REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

The summary included in the report of the State Board of Education, and the State tables immediately following, give a comprehensive view of the condition of the public schools during the last school year, ending July 31, 1899. The statistical reports of the Board of Commissioners of Public Schools of Baltimore City, and of the School Commissioners of the several counties of the State, present, in minute detail, the facts concerning the schools, and show the receipts and disbursements for their support.

A copy of the usual circular requesting supplementary reports, dated November 23, 1899, was mailed to each County Examiner in the State.

The following are the supplementary reports that have been received to January 1, 1900:

ALLEGANY COUNTY.-John E. Edwards, Examiner.

During the past year we erected and furnished twelve schoolhouses, two six-room brick and the balance one and two-room frame buildings. Four more are in course of construction, one four-room brick, one three-room frame and two two-room frame. The greater number of these replace old buildings.

The course of study in our County High School has been strengthened and advanced, and now includes full college preparatory work. Especial attention will be given to the study of English Classics. There are three departments-Ancient Languages and English, Modern Languages, Sciences and Mathematics. The enrollment is 80.

The Teachers' Institute, January 1-6, 1899, was a success, and was well attended, very few of our teachers being absent, and these chiefly on account of sickness.

CHARLES COUNTY.-Thomas M. Carpenter, Examiner.

In reply to your letter of the 23rd, I would respectfully state that I can add but little to the information given in the tabulated report. The schools for white and colored children were opened for nine months of the school year. The enrollment of pupils shows an increase of about five per cent. over that of last year, although the average attendance is somewhat smaller, which is

doubtless due to the severe blizzard of February last, which prevented a greater mass of the children from attending the

schools for more than a month.

Sixteen schools are now supplied with libraries of from twentyfive to one hundred volumes, consisting of books of reference, biography, history and fiction. The influence of these libraries is apparent in every school where the pupils possess this advantage, as is shown in the greater general knowledge of the pupils and the judgment displayed in their work in the schoolroom. The library is very helpful to the teacher, but, unfortunately, it has never received that aid and encouragement which it so justly merits. The various school districts seem not to appreciate its worth; the School Board is unable to foster it alone, and, indeed, frequently dare not comply with the law without encroaching upon the funds which are absolutely necessary to keep open the schools for nine months of the year.

The County Teachers' Institute, which was held in the Town Hall at La Plata, was attended by all teachers in the county, and its beneficial effect has been most strikingly illustrated in the school-room, where the many valuable hints on the profession of teaching, from the Institute Conductor and other distinguished educators, was thoughtfully impressed on the minds of the teachers, and its practical effects are clearly apparent in the rapid progression of the schools.

The vaccination law has been rigidly enforced, and no child is now enrolled who has not presented a certificate of vaccination. Whilst this has had the effect of keeping a number of children out of the schools, we deemed it expedient to conform strictly to this provision of the sanitary law.

In conclusion, I will say that, whilst we have many difficulties to overcome, our schools, in the main, are doing fairly well; our teachers are earnest and enthusiastic workers, patiently waiting when the legislators of our State will increase the appropriation in order that they may receive a just compensation for their services, or a compensation that will accord with the dignity of their profession.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.-W. B. Burdette, Examiner.

I herewith submit the Annual Report of the Public Schools of Montgomery County for the year ending July 31st, 1899.

The schools were kept open from September 15th to June 15th, giving the teachers an increase in salary over the previous year. We regret to say that the average attendance and the enrollment of the pupils for the past year was less than last. This is due largely to the severe winter and the presence of contagious diseases in various parts of the county.