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Proceedings and Debates of the 1864 Constitutional Convention
Volume 102, Volume 1, Debates 1212   View pdf image (33K)
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1212
look upon this as a basis upon which this
whole superstructure is to rest. A false step
here will, in my judgment, lead to bad re-
sults. I think that if we put this salary at
such a rate that we cannot command the best
talents of the State, we inflict a very serious
blow upon the entire system. I have been
surprised, I must confess, at the course which
this debate has taken. I did not suppose that
there would be any objection to the salary
proposed here. But as it appears that there
is a serious objection, and that that sentiment
pervades the house generally, I would now
suggest as a compromise between the sum of
three thousand dollars which the committee
has named, and the sum of two thousand
dollars which the gentleman from Caroline
(Mr, Todd) has named—I would now suggest
the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars.
And I therefore submit that amendment.
Mr. TODD. I will accept that amendment,
or rather I will withdraw my amendment,
so that the question will be taken upon the
amendment of the gentleman from Baltimore
county (Mr. Ridgely.)
Mr, STOCKBRIDGE. I confess that I would
have preferred that the salary as reported by
the committee should have remained, at least
until the system was organized, rather than
it should be fixed at any less sum. According
to my estimate of the qualifications which are
required in our State to organize a public
school system, a system of free public school
education, there are fewer men fitted for
that place than for almost any other position
which we shall create or continue under the
constitution which we shall frame. We must
have a person familiar with the State, and
with the various school systems which pre-
vail in different parts of the State. It is well
known that we have a large number of dis-
similar systems in the various counties of the
State. Prince George's county has one sys-
tem; Cecil county has another; Baltimore
county another; indeed almost every county
in the State has some system, or apology for
a system, some kind of school system sus-
tained in some sort of way, upon which they
have relied for the education of the children
of those counties.
In order to give efficiency and force, these
systems must be harmonized; there must be
deduced from the mass one harmonious sys-
tem which shall operate correctly and well
throughout the State. In order to do this we
must have a person familiar with the subject
of education, familiar with the systems prev-
alent elsewhere, with those that prevail here;
of sufficiently capacious views to cover the
whole field; of sufficient aptness in details and
in working out the minor points of the plan
to make an efficient system. And very few
men are fitted for that. It is not often that
such a man can be found. Men have been
referred to here, Horace Mann has been named,
who was the architect of the school system as
it now exists in the State of Massachusetts.—
He was a man who at that time occupied the
very highest social position; be occupied a
most prominent political position, being pres-
ident of the State senate at the time. Yet he
laid aside his political position and all his po-
litical prospects, and for years devoted big
entire energies to digesting and perfecting"' a
plan of public' education. He visited Europe,
if I remember aright, more than once for the
purpose of studying the systems in existence
there.
And a man was employed in the State of
Connecticut, Mr, Barnard, who for many
years published a work upon the subject,
which has become almost a classic in the
common schools of our country. So impor-
tant were his services found, that he was im-
ported into the State of Rhode Island and
given a salary of more than four times the
salary of their governor there, and considera-
bly larger than that of the chief justice of the
State, until he had arranged and put into op-
eration there a system of school education.
Mr. MILLER. It was not three thousand
dollars.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. I do not remember what
it was. I have treated it comparatively with
other salaries. I have made this reference to
show what is my estimate of the sort of ser-
vices and ability we require.
Gentlemen have referred to the fact that
there were plenty of persons applying for the
position last winter, when a system was par-
tially framed. I suppose there would be
plenty of applicants if the salary was placed
at five hundred dollars. And perhaps if the
position was put up at auction, we might find
some who would be willing to take it at a
great deal less sum than that. But a saving
of one, or three, or five hundred dollars, in
the matter of a system of free public school
education, is a saving in the wrong direction.
We may save the money and beggar the intel-
lect of the State as far as the masses are con-
cerned,
1 believe, therefore, that. it is to the inter-
est of the people of the State everywhere, that
it is true economy, to pay such salaries to its
officers, as to secure for the. places the best
men that it is possible to obtain. I therefore
should have voted for the section as reported
by the committee, with perfect readiness to
adopt something like the suggestion of the
gentleman from Talbot (Mr.Valliant.) And
1 should be glad to see some such arrangement
made at this time.
Mr. DAVIS, of Washington. I move to
make the salary of this State superintendent
three thousand dollars,
The question was announced to be upon
the motion of Mr. RIDGELY, fixing the salary
at two thousand five hundred dollars.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. The chair has decided
that the question shall first be taken upon
the largest sum. The committee propose the


 
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Proceedings and Debates of the 1864 Constitutional Convention
Volume 102, Volume 1, Debates 1212   View pdf image (33K)
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