Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-02-08

The competency Of the county surer-
intendent
Training Of Teachers.
In discussing the Weaknesses Of the
ties. the Report points out that the
teaching force OF the state is in a high
degree miscellaneous. On this flnda-
mental point the Report states:
"Regardin the training of these
teachers. no general statement can be
madeat all There are the widest pos
sible variations in the training of teach
ers doing the same grade of work-in-
conceivable confusion and lack of Sc
quence ami order in their preparation.
''Of over 1900 white elementary
teachers in the state outside of Balti-
more. 391 12.7 per cent? have had only
an elementary school education: ga
COZ per cent? have spent one or two
years ia a high school: 1.031 C33.7 per
cent? have completed a four-year high
school curse only 14S-less than
per cent. of the whole-have received a
standard Eurmal school training.
One-third OF Teachers Unframed.
"Of the rest. some have spent little
while in normal school: some have re
ceived an irregular normal schooling:
few have been TO college and still
fewer through college. Grouping TO
gether standard normal school. part
college and college graduates. about 10
per cent e. The elementary teachers of
Maryland-not more-may be called
well trained. not quite one-third could
on stretch be called fairly well train
ed; ut least one-third are practically
unframed. The body as whole is
thus Heterogeneous 10 the last degree
OF the high-School teachers. il is
declared that not over two-fifths are
adequately trained
A revision of the law dealing with
the certifcation of teachers is therefore
recommended as the first step toward
realizing improved conditions.
Teachers Salaries Too Small.
Salaries are TOO low to obtain we'll
trained teachers; they range from an
average of S27l year in st. Mary's
to S662 4 year in Baltimore County
Three counties pay an average of less
than $500: four less than $3.50; seven
less than 800: seven less than $3.50:
and only two. Allegany and Baltimore.
pay in excess of $3.50"
School Attendance.
The attendance of school children is
so irregular and uncertain that even
good teachers could not teach success
fully. As the state is without an effec-
tive compulsory attendance law many
children remain away from school al
together-large numbers begin to 90 to
school too late or attend irregularly.
The precise extent of this evil cannot
be stated. for there is no correct school
census.
1t is recommended. therefore. thai
the state enact statewide compulsory
education law including proper provi-
sions for attendance officers and what
ever else is required to make it efTec.
tive
Organization.
The schools of Maryland are support
ed in part by county. in part by state
taxation Some of the counties. nota
bly, Baltimore. Allegany Queen Anne.
and Worcester. support their schools
literally; the rest do less and some of
the most prosperous do much less than
they can and should
Help Those Who Help Themselves
1t is recommended by the Report.
therefore. that the state contribution
should in future he paid to no county
which does not levy for educational
purposes minimum tax fixed by the
Legislature The more progressive
counties will, of course, continue to
levy more as they now do.
Again. the state and county organi-
cations exist in skeleton or outline
only. The State Department of Edu-
cation. which should guide. study and
report upon the educational activities
of the entire state. consists of super
intendent. his assistant and clerk
Nothing is simpler says the Re
port. than TO authorize or require the
State superintendent to supervise
inspect. examine or pass upon. But
neither inspection. supervision. nor eN-
animation can avail. unless an ade-
quate trained organization is provided
through which he can work The
force now at the superintendent dis
posal is utterly insufficient He has a
single assistant appointed with the APP
prevail of the State Board at a salary
of $1,000 and one clerk at salary not
to exceed $1,000 In addition TO his
own salary. he has an expense allow
ance of five hundred dollars. and one
thousand dollars more for furniture.
supplies ami printing. Three persons
thus constitute the entire staff at the
disposal of the superintendent of Pub
lie Education i'm Maryland
lit goes without saying that the
functions which we have enumerated
simply cannot be effectively discharg-
ed by this organization.
Would Increase Number of Officials.
The Report therefore recommends an
increase in the staff in the office of the
State Department of Education. said
stan to be paid. not by additional legis..
lative appropriation. but out of the
present school fund. before this fund