The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-09-08
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
THE SCHOOL TRUSTEE "HUMBUG."

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Nd, Sept. 3D., 1900.
Editors Uni0n:-It is both gratifying and dis
to their defense-gratifying because it breaks
the monotony of q One-sded discussion. and
disappointing in that 1t fails to show where the
trustee Is of the slightest use to the schools. !
desire to call attention to one of "Humbug's"
statements in the last issue of THE UNION. in
which previous article is classed as fierce and
insulting attack upon trustees. He is entirely
mistaken, for 1t is the trustee system only which
is attacked" and not individuals As to being
article or the one which appeared In THE UNION
of last week.
Now for the "insulting', feature 1 have yet
to learn that any public official is above criticism,
and that pointing out the actions of public
officers can be classed as insulting" The
public have right to know what their public
"for nothing" Stf
Your correspondent asks several questions
which. Il you will allow me 81, suificient space; |
School Board appointed unfit men as trustees p'
79Sdnd Of not. And 3usthere we may appear to
take rather high ground, yet we think that to
any reasonable. thinking mind it is the correct
view. If being fine man. or prominent in
business. society, church or politics were the
only qualifications for school trustee, they
could be appointed by the dozen or score. But
that is no more qualification for a trustee than
for teacher and for man to have the
authority of a school trustee he should not
fectly familiar with every branch of school
work.. If not why should they be called
thority to dismiss teachers without even the
right of appeal-a right not denied to the mean
est criminal?
Again it is asked: IF they (the School Board)
have been so neglectful of their duties as to APP
point trustees that are such a set as your cor
respondent would have us believe, what reason
have we to think they would do any better If
they had teachers to appoint?" That the School
Board does appoint the majority of the teachers,
Nhe assistants and colored teachers is sufficient
answer, but it may be further said that every
person eligible to teach in the public schools
must hold certificate of good moral character
and of being capable of imparting knowledge.
Should any one hold such certificate who Is not
entitled to 1t the fault is with the Examiner or
the Normal School and they should be held
strictly responsible.
Again he asks "Can *. Y. r. point to a sim
gle instance where the trustees have appointed
an Ignorant dishonest teacher?" There should
be none such. Ignorance is answered in the
preceding question and as to dishonesty,
would say that some years ago teacher was
caught collecting book fees and entering the
pupils name upon the free list. That was the
only case of dishonesty ever heard of which
was supported by evidence.
"Humbug" also asks whether it would not be
well to do away with the School Board and let
the County Commissioners and competent trus-
tees run the schools If It Is wished to bring
the schools to such a political machine as the
roads, police or lamplighters, this would be the
most admirable plan that could be devised.
Otherwise it would not do. The trustees would
be even poorer than at present, but do not
think this Is meant to be taken seriously.
Now, in conclusion, would like to ask just
one question which has often been asked before
and is still unanswered: "Of what USE is the
trustee2 X. Y. 2.