The Evening Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 18 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2859, 18 April 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 18 1872.

The fourth part of the new Education Bill contains nine clauses intended to promote the establishment of schools for High education. With this purpose : in view, by the 37th clause, on application by the School Committee of any district, any Board, with the previous sanction of the Minister, may convert any elementary school into a superior school. Every superior or grammar school established prior to or at the passing of the Act is to retain its static. Superior schools are to be under charge of a head master, whose duty it will be to give instruction to pupils qualified to receive it in the higher branches of education, but departments for imparting elementary knowledge are to be connected with every High School. By clause 39 any Board, under sanction of the Minister, may make any efficiently-conducted school a model school. By clause 10 the Provincial Board, with the sanction of the Minister-, may maintain a Grammar or High School under a Rector or Head Master and assistants, in which modern and ancient languages, mathematics, “ and such otherbranches of science as the advancement of the Colony and the increase of population may require,” shall be taught : the school to be under the superintendence and control of the Board, and the salaries and other expenses to be paid out of school fees or other available funds. By clause 41 a similarprovision is made for High Schools for girls. By clauses 42 and 43, Provincial Boards are empowered to expend a sum of money in the establishment of school libraries equal to any amount raised by subscription or otherwise within the School District. The word “ book ”to be deemed to include works of art and scientific apparatus requisite for illustrating lectures and specimens of natural history for forming museums. By the 43rd clause, Provincial Boards may grant sums in aid of reading clubs or libraries connected with Teachers’ Associations; but the amount is not to exceed that of members’ subscriptions. By clause 44, the Provincial Board, out of funds made specially applicable, may establish Exhibitions or Scholarships, to be held at any Superior, Grammar, High School, College or University, and to be open to any pupil educated at any School, or privately. Exhibitions or Scholarships founded by Associations or private persons, to be awarded as far as possible in accordance with the express wishes of the founders. By clause 45, the Provincial Board is empowered to establish Free Schools in need.

Part sth relates principally to School lees and exemptions. It includes clauses 46 to IS. By the 4.6 th, the Board is to sanction the School fees; School Committees may remit fees for renewable periods of six months, and in certain ceses, discretionary with the Board, may pay the whole or part of the School fees for the education of a child in a Provincial or Aided School. Clause 47 authorises School Committees to collect fees, and provides that the Treasurer, or, in certain cases, the Board, may sue for and recover them from the parents or guardians of children. By the 4.Bth clause, Provincial Boards arc empowered, at their discretion, to establish Elementary Schools, open to all children without payment of fees, and in lieu of them levy capitation fees as provided in subsequent clauses. All Schools established and maintained under the Act are to be open to all children of live years of age and upwards. At the same time it is made lawful for teacher’s of schools to “ expel or forbid the attendance of any child for want of cleanliness, or who may be likely to communicate any contagious disease, or who, from gross misconduct or incorrigible disobedience, may be considered an injurious or dangerous example to the other scholars.” In such cases the parent or guardian may appeal first to the School Committee, and finally to the Provincial Board. In superior schools the Board or Committee of Management are empowered to fix the age and attainments of pupils as conditions of admission.

Part 6, deals with financial matters, and will require earnest consideration of its details. We therefore reprint it in its entirety in another column.