6

Schools, and which to Academic or High School pupils. The
Higher Readers are eminently suited for advanced pupils.

While it remains with each Board of School Commissioner
to decide upon the mode of procuring Text Books, whether
through the agents of the State Board of Education, or by
direct ordeis upon the publishers, endorsed by the Superin-
tendent, it may be well to explain what has been done to
facilitate the transmission of books, and to secure a correct
system of accounts, by which the interests of the publishers
and School Boards may be guarded, and all orders filled with
accuracy and the least possible delay.

By an arrangement with the publishers, books can be de-
livered in all parts of the State accessible by public convey-
ance. The contract requires that all expenses of transporta-
tion, boxing, &c., be included in the price at which the book
is offered. The books to be kept in quantities in the stores
of the agents of the State Board in Baltimore, so that there
can at all times be a supply to meet any demand, whether it
be for 6 or 100 copies.

Whenevoi books are distributed to fill orders, duplicate
bills will be made—one for the Treasurer of School Board,
and tLe other for the State Superintendent. Thus the Su-
pe.intendent will know wheie and when the books which
have been sent to the State Agents have been distributed.

In each count) an accurate account must be kept with each
School to which the books have been issued, in order to show
the cost for each School, also, a schedule of the number of
the number of each kind of book use,d. From this a fair opi-
nion can be forjnecl as toi the grade of advancement in ijjp
Schaol; the Hooks 'for rn'shiiction' will indicate whether Upe,'
standard of learning stands still or rises.

It fe'(*p<*!M3 rjyHhe'p^Wishl'rS that all orders will be fo}-
kwe<S by'ijfcofopt payment, say BO or Todays, and they have
been afcMirecUHSt £uch wjtf be Hie fact, after the Schpois haiVe
been >ttatfy ohjttnieed, acd are m Imrmoiiirtis action. For
tJte fi*s*--iMipply', however, it is a^reetl that i credit of 3 or" 4
months will ho gianted, jf necessary, *

In dihtribufthg the bodies »o the Schools, and tlnou^h the
Schools y^Uia-pupife, each .Board has fiho authority to (fcvise
its own plans. The books may «ither be Sold to the pu-
pilo, or the use of the books gran ted for wkmall sum perform,
about an average, of 15 cents—or else 50 ct,nts> for tiio y ouegfifst
cliildien. j^ndjJiJ $6£ term for the ojdcst and m< it advanced
pu[ !le,'wnp need tqfi ^.0,1^ cogtly book&. Whcncvoi a parent
jt able, he ougitf tQ^^e inducod ta purchase the loolvb u^cd by
hje ctfild,> It'itnepupils own the booLs th'>y will be caieiul
to, preserve aie.m^^r^at'them, with pioper icspc^t, and thus
attach to flieiH ^ uignity an4 importance, the absence of which
is a greal^ravybact to progress ap. study. The mechanic who
is mosf careful of his tools is the workman who produces best