920                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 405

January, inclusive; from the Friday before Easter through the Mon-
day after Easter, inclusive; Memorial Day; primary and General elec-
tion days.

(b) Schools shall devote a portion of the day to appropriate exer-
cises on the following days: Washington's Birthday, Veteran's Day,
Arbor Day, and other days of national significance.

77.    Display of flag, patriotic exercises.

It shall be the duty of the board of education of each and every
county in the State of Maryland, and of the Board of Education for
Baltimore City, in the State of Maryland, to cause to have displayed
a flag of the United States of America upon every public school build-
ing within their respective jurisdiction while said schools are in
session and, to that end, shall make all necessary purchase of flags,
staffs, and appliances therefore and establish rules and regulations
for the proper custody, care, and display of the flag in said schools;
and it shall be the duty of said boards of education to prepare for the
use of the public schools of the State a program providing for the
salute to the flag, and such other patriotic exercises from time to time
as may best meet the expedient, and under such regulations and
instruction as may best meet the various requirements of the different
grades in such schools; all to the end that the love of liberty and
democracy, signified in the devotion of all true and patriotic Ameri-
cans to their flag and to their country, shall be instilled in the hearts
and minds of the youth of America.

78.    Daily period of silent meditation.

Principals and teachers in every public elementary and secondary
school in this State may require all students at these schools to be
present and participate in opening exercises on each morning of a
school day and to meditate silently for approximately one moment;
provided that no student or teacher shall be prohibited from reading
the holy scripture, or praying.

79.    Textbooks and other materials of instruction.

The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners and each
county board of education shall, upon the recommendation of the
superintendent, adopt procedures for the selection and purchase, at
the lowest possible price consistent with good quality and subject to
the provisions of this Article, the necessary textbooks, supplementary
readers, materials of instruction, visual and auditory aids, stationery,
and school supplies for use in the public schools in the State and they
shall be furnished free of cost for use in the public schools of the State.
It shall be the duty of the boards of education to furnish such
textbooks and supplementary readers, materials of instruction, visual
and auditory aids, stationery, and school supplies in ample and suffi-
cient quantities to the several grades in the public schools.

80.    Connection with closed circuit educational television