60

A committee, consisting of Rev. Doct. Anspach of Ann
Arundcl, F. A. Ellis of Cecil and Thomas A. Boullt of Wash-
irston County, was appointed to present the views of the
Association to the General Assembly and to advance the
important interests involved in our system of Public In-
struction.

In connexion with all legislation upon School questions I
most earnestly suggest the importance of consulting these
gentlemen, representing as they do, a 'body of intelligent
educators from different sections of the State, and coming fresh
from the field of labor which they supervise, the difficulties
and needs of which they fully understand. We can thus
avoid the rocks upon which the School systems of other States
have been wrecked. Guided by practical wisdom instead of
theory, our Schools will be adapted to the needs of the child-
ren, if they do not correspond with the ideas of theorists;
they will be beneficial to the whole State, though they may
not advance the special interests of any party.

With these suggestions I refer again to the bill reported
to the Senate at the Special Session of the General Assembly,
Jan. 7th, 1866.

SCHOOL REVENUES.

These are derived from six sources:

1. The 15 cent State direct tax.

2. The Free School fund.

3. State donations to Academies and Public Schools.
1. Fines and forfeits.

5. Interest on the County permanent School funds.

6. Local or County School tax.

The local tax having been repealed to take effect after Dee,
31st, 1866, the Schools of every County are left dependent
upon the other sources of revenue at the close of the current
School year, June 30th, 1867, unless provision is made for a
local tax by a Public General Law, or a local law for those
counties which, by popular vote, have signified a desire for
such tax.

Reference to Table II upon page 12 will prove the necessity
of a local tax in all the populous counties if Free Schools are
to be sustained longer than 6 months each year. The fifteen
cent State direct tax, under the new assessment, together with
the Free School fund, will yield ample revenue for all the
Counties in which there is a large population of colored per-
sons. These Counties can, without local tax, continue the
Schools in operation the entire ten months; while Allegany,
Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, 'Frederick, Harford, Howard,
Washington and perhaps some others, require a local tax to
supplement the State funds.