Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-12-23
Politics and the Public Schools.

Mr.. EdttOr:' The following excellent ar
ticle which find published in the Montgone-
oridR of the nth instant, | think will bear
reproduction in the columns of the SENTI-
MEL, thus giving some plain truths TO large
number of the residents of our county The
baneful influence of the present mode of Sc
Letting officers for governing and the proper
conduct of our public schools is apparent,
and, with the writer of the following arti-
Gle, we think if the masses are intelligent
enough to elect the Judges, who appoint the
Commissioners, they are also competent to
select the latter officers at the ballot-box.-
The present method is curse to any people,
and the sooner we throw this incubus from
our shoulders the better it will be for our
selves and the efficient management of our
schools. Q.
at has often been asserted by persons who
were probably sincere in their belief that
such was the fact that the reason why the
Constitution of Maryland does not prescribe
the manner of selecting the Commissioners
of the public schools, and why the Legisla-
ture took the power of selection out of the
hands Of the people and placed it in the
hands of the Judges of the Courts, was be-
cause the schools would thereby be divorced
from politics. 1t would undoubtedly result
in great advantage to the schools if they
could be divorced from politics, and espe-
cially the kind of politics prevalent at the
present day but is there an observing man
in this county who is willing to risk his rep.
utation for truthfulness by saying that they
are not firmly united? 49,
"lf the School Commissioner chooses to
use his high prerogative' far the purpose of
advancing his political interest, what is to
hinder him from doing it? Can he not cause
90. ..kNt, q l..
creation, to throw open public school build
ings for the purpose of holding political
meetings and dispensing lager beer and apple
jack to promiscuous crowd that may be
haangued by school teachers in the interest
of himself or his political friends? Itseems
TO be the duty of the Trustees to please the
Commissioners. II does not matter to them
whether the patrons are satisfied or not, be-
cause patrons have no power to remove
Trustees Under the present arrangement
II appears that Trustees are only responsible
10 Commissioners and Commissioners are
responsible to nobody, and each, in their re-
spective spheres, absolute 'monarchs of all
they survey
"What redress have the people if the
Judges appoint Commissioners and Commits
sioners appoint Truitees who are unqualified
and Objectionable in many respects, and
tnen Keep on reappOlntlng them, term alter
term, contrary to the wishes of the patrons
of the schools? viii any person who has
given the matter thought pretend to say
that ii the people are competent to select
the Judges of the Conrts-the appointing
power-they are not also competent TO select
the Commissioners and Trusteesg
at is high time for those who desire the
advancement of public education to give
their earnest attention TO these questions, and
as our Legislature will soon meet is it not
time for all good citizens, irrespective of par
ty, to unite and ask the Legislature TO restore
TO the people their ancient right of eecting
Commissioners and Trustees of their own
choiceg
"rhe so-called enforcement of politics and
public schools has only resulted in uniting
them more closely together. Now let us
have a so-called reunion and sec II il will
not result in keeping them farther apart than
they are at present And to obyiate all sud
den changes in the future for political pur-
poses, II would be advisable to have fund
amental school-law migrated in the Consti-
tuition"