L B UC-NRLF ^ze\ III i33 J '877 ""^^~T"HE PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW MARYLAND Passed at the January Session, 1872, as^ Amended at the January Session, 1874:^ BY-LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE GUIDANCE OP TEACHERSAND SCHOOL OFFICERS Public Schools of Maryland. By Authority of the State Board, of Education . **^' 'V^ Of xiiv mvrm BALTIMORE: S^Jf,^^,,- WM. J. C nm.ATJY & cn?tel=^ Pbinters and Stationk Board of Education. University 'ALIFORNIA. Received \ zAcce^siom.No. k5Z>'^ ^ .i&g^r IlUS No. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from ^ IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/bylawsrulesregulOOmaryrich • THE PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW OP MAEYLAND PASSED AT THE JA.NUA.KY SESSION", 1872, AS AMENDED AT THE JANUARY SESSION, 1874. Published for the State Board of EdTjcation. ;U2r2YSS.SIT7i BALTIMORE: STEAM PRESS OF WM. J. C. DULANY & CO. 333 West Baltimore Street. 1877. si^jl TKCE PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW OF MARYLAND. PASSED AT THE JANUARY SESSION, 1872, AS AMENDED AT THE JANUARY SESSION, 1874. Be it enacted hy the General- Assembly of Mary- land, That the Act passed at the session of eighteen hundred and seventy, entitled an Act to repeal an act passed at the session of eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, entitled Public Education, providing a system of Free Public Schools for the State of Mary- Repealed, land, and to repeal all laws inconsistent therewith, be and the same is hereby repealed, and re-enacted ^"^^^^ • so as to read as follows : Section 1. And he it enacted, That there shall be Free public tliroughout the State of Maryland a general system schools, of Free Public Schools, according to the provisions of this Act. Sec. 2. And he it enacted, That this Act shall be ^(j(jition to added to the Code of Public General Laws, under Code, the title ^^ Public Education,'' and that all existing laws inconsistent herewith be, and the same are, hereby repealed. Chapter I. — Supervision. Section 1. Educational matters affecting the State, and the general care and supervision of public edu- State Board. 4 PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW cation shall be entrusted to a State Board of Education. County Board ^^^- ^- Educational matters affecting ^ county ^^« shall be under the control of a Board of County School Commissioners. Dist. Board. Sec. 3. Educational matters affecting a school district shall be under the supervision of a Board of District School Trustees. Chapter II, — Formation of Boards. Section 1. The G-overnor, by and with the advice Formation of ^^^ consent of the Senate, shall appoint at every State Board, regular session of the General Assembly, from among the Presidents and Examiners of the several County Boards, four persons (one of whom shall be ^a resident of the Eastern Shore), who, together t^Yry-tyi.jdL-^t/Lf with the Governor and the Principal of the State '» /jc-^ { Normal School, shall constitute the State Board of t*^ '^^'^^/vjiducation. II I ^^^f^^ Sec, 2. The Board of County School Commission- Term of Ser- ers shall be composed of three persons, appointed by the Judges of the Circuit Courts, to serve for two yearg from the first day of January next succeeding said appointment, and until their successors shall Proviso. Q.ualify ; provided, that in counties having over one hundred schools five persons shall be appointed. Sec. 3. The Board of District School Trustees p.. ^ , . shall be composed of three persons, who shall be Trustees. appointed by the County School Commissioners on the first day of May, or at their first meeting there- after in each year_, and who shall meet within thirty days after their appointment, and enter upon the duties assigned them in chapter five of this Act. At their first meeting they shall appoint a chair- man, to hold office for one year, and shall give notice of the appointment to the Secretary of the Board of County School Commissioners. OF MARYLAND. Chapter III,, — Duties of the State Board of Educa- tion. Section 1. The State Board of Education shall hold regular meetings on the last Wednesday in Meetings. May, August, Noveinher and Februar}^ of every year, and special meetings as occasion may require. Sec. 2. Tlie office of the Board shall he in the q^^^^ State Normal School. Sec. 3. The members of the board shall receive no salary, but actual expenses incurred in attend- ing meetings of the board, and they are authorized No Salary, to employ clerical assistance when necessary ; the Treasurer, upon the warrant of the Comptroller, is hereby authorized to pay the President of the Board such amount, not exceeding one thousand dollars ^^^ P^^^^^'*- per annum, as he shall show to be due for these necessary expenses. Sec. 4. The State Board of Education shall, to the j. „, best of their ability, cause the provisions of this law state Board, to be carried into effect, and may, if necessary, in- stitute legal proceedings for that purpose, with the direction and advice of the Attorney General ; they shall enact by-laws for the administration of the Public School System, not at variance with this Act, and shall have the power to suspend or remove any examiner ot teacher who may be found inefficient in or incompetent for the discharge of duties assigned him, or guilty of such moral delinquency as may have unfitted him for the office he holds ; they shall explain the true intent and meaning of the law, and they shall decide, without expense to the paries concerned, all controversies and disputes that may arise under it. Sec. 5. They shall have the general care and supervision of the Public School interests of the Have gen- State ; Shall act as assistants and advisers of the supervision, various County Boards ; and shall, from time to time, issue circular letters to teachers and commis- sioners on topics connected with the administration of public schools. 6 PUBLIC SCHOOL LA W Sec. 6. In order to insure uniformity in the sta- in reportT^*^ tistical reports of the public schools, they shall issue a uniform series of blanks for the use of teachers and of County Boards, and shall require all' accounts to be kept and returns to be made according to these forms. Examine ^^^' ^- They shall, when requested by the Board candidates, of County School Commissioners, examine candi- dates for the office of County examiner, and give a certificate of qualification. Sec. 8. They may grant to teachers of long ex- fi^tes* perience and established reputation professional certificates, which shall be valid until revoked for cause. * Sec. 9. The State Board of Education shall be, ex-officioj trustees of the State Normal School ; and ^J^^^^«*^^^^^ the Principal of the State Normal School shall be, ex-qfficioj a trustee of the State Agricultural College. Sec. 10. All schools and colleges receiving any To report State donation shall make a report, on or before the annually. fifteenth day of November in each year, of such matters and in such form as the State Board of Education shall require ; and said reports, or an abstract therefrom, shall be published by the Presi- dent of the Board in his annual school report. Chapter 1Y. —Duties of the County ScJiool Commis- sioners. Section 1. The Board of County School Comrais* Organization, sioners shall meet for organization on the first Tuesday in January next succeeding their appoint- ment, or as soon thereafter as may be, and elect a person not a member of the board, who shall serve as Secretary, Treasurer and Examiner ; and notice of such election, signed by the President of the board, shall be transmitted to the Comptroller ; provided, that in counties having more than eighty- five schools, the board may at their discretion ap- point one assistant examiner and fix his salary. OF MARYLAND. ^ The board shall meet once in q^qvj school term, and at other times if necessary, for the transaction of business ; each commissioner shall receive per day for each day of his attendance at the board, or on committees appointed by the board, such pay as is allowed the County Commissioners in the several counties of the State ; provided^ that the aggregate amount paid in one year to commissioners as per ^^^^^^• diem, or any other compensation, shall not exceed an average of one hundred dollars for each commis- sioner. Sec. 2. The Board of County School Commis- sioners is hereby declared to be a body politic and Incorporated, corporate, by the name and style of the Board of County School Commissioners of — - — -^-^^ county, and by that name shall have perpetual succession, Name and and shall be capable to sue and be sued, to have and style. use a common seal, and the same at their pleasure to alter or break, and to exercise all the powers and privileges hereby granted to or vested in them ; and every County School Commissioner shall have power to take affidavits and administer oaths in all mat- ters pertaining to public schools, but without charge or fee. Sec. 3. All the property, estate, effects, money, funds, claims, and State donations, now vested by Property law in the public school authorities of any county, transferred to for the use and benefit of public, primary, free or high schools, are hereby transferred to and vested in the Board of County School Commissioners and their successors in,- office. Sec. 4. The Board of County School Commis- sioners shall have the general supervision and con- General trol of all schools in their respective counties ; they ^^P^^^^*^^^^ shall build, repair and furnish school-houses ; they shall fix the salaries of teachers, they shall purchase and distribute text-books, and shall perform such other duties as may be necessary to secure an effi- cient administration of the public school system, subject to the provisions of this law. 8 PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW . Sec. 5. The State School tax and free school fund tliisact/^^^ are primarily intenrled, under this Act, to pay the salaries of the teachers of the several counties, and to provide school hooks and stationery for the chil- dren of the State. If, however, in apportioning the said State school tax among the different coun- ties and the City of Baltimore, the share of any Contingency county should prove inadequate for the purposes aforesaid, then the County Commissioners of such county are hereby authorized, empowered, directed and required to levy and collect such a tax upon the assessable property of such county as the Board of . County School Commissioners shall designate as sufficient to make good the deficiency ; provided, said tax shall not exceed ten cents in the hun- dred dollars, unless the County Commissioners shall approve and sanction an additional tax. The taxes so levied and collected shall be paid quarterly, on the day fixed for the payment of the State school tax to the several counties ; (but the proceeds from special taxes may be paid oftener_, upon the order of the Board of County School Commissioners to the Treasurer of the said Board of County School Com- missioners,) in order that the schools of said coun- ties may be kept open for the time herein set forth, and said tax shall be levied and collected as other taxes. Any sums of money which may have been specially collected or levied on any election or school- house district, for educational purposes connected with these disti'icts, shall be collected for and ap- plied to the purposes so intended originally, and shall be used for no other purpose ; and if said funds have been used otherwise they shall be re- turned and applied as aforesaid. Sec. 6. In all cases where* the. county has not committee ^o ^^^^ properly divided into school districts, and full divide. records of the boundaries thereof have not been made and recorded, the Board of County School Commissioners shall appoint a committee if, in their opinion, they deem it necessary, consisting of three persons of intelligence and sound judgment, who shall divide the county into suitable school districts, and define and describe the boundaries of each ; Proviso. provided, that no school district shall contain a OF MARYLAN-D. 9 greater area than four miles square, unless a part of it be located in a thinly settled region. In the formation of the school districts, the committee shall take into consideration the most suitable site for tlie school-house, the general features of the rp^ niake country, and shall make each school district of such accurate de- size and form as will best accommodate tlie popula-^cription of tion within its bounds. The committee shall make ^^ ^^^ ^• an accurate description of the bounds of the school districts, accompanied b}' a plat^ and shall report the same to the Board of County Scliool Commis- sioners, who shall thereupon give notice in all the newspapers of the county at what time ^hey will meet to hear applications for a change of bounda- ries,, which applications shall be made in writing, and within two months from the date of the first publication of such notice. When the application May change shall have been ma'de and considered, the Board of boundaries. County School Commissioners may then change the boundaries of school districts, and revise tlie de- scription ; or they may, without application, make such change as may be deemed important, or they may ratify and confirm the report of the committee. The description at the boundaries of school districts shall be recorded in a book kept for that purpose by Description the Secretary of the Board of County School Com- missioners. In those counties where no newspaper is published, the notice of application for a change of boundaries shall be published in such a manner as the Board of County School Commissioners may decide. Whenever it may be necessary, the Boai-d of County School Commissioners shall employ a Surveyor to aid the committee in the performance of Employ a such duty, and they shall allow the Surveyor such ^^^^^3^^^'- compensation for his services as may be just and jDroper ; and the committee shall receive no com- pensation whatever for their services. The cost of ^. „ dividing the county shall be paid by the County diyjfiijig School Commissioners out of the school fund of the county. If a county has already been divided into school districts, and it may be necessary to revise the same, the Board of County School Commissioners shall have full power to make such revision or altera- tion as may be necessary to accommodate the popu- lation and increase the efficiency of the schools. 10 PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW A full description of such changes and alterations shall also he made and recorded as aforesaid. Sec. 7. The Board of County School Commission- j.^^ff^^'^^^^ers shall, on or before the fifteenth day of November in every year, make a report to the State Board of Education, in such form as may be prescribed b}' the latter, of the schools and all matters affecting the educational interests of the county ; they shall Publishalso publish annually, in the month of November, re€dpts^^ and ^^ ^^^^^^ ^"^^^ ^^^ manner as they may deem proper, disbursem'ts. a statement of their receipts and disbursements, including the money received and expended on ac- count of text books, and a statement of the indebt- edness of the Board at the close of the fiscal year, and forward a copy to the State Board of Education. Sec. 8. In case of the death o*f any County School Vacancies, Commissioner, or his resignation or removal from ^^ ^^ ■ the county, or disqualification from any legal cause, the Judges of the Circuit Court of the Judicial District where the vacancy occurs shall have power to appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy. In case of inefficiency, refusal to act, or breach of trust, the Board may, by a vote of a majority of cant^ ^^^ ^^' i^^ members, declare the office vacant, and give notice to the party concerned. An appeal may be taken to the State Board of Education, whose decision shall be final ; but if no appeal be taken within ten days, the vacancy shall be filled as here- inbefore provided. Sec. 9. No teacher, in actual employment as Teachersnotguch, shall fill the position of County School Corn- to be commis- • • * • "^ cinnprc missioucr. Chapter Y. — Duties of the District School Trustees. Duties of Section 1. The Board of District School Trustees board district shall have the care of the houses and lands con- tees!^ ^^^^' Elected therewith intended for school purposes, also the furniture, apparatus and other school property ; they shall attend to all repairs, and charge the OF MABTLAND. 11 cost among the incidental expenses of the school, to be paid out of the tax levied upon the assess- able property of the county, as herein provided for ; provided, that when repairs are to be paid out ' of a county school tax, the amount to be expended ^^^^^• for said repairs shall be determined by the Board of County Scliool Commissioners before the repairs are made. The Board shall employ a teacher or teachers, subject to confirmation by the Board of County School Commissioners, from among those persons who hold the certificate required by this Act. They shall exercise a general supervision over their respective schools, and visit them fre- quently, and shall cause instruction to be given for ten months in the year, if possible. Sec. 2. The Board of District School Trustees Out - Ijuiid- shall see that every school-house site is provided ings. with suitable out-buildings. Sec, 3. No school-house shall be used for any other purpose than public school purposes, and ^^^ %f/*^ scbool district meetings, unless by consent of the pJ^^L,Qggg^ Board of County School Commissioners, or a ma- jority of them. Sec. 4. Contiguous portions of two or more school-house districts may, with the consent of the Contiguous Board of County School Commissioners, combine {ij^t^j-i^tj^^ may and form a new school-house district; and when combine, thus formed, the said new school-house district shall be invested with all the rights and powers herein- before set forth as pertaining to such districts ; pro- vided, that the new school-house district thus ^^^^'^^.^• formed, or said district from which it may be formed, shall not contain less than thirty-five legal rcvsident voters. Sec. 5. In case of neglect of duty, or refusal to act, on the part of the members of the Board of^^J®^*^^;*^" Trustees, their places shall be declared vacant by the Board of County School Commissioners, who shall fill the same by new appointments ; but if it be found impossible to secure competent persons who will act in this capacity, then the duties of the ^> of TBM TJiriVBRSITTl 12 PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW Board of District School Trustees for the particuhir district shall devolve upon the Board of County School Commissioners. Chapter VI. — Scliool-liouses and Sites.- Select site for SECTION 1. It shall he the duty of the Board of school- houses County School Commissioners to select a suitable school-house site in each district, whenever the ne- cessities of "the public schools demand a change of site or sites already built upon, or a new school- house to be built. Receive dona- Sec. 2. The Board of County School Commission- Tmrchase^Si ^^^ ^^^^' receive donations of such sites or locations and lease'. fo^' school-houses, or of liouses already built, adapted to school purposes, and suitably located, or may purchsae the same, but in no case shall any site be built upon or any house be occupied, until a good and sufficient title, shall have been obtained for the same, in the corporate name of the Board of County School Commissioners, In cases where, however, the property owned by the Board of County School Commissioners in any school district proves.unsuited for school j)urposes, the Board is authorized to sell or lease the same, and to appropriate the amount obtained by such sale or lease to the purchase or lease of a proper school-house at a suitable location for the said district. Sec. 3. When the lands shall be required for the Unable to site of a school-liouse, or for enlarging a school- iTndrequired! ^^^"^^ ^^*' ^"^^ *^^ ^^^^'^ ^^ County School Com- missioners shall, from any cause, be unable to contract with the owner thereof, the Board of County School Commissioners may apply for a writ of ad ' , quod damnum to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the county, who shall forthwith issue the same, and Tomakein-*^^ Sheritf shall execute the said writ, and return quisition. an inquisition describing the land and stating the amount of damages to be paid to the owner, and the judge of theCircuit Court for the county may, at any time after the return of the inquisition, in term or during recess^ hear a motion to confirm such inquisi- OF MARYLAND. 13 tioDj on such notice to the parties as he may direct, and confirm or quash the same ; and if he quashes the inquisition he shall order a new one forthwith to he taken^ but no lot so taken or enlarged shall exceed, in the whole, one acre, including the land occupied by the school building. Sec. 4. In all cases when school-house sites are thus purchased or condemned, the cost thereof shall j^^^^^p^^^ be paid as other school-house property is paid for. Sec. 5. Every school-house shall be built and furnished according. to plans and drawings issued and furnished from the office of the County School Commissioners. Chapter YI I . — ScJiools.. SECTto:?? L The schools under the charge of the^ ,. . Board of County School Commissioners tor each "^ county, shall respectively be designated school number one, two, three, and so forth-, of their respective election districts. Sec. 2. In every school-house district in each county, established as hereinafter provided, there ^e^t^op^en" ^^ shall be kept for ten months in each year, if pos- sible, one or more schools, according to population, which shall be free to all w^hite youths over six and under t wen tjvone years of age. Sec. 3. In every district school there shall be t,. r taught orthography, reading, writing, English i^e tauo-ht.^ grammar, geography, arithmetic, history of the United States^ and good behavior. Algebra, book- keeping, natural philosophy, the constitution of the United States, the constitution of the State of Mary- land, and the history of Maryland, vocal music, drawing, physiology, the laws of health, and do- mestic economy shall also be taught whenever the Board of District School Trustees shall deem it expedient ; and in districts where there is a con- siderable German population, the Board of County School Commissioners are authorized to cause the German language to be taught, if they shall think proper so to do. 14 PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW Sec. 4. Whenever a school numbers more than be ^employeY ^^*3^ children in average attendance, an assistant " may be employed by the Board of County School Commissioners ; and for every additional forty chil- dren one teacher may be appointed, and the Board of County School Commissioners shall direct the division of the pupils so as to form a graded school. Sec. 5. Whenever the number of children attend- May grade ing school in any school district is greater than one scioos. hundred, then the Board of County School Com- missioners may, with the consent of the Board of District School Trustees, establish schools of dif- ferent grades, or the school district may be divided ; and whenever the average attendance in any school for any two consecutive terms is less than ten pupils, then the said schools may be closed by the Board of County School Commissioners ; provided j May close that the Board of District School Trustees may keep the school open in part at the expense of the district, and shall receive their proportion of the school fund for said school, rating a full school at twenty scholars. ^ . , Sec. 6. Public examinations shall be held in each * school twice a year, of which due notice 'shall be given, that parents and others interested in educa- tion' may attend. Sec. ^. School shall be kept open each week-day. Hours for except Saturday, for six hours; and the hours for ^' teaching shall be regulated by the several Boards of County School Commissioners. Sec. 8. Any person who shall disturb any public Penalty for school in session, shall, upon conviction thereof be- disturbing. f^^Q a Justice of the Peace, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall forfeit and pay twenty dol- lars, to be collected as other lines, to be paid to the Board of District School Trustees for the benefit of the school-house district ; or said offender shall be imprisoned not exceeding thirty days ; or both, in the discretion of the Justice of the Peace. Terms. Sec. 9. The school year shall be divided into OF MARYLAND. 15 four terms, whicli shall be designated the fall term, winter term, spring term, and summer term ; and the time of beginning and closing each term shall be regulated by the Board of County School Com- missioners ; provided, that the financial reports of pj.^^jgQ the schools of the State shall be made up and ren- dered to the thirtieth day of September inclusive, of each and every year ; and provided further , that there shall be no change in or encroachment upon the holidays and vacations set forth and established in the following paragraph: The month of August shall be vacation through- out the whole State, and the following days shall ^^^'^^3^^' be holidays, viz : Thanksgiving day, from Christmas Eve to the first day of January inclusive, Washing- ton's birthday, the fourth day of July, from the Friday before Easter to the Monday after Easter inclusive, and the Monday of Whitsuntide ; and the remaining month of vacation shall be fixed and designated by the Board of County School Commis- sioners, to subserve the convenience and advantage of their respective counties. In case it may be necessary to open school for a fraction of a term, it shall close at the end of the term, and all accounts shall be settled at the meeting of the Board of County School Commissioners, held at the close of the term. Chapt&r VIII. — Teachers. Section 1. No person shall be employed as a teacher under this law unless such person shall hold ^^ ,^ . a certificate of qualification issued by the Examiner of teachers, of the county in which he or she proposes to teach, or from the Principal of the State Normal School, a diploma as graduate of said Normal School, or cer- tificate from the State Board of Education, as here- inbefore provided. Sec. 2. Teachers shall be appointed by the Board of District School Trustees, and may be removed ^ I^J^^o^al of at any time said board may think proper, after thirty days' notice given to the teacher in writing. 16 PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW , Sec. 3. Teachers shall enter into tlieir quarterly quarferlY^^re-^^P^^^''^ ^^ accurate account of the attendance of ports. pupils, of text-books used and branches taught, and such other statistics as may be required^ and .make due returns thereof to the Board of County School Commissioners at the end of each term ; and no teacher shall be entitled to receive payment for ser- vices until the quarterly report, properly filled up and completed, be so returned ; the quarterly re- ports shall be filed by the Board of County School Commissioners, for the purpose of making the an- nual returns to the State Board of Education. Sec. 4. The Board of County School Comrais- May examine sioners shall examine any charge preferred against cliarges pre- the moral character of any teacher within their county ; they shall give the teacher reasonable notice of the charge in writing, and an opportunity to defend himself, and if the charge be sustained they shall annul the teacher's certificate, and shall give -notice thereof to the State Board of Education ; 'provided, that an appeal shall lie to the State Board of Education, whose decision shall be final. ferred. Proviso. Sec. 5. Any person holding a first grade teacher's Certifioates certificate, or the diploma of a respectable college, or of a State Normal School, who has been a teacher for seven years^ of which five shall have been spent in the State of Maryland, may apply to the State Board of Education for a life certificate, which if granted shall exempt him from any further exam- inations ; said certificate may be annulled by said Board at any time on account of immoral or unpro- fessional conduct. Sec. 5. The salaries of teachers of each county ^Salaries. ahall be fixed by the Board of County School Com- missioners. Chapter IX. — Pupils. Section 1. All white youth between the ages of Adult pupils, gi;^ and twenty-one years shall be admitted into the public schools of the State, the studies of which they may be able to pursue ; provided , that when- OF MARYLAND. lY ever there are graded schools, the teachers and Board of District School Trustees shall determine to which school pupils shall be admitted. Sec. 2. The Board of District School Trustees gugpendpu- shall have power to suspend and expel pupils forpiis. cause ; provided, that an appeal shall lie to the Board of County School CommissionerSj whose de- cision shall be final. Sec. 8. Children living remote from the school of the district in which they reside, may attend Living re- school in an adjoining district, with the consent of ^^te from, the Boards of the respective school districts. Sec. 4. Every child, before being admitted to any public school, shall produce a certificate from a regular physician that he has been properly vacci- Vaccinated, nated. Chapter X. — Text Books, Section 1. School books shall contain nothing oi-^^^ partisan. a sectarian or partisan character. /" Sec. 2. Each Board of County School Commis- / sioners shall adopt, and may purchase the text-books Adopt and ( for the public schools in their respective counties, purchase. Sec. 3. The Board of County School Commis- sioners shall authorize the delivery of books and, ^^ ^d^\^^ stationery to the various schools in the county, under tionery. such rules and regnlations as they may adopt. No pupil shall be required to pay more than one dollar quarterly for use of said books and stationery ; but any pupil, on account of pecuniary inability, may be exempted from payment by the Board of District School Trustees ; provided, nevertheless, that par- ents or pupils may purchase their own books when they may think proper. Sec. 4. The Board of County School Commis- sioners shall keep an account of the books and sta- ^^^^ ^^^^^^* tionery delivered to the several schools in their re- spective districts, and file their receipts for the same. 9. 4 18 PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW Chapter XI. — County Examiner. Section 1. It shall be the duty of the County Examine can- Examiner to examine candidates for the profession didates. Qf teacher_, in the presence of at least one member of the Board of County School Commissioners, or one or more of the District Trustees, and to give such persons as are found qualified, under the sanc- tion of the Board at its next meeting, a certificate * setting forth the branches such persons are compe- tent to teach ; but no certificate shall be granted without satisfactory evidence of the moral character of the applicant. Registered. Grades. Duration. Sec. 2. The certificate issued by each County Ex- aminer shall be numbered and registered in a book kept by the Board of County School Commissioners, and to be delivered to their successors in office, and shall be denominated first or second grade, as the case may be ; and the State Board of Education shall keep a book in the same manner as i he County Examiner. Certificates of the first grade shall em- brace orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, English grammar, book-keep- ing, algebra and natural philosophy'; and those of the second grade shall embrace orthography, read- ing, writing, arithmetic, geography, history and English grammar ; but the State Board of Educa- tion may add additional requirements to those in- dicated for either grade, whenever the same may seem necessary. Such a certificate shall, however, not continue in force for more than six months, un- less the person receiving the same shall satisfy the Examiner of his fitness for governing a school,, and his ability to impart instruction in the various branches taught in the public schools ; but when the Examiner shall have satisfied himself upon these points, he shall be empowered to issue a certificate, which shall continue in force for three years from the date of issue. C rt'fi t ^^^* ^* "^^ certificate of qualification as a teacher not granted, shall be issued to any male under nineteen years of age, or to a female under seventeen years of age. OF MARYLAND, 19 Sec. 4. The County Examiner shall hold regular examinations of teachers at such times as the ^^^"^"^^^'^®- Board may direct, of which due notice shall be given in the newspapers, or otherwise, No Ex- aminer shall he allowed to charge any fees for the issuing of certificates to teachers ; and if any Ex- aminer shall be found guilty of charging or receiv- ing any fee or reward, directly or indirectly^ for issuing any certificate to a teaclier, he shall be dis- missed from office. Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the County Ex- aminer, or his assistant, at least three times in each Duty_or school year, to visit the schools in his county if it aiSin^, contains fifty schools or less, and twice a year in counties having more than fifty schools ; he shall observe the method of the teacher and give him such practical suggestions as the circumstances may prompt ; he shall, whenever possible, attend public examinations, and report quarterly in detail the result of his observations to the Board of County School Commissioners. Sec, 6. The Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of County School Commissioners shall give bond to , Officers to the State of Maryland, with at least two securities ^^^^ °^*'' to be approved by the said Board, in such penal sum as the said Board sh^all determine, with the condition that he will faithfully perform the duties of Secretary and Treasurer^ pay over and apply all moneys that shall come to his hands or care as^ . ,„ m j^ 1 1 • 1 Duties of Sec- Treasurer, to such persons and m such manner as retaiy. said Board may, under the provisions of this Act, direct ; and that he will keep a full account of all moneys received and paid by him, and all matters relating to the duties of his office, and preserve the same and all vouchers relating thereto, and deliver up all books and vouchers relating to his office, to ^qt^^ to be his successor; which said bond, when executed, filed, shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court for the county. He shall be present at every meet- ing of the Board, and may debate any question before them, but shall have no vote. He shall keep the minutes and conduct the correspondence, and shall duly file away and safely keep all letters, re- 20 PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW ports and other papers pertaining to the business of the Board. He shall prepare and submit to the Board for their adoption the annual report to the State Board of Education, To devote Sec. 7. The person or persons acting as Secre- tary, Treasurer and Examiner, under the provisions their'' whole ^^ *^^^ ^^^7 shall devote their whole time to public time, school business, and shall receive such compensa- tion as the Board of County School Commissioners may direct. * Notifv the ^^^' ^* '^^^ Examiner of each county shall, on or Comptroller, before the fifteenth day of January in every year notify the Comptroller how many months the schools of his county have been kept open^ Chapter XII. — State Normal School. Section 1. There shall be located in the City of Location of Baltimore a State Normal School, for the instruc- State Normal tion and practice of teachers in the science of educa- tion, the art of teaching, and the mode Qf governing schools. It shall be under the control of the State Board of Education, who shall appoint a principal, at a salary of twenty-five hundred dollars per an- num ; the principal of the State Normal School shall not vote upon the subject of his appointment or removal. Sessions. ^EC. 2. The sessions of the State Normal School, until otherwise provided for by the State, shall be held in such building as the State Board of Educa- tion may select ; provided, that the rent be not greater than thirty-five hundred dollars^ which amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, is here- by appropriated annually for that purpose. Facultv, Sec. 3. The faculty of the State Normal School shall consist of the principal and two male and two female professors, who shall be appointed by the State Board of Education, and have such salaries^, and perform such duties as said Board may direct. / OF MABTLAKD. 21 Sec. 4, The sessions of the State Normal School h n hp shall he determined by the State Board of Educa- jj-^^^open. tion ; provided, that the school shall be open for not less than nine months in each year. Sec. 5. Students of both sexes shall be admitted students. • to the State Normal School ; females at the age of sixteen years, and males at the ag^e of seventeen years. The students shall be apportioned by the State Board of Education among the several coun- ties and the City of Baltimore, in proportion to their respective representation in the General Assembly of the State. The students shall be selected by the How selected. Boards of County School Commissioners, and the Board of Commissioners of Public Schools of the City of Baltimore, from among persons having scholastic qualifications hereinbefore required for teachers ; before any appointment shall be made, the applicants shall procure the certificate of the County Examiner or City Superintendent in testi-^j,j.[^J2e^"^^ mony of their scholastic proficiency, and shall also tile a written declaration that their object in obtain- ing admission is to qualify themselves as public school teachers, and that it is their intention to en- gage in the profession of teaching within the State ; and in case any student shall fail to fiilfill the con- ditions upon which they were admitted, they shall forfeit and pay thirty dollars for each session they have attended the Normal School, to be collected as other debts are coUeeted, and to be applied for the benefit of the Normal School., If there be not applicants sufficient from any county or city, then the State Board of Education may fill all vacancies by selecting a[)plicants from any other portion of the State, in the proportion aforesaid. Sec. 6- In addition to the students admitted from kayi- \ the counties and the city of Baltimore, who shall g^uclents. enjoy all the privileges of the school and be fur- nished with the use of the text-books free of charge, there may be admitted in the proportion of one to two of the scholars selected by the Board of City and County School Commissioners, other persons^ having the requisite qualifications, who shall pay,' the sum of twenty-five dollars per session, and pur- 22 PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW Proviso. Course study. chase their own text-hooks, and he suhject in every respect to the same rules and regulations as the "^ other students ; provided, that the numher of stu- dents sent hy the State shall not exceed two hundred,, and as long as this nuniheFis not exceeded by the State, or after it shall have been reached by the State, aJJ^remaining vacancies may be filled by pay scholars~to'the full capacity of the school. Sec. 7. The State Board of Education shall pre- ^ scribe the course of study, and supervise the school in every particular not provided for in this law ; they shall make provision for model and experi- mental primary and grammar schools, under quali- fied teachers, in which the students of the Normal School shall have an opportunity to practice the modes of instruction and discipline inculcated in the Normal School. The salaries of the teachers of the model and experimental schools shall be paid, in part from the tuition fees derived from the pupils of said model schools. Sec. 8. The annual sum often thousand fiYe hun- Support of. dred dollars is hereby appropriated for the support of the Normal School, to be paid in quarterly in- stallments by the Treasurer^ on the warrant of the Comptroller, to the State Board of Education, and to be applied to the payment of teachers' salaries, and the purchase of educational apparatus ; for the salary of the Principal of the Normal School, his traveling expenses in attending meetings of Teachers' Institutes, and superintending the schools throughout the State ; and for such assistance as may be required in the Normal School during his absence on duty ; and for text-books, stationery, fuel, light, and other incidental expenses of the school. DonationB. Sec. 9. All donations or bequests of money or personal property, and all grants or devises of lands for the benefit of the State Normal School, shall be held in trust by the State Board of Education.- Report to the ^EC. 10. The State Board of Education shall, on Governor. or before the fifteenth day of January in each and OS MARYLAND. 23 every year, make a report to the Governor of the condition of the schools of the State ; a statement of the apportionment of money to the counties and the City of Baltimore for the support of schools ; an abstract of the reports received from the Boards of County School Commissioners, together with such suggestions for the improvement of schools, and the advancement of public education as the State Board of Education shall deem expedient. Sec. 11. And the Governor shall cause three thousand copies of said report to be printed andj^ave printed, distributed to the members of the Legislature in those years in which there is no session of the Leg- islature. Chapter XIII. — Teachers' Institutes. Section 1. A Teachers' Institute, to continue five Teachers' In- days, shall be held in each county once a year, andstitute. the County Examiner shall be present, and shall give normal instruction to the teachers each day. Sec. 2. The Principal of the State Normal School Fix time of shall fix the time of the meeting of the Institute, ^^olding. and it shall be the duty of the County Examiner to notify each teacher of the time and place of meeting. Sec. 3. These Institutes being designed as 1>em- porary Normal Schools, shall be presided over by Design of. the Principal or one of the Professors of the State Normal School, if he can be present, assisted by the County Examiner, and any member of the Board of County School Commissioners who may choose to attend. • Sec. 4. The President of the Board of County g^^^ ^ School Commissioners shall select the place of place. ^^ meeting. 24 PUBLIC SCHOOL LA W Chapter XIV. — Teachers' Associations, Teachei-s' As- SECTION 1. District, County and State Teachers' sociatioDs. Associations are recommended as important means of elevating the standard of public education by mutual conference, interchange of views, and sug- gestions as to systems of teaching and discipline. Sec. 2. It shall be the care of the County Exam- Organization. iner to aid in the organization of these associations, to encourage attendance, to secure competent lec- turers, and to impart such information as will encourage teachers in their work, and fit them for the performance of their duties. May occupy Sec. 3. These associations may occupy any of the school buUd- school-houses. mgB. Chapter XY. — District Libraries. .^ "Section 1. For the further encouragement of edu- braries!^^ ^"cation, district libraries ought to be established in each school-house district, under the care of the teacher, as librarian. For this purpose,. the sum of ten dollars per annum is ordered to be paid by the Board of County School Commissioners out of the State School Fund to any school-house district as library money, as long as the people of the district , raise the same amount annually. The books must ibe selected by the Board of District School Trustees. Chapter XVli — The City of Baltimore. The City(<3f 'SECTION 1. The Mayor and City Council of the jBaltunore. City of Baltimore shall have full power and author- ity to establish in said city a system of free public schools, under such ordinances, rules and regula- tions as they may deem fit and proper to enact and ^ prescribe ; they may delegate supervisory powers and control to a Board of School Commissioners ; may prescrib'e rules for building school-houses, and locating, establishing and closing schools, and may jn general do every act that may be necessary or proper in the premises. OF MARYLAND. 25 Sec. 2. The Board of Commissioners of Public Schools of Baltimore City, or by whatever name the exanSne,^ ap^ body may be known that has supervisory powers point and re- and control over the Public Schools of Baltimore move. City, shall have power to examine, appoint and remove teachers, prescribe the qualifications, fix the salaries, subject to the approval of the Mayor and City Council, and select text-books for the schools of said city ; provided, such text-books shall contain Proviso, nothing of a sectarian or partisan character. The Board of Commissioners of Public Schools of said city shall annually make a report to the State Board of Education of the condition of the schools under their charge, to include a statement of ex- penditures, the number of children taught, and such other statistical information as may be necessary to exhibit the operation of the schools. Sec. 3. The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore Pro^ctwn^f shall have power and authority to make all ordi-®^ ^' ^^^® nances for the protection of the scliool-houses and property, and to punish any person who may dis- turb the sessions of said public schools. Sec. 4. And the said Mayor and City Council are hereby authorized and empowered to levy and col- ^^^^.^^^^-^^ lect upon the assessable property in said city, as other taxes are levied and collected, such amount of taxes as may be necessary to defray all the expenses incurred for educational purposes by said Mayor and City Council. Chapter XYII. — High Schools, Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Board of County School Commissioners, when any election -jyj accept district or any contiguous election districts shall building for present a building for a higb school in said district liigh school, or districts, to the Board of County School Com- missioners, to accept the same (if, in the judgment of the Board, there is any necessity therefor), and thereafter provide for maintenance of a high school in said district or districts^ and the salaries of teachers out of the general school fund. 26 PUBLIC SCHOOL LA W Sec. 2. If the high school he established by a g^^QQj^ (^qIj. district or districts, the Board of County School missioners. Commissioners shall appoint three persons, who shall constitute a Board of High School Commis- sioners, and exercise like authority over said school as hereinbefore provided for Boards of District School Trustees ; but high schools established by the county shall be under the direct control of the Board of County School Commissioners. Visited and ^^^- ^- Each high school shall be visited and exam- examined, ined annually by the Principal of the State Normal School, or a professor thereof; such high school shall also be visited at least once in each school term by the County Examiner, who shall report quarterly to the Board of County School Commis- sioners the result of hts observations. Sec. 4. If practicable, military tactics may form tics!^^^^^ ^^"a department in every high school. Chapter XVIII. — Schools for Colored Children, Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Board of /Colored chil- County School Commissioners to establish one or dren. more public schools in each election district for all colored youth between six and twenty years of age, to which admission shall be free, and which shall be kept open as long as the other public schools of the particular county ; provided, the average attend- ance be not less than fifteen scholars. Trustees. Sec. 2. Each colored school shall be under the direction of a Special Board of School Trustees, to be appointed by the Board of County School Com- missioners, and shall be subject to the same laws for its government, and furnish instruction in the same branches as the schools for white children. Sec. 3. The Comptroller shall apportion the sum ^ Appropria- appropriated for the support of the colored schools *^^^- of the several counties and the city of Baltimore, in proportion to their respective colored ))opulation between the ages of five and twenty years, said OF MARYLAND. 2*7 apportionment to be made at the time he apportions the levy for the white schools. Sec. 4. The total amount of taxes paid for school purposes by the colored people of any county, or in rp^^es the city of Baltimore, together with any donations that may he made for the purpose, shall also be devoted to the maintenance of the schools for colored children. Chapter XIX. — Sources of Income. Section 1. A State tax of ten cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property throughout the Income. State shall be levied annually for the support of free public schools and the Maryland State Normal School, which tax shall be collected at the same time and by the same agents as the general State levy, and shall be paid into the treasury of the State, to be distributed by the Treasurer to the Boards of School Commissioners of the city of Bal- timore and the several counties. Sec. 2. The Treasurer, on the warrant of the Treasurer to Comptroller, shall pay as heretofore to each of the disburse, counties and the city of Baltimore the proportion of the free school fund to which such city or county is entitled under the provisions of the laws and reso- lutions existing at the time this Act is adopted ; and he shall pay the same to the Treasurer of the Board of School Commissioners of Baltimore city and the several counties ; and the several colleges and academies shall respectively receive the dona- tions granted to them by any laws or resolutions of the General Assembly, subject to the conditions annexed thereto. Sec. 3. Real and personal estate granted, con- veyed, devised or bequeathed for the use of any par- ticular county or school district, shall be held in Held in trust, trust by the Board of County School Commissioners for the benefit of such county or school district, and such grants and bequests shall be exempt from all State and county taxes. 28 PUBLIC SCHOOL LA W Sec. 4. Moneys invested prior to the passage of ^J^^P^/^^^ this Act, in trust for the benefit of the public schools of any county or city, shall be exempt from State, county or local tax. Comptroller Sec. 5. As soon as the Comptroller shall have apportion, received from the city of Baltimore and the several counties returns of the amount of the State School Tax levied in each county and the city of Balti- more, he shall immediately thereafter apportion the amount of the whole levy to the several counties and the city of Baltimore, in proportion to their respective population between the ages of five and twenty years. Time of. Sec. 6. On the fifteenth day of June, the first day of October, the first day of January, and the fif- teenth day of March, in each year, the Comptroller shall apportion the amount of school tax received by the Treasurer among the several counties and the city of Baltimore, in proportion to the whole amount apportioned to each by the Comptroller, and he shall notify the State Board of Education and Notify parties the Treasurer of the several Boards of the County who are to School Commissioners of the counties and city of Baltimore, of the amount of tax due to each county and the city of Baltimore, on the several days afore- said, and the Treasurer shall pay the several amounts within ten days after said notification, upon the draft of the President and Secretary of the several Boards of County School Commissioners aforesaid ; Proviso. provided also, that if in any county the schools shall be kept open less than seven and a half months of the year ending December thirty-first, the Comp- troller shall withhold from such county the April installment of the State School Tax. J , . Sec. Y. When the levy of any year shall have and abate- been collected, the Comptroller shall apportion inents. among the several counties and the city of Balti- more the amount allowed on the levy for insolven- cies and abatements, and shall transmit a statement of the same to the State Board of Education. OF MARYLAND, 29 Bliscellaneoiis . Section 1. The present Boards of County School Commissioners, and the Secretaries, Treasurers, Examiners and District School Trustees, aj)pointed Serve out full under them, shall serve out the full term for which ^^^• they were severally appointed, unless now or here- ^ after disqualified under the provisions of this Act. The Judges of the Circuit Court in the respective "^P ^^^ vacan- counties are empowered to fill any vacancies which may exist or which may occur in the present Boards of County School Commissioners. Sec. 2. Schools on or near the dividing line of two counties shall be free to the children of each ^ county; and the Board of County School Commis- county, sioners of the respective counties shall have power to provide jointly for the maintenance of said schools. Sec. 3. And he it enacted, That all the sections of the several articles of the Code of Public General Repealed. Laws relating to schools, inconsistent with the pro- visions of this Act, and all Acts of Assembly passed since the adoption of said volumes of the Code re- lating to schoolSj inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be and the same are hereby repealed. Sec. 4. And he it enacted, That this act shall take eifect from the date of its passage. ^^ ^*°^^- NOTE.—ThQ following are the Sections of the Act of 1872 amended by the Act of 1874 : Ohap. 11, Sees. 1 and 3 ; Chap. Ill, Sec. 4; Chap. V, Sees. 1 and 5 ; Chap. VI, Sec. 2 ; Chap. VIII, Sec. 3 ; Chap. X, Sec. 2 ; Chap. XI, Sec. 2 ; Chap. XII, Sees. 2 and 8 ; Chap. XIII, Sec. 1 ; Chap. XVIII, Sec, 2, ^^^ Of TBX^^ UFI7BESIT7] BY-LAWS, Rules and Regulations FOB THE GTJIDAl^CE OP Teachers and School Officers OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF MARYLAND BY JjUTFfORITY OF THE STiJTE BOARD OF EDUCATION. BAL^IMOKEi WM. J. C. DULANY & CO. PRINI^ERS AND STATIONERS TO StATE BoARD OF EDUCAl'lOJf* 1877. BY-LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS, [Laws of 1874, Chap. 463, III, 4.—'' The State Board of Education shall * * * * enact by-laws for the administration of the Public School System , not at variance with this Act." ^ ARTICLE I. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 1. The State Board of Education shall hold regular meetings on the last Wednesday in May, August^ Novem- ber and February in every year ; and special meetings at the call of the President, the Secretary, or any three mem- bers of the Board. 2. It is the duty of the State Board of Education to cause the provisions of the School-Law to be carried into effect ; to suspend or remove any County Examiner or Teacher who is physically, intellectually or morally incom[)etent for the dis- chargeof his duties ; to explain the true intent and meaning of the School-Law ; to decide all controversies and disputes under the School-Law^ which may be submitted to them ; to exer- cise a general care and supervision over the Public School interests of the State ; to act as assistants and advisers of the several County School ^Boards ; to issue circular letters to Teachers and School Commissioners on Public School business ; to issue a uniform series of blanks for the use of Teachers and County School Boards ; to make report to the Governor annually, on or before the fifteenth day of Janu- ary^ of the condition of the schools of the State ; to super- 3 vise the State Normal School and act as Trustees thereof ; to examine candidates for the office of County Examiner, when requested by the County School Board ; and to grant professional or life certificates to teachers of long experience and established reputation, under such conditions and regu- lations as they may adopt. 3. The Prin cipal of the State Normal School is the Ex- ecutive officer of the State Board of Education, and is, ex offici o J Sta te Superintendent of Public Instruction. He shall conduct the correspondence and prepare the Annual School Keport ; and, when the State Board is not in session, shall issue circulars, give advice, and render decisions, subject to confirmation by the Board at its next meeting. ARTICLE II. THE BOARDS OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. 1. There shall . be a stated meeting of the Board of County School Commissioners of each county within fifteen days after the close of each School Term, and sp&cial meet- ings as occasion may require. The days of quarterly stated meetings shall be determined by the County Board and made known to the public. 2. The Rules generally adopted by deliberative bodies for their government shall be observed, so far as applicable, by the Boards of County School Commissioners. 3. No resolution or motion (except a motion to adjourn) shall be declared adopted without the concurrence of a ma- jority of the whole Board ; namely, two members when the Board consists of three, and three members when the Board consists of five. 4. The Board shall have power to determine all questions of dispute arising in the administration of the School-Laws, except in cases where the power has been otherwise specially delegated. An accurate record must be made of each case decided, that, if an appeal be taken to the State Board of Education, all the facts may be reported. 5. It IS the duty of the Board of County School Commis- sioners to hold in trust, as Trustees, all the property, estates, money and claims belonging to the county for the use and benefit of Public, Primary, Free o*' High Schools ; to divide the country into School districts, and keep on record the boundaries thereof; to have the general supervision of all the Public Schools of the county ; to build, repair, and furnish School-Houses ; to confirm or reject the teachers appointed by the School Trustees ; to appoint all assistaiit teachers ; to fix the salaries of teachers ; to purchase and distribute text-books ; to appoint three District Trustees for each School District ; to make an annual report to the State Board of Education on or before the 15th of November, of the condition of the schools ; and to publish in November of every year a statement of receipts, disbursements and in- debtedness. 6. The salaries of the teachers, and all the incidental expenses of the Schools, shall be paid by order of the Board, at the end of each term. If the public money on hand is not sufficient, the Board is authorized to borrow what may be needed, and to issue its note for the amount, signed by the President and Treasurer. If cash or its equivalent cannot be obtained, the teachers' accounts must be settled by a certificate of indebtedness within thirty days from the close of each term. ARTICLE III. DISTRICT SCHOOL TRUSTEES. 1. It is the duty of the District School Trustees to meet within thirty days after their appointment, and at their first meeting to appoint a chairman, and give notice of the appointment to the Secretary of the Board of County School Commissioners. 2. The Board of District School Trustees shall have the care of the Public School-Houses in the district and lands con- nected therewith, and also of the furniture, apparatus and other School property ; they shall notify the County School Board of the repairs needed by the schoo!-hanse, and malsie an estimate of the cost of the same ; when said estimate is ap- prored hy the County School Board they shall see that the repairs are exetnted ; hut the cost of glazing, necessary white-washing, and of securing doors and windows may be charged among incidental expenses, when the total does not exceed fiye dollars. 3. They shall employ a Principal teacher from among the persons holding a legal certificate ; they shall visit the Schools, and exercise a general supervision over them ; and shall grant a permit for the free use of school-books and stationery to pupils whose parents are unable to pay for the same. AETICLE IV. IHE SECRETARY, TREASURER AND EXAMINER. 1. The Secretajry shall constitute a medium of communi- cation between the State Board of Education and the subor- dinate school officers and the schools. It shall be his duty to visit the schools of the county, as required by law, to examine the pupils, to inquire into and to regulate all mat- ters relating to the management, the course of study, and the mode of instruction and discipline, in accordance with the Laws of the State and the By-Laws of the County and State Boards. 2. He shall, as opportunity offers, address the people in their school districts on the importance of Public Instruction, and endeavor to enlist their interest in the schools and their teachers, and make such suggestions as he may think im- portant for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the schools and the comfort of the pupils. He shall examine into the condition of the school-houses, out-buildings and appendages, furniture and text-books ; he shall advise with and counsel the school officers of the district in relation to their duties \ suggest methods for warming and ventilating school-houses, and ornamenting the school grounds ; recom- mend to teachers improved modes of instruction, and use every effort to advance the cause of public education, and to carry out the advice and instructions of the State Board of Education. 3. He shall organize and conduct, once in each year, for his own county, at such time as, after conference with the Principal of the State Normal School, may be designated, a Teachers' Institute, at such place as the President of the County School Board may direct. la this work the Secre- tary will be aided by the Principal of the Normal School, or by some practical teacher appointed for the purpose. He shall also organize one or more Teachers' Associations, to be convened at least four times in each ye^r, requiring the attendance of the teachers for the purpose of mutual conference and instruction in their duties. 4. He shall hold an annual examination of Teachers in the presence of at least one School Commissioner or District Trustee, at such time and place (or times and places) as the County School Board may order (of which due notice shall be given), and at no other time or place except by the special order of the County School Board ; but an examination may be adjourned or continued by the Examiner. 5. The Examination shall be in writing as far as possi- ble, and the work shall be duly filed or bound, and preserved, subject to inspection by the members of the County School Board and of the State Board of Education, or their order ; and the percentage of questions answered in each branch shall be marked on the examination paper aiad recorded in a jook provided for the purpose. 6. The Certificates issued by each County Examiner shall be numbered and registered in a book provided for that purpose, and shall be denominated first or second grade as the case may be. The Examiner may, under the sanction of the County School Board, classify the Certificates issued by him, as first class or second class in each grade, taking into account the qualifications of the teacher as shown by the examination and hi^ experience and success in teaching. 8 Where tlie class is not designated the Certificate shall be presumed to be of the first class. 7. Ko Certificate shall continue in force longer than six months unless the Examiner is satisfied from personal ob- servation of the teacher's fitness to govern a school and impart instruction. When the Examiner is satisfied on these points he may issue his Certificate for three years. Certificates of the first class may be renewed, with or with- out an examination ; but no teacher shall be allowed to teach under a second class Certificate longer than three years without a re-examination. 8. As Secretary and Treasurer he shall take charge of and keep open the oflSlce of the Board during business hours, on such day or days in every week as the Board may direct ; and public notice shall be given of the same. He shall be present at every meeting of the School Board, and may debate any question before them, but shall have no vote. 9. He shall receipt for all money received, and deposit it to his credit as Treasurer, as directed by the Board — keep- ing an accurate account of the same, distinguishing the particular source from which it has been received, and dis- burse the same according to the order of the Board, making the same distinction in his disbursements. 10. He shall render to the Board, at each stated meeting, an account of receipts and disbursements. 11. He shall keep a fair and accurate record of the pro- ceedings of the Board, and file and preserve all reports in writing, all accounts, and other written or printed matter from time to time laid before the Board, subject at all times to the examination of any member_, and shall make a gen- eral report of the state of such accounts annually. 12. Where school-books ai^e furnished hy the County School Board he shall keep an account of books and station- ery with each school, distinct from all other accounts, noting the cost of books and the receipts from sale or use. 13. He shall prepare and submit to the County Scbool Board, for their consideration, the Annual Report to the State Board of Education, on or before the fifth day of January. 14. He shall notify the Comptroller on or before the fifteenth day of January, as to the number of months the schools have been kept open in his county during the calen- dar year ending December 31st next preceding. J 5. He shall devote his whole time to public school busi- ness. 16. He shall give bond, as required by law, for the due performance of his duties ; and this bond, when executed, shall be filed in the office of the county clerk. 17. He is expected and required to make himself familiar with the Public School Law of Maryland, and the By-Laws of the State Board of Education made in pursuance of the same ; and to bear in mind that, by the acceptance or re- tention of office under said law and By-Laws, he binds him- self to the observance of all the provisions which regulate his office and prescribe his duties. In cases of doubt about the true meaning and intent of the School Law, he will have recourse to the State Board as the authorized interpreter of that law. ARTICLE V. TEACHERS. 1. It shall be the duty of Teachers to have the school- rooms swept, dusted and ventilated every day, and warmed when necessary, at least fifteen minutes before the hour of opening, and to see that the house is kept clean and com- fortable at all times. They shall organize and conduct their schools according to the schedule in Article VI, Sec. 6, and shall give their undivided attention to the pupils during the whole of the school hours. They shall receive respectfully, and give due weight to the admonition, advice or instructions of the Examiner, and. submit to his arbitration all difficulties arising in the gov- ernment of the school. 10 2. They shall fe^ep a record of the daily attendance of themselves and each pupil, in the Register provided for that purpose, which shall he preserved in good condition, and submitted to the inspection of the Examiner, the Trustees, and the Commissioners whenever desired. 3. They shall make a term report to the School Board, (on forms provided for that purpose), and shall fill up accu- rately all the blanks, so far as applicable to each particular school. They shall swear or affirm to this report before a Justice of the Peace or a School Commissioner ; they shall have it endorsed by the School Trustees or their Chairman ; and shall deliver it, thus sworn to and endorsed, to the nearest School Commissioner or to the Secretary, at least three days before the stated meeting of the Board. 4. No teacher shall be entitled to receive payment for services until the registers and books are properly filled up, and reports made and delivered, as required by law. 5. No person shall act as a substitute for a teacher unless holding a teacher's certificate, and then only with the con- sent of the Trustees. In case of a disqualified person acting as substitute, no salary shall be paid for that time. 6. For each day's absence from school, without good and sufficient reasons, the teacher shall forfeit the proportionate amount of salary ; but no deduction shall be made for sick- ness not exceeding three days in one term. Time lost shall not be made up by teaching on Saturdays or legal holidays. 7. If any teacher svacate his school before the close of the term without the consent of the District Trustees or the County School Board, he shall forfeit the salary already ac- crued for the current teum, and be disqualified for any future service in the PublicSchools, unless re-instated. 8. Any teacher in the employment of this Board who shall refuse to vacate the school when regularly notified of his suspension by the Trustees or the County School Board, shall forfeit all claim for compensation for services during the term in which Buch suspension shall take place, and be 11 thereafter ineligible to any school under the control of the Board, unless re-instated. 9. Every teacher shall keep an account of the books and stationery furnished each pupil for use, and shall require the return of the same when the child leaves school. The Teacher will be held responsible for the safe-keeping and good condition of the books and stationery belonging to the school. 10. Teachers .shall not grant the use of books or station- ery to any pupil not holding a free permit, unless the fee for the use of said books and stationery has been paid ; nor shall they sell any books or stationery except for cash. They shall, as agents of the Board, collect and account for all money received for books and stationery. 11. Teachers shall purchase, when necessary, such articles as are allowed by Section 5, Article VII, and may pay for them out of money received for books and stationery, and present receipted bills for the same, placing the amount under the head of incidental expenses in their term reports. 12. Every teacher shall make out and furnish to the County School Board an inventory of the books and station- ery in the school at the expiration of each term ; also an inventory of the books and stationery needed for the ensu- ing term. 13. All contracts with teachers shall be in writing and signed by the Board of District School Trustees, or a ma- jority of them, and by the Teacher. Said contracts shall be submitted to the Board of County School Commissioners for confirmation, and shall not be valid unless confirmed. Form of Contract. State of Maryland: County of 187 The undersigned, Trustees of Public School No Election District No County of do hereby appoint as Teacher of said School, subject to con- firmation by the County School Board, and at such salary as said 12 Board may direct, to take effect on day of. 18 This appointment maybe revoked at any time by giving thirty days notice in writing. (Two Trastees, at least, must sign.) vTeustees. I accept the above appointment. Teacher, Form of Dismissal. State of Maryland: ^ County of , 187 To Teacher of Public School No Election District No. You are hereby notified that your services as Teacher of the aforesaid School will not be required after the day of 18 said day being not less than thirty days from the present date. (Two Trustees, at least, must sign.) \ Trustees. 14. If a teacher wishes to vacate the school at the end of the term, ten days notice in writing must be given to the Trustees. If any teacher leaves without giving notice, he shall be disqualified to serve again_, except by consent of the School Board. 15. Immediately on the termination of the scholastic year, or on the teachers' leaving the school, he shall leave the key of the school-house with, and deliver up all school property in his charge to the Chairman of the Board of District Trus- tees or one of the School Commissioners, taking a receipt therefor. 16. No teacher is eligible to an appointment under this Board without having a registered certificate from the County Examiner, or the Principal of the State Normal School, or a life certificate from the State Board, or a diplo- 13 ma of the State Normal School. The minimum legal age of men teachers is 19 years, of women teachers 17 years. 17. Teachers shall attend the Teachers' Institute and County and District Teachers' Associations when ordered by the proper authority ; and failure to do so, unless ex- plained and excused, will be considered as notice of inten- tion to retire at an early day from the public school service. 18. Every teacher is expected and required to make himself acquainted with the By-Laws, Rules and Regula- tions of the State Board of Education, and of the Board of School Commissioners of his County, and to bear in mind that by accepting employment he voluntarily undertakes to discharge the duties imposed or implied therein. Any voluntary neglect or violation of said By-Laws is therefore a breach of contract, and may lead to a termination of the engagement. ARTICLE VI. CERTIFICATES. 1. On and after the 1st of July, 1875, certificates of the first grade shall certify that the teacher has been examined in orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, English grammar, book-keeping, algebra, natural philosophy, physiology, and geometry equivalent to four books of Legendre ; and certificates of the second grade shall embrace orthography, reading, wi'iting, arithmetic, geography, history, English grammar, physiology^ and geometry equivalent to the first book of Legendre. 2. The first certificate granted to any teacher shall con- tinue in force for six months (or less) and no longer ; but it may be extended for three years from the original date, provided the Examiner shall endorse upon it as follows : ^^ The within named having taught for six months in this county, and having satisfii^ me of his fitness for governing a school and his ability to impart instruction, this certificate is valid for three years from the original date." 14 3. No certificate shall be granted without satisfactory evidence of the moral character of the applicant. 4. A certificate valid for life or during good behavior shall be granted to teachers who shalU have fulfilled the following conditions : 1. The applicant must hold a first grade certificate, or the diploma of a college or of a State Normal School. 2. He must have been a teacher for seven years, of which ^ve have been spent in Maryland. 3. He must pass a satisfactory examination before the State Board of Education. ARTICLE VII, SCHOOLS, 1 . The system of instruction shall embrace the following branches, viz : Orthography, Reading, Writing, Arithme- tic, Geography, History, English Grammar, Book-keeping, Algebra, Geometry, Physiology, Natural History, Natural Philosophy, Drawing, Vocal Music, and such other branches as the State Board may from time to time prescribe. Each pupil must pursue the prescribed course of study, and in such classes as the Teacher may direct. 2. The school year of ten months shall be divided into four terms as nearly equal as possible, to be called the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms, respectively, and when th6 schools are kept open less than ten months no term shall contain more than ten and a half weeks, or fifty- three school days. 3. School shall be open daily, five daj^s in each week, and for six hours each day. The hours each day, finless otherwise ordered by the School Commissioners, shall be from 9 A. M. to 12, and from 1 P. M. to 4. No school shall be in session on Saturday, Sunday, or on any legal holiday. The legal holidays are as follows : Thanksgiving day ; the 24th of Decqnber to the first of January, (both inclusive); the 22d of February, (Washington's Birth-day,) the Friday before Easter and the Monday after Easter ; the Monday of Whitsuntide ; the 4th day of July ; the whole 15 month of August ; any other calendar month appointed by the County School Board as vacation ; and the days desig- nated for the holding of the annual Teachers' Institute. These vacations and holidays are obligatory on all schools ; but each County School Board may order such other holidays or vacations as in their discretion may seem proper. 4. There shall be a public examination of the pupils in each school twice a year, to which parents and school officers shall be invited ; and these examinations shall be reported to the School Board in the quarterly report. 5. The teacher of any school, with the consent of the Trustees thereof, may order the following articles for the comfort, convenience and security of the school, when not otherwise provided for by the County School Board, viz : fuel, (ax and saw if needed), water-bucket, drinking-cup, wash-basin, soap, window fastenings, door-lock, all of which shall be paid for by the teacher, and charged among the incidental expenses of the school, provided that Touchers shall be given for every expenditure. The teacher shall be re- sponsible for the due care and right use of such articles, and any loss arising from neglect or waste shall be charged against his salary. 6. The following classification and schedule of studies shall be observed in all Primary Schools and in those classes of graded and High Sohools to which they are applicable : 7. The rules adopted by any Principal teacher for the government of his school, with the consent of the Board of District Trustees, and not at variance with the School Law, the By-Laws of the State Board, or the By-Laws of the County School Board, shall be carefully observed by all pupils and assistant teachers under his authority. First Grade. 1. The Alphabet; spelling and reading Primer, or one- half of First Reader. 2, Printing capitals and small letters. 3. Counting objects as far as 20. 4. Writing figures as far 16 as 20. 5. Adding^ subtracting, multiplying and dividing by 2, orally, as far as 20. Second. 1. Reading and spelling to the end of 1st Eeader. 2. Printing words and sentences from 1st Reader. 3. Count- ing as far as 100. 4. Writing and reading figures as far as 1,000. 5. Adding, subtracting, multiplying and divid- ing by 3, 4 and 5, as far as 1,000. 6. Writing on slates in current hand. Third. 1. Reading and spelling to the eiid of 2nd Reader. 2. Copying on slates the lessons of the Reader. 3. Spelling, one-half of Primary Spelling Book. 4. Writing and Read- ing figures as far as millions. 5. Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing by 6, 7, 8 and 9. 6. Writing in Copy-book I^o. 1. 7. Oral lessons in Geography, including the Maps of Maryland and the United States^ Fourth. 1. Reading and spelling to the end of 3rd Reader. 2. Spelling — Primary Spelling Book completed. 3. Copying of lessons in 3rd Reader. 4. Elementary Arithmetic, through Long Division and U. S. money. 5. Writing — Copy-Book No. 2. 6. Geography — Oral Lessons — Maps of North and South America. T. Grammar — Oral Lessons — distinguishing the parts of speech, and the different kinds of simple sentences. Fifth. 1. Reading and Spelling to the end of 4th Reader. 2. Writing Lessons in 4th Reader from Dictation. 3. Spelling — Advanced Spelling Book — one-half. 4. Elementary Arith- metic completed. 5. Writing — Copy-books Nos. 3 and 4. 6. Grammar — Oral Lessons — Parsing and Analysis of easy sentences. 7. Geography, one-half of Intermediate Geo- graphy. n Sixth. 1. Beading and Spelling to end of 5th Eeader, alternate with History of the U. S. 2. Spelling — Advanced Spelling Book completed. 3. Practical Arithmetic completed. 4. Writing — Copy-hooks Nos. 5 and 6. 5. Grammar — Ele- mentary Grammar completed. 6. Geography^ — "Interme- diate" completed. 7. Easy Lessons in Composition. Time Table. Each grade may have four daily recitations, as follows : 1st, one lesson of 15 minutes and 3 of 10 minutes each = 45 minutes. 2d, " " ; " '' '' =^45 3rd, 'I " " ." . '' =45 4tli two lessons of 15 minutes each and 2 of 10 " = 50 *' 5th " " " " " =50 6th, one lesson of 20 minutes and 3 of 15 minutes each = 65 " The available portion of the remaining hour, and the time that may he gained by the absence of all pupils in any grade, may be spent in general exercises, or in studies above the 6th grade, when there are pupils sufficiently advanced. ABTICLE YIII. CHILDREN, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. 1. No pupil will be admitted under six years of age, nor unless properly vaccinated, and free from contagious dis- ease, and decently and comfortably clothed. 2. The use of profane or unchaste language, the use of tobacco in any form, and the carrying 'of fire-arms or other dangerous weapons, are strictly forbidden ; and any pupil persistently violating this rule shall be suspended by the teacher, and the case reported to the District Trustees. 3. Parents or guardians will be required to replace or pay for all books belonging to the County School Board retained, destroyed or lost by their children or wards ; they will also be held responsible and required to pay for all damage done by their children or wards to school-houses_, furniture, trees, fences, &c. 18 4. All messages sent from parents or guardians to teachers, (and from teachers to parents or guardians), shall be in writing. ARTICLE IX. MISCELLANEOUS. 1. All the rules and regulations adopted by any County School Board for the government of schools and the guidance to teachers, not at variance with the Public School Law or the By-Laws of the State Board of Education, shall be duly observed by all parties under the authority of said County School Board. 2. The word ^^ Teacher " in these By-Laws shall be un- derstood to include men and women teachers. 3. Any addition or alteration which may be made from time to time in these By-Laws, shall be published in the Maryland School Journal, and said publication shall be considered sufficient notice to teachers and all parties con- cerned. Of XHI [tjiivbrsity; «&;?( Lv L^O^_'C' 5(^1^1 7^33 UNIVERSriY OF CAUFORNIA UBRARY