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SCHOOL RECORDS FOR HARFORD COUNTY, 1865-1916
The Archives has on microfilm the (Proceedings) of the
Harford County Board of School Commissioners, 1865-1867,
in series CM582 and (Proceedings) of the Harford County
Board of County School Commissioners, 1868-1916, in series
CM583. Also on film is a series originally called
(Proceedings, Miscellaneous), 1904-1909, [CM585].
Examination of the record for this article revealed that
the correct title is (Minutes, Rough) which were used for
compilation of the official proceedings.
The proceedings contain the minutes of the school
commissioners, that for each meeting, monthly or special,
show the date, place, members and staff present, and
business transacted. Business matters included internal
board affairs, policies and practices, finances, school
districts and buildings, school trustees, teachers and
principals, students, and curriculum.
Internal matters kept the school board functioning and
consisted of filling vacancies among themselves, electing
officers, and appointing staff. The board set policy and
prescribed practices on the basis of state law and
directives of the state school body. In 1865 the
commissioners directed that a school must have a minimum
of fifteen students in order to remain open, unless it was
over three miles from the nearest educational facility.
Then the minimum was set at twelve. A year later an age
limit of nineteen for education in the public schools was
adopted. Any pupil over age eighteen could attend only by
paying tuition.
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