THE EDUCATION ACT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 203, 2 September 1871, Page 4

THE EDUCATION ACT.

The new Education Act was placed in the hands of members on Saturday lasts but we have not received a copy of it, we have therefore taken the following abstract from the Evening Post of Monday last : — "The Act contains no less than 12 sections or parts, and 96 clauses, so that, in giving an abstract of its provisions, it must be of a somewhat skeleton nature. In. the first place, all previous Acts and Ordinances are repealed, this act being of so comprehensive a nature as to embrace all parts of the Colony, and it is proposed that it come into force on the Ist January, '. 1872. Provision is made for the appointment of a Minister of Education by the Government, and he must be a responsible Minister of the Crown. He is^to be ex officio a member of the Council of the University of New Zealand. A secretary is also to be appointed, but both Minister and secretary are removable at the pleasure of the Governor. Inspectors of Schools holding office at the time the Act comes into operation are to be confirmed in office as Government Inspectors of Schools. Every Province, including the County of Westland, is to be an, educational district, and similar powers are proposed to be given to the Chairman of that County as to Superintendents of Provinces. In each Province an Education Board is to be constituted, including the Superintendent and six other persons appointed by him, and they are to hold office till the expiration or dissolution of the Provincial Councils. Members of the Boards are disqualified through becoming of unsound mind, accepting an office of profit under the Board, becoming bankrupt or insolvent, executing a deed of composition or arrangement, being absent from the Colony for six months, or being convicted of crime. Id such cases vacancies are not to be filled till the next meeting of the Provincial . Council, who shall elect successors. Each Board is to be a body corporate, have a common seal, and may take and hold land. The County Council of "Westland is proposed as the Education Board for Westland. Qn this clause, on a future occasion, ~we shall have something to say, but at present the voluminous dimensions of the measure preclude comment of any kind or anything be-, ypnd a bare analysis of its provisions, ifrpperty is to be vested in the Boards, and each is to appoint a secretary. The various Boards are to hold two general meetings a year, one in January and one in July. They are authorised to establish school districts, and appoint teachers, who are to receive three months' notice prior to dismissal, excepting in cases of immoral conduct or gross misbehaviour. On the memorial of not less than five inhabitants, or upon the Report of a Government Inspector, a public meeting of all householders and occupiers, male and female, over the age of twenty-one years, may be called to elect a chairman and committee, and fix boundaries for a school district. The committee is fixed at nine, of whom a majority is to be composed of parents of children under sixteen years of age. The District Committees are to be elected annually, and the same disqualifications are attached to members as to members of , the different Boards. If the inhabitants of any School District refuse or neglect to| elect a School Committee, the Provincial Board may appoint commis--sioners and pay them, if it deems fit. Th© succeeding clauses detail the duties o^ the various committees, and authorise the engagement of pupil-teachers. Existing; elementary schools may, under this Act,; be converted into Grammar Schools by; consent of the Provincial Council,;, but inj that case the higher branches of education j are to be taught. Model- and High Schools may also be established at the latter, of which French and other modern; languages, Latin and Greek, classics, | mathematics, and such branches of sciencej as the advancement of the; Colony may require, are" to be taught! Schools for the '' : iti^&tfS^^&b be, .created j^ Tney are •alio empowered to establish libraries, found 1

exhibitions and scholarships, and create free schools if necessary; fees are to be paid by parents, but the committees possess power of exemption where circumstances justify. The Governor is authorised to make advances to provide school buildings on security of Provincial school rates. Boards are authorised to give grants in aid to schools, or the Education Minister may do so if they refuse to do so without reasonable cause. In defining what are public schools under the Act, it is laid down that tbe attendance of a child at a Sunday School or a place of worship shall not be required as a condition of his or her receiving instruction; that if any religious observance is practised, or instruction in religious subjects given, it must be at the beginning or the end of the school meeting; that the school be kept open at least four hours a day. and that it shall be at all times open to the Government Inspector. The Holy Scriptures are to be read daily as above, and the school buildings are to be open for religious instruction on Sundays or week-days at hours not included in the usual time of school. Provision is made for physical training and drill, and for school inspection. All children between seven and twelve years of age are compelled to attend the public schools excepting in certain cases, aDd parents neglecting to send them are liable to a penalty of 40s. The Education Minister is to make an annual report to the Governor, and the Boards to him. The next section provides for districts where insufficient provision is made by local Boards, and the eleventh authorises the levy of an education rate to be fixed by the Boards, and levied on all houses of the clear annual value of £5, and for this purpose a regular assessment, as in tbe case of Municipal institutions, is to be made. Appeals to the Resident Magistrate's Court, or to a Court of Petty Sessions, are allowed, and these Courts are empowered to amend rates, which are recoverable summarily. District school rates, not to exceed 3d in the pound, are authorised. The Governor is empowered to set school reserves apart to be vested in the local Boards, who are authorised to let or lease them. The conclusion consists of , two schedules, the second of which is a form of notice to parents who neglect to send their children to school. Space prevents us from offering comment at present.