gentlemen paid the School Commissioners the I'M
precedentedy large sum of So, SS2.01. From the
report it also appears that at the close of the year
the School Commissioners had balance of cash
on hand of $31, 74O0S, which was $7,5S7SS more
than they had on hand at the close of 1878. With
such good showing from one cent less on the 500
of county school tax, why should we be subjected
to the fear of having schools closed at the end
| of this term? A TEACHER.