1815

263

School in the county , and I have had replies only from R. H.
Archer, Esq., of Patapsco Institute, and Mr. Matthews, of
Phrenokosmian Hall.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN HARFORD COUNTY—T. S.
C. SMITH, President.—The Private Schools herein reported
are well conducted. The Classics are taught in all the male
and in one of the female schools. There were also, during
part of the year, seven colored schools in the county sus-
tained principally by private funds. These afforded instruc-
tion to about Three Hundred Pupils. It is difficult to state
the precise or average number of pupils, owing to irregular-
ity in their attendance. Those schools which I visited were
evidently well conducted, and the pupils appeared to make
good progress.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN MONTGOMERYCOUNTY—
WM. H. FARQUUAR, President.—The number of pupils in
Private Schools, when no longer receiving public support
was considerably less than one-fourth the average attendance
during the regular school terms. There afe no Colleges in
this county. Nothing has been done, as yet, towards organ-
izing a County High School. There are two Academies
receiving State donations to the aggregate amount of $1400
yearly. This would seem to afford a basis for founding a
High School, but it is believed that the.condition of the pub-
lic mind is not yet sufficiently favorable toward Public
Schools to render the immediate establishment of a High
School a judicious measure. It need not long be delayed in
case the policy of the State, in its relation to the Public
School system, remains unchanged.

The efforts of the School Board to procure a local or county
school tax, have altogether failed of success. We have con-
sequently been compelled to suspend the schools at the expi-
ration of the Spring term; and the important work of build-
ing and repairing school houses has not gone on as it should
have done. The citizens have lent some aid to this work in
several sections of the county. Considerable improvements
have been effected, while much remains to be done. Finally
we have already shared in the benefits of the State Normal
School, and other candidatas are preparing to avail themselves
of its beneficent assistance in qualifying teachers for their
responsible position.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN TALBOT COUNTY-SAMUEL
A. HARRISON, President.—In addition to the Private Schools
and Academies mentioned in this report and the District
Schools, there are a number of strictly Private Schools in
families, into which the children of immediate neighbors are
received, and of Infant Schools for very small children too