The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-02-22

the cost falls below one dollar month and
when you consider that this includes state
tax, county levy, free school fund and book
fees, and at the same time an expenditure
of So ,322.14 for new school houses, you may
see that the schools of the county are not a
costly investment.
As TO the comparison between the various
counties, l am not prepared to give an
opinion as / should have TO know, not only
how much money they expended, but also
how long they kept the schools open. But
this l know, if they are as incorrect as in
the case of Cecil, the Baltimore Sun has not
improved its character for correctness of
statement or the reliability of its informa-
ton. The county OF Garrett usually does
not keep its schools open f,r over two terms
or five months in a year, and may, there
fore, be the cheapest in money and the most
costly in results. There is much in Your
remarks explanatory of the statement stbat
the schools cost more because they were
better" The horse you buy for $50 is not
always cheaper than the one you purchase
for 800. A little more attention on the
part of the citizens of the county to the
published reports of the schools, and
closer inspection Of the daily administration
Of the public schools by the patrons, would
result in clearer understanding of the way
in which the money is expended end the
facilities furnished for the education of the
children of the county.
Very Truly Yours,
j. SQUIER.
The above communication from
Mr.. Squier was intended for last
weeks paper, but at the time it came
to hand we were unable to make room
for it.
The class of buildings which have
been provided for the use of the
schools in this county have caused
heavy drain on the school fund.
but they are not more than the home
comforts and surroundings of the
children demand, and are accustomed
to. An inferior class of accommo-
daticns would not be tolerated. The
superintendent correction and ex-
PLANTATION above shows that the ex-
rense is less than q dollar per month
for tuition, and there is but one way
that justice could be done to the
children and the school expenses
curtailed, which is to curtail the
Curriculum of the public schools,
graduate the pupils when they had
mastered the course; and were able
to pass and receive their diploma at
the commencement" exercises.
And why not have an established
public school course, as the colleges
have. with graduating diploma?
The curriculum specifies exactly
what the colleges propose to teach,
and the graduating diploma tells the
world that the pupils have mastered
the lessons and indicates, the length
and breadth, SO to speak, of the
pupils scholastic requirements.
This measurement of the Students
acquisition in book lore may be of
no intrinsic merit in itself, and only
3 cunning invention of the faculty
but is doubtless great stimulus to
the student or pupil. 1t is boun-
Diary marking the end of the race to
be reached in a given time, and it is
considered point of honor to make
this race with credit in the specified
time. A well defined course for pub
lie schools,with graduates diploma
to be gained at the end of the course
would prove a wonderful stimulus to
school attendance and study. Our
common public schools having usurp.
ed the place of the old time subscrip.
tien country school, adopted also it's |
go.as you.please system, the pupils |
dropping in IN their infancy and |
sauntering along the flowery path of |
knowledge in a free and easy way up |
to the verge of man. and womanhood, |
dropping out along the way or con-
tinuing to the end OF the course at |
their pleasure. Any business run
at loose ends as the public school
business is to large extent through.
out the whole country. is necessarily,
expensive. The course
of the public schools shouldbe
rs clearly defined as that of college,
and attended with as much etiquette
and formality, where something def
mite was to be accomplished and
which every pupil and parent under
stood from the beginning. The
work would then be accomplished in
half the time now spent, at less ex-
pense and thoroughly done.