Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-05-19
Editorial Address to the New
School Board.

SubSlSt between parent ana tecner Ill
laying the foundation i'll the pupil for
real manhood or real wOmauhOOd, Rev.
LYMAN Abbott, in an article published
last Sunday, says:
We should not feel that the political organ
izaton and shaping of the school concerns
nobody except the teachers and the board of
education. 1t is something that belongs to
the whole community. The fundamental
principle of the American school system is
selfeduCation, etc.
1t is with a feeling and purpose of this
character that the JOURNAL submits to
the new school board few impressions 1t
believes will ne at least suggestive Of inn
provement of school work i'll this county.
The first duty falling to the board, we
understand is the appointment of
trustees, and it is almost needless to
urge that these, the cuStOdianS of the
States pupilage nearest To their charge,
should be of the best citizenship, the
highest available scholarship and most
pcrxoDH interest i'll the school whose
particular welfare they are to guard and
promote. Trustees are-filSt and most
important-the electors of principals 1t
is through their character, requirements
and special concern the board best re-
fleets its own providence for each school.
AS are the trustees so is the principal, or
should be-all elect without thought of
other consideration than that each is
the best available man for the place.
Later, perhaps next, will come the
selection of an examiner, but for the
moment assuming this official to be one
of thousand whose scholarship as IA
teacher of teachers is commensurate with
the eXactiOnS of the office, and whose
business ability and force are equal to
his scholarship, we will pass to the
suggestion that the next examination of
teachers should be so complete i'll the
practical, solid English branches and so
inclusive of all candidates for the high
office of teacher, that oniy the mast as
x"rcdIy compctrm xho"d S"r"irr
The examiner should construct a cate
cu,ricnI"m and submit it to all i'll the
way customary. The verbal exercises
he may himself audit, but the written
returns, known only by number, should
be reviewed by a competent board select
cd for the purpose from outside of school
connections. The small cost thus i'll
CURED would be amply justified by the
absolutely diSintereSted and equal treat
ment all would enjoy. There wouldbe-
there could be no partiality nor pref
udicc shown. Only capacity and merit
would or could win. For the deserving
no push" would be necessary; for the
undescrving no pull would avail.
The trustees having elected their prin-
cipals, the board should endow each of
the latter with the privilege of forming
his o"n JucHiiY from the entire list of
those who survive the examination
not that the board could crafty him or
her i'll all instances. This franchise
point down only to the adjustment of
the CmbarraSSmentS OccaSiOned by the
choice Of the same assistant by two or
more principals. But many case neither
principal nor board should entertain the
courcnjcncc Of Hr assistant as a reason
controlling his or her establishment over
IL particular school, department or grade.
The same Rev. Lyman Abbott, already
quoted, says
We who are interested in the schools and
their improvements must not forget that the
schools were made for the children and not
for the teachers.
The principal and board exemplifying
that truth us paramount will best COM
ply with both the intent and spirit of the
law. For the board has no more right
to humOr one teacher i'll Il way it cannot
favor all than it has to pay one more
salary than another for similar work.
Very often the matters of conrrnicncr and
"c0nOmg will be arguments in behalf of
teachers that will be hard to resist, but if
Il Homecoming principal selects Frost
burg assistant that all Frostburg prin-
cipalS have left out III the cold, the plain
duty of the board is to crafty the Iona
coming principal rather than twice dis
appoint both him and his Frostburg
colleague.
AS rule, the nearer to schoolhouse
Il teacher has been born, reared or lives,
the less fit he or she is to teach therein
As all of public school tuition consists
of I"gi"g Hr to"ndntion, there should be
comparatively more pay for those who
work patiently and successfully on the
lower tiers. More teaching skill is re-
quircd i'll the abecedarian department of
Il school than i'll its grammar class,
yet 1t is the rule to pay more for the
easier work. 4 comp"f""t, SkjHfW, SHc-
""s%tW prjmdrH tcdchcr is rOrth her "righf
~ goid! She has made the work of
those who follow her easy, and to her
pupil, bright or dull, she becomes a bene-
factor whose blessings are of immortal
moment. Whether teaching near home
or abroad, she should be paid so well
that her high Office would be one to be
sought rather than stunned.
The JOURNAL has adverted to the rare
combination of tirStclasS business ability