The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-03-12
Correspondence Baifin.sre csunsy Usisa.
SOME PRACTICAL IDEAS.
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THinb Drsrnicr, March 9Th, 1881.
Aessss. Editors :-ffsll the districts dissatisfied
with some Of the features of the present school law
were % comply with the wish Of your correspond
ent "A" and rise and speak, many communicn-
TOPS like my own would hnd their way 20 the
waste basket, there would be such . rush u them.
Hoping they may be heard from gradually ven.
ture contribution from this district. Although
differ with your correspondents OK" and 'sam'
In some respects. agree with them that We should
have the election Of the School Commissioner
committed 70 the people. This b the opinion Of
every one have eenssrsei With on he sahjsst--
All sdisis the neesssiiy Of II, but fear the Legisla-
turc viii fall 60 carry out what the general public
demands. These fears are not altogether ground
less. ifpast experience In Legislation, or rather
In the want Of II, IL any criterion by which 10
judge, We may took for nothing In the shape Of
reform In the school system unless We speak out
and demand pledge from our prospective isgis-
iators on the subject whom nominated. In the
absence Of this. well meaning gentlemen, full Of
enthusiasm In their efforts 20 eject the changes 90
much desired, have been sent 10 Annapolis a. the
peoples representatives for the purpose Of having
the school Law changed. They sgitated, they
worked, they urged their colleagues, they sought
assistance from their friends In fact they did all
that individually could be done, but at last they
utterly failed.
few years ago Dr.. Burton, an intelligent aud
cultivated gentleman Of tho 18th district, who
faithfully and earnestly represented this county In
the Legislature, exerted himself indefatigably In
this cause, knowing Il to be the cause Of The peo
pie, but without any practical result He made
the subject OF public school education . study, he
compared the school laws Of other States and
countries with our own, and prepared . compre-
hensive bill which would have been . vast i'm
proverncnt on the present Law. The prospect for
lie adoption Was very hopeful. This alarmed The
school ofhciais behind the intrcnchments 90 much
that they pnt u motion the secret enginery that
caused tklp1IIssf. Nearly every county had he
sxaminer and some commissioners at work 10 pre-
vent the passage Of the bin. This was human
nature, but its display was not credtabe 10 their
sense Of honor. A consciousness Of ability and
fitness for their positions should have led them 10
expect . continuance in ofice, syen though Q
change In the mode Of appointment had been
effected. An effort 10 thwart the will Of the peo-
pie. bycircumventng their representatives, their
laudable attempts at reform, 10 not slsvsiing In
public estimation.
II DR.. Burton would consent and publish an nc.
count Of his experience In his efforts TO amend the
school Law while member Of the Legislature, Il
would prove most interesting chapter and help
the present agitation.
II has always been doubted whether tho Judges
had the right under the Constitution to appoint
the School Commissioners. Down 20 the present
time one Of the Judges. and y member Of the Court
Of Appcais-Judgc Aiycy--has persisientiy de-
clincd 20 hare anything u do with appointing
commissioners. although the law has extended the
privilege 10 him. Here We have the case Of
Judge. by his deliberate refusal 20 obey the law,
publicly demonstrating that the course Of Judge
10 optional. lie may appoint or he may refuse
Other Judges, entertaining similar views, made
the appointments no doubt TO prevent confusion
IL the time In the management Of the schools 10
case Of their refusal. They have continued 20 cx-
ercise .his optional privilege to the present time,
but there has not been session Of the Legislature
since the one which took away the election Of
School Commissioners from the people. In which
appeals have not been made to return 10 the old
mode. The Judges have not sought the imposi-
ton % this extra judicial duty. they do not ask
for Its continuance. and they will feel greatly
lieved when Il 10 assigned 10 others. II has been
recommended 10 give the appointment Of Schoo.
Commissioners ts the State Board of Education.
10 tho County Conmissioners or 20 the Judges Of
the 0rphans' Court; 10 any one but the people,
Il there any valid reason why they should be
feared! The primary source Of all power Is the
sovereign people. School Commissioners have
sought and obtained great farors from them
They competent TO elect Governors. Legisia.
tore, Judges, Clerks, Registers Of Wills States Al
torneys, Trcasurers, SHERIFF., County Commission.
ere, &c. but q Is dangerous 60 allow them to elect
School Commissioners from fear Of partisan inhu.
ence and the changes incident thereto which an
election by the people every two years might pro-
duce. Might IL not be as we'll 10 make all other
public Offices appontive, for the very same reason,
and thus do away with elections altogether As
has been we'll said by your correspondent "Sam,"
''thc Legislature made the school Law 50 We. the
taxpayer have nothing TO do with the schools OF
the salaries Of the officials. The only grand priv
ilcge We have y 10 pay our taxes once year, and
Vnkltp IN have our property advertised and
sold BY the Sheriff." fthis question 10 made an
issue and faithfully aud undinchingly adhered to
In the coming fall election, all those who cspouse
Il will be triumphantly elected. I may suggest
some other changes besides that Of the present
mode Of appointment Of School Commissioners "
this communication meets with the favor Of inser-
tion. A.