Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-05-19
Summary OF Gener
Educational Bill.

The following letter has been addressed to
the members of the County School Boards
of the State of Maryland by NJ. Bates Steph
ems, superintendent:
Gentlemen; In view of the fact that bill
known "a the General Educational Bill'
passed by the Legislature and Is now law.
have thought 1t is proper to give summa-
nv of the features of the present law wherein
they differ from those of the old school law.
deem this all the more necessary because
the revised school laws have not been pub.
liahed:
1. The Office of the State Board of Edu.
cation and State superintendent of education
will be transferred from Baltimore TO An.
napolis. You will be notified when this
transfer IL made.
Q. The State Board of Education Is now
composed of eight members consisting of
six to be appointed by the Governor and the
State superintendent of Education. The
terms of the members of the State Board
correspond to those Of the County School
Commissioners and minority representation
is provided.
8. The State superintendent of public cd.
ucaticn is secretary Of the State Board OF
Education.
4. The official title Of the secretary OF the
county school board is secretary, treasurer,
and county superintendent" The name
Examiner" does not occur in the new law.
5. The secretary, treasurer, and county
school superintendent is appointed in the
month of May when the board is organized
but does not enter upon his new duties until
the beginning of the scholastic year August
first.
8 Trustees must be appointed. first day
of May or first meeting thereafter which
must be held in month of May.
7. Principal teacher is appointed by the
board of trustees and becomes the secretary
OF the board of district trustees.
8. All assistant teachers are appointed by
the county school boards.
0. County school boards are given au.
thority to consolidate schools when desirable
and practicable and to pay charges of trans
portaton.
10. The normal school at Frostburgh, the
normal department of Washington College,
The Maryland State Normal School and the
Baltimore colored Normal School are under
the supervision Of the State Board of Educa-
ton.
II. The free book fund Is $3.50 900, and
the expenditures of the same is limited to
text books and maps of Maryland. All text
books are to be adopted and purchased by
the county school boards.
10. Diplomas of State Normal Schools
from other States may be endorsed by the
State superintendent of education.
IS. The minimum county school tax rate
is now fifteen cents.
IA. The State scho oil tax rate is fifteen
cents instead of ten and ONT half as hereto.
fore.
15 Teachers of white schools where the
average attendance of pupils is fifteen or
more shall receive as salary for the year not
less than three hundred dollars and such
schools shall remain open not less than nine
months. Schools where the average is less
than Is are in the control of the county
school board who determine the school year
and the amount of salary to be paid the
teacher.
is. Where the school board fails to pro-
vide school year Of nine months and the
minimum salary of $500 to white teachers
whose school average fifteen, the comptroller
will withhold the March installment Of the
school tax.
II. There Is no separate fund for colored
schools. All matters pertaining to colored
schools are left with county school board.
l8. TIE State school tax is now appor-
toned on the basis Of children (colored and
white) between the ages of s and 30 as dis.
closed by the census.
10. The academic and free school funds
are not affected by the new law
20. The new law went into effect from
the date of its passage. All State taxes for
the coming fiscal year will be collected on
the new rate of 22i cents.
81. In counties containing more than 81
schools the board may employ a clerk, where
the number of teachers exceeds 175 they may
also employ an assistant county superinten-
dent.
20. The pension fund for teachers was
increased to 5000 annually.
These are the main provisions which
trust will meet your needs until you can oh.
tain printed pamphlet containing the laws
as REVISED.
Yours very truly
NJ. BATES STEPHENS.