Evening journal., 1913-12-02
STATE WANTS
.BETTERSCHOOLS
Maryland Association May
Levy Special Tax to Aid
Institutions
DESIRES OUTLINED
BY SUPERINTENDENTS

DENTON, Nd. Dec. 2.--At the meet.
ing Of the School Commissioners and
County Superintendents Association Of
Maryland in Baltimore, December A and
5, several features of public school legis.
lation proposed by the State Board of
Education will be discussed.
Or. NJ. Bates stephens, state Super
intendent of Education, said today that
in the educational rally campaign which
has extended generally over the state.
with massmeetings Of patrons and pu-
pills in various counties, and at several
Of which United States Commissioner of
Education =. F. Claxton and national
and state officials, including Governor
Goldsboroueh, have spoken, the general
trend Of the proposed legislation which
viii be laid before the General Assem-.
bly, in january has been brought TO the
attention OF the taxpayers.
Want Special Tax
One feature of the program, in which
general interest is being taken, is the
proposition to fix state tax rate of l6
cents for elementary schools, and TO
take care of the expenses Of approved
/ high schools, normal schools, the state
Board of Education and other items by
a special tax or appropriation. Under
the present plan there is levy OF
10 IL cents for the public schools out
of the proceeds of which about S225.uOO
is taken for normal and high schools
and other purposes before the Comptrol.
Ter makes the distribution TO the city
and counties Of school money. A slight
increase in the state tax rate would en-
able the school system 40 accomplish a
greater work.
In the letter sent to leading tax
payers and patrons In the counties
before the holding OF the educational
rallies Dr. Stephens directs special
attention to the fact "that all the
school education 95 per cent. of the
children I'm your county receive Is
obtained at the public school" As
the graduates OF the high schools
form but a very small proportion OF
the pupils enrolled. Il is upon the
elementary school that the burden OF
the system OF State education fails.
To Strengthen Force.
The strengthening of the teaching
force I'm the elementary schools ia
another feature In the proposed legis-
lation. and some OF the school bills
will require all new teachers appoint
ed after 1915 to be especially trained
for the work; provide a State super
visor Of rural schools; raise salaries
OF experienced elementary teachers
TO at least 5000 annually; require
county tax rates for schools to be not
less than 80 cents; authorize county
school boards to send teachers to Z
sixweek summer school instead o
holding a teachers institute; Civ
county school boards authority TO es
! tablish in one approved high schoo
; In each county a teachers trainin
J course as to an elective, 10 cover th
last year of the high school cours
1 land one year after graduation.
Other bills are 10 provide teeth
in the compulsory school ATTENDANCE
law, making the statute State-w wild
In enforcement by taking out the op
tion now allowed the counties Il
adopt or ignore the law; to erect 3
school building at Ocean City as O
school place OF meeting OF the edu-
cational bodies of the State.
The School Commissioners will
meet at the Maryland State Normal
School Building, Baltimore. on Thurs
day and Friday Of this week.