The midland journal., 1916-02-11
MANY DEFECTS IN
STATE SCHOOLS
Take Education Out Of Politics,
Expert Advice to Maryland.
TEACHERS BADLY TRAINED.

General EducationaI Board Of New
York, After Inspection of Every
County In the State, Points to Need
Of More Superintendents, Higher
Salaries and Changes In Existing
Laws.
Baltimore, Md, Feb. 6-The Legis
lature of Maryland in 1914 authorized
the appointment of a Commission to
procure survey of education in Mary
land and appropriated $1,000 for its ex.
penses. The Governor appointed as
members Of this Commission B. Howell
Griswold, Jr., of Baltimore; Col. Albert
W.. Sisk, of Preston, and DIR. j. Nc
Pherson Scott, of Hagerstown.
At the request of the Commission,
the General Education Board of New
York undertook to make the survey,
agreeing to bear any expense incurred
In excess of the state appropriation.
The results of the survey are made pub
lie to-day.
The Report is the work of Abraham
Flexner and Frank P. Bachman. The
former is the author of ''The American
College" and several years ago con-
4 Quoted for the Carnegie Foundation in
vestigations of medical schools in the
United States and Europe; DR.. Bach.
man, formerly Assistant Superintend.
ent of Schools in Cleveland, was a
prominent member Of the Hanus Com.
mission which investigated the New
York schools and is the author Of i'm
pOrtant educational studies
Every County Inspected.
Every county in Maryland was visit
ed and typical schools of all kinds were
studied throughout the state; the rec
0rds of the state and county depart
ments were carefully examined; and
much new material was gathered. The
material is set forth in comprehen-
sive volume dealing with each detail
Of the situation.
Public education in Maryland is on
the whole soundly organized says the
report of the General Education Board.
Further, the state deals generously
with its public schools in the matter of
money.
'We do not propose therefore any
fundamental changes in the general
scructure of the public school system
Of Maryland nor do we suggest that
the State increase at all its appropri-
atoms to the schools.
"But there are other aspects which
win cause grave concern. A few coun-
ties possess good and steadily improv-
ing schools; a good school may be
found here and there in other counties.
But the large majority of the schools
are poor; teachers are, for the most
part, poorly trained; instruction is in
effective and obsolete; children attend
school with disastrous irregularity;
school buildings are far too often
In unsatisfactory condition, school
grounds, neglected and untidy.
Need Of More superintendents.
'sThe County Superintendency is in
even more unsatisfactory condition. In
the first place, the law does not even
require the County Superintendent to
be trained or experienced school
!, man; in the second place, adequate
! provision for skilled assistance exists
In only one or two counties.
81 "In most counties, therefore, an un-
trained official without expert aid, GER
tificates teachers, arranges courses of
study, supervises instruction, and ex-
amines for promotion pupils who at
tend school regularly or not, as they OF
their parents please.
FINALLY, the states large school fund
is not distributed so as to accomplish
the greatest possible good. For it is
distributed almost unconditiCnally. The
counties get their quota whether they
do their educational duty or not, with
the result that the backward counties
sometimes 10 much less than they
ought and some well-to-do counties dc
much less than they should.
1.-THE state fund thus becomes a
source of positive Generalization. II
can be converted into real help and
stimulus only If payment by the State
is conditioned upon the performance OF
local duty.
"In view of these conditions, it is
easy enough to understand why fun
damentally correct type of organization
produces unsatisfactory educational re-
suits in Maryland. But. as a matter
Of fact, the state does not even fare as
well with its present rganization as II
might: why not?
Education Is ain Politics"
"a few words suffice to explain
Public edcuation in Maryland is in
politics.. Politics are apt to prevent
the State Board from acting with Wig.
or; to determine the composition Of the
County Boards; to affect the choice OF
the County Superintendents; even tc
. enter into the selection of the one
room rural school teacher.
s'Of course, there are exceptions
Some Of the county boards are excel
lent; some schools are entirely fret
from nolitical faint. But in general no