The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1916-05-12
me NtW school Law.

The recently revised public school
law lies before us and it comes 80 close
10 being an absolutely new law we deem
It wise to call general notice to its lead.
my changes.
The State Board of Education will
now consist OF seven members appoint.
ed for seven years, one to retire each
year
County Boards will he appointed and
hold office practically rs heretofore,
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-
troll the construction of new school
hOIscs
The State Superintendent shall be ap-
pointed 10y the State Board of Educa.
ton and not by the Governor as hereto.
fore. In the event that County Board
tails or refuses to obey the law he may
order the Comptroller to withhold part
OF the state appropriation. He shall
also examine the expenditures, business
methods and accounts of county school
boards. and pass upon the purchase of
school lots and plans for new houses.
The County Board shall consolidate
schools whenever in their judgment it
IL practicable. and pay when necessary
Tor the transportation of pupils to and
from consolidated schools.
The County Board shall appoint on
the recommendation Of the County
Superintendent all principals and assist
ant teachers, and on the recommends
ton Of the Superintendent may suspend
or dismiss without appeal any teacher.
The County Board may require the
County Commissioners to levy annually
up to q cents on the 800 for school
maintenance.
High requirements are laid down for
the County Superintendent, whose APP
polntmcnt is subject to confirmation by
the State Superintendent. His salary
shall not be less than $500.
There shall also be II primary grade
supervisor at minimum salary of
1920 and 'ns many additional super
rIsors 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 20 he fixed by the County Board.
and to be not less than 5000. There
shall also he Mt least one clerk to the
Board, and such other assistant super.
rlsn :, etc rs the Board shall authorize.
All travelling expenses of these
officers shall be paid by the Board in nd.
diton to their salaries. Liberal chance
Is given Ia use schoolhouses for the dis.
cussion of public questions
The certltication of teachers after
September next shall be II state func-
ton. the State Superintendent to fur.
nish uniform questions. and the County
Superintendent to be his assistant in
conducting examinations. Other i'm
portant new features are inserted with
reference TO certificates Salaries of
white teachers of the second grade shall
not be less than $500 per annum and
shall be paid monthly.
There are many more important
changes. but the ones noted bear most
directly ON the body of taxpayers.
parents, teachers and pupils. 1t will
be seen on examination that the ten
dency is to more and more centralize
power, and 10 place in the hands Of a
few leading officials that power which
has heretofore been entrusted to local
authorities. 1t will be remembered
that this law ls a sequel to the recent
report of school conditions which was
made at Governor Goldsborough's re-
quest by two experts who live far from
Maryland Without discussing the
soundness of the pedagogic principles
on which the new law was framed, we
believe it will be ultimately conceded
that parties familiar with Mary land CON
ditlons could have best prepared school
law adapted to the needs and resources
of Marylanders,