ART. ] PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 79

68. The boards of school commissioners shall decide how the
text books and stationery shall be distributed, and upon what
terms they shall be sold, or the use of them be granted to pupils;
provided, always, that the district commissioner is of opinion
that the parent or guardian of any pupil is unable to pay the
expense of books, he may then permit the use of books to such
pupil free of all charge.

69. There shall be a special clerk appointed by the State
Superintendent, who shall attend to receiving and distributing
text books and stationery, and shall keep all accounts connected
therewith, and perform such other duties as the superintendent
may direct, receiving for his services the sum of eight hundred
dollars per annum, payable quarterly by the Treasurer on the
warrant of the Comptroller, and the certificate of the superin-
tendent.

HIGH SCHOOLS.

70. There shall be for each county at least one high school,
in which instruction shall be given to males and females in the
higher branches of English and scientific education, and in the
Latin and Greek languages and mathematics, sufficient to pre-
pare youth to enter any one of the State colleges, under control
of the Council of University of Maryland; the terms of admission
to the high schools, shall be determined by the State Board of
Education; the number of high schools in the city of Baltimore
shall be determined by the board of school commissioners.

71. Whenever the board of school commissioners of any two
counties shall think it expedient, they may, with the consent of
the Board of Education, unite their funds, and establish at some
convenient and central location, a Union High School, which
shall be open to youth of both counties.

72. Such Union High Schools shall be governed by a joint
committee, consisting of two members of each county board, and
shall be subject to the visitation and examination equally of the
president of the board of school commissioners of each county,
uniting to establish the school.