The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-02-23
PUBLIC SCHOOL REFORM.


Inc pune clam0r Tor needed reforms IN
the public school system of Baltimore is
+,l,;no sb,r ,,d N,,,or o+r,h s.; ~
P'' ''' 40 nav ing =" P'el''"''o'i i'l S"''hi's-
sion to the City Council an ordinance
making impOrtant notifications in the
nraSant ,,atbods ,f s.boo1 administration
m
III WHY wy i'e '"i'''''oie ''"" III ''h'-
mentlhS upon the grave evils existing III
that city, saws:
"A public school system that il domin,ted
by politicaI Influences and which rests tn .
considerable extent upon political foundu-
tions. must necessarily fail to produce the
best results. That our schools should have
been affected in their work by thcunfavornble
conditions surrounding them WAS absolutely
unavoidable. and that they have been able on
the whole. to rive n fairly GOOD account of
themselves has been due to the energy and
vigilance of true friends of public education
I'm and ont of the schools who have STRUGGLED
bravey and earnestly to make them what
they should be- 1t is believed that the majority
", o"' ..''o"e's "'e M'''ous "l'a CONSCIENTIOUS
CHARGED and tbare is rood Ground f,r nori,,.
ing that the charge is true, that pres, MT
methods OF administration afford opportuni-
"'''.,'' '''t, '"' e'np'os ,"en' vi
The pcopI" have u riyht to demand that IN y
shall have the very best service that can be
"btaihcd, ana that the work of their schools
wnn, y, - VI. ,,i'',''',, iu,eu
d,.ycIopmcnt of public education and to lis
best results is its complete emancipation from
polt'cS ana politicians. Any reform which
'"'5 '''' ~, WIZ W s'i"p'H -"
chm and the ward boss sbouId NOT he nrrnitt 4
TO max the public schools stepping stones to
political or pccuniary advantage Politics and
p"m o""a"'lo s Snonu pe u,vore , anu .ns
IN the hands Of rcpresent,tivcmen, rom,n
of education and ability, who will take pride
ana Interest in their duties, and who will
D" ."'"'' "i'nuu' ''"' '"'oi vi "neo
Of the whole community
1t is patent to every impartial Observer
that the evils affecting the school system
in Roltimore in nearly the some meosura
attiict the system in the COMMITTEES If the
State,
The fact il that one of the worst cb,nges
that has recentlv been effected in tba
county system. was the taking the an
pointment of the School Commissioners ont
of the hands of the ,Judpes of the Circuit
Court and comforting if upon the Governo,
1t is almost too plain for argument that
the opportunity to become conversant with
the personal qualification of II .ose 70 whom
the local management of our school affairs
is to BIZ entrusted is incomnarablv hetter
in the case of resident iudoe If our cour+
than in the case of the Governor Not
oplv is his familiarity with orr neonle
greater Int his nersonol interest in tho
matter of appointments is less The Iudoe
looks nrimarilv IN the character If tbo man
he appoints. since HAVING no nersopol
int, r, st in the appointment the personol
standing and individual qualifications If
the uerson selected as School Commissioner
alone are considered nv him
Not 50 with the Governor II be;nr
practically imnossibIe for him to know
personally whom he sbould select in the
COMMITTEES nc ScbooI Commissioners, bs 10
wholly dependent unon his noliticaI staff
in each county
This staff s ,,en.r,lI,, oo,,noSaa ~ oo,
tlemen whose occunatinn is lorye,v the
local manooanant If hi. nartv,s ay,iro