The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-07-10
THE SCHOOL LAW.

The address made at the late meet
inc of the State Teachers Association
by Mr.. NJ. Bates Stephens, the Super
intendcnt of Education, contained
many suggestions and much food for
careful thought, says the Baltimore
Sun" There are few subjects which
interest the great body Of the people
more deeply than the education OF
their children, and every plan for i'm
proving the schools is bound to at
tract attention. Mr.. Stephens is an ex-
perienced educator, and he has had OPP
portuniry for studying the needs Of
the schools, as we'll as Of observing
their practical operation. Any change,
therefore, which he may suggest is en-
titled TO candid and fair consideration
as the opinion of an expert. Mr..
Stephens among other things,suggests
an entire revision of the school law.
Tie basis of tie present law is the
Act of 1872, a law enacted near the
beginning of the modern free school
system. Since that law was passed
the science of conducting public free
education has largely grown up. The
law been constantly amended, until it
has become, in Mr.. Stephens opinion,
entirely unsuitable and in many re-
spects contradictory. He urges that
the whole scheme be recast and a ho-
mooeneo law enacted at the next
session.
But perhaps the suggestion cen
tanned in the address which is of most
interest and immediate Importance is
that regarding teachers salaries. Mr..
STEPHENS showed that tie average an
nual wage of the school teacher in the
counties of Maryland is only S274.
Such a condition is most discreditable
to the State and precludes all hope OF
permanent and healthy progress in The
schools. If negro day laborer who
can neither read nor write can make
more money by carrying a bod than
an educated man can make as a school
teacher, then education has little Pc
cuniary value. If a colored chamber
maid who can neither read nor write
is better paid for sweeping and max
ing beds than tile educated and refined
lady for training our future citiz MS, it
shows that we put small value on the
teachers work. The practical effect
is that Maryland cannot retain a com
petent teacher in the rural schools any
longer than it takes to get employ
ment elsewhere. Or if good teachers
do engage in the work they often do it
as a temporary job while studying a
profession or looking for something
better.
In his speech before the Teachers
Association Governor Smith, CON-
menting on the meager salaries paid
to the teachers, said:
It would seem but fair for the State
to pay those upon whose labors its
very safety and highest prosperity de-
pend such salaries as will make it pos
sible for them to do ID little more than
exist, or else give them some reasona-
ble assurance that they will be looked
after in time of nec6 in consideration
of their past services.
Mr.. Stephens plan for remedying
the acknowledged evils Of the present
conditions presents some practical diff
%ficulties which it will be hard to over
come. His plan is TO have the State
undertake the payment Of teachers
salaries, establishing a minimum in
schools of a certain standard, Of $3.50
a year. This, Mr.. Stephens believes,
would raise the standard of teaching
and establish a uniform and full school
year throughout the counties. The
other expenses of conducting the
schools he thinks should be raised by
local taxation. Perhaps the plan
might he made to operate, and if Sc
might be an excellent one. But at
first glance it would appear to be com.
pllcated by the Baltimore city schools.
which it would be hard to include in
the arrangement. 1t would not be
fair to tax the city and distribute al
the money to the counties, and it might
not be constitutional to levy a direct
State tax upon The counties alone
But be this as it may, it is encourag
inc to note the stand which the Gov
ernor, the Superintendent of Educa
ton. and the State Teachers Assocla
ton have taken for the improvement
of the schools and the betterment o
the condition of the teachers
Tie latest dispatches from Rome
state that Pope Leo is extremely weak
and no hope whatever Of his recovery