The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-11-28

interests we have had in charge are entitled
to know something of the manner in which
we have administered our trust. The publ
cation of the receipts and disbursements each
year, which the law requires, is not sufficient.
From mere tabulation of figures most per
sons can gather but vague and unsatlslac-
tory knowledge of the vital facts in the case.
| shall therefore ask indulgence for more
extended comment, in connection with the
appended statement of receipts and disburse-
ments for the fiscal year which ended with
September both, 1885, than usually accom-
pan;es publication of the kind. The school
population and consequent school expenses
are constantly increasing, while the school
revenues have for some years been steadily
diminishing; debt of about SIS, 600 unavoid
ably contracted, in part for the payment of
teachers salaries, in part for necessary school
supplies; clamorous appeals from almost
every section of the county for extensive re-
pairs to decaying school property, and for
new houses to replace old ones no longer fit
for use or to accommodate new districts made
necessary by increase of population these
unwelcome facts confronted this Board on
the threshold of its duties. A close scrutiny
of the school property and school manage
ment was Immediately begun, to the end that
every dollar due the Board might be got and
made go as far as possible.
A number of unnecessary expenses were
discovered and rigidly pruned away. Gross
negligence in the collection of book-tees, re-
sulting in considerable loss to the Board and
great injustice to those who paid them, was
found and corrected. The teachers were in
the habit Of collecting what could easily be
got and taking no notice of the rest. 1t was
at once determined to surround the teachers
with every protection in the collection of
these fees which the law could give them, and
then charge them with the fee of every pupil
except those who should have their own
books or bring to school from the trustees a
written permit of exemption. During the
next term of school pleasant spring weather
called many of the larger pupils into the fields
to work, so that the attendance was about
one eighth less than that of the preceding
term, but the book fees amounted to fully
one twelfth more; and during the year which
followed they amounted to Sl,6l5.62 more
than in the preceding year.
AT the close of the Spring Term came
careful and impartial examination Of the
teachers whose certificates would expire
within the next school year. This resulted
in reduction of the payroll to the amount
Of about $40 per term or 81, 240 per annum.
The savings thus effected continued through
two years, with donation of $500 from the
County Commissioners for building purposes,
have enabled the Board to pay half Of the
debt of $1,000 mentioned above, to keep the
schools literally supplied with books and sta
tionery, to make most of the extensive repairs
which the school property was IN need OF, to re-
furnish some houses throughout, to open and
conduct two new white and four uew cooFed
schools, and to provide and equip eleven aew
school rooms, of which one was purchased
for 5000, two were leased for term of years,
-, 1,,,l ofb Of total 10
the Board of about $500 apiece, exclusive of
ground and furniture. The policy marked
out by President Grimes at the second meet
ing of the Board, of keeping the property in
order by constant attention and repairs, as
cheaper and better than to let it run down
and then rebuild, and of paying cash for
everything as far as possible, was adopted
and has been steadily pursued. The amount
expended for repaIr2 to school property in the
two years is $2,559.37, the amount for new
furniture in the same tin,e. is 81, 72439 To
meet the expenses as they arose, 1t several
times became necessary to secure temporary
loans, which were paid off as soon as ncssi-
Bile. The appended statement shows an in
debtedness of $1,000, created in this way,
which has been paid since the close of the
fiscal year.
The multitude OF business details thus
passing under necessary review, and the UNI
expected difficulties III the way of effective
administration created by the want of proper
care and business capacity in many of the
teachers, have prevented that close attention
to the conduct of the schools, the course of
study and the method of teaching, which is
felt to be necessary. Nevertheless these
ngs have not been wholly ignored.
The first inspection of the schools disclosed
that there was great variety of text books
on the same subject in use, and that there
were almost as many methods of grading as
there were teachers. These abuses were
promptly corrected. The books, grading,
discipline and daily order Of exercises were
made uniform throughout the county, with as
little expense and Inconvenience to the school
patrons as circumstances would permit.
Examinations at stated intervals, as guide
for the promotion of pupils from one grade to
another, have been introduced and give prom
Use of excellent results. The questions are
the same for all the schools, and are so pre-
pared by the County Examiner as to be within
the actual limits Of the grade. An average of
60 per cent. in each study is required for pro-
motion. The first examination was held in
January last The number of pupils exam
ined was in the LIST grade, 908; I'd, 998; Sd,
1929; 4th, 592; 9TH, 296. The number pro-
NOTED was, from the 1st grade, 165; I'd, 1872;
Sd, 90; 4th, 81; 9Th, Is. 430 pupils made
500, 31S made 7O%, 100 made 8O%, 48
made 90%, and 4 are reported to have
made 1000. The second examination
was held on the 4th, 9th and 9Th of
the CURRENT month. The number examined
was, in the LIST grade, 1901; I'd, 800; Sd, 1925
4th, 359; 9th, 16l; 9th, 81. The number pro
NOTED was, from the lst grade, 323; I'd, 3l9;
Sd, 1856; 4th, 10l; 9Th, 81; 9th, 10. 585 pu
pills made 60%, 399 made 70%, 239 made
NJ = Il III , Tho
increase in the number of promotions and the
number of higher percentages is gratifying
evidence of the revolution in methods of
teaching which the few changes indicated are
gradually working out. As / have only as
sumed in these remarks to give brief ac
count Of the past two years, this is not the
place for a sketch of what remains to be done.
Yet | cannot forbear few suggestions grow
ing out of the observation and experience of
the time under review.
We need urgeItly yet not less than Is new
schoOlhouses to replace old ones scarcely hit
for longer use, and at least to accommodate
increasing populations within districts already
formed.
We need improved sanitation and greater
care in the selection ct furniture, to remove
fruitful causes of discomfort, fretfulness and
i'll health, whereby the government of the
schools would be made more easy and their
general welfare promoted.
We need internal decorations of the houses,
shade trees and other ornamentation OF the
grounds, to make the schools as attractive to
pupils as their homes, and the property as
much revered and as safe from wantonness as
the churches
We need a generous supply of charts,
globes and outline maps, dictionaries and
other works of reference to aid progressive
teachers in making progressive schools.
We need a system of census enumeration,
to learn how many children of the legal age,
in every school district, are kept out of school,
and why they are kept out, so that proper
steps may be taken to secure their attendance
if possible
These seem to be costly necessities, but
they are necessities none the less. Wise ad-
ministration, aided by local pride and judi
cious agitation, will in time secure them all.
We need above everything else in this
county more trained teachers. The Theory
and Practice of Teaching is here almost an
unknown science. Some of our teachers have
had sneciaI traininp and their SuperioritY is