The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-06-01
STRIKING FEATURES OF
NEW SCHOOL LAW
Rigid Requirements Necessary Fol
Superintendent to Be Qualified.

changes therein. Inc law was DaSed
upon the report of the survey of the
schools which was made by the General
Education Board of New York City,
assisted by a similar board composed of
citizens of MARYLAND. These two boards
also formulated the law and recommend
ed immediate passage thereof, which
was supported by the state admins
tration and the state department of
schools; nor was it possible to make any
amendments to the proposed Legislation
without the approval of these two state
authorities. A few of the radical
changes made in the state school law
are briefly given below, additional ones
to be published in these columns next
week:
The Governor and the State Super
intendent of schools are removed as
members of the State Board of Edu-
cation.
The state department of education
shall be provided with an assistant
state superintendent, supervisor of
state-aided high schools. supervisor
of rural schools, white supervisor of
colored schools and such other clerical
and professional assistants and agents
as may be authorized by the state
board.
The County Boards of Education shall
be composed of citizens of the county,
appointed by the Governor direct. with
out the usual confirmation of the State
Senate, party affiliations or political
preference to have no bearing upon the
Governor IN making an appointment as
have prevailed formerly in this state;
to quote the Bill: 1.-The members of
the Boards shall be appointed solely be-
cause of their character and fitness"
District boards OF school trustees
shall each be composed Of three men,
bers, appointed from the residents of
the school districts by the county boards
of education for term of three years,
so arranged that one, only, after 1917,
is appointed each year.
The state department of schools, as
sisted by the county board of education,
shall direct the required taking of BIZ
annual census of all the children in the
state between the ages of and IS
years inclusive, to be taken first in the
year 1918 and every two years there
after.
The state superintendent OF schools,
subject to the rules and regulations of
the state board of education, shall pass
upon all plans and specifications for the
remodeling of old school buildings or
the construction of new school buildings
costing 5000 or more.
The county board of education shall
appoint, on the written recommendation
of the county superintendent, all princi-
pals and assistant teachers.
The county board of education shall
submit to the board of county COM
missioner a budget of necessary ex-
penses for conducting the schools for
the next school year and the board of
county commissioners are authorized,
empowered, directed and required to
levy and collect such tax upon the
assessable property of the county as
will produce the amount requested to
be raised by local taxation in the annual
budget of the county board of edu-
cation"
The county board of education shall
provide for at least an annual audit of
its business and financial transactions
by accountants approved by the
state superintendent of schools.
The county board of education shall
hold an annual meeting in May. At
this meeting the board shall elect one
of its members to serve as president and
one to serve as vice president 1t shall
appoint during the month of May a
superintendent of schools for term of
four years, from the first day of August
next succeeding his appointment.
No person shall be eligible for ap-
pOintment to the office of county
superintendent of schools who does not
hold from the state superintendent of
schools certificate in administration
and supervision as provided for in Sec
ton so of this article, nor shall the ap-
pointment Of any person by the county
board Of education to the position of
county superintendent of schools be
valid without the written approval of
the State Superintendent of Schools.
Provided that all county superintendent
of schools holding office at the time
when this act shall take effect, shall
continue to serve TO the end of the term
for which they were originally appoint
ed, and until their successors qualify,
unless removed, as hereinafter provid-
ed, aud shall also be eligible for reap
pointment; and provided, further, that
all county superintendent of schools
shall be paid, beginning with the school
year 1916 1917, on the basis of the
salaries hereinafter specified. The
salary of the county superintendent of
schools shall not be diminished during
his term of office. The county superin-
tpndepf of cChOOlS shall dovota hic an