EDUCATION. The per cent. of illiteracy for the native whites (4.1) is the lowest, and for the negroes (35.1) next to the lowest of any State which has a large negro population. The Gov ernor. the principal of the State Normal School, the State Superintendent (an ofliee established in 1900), and four persons appointed by the Governor constitute the State Board of Educa• tion. The Governor and Senate appoint a hoard of school commissioners in each county, who serve six years. These commissioners appoint for each district a hoard of school trustees of three persons. In 1899-1900 the average length of the school year for the State was 188 days, which was exceeded in only two other States. The State law requires that the term continue ten months when possible. In 1900 the number of children between five and eighteen years of age was 345.350, of whom 229,332 were enrolled in the public schools, and 132,685 were in average attendance. The total number of colored pupils was 45,495, of whom 22,577 were in average at tendance. In 1900 there were 1074 male and 3965 female teachers, 828 of the total number of teachers being colored. The average yearly salary in the counties is less than $300, but in Baltimore city it is nearly double that sum. A law of 1902 introduced the pension system for such teachers as have reached the age of sixty, and have devoted twenty-five years to the ser vice of the State schools. Professional training
is given to teachers at the State Normal Schools at Ilaltimo•e and Frostburg, and at Washington College.
Johns Hopkins University (q.v.) at Balti more, opened in 1876, is distinguished for the high rank of its graduate and medical schools. There are five other regular medical schools and a homoeopathic one in the city. three law schools, three dental schools, two theological schools, and one of pharmacy. An excellent Woman's College, under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was opened in Baltimore in 1886. Saint John's College (chartered 1784) at Annapolis is a non-sectarian institution taking the place of King William's School (founded in 1696). Washing ton College at Chestertown (chartered 1782) is the oldest institution of collegiate character in the State. Western Maryland College at West ininster (founded 1867) is an important institu tion under care of the Methodist Protestant Church. The Agricultural College is in Prince George County. Prominent among Roman Cath olic institutions are Saint Mary's Theological Seminary, in Baltimore (founded 1791), Mount Saint Mary's College, and the Jesuit Woodstock College. The Jacob Tome Institute, one of the most richly endowed secondary schools in the world, is at Port Deposit.