Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-01-21
$7,OOO,OOO For Schools
Asked In Cooks Bill
State Aid Ranging From 1886 To $4,000
Providing For 5 Counties. Teachers To
Get Increased Pay.

Annapolis, Md. Jan. 17.-More
than $7,000.000 will be spent on pub
lie school education in Maryland in
the next two years under the Educa-
tional bill prepared by State Super
intendent of Schools Albert S. Cook
and introduced in the Legislature.
A new salary schedule for teachers,
principals and county superintendents
and the introduction of the equaliza-
tion plan in State aid are the two
important elements in the measure.
The maintenance costs, which are
incorporated in the Governors bud
get, represent S75O,OO0 more than
was appropriated for 1921 and 1922
and amount TO an increase of 81 ,50O,-
900 over the money spent on schools
in 1919 and 1920.
$7.199.000 For Two Years
The total to be spent on public
schools under the bill will be S3,500,-
600 in 1928 and $2,5OOO,OO0 in 1924,
plus SS4.500 annually, which, it is
estimated, will accrue to the State De-
partment of Education from fees in
the winter and summer schools at
the Towson State Normal School
The schools cost, too, will represent
considerably less on the tax rate than
heretofore. In 1921 their cost was
IS cents and in 1922 Is cents on the
State tax rate. For 1923 they will
take IL cents of the total and in
1924, 9 cents. This reduction in draft
on the rate has been equalized by
drawing more from the general State
funds, which come from indirect rev.
enues.
Salaries Are Raised
The new salary schedule provides
higher salaries in various grades and
also fixes again the requirements for
teachers, principals and county super
intendents. Provision also is made
for school supervisors, teachers in
junior high schools and for extension
courses to be conducted under the di-
rection of the department. Twelve
thousand dollars of the funds appro-
priated in the budget bill are to be
utilized in enabling teachers to i'm
prove their qualifications through OK
tension courses.
More important among the salary
provision are the following: Teachers
of third grade, $3.50; second grade,
$3.50, an increase of $50; first grade,
$3.50, an increase of $3.50. Increases
from the base figure are provided in
consideration of length of service. If
any of the former is a principal, he
is to be given 500 extra. Teachers
of the first grade are required to
have training in high school and a
State Normal School, or its equiva-
lent.
Principals Start At Sl,150
Elementary school principals will
start at $i,150 year, an increase of
$3.50. Provision is made for increas-
ing the salary to 81 $50, $1,000 and
Sl.35O after three, Fl, and eight
years. If the principal has six years
and an average daily attendance of
200 pupils, he will be given 5000
more, and with 10 teachers and 800
pupils, an increase of $400.
The minimum salary of county
superintendent is fixed at $2,940, n
cut of $50. From this figure the
salaries range upward on a graduated
scale, based on length of service and
number of teachers in a county, to
S4,140. OF these figures the State
pays only two-thirds, the balance be-
ing met by the various counties, which
are privileged TO pay their superin-
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 81