Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1913-11-15
URGE HIGHER SALARIES
FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS
This Was Slogan Of Addresses at
Mass-Meeting Today.
A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN.
Various Phases Of Proposed Legislation
for EIevaiiBg Schools Are Dis
cussed.

With the teachers of the several
departments of the city public schc ol,
and many from the rural sections of
the county. besides trustees of sew
era schools in attendance, an educa-
tional rally was held in the Court
House here this morning.
1t was one of the series of meet
ings in accordance with the State
wide campaign inaugurated by the
State Board of Education. These
mass-meetings are to become an an
nual feature in public school affairs
in the several counties of the State
and the general plan is to extend
their scope with each succeed 1g
year, with agricultural exhibits by
the rural schools, as well as of work
done in the manual training branches
and their departments of the city
schools.
The principal object of the meet
ing here today twas for the general
discussion of proposed legislation TO
be submitted at the coming session of
the General Assembly, for advance
ment of the syste m of public instruc-
ton gene rally. One of the chief meas
ures will be that for readjustment
of the sslaries of teachers, so that
more pay commensurate with the
labors of the tutors, may be avail
able.
Mr.. George T. Melvin, the An
napolis member of the County School
Board presided over the me citing
and he delivered very practical
address on the various phases of
school work, giving particular at
tention to the teachers salary ques-
tion. Mr.. Melvin has been an ar
dent supporter of this cause. His
address appears in another colum of
this paper,
The teachers were also addressed
by DIR. Claxton, of the United
States Department of Education at
Washington who, among other
things, told of the hearty coopera-
tion which the Government is Civ
ing in the cause of education in
the various states. DIR. M. Bates
Stephes, State Superintendent of Ed
ucation ia Maryland, was another
speaker at this mornings meeting,
and he discussed the proposed school
legislation in detail.
The teachers salary question is a
vital one, he declared, and he said
that the State should make provision
for higher salaries TO the instructors
of comp stence, as a means of elevat-
ing the system of education. Even
though increased salaries for the
teachers might mean slight increases
in the tax rate, he pointed to the
benefit that would accrue therefrom,
and which would more than offset
any objections that might be made to
higher taxes.
DIR. Stephens urged the teachers
to a deeper and more enthusiastic iu-
tersst in the educational campaign
movement, suggesting that they be
gin right now to lay plans for the
gathering to be held next year. He
suggested a parade of the schc oil
children as one IF the features in
connection with the next mass-meet-
ing.
In contrast to the undivided stten-
tion given by the teachers to the
speakers as they discussed the vari-
Gus subjects, was the scene of busi-
ness activity among a number of the
school children. There was corps
of nine "official stenographers" on
hand to record the proceedings of the
meeting. These were the students
who are taking the Commercial Course
at the City High School, who ac-
cepting the suggestion of taking down
the proceedings as a means of in
creasing their aptitude in their work,
were seated Iabout a large table in
front of the judges rostrum of the
courtroom. And especially well did
they perform their work.
The Rev. James L. Smiley, chair
man of the Committee on Compul-
sorry Education" appointed by the
Anne Arundel County Branch of the
Maryland Association for the Preven-
tion and Relief of tuberculosis, offer
I'd the following resolution, which
was unanimously adopted.
Resolved, That this public meet
ing of citizens of Anne Arundel coun-
ty urge the General Assembly Of
Maryland to put Anne Arundel coun-
ty in the list of communities enjoy
ing the Statewide Law for Compul-
sorry Education.
There are six counties in the State
of Maryland exempt from compul-
sorry education laws. These counties
are Howard, Kent, Anne Arundel,
Worcester, st. Mary's and Somerset.
In addition to the white teachers,
there were present at the meeting q
number of colored people interested
in the advancement of the education