Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-09-08
Another Strong Plea.


FRosTBuRG, Mp, Sept. 5, 1894
To the MINING JOURNAL.
AS one of the duties of u newspaper
is to make known the public needs of
the people, the JOURNALS protest
against the reduction of the scholastic
year In this county from nine to seven
and-a-half months shows that the
JOURNAL is wide awake to question
of vital Importance to the people.
Fearing that ] may be accused of
selfishness in writing this communica
ton. let me state that we teachers
could live on three months salary, as
we have been compelled to get this
thing of living on the fat of the land
for nine months of the year and on
hope the balance of the time down to
a science.
But the important question concerns
the pupils. Should the schools be in
session Z! months the coming year,
and they were in session only 9months
the past year, then this would make
lGl months of school work in a
months, or one entire school gear O.
months) at the rate now proposed, lost
in a months. That is to say, we will
lose in vacation an entire school year
in two calendar years. In this amount
of employed time many Il boy and girl
gathered all their education.
Instead of u months Allegany
county could afford to have, and
would, if tie people mouM ash II, a
ten months school year. Aside from
the anticipation of financial gain to
the teacher this would be direct gain
to pupils and parents. 1t would save
great deal Of brushing up" on what
was gone oyer the preceding year-an
important item in the work of the
teacher, and one which tells for or
against his work rs the yeas is longer
short.
But now to go into a school year of
only u months, which will make ~
months vacation, is very serious
hlndrance to the progress of pupils,
especially beginners, and these are the
important ones, for when they learn to
read and write they will not be obliged
to sing the mournful lines
'If | could only write my name
Now would have no one to blame"
1t will take only $4,000 in addition
to the present appropriation to run the
schools months, and it would be far
better to expend this amount to teach
one boy or girl to write his or her
name than for $4,000 people to behold
one OF its members unable to sign his
name.
With only y months as our school
year, the average salary for teachers
Will be $3l per month, and for which
the highest professional teaching will
be expected. AS teacher | should
not inject seltishness into this matter,
for the interest of the pupils is the
prime consideration, but how can a
high grade of teaching ability be OBJ
tanned for low wages?
1t is given out that our high rate of
taxation Is the cause of our school
term being shortened to y months.
Even though our taxes are very high.
should the burden rest on the schools
If there should be retrenchment in
public expenditures, does it follow
that the schools should suffer ite
Why lot curtail the sessions of our
court from three terms to two! Why
not have the clerk of the court, the
States attorney and other county
officials reduce their years work to
n months
1t cannot be that our county com
misfioners will seriously think of
letting the schools remain closed A.
months the coming year for the small
amount of $6,0OO-a sum which could
not save the county from financial
ruin if it were nearing that end.
Z. O'ROURKE.