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awake active teacher, and therefore Maryland has incorpora-
ted in her School Law this essential feature which has worked
so well wherever fairly tried under liberal auspices. For fur-
ther information on this subject I refer to the report of the
Principal of the State Normal School.

TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONS.

This is another agency for the improvement of teachers
through which they seek to benefit one another by conference
and the discussion of School questions chiefly relating to in-
struction and government. Papers are read on professional
subjects and illustrations given of modes of teaching. The
sessions sometimes take the form of an experience meeting
and each member gives a narrative of his School work and
School difficulties, through which many valuable suggestions
are made and much practical information imparted. These
Associations are being formed in all the Counties, following
the example of Baltimore City and those Counties, in which
they have existed for several years. Educated men and two-
men and teachers of private Schools frequently attend and

contribute their quota to the general fund of professional
knowledge.

It is hoped that intelligent citizens of all professions and
specially those who teach from the pulpit will aid and en-
courage these Associations for mental culture and thus con-
tribute a little towards elevating the profession of the teacher
and giving him that position, to which, by his important
labors, he is eminently entitled.

The tendency of these re-unions is to create an esprit du
corps, to stimulate teachers to greater efforts for self-culture,
and to encourage them by practical evidence that they are
not alone, hut have the sympathy of many co-laborors in the
same field, all working together to elevate the standard of
popular intelligence and the capacity for virtuous living.

Out of the County organizations has grown the STATE
TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. This is composed of all the teachers
engaged in the Public Schools of Maryland. The initiatory
meeting of this association was held in Baltimore, December
28, 1865, under the auspices of a committee of the Professors
of the City High Schools and Principals of the Grammar
Schools, thus furnishing most gratifying evidence of the ex-
istence of a kind and fraternal feeling. The first regular
meeting convened July 10, 1866, in the commodious Hall of
the Western Female High School of Baltimore City. There
was a large attendance from the City and Counties. A con-
stitution and by-laws were adopted, permanent officers were
plected, .and all arrangements made tor active work. I con-
sider this State association as an important agency in eleva-
ting the teachers' profession, and giving a practical direction"