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84

BALTIMORE COUNTY.

Rev. Dr. Van Bokkelen,

State Superintendent.

Dear Sir :

As one of the requirements of the new school law made it
incumbent upon the School Commissioners to select from
among those holding certificates suitable teachers for the

schools in their charge, the first doty of the authorized exam-
iner was to held public examinations. For various reasons
these were deferred till the first of January. In the mean-
time permits were granted to all teachers holding certificates
which had been issued by the old School Board, but all others
making application were orally examined, and such as were

considered qualified received permits which continued in
force until the time appointed for holding the regular exam-
ination. Before any certificates were issued, each school
was visited for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of the
teachers' practical qualifications, under the belief that the
sprit, if hot the letter, of the law required ability to teach
aa well as proficiency in the branches enumerated in the
certificates. Bight public examinations were held (one for
each. Commissioner district), at which one hundred and twenty-
five applicants presented themselves; fifty-nine ladies and

sixty-six gentlemen; one hundred and one single and twenty-
fopur married, one of the latter a lady. Twenty-one received
certificates of the first grade; seventy-one certificates of the

second grade, and twenty-nine received permits. Four were
rejected. Of the applicants, eighteen had never taught
previous to the introduction of the present school system;
twenty-four had been engaged in teaching from one to three
years : twenty-five, from three to six; eighteen, from six to
ten; five, from ten to fifteen; six, from fifteen to twenty ;
four, from twenty to twenty-five, and one, thirty-five years.

Sixty-sir of the applicants were born in Baltimore County;
eighteen in Baltimore city; four in Carroll; one in Kent;
one in Queen Anne's; one in Dorchester; one in Montgom-
ery; two in Harford; one in Charles;—making ninety-five
in Maryland. One in Delaware; three in Virginia; sixteen
in Pennsylvania; one in Massachusetts; one in England;
ire in Ireland; one in Scotland; and one in Cape Colony.

Punishment: Forty-six use the rod; thirty alternate be-
tween detention and the rod; twenty-five adopt detention ;
eight give extra lessons; four employ scolding; one deprives
of dinner; one makes use of confinement; and ten deprive
of play.

Eight of the teachers are preparing for other professions.

The statistical tables compare very favorably with those of