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15

another year, and a wider range of observation prove the value
of the system of School supervision."

Pennsylvania, 1864.—" This energizing agency is becom-
ing more and more efficient, and the labours and influence of
the Superintendents more and more appreciated."

1865.—" The wisdom of the plan of supervision is abun-
dantly indicated by results. Teachers are better educated.
Schools better taught and the public mind better informed
on the subject of education, and the whole common School
system made almost universally popular."

1866.—"County Superintendents were first elected in this
State in 1854, and it is not claiming too much for the office
to say that it has vitalized the whole system.

To it, more than to any other agency, or to all other
agencies combined, we owe our educational progress during
the last twelve years."

Pennsylvania pays for salaries of County Superintendents
over $60.000 annually, the average School year being less than
6 months, and thinks the money wisely appropriated.

I find the same testimony everywhere. Even young Kan-
sas speaks: "The County Superintendent is the most impor-
tant office in our School System." Guided by the experience
of those who preceded Maryland in the work of State Educa-
tion an active and most efficient system of supervision has
been provided, and from the ability and zeal of the gentlemen
whom it has been the good fortune of the State Board of Ed-
ucation to select, our complete success is only a question of
time, if means be provided adequate to the work of building
and furnishing school houses and paying the salaries of our
1500 teachers.

The detail of the system of supervision is this. Each
County has been divided into School districts, averaging an
area of 6 square miles. There are in all the Counties 1,400
Districts, the largest number 124 being in Washington
County; the smallest, 21, in Calvert County. In each district
a School House site has been or will be selected near the cen-
tre of population convenient of access by the County roads.
Where no physical obstacles intervene such as streams,
swamps, mountains, the school house is within easy walk,
and not over 2 1/2 miles from the most distant child.

For each School a visitor is selected from among the patrons
who acts as the friend and adviser of the teacher and assists
in procuring the articles needed for the comfort of the chil-
dren. This visitor is also expected to aid by his influence
ta maintain discipline and secure parental co-operation.

Several School Districts united, (not more than 15 at
present in any County,) constitute a Commissioner District,
over which is a School Commissioner, who selects a teacher
for each School from among the persons, who by examination