The members of the State Board of Education as shown above were
appointed by the Governor under the authority contained in Section 5
of Article 77 of the Bagby Code of Public General Laws, which provides
for the appointment of six members, two biennially for a term of six
years from the first Monday in May next succeeding their appointment,
who, with the Governor and Superintendent of Public Education, consti-
tutes the Board.

Chapter 506 of the Acts of 1916, however, repeals the above Section
and provides that, at the expiration of the terms of the present members
of the Board, successors are appointed as follows: Before the first Mon-
day in May, 1918, three members for terms of seven, six and five years;
in 1920, two members for terms of six and seven years, and in 1922, two
members for terms of six and seven years from the first Monday in May
next succeeding their appointment, thus creating a Board, after 1922, of
seven members, one appointed annually for a term of seven years from
the first Monday in May, next succeeding the appointment. The Governor
and State Superintendent of Schools are not ex-officio members of this
Board after 1918.

The State Board of Education selects a State Superintendent of
Schools, and through him and his assistants, has general control of the
Public School System of the State. The Board is a legislative body, and,
as such, enacts by-laws and prescribes rules and regulations for carrying
into effect the provisions of the school laws. These by-laws and rules
include regulations for the construction of school buildings, for grading
and standardizing all public schools, for the certification of public school
teachers, for taking the bi-ennial school census, and for a uniform series
of forms and blanks for the use of county superintendents, school officials
and teachers.

The State Superintendent of Schools is the executive officer of the
Board. 'The members of the State Board of Education and the State
Superintendent of Schools are ex-officio trustees of the State Normal
Schools.
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

The present position was created by the General Assembly of 1900.
The principal of the Maryland State Normal School before that time
(1872-1900) being ex-officio State Superintendent. The State Superin-
tendent of Schools is appointed by the State Board of Education for a
term of four years and is ex-officio secretary and treasurer of the Board.

He is charged with the duties of interpreting school laws, acting
without expense to the parties concerned in all controversies and disputes
involving the proper administration of the public school system, and the
execution of the educational policies of the State Board of Education.
He conducts conferences of school officials and teachers, issues teachers'
certificates, passes upon proposals for the sale of school sites and build-
ings, and the plans for the construction of new buildings. He directs
the taking of the bi-ennial school census, prepares courses of study and
an annual report. He publishes a Teachers' Year Book and the pro-
ceedings of the Maryland State Teachers' Association .and issues bulletins
from time to time on the conditions and needs of the schools.

Either in person, or through his assistants, he has general super-
vision over the educational affairs of the counties, co-operates with
county school officials in welding together school interests in a State
system. He certifies to the Comptroller in August each year a list of
schools entitled to receive State aid, and the amount due each county in
part payment by the State of the salaries of superintendents, supervisors
and attendance officers. He audits the accounts of the county board of
education and sees that their expenditures conform to the law.