The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-09-30
For the Democratic Advocate
The Coming School Report.

In transmitting to the Secretary of the State
Board of Education the Annual Report of the
operations of the public schools in Carroll
county, as the law directs, it is usual to &C
company the communication with some ex-
planatory remarks. From the thoughts ar
ranged with the intention of having them
incorporated into the Report which is now in
course of preparation for the financial school
year about to close, the writer is permitted to
take the following extract:
Repeatedly on former occasions we urged that
among the chief obstacles to satisfactory results in
Carroll county-and we may now urge the same APP
parently with more reason than eyer-are the want
to teachers remunerating salaries; the oo separate
and inconsistent methods impossible to administer.
for the use Of books stationery &C., which ought to
be free the schools or to buy supplies for them
selves; and the appointment of three irresponsible
school trustees who if they interest themselves at
ali, not unfrequentiy work, each by himself and
often in opposite directions instead of the appoint
shall be adequately paid for whatever useful services
he is required to perform for his school, and be thus
made responsible through the settlement of his &C.
counts which scarcely ever be more than trine.
If then legislation in this direction for the school
room where it is most needed, TO aid the teacher
therein be attempted, and the Legislature will un-
derstandingy turn its attention to defects which
are in higher or lower degree, admitted by all,
and which directly and injurousy affect the inter
on which the system ought gracefully to run, and
will cease aim destructive thrusts 1.-THE more vital
part the head, including the much admired Nor
NAL School, which is moving along so admirably
and benefcially, nor at the methods OF constituting
mere agencies the School Commissioners, for In
stance, the method of whose appointment has given
entire satisfaction with which nobody finds fault,
and which cannot, one way or another. directly or
indirectly affect the work of the school roOm-if the
Legislature will let these vital parts alone, to be-
come symmetrical by their own vigorous growth,
as they are now doing SO remarkably well, ana Will
only needs help in the field wherein all the useful
labor lies all the amendments to the law which the
harmony and the efficiency of the schools require,
may speedily be enacted without creating ripple
of dissatisfaction anywhere
We deeply regret to have to report that. owing to
the want of funds above referred to, the School
Board to keep the expenses within the insufficient
means supplied, has been under the painful neces-
sty of either reducing the time of the school year
conmencing septem 1882 to only tfUo terms in
stead of three by which the schools would have been
deprived of the pr installment of the State School
Tax" or of deducting a small sum from the amount
hitherto appropriated to our already poorly COM
pensated but highly meritorious teachers; and the
The lamentable necessity, to which the Board
much aga inst the individual wishes of its members
unfortunately driven, as It was manifestly Likely
able criticism by the captions and the uninformed
and the members of the School Board, with every
desire to be liberal and just have silently had to
endure unmerited reproach without the power prop
erly repei it as it deserves to be repeled whereas
the Injustice if it be unjust should apply to our
unfortunate position, and not to our enforced action
in it."
The foregoing quotation is given as one of
the many .,5mas' that might be thrown to be
cracked by sH. L. s." and his endorsers, in
relation to whom, however, it is presumptive
that III. L. So commits great mistake and
perpetrates almost scicked injustice, when
he thus publicly ranks among his endorsers
''not only the people, but also our worthy
judge, (?), thus exposing to injurious animad-
version, at this particular contingency of time,
a faithful and impartial official whom all re-
spect and esteem, and who has never yet man.
Tested an inclination to thrust himself into
such attitudes.
A friend to the public schools.
and more, IT, possible, true friend to the faith
full Public School Teachers.