forfeited bonds in criminal cases (the parish of Orleans excepted) are applied to the support of common schools.

Taration. The general assembly shall levy an annual poll tax for the maintenance of public schools on every male person of 21 years or more, which shall never be less than $1 nor more than $1.50, and belongs to the parish in which collected. There shall be a State school tax to be distributed to the parishes in proportion to the children from 6 to 18 years of age, which is fixed annually by the State legislature. The police jurors of the several parishes and the boards of trustees, aldermen, and legal representatives of cities, towns, and villages, except the parish of Orleans, may levy for the support of the common schools of their respective parishes not less than 14 mills of the 10 mills tax on the dollar of the assessed valuation. Whenever one-tenth of the property taxpayers of any parish, city, or incorporated municipality shall petition the police jury or municipal authorities to increase the rate of taxation for the purpose of constructing public buildings, the body petitioned shall order a special election to authorize the levy.

MAINE.

1. ORGANIZATION OF THE SYSTEM.

State superintendent-Superintending school_committees Superintendent of schools-Truant officers.

State superintendent.—Appointed by the governor and confirmed by the council; term of office, three years. An office is provided for him at the capitol. He shall devote all his time to the duties of his 'office, which are: To exercise a general supervision of all public schools, and to advise and direct town committees by circular letters and personal conference; to obtain information as to the school systems of other States and countries, and to disseminate the same, with practical suggestions, through public addresses, circulars, and the press; to encourage an interest in education among the people, and stimulate teachers to well-directed efforts; to arrange for the holding of annual State educational conventions, and county teachers' institutes if sufficient encouragement is afforded by citizens, and to prepare, print, and distribute important portions of the proceedings of such conventions; to prepare courses of study; to hold public examinations and to issue teachers' certificates to applicants found qualified therefor; to keep in his office a list of such teachers, and send the same, with other information, to school committees and superintendents upon request; to assume control and management of free public schools established and maintained by gifts or bequests, when such gifts or bequests so specify, and to carry out the provisions of such gifts or bequests when approved by the governor and council; to report annually to the governor and council the results of his investigations and of the school returns, with his recommendations; to compile, print, and distribute biennially the amended school laws of the State, and to issue annually circulars of information and advice to school officers relating to new enactments; to furnish to school officers blank books for keeping itemized records of all moneys expended for schools, said books remaining the property of the State; to furnish forms (see Teachers-Duties) for all lawful or necessary returns, and on March 1 to forward to town clerks blanks for the annual school return, and registers for the school year commencing April 1 following; on June 1 to notify superintendents whose returns are delinquent; on July 1 to ascertain the number of children between the ages of 4 and 21 in towns from which returns are received, and furnish a list of same to the State treasurer.

Superintending school committees.-The management of the schools and the custody and care of all school property in every town devolves upon a superintending school committee, consisting of three members chosen by ballot at the annual town meeting, one each year, for terms of three years. Women are eligible. Vacancies are filled by the committee until the next town meeting. Committee serves without pay unless otherwise voted by the town, and no member can be employed in the same town as a teacher in the public school. Duties of the committee are: To arrange for the examination of candidates -22

ED 1904 M

for positions as teachers in the town (who do not hold certificates from the State Superintendent or normal schools), giving three weeks' notice by newspaper or poster; to issue certificates to those found competent, and to employ teachers; to direct the general course of instruction, to select a uniform system of text-books, contract with publishers for the same, and make rules for their preservation; to make provision for instructing all pupils in physiology and hygiene with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants, and narcotics; to dismiss any teacher who after due investigation is proven to be unfit; to expel any obstinately disobedient and disorderly scholar if found necessary after proper investigation, and to restore him on satisfactory evidence of his repentance; to exclude, if expedient, any person not vaccinated; to classify scholars and transfer them from school to school; to elect annually a superintendent of schools (not a member of the committee) who shall be ex officio secretary of the committee.

Superintendent of schools.-Duties: To inquire into the regulation and discipline of schools and the proficiency of scholars, for which purpose he shall visit each school at least twice each term; shall make (in April, corrected to April 1) a list of names and ages of all persons in the town from 4 to 21 years, except persons coming from other places to attend a college or academy or to engage in business; make all reports and returns required by law of superintending school committees; perform such other duties as the committee may direct. His salary is fixed by annual vote of the town, not less than $2 a day when employed. Two or more towns may by vote unite to employ a superintendent (for a term not exceeding five years) the several school committees constituting a joint committee for such purpose. Each town's vote in said joint committee and share in the expense of such superintendence (the State pays one-half) is in proportion to the amount of service to be rendered by the superintendent to each. (See also Schools-Attendance.)

Truant officers.-Cities and towns must elect annually one or more truant officers, whose compensation is fixed by the municipal authorities; vacancies in the interim filled by the school committee. Truant officers shall inquire into cases of nonattendance and report causes to the school committee; arrest truants and take them to school; prosecute violators of attendance law when directed in writing by the school committee or superintendent; enforce the law against disturbing schools or defacing school property. A penalty of $10 to $50 is incurred by towns neglecting to elect truant officers and by truant officers neglecting to prosecute when directed.

2. TEACHERS.

Duties-Conventions-Normal schools-Certificates.

Duties. To keep a school register of all scholars enrolled, age of each, date of his entering and leaving, and number of days he attended, length of school term, the teacher's wages, a list of text-books used, and all other facts required by the blank form furnished him; such register to be always open to inspection by the school committee and turned over to them at the close of the school; payment of teacher's salary is conditioned on the proper completion and delivery of said register. All teachers in public and private institutions are to use their best endeavors to impress on the minds of children and youth the principles of morality and justice, and a sacred regard for truth; love of country, humanity, and a universal benevolence; sobriety, industry, frugality, chastity, moderation, temperance, and all other virtues which ornament human society, and to lead those under their care, as their ages and capacities admit. into a particular understanding of the tendency of such virtues to preserve and perfect a republican constitution, secure the blessings of liberty, and promote their future happiness, and the tendency of the opposite vices to slavery, degradation, and ruin. Not less than ten minutes of each week must be devoted to teaching the principles of kindness to birds and animals. Certificates become invalid unless indorsed annually by the school committee. Whoever teaches without a certificate forfeits not exceeding the sum contracted for his wages and is barred from receiving pay therefor.

Conventions.-Thirty or more teachers or school officers of a county may organize for mutual improvement in teaching and for the encouragement of popular interest in education, and may hold conventions at least once a year under the supervision of the State superintendent, the State paying the neces sary expenses of such conventions, for which a continuous annual appropria

tion of $1,000 is set aside from the school fund. No more than two such associations shall be formed in any county, and the expenses of no more than two conventions of any such association shall be defrayed by the State. Teachers may suspend their schools not more than two days in any year to attend their county convention, also two days to attend a State teachers' convention approved by the State superintendent, without forfeiture of pay. Normal schools (of which there are three in the State) shall be devoted to the training of teachers, including the common English branches in thorough reviews, specially selected higher branches, and the art of school management. Principals of normals keep a register (see Teachers-Duties), returning the same to the State superintendent by December 1 for his annual report. The course of study occupies two years; trustees may arrange a three or four years' course for students so desiring; terms of admission are arranged by the State superintendent, subject to the approval of the governor and council. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age if women, 17 if men, and must obligate themselves to teach in the State at least one year-two years if they receive a diploma. Tuition is without charge; incidental fee, $1.50 per student. Said schools are under the direction of a board of seven trustees, consisting of the governor and State superintendent ex officio, with five others appointed (for three years) by the governor and confirmed by the council. These five receive each 10 cents per mile actually traveled and $2 a day when employed. Certificates. (See Organization-Superintending school committees.) 3. SCHOOLS.

Attendance-Studies-Text-books-High schools-Manual-training schools— Normal schools--Buildings and grounds.

All schools of a town shall have an equal aggregate length of term, not less than twenty weeks per year. Superintending school committees may suspend schools having too few scholars; an average attendance of 8 is the minimum allowed by law for any school, unless maintained by special vote of the town. Adjoining towns may maintain union schools for parts of both towns, contributing to their support in proportion to the attendance from each, which schools shall be under the management of the school committee of the town wherein the building is located. Plantations have the same powers and liabilities as towns for electing school officers and for collecting and expending school funds. Cities and towns may establish evening schools for teaching the elementary branches only, to which shall be admitted persons of any age.

Attendance.-Children between 7 and 14 are required to attend public day school during the session. Necessary absence may be excused by the superintendent or school committee or by teachers under the authority of either. Instruction for a like time in an approved private school may be accepted as the equivalent, and children whose physical or mental condition makes attendance inexpedient may be excluded by the school committee. Persons having control of children are subject to a fine of $25 or thirty days' imprisonment for every neglect of duty in securing children's attendance at school. When more convenient, children may attend in adjoining towns, the school committee of the town in which they reside compensating the other town therefor, or else such children shall pay as tuition the average expense per scholar of the school they attend. A child found truant may be arrested by a truant officer and taken to school; if absent six consecutive days without sufficient excuse, he may, after due proceedings, be committed to the State reform school, or in the case of a girl, to the State industrial school for girls, or to any truant school. Persons encouraging truancy are subject to a fine of $20 or thirty days imprisonment. When children reside such distance as in the judgment of the school committee, renders it necessary, the superintendent must procure their conveyance to school or else pay their board at a suitable place near by. In unorganized townships similar authority is vested in the State superintendent.

Studies. The studies to be taught are prescribed by the State superintendent the town committees having the right to add others. Studies specified by law (candidates for teachers' certificates to be examined in) are: Reading, spelling, English, grammar, geography, history, arithmetic, bookkeeping, civics, physiology, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, and the elements of the natural sciences, especially as applied to agriculture. Cities or towns may make provision for free instruction in industrial or

EDUCATION REPORT, 1904.

mechanical drawing to persons over 15 years of age, either in day or evening schools. (See also High schools.)

Text-books, free.-School books, apparatus and appliances, including those for high schools, shall be provided at the expense of the town, under regulations made by the school committee for their distribution and care. such book or appliance lost, destroyed, or unnecessarily injured by a pupil The value of any whose parent or guardian does not, after due notification, make satisfaction therefor, is reported to the assessors and included in the next collection of town taxes. Text-books are uniform for all schools in the same town, and are selected and contracted for by the school committee, not to be changed within five years unless by a vote of the town.

High schools.-Not exceeding two free high schools in any town may be established (1) by any town, (2) by two or more adjoining towns uniting, (3) by any section of a town organizing a high school precinct, or (4) by sections of adjoining towns uniting to organize a high school precinct. Supervision of (1) is vested in the town school committee; (2) and (4) in a joint board composed of the towns' school committees; (3) in the town committee or State superintendent, as the precinct may elect. The State pays one-half the amount expended for instruction, not exceeding $250 a year. Course of study: The ordinary English academic studies, especially the natural sciences in their application to mechanics, manufactures, and agriculture; ancient or modern languages or music not to be taught unless by direction of the school committee having supervision. Precinct high schools are open to scholars from without the precinct but within the town or towns in which the precinct is situated on payment of tuition equal to the cost of maintenance per scholar; and whenever a larger number can be accommodated without detriment, town or precinct high schools may admit scholars from without the town or towns interested upon payment of a like tuition. Instead of establishing a high school, a town may contract with the trustees of an academy within said town for the tuition of scholars in a like approved course of study, receiving in such case the same State aid.

Manual-training schools.-Cities and towns may also raise and appropriate money for the support of manual-training schools, which shall admit such persons (between 6 and 21) and give such courses of instruction as the local school board may determine.

Normal schools.--(See Teachers.)

Buildings and grounds.-The location for the erection or removal of schoolhouses and requisite buildings and for playgrounds shall be designated by vote of the town. When, after such designation, the owner refuses to sell, or asks an unreasonable price, or resides outside the State and has no authorized attorney or agent therein, not exceeding 3 acres may be acquired through appraisement proceedings; likewise additional ground desired for enlargement or extension of any location so designated, unless within 50 feet of a dwelling. If a minor defaces walls, benches, desks, or otherwise injures or destroys school property, the town may recover double the amount of damage in an action for debt against the parent or guardian. Defacement of walls, etc., by obscene pictures or language is punishable by a fine of $10 on complaint made within one year. Willful disturbance or interruption of a school incurs a penalty of $2 to $20.

4. FINANCES.

Funds (permanent and special)—Taxation.

Funds (permanent and special).-All moneys received from sales of lands appropriated for the support of schools and from notes taken therefor, and any other moneys appropriated for the same purpose, constitute the permanent school fund, which shall be kept in a separate account by the State treasurer, and may be put at interest as the legislature directs. money received from the tax on banks, and one-half the annual tax paid by Six per cent of such fund, with all savings banks, is appropriated annually to the support of common schools, being distributed among towns in proportion to the number of children between the ages of 4 and 21. This apportionment is made immediately after July 1.. The proportion due towns failing to make returns is based on the last apportionment, after deducting the number of children set off to other towns in a year, and onetenth of the remainder. Each town is immediately notified of its proportion, which is not paid until its return is made to the State superintendent and all State taxes against such town are paid.

Taxation. A tax of 1 mill on $1 is annually assessed on all property in the State for the support of common schools, and distributed January 1 by the State treasurer to the towns, cities, and plantations on the basis of the previous year's returns; any of said fund not so apportioned or expended during the year is added to the permanent school fund. Each town shall annually raise and expend for schools not less than 80 cents per capita, exclusive of the income of any corporate school fund, or of any State grant, or of any donation or bequest, or of any forfeiture accruing to the use of schools, under penalty of forfeiting from two to four times the amount of its deficiency. Each town assessor shall, on or before May 1, report under oath to the State superintendent the following items: The amount voted by the town for common schools at the preceding annual meeting; amount of school money payable to the town by the State during the year preceding; the amount actually expended for common schools; the amount of school moneys unexpended; such other items (per blanks furnished by the State superintendent) as shall secure a complete statement of school revenues and expenditures. At the instance of the governor and council, the treasurer may withhold payments to towns suspected of evading the law, until satisfactory evidence is furnished to the contrary. (See also SchoolsHigh schools, Manual training schools, Text-books.)

MARYLAND.

1. ORGANIZATION OF THE SYSTEM.

State board-State superintendent-County board-County examiner—District school trustees-Baltimore.

State board. The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint at every regular session of the general assembly four persons (one a resident of the Eastern Shore) who, with the governor, principal of the State normal school, and State superintendent ex officio, shall constitute the State board of education. They shall meet on the last Wednesday in February, May, August, and November, and at such other times as occasion may require; their office shall be at the State normal school, Baltimore; they shall receive no compensation beyond actual expenses not to exceed $1,000 per annum, including necessary clerical assistance. They shall have general supervision of public school interests, act as advisers of county boards, and issue circular letters to teachers and commissioners from time to time on school administration topics. Other duties are: To see that school laws are effective, instituting legal proceedings if need be, under the direction of the attorney-general; enact by-laws not at variance with law for the administration of the public school system, which, when published, shall have the force of law; suspend or remove any county examiner or teacher found inefficient, incompetent, or guilty of moral delinquency such as unfits him for his office; interpret the law and decide controversies that may arise thereunder; issue uniform series of blanks for use of teachers and county boards, according to which forms all accounts shall be kept and returns made; examine candidates for the office of county examiner when so requested by county boards, and give certificates of qualification; grant professional certificates to teachers of long experience and established reputation, which shall be valid until revoked for cause. The State board are ex officio trustees of the State normal school. By January 15 annually they shall make report to the governor setting forth school conditions in the State, a statement of the apportionment of moneys for support of schools, an abstract of reports received from county school commissioners, together with such suggestions for the advancement of school interests as the State board may deem expedient; which report the governor, shall cause to be printed and distributed.

State superintendent.-The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a superintendent of public instruction for the State for a term of four years, and may remove him for cause upon approval of two-thirds of State board. The superintendent is ex officio a member of the State board. His salary is fixed by said board, not to exceed $3,000 per annum and $500 for traveling expenses. It shall be his duty to inform himself and the State board as to the condition of the schools of the State, diffuse information as to best methods of instruction, present to the State board the reports of county boards, examine their expenditures and comment upon the same, remove county examiners for