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Tous las autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s an commandant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration at en terminant par la darnidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols -h^ signifie "A SUiVRE". le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film6 d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche h droite, et de haut en has. en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustreht la mAthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 • V*-'^- ' T ' , ' ' " ' " < " ' ■> ' ■* ' ! REPORT OF THE mpttinuv^tnt $»f ^tDnniK^ /.•* FOR THE 8ROCS DISTRICT PRESENTED TO THE DISTRICT COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 7th, 1848. WOODSTOCK, rRINTSO AT THE OFFICE OF THE OXFORD STAR. HAY d& EGAN, Printer!. 1848. * ■'* 1 ) . \^ U sss Nov/. 3|s© -■"*'/ \-» TO THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, OF THE BROCir DISTRICT. The Superintendent of Common Schools for the said District begs leave respectfully to submit the following Report : — Havixo, since your last Session^ visited all the Schools in operation in the District, with two or tiiree exceptions ; and liaving enjoyed consider- able facilities for acquiring information respecting the worie;ghc pounds four shillings and five pence farthing, making a general average, including the salaries paid to Males and Females, of forty-one pounds eighteen shillings and four pence half-penny. With respect to the salaries paid to our Teachers as shown in this state- ment, when viewed as a wliole, there is no just ground for complaint. The amount paid is fully equal, in my opinion, to the value of the services rendered. A number of the Female teachers, were, in so far as I could discover, in no respect superior to many of their sex who are employed * This document was published in the Oxford Star, of the 6th October, t '-^ from which it was co^jicd into the Journal or Educattov f<^x > ^sl month. 4 Id F. M !• ti as spinsters or household servants. And so likewise some of the Males did not appear to me to be at all in advance of many laborers or farm servants, either in respect to learning or to general refinement of feeling. Yet, though I can see no reason for such a distinction, most of them were re- ceiving wages considerably in advance of those paid to persons ia such occupations. But with respect to the belter qualified class of teachers both male and female, it Is for the most part, far otherwise. They are very generally under paid ; and in some instances not half paid. • There are some among our Teachers, who in regnrd to learning, to true refinement of feeling and to high moral bearing would compare favorably with many who are suc- cessfully engaged in the most honorable professions. These it must be confessed, do not Jerive from their vocations the same amoant of emolu- ment which the other professions offer. This evil I fear will admit of no remedy till our Trustees and the groat body of the people shall learn to set its true value upon real talent. But It gives me pleasure to have it in my power to add, timt from my late in- tercourse with the School Sections I am led to adopt the opinion that a rapid improvement is tailing place in the public feeling on this subject, and that in each succeeding year the demand for well trained and highly quali- ■ fied Teachers will increase more and more. There are some other points on which, I am aware, information would be considered interesting and important to the Council, besides those embraced in the document referred to ; such as the number of the children in 8ttendai»ce at the schools, the number engaged in the different branches of study&c.&c. But owing to the very defective manner in which many of the schools were conducted and llie utter absence of weekly and daily registers in some of them, I have not been able to collect detaiU on these and other kindred subjects, sufficient to give any satisfactory view of the aggregate state of instruction in the District. But as I have not failed to impress upon the Trustees and teachers concerned, the necessity of keeping clear and correct accounts of the schools, i trust iliat my future visits will dis- cover a more satisfactory state of things in these respects. SCHOOL MOUSES AND FURNITURE. I have thought it important to call the attention of the Conncil Jo the nature of the mechanical arrangements made for the accommodation of uur Common schools. Most of the scliool houses now in existence in the District were erected by the volunatry act of the people before any provision was made by lawr for that purpose. Very complete structures could not, under the circum- stances be oxpocted, as in almost every instance the whole burden fell upon a few euterprising individuals ; and they, in general, not the most able, from their circumstances, to contribute largely to a public object. A considerable number, however, has been erected under the authority of the District (Council, and paid for by a tax levied-upon the rateable pro- perty of the School sections respectively. I am sorry to say that amongst these, there are only a few, that are in any considerable degree adapted lo the purposes for which they are intended. Most of them, either from their Males did 1 servants, ng. Yet, 1 were re- 18 in such male and gone rally me among ceiingand are sue- it must be of einolu- the great ent. But iy late in- ion that a bject, and [hly quali- 1 would be embraced )ttendattce uy&c.&c. ie schools agisters in and other aggregate to impress pir.g clear } will dis- ticil {o the tionofuur re erected de by law \e circum- 1 fell upon nost able, t. ( authority cable pro- ,t amongst adapted to from their form or from the manner in which they sie furnished, operate injuriously upon the health, or morals or the Intellectual progress ot the children who attend them. I beg to submit to the Council, seriatim, some of the more objectionable features in the forms and furniture of most of the school houses in the District. 1st — The rooms in genera] are too low. Any person at all acquainted with tlie laws of animal life will immediately decide that a room in which it is intended that a large number of human beings shall frequently congregate and remain lor hours together, should be at lehst twelve feet high : Four- teen or even sixteen would be better still ', but less than twelve, few would admit would be either proper or safe. But so far is this from being the case with our School Houses, that not more than half a dozen exceed nine feet ; a great majority are under eight and a half; many arc only seven and a half, and some are even less than seven. 2nd. — Another evil, not less frequent than the one just mentioned, is the total absence in most instances, of any means of thorough ventilation. The great object which seems to have been kept in view in the erection of our best class of School houses, was the exclusion of the air from without, in order that the greatest amount of heat might be produced and maintained, with the least amount of fuel. Hence in winter, when the door and windows are shut, such a room may be regarded as almost hermetically sealed. Now when it is remembered that each individual consumesCz. e. renders unfit for the purposes of further respiration,) about 200f cubic inches of air every minute,— that a much larger quantity is deprived of its oxygen by coming in contact tvith the heated surfaces of tiie stove ; and that a very much larger quantity still, of pure air is taken up by the stove to support the combustion of the fuel, it will be easily seen that our school houses in general are exactly adapted 13 the production of early and fat • -diseases. 3rd. — 1 am sorry to say that although in most instances o* r School Houses are erected in the most public and exposed situations, generally in the thickest part of the settlement, frequently at the crossings of public roads, often nearly adjoining Meeting Houses, country Tavern^jor Stores, yet only in a very few instances are they furnished with water closets or privies of any kind. Many of them have no sort of enclosure around them, and not a lew are placed in the angle of a field, an orchard or a garden, int^ which the children are forbidden to trespass, so that no open or common ground remains in their neighborhood, except the public highway. Now ! need not remind Your honorable body, that unless we make some effort to cultivate a proper delicacy of feeling in our children, — at least, furnish them with the means ot observing the common decencies of life, when numbers of both sexes are thown together, we can scarcelv ex- pect any other result than that in riper yeara their minds will be brutalized and their moral sense impaired. 4th — I feel it necessary also to bring under the notice of the Council the awkward and improper manner in which many School Houses are furnished. The lowest seats in some of them, though intended for infants of from five to six years old, are considerably higher, than the experience f* f tSee note ^.—Appendix. J ' } ■ r >* ^ 6^ of ftges has fTecidefl proper for the comfort of adult personfl^ Many are without backs. The writing Desks ar« Hftble to similar ohjectionft. Chil- dren are obliged to sit in uneasy, inelogant and unnatural positions, in- diicing fatigue and a sense of weariness, rendering menta) cfibrt almost impossiljio, and what is still worse, exposing them to attacks of diseases of the chest, spinal contortions and other physical evils.f 5tli. — The last particular evil I shall mention here relates to the frail and unsubstantial manner in which some of these buildings arc constructed. Persons of experience and skill in the art of building are seldom consulted. The Trustees relying upon their own judgment, aim chiefly at erecting such a fabric as may answer their present purpose, at the least possible ex- pense. The consequence frequently is» that the money so expended is iieai ly lost to the Country ; as the buildings are such as can never he com- fortable; but after entailing continued expenses for necessary repairs, in a few years nothing will remain but a heap of ruins. As an illuslra'.ion of these remarks I may mention a single circumstance in connection with one such schoul house which I examined in Dereham. 'J'he building not being quite completed, I discovered that the spaces be- tween the studding were no less than three-feet wide, niakinu it certain that within two years, the walls, both the plastering wiJliin, and the board- ing without, will be in a state of dilapidation, and no expense or care will be sufficient to keep such a house in a good and comfortable state of re- pair. Yet the House I allude to was built, if I mistake not, under the au- tlioiitv of the Council, and paid for> or to be paid lor, by a lax upon the common property of the section. These are evils, it will be admitted, that require n remedy ; and the sub- ject is one of so much importance as to justify and de|nand liie most seri- ous consideration of your honorable Council. I beg leave, therefore^ most respectfully, to recommend that in future no petition praying for on assessment to be levied upon any school section for a sum of money to erect a school house, shall be granted until the potitlon- ersshallhave submitted a plan and specifications of the building intended to be erected ; to be approved by the Council, or one of its ofllcers; and that as a farther condition, the petitioners shall be required to erect upon ti»e grounds belonging to the said School Mouse, at least one suitable water closet for the use of the school. The interests of the public, in ir.y ••jdnion, would be still farther served if such Trustees as ore about to ereft new school Houses should, in all cases, be required to oiler tlie same to compe- tition by public advertisement ; giving the contract to such persons ns shouldofl'er io erect the same accord it^g to plan and speclficattons inr the smallest amount, and giving satisfactory security lor the completion of their engajjements. trustees, in some instance!", I have been informed, have fsuffered n good deal of inconvenience from the delay which, generally, attends the col- lection of the rates granted for the above purpose ; and not unlVoquently tliey arc obliged lo pav higher prices than would bo required if tlio money were immediately available, 'i'o obviate these diiriculiies I beg leave to submit fur the consideration of the Council a plan which has been adopted t Sec note B.— Appendix. Many aro nfi. Chil- it ions, in- brt almost Jiseases of e frail and nstructocl. consulted, t erecting >3sil)lo ex- pended is *r he corn- pairs, in a ;umstnnce Derehani. spaces be- ll certrtin the l)oarJ. !• care will rtto ofre- er the nu- upon the d the st)b- most seri* future no ;ection for 3 potition- inJendfd jeis; nnd lect upon \h]e wr\lor / •t[»inion, prei'l new to compo- lorsors fls i» far the [>le:ioa of ed n good ; the col- lorjiientiy »e monDV ; lenvo to 1 adopted by some other T)istricts, and so far as I know, has given generol gntisfiic- tion. It is U3 follows : When a Bye Law has passed the ('otiiicil aiithoi-- isiug an assessment for the erection or repair of any school House, the Warden is outhorisod to sign draughts on the Treasurer fur the amount, in in lavorofthe contractor, or the Trustees, as it may be required for carry- ing on the work ; tho same amount when collected, to bo paid again into the Treasury. IJy tliis means llie public works, of the nature specified, are facilitated without loss to any department of the public interest. I have no tlouhi but the odoption of auch a rule would give great satisfaction to parties con- cerned. SCHOOL FUND FOR 1847. Tho School Fund for 1847 had been apportioned by my Prefloccssor and the greater port of the Government Grant had t)ecn paid to tho 'I'cach- ors bclbro I catne into the office. Notice had been given to all the Trus- toes, by tho hto ISuperintendent, that the proportion of tlie Furid derived from the Municipal assessment would be payable to Teacliers within tho month of January, Though comparatively but little money had been paid into my hands on the first of January, I commenced paying all the orders that ^VQxe presented, which I continued to do until .March, at witicltlime it becamo necessary for me to despatch my report for the year and place my accounts in the hands «)f the District Auditors. Even st that late date, more than two months after the District taxes were due according to law, eevcralofthe Conoctors were defaulters to such an extent that I found tnystlf in advance to the amount of iil*i Ss. Sd., ncitwithsiandinga very considerable number of the school sections had not drawn nt all. The Township Collectors who were defaulters on tlie sixth of March, 1818, together with the amounts of their several defulcatiuns were as fol- lows : — The Collector for the Township of Blenheim - - - X44 19 rth " do. do. Bltrpouo . - . 6S 13 10| " do. do. Blandfobd - • 38 17 2 *» do. do. Norwich - - - 11 2 7 £163 15 U Leaving on the sixth of March the large sum of £183 15 U. Of this amount tlie following sums have, since that date, been paid into my hands : — Collector for Norwich, in full, -..--..- dEll 2 7 do. ** Blenheimi on account, * 23 100 £34 12 7 Leaving a balance still due to the school Fund, from the Tonnships of Burford, Blenheim, and Blandford, of £147 2s. 6id. Great inconvenience and loss, to several parties, have been the result of this unhappy state of things. As was observed above, a very considera- bla number of school sections had not drawn for their apportionment on the iirst ^of March, when the money in hand was more than exhausted. A few ot them, it is true, had not entitled themselves to do so, from not having complied with the requirements of the Statute. But the majority had dcluyed sending up their orders from misapj)rehension only, thinking that tlio money would be payable at any future time. Upon representing tho case of such to the Superintendent of schools, I was immediately authorised by that oilicer to satisfy all such claims, where il should appear that the parties presenting them had been guilty of no censurable neglect ; and I have been extremely anxious to do so, but up to this time the moans have not been at my disposal. Tlie consequence is that either the Trustees, who had advanced the amount to the Teachers, or else the Teachers themselves, are deprived of the use ot the money which is justly their duo for nearly three quarters of the year. It will be proper for me to observe that, in accordance with what I sup* posed to be my duty, 1 gave notico of these defalcations, on or about tho first of March to W. Lapenotiere, Esq., the Council's Solicitor, request* ing him to take the necessary measures for the immediate collection of the same ; and doubtless that oilicer will be able to give a satisfactory reason why he has failed to do so. Your Honorable Council will see, from the above statement, the neces- sity of providing against the recurrence of similar evils in future ; in or« der to which I beg to submit for the consideration of the Council, the fol- lowing provisions : First, that ail Collectors who shall not have collected and paid over, the. several amounts to be collected by them for the support of schools on or before the third Tuesday in {December, forfeit all their per centage in respect to ttie same. Secondly ; That the Clerk of the Council be re- quired, on the first of January in each year, to give notice to the proper Township Clerks of the defalcations, if any, of the Collectors in their Townships respectively, in order thut the same persons may not be elect- ed to fill that office again ; and Thirdly, That the Council's Solicitor be instructed to commence legal proceedings, on or immediately after the first day of January in each )ear against all Collectors and their sureties, who may then be in arrears to the School Fund, for the collection of the same ; And lastly, That the Superintendent be authorised to draw on the District Treasurer for any amount necessary to make good the School Fund, to be replaced to the Treasury when receiviBd from the Collectors. With respeut to the amount now due to the School Fund for 1847, I beg especially to recommend, and entreat, that the Council advance the same from the general funds of the District, to meet the pressing wants of the parties concerned. PARL1.\MENTARY GRANT FOR 1848. On the 7th July I received the letter of the Superintendent of schools, dated the fourth of the same month, apprising me of the amount of the Parliamentary Grant in aid of Common Schools apportioned to this Di8« trict, which was seven hundred and three pounds five shillings. I imme- diately proceeded, as the law directs, to apportion the District school fund to the school sections entitled to an apportionment of the same, and in giv* ing the notices required hy Statute, to the Trustees of the several sections from not I majority , thinking schools, I nr»3, where lilty of no 0, but up cquenco is I'eachers, he money brhat I sup- • about the r, request- tion of the >ry reason the neces- ro ; in or* il, the fol« d over, the. lools on or :entage in cil be ra- the proper rs in their t be elect- licitor be after the r sureties, ion of the iw on the ^Q School Collectors. 847, I beg the same Dts of the )f schools, unt of the > this Dis- I imme- hool fund nd in giv. ed sections of the omount apportioned to their sections respcctivoly, I informptl ilciii that the apportionment of the Oovcrnrrioul (^raiit uoiilil ho payaliN'on, nnd ofter the seventh of August, i felt myself (jiiito siii'o in living ti|)on that date because it is provided by the ytatiile \ icloiia Cap. *i() Section 2<), "I'hut the sum of money nnniialiy to be distributed ("or tlio oncoinagc- fnent of Common Schools in Upper Cnnado, shall bo payable on the (iist ilaj of August in o&ch year by warrntits to the Superintendents of Common Schools of the several Districts in Upper Ctnada aforesaid." Having duly appointed an agent m Montreal to receive the snmo and pay it to my credit into the Gore Ijanlv, I could not forosoe that any delay WQs likely tu occur. However, as llio specified time approaclied, and as J received no intelligence from Montreal ; being most unwilling to cause disappointment to any Teacher, I anxiously ponght for t^uch means as would enable mo to prevent it, and was so fortunate as to conclude an ar- rangement with tho Goro Bank for the advance of £'200 pending any delay that might take place. Tins sum was cxiiaustcd witliin the fust two weeks, within which time tho agents of the Dank received inlbnuation that the School Fund would be paid in (loverninciil dcLeuturcs, upon which tlicy declined any further accommodation. From tins unfortunate decision other delays and annoyances arose. Fresh papers had to bo transmitted to Montreal, and as the TaidvS refused to take the agency, noway remained to got the debentures snni up, unless ] wrMild assume tho risk and e.xpenso of transiuis.sion by mail. To lliiy 1 conijcntcd ; and after a delay of more than six wct-ks. and a journey to Humilton, the debentures were at length put into my bunds on tlio nine- tccnth of yeplcnibcr instead of the fust of August, Another diliiculty now presented itself. These debentures wcic not current even in Hamilton, a ware-housing port, where the facilities for ex- changing them were vastly more numerous than they could be at any poiijt further west. In ihie remote District *hc dc])rociation iuust,of court^e, bo proporlionably greater ; and to several of tho Teachers in tno remote parts of our new Townships they would have been almost entirely worth- less. Besides, they were all comprised in five pound notes, with the ex- ception of a single note of the denomination of ten doll;u-s, and fifteen shillings in liank bills : making it utterly impossible to pay, in such a currency, tho ever varying amounts duo to the multitude of Teacfior»-. Taking all these matters into account, after tho most mature and anxious deliberation, I came to the conclusion that I should be acting right to sell the debentures to the best advantage, and then throw myself u|)on the gen- erosity of your Honorable Council to indemnify mc for the loss. I accordingly disposed of them in tlie ibllowing manner : n i Two hundred pounds to the Gore Bank in return for the same amount advanced, at one pound ten per cert,, XJi Five hundred and two pounds to Mr. iverr, Merchant, of Hamilton, at two pounds per cent 10 1 if jL'ia 1 Making a total lust of thirteen pounds and one shilling. To this is to be added postage on the debentures and other docutncnlf.' relating lo the i-mic busiacaj, aixlecu lihUlings; and cNi'cnicy ola jouriu-y u f f i 10 to Hamilton, dne pound. Making in all fourteen pounds and seventeen shillings. Having thus, with some loss to the District, changed these debentures into money, another question arose for consideration ; viz. Whether the loss which had been sustained by the School Fund as above explained, should be deducted from the amounts to be paid to the several Teachers, or whether to assume the entire responsibility myself, trusting to the Dis* trict Council alone for indemnification. Among the reasons which finally induced me to decide on the latter course, ( beg to mention the following : 1st. — It seemed to me exceedingly unjust and cruel that a deficiency in a public fund in which the whole District has almost an equal interest, should be required to be made up by one class, which, in comparison to the rest, is neither numerous nor wealthy. Indeed school Teachers, es a general rule, are the least able, of any portion of the community, to suf- fer such a loss. A large number of them it not a majority of the whole, receive no money for their services whatever, besides what they receive from this source. Sue' i must feel the loss, even of a few shillings very severely. And 2d., I could not bring myself to believe that I was legally authorised to make any such demand upon the Teachers. The Act 9 Victoria Cap. 20, Sec. 13 requires the District Superintendent, *' As soon as he shall receive from the District Clerk a notification of the amount of money re- quired by the District Council, to be raised by tax, to add that amount to the Government Apportionment, and apportion the said fund among the several School sections entitled to receive the same»" Dut neither the aci above recited nor any other, makes provisions for any deduction from these apportionments when once they arc made and declared. I have therefore considered that the only right course was to pay in full, all iho orders presented, which I have done accordingly. About thirty Teach- ers remain to be paid, all of whom arc expected to apply during the pres- ent month, and I trust the Council will supply me with the means of li- quidating all their just claims. SCHOOL BOOKS. I am strongly impressed with the opinion that it is in the power of Your Honorable Council to confer a very important benefit upon our Schools at comparatively a trifling cost, in the matter of supplying uniform text Books. An almost endless variety in the books intended for the same classes of .pupils, at present exists in very many of our Schools. That this state of things interferes materially with their efficiency, it will not require a word to prove. It is not uncommon to find a dozen pupils, nearly of the same age and just about equal in their attainments, arranged in three or four classes instead of one. The only reason for this unnatu- ral and inconvenient arrangement is, that they happen to be furnished by ;their parents with so many different sorts of books. Almost no more time is required for the reading or recitation exercises of a class of ten or twelve members than for one of half or one fourth that number, llcncc the time of the school is actually lost in nearly the same proportion as the varieties of text books aie multiplied : besides rendering the iustiuclion 1 seventeen debentures I'hethcr the explainedy 1 Teachers, ; to the Dis- hich finally following : sficiency in al interest, mparison to eachers, es nity, tosuf- the whole, hey receive lillings very mthorised to ictoria Cap. n as he shall f money re- ^t amount to id among the t neither the Juction from cd. 1 have full, all the liny Teach- ng the pres- means of H- he power of It upon our Mng uniform for the same >ur Schools, lency, it will iozen pupils, its, arranged this unnatu- furnished by more time 1S3 of ten or ler. ilcncc »rtion as the : instiuction 11 given, less thorough and efficient ; insomuch that I think I hazard nothing m saying that many of our teachers might with greater ease and pleasure to themselves, accomplish a given result in one half the time they are obliged to bestow upon it under the circumstances. As a matter of econ- omy, the supplying a school with a variety of text books, may be justly compared with a farmer who should employ two plowmen and furnish them with but one plow, or two mowers to divide the use of one scythe between them. In such n case of course, while one was engaged at work, the other must stand idly by. It may be supposed that an evil so obvious would find its remedy in the good sense of the people. And I admit that in time such would (k>uhtloss be the case. But I fear that without the action of the Council; that time would belong. Many of the people, I am sorry to say, appear strangely careless about the whole matter of education ; and others who discover a more just concern on the subject, seem to think they have discharged their duty when they have furnished their children with books of such kinds as happened to fall in their way, and sent them to school. And there is still another difficulty. Of the very books which have been ap- proved by the Board of Education and by Your Honourable Council, dif- ferent editions have been published in this Country, or imported from abroad, which are by no means uniform, and cannot therefore be mixed up in the same schools without subjecting theqi to the same evils before enumerated. 1 beg therefore most respectfully, to recommend that Your Hon- ourable Council appropriate the sum of one hundred pounds for the pur- chase of Text Books for the use of the schools in this District, and provide by Bye-Law that the same shall be sold to Trustees, who will undertake to supply their respective schools, at fifty per cent, below cost) and to all others at thirty-three and one-third per cent. The following among other advantage^ would residt from such an ap- propriation : 1st. — The books would be procured on wholesale terms, or for a de- duction of about one third; say thirty per cent: or one hundred and thirty pounds worth of Books would be procured for one hundred pounds. This increase in the sum total of stock, added to the deduction of fifty per cent, would be sufficient, I imagine, to induce nearly all the Schools to seek for a supply in this manner, which would secure the object propos- ed ; and when the books we* e all disposed of, there would be at least fifty pounds on hand, which might be either returned to the Treasury or further appropriated for the same purpose as might seem fit to the Council : For I t)eg to have it distinctly understood that I consider such an appro- priation necessary, only as a temporary expedient. When the schools are once uniformly supplied, and the Store-keepers and Country dealers shall learn that only one given class of school Books are marketable in the District, the entire difficulty will be obviated and all danger ot return- ing again, to the same state of things will be removed. SCHOOL SECTIONS. Many applic?itions are made to Your Honourable Council at nearly all its sittings, for the divi&ion, creation or alteration of School Sections. I 12 beg theierore, to take tliia opportunity to repeat an opinion before CYprpsa- ed to the Council, that as a general rule, no School Section should be divided, or reduced in extent, unless the strongest reasons are shown in favor of such a division. No one circumstance, in my opinion, interferes so materially with the prosperity of our schools, or acts so injuriously upon them, as the smallnoss and consequent poverty of the sections, it is mostly owing to this that nearly half the Schools in the District were va- cant during a part or the whole of the last summer ; and that more than half of those in operation are of the lowest or third rate character. The people having but scanty means at their disposal, yield to the temptation to let their schools remain close J for half of each year, or employ a teach* er of low qualifications at a small salary, or perhaps both ; for there are many School Sections in which only six months' teaching is aimed at, and that m some instances, Ly a very inferior Teacher. Now let us sup- pose any two of the latter kind united into one. Then a teacher might be employed for tlie whole year without any additional expense, and if the school bhould be kept for six months alternately in each of the school houses, all the children, even the very youngest, would enjoy all the ad- vantages they now do, while some of them at least, would have twelve months tuition placed within their reach. I beg to submit, whether it would not be an object worthy the attentioji of the Council to enquire into the propriety and practicability, of ellect- ing an entire revision of the school sections, in order at least, that they might be properly described and numbered and their real dimensions and limits understood. At present a great deal of confusion exists on this subject. As an instance, I may mention that in Nissouri there are three sections or parts of sections, known or intended to bo known, as No. 1 — Two as No. 2 — Two as No. 3 — Two as No. 6, and two as No. 7, — Be- sides there is a great number of sections of the extent and limits of which f have no description. •;^#«*^*v!. CONCLUDING R E !VI A R K S . On the wliole, though I have fell it my duty to animadvert on many existing evils which ought to be promptly met and, if possible removotl, ! have nevertheless good grounds to justify mc in oHoring mv congratu- lations to the Council and to the public, uj)on 'ho evident iinprov«ii»*nts that have taken place, and that nro now in prngres-j in connection with the Educational infcrcsts of the District. Tho ellcct of our prasfint school system (though iu several resjiects imperfect) has df>ubtlcs3 bwrn to double the number of schools, while tho pupils in attenduuce, and tho amouni of instruction given have been augmented in a tiiuch greedier pro- portion. An increasing disposition is manifested on the part of the pe<»]do to employ a higher class of Teachers, and to .give thoin reasona- ble salaries ; and by means oflho [Provincial Normal School, sucii 'IViu'h' ersare being niul iplicd ; and shortly, it is reasonable to expect, tho intiu- ence and VLduc uf right instruction on ri^jht principles, will bo exlcnsividy ■ perceived ihrougliout tiie Country. At tho approaching session of ttjc Provincial (legislature, I believe it i^ cxpoctcil thit sonv.: amciidnicut:! will be mude to the UL-hvcl act, and it 13 e exprpss- should be shown in interferes )usly upon ons. it is ;t were va- more than ter. The temptation oy a teach- r there are 3 aimed at, let us sup* uher might jnse, and if ' th€ school all the ad- ive iwolvo \& attentioji ', of elfect- it, that they snsions and ists on thia e are three as No. 1 — lo. 7, — liu- of wliiui) ( rt on many removed, co«i<nt htlciss bfHMi ce, ''\n>\ iho n:ro:»tor pro- t!ie pe'tpio n rcas(inn« ijch 'l'«"ij«^h- ;t, tho intln- cxlojisividy • jclinvc it i^ act, an'l it might not be improper for Your Honorable Coimcil, by resolution or me- morial, to give an exposition of the views and wishes of the people of this l)istrict on a subject in which they have so deep an interest. Having taken much pams to ascertain what the views of the people are, on the sub- ject, 1 venture to assert that the school law is not unpopular ; but on tho contrary, the people almost unanimously regard it as the greatest boon ever bestowed by the Legislature upon the people of tills Country. They are however equally unanimous in Ihe opinion that it is susceptible of several improvements, and that some amendments are absolutely ne- cessary. I trust Your Honorable Council will not think me exceeding the duties of the office with which I have the honor to be entrusted by your suffrages, if 1 proceed to point out briefly, some of the required amendments which the almost unanimous voice of public opinion seems most loudly to call for. The part of the act which most loudly calls for amendment, is that which provides for raising a part of the Teachers salary by a rate bill. I do not recollect of having met with so much as one intelligent Trustee in the District, who, if he expressed an opinion at all, did not condemn the present system and pronounce it unsuited to the wants of the Country. On this subject I think I hazard nothing in asserting, that all who are ca- pable of forming an opinion are unanimous. With respect to what ought to be substituted in place of the present rate bill, the opinions appear to be somewhat divided. Some would prefer a uniform rate bill upon all tho children residing in the school sections, (reserving the power of tho Trustees to excuse any for good reasons) whether in attendance or not. Others, (and 1 believe they include among them our most enlightened and virtuous citizens) hold that the property of the Country ought to be held for the education of all, no less than for the protection of all. ,Ji My own opinion is that an amendment of that part of the act based upon either of tiicso principles would be a nK>st valsable improvement of the ' present system. Another amendment that seems to be called for, regards the jwwors wiiich ought to be entrusted to the boards of Trustees. These ought to bo cotisiderably extended. They should be empowered, by law, to decide in all cases', whether it were necessary to levy an assessment upon their own sch(Kil sections respectively, and lo what amount ; whether for build- ing or lopairing school houses, for purchasing books and apparatus, or for paying Teachers, 'I'hey ought also to be fully authorised to carry out all their own resolutions without any reference to the District Council for a S[iecial byc-law. Of course, the exercise of these powers should be re- gulated by certain general principles lo be definef^ by the District Council, who on behalf of tlie public should see to it, that all monies coming into the hands of Trustees ibr school purposes should be properly applied and duly accounted for. Lastly I beg to submit lo the Council whether it would not lie desirable to provido for the more equitable distribution of the school fund. At presont e;v'!i section receives an amo-jiU in proportion to the number of ciul.lrci) residing within its bounds, whether those cliildron attend the s.:Ii'ii»| or not, and also without refercnee lo the length of time the school h kept open. Hl» tiiat iwo scIiodI section^ in which tiie numl>or of chil- ^ 14 dron is equal the arhoiint they will receive from the school fund will be equal, though in one, all the children may attend the school the year round, and in the other, only one half or one third may attend for six months only. A juster principle, it seems to me would be one which should ofler aid to parties from the public fund, in proportion to the amount of local effort put forth by themselves, giving encouragement to children who actually attend the school, and withholding it from alt who do not. i have only to add, that in pursuance Of & resolution of the Coun* cil, passed at its last sessiotiy I have the honor herewith to submit a form lor a Scliool Register, and beg respectfuWy to recommend to the Council to procure a sufficient number to be prepared for supplyir>g the Schools, by the beginning of the year, and furnish each< board of Trustees, either gratuitiously or at half cost price. The iotm ia contained in the accompa- nying document marked B. All which is respectfully submitted. :. W. H. LANDON, fetJPt. SCH0018» BkOCK DkST. .p.': APPENDIX. NoTfe A.-^Atmospherfe air is composed of twoGases, Nitrogen and ON-yfrcitf in the proportion oi eighty parts of the former to twenty of the latter. It is the Oxygen of the atmosphere only, which supports respiration, which fact is ascertarned by analysis of the air expelled from the lungs after an inspiration. In every case it is found that such air has parted with a portion ol its Oxygon, while it contains exactly the same quantity of Nitrogen it originally possesscjl. It has also been ascertained that pure Nitrogen cai»not support animal iiff^, even far a moment ; and vegetables, likewise, immediately wither and die if Gurroitnded by it. The quantity of Oxygen thus abstracted from the air by an adult person in breathing, is about equal! to tjventy-onc cubic inches every minute. But from the proportion stated ^bove, it is seen that two hnndred cnbic inches of pure atmospheric air, (the quantity i«entioned in the text as being required for each person pernainute) contain forty cubic inches of Oxygen. It must bo remembered, however, that the air cannot support life until the- whole of its oxygen is extraced. On the contrary as soon as it is reduced much below twenty per cent., unpleasant consequences begin to be observed. But we now see that the-proportion of exygen in two hundred cubic inches of air, is reduced by one minute's breathing from twenty to less than te» per cent., a proportion which can by no means be considered healthy or safe. But this is only one view of the cage. There are several other operations constantly going forward by which the air in a close room is corrupted • Within the same time that the lungs absorb twenty cubic inched of Oxygen,, they throw off nearly the same quantity of carbonic acid gas. This gas is extremely pernicious to life. When pure, it cannot bo drawn into the lunos ; an attempt to do so produces a convulsive spasm in tho { glottis, which prevents any portion from passing. When mixed with common } air ia the proportion of one to five, or twenty per cent, a candle is almost in- j rtantly extinguished by it, and an animal brcathin|^ it dies ia a few minutes. i 1 md will be ol the year ffvd for six one which ion to the sgement to «n alt who the Coun* )mit a form ;he Council le Schools, tees, either e occompa- and'OxycreWf latter. It ia I, which faet 1 inspiration. I its Oxypon, ly pn8sessciU [ animal hfo,, icr and Now let us compare these facts with the principles wo have laid down. The Black Hole contained above ten million of cubic inches or eixty-nino thousand to the man, nearly. Yet almost instantly they felt the most un- pleasant cfTects ; in an hour their sufferings were intolerable, and in less than three hours several were dead. ** This terrible example," saya Dr. Combe, " ouffht not to be lost upon us, fur if results su appalling arise from the extreme corruption of the air, results less obvious and sudden, but no less certain, may be expected from every lesser dcgrco of impurity." NoTK B.— In this note I shall mention a few particulars (omitted In t*ic text) that should always be considered by parties who ar? about to erect a iiSchool House. ]st. Location : This should be as nearly central as may bo, consistently with other more important considerations. The site should by all means be healthy, cheerful, and retired from the noise and dust of a public thorou^'hfarc. Thcro should be ground enough, belonging to the School, to afEird ample room for tho healthful exercise of the childern, and for water closets and woodshed. iid. Size: Most School-houses are too small. Room ought to be provided, nt)t only for seating, without crowding, the largest number of scholars ever likely to attend, but also fur the Teacher's Desk and platform, a moveable Blackboard, and a large space for reading and recitation classes. I also beg to submit it to my fellow countrymen, whether the most valuable purposes would not be served by adding two separate lobbies or entries, one for boys and ono for girls ; with shelves, pegs, and y ttecn inches id the walls, * uy fall upon st and most iAmded, in a constructed frequently jundiition of ev Iho slides, Bhould nut )i6tin^ mute ons of two i cxpoue tho lich wo ftir- ichitcoturC) s :— "There >f tlio bones, fe, besides a ,' Again,— **are wo t'» \0i\e3* spinal uoflnstruc- )ccn able to as they afo ;e, and not a tend to sucli [lit shoulder, ly when cu- %