The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-11-30
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
Association of School Commissioners Con-
slider the Free Book Question.

School Commissioners Il. S. Everist. George
r. Ash and John r. White attended the
annual meeting of the Association Of School
Commissioners of Maryland which was held
in Baltimore this week at the State Normal
School building. The session opened on
Tuesday morning. President Samuel Dutrow,
OF Frederick, presided.
committee appointed at the last session
on the question of the free school books sub
mttcd report as follows:
,'The committee has studied every phase of
the question of free books in the public
schools, and finds that free books are in many
WAYS very advantageous. There has not been
a single instance of abandonment of the sys-
TEN when once adopted. The committee finds
that every attempt to furnish free books by
state contract has been failure. such con-
tracts having given rise to scandals, abuse
and discomfort The opinion prevails widely
that the solution is 10 provide free text books,
selected and furnished by local school boards
at the expense of the state. For twenty eight
wears books have been so selected i'll Mary
land without the least suspicion Of any in
direction. 1t may be fairly inferred that
within four years from the present time the
whole funded debt of tho state may be can
celcd under existing laws. Your committee
recommend that this association make re-
spcctful and earnest application to the next
General Assembly for the enactment OF laws
providing for free text books IN the public
schools. We believe that such provision
should be made without any increase i'll the
present rate of state taxation, even though it
may necessitate the postponement for short
time of the final payment in full Of the small
public debt of the state.
at should be kept in mind that the Consti-
luton of the state has provided for state
system of free public schools; that the rate of
state taxation for all purposes is very small
compared with those of city and county taxes :;
that, whilst under existing laws the city of
Baltimore and the counties pay large part
of the expenses of the public schools by local
taxes, still it is the manifest intent of the
Constitution that the state as II whole should
be liberal in providing means of education
for the children of all its citizens. without
regard to local divisions
The first bill submitted by the committee
provides that each board of county School
Commissioners shall adopt and purchase text
books and other necessary school supplies
for use in the public schools of their respee-
tive counties as such new text books and
supplies are required, in addition to those at
present in use in the hands of pupils or
owned by the boards OF county School Com
missioners, out OF the finds derived from the
state school tax, and when so procured the
necessary text books and school supplies
shall be furnished free of cost for use in the
public schools of the several counties, subject
to the order of said boards OF county School
Commissioners; provided that text books
shall be furnished under the provisions of
this act to the several grades in the schools
successfully, beginning with the first grade;
and provided, that the several boards OF
county School Commissioners shall not be
required to expend during any school year
for said text books and school supplies more
than one-nfth of the amounts paid to said
boards respectively by the state treasurer out
of the state school tax; and, provided, that
parents or pupils may purchase their owu
books when they may think proper. The
boards of county School Commissioners shall
keep an account of all moneys expended
under the provisions of this act, and report it
under separate items in the annual financial
accounts as required by law.
The second bill relates to ways and means,
and directs that levy of thirteen cents be
made for school purposes.
An amendment to the bill, so as to provide
that its passage should not interfere with
INDECENT children receiving free books in all
grades as at present, was unanimously
adopted.