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vicious people. In the light of an investment; then, it is the
bast and wisest that the State can make, to incur the neces-
sary expense to educate her people.

Respectfully submitted,
HENRY A. WHITE,
President of the Board.

ST. MARY'S COUNTY.

REV. DR. VAN BOKKELEN,

State Superintendent Public Instruction.

You have received my statistical report. Its figures not
only show the condition and doingg of the new system in
St. Mary's County, but demonstrate its marked and steady
progress. They prove, I think, clearly, its fitness for its
important work, at least so far as concerns this County. I
now send yon, at your request, some of the results of my
observation of its working, and such suggestions as, I think,
may promote its interests.

I shall not discuss any question either abstract or practi-
cal, but confine myself to a simple history of the operations
of the system. I cannot think it pertinent in a report which
I think should be strictly historical, to argue the necessity
of the object of the system, and of the conditions necessary
to accomplish it.

The necessity of popular education has been thoroughly
discussed, and argument concluded. The new system is the
organized result of discussion, experience and purpose.
The people of the State have decided that the children of the
State ought to be, must, and shall be educated. To do this
work, they have framed a system of agencies, and the simple
question now isf does it answer its purpose? Results of its
operation is the true answer to this question. As I remarked
above, my tabular exhibits show that in St. Mary's the new
system works well—answers its purpose fully. The people
of St. Mary's are in favor of popular education. At first,
owing to misapprehension of the designs of the new system
—naturally growing out of the circumstances of its origin—
there was very general dissatisfaction, which was not les-
sened by ana voidable delay in organizing our Board and
opening the schools. So soon, however, as the true and
only object of the system became apparent, the characteristic
candor of the people determined that it should have a fair
trial. Accordingly, throughout the County, we were en-
couraged by gentlemen whose influence was a tower of
strength, and auspicious of our success. I must avail myself
of this occasion to thank those gentlemen for their support;