53

the President of the School Board, to whom I am indebted
ibr the tabular form printed in the appendix. If our Schools
be organized according to this or some similar method, pa-
rents will have a standard by which to judge of the progress
of their children, and will know where they ought to be upon
the School roll, and to which class they properly belong. It
will provide an easy criterion by which every friend of public
education, who will devote a little time to visiting the School
room, can test the skill of the teacher to organize his classes.

The table is presented merely as suggestive of what is
needed to systematize the work of such schools as for many
years to come, will form the majority in our rural districts.
Some plan like this will encourage the children to study, and
will awaken an ambition to answer the questions which se-
cure advancement to a higher class.

To increase the interest of children in School work aad en-
liven that dull routine which active little minds abhor, act
effort has been made with some degree of success to intro-
duce into the Public Schools.

VOCAL Music, DRAWING AND CALISTHENICS.

Whenever the teacher has skill in any or all of these exer-
cises, there has been marked improvement in the condition
of the School. The pupils are pleased, parents are gratified
and discipline is made easier because of contentment and good
will. After the relaxation of a song, or the recreation of
simiple exercises in light Gymnastics, the children resume
study with renewed vigor and interest.

Attention is given in the State Normal School to all these
branches so that teachers in the Public Schools of Maryland,
may become competent to teach vocal music, illustrate objects
by drawing on the blackboard and enliven the pupils by the
pleasing and graceful movements of the Calisthenics. Oar
object ought to be to make Schools attractive, and by persua-
sive influences rather than by compulsory laws draw the chil-
dren to School that they may reap the benefits so liberally
provided for them.

TRAVELS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

To give a detailed statement of travel in the discharge of
official duties woold fill a small volume. It would be a de-
scription of the condition of the roads, the farms, towns and
villages of the State. It would be a pleasant narrative of
hospitality received from all classes of citizens, of happy
hoars passed in hundreds of School houses by the wayside,
among thousands of intelligent boys and girls.

During the year every County has been visited, some of
them twice, and also the Schools of the City of Baltimore. I