Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-01-16
EXAMINER WORTH1NG.
TOMS REPORT FOR THE
PAST YEAR.

of County School Commissioners for Fred
erick County the secretary, examiner and
treasurer, Glenn II. Worthington, made the
following comprehensive report 1t is dated
January 7th, 1890, and addressed to the Board
of County School Commissioners of Freder
lex County, Md. 1t reads:
Gentlemen AS this meeting marks the
close of the official term of two years for
which I was appointed in 1883 I desire to
submit report of,hc general administration
OF the office during that period, and of the
present condition OF the public schools in the
county. The brief review of school work
presented to the Board last year contains
fairly comprehensive summary of what was
done in the interest of public education dur
ing the first twelve months of my term of Of
fee, and 1t is therefore unnecessary to re-
peat here the statements therein made.
During the past year the whole amount
expended for school purposes was $GG9l4GG
or So ,O2G.G2 more than TIE preceding year.
This increase is accounted for in the two
items of "Teachers' Salaries and "Books and
Stationery" The employment of several
more teachers made necessary by the larger
number of pupils attending the public schools
and slight advance in teachers salaries in,
creased the total paid for salaries by $119S.
Is. The cost of books includes the purchase
of supply of wall maps OF thc!Cni,cd States
e lao ,oL.,,,l., opt tbn nyrho :, a. ~
of the spcler long IN use for Sheldon's Word
Studies, a much better book than the old
one. THIS item Of Books and Stationary
is in consequence larger by about $500 than
last wear. The same item should however
be proportionately smaller the ensuing year
as all the schools are now supplied with new
smelling books and there Is still small sur
plus on hand. The aggregate of the remain.
inc items Of expenditure is about the same
as last year For ten wears prior to 1883 the
annual statements Of this board invariably
showed it to he considerably in debt at the
close of the fiscal year. In 1893 the state.
mcnt showed the hoard to he free of debt
with small balance on hand and the state
mcnt for the past year shows slightly in
creased balance to its credit.
For this gratifying condition Of the finan'
ccs measure of praise Is due to the present
COMPTROLLER of the State Treasury, Hon. IL.
Victor BanghmaI, under whose efficient
management, larger sums have been appor
toned annually, for school purposes than
for several years previously land TO the board
of County Commissioners who have gwen
substantial recognition of the Importance of
popular education 10y granting each year an
appropriation sufficient, together with the
revenues from other sources, to dclraV the
ordinary expenses of keeping the schools
open seven and a.half months. The small
additional appropriation of $s'2oi Tor col
orcd schools granted 10y the Legislature of
1888, has also aided IN relieving the financial
embarrassment under which the School
Board has so long hhOrcd. Although the
county levy for school purposes, together
with the moneys received from other sources
for the same purposes, Is now sufficient to
terms, yet their maintenance with the pres
ent revenues. is done AT the sacrifice OF their
highest efficiency. A comparison with dit
fcrent counties will show that the levy in
Frederick county is less than IN most OF the
other counties OF the State. Thus in WASH
ing,on county the levy is q cents on the
300, in Mon, gOmcry county about "a cents
ON the 300, while IN Frederick county it is
AK cents on the 800. The cost per capita
of schooling children III the public schools
of Washington county for 1883 was f?"o ;
in Montgomery e 20; in Baltimore county
Sl45O and in Frederick county 500. The
fact that the cost per capita in this county is
less than in other counties affords, however,
no reason for Boosting, rs with better equip
ped school houses and better paid teachers,
improved school facilities could be provided.
Owing however, to the damage done To the
bridges by the fl ,ods of the past summer and
the increased expenses incurred by the coun-
ty ON that account no considerably larger
appropriation can reasonably be expected at
this time hu: it is hoped that the importance
of supporting the public schools will not be
subordinatcd to that Of any other matter OF
public interest,
The high school department established in
public school at Mlddlc,own, last year, is
being well pa,ronlzcd by the people of that
community. The advantage of having facil-
tiles for the higher education of boys and
girls, at a minimum cost, is appreciated ny
those who hayc children to educate and sew
cral requests for the extension of such iaCill-
ties have been made The present wear a
high school department has been established
in the female public school on Church st, in
this city, which offers its advantages to girls
from any part Of Frederick county. The
charges for tuition in the high schools has
been fixed at $3.50, So, and 81, per term
according to advancement The aggregate
of these fees has so far been amply sufficient
/ to maintain the high schools without adding
ANYTHING to the cost OF the public school
system, TO the county. A high school fol-
bows and a more commodious one Tor girls is
much needed in Frederick City and til.
recommendation of the Secretary of the State
Board of Education 10 the effect that eth,
few remaining county academies should
made part of the public school system is
concuucd In by this Board.
Bv spccial act of the Legislature of 1880