The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-01-07
A GAIN IS SHOWN in FIRST
GRADE LIST OF TEACHERS
An Increase of One Thousand In
Four Years Noted In Re-
port For State.

The objective toward which the en-
tire educational program in the Mary
land county schools is directed is a
trained teacher in every classroom.
The instruction of the children can be
improved only as the teachers do bet
ter work with them in the classroom.
The Maryland school law, which is
considered second to none in the
country, contains many provisions
which aim to bring about improve
ment in the training of the teaching
corps. Such things as the minimum
state salary schedule; the bonus for
teachers in charge of rural schools;
high school aid; the equalization
fund; the requirement of summer
school attendance by teachers at least
once every four years; supervision in
every county, with state aid toward
the payment of salaries, are all re-
quired solely in order to insure better
teaching for Maryland children.
The annual report of the State De-
partment of Education shows what
has been accomplished in the past few
years.
In October, 1925, there were nearly
1000 more white elementary teachers
holding first grade certificates than
there were four years ago, in October
1921. While in 1921 only 40 per cent
of the 5000 white elementary teach
ers held first grade certificates, over
2,212, or nearly three-fourths, in 1925
are normal school graduates or have
equivalent training. At present only
PAT teachers hold the lowest grade of
certificates, while in 1921 there were
65S teaching with very limited educa-
ton.
The normal schools have been
graduating larger numbers each year.
Through the State aid received from
the Equalization Fund, the financially
.noorer counties have had sufficient
'.ds to employ increasing numbers
N1 these normal school graduates
whenever vacancies have occurred in
their stats. Whenever teacher hold
ing a certificate lower than first grade
has been replaced by normal school
graduate, the salary cost has been in
creased by from 5000 to $3.50. Some
of the counties have been able to
make more rapid strides because of
the former lack of high school facili-
ties and the consequent dearth of stu
dents from these counties attending
the normal schools.
Teachers holding the lower grades
of certificates have been improving
their qualifications through work I'M
der the county supervisors, attend
ance at summer school and through
extension courses.
Every county shows steady i'm
provement in the professional prepa-
ration of it's teaching staff. Parents
may now feel that their children are
entrusted to the care of teachers who
are able to participate intelligently
and sanely in the physical, mental and
social development of the child. These
teachers during their period of prepa-
ration at the normal schools have had
practice in teaching under careful
guidance.
In the number of qualified teachers,
Baltimore county heads the list with
a total of 343. Allegany and Wash
ington counties are second and third
with 282 and $50, respectively, while
Garrett county is ninth with 81.
During the last four years, Prince
Georges added the largest number of
qualified teachers, with total of
ninety-six. Baltimore county in
creased it's qualified staff by eighty
two and Garrett and Allegany each
show an increase of seventy-fve.
Every county shares in carrying on
this forward movement, the increase
in the four years in the number of
teachers holding first grade certif-
Gates in individual counties varying
from to "a. Several counties had a
large proportion of well trained
teachers in 1921. These counties could
not expect to show the gain in num-
Der of teachers holding first grade
certificates evident in those counties
which had relatively few in 1921. Ger
TTn counties, especially those receiv-
~ the Equalization Fund since ii
was appropriated in the fall of 1922
have been able to more than treble
che number of their stats who may
be considered to have satisfactory
preparation for instructing children
Garrett has increased since 1921 from
IL to 81, Prince Georges from Sc to
$50, Wicomico from "a to 83, Worces-
ter from 16 to Sc and Dorchester
from % to 60.
Those interested in knowing the per
cent Of white elementary teachers en-
ployed who on the two dates consid-