Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1921-04-25

I'VE cannot with any degree OF
accuracy determine the amount
required for each of the improve
ments, but a rough estimate on all
new buildings, additions and inn
proved rural schools TO meet the
building needs of the county for
the next 20 years places the sum
at from $500, 900 TO S250.00O. With
the increased cost OF current ex-
penses, to meet The demands of
the people and in conformity with
the program OF Mr.. Albert S.
Cook. our new State Superinten-|
dent. it is at once evident that
even the most pressing OF the
needs cannot be met BY placing
large sums for building in the
levy OF any one year. The method
resorted elsewhere of bonds for
a term OF years seems 10 us the
only alternative"
The Belair Democrat, COM
menting on this statement of the
Board of Education, strongly
urges that the conditions COM
planned of be reniedied, and APP
pears to favor the spending of
needed money for schools at the
expense of Others public improve
ments. For instance, after de-
failing the lamentable deficiencies
OF the teaching corps and public
school equipment for lack Of
funds, the Democrat says:
rs it fair to our present and
coming generation of children !?
Is it in keeping with our lines of
advancement in agriculture, in
Red Cross and sanitary improve
ment, in the increase of popula
ton and wealth. that our school
system be retarded? Better the
county travel a little slower over
indifferent roads if it were neces-
sary, and travel along with the
phenomenal strides the world is
making through educational ia
cilities."
Still, it asserts that the tax rate
now the fourth highest in the
State, Sl.S0, of which So cents is
applied to schools-ought not to
be raised: 1--WE repeat that I'M
der no consideration should any
thought of raising the tax rate be
given" 1t goes on to say, after
paying its respects to the recent
suggestion of Editor John ID.
Worthington in the Belair Aegis,
that modest" fee should be
charged pupils in the high
schools:
"The modest fee which would
cover the. entire cost of mainten-
ance of a high school education
would socn lose its virtue Of
'modesty' when extended over a
four-year course, and however
modest the fee it would no
doubt be the means of depriving
many of the privilege of better
education than the primary
schools afford. She man fortu-
nately endowed with sufficient of
the worlds goods to send his
sons to a school requiring tuition
fees, is sufficiently his brothers
keeper, from the principles of a
democracy which we enjoy, to see
that his poorer neighbours sons al
so are given their opportunity of
at least fair education. The
rich man is certainly benefited,
the civilization of his community
as whole is advanced; no man
can live apart in world of his
own"
1t will be remembered that
some time ago the Evening Capt.
tai quoted the Worthington argu-
mept, which. in effect, was that
the taxpayers could stand no
more burdens for the public
schools, and that concentrated at
tention and expenditure should
be given at this. time to the Gle
mentary schools.
FREE TO. ALL
Our comment was that "The
idea he advances. therefore, is not
the thought of an enemy of the
public school system. but of one
of its strongest and most intelli-
! gent supporters; nor is it from one
with any lack of knowledge of the
- r