The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1913-09-12
REPORT OF DIR. M. B. STEVENS.
State Superintendent Of Education.
To The
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
August 81, 1913.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
August 81, 1913.
We are facing the beginning of a
new school year. Whatever our
achievements or mistakes have neen
In the past. we need to realize there
is very much constructive work along
school lines which the State Board Of
Education can al least suggest. and
possibly. through the cooperation Of
the county school authorities, accom-
plIsh.
We should begin the year with
definite plan of administration, with
well defined ideas Of what we should
do and then work systematically 10
attain such ends With the pc. mis-
sion of the members OF the Board, |
offer the following suggestions as
basis for discussion, and out of such
discussion ! feel sure there will come
a erystallized judgment which will be
more valuable than any individual
opinion. It may be that some Of
those recommendation have been
made before. but | feel safe In saying
that they have not been reduced to
educational practice.
First the real status of each eonn=
tvs school system is not known to
this body. Aside from statistics COM
piled in our annual report, we haYeno
means Of determining the efficiency
of schools IN any particular county
and such statistics, valuable as they
are for inalltutlng several COMPARE
sons. will not furnish a safe standard
for measuring actual school-room re
suits. In view of this lack of definite
information. I suggest that this Board
make m educational survey OF 1t
least two counties each year. such
survey 10 require from 10 TO 20 days
during which all types of the school
shall be Visited and closely examined
For such an examination there should
be three nergons-one to be appointed
| by the United States Commission Of
Education 10 represent his depaflz
ment. one b the State Board OF Edu=
cation 10 represent the State Depart
ment Of Education. and the third 10
be named b. the County School Board.
and a resident Of the county to rep
resent the County School Board. The
State Board Of Education should Sc
lect the county to be surveyed and
after q conference with the United
States Commission OF Education the
line Of investigation should be DETER
mined.
Second. IN awakening on the pub
/ lie school question Is an urgent need.
If people we're a Indifferent TO their
other business interests which are
less important and sacred than the
education of their children. II would
be regarded - little less than erImI=
nal. They are Indifferent for the rea=
son they have not been caused 10 feel
or realize such aaeredness. They are
not agreeable TO many OF our good
educational practices because they
are not Informed as 10 their real
merit WG must inaugurate some
| plan which VII scatter broadcast this
knowledge. II under the direction Of
this Board one meeting can be held
+ In each county for instruction. enter
tainment and organization. II may re-
suit IN many smaller unit meetings
out Of which HIll grow healthy school
/ patrons or civic leagues whose Oh
jeet vii b 10 bring the home and
school into closer and more aympa-
thetie relations.
Third. alnee 1910 the high schools
OF the State hive increased In number
and alHo IN efficiency. II s possible
for adequate and effective supervision
of these schools TO be given b. the
State superintendent and HIS aHzIz=
tant IN behalf OF the other schools
no State supervision is provided or
required. The rural school Is uoI
developing n It should and this con
dition Il IN part ehargeable 10 m al
senee Of State cooperation along tn
line Of supervision. II would 10 \
long step toward placing the rural
schools On higher plane of useful
ness II t1IH Board can use its IN
I fluenee IN having provided n rural
school supervisor for the State.
Fourth. tie following school lesIz=
lation Is needed. VIZ
4 IA ! sIale=WId mandatory s.noaI
attendance law.
seven months for the colored RehaaIzz
te) Appropriations made for Hn=
proved hIEh schools and normal
schools. and also for retired teachers
should b paid out OF the general
treasury and should not be charged
to the sixteen cents public school Ia.
The growing demand on the elemenz
tar5 Heho0la makes II neeeagaly II
have NJ leazt sixteen cents of the
State taz.
Id Tie appropriations made Tor
the three state Normal Schools i
inadequate and should be Increased
The Maryland State Normal School
VIII likely move into It's new home
In about year. and the approaching
Legislature should provide for lie
additional cost Of maintenance. Tie
expenses Of maintaining the Frost
burg Normal School are larger than
the annual appropriations
/ lei The institute law should be
so modified that IL will be legal for
a county school board TO provide
tuition for 4 percentage of teachers
to attend 4 summer school In lien Of
holding an institute;
III The position of assistant
teacher should be made more secure !.
u In the absence of a State
architect. plans for public school
buildings should be approved BIZ tie
State Board Of Education;
III Until the State provides ade-
quately Tor the training OF teachers
SO TINT the number of Normal grad
yates vii equal the annual loss ID
the profession. each county with an
approved first group high school
should have the authority to provide