Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-05-19
FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1916.
THE NEW SCHOOL LAW.


The recently revised public chooI
Law lies before us ana # comes so close
being an absolutely new law we
'leem il wise 70 call general notice to
its leading changes
The State Board Of Educ ,tion VIII
now consist Of seven members .ap ONT
cd for seven years, one TO reti9s each
year. County boanis Will be appoint
ed and hold office practically as here
tofofc. and shall be subject TO removal
BY the state Superintendent for cause,
with The approval Of the Governor.
Boards Of district trustees shall be
appointed for three years after 1917.
The State Board OF Education and the
state Superintendent shall largely CON
trol the construction OF new school
houses. The state superintendent
shall be appointed by the State Board
% Education ami not by the Governor
IS heretofore In the event that a
sounty board fails or refuses to obey
the law he may order the Comptroller
70 withhold a part OF the State appro-
priation.
fife County Board shall consolidate
schools whenever in their judgment it
Is practicable, and pay when neces-
sary for the transportation OF pupils
90 and from consolidated schools. The
County Board shal appoint on the
Recommendation OF the County Super
intendent all principals and assistant
teachers, and on the recommendation
OF the Superintendent. may suspend or
dismiss without appeal any teacher.
The County Board may require tne
County Commissioners TO levy annual
~ up to "a cents on the 800 for school
maintenance High requirements are
laid down for the County Superintend-
cnt, whose appointment is subject to
confirmation by the state Superintend-
ent. His salary shall not be less than
$500 per annum.
There also shall be "primary-grade
supervisor" at a minimum salary OF
81 200 and "as many additional super
intendents as in the Boards judgment
are necessary" There shall also be at
least one attendance officer" to com
pei regular attendance OF pupils. his
salary to be fixed by the County Board
ami to be not less than 5000. There
shall also be az least one clerk to the
Board, and such other assistant su-
pervisors. etc, as the Board shall
authorize.
All travelling expenses of these Off
GERS shall be paid by the Board in adj
dition to their salaries. Liberal chance
is given to use school houses for the
discussion of public questions. The
certihcation of teachers. after Septem-
Der next shall be n State function. the
state superintendent to furnish uni
form questions. and the County Super
intendent TO be his assistant in con
Quoting examinations.
other important new features are in
serted with reference to certificates
Salaries OF white teachers of the Sec
ond Grade shall not be less than $500
per aEnum ami shall be paid monthly.
There are many more very important
changes. but the ones noted bear most
directly on the body of taxpayers, the
parents. teachers and pupils. Ii will
be seen, on examination. that the tend
ency is to more than and more central
ize power. and to place in the hands
of few leading officials that power
which has heretofore been entrusted
TO local authorities.
II will he remembered that this law
Is a sequel TO the recent report of
school conditions which was made at
Governor Goldsborough's request by
two experts who live far from Mary
land. without discussing the sound
ness of the peiagogic principles on
which the new law was framed. we be-
lieve it viii be ultimately conceded
that parties familiar with Maryland
conditions could have best prepared
school law adapted 20 the needs and re-
sources OF Marylanders.