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wise and liberal legislation, this State Normal School. Its
importance is paramount. At each successive visit to the
School, whether alone or in company with State officials,
School Commissioners, or strangers from other States, my
conviction has been strengthened that the work done is real.
There is no sham about it. Everything is practical, and
based upon true philosophical principles of culture, moral,
mental and physical. The School is even now an honor to
Maryland. While I would encourage all agencies for higher
education, such as County High Schools and State Colleges,
yet I know that to make these prosper we must have a thor-
ough system of Primary and Grammar Schools. These can-
not bo sustained .unless we provide qualified teachers from
the residents of each County; home teachers, who will re-
main at their posts. To secure these we have no permanent
agency but the the State Normal School. By sustaining it a
foundation will be laid deep and broad upon which a High
School and College system will stand firmly and develop
prosperously.

The practical working of the School, and what it needs to
accomplish its noble mission are so fully set forth in the Re-
port of Prof. Newell that further remark in this connection
is unnecessary.

Baltimore, December 31, 1866.
REV. DR. VAN BOKKELEN,
Sir:

I have the honor to submit to you the FIRST ANNUAL RE-
PORT of the Maryland State Normal School.

The school was opened on the 15th of January, in the
building known as the Red Men's Hall, and continued in ses-
sion till the 8th of June. At the opening, 11 students were
present, all but one being from the City of Baltimore. At the
close, 48 names were on the roll, of whom one-third came
from the counties.

At the Commencement, which was held on the 8th of June
in the New Assembly Rooms, in the presence of a large and
highly respectable audience, 16 students graduated, 4 as
Teachers of Grammar Schools, and 12 as Teachers of Prima-
ry Schools. In the unavoidable absence of the Governor, the
diplomas were presented by the State Superintendent; and
interesting and encouraging addresses were delivered by
John II. B. Latrobe, Esq., and Hon. John M. Frazier, of
the State Board of Education.

THE FULL SESSION commenced on the 15th of September,

as required by law, with 48 students in attendence : of whom

15 had been at school the previous session. The number in-

creased week by week till the close of the session, Dec. 20th,

when there were 71 on the roll, and 65 in actual attendance.