THE EDUCATION BILL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2667, 4 September 1871, Page 2

THE EDUCATION BILL.

Continued. Part 6th requires every Board to make provision for payment of teachers, expen ces of schools, scholarships, and libraries. The Governor is empowered to advance money on security of buildings out of money appropriated by the General Assembly for the purpose, and for the expenses of the departr meat, <fec. Any addition to teachers’ sa l aries to be by capitation grants on the average attendance. The 52nd clause gives power to Provincial Boards “ to grant any sum or sums of money in aid of the efforts made by private individuals or associations for the promotion of education in localities with the Province” where the population is srea’l or scattered. In such districts a teacher may be engaged to go from house to house, or in two or more localities during the year. Private individuals or associations for m dutaining schools, may also be assisted, if for a public school within the meaning of the Act. If aid to such schools is withheld, without reasonable cause, the Minister of Education may give the necessary aid, and the Colonial Treasurer will charge it against the capitation money of the Province, Part 7th defines and Provincial Schools, and provides for efficient A school is to he considered public if con* ducted on certain specified principles, which may be summed up thus : Ist. No conditions respecting religion or religious observances ire to be required. 2nd. Any religious instruction in the school must be at the beginning or end of the school course for the day, and no scholar is to forfeit the other benefits of the school through non-attendance at this branch of instruction. 3rd. Two hours instruction, morning and afternoon, each, must be given ; and -4thly—The school must be open at all times for inspection by the Government Inspector. Provincial Schools must be subject to the control of a Board or School Committee, and conducted, Ist: As a public school—2nd : The Holy Scriptures must be read daily, but children need not necessarily be present, nor is any catechism or denominational formulary to be taught. 3rd : The school may be use;! specially for giving religious instruction on Sun Jays, and, outside school hours, on week days, on guarantee be : ng given for care being taken of the furniture ana building, and thje paynfknfc of expenses. 4th : Parents or guardians, ratepayers, donors, or subscribers j A the scho; 1, to be entitled to visit the schools. By the 56th clause, provision is to be made for physical training and instruction in military drill, the cost to be paid by the Province. The 57th and sSth clauses prescribe the mode to h§ fgllgwed JR inspection of schools, The eigth part provides for compulsory education, and specifies certain exemptions. By the 59 th clause, children not less than seven nor more than twelve years old, if living within two miles of a public school within a School District, must be sent to school, excepting the child is receiving efficient instruction elsewhere, is unable to attend through giekness or other unavoidable cause, is unable to attend through the road being iippassable, or has reached the prt'J scribed standard gf education. If a child of the age specified does not attend school; notice is to be given to the parents by the School Committee in writing, calling upon them to send the child to school. On refusal or neglect to do so, the parents or guardians may be summoned before two Justices of the Peace, who may determine whether the child shall be admitted free of charge or what sum is to be paid for its education. Parents or guardians neglecting to obey the order, or ceasing to do so, ar6 liable to a fiqc qf forty sbijljnge, recoverable by distress only, Children are“not to bpfefused admission to a schqol through nonpayment of fees, which may he recovered qr information by the teacher, ip the name of the School Committee or managers, Part 9 relates to regulations and return?} The regulations may be altered or repealed by the Governor in Council. The Minister of Education must report annually to the Governor and General Assembly; Boards are to report annually to the Minister ; and teachers arc to keep school register books, so as to be able to report when required. Part 10 is intended to compel Provinces to

provide a sufficient amount of school accommodation, and empowers the Minister of Education to cause it to he provided, should it be necessary, and the amount deducted from the capitation allowance. Part 11 requires an annual estimate to be made of the expenses of the year in the month of January ; and, to meet those expenses, the Education Board of the Province may levy a Provincial education rate on the nett annual value of property not to exceed sixpence in the pound ; the household intea not to exceed twenty shillings for each house. The remaining clauses provide against contingencies, and contain the usual powers for recovering rates and appealing against assessments. , ,ii The 12th part relates to school reserves and confers power on the Governor to make reserves for school sites and endowments, and for vesting them in the Boards. The last clause enables Boards to lease reserves for not more than tweuty-ons years.