Anne Arundel County Free School
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What is the Anne Arundel County Free
School? The Free
School is a living history classroom, a museum and
repository for education artifacts, and as place for
interested citizens to study the history of public education
since its beginnings in the 1700's.
Where is the Free School and how
can I see it?
The Anne Arundel County Free School is
located in the community of Lavall, off Rutland Road, about
one-half mile from Md. Route 450. It is open on Sundays
mid-May through mid-October, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.Tours for
school classes and other groups are available by
appointment. Call 410-222-5050.
Here are pictures of the
interior of the building.
How did the Free School come to be?
The Colonial Assembly, under the Lord
Proprietor and his governor, passed on October 26, 1723, "An
Act for the Encouragement of Learning and Erecting Schools
in the Several Counties" (Free School Act)
Among other actions, this law called
for the following in each of the existing 12 counties:
- Appointment of Visitors for each
county;
- Appointment of a register to keep
the proceedings of the Visitors;
- Purchase of 100 or more acres of
land for a school;
- Construction of a dwelling house
for the Schoolmaster that was suitable for keeping
school.
