506 PUBLIC EDUCATION. [ART. 77

missioners are authorized to cause the German language to be
taught, if they think proper to do so.

1892, ch. 538.

42. Whenever a school numbers more than forty children in
average attendance, an assistant may be employed by the board
of county school commissioners in their discretion, and for every
additional forty children one teacher may be appointed, and the
board of county school commissioners shall direct the division of
the pupils so as to form a graded school.

1890, ch. 824.

47. The school year shall be divided into four terms, which
shall be designated the fall term, winter term, spring term and
summer term, and the time of beginning and closing each term
shall be regulated by the board of county school commissioners;
provided, that the financial reports of the schools of the State
shall be made up, and rendered to the thirty-first day of July,
inclusive, of each and every year; and provided further, that
there shall be no change in or encroachment upon the holidays
and vacations set forth and established in the following para-
graphs: The month of August shall be vacation throughout the
whole State, and the following days shall be holidays, viz:
Thanksgiving day; from Christmas eve to the first day of Janu-
ary, inclusive; Washington's birthday; the fourth day of July;
from the Friday before Easter to the Monday after Easter,
inclusive, and the Monday of Whitsuntide, and the remaining
month of vacation shall be fixed and designated by the board of
county school commissioners, to subserve the convenience and
advantage of their respective counties; in case it may be neces-
sary to open school for a fraction of a term, it shall close at the
end of the term, and all accounts shall be settled at the meeting
of the board of county school commissioners held at the close
of the term.

Text-Books.

1896, ch. 135.

59. The board of public school commissioners of Baltimore
city, and each board of county school commissioners, shall adopt
and purchase text-books for use in the public schools of said