The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-07-28
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Will the President of School Board
Answer?

frank discussion OI Ine ScHOOl slIudIlOn
in last weeks papers.
If he will answer a few more ques-
tons, somewhat in detail, it will further
enlighten US.
Were not the Oakland public and high
school in session during the past year in
the two building in question?
Was not Prof. Palmer principal of
that part of the school in the old court
house?
What difference does it make whether
primary grades or high school grades
are assigned to the old court house as
far as the principalship is concerned?
Should not all the schools of the town
be under one head?
For the purpose of the discipline we
agree there should be a man in each
building but why employ high-priced
high school man at an additional expense
for these qualifica tons of $500 to $500
to the taxpayers when only grammer
school qualifications are required?
As taxpayer | would ask what is
the reason the board for years has en-
ployed two high-priced men, with con-
fllcting powers in the Oakland building?
The last state reports show that Gar
rett County paid the manual training
instructor 1904. 80 for his years work
and 5000 for the year before. This is
almost twice as much as is paid the very
best men in the county outside of Oak
land, viz: Dewitt, Perdew, Cathcart,
Weitsell, Gnegy, Welch and others.
And is the report true that the board
can employ competent instructor in
manual training for $3.50 per year while
it has been paying 5000
If manual training is such an impor-
tant factor both financially and to the
school curriculum why has the state re-
duced the appropriation from 81, 500 to
$500 per year?
The Act of 1910 makes it obligatory
that the high school principal be princi-
pal of the elementary grades when they
are in the same building or on the same
premises and is silent as to the matter
when otherwise. Isn't it just as clear
ly within the province of the school
board to make the high school principal,
principal of both buildings next year as
it was last years?
What service will the high school
principal render to the public next year
if he has no work in the elementary
grades? There will be 8 assistants and
four grades in the high school next year.
If each grade has on an average five
studies (Which is all the academic work
the ordinary student can handle) there
will be 20 daily recitations in the high
school. 1t is hardly possible to divide
the school day into less than : or
periods after taking out the time for
spelling and writing. Yet these as
sistants in periods can conduct "a reci-
tatlons or more than there will be IN
the high school. What does the board
expects the principal to do? Every
time he hears a recitation one of his
assistants must remain idle.
And what qualifications are neces-
sary for the high school principal under
such conditions? Isn't the statement
of the County Superintendent made a
few weeks ago that Prof Loraditch
will fail in the high school, groundless,
if the board makes the chief duty of
that person to draw the salary?
The writer has been familiar with
school conditions here for two decades
and isn't this the first opportunity that
Oakland has ever had for the principal
to do supervisory work and is the board
going to throw it away?
Was Prof. Palmer an applicant for
the principalship of the high school?
Why should he apply for position
which is his until he resigns or is re-
moved for good and substantial reasons?
Does Prof. Palmer want the grammar
school principalship or has he ever
wanted it? Wasn't the secretary of
the board fully aware at all times that
his " ishes were to continue as principal
of the high SCHOOL,
When, where and how did the board
get the idea that Prof. Palmer agreed
to any other arrangement?
We do not dispute that Prof. Palmer
could serve many of his friends at the
head OF the grammar school but is it
best for the educational needs of the
town that Prof. Loradltch be placed in
the highest position?
No doubt the ianitor of a bank serves
the personal needs OF more of it's pa
irons than clerk, but is that good and
sufficient reason to force a clerk to be-
come the janitor?
1t looks as if the result would be to
drive Prof. Palmer out of the school en-
tirely and isn't that the ultimate aim
of the movement?
1t seems to be a question whether
the new principal will be able to enroll
enough pupils to class the school in
group A. We learn that last year Prof.
Palmer enrolment was nine in excess
of the legal requirements of that group.
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