Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-11-29
(Communicated.
To The District school Trustees.


The Evening Capital the latter mart
Of September publihged the followi1g
under the head Of District School
trustees lone Of the important de.
fects in the administration OF the
public school system which County
school Commissioner George L. Mel
vim has pointed out and emphasized
from the time Of his going into Office
IS the lack Of interest and cOoperatfun
on the part Of the district school trrs.
tees and the apparent tendency OF
the county board to limit their author
ity and sphere of usefulness. Referring
TO this subject Monday in an address
before the Teachers Institute. Dr. NJ
Bates Stephens, State Schsel Super
fntendent, said:
We must give greater recognition
to our trustees. When performing
their duties. living up to what the
law lrequires Of them, they are the
most important part of our school ma
chimney. We must have their co.opcr-
alton because they are the representa-.
tiyes OF the people in the school 81 s.
TEN. They should be consulted fire.
quently about all matters pertaining
TO district school work. We should
have for this county, as Commissioner
Melvin suggests a meeting of all the
trustees and teachers of the county.
The idea is a good one. They should
be paid q per diem for that day to
cover expenses incident to attending
the meeting. Addresses should be
made by trustees, teachers and other
school officials. The Governor. who
is president of the State Board of Edp-
cation, should be invited. This would
afford an opportunity for all--teach-
eTs and trustees Ito reach a better I'M
derstanding of the important duties
deVolving upon them, and would I'M
questionably produce beneficial ie-
suits. Our school work suffers from
this serious lack. -
At the meeting of the Board Of
County School Commissioners next,
after the publication of the above,
October 81, the following resolutions
were unanimously adopted
." Whereas, the public school law
provides that educational matters
affecting a school district shall be un-
der the supervision of board of dis.
trict school trustees. aud
Whereas, the duties and RESPONSE.
bilitie5 deyolving upon district
school trustees appear to bc imperfect
ly understood and in many cases in
efficiently performed. or not perform
ed at all, thereby rendering the opera
tions of the school law defective in
this important branch of the system,
therefore
Resolved, that the district school
trustees Of the county be invited To
attend meeting to be held on Satur-
day, December is next, at 10 O'Clock
q. m. nc the Court House, in Annap-
oils, for the purpose Of discussing aud
nd nT7firg and RI hValug
about "a more thorough understanding
aud more active cooperation of tie
trustees in regard to their duties in
the public school administration.
Resolved, that the President ap-
point a member of the Board TO make
the necessary arrangements for the
proposed meeting
The President of the Board appoint.
ed Mr. Melvin a committee to make
preparations for the meeting and TO
arrange pogramme.
While the resolutions do not men,
ton the attendance of the teachers. il
is important that they, too, should be
present, as their work is intimately
connected with that of the trustees.
Governor Wariield. who himself was
once school teacher, and who has
always taken a deep interest in the
LUZ ON6iHGDN OA tnE SDlOb1s, HAS lGt II
invited and has promised to make an
address. DR.. NJ. Bates stephens State
School superintendent, and other dis
tinguished educators will also be
present and make speeches.
4 recess viii be taken at half past
~ O'Clock, when sandwiches and
coffee Will be served At 1 O'Clock
the meeting will again be called to
order and definite plans of cooperation
in the work of school Improvement
will be proposed and recommended.
Every district school trustee, every
teacher aud every school official, as
we'll as every citizen interested in the
welfare OF the public schools, are in-
vitol to attend aud participate in the
meeting.
George T. Melvin,
Committee on Arrangements