ART. 77] SCHOOLS. 1725

1888, art. 77, sec. 44. 1872, ch. 377.

48. Public examinations shall be held in each school twice
a year, of which due notice shall be given, that parents and
others interested in education may attend.

Ibid. see. 45 1872, ch. 377.

40. Schools shall be kept open each week day, except Satur-
day, for six hours, and the hours for teaching shall be regulated
by the several boards of county school commissioners.

Ibid sec. 46. 1872, ch. 377.

50. Any person who shall disturb any public school in
session shall, upon conviction thereof before a justice of the
peace, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall forfeit
and pay twenty dollars, to be collected as other fines, to be
paid to the board of district school trustees for the benefit of
the school-house district; or said offender shall be imprisoned,
not exceeding thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the
justice of the peace.

Ibid. sec. 47. 1872, ch. 377. 1890, ch. 324. 1904, ch. 584.

61. The school year shall be divided into four terms, which
shall be designated 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 com-
missioners; 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 be no change in or encroachment upon the
holidays and vacations set forth and established in the follow-
ing paragraph :

The months of July and August shall be vacation through-
out the whole State, and the following days shall be holidays,
viz : Thanksgiving Day; from Christmas Eve to the first day
of January inclusive, and from the Friday before Easter to the
Monday after Easter inclusive; on Washington's birth-day the
schools shall devote a portion of the day to exercises bearing
on the life and services of "The Father of Our Country ;"
Maryland Day shall be observed at such a time and in such
manner as the State board of education may direct. In case it
may be necessary 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 commis-
sioners, held at the end of the term.