Year: 1871

OAUA AODAOOO9 III
right to demand is limited to maximum
of ten cents iD the hundred dollars; be-
yond this amount the County Commits
sioners have concurrent action, and any
sum agreed on by the two Boards may b.
levied and collected.


It is too soon as yet to pronounce or
the merits of the new school law. It is
no doubt, defective. and could be improv
ed, yet competent judges do not hesitate
to say that no State in the Union has {
better school law in operation. It hat
been received with favor by vast major.
lity Of the people of the State. 1t has me-
with factious opposition from none. 1t i.
plainly the duty and the interest of the
people Of Maryland to give it fair trial
and to make no changes till experience
has proved them to be necessary. 1t viii
be time enough to ask for alteration when
all has been accomplished that the present
law enables them to do. At present the
law is not behind public sentiment. but
in some respects rather in advance of it.


There is one change that gave much
anxiety to friends of public schools-tha'
which restricted the county school tax to
ten cents in the hundred dollars unless the
County Commissioners approved of a high
|er rate; yet, Notwithstanding this restric-
ton, the county school tax of 1870 ex.
|ceeds that of 1869 by more than sixty
thousand dollars. This shows clearly
that the people approve of the system, for
the surest token of popular favor for any
institution is the willingness of the people
to submit to local taxation for its support.


SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.


Before the next annual report shall have
been made the term of the School Com.
missioners now in Office will expire, and
their successors, appointed BY the Judges
of the Circuit Courts, will take their place


Whether we look at the magnitude o1
the interests involved, or merely at the
amount of money expended, the public
school system is the most important of all
the State institutions. The power Of con-
trolling the system and Of expending the
public money is vested almost without
limit in the Boards of County School Com
missioners. They can. with the consent
of the County Commissioners, levy any
amount of tax whatever, and expend il
entirely within their own discretion. The
Office of School Commissioner is, there.
fore, even if we look to the pecuniary as.
pect of the case, one of great power and
great responsibility. It need scarcely be
added that School Commissioner should
be chosen for his special fitness for his
peculiar duties, and not on account o
other considerations It is not necessary
that School Commissioner should be a
man Of great learning, nor Of wealth. mol
of political notoriety. But the. following
characteristics are, if not absolutely essen.
'tial, at least highly desirable.


First. A School Commissioner should
have faith in public schools. He should
believe that the education of the children
of the people at the expense of the people
is right thing and good thing. There
are men still left in the State (though the
number is diminishing every year) who
submit to public schools as necessary evils
Men who, while they are unwilling to in,
cur odium by opposing them openly. do
not hesitate to use their influence secretly
against them. Such men not being with
us are against US; aud their proper place
is in the ranks of the opposition. As open
enemies they can do but little mischief.
As false friends they might beformidable.


Second. The School Commissioner
should have faith not only in the general
utility Of public schools. but also in the
particular system established by law. No,
that it is necessary for him to think that
the present system is perfect, nor even
that it is the best that circumstances ad-
nit, but that it is system which, if hon.
estly and vigorously administered, will
give as reasonably good schools for a
moderate outlay of money.


Third. The School Commissioner should
be known to be honest in his dealings and
spotless in his private life. Else how can
he be trusted as custodian Of public mo-
ney,. or respected as GUARDIANSHIP the
morals Of the young.


Fourth A School Commissioners should
enjoy the confidence of the community as
man of sound judgment. discretion and
good temper; qualities which will all be
severely tested during two years service
In County School Board.


Fifth. It is exceedingly desirable that
the administration ofpublie schools should
Se removed beyond the sphere Of partisan
politics. ~


STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. ~


The usual success and popularity of this
school have been fully maintained. The
number of enrolled students was ITO Gan
increase Of 26 over last year), of whom
IA were ladies and 26 gentlemen. The
average number in daily attendance was
about 120. The number of graduates last
year was II The whole number of gra-
duates is 1913. The number of graduates
and other students at present employed in
teaching is ISL.


Until last year there we're two grades ol
diplomas issued, corresponding to the two
grades of teachers, certificates authorized
by the State. But last year it was thought