1656

operation, except during the Summer term, when the School
fund was withheld and used for repairing and furnishing
school houses. At the same time more than one-half the
school houses were used for private schools, with the appro-
val of the Commissioners of the District in which the schools
were located. The result is that the school houses generally
are in good condition. Some few, however, still need repairs
and furniture.

The Teachers generally some up to the standard the law
requires, and are energetic and faithful in the discharge of
their duties. Their salaries depend upon the number and
average attendance of pupils; the minimum salary being-
three hundred dollars per annum. Thore is more interest
manifested on the part of Teachers and pupils than I have
ever known in our county.

Among the public generally, and especially among those
who have children to be educated, I think the opposition to
the present school law is subsiding. It commends itself to
the approval of those who have thoroughly and impartially
investigated the subject.

Since my last report we have built three new school
homes, repaired twenty-three and furnished nine. The
number of pupils, during the last Fall term, is one hundred
and ninety more than the Fall term of last year.

WM. R. WILMER,
President- of Board School Commissioners, Charles Co,

CAROLINE COUNTY.

Denton, November, 1866.

To the State Superintendent of Public Instruction,
Sir:

I have the honor to report as follows:

The first year of our schools has to some extent demon-
strated the working of the uniform system of Public Instruc-
tion in the State of Maryland; under many disadvantages
that system has proved to be of great practical benefit to Car-
oline County. There has been a decided improvement in the
mode of teaching, and governing of schools. Teachers have
manifested a greater interest in the work, and pupils have at-
tended with more punctuality; but both teachers and pu-
pils have suffered loss from not being provided with suite-
ble school houses and furniture. We have not the means
for making either comfortable during school hours. We
earnestly hope that the present Legislature will provide
the means by which this difficulty may be removed. There
are net mere than five comfortable school houses in the Coun-