The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-07-07
PUBLIC EDUCATION IN MARY.
LAND
Address BY DIR. Abraham Flexner
Before Federation of
Women's Clubs.
(concluded)


Having suggested statue which
made it natural and easy to fill
county boards with disinterested
and intelligent men and women, and
having laid down conditions under
which these county boards could
select supervisors and teachers OF
good training having done these
things, we left the rest to these
selected to do the work.
Under the new State law the State
Board is nonpolitical body appoint
ed by the Governor, without the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate and
without reference to political affilia-
tions. The county boards of educa-
ton are to be appointed by the Gov
ernor without reference to politics.
The county board will select a
county superintendent who must
have specific qualifications and ex-
perience. Central control will be
concentrated in the office of the
State superintendent so that a pro-
gressive policy can be inaugurated.
Under these circumstances what is
it that the women of Maryland can
do? The law will not function of
itself. How can the woman assist
it to function as it was meant to
function? There are some things
that the woman of Maryland can do
and ought to do. There are some
thing that they ought not to try to
do.
What they can do is to interest
themselves in the personnel Of the
state and county boards of educa-
ton. Everything that comes out of
the new law from this moment is
going to depend upon individuals.
The law is there. AS far as we can
tell it contains all that it ought to
contain. The Legislature passed it
as it was drawn. It was intended to
give the State as nearly a complete
educational system as could be given
at one step. OF course it can be
bettered as conditions improve, but
for the next few years all that can be
done is to put it into effective
operation.
1t must be operated by persons.
1t comes down to a question OF per-
sons. If the women of Maryland
can in any way assist the Governor
in securing for the state and county
boards persons of intelligence,
ability and disinterestedness, they
will have accomplished all that out
siders can accomplish in the first
instance. Unless these bodies are
properly constituted, the law will
prove disappointing. With these
boards properly constituted the new
law will function properly.
know too little of your organi-
cation to give you specific advice.
If you have State committee ]
should think you might begin to
scan the State for men and women
possessing the proper qualifications.
The new law legislated no one out of
office. In consequence changes will
be made gradually. 1t is very hard
to get people interested in one APP
pointment out of seven and yet the
new State Board is going to be built
up block by block, man by man.
Unless good men are appointed, no
great improvement may be looked
for at this central point and the
entire scheme may be prejudiced
because of this failure.
The same thing holds true in
boards. do not know whether
there is club in every county
there is not? There ought to be.
Every county club ought to make
it its business to find the best man
in the county to recommend to the
Governor for service on these local
bodies. In my judgment you can
not begin too soon to make your
selves felt in this direction. Gov
ernor Harrington is profoundly in
terested in the new law and will,
am sure. welcome your cooperation,
for it's passage was largely due to
his interest.
There is one other service which
the women of Maryland can per-
form. They can help to create a
public sentiment which will make it
possible to enforce the new law. 1t
is one thing to give the State Super
intendent large powers. 1t is
another thing for the State Superin-
tendent to exercise these powers.
Precisely the same thing is true In
the counties. The new law makes
1t possible to select good teachers.
1t will be possible for county super