|
|
|
|
|
SCHOOL RECORDS FOR ST. MARY'S COUNTY,
1865-1916
(Part I of two parts)
by Pat Melville
The Archives has several series of records pertaining to
schools in St. Mary's County, that were generated between
the adoption of the Constitution of 1864 and the
establishment of the current State Department of
Education. The local agencies included the Board of School
Commissioners, succeeded by the Board of County School
Commissioners in 1868, and the Board of County
Commissioners.
This article deals with information garnered from the
(Proceedings), 1865-1901, of the school commissioners in
series C1678 and C1680. The minutes of their meetings are
arranged chronologically, list members present, and
describe matters under consideration. Business affairs
included election of the board president, appointments of
school officials, certification and employment of teachers
and assistants, selection of textbooks, school openings
and closings, construction and maintenance of
schoolhouses, awards and scholarships to students, and
expenditures of school funds. The first volume of the
proceedings, 1865-1888, was not reviewed because water
damage has made the pages too fragile to handle. Thus, the
following comments encompass only 1888-1901. Marginal
notes in the second volume guide the researcher to topics
under consideration.
The school board selected a county examiner, the
predecessor of the county superintendent, to handle the
certification of teachers and to act as its secretary and
treasurer. Annually it appointed three trustees for each
school district and filled vacancies during the interim.
The lists of trustees were recorded in the
proceedings.
The county examiner administered examinations for the
certification of teachers and reported the results to the
school commissioners. From 1895 onward the proceedings
include a list of certificates issued,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
showing the names of the teachers and the types of
certificates. Two years later the examination scores are
added to the lists. School trustees hired teachers,
subject to confirmation by the county board. Within state
guidelines the school board set salaries for teachers and
policies for employment. In 1901 the commissioners adopted
a policy prohibiting the employment of married women as
teachers. Any woman marrying while employed was required
to resign at the end of the quarter or with approval of
the board at the end of the school year.
The school commissioners handled complaints against
teachers, often involving discipline. One case was
resolved by the resignation of the teacher, and another
by placing the teacher on probation and requiring the
student to apologize for her behavior. In 1896 the board
investigated a teacher for falsification of attendance
reports. Another hearing concerned irregularities in the
certification examination. Three women, all with the
same surname, were accused of cheating because their
answers were so similar. The commissioners exonerated
one and granted certificates to the other two on the
basis of previous examinations.
Periodically the board selected new textbooks, usually
one or two at a time, for use in the schools. In August
1896 it specified a full list of books for reading,
spelling, geography, arithmetic, English grammar,
physiology, history, algebra, geometry, physical
science, bookkeeping, and Latin.
The commissioners established dates for the start and
end of the school year, based respectively on the
estimate of funds available and on actual remaining
money. To determine whether to open a new school, close
an existing one, or merge districts, the board usually
formed a decision on the basis on student population. In
1898 a school was closed temporarily because of scarlet
fever. In 1896 the General Assembly directed the
county commissioners to appropriate funds for two new
colored schools
(continued on Page 3)
|
|
|
|
|
