LOCAL TAXES. Any parish may order a levy of 2 mills on the dollar in any year on all taxable property in the parish, to be used for the support of the free public schools. The board of administrators of the city of New Orleans is authorized and directed in making up the budget of city expenses, to include therein, the amount needed to sustain the city schools during the current school year, provided the amount does not exceed $275,000. EXTRACTS FROM RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. The public schools shall be designated as elementary, high, and normal schools. In the elementary schools there shall be taught spelling, oral and written; reading, penmanship, drawing, geography, arithmetic, familiar science (object lessons), physiology and hygiene, and civil government. The high schools shall be for the continued instruction of such youth, over 14 years of age, as are competent to pursue those branches which will fit them for business pursuits, or for admission into the normal schools, or to the Agricultural and Mechanical College, or Tulane University. The normal schools shall be for the general improvement of young teachers and for the professional training of such graduates of the high schools as desire to teach. In every school district shall be kept open, at least 24 weeks in each year, a sufficient number of schools for the instruction of all children who may legally attend public schools therein. A public examination in all the schools shall be held at least once in each year. The presidents or secretaries of parish boards of school directors shall, in addition to the regular reports required of them by law, make to the State superintendent, in connection therewith, full and complete reports as to the condition and amount of the school lands in their districts. MAINE. ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The constitution of 1820 authorizes and empowers the Legislature to require the several towns to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the support and maintenance of public schools.3 Every child between the ages of 9 and 15 years must attend a public school for at least 12 weeks in each year, unless excused by the school officers. Every parent who does not send his children to school as above required, forfeits not exceeding $5 to the treasurer of the town, for school purposes; every boy between the ages of 9 and 15 who refuses or neglects to comply with the above law, forfeits not exceeding $5. LEGAL SCHOOL POPULATION. The school population includes all persons between the ages of 4 and 21 years. A certified list of the names and ages of all resident persons in each school district from 4 to 21 years is returned to the assessors and school committee in April, annually, by the school agent of the district. If school agent neglects to make return, the school committee must do so." These returns are forwarded to the State superintendent of common schools, annually, in May or June, by the school committees, and he, annually, on the first day of July, ascertains the number of children of school age in the towns from which returns have been received, and furnishes a list thereof to the treasurer of the State." MINIMUM LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR. There is no prescribed length of the school year. Five days constitute the school week and four weeks a school month." PRESCRIBED STUDIES. Instruction must be given to all pupils in all schools supported by public money or under State control in physiology and hygiene, with special reference to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants, and narcotics upon the human system. 10 STATE SUPERVISION. For the general supervision of the schools there is a State superintendent of common schools, appointed triennially by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the conncil. His duties are to obtain and disseminate information relating to school systems; to take necessary measures for holding State educational conventions; to hold county 1 Sch. Laws of 1877, art. 26, sec. 28. 2 Ibid., art. 29. Const. of 1820, art. 8. 4 Sch. Laws, sec. 24, pp. 9, 10. 5 Ibid. sec. 25. Ibid., sec. 26. 8Tbid., secs. 90, 106. 10 Ibid., p. 31, act of 1885. institutes; to publish abstracts of proceedings of such conventions; to prescribe the studies to be taught in the common schools; to make report to the Governor and conncil annually; in short, to exercise general supervision and control of all the public schools.1 STATE TAX. A tax of 1 mill on a dollar is annually assessed upon all property in the State, for the support of common schools. STATE SCHOOL FUND. The permanent school fund consists of all moneys received from sales of lands, appropriated for the support of schools, or from notes taken therefor, and of any other inoneys appropriated for the same purpose. A sum equal to 6 per cent. of such fund, together with all money received by the State from the tax on banks, is annually appropriated to the support of common schools and distributed among the several towns, according to the number of children therein between the ages of 4 and 21 years. Immediately after making the annual apportionment in July, the treasurer of State notifies each town of its proportion, which shall not be paid to any town until its return is made to the superintendent of common schools, nor so long as any State tax assessed upon such town remains unpaid. The mill tax for the support of common schools is distributed by the treasurer of State on the first day of January, annually, to the several cities, towns, and plantations, according to the number of scholars therein, as the same shall appear from the official return made to the State superintendent for the preceding year.3 EDUCATION OF TEACHERS. The course of instruction in the State normal schools includes the common English branches in thorough reviews, and such of the higher branches as are especially adapted to prepare teachers to conduct the mental, moral, and physical education of their pupils; also the art of school management, including the best methods of government and instruction.4 Whenever not less than 30 teachers and school officers of any county form an association, under rules of government approved by the State superintendent, for the purpose of mutual improvement in the science and art of teaching, and of diffusing a knowledge of the best methods of improving the public-school system, by the holding of conventions at least once a year, under the supervision of the State superintendent, the State defrays the necessary expenses of holding such conventions; Provided, That not more than two such associations are to be formed in any county, and the expenses of no more than two conventions of any such association in any year are to be defrayed by the State." EDUCATION Of defective, DEPENDENT, AND DELINQUENT CHILDREN. The Governor, with the approval of the council, may send such deaf persons as he deems fit subjects for instruction, at the expense of the State, to the American Asylum, at Hartford, Conn., or to the Portland School for the Deaf, at Portland, as the parents or guardians may designate in their written application for aid." EDUCATION IN HIGHER AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES. To any town, union of towns, or districts establishing and maintaining a free high school for at least 10 weeks in any one year, the State pays one-half the amount expended for instruction in said school, the amount thus paid by the State not to exceed $250. No town can receive such State aid, unless its appropriation and expenditures for such school have been exclusive of the amounts required by law for common-school purposes. The course of study in the free high schools embraces the ordinary English academic studies, especially the natural sciences in their application to mechanics, manufactures, and agriculture. Ancient and foreign languages cannot be taught at the expense of the State fund, unless the school in which they are taught was established before March 18, 1880. These free high schools are subject to the laws governing common schools, where applicable, unless otherwise provided. Any town may authorize its superintending school committee to contract with and pay the trustees of any academy for tuition of scholars within such town in high-school studies, and said town receives same State aid as if said expenditure had been made for free high school. Any city or town may annually make provision for free instruction in industrial or mechanical drawing to persons over 15 years of age, either in day or evening schools, under direction of the superintending school committee.8. 1 Sch. Laws, secs. 102, 104. Ibid., sec. 119. Ibid., secs. 117, 118, 121. 4Ibid., sec. 107. 7 Ibid., secs. 28, 31, 32, 33. LOCAL SUPERVISION. Towns annually determine the number and limit of school districts therein (and may choose school agents); elect a superintending school committee of 3, or elect a supervisor of schools, who shall perform the duties of said committee. No person is ineligible to the office of supervisor of schools, or of superintending school committee, on account of sex. Members of superintending school committee hold office for 3 years; examine and ́employ teachers, unless the town otherwise vote; direct the course of instruction; select a uniform system of text-books (not to be changed for 5 years, unless by vote of the town), and may purchase and fix prices of same; examine schools and inquire into the regulations and discipline thereof; dismiss teachers for sufficient cause; expel scholars; exclude scholars not vaccinated; direct expenditures; classify scholars; and make annual report to the State superintendent." Plantations have the same rights and privileges as towns as to school laws, and may form districts and raise money for school purposes.3 SCHOOL-HOUSES AND OTHER SCHOOL PROPERTY. School-houses and furniture are provided by the towns or districts. Insurance may be procured on school property by the school agent, if the district so direct. TEACHERS-HOW SELECTED AND PAID. Teachers are examined, licensed and appointed by the superintending school committee, as already specified. Teachers must be of good moral character, have a "temper and disposition suitable to be instructors of youth," and must pass an examination in reading, spelling, English grammar, geography, history, arithmetic, book-keeping, physiology and hygiene.5 LOCAL TAXES. Every town must raise and expend annually for the support of schools therein, exclusive of any income from corporate school fund, or from any grant from the State, or from any donation, bequest, or forfeiture, not less than 80 cents for each inhabi tant.6 School districts have power to raise and expend money for the rental, purchase, care and improvement of real and personal property, useful or necessary for publicschool purposes, or for the maintenance of graded schools." MARYLAND. ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The General Assembly "shall by law establish throughout the State a thorough and efficient system of free public schools, and shall provide, by taxation or otherwise, for their maintenance."s LEGAL SCHOOL POPULATION. School age for whites is 6 to 21 years; for colored, 6 to 20 years.o MINIMUM LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR. In every district in each county one or more free schools are kept open 10 months in the year if possible.10 Five days constitute a school week." PRESCRIBED STUDIES. In every district school there must be taught orthography, reading, writing, English 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 Maryland, vocal music, drawing, and physiology. The laws of health and domestic economy are also to be taught whenever the board of district_school trustees deem it expedient; and in districts where there is a considerable German population, the board of county school commissioners is authorized to cause the German language to be taught, if it think proper to do so.12 STATE SUPERVISION. Educational matters affecting the State, and the general care and supervision of public education, are entrusted to a State board of education, consisting of the prin 1 cipal of State normal school, the Governor of the State, and 4 persons (one of whom must be a resident of the Eastern shore), from among the presidents and examiners of the several county boards. These four members are appointed at the regular biennial session of the General Assembly by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate.1 The State board meets on the last Wednesday in May, August, November, and February of every year, in the State normal-school building, and the members of the board receive "no salary, but actual expenses incurred in attending these meetings." It is the duty of the board to enact by-laws for the administration of the public-school system; to suspend or remove examiners or teachers who are found to be inefficient, incompetent, or guilty of moral delinquency, unfitting them for their offices; to explain the true intent and meaning of the law, and decide all controversies and disputes that may arise under it; to act as assistants and advisers of the various county boards; to issue circular letters to teachers and school commissioners on public-school business; to issue a uniform series of blanks for reports and returns; to examine candidates for the office of county examiner when requested by the county school board; to grant certificates to teachers of long experience and established reputations, and to make an annual report to the Governor on or before January 15. The members of the State board are, ex officio, trustees of the State Normal School, and the principal of the State Normal School is, ex officio, a trustee of the State Agricultural College. The principal of the State Normal School is the executive officer of the State board of education, and is, ex officio, State superintendent of public instruction.3 STATE TAX. A tax of 10 cents on each $100 of taxable property throughout the State is annually levied for the support of free public schools and the Maryland State Normal School, which tax is collected at the same time and by the same agents as the general State levy, and is paid into the treasury of the State.1 On the 15th day of June, the 1st day of October, the 1st day of January, and the 15th day of March in each year, the comptroller apportions the amount of the proceeds of the school tax among the several counties and the city of Baltimore in proportion to their respective population, between 5 and 20 years of age, and notifies the State board of education and the treasurer of the several boards of county school commissioners, and of the city of Baltimore of the amount due to each on the several days aforesaid; these amounts are paid to the treasurers of the said boards by the State treasurer upon the draft of the president and secretary of the same; but if in any county the schools are kept open less than 7 months of the year ending December 31, the comptroller withholds from such county the April installment of the State school tax.5 The income of the free-school fund is disbursed by the State treasurer upon the warrant of the comptroller." EDUCATION OF TEACHERS. A State normal school for the instruction and practice of teachers in the science of education, the art of teaching, and the mode of governing schools is located at Baltimore, the sessions of which must not be less than 9 months in a year. The course of study is prescribed by the State board of education.7 A teachers' institute, to continue 5 days, is held in each county once a year. EDUCATION IN HIGHER AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES. High schools may be established by counties or by districts, and, if practicable, military tactics may form a department in same.? COUNTY SUPERVISION. Educational matters affecting a county shall be under the supervision of a board of county school commissioners, 3 in number, whose term of office is 2 years, 10 who elect a person (not a member of the board) to serve as secretary, treasurer, and examiner; in counties having more than 85 schools an assistant examiner may be appointed " The board of county school commissioners has the general supervision and control of all the schools in the respective counties, and makes annual report to the State board of education on or before November 15.12 The county examiner holds regular examinations of teachers, visits the schools in his county, and makes quarterly reports to county board, and on or before January 15 in every year, notifies the comptroller how many months the schools of his county have been kept open.13 Sch. Laws, chap. 2, sec. 1. 2 Ibid., chap. 3, secs. 1 to 10. tion, art. 1, sec. 3. Ibid., chap., 19, sec. 1. 5 Sch. Laws, chap. 19, sec. 6. 9 Ibid., chap. 12, secs. 1, 4, 7. Ibid., chap. 17, secs. 1, 2, 4. · 10 Ibid., chap. 1, sec. 2. 12 Ibid., sees. 4, 7. The secretary and treasurer of the board of county school commissioners must give bond, must keep full account of all moneys received and paid by him, and all matters relating to the duties of his office, preserve the same and all vouchers relating thereto; must be present at every meeting of the board, but has no vote; keep the minutes and conduct the correspondence, file and keep all letters and reports pertaining to business of the board, and prepare and submit for adoption the annual report to the State board of education.1 TEXT-BOOKS. Text-books are adopted (and may be purchased) by the boards of county school commissioners for the public schools in their respective counties." LOCAL SUPERVISION. Educational matters affecting a school district are under the supervision of a board of district school trustees, 3 in number, appointed by the county school commissioners annually.3 The mayor and city council of Baltimore have full power and authority to establish in said city a system of free public schools, and may delegate supervisory powers. and control to a board of school commissioners; may prescribe rules for building school-houses, and locating, establishing and closing schools; and are authorized and empowered to levy and collect upon the assessable property in the city, such amount of taxes as are necessary to defray the expenses incurred for educational purposes by them.4 The commissioners of public schools of Baltimore have the power to examine, appoint and remove teachers, prescribe the qualifications, fix the salaries, subject to approval of the mayor and city council, select text-books (provided they contain nothing of a sectarian or partisan character), and must make annual report to the State board of education.5 SCHOOL-HOUSES AND OTHER SCHOOL PROPERTY. Every school-house is built and furnished according to plans and drawings issued from the office of the county school commissioners." TEACHERS: HOW SELECTED AND PAID. Teachers are appointed by the district school trustees (except in Baltimore), and their salaries are fixed by the county school commissioners, and paid, by their order, at the end of each term.8 A teacher in public school must have certificate of qualification, issued by the examiner of the county in which he desires to teach, or from the principal of the State normal school, a diploma as graduate of said school, or certificate from State board of education.9 MASSACHUSETTS. ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The constitution of 1780 declares that "it shall be the duty of Legislatures and magistrates, in all future periods of this Commonwealth, to cherish the interests of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries of them, especially the university at Cambridge, public schools and grammar schools in the towns.10 In every town there must be kept, at the expense of said town, a sufficient number of schools for the instruction of all the children who may legally attend public school therein." A town may establish and maintain, in addition to the schools required by law to be maintained therein, schools for the education of persons over 12 years of age; such schools may be kept in day or evening.12 Every town and city having 10,000 or more inhabitants must maintain, in addition to the schools required by law to be maintained therein, evening schools for the instruction of persons over 12 years of age, in orthography, reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, drawing, the history of the United States, and good behavior, and such other branches of learning as the school committee may deem expedient, 13 Every person, having under his control a child between the ages of 8 and 14 years must, annually, cause such child to attend for at least 20 weeks some public day school in the city or town in which he resides; and for every neglect of such duty forfeits to the use of public schools in such city or town a sum not exceeding $20, unless he is anable, by reason of poverty, to send such child to school, or the child attends, for like period of time, a private day school, or is otherwise furnished with the means of Sch. Laws, chap. 11, sec. 6. Ibid., chap. 6, sec. 5. 2 Ibid., chap. 10, sec. 2. Ibid., chap. 16, secs. 1, 4. Ibid., chap. 8, secs. 2, 5, art. 2, *State board of education by-laws. 10 Const. of 1780, chap. 5, sec. 2. |