The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-02-05
COUNTY MEETING WAS VERY
LARGELY ATTENDED TUESDAY


to get teachers In answer to the
question, 'How much money should
be raised to increase teachers sal
aries" Mr.. Rathbun said he could not
make a definite statement Of the
sum as the amount the State Depart
ment thought was needed and his own
estimate did not agree. The estimate
made by the State Department was
$22 900, 81 900 of which the county
would have to meet. IN addition to
$1,000, Garrett county would receive
an extra appropriation. Mr.. Rathbun
stated his estimate of the additional
funds needed to pay teachers attrac-
tive salaries, which would be exacted
finally by the proposed new teachers
salary schedule, now in the General
Assembly of Maryland, it being an
administrative measure, to conduct
schools in good faith according to the
spirit and intent Of the state school
requirements, would cost from $751;
600 to $4,000 additional With this
additional levy required from the
county, Mr.. Rathbun said that he did
not see any way by which funds could
be raised for building new school
buildings, which are so vigorously de-
nanded from several parts of the
county, except by means of a bond is
sue, to be issued through a series Of
years, the same not to exceed $780,
00O
Mr.. Shartzer then read his pro-
posed law, House Bill No. %, which
he recently introduced in the House
Of Delegates, the same being as fol-
lows:
A BILL, Entitled An Act to open all
schools in Garrett County, and to
pay the teachers of Garrett County
salaries consistent with the present
high cost of living.
Whereas, Under the present school
system which does not pay sufficient
salaries consistent with the present
High Cost of Living, especially where
teachers do not hold a First Grade
Certificate; and
Whereas, % account of the small
salaries paid teachers, many of the
teachers of Garrett County have ac-
cepted other positions and have left
the county; and
Whereas, On account of the short
of toacborc pr1ito y,11Y,1 ha1, of
schools in Garrett County are closed,
some for three years, and, approx
mately, three hundred children in Gar
rett County are deprived of the priv
ilege of going to school; and in view
OF the fact that mountain ridges so
divide the population of Garrett Coun-
ty, the largest county in the State in
area, renders it impossible to provide
transportation; therefore
Section /. Be it enacted by the Cen
eral Assembly of Maryland That the
County Board of Education of Garrett
County be and the same is hereby au-
thorized to employ teachers holding
minor certificates, and such other per-
sons, who, after due examination by
the County Superintendent, and who
are found duly qualified and capable to
teach in the schools to which they are
to be assigned and pay them a salary
consistent with the present High Cost
of Living
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That if
by reason of the fact that much higher
salaries are paid the funds will be in
sufficient to keep the schools open nine
months, the County Board of Educa-
ton may close down all schools in
Garrett County as soon as funds are
exhausted. And nothing in this Act
shall be construed as to affect any of
the appropriation for said county.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That
the County Board of Education may
dispense with the Truant Officer and
such other officer as in their judgment
can be dispensed with, and the consta-
bles of the various districts shall per-
form the duties of Truant Officer.
Sec. a. Be it further enacted, That
all Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent
with this Act be and the same are
hereby suspended for two years so far
as they apply to Garrett County.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted,
That this Act is hereby declared to be
an emergency law and necessary for
the immediate preservation of the
public health and safety, and it shall
take effect from the date of its pas
sage.
After much discussion, it was voted
first by ayes and nays, then by ris-
ing vote that the bill would not rem
edy matters. The plan suggested by
the bill would tend to set Garrett
county adrift from the State school
system, would create the possibility
of the terms of all schools of Garrett
county being shortened, would tend
also of dispensing with some of the
needed public officials. To do these
things would cause retrogression in
stead of progress That is not what
Garrett county wants, nor voted for at
this meeting.
Mrs. James Wilson represented
the Civic Club of Oakland and said
that the club advocated the increases
in teachers salaries, and asked that
a bonus of 5000 be paid to all regu-
larly qualified teachers of the county