The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-02-11

more County alone las Il really AIDE
quate county organization. with the re,
suit that the schools of Baltimore
County are the best ii the state. Not
only is the County Superintendent usu-
ally unaided he is not even always a
trained educator
"Three County Superintendent" says
the Report have had less than Il high
school education and four of them neV-
er went beyond the high school. Only
one of the seven has added to his inl-
tial preparation. and he only to the eN-
tent Of six weeks at Il summer school
OF those remaining, one is normal
school graduate with summer term
of professional work Though fifteen
hold college and university degrees. vet
not more than six of the fifteen have
made special and professional prepara-
ton for their work"
Salaries are indeed frequently so low
that trained men cannot possibly be
obtained for this highly important post.
"Of twenty-three county superintend-
entS. one receives 5000 year. one
$1,000. one $3.50 OF the remaining
twenty. one receives $500 year. six
receive from $1,000 to $1,000 and thlr-
teen from 81 900 to $1,000. In addition.
there is an allowance of from 500 to
$500 for expenses incurred in visiting
schools. though Garrett County makes
no allowance. and Hartford and st.
Mary's only 500. One cannot be sur
priSed. therefore, to find that these
positions have not attracted trained
men,
Competent Assistants Lacking.
"ConditionS are aggravated" the Re
port continues. by the almost unlver-
sal lack of competent assistants. The
law. while permitting the county
boards to eXpend thousands annually
in their discretion. forbidS the employ
ment of even a clerk to assist the Su-
perintendent. unless the number of
teachers in the county exceeds 81: an
assistant superintendent may not be
employed unless the number of teach
ers exceeds 10.
"Hence. five counties depend almost
entirely upon the County Superintend-
ent alone. employing only occasional
and temporary clerical assistance Six
out of the twenty-three have assistant
superintendent. and supervisors are
found in four.
''In only three counties-BaltimOre
Frederick and Allegany-are the of
fees ample and well equipped: else
where space is often meaGre and equip
ment usually limited. One-fourth of
the County superintendent have but
one room. rften q small one at that.
viii, h serves alike as stGre-hoiSc for
school supplies. as meeting place for
the County Board, and lis general Of
flee
How can an unframed and I'M
aided County superintendent organize
schools. certificate teachers and exam
inc children efficiently: Once more, it
is manifeSIly absurd to expect good
results under these circumstances.
Would Specify Qualifications.
The Report recommends that the law
define the qualifications of the County
SuperintendentS. requiring that he de-
vote himself exclusively to his office.
and that every superintendent lac given
such aid as is indisi ensable to the
proper performance of his duties.
1t is recommended. further. that one
half the additional expense of the
county school organization he paid out
of the general school fund, provided
the several counties pay the other half