The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1916-05-05
WESTMINSTER, MD.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 5, 1916
THE NEW SCHOOL LAW.

published these extracts for the lntor-
nation of it's readers, who probably
are unaware of what was proposed by
this legislation. 1t will be found that
the last Legislature made complete
and radical revision of the public
school system. Supervision and con-
troll have been centralized. A number
of new positions have been created,
and salaries have been provided with
an indulgent liberality to the educa-
tors of the State. The district school
trustees have less authority and con-
troll, the county school commissioners
under the new name OF county board
of education" possess less power; and
the county school superintendent is
exalted to the chief figure and central
authority in the altered educational
system OF the county.
Whether or not these drastic steps
will improve the methods OF education
remains for experience to disclose. 1t
is no gift OF prophecy to foretell that
the taxpayers will have to pay for
extent which will make them critical
of the latest education experiment in
Maryland If the innovations are to
have fair test, it is imperative that
the county school superintendent, the
official primarily responsible for the
results OF the present school Jaw,
should be possessed Of the requisite
capacity. An able, energetic, educated
and courageous man must be selected
by the School Board.
A moments reflection on the power,
the duties, and the responsibilities of
the county school superintendent I'M
der the new law will suffice to give
point and weight to this statement.
The School Superintendent will be
the executive officer, the secretary and
the treasurer of the county board of
education. He will not only have
supervision of the course of study. but
he will also be the commander in
chief of the teachers, nominating them
for appointment, assigning them their
schools, and supervising and disciplin-
ing them and becoming their Judge
when accused. Furthermore, the eX-
penditures of the county school sys-
tenn and the amount needed from the
local school taxes must be determined |
on and with the advice of the county
superintendent. A census of all child
rem between the ages of seven and
eighteen inclusive will be taken every
two years under his direction. He
has the exclusive right to nominate
all professional, clerical, statistical
and stenographic assistants: and prac-
tically every phase. every action in
school matters must originate upon
his recommendation. So complete in
his supervision that the county board
may not employ an architect except
upon his suggestion, and all buildings
are constructed under his immediate
supervision.
1t is manifest that many novel
duties are imposed upon the school
superintendent, and that a successful
discharge OF them demands man of
great executive and administrative ca
pacity In addition to these practical
requirements. the new statute con-
templates that the school superintend-
ent shall be man Of college or uni
versity training. In the effort to raise
the standard of the schools, and to put
an expert at their head, graduation
from standard college or university
is a recognized qualification under the
new law
There can be no question of the
vital necessity OF a proper standard
being maintained in the public schools,
and the new act establishes this stand
ard and places upon the School Board
of Carroll County the Weighty respon-
sibilitv Of carrying out its provisions.
In this they have no choice. It becomes
their pressing and immediate duty to
select for a public school superin-
tendent a man who has all the educa-
tional advantages and training and
the business ability required to dis
charge the duties Of this important
position to the satisfaction of the