DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNAPOLIS SUMMARY OF SCHOOL LEGISLATION SESSION OF 1910 I. The State School Tax. Tlie State tax rate for schools lias been fixed at 16 1-8 cents on each $100 of assessed property. It is conservative!}^ estimated that this, with the tax on incorporated institutions and Baltimore City stock, will produce $1,500,000, with a normal increase in taxable basis. Out of this is to be paid the usual appropriation for text-books; the cost of maintaining the Normal schools ; the expenses of the State Depart- ment; $25,000 for retired teachers; $34,069.36 to the Free School Fund; and the State aid to ^' Approved High Schools." The last three items named have not previously been paid out of the State school tax, but since the tax will produce about $150,000 more than the schools received last year, the quarterly distri- butions should remain about the same this year as last. With a re-assessment throughout the State, there will be a very substantial increase next year. II. Grade Supekvisoes. Each County School Board may, in its discretion, appoint a grade supervisor. If the number of teachers in a county exceeds one hundred and fifty, an addi- .aS^ ^ ^^^',i\^'% tional supervisor may be appointed; and one addi- tional supervisor for every additional one hundred teachers. These supervisors must have had at least five years ^ experience as teachers of the elementary grades, and such other qualifications as the State Board of Education may prescribe. III. High Schools. The Board of School Commissioners of any county may establish high schools subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. High schools re- ceiving State aid shall be divided into two groups to be known as First Group and Second Group Schools — the group to be determined b}^ the number of pupils enrolled, teachers employed, and years of instruction given. High schools of the First Group shall fulfill the fol- lowing minimum requirements: (a) an enrollment of not less than eighty pupils; (b) employ not less than four teachers for the regular high school work, ex- clusive of instructors of special subjects named under (e) ; (c) four years' course of instruction of not less than thirty-six weeks in each year, same to conform to the standard required by the State Board of Edu- cation; (d) the annual salary of the principal to be not less than $1,200, and the salary of each assistant teacher regularly employed to be not less than $500 per annum; (e) provision to be made for Manual Training and Domestic Science courses, and also a Commercial or an Agricultural course, as may be de- termined by the Board of County School Commis- sioners. High schools of the Second Group shall fulfill the following minimum requirements: (a) an enrollment of not less than thirty-five pupils; (b) employ not less than two teachers for the regular high-school work, exclusively of instructors of special subjects named under (e) ; (c) a three years' course of instruc- tion of not less tlian tliirty-six weeks in each year, same to conform to the standard required by the State Board of Education; (d) the annual salary of the prin- cipal to be not less than $1,000, and that of each assistant to be not less than $500; (e) provision to be made for a Manual Training, or an Agricultural, or a Commercial course, as may be determined b}" the Board of County School Commissioners. The course of instruction in schools of the Second Group may be extended to four years by the Board of County School Commissioners, by the employment of such additional teacher or teachers as may be required by the State Board of Education, provided that the salary of such additional teacher or teachers shall be paid wholly by the said Board of County School Commis- sioners; and in those schools of the Second Group, where the course of instruction has been so extended to a four-year course, the graduates shall receive the same recognition as graduates of schools of the First Group. No promotions of high-school pupils from one grade to another, or graduation, shall be made without the approval of the principal and the County Superintendent. State aid is based on the cost of instruction and for First Group schools is as follows: The sum of $600 on account of the principal, and the sum of $300 on account of each of the first three assistants em- ployed for regular high-school work; the sum of $400 on account of each of two special teachers, who shall spend not less than two-fifths of their time in the school receiving said amounts; and the sum of $100 on account of each additional regular grade teacher, provided the total amount does not exceed the sum of $2,500. For Second Group schools: The sum of $600 on account of the principal; the sum of $400 on account of one assistant teacher employed for regular grade V70rk ; and the sum of $400 on account of the instructor of special subjects to be designated by the Countj^ School Board; provided, that if an instructor in Manual Training or Agricultural work be required to divide his or her time among not more than four schools of this group, $150 shall be allowed on account of each of such schools; provided, also, that the amount to be received by each of the four high schools of Baltimore City shall be equal to the maximum amount received on account of any high school in the counties of the State ; provided further, that the Board of County School Commissioners of each county shall submit annually to the County Commissioners of their respective counties, at least thirty days prior to the date for making the usual county levy for school pur- poses, a list of all high schools of the county, includ- ing those not entitled to State aid, as well as those classified in this Article, and an itemized statement of the estimated cost of maintaining same, and the said Boards of County Commissioners shall make a separate levy for high schools, publishing same once a week for three successive weeks prior to date of making said levy, in one or more county papers. When instruction below that of the high-school grades is given in the same building, or on the same premises, such grade work may also be under the direct control of the Board of County School Commis- sioners, and the principal of the high school shall also be the principal of the elementary department. By an amendment to the bill, high schools now on the ' ' Approved List ' ' and complying with all require- ments except that of enrollment, cannot be excluded from the Second Group within two years. All special appropriations for (white) Manual Training Departments and also approx3riations to maintain a Commercial Course in certain high schools have been repealed, and the high school appropriation is made in lieu thereof. Any high school of either First or Second Group receiving State aid shall forfeit any special State ap- propriations heretofore made for such schools — except academic appropriations made prior to 1872. TV. Maryland State Noemal School. A special appropriation of $5,500 was made from the funds of the General Treasury to aid in defray- ing the extra expenses recently incurred in building a new Model School, the installation of a new heat- ing plant, and general repairs to the building. A Commission consisting of the Governor, Comptroller, Treasurer, State Superintendent of Schools, the Prin- cipal of the Maryland State Normal School, Senators Linthicum and Bidclison, and Delegates Benson and Digges, was provided by law to consider the subject of a new site, plans for buildings, provisions for dormitories, etc., and report to the General Assembly two years hence. While the Legislature declined to authorize a bond issue of $400,000 as provided in the bill submitted by Senator Linthicum, it seems probable that public sentiment will soon crystalize in favor of the plan and the next Legislature will provide the necessary funds to carry out the suggestions which the Com- mission may make. Should the Johns Hopkins University move to Homewood and establish a Teachers' College as an adjunct of the University and tlie new Normal School be located nearby, there could be furnished an ideal and adequate plan for training teachers. Nothing- would invigorate our school system more than the con- summation of these plans. We should all work toward such an end. V. CoLOEED Industrial Schools. The appropriation of fifteen hundred dollars for one colored industrial school will be divided about equally between the maintenance of one colored school, centrally located in the county, where the industrial arts are to be taught and demonstrated, and the em- ployment of a capable supervisor for the colored schools, who shall visit such schools frequently under the direction of the County Superintendent and cause instruction of an industrial character to be given in all colored schools. In any county where there are fewer than ten colored schools, only one-half of the appropriation is payable, and that part for the main- tenance of one industrial school. If the County School Board will employ a graduate of some such well-known industrial school as Tuske- gee or Hampton, this plan will go far toward solving the problem of negro education. A capable person can also be of great assistance to the county school officials in providing teachers for the colored schools and training them for the work they are to do. VI. State Coloeed Normal School. The General Assembly sanctioned the sale made by the State Board of Education of the Baltimore Colored Normal Building located at the corner of Saratoga and Courtland streets, Baltimore. A tract of land near Bowie, Prince George's County, has been pur- chased as a site for the new school plant, and it is the purpose of the State Board of Education to erect and complete, before October 1st next, the necessary buildings for the school. At a small cost pupils will be trained along the line of mechanical arts and agri- culture for the work of teaching. VII. Classification of Certificates. On or before the first day of October of each year, the County Superintendent shall submit to the County School Board a list of all teachers employed, together with a classification of their certificates. In deter- mining the class of certificates, the following points are to be considered: (a) scholarship; (b) executive ability; (c) personality; and (d) teaching power. The County Superintendent may add such other require- ments as may be approved by the State Board of Edu- cation. VIII. Teachees' Salaries. The following schedule of salaries, as provided by the Acts of 1908 continue in force with an additional provision as indicated below under Section 57 A : That all white teachers regularly employed, hold- ing a first-class teachers ' certificate and having taught for a period of three years in any of the public schools of the State of Maryland, shall receive as salary not less than $350 per annum; and provided further, that if such teacher hold a first-class teachers' certificate and has taught in the public schools of Maryland for a period of five years, he or she shall receive an annual salary of not less than $400; and provided further, that if a teacher holds a first-class teachers' certifi- cate and has taught in the public schools of Mary- land for a period of eight years, he or she shall re- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 020 312 089 8 ceive as an annual salary not less than $450 ; and pro- vided further, that if a teacher holds a second-class teachers' certificate and has taught in the public schools of the State of Maryland for a period of eight years, he or she shall receive as an annual salary not less than $350. The Comity Commissioners of' each county shall levy a sufficient amount to meet the in- crease of salaries provided for in this Act. Section 57 A. The minimum salary of principal teachers of the white public schools of the State of Maryland in which the corps of teachers consist of a l)rincipal teacher and one or more regularly appointed teachers subordinate to the principal teacher shall be $50 in addition to the salary provided for in Section 1221/2 E of Chapter 635 of the Acts of General As- sembly of 1908. Note. — The full text of these Acts will be included in a new issue of the School Laws now being pre- pared. LOCAL LEGISLATION. An act fixes the minimum local levy in Baltimore County at 28 cents for general expenses and 9 cents for buildings. In Allegany, the rate for general expenses w^as fixed at 30 cents and 4 cents for buildings. In Prince George's, a minimum of 25 cents was fixed for all school purposes. In Anne Arundel, the rate for general school pur- poses has been 33 cents, but an additional 5 cents for buildings was authorized. Several counties, notably Montgomery and Prince George's, have arranged for bond issues for the erec- tion of certain new school buildings. April 9, 1910. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 020 312 089^8