The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1922-10-20
Democratic Ticket
For United States Senate
WIN. CABELL BRUCE
THE SCHOOL BOND ISSUE

position fostered by many of Har.
ford's best citizens The Egis is exceed
ingly loath TO take q stand on. the
School Bond Issue. 1t would be much
easier to simply say nothing but II
has never been the papers policy to
sidestep a matter Of vital local interest
hence we shall risk the ire of many Of
our closest friends by expressing our
views.
BY way Of introduction II might be
well to note that both the editors went
through the local high school and both
have children who in all probability
will follow the same course, Providence
permitting. So that personally we are
somewhat familiar with conditions and
will be quite as vitality effected as any.
one by the outcome Of the bond cam.
paign. Going even further the editors
hope they have the honor TO count as
their personal and business friends the
present members of the Board Of Edu-
cation, all Of whom they have known
from early childhood, so that this ex.
preston Of opinion Is in no way dis
play Of antipathy towards them or
their executive officers, but rather
difference Of view point on a matter in
which we as we'll as they, are sincerely
and honestly interested.
II the present public school system
and the law under which 1t is admin.
istered Is to be endorsed In It's entire
ty we unquestionably advise vote for
bonding as the cheapest and most far
reaching method Of meeting vexa-
tious situation. To those who follow
this course however, we express n
firm belief that they may prepare for
similar calls at no distant date. just
SO surely as You endorse by this bond
issue the broad public school policy
Of education now being pursued other
loud calls will come. followed by dras.
tic orders from centralized authority
and only money, more money and still
more money can I'LL the ever widening
arms Of the champions Of so-called
public" education.
A few years ago, largely through
the efforts Of gentlemen whose ALLAN
ces were To university rather than
to the public school system. Maryland
called In a commission Of expert Nor
theners 10 make q survey of our edu-
cational system, and TO say that their
report was surprising is putting II
mildly. Many Of their findings and
recommendations were Of real value
while others we believe from the view
point Of Marylanders were unfortunate.
That radical changes based largely on
the viewpoint Of outsiders should have
been made without special conddera.
tion to local conditions, either then or
now, Is regrettahle. Following the re-
organization Of the school system
after this survey q strong centraliza-
ton Of school authority has resulted.
For instance we understand from r.
liable sources the county Board of Ed.
ucation cannot undertake additions
to buildings or the construction Of a
new one where the amount involved
exceeds $500 without consulting the
state architect. True his limitations
are largely those as to proper air
space, ventilation lighting and heat
ing but the ultimate authority lies
without the jurisdiction of the county
board And so 1t goes all along the
line with full measure Of red tape
and that constantly increasing until
the County Commissioners receive q
peremptory order that they must levy
20 much for fixed period regardless
q their outlook for revenue to meet
the demand.
Under the new regime especial stress
has been laid on the high schools until
now they attempt little OF almost
everything from the economic thread.
ing Of needle to the proper trans.
laticn Of Virgil, II is argued that the
present high school SO thoroughly Ats
the student for subsequent college Gu.
'reer; We iefute that argument by say
ing that from personal inquiry we be-
lieve the strictly scholastic curriculum
lof the present eleven grade high
school Is no higher than that of twen-
~ years ago. Then. az now, the high
school graduate from this county en-
tered the Freshman class Of the var
ious state colleges, without conditions,
provided he had awaited himself Of
the opportunities the school afforded.
Is il any wonder that under the present
system the cost Of education has dou.
bled and tiebled---with the end not yet
IN sight--until extraordinary means
have to be taken to meet the emergen-
ey! Based on an enrolment Of 1901
pupils for the year ls2i-sa we find
sac listed in the high school depart
ment the education Of whom cost $751;
s06.S9 out Of total school expenditure
both white and colored-of s2ls,i42.-
81; or looking at the matter from an.
other viewpoint practically 10 per cent
of the pupils cost about 81 per cent Of
the outlay. Again taking the above
figures for high school students one
finds the unit or pupil cost to be in
round numbers si02 per pupil or
$s7.s2 per pupil after dedacting ST.
s59.5a for capital outlay
Would II not be wiser policy 10
get back 70 earth and map out rigid
educational course within the normal
means Of the public. Is Il unreason.
able to ask that the favored ten per
cent pay directly some proportionate
part of the cost Of the elaborate ex-
penditnre made 10 their behalf at the
expense Of the less favored s0ss. One
says high school education should be
4free as air.; II that be true why not
extend the free educational system
even further and embrace collegiate
and professional training In the 'pub.
lie schools?