Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1892-02-20
Asking an Increased ApprOpria-
ton for Public Schools.
Senator Smith For
Free Texf-Isnnks

Senator Smith For
Free Textbooks.
The following excerpts from the Balti
more Sun show that our educational in
terests are no, being overlooked.
Under date of February 18th, we find
The finance committee of the Senate
gave "A hearing To two committees of edu
Gators, who asked for an increase of .
cents tax on the 800 of assessed proper
~ in the State for general school pur
poses. They advocated an increase in
the number of schoul-houses and i'm
proyements in the State system OF educa
ton. The first Of the committees was
composed of Rev. William Dale, Worces-
ter county: james A. DifTenhmugh. Car
roll county; l.. l.. Beatty, Queen Anne's
county: / :. Wilson of the Marlboro
| Gazette, and T.. B. Pretlyman of the State
| Normal School. The other committee,
which in addition asked that the refund
ed war tax be applied 10 school purposes
was composed az DR. James l.. Bryan, of
Dorchester, and John 7. Thompson. Of
Howard, representing the State Teachers
Association. II WAS urged by the com
mittee to Withdraw the Pearrc bill provid
INK iOl Nut vi HubiN
school lax according TO average attend
ance and not according TO school pOpula
ton AS nj present The school men also
asked that the Governor appoint com
mission to draw up school apportion
ment bill and report it 10 the next
Legislature. They also asked the passage
OF bill 10 give Garrett county a sufficient
appropriation To keep her schools open
seven months in the year. Mr. Wilson
opposed the Pearre distributing bill on
the ground that it would reduce the
Prince GEORGES fund at least 5000
Very strong opposition was developed To
the proposed change in Southern Mary
land. and Mr.. Wilson was invited 10 the
conference as one convcrsant with the
educational needs of his section of the
State
That the amounts appropriated To the
several counties for school purposes are
entirely inadequate To- the needs of the
counties is very evident. The various
Boards of School Commissioners are re-
peatedly asked to build and equip new
school houses, and 10 increase the salaries
of teachers. The lack of means generally
prevents such requests being granted. In
consequence MANY localities have no
school within such distance as small chill
dren can reach; and very many OF our
schools are poorly furnished with desks
and everything tina, tends to give COM
fort To pupils or teacher. Then the sala-
ries paid to teachers are insufficient, so
that the best teachers cannot be retained
long, and new teachers must take their
places.
Another serious difficulty to be met is
the cost of books. With very many pa
irons Of our schools, this is indeed Sc
rious question. The want of uniformity
in even the country, and the changes that
necessarily or unnecessarily sometimes
are made, add to the expense. We are
glad To notice that our State Senator,
Hon. John Walter Smith, with his usual
keen perception OF the best interest of the
people, and with logical reasoning, has
undertaken TO meet this problem, and we
think, in way that must commend itself
to our legislators as well rs the people.
Here is what the SIM of Feb 18th, has
To say:
PUEBLO EDUCATION.
Mr.. John Walter Smith, whose keen in
telIeet and thorough business training
make him one If the most useful mem
beers of the Senate, is taking a deep inter
est IN all matters pertaining To the public
schools and public education gener-
ally. He is now moving To provide free
books in the public schools. because he
thinks many are dIerred from attendance
because they are too poor TO buy books
and too proud To ask for them. He SAYS
that in some of the counties the schools
are closed seven months of the year, and
this he considers scandalous. Mr. Smith
takes a very practical view of public edu-
cation He SAYS that il is not only in the
interest of public morals, but of the pub
lie wealth lie believes that property is
of greater value among educated. civilized
people than in neighborho0ds where IL
norance prevails, and that il is no hard
ship upon people who have no children
| To pay school taxes. They receive indi
recily full equivalent for their money
| The schools of the State need more
money Much is appropriated annually
to favored private Institutions, from
which the general public gets no benefit,
being generally unaware of their very ex
istcnce This Senator Smith regards rs
great abuse lie is going TO take steps
To have the cents tax levied for the
treasury relief loan, which is now paid.
continued for the benefit OF the schools.
With such men as Rev William Dale,
President of our County School Board,
and member of the State Board of Edu-
cation, and Senator John W. Smith look
ing after these matters, we confidently
expect that some favorable action will
soon be taken by our legislature.
TEACHER.