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 ita 
 
 ure, 
 
 3 
 
 IX 
 
 1 
 
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 1 2 3 
 
 4 5 6 
 
5 
 
 iO 
 
 -) 
 
 COPIES 
 
 OF 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 BETWISEX 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT 
 
 AND THE 
 
 CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 
 
 ON THE SUBJECT OF THE 
 
 SCHOOL LAW FOR UPPER CANADA 
 
 AND 
 
 EDUCATION GENERALLY, 
 
 WITH APPENDICES. 
 
 I IN('l,ni)IN(i COUUESrONDENCE ON THE SUBJECT FROM MARCH 3, 1846. TO APRIL 26, 1850.] 
 
 t 
 
 ^ / 
 
 J'RIMEI) BV ORDER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY". '* 
 
 
 • N 
 
 Q 
 
 *^ 
 
 4 
 
 TORONTO: 
 
 . PRINTED BY LOVELL & GIRSON, FRONT STREET, 
 
 1850. 
 
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 'A., i-r' 
 
RETURN 
 
 To AN Addhess, from tlie Legislative Assembly, to His Excellency, the Governor 
 Gonoral, dated the Slst ultimo, praying HIh Excellency to cause to be laid before 
 the House "Copies of nil Correspondence that may have taken place between any 
 " McmlKT of the Governmint and the Chief Superintendent of Education, in Upper 
 " Canada, on the subject of the School Bill, or on the subject of Education, generally, 
 " or between any Member of the Government and other person in the country, ou 
 " the same subject, of an otHcial character." 
 
 By Command. 
 
 J. LESLIE, 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Provincial Secretary's Office, 
 
 Toronto, 5th June, 1850. 
 
 (Coi'v.) 
 
 EDUCATION OFFICE, 
 
 Toronto, 5th June, 1850. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, 
 reuuesiing of me copies of the olfiiial correspondence which has taken place between any 
 Member of the CJovernnnint ami myself on the subject of the Common School Law, for Upper 
 Canada, and Education, generally. 
 
 I, nerewith, transmit copies of all the correspondence which I have ever had with any 
 Member of the (Jovernment on the subject of our School Lav, and for the promotion of 
 Education, j^enerally- 
 
 The documents numbered seven were not strictly official; but as they are of an ''official 
 character,'" and have been perused as such by the Members of the Government,— and as I do 
 not wish lo withhold any communications of any description whatever which 1 have had on the 
 subject of the School Law, and as the publication of these papers has been assented to by all 
 parties concerned, I readily include them among the documents herewith transmitted. 
 
 1 have the honour to be, 
 Sir, 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 E. RYERSON, 
 
 The Honourable 
 
 .Iames Leslik, 
 
 Secretary of the Province, 
 Toronto. 
 
 m' 
 
 .>-* 
 
SCHEDULE OF CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 Between (he ChiefSiiperintcndent of Schools anil Merubcrti oftlie novemment, on the subject 
 of thu Cominun Scho:^* Law, for Upprr Canada, and Kducation, generally. 
 
 WIRJCL-r. 
 
 Th« CUM' Sii|icrilitrh(lriit 
 of SdiiNils to tht! SfcM'lary 
 ol'tlio I'rovificr. 
 
 I. Out. U, INIR 
 
 The St'cri'tary of tlic Pro- 
 Tiiici- to thi' CliifC ^iuiMTiii- 
 ti-lident of Schoolx. 
 
 'I'hc Chief Supfriiiti'iidont 
 of SchfM)!.-* to tlic (S«!crctarj' 
 of the I'roviiice. 
 
 II. Oct. lit, 18»8. 
 
 III. 
 
 Feb. 2a, I8»l» 
 
 rAUK. 
 
 ticnrriil lloport on the .Schiml Ijiw, am! pxninnatnry 
 rcinnrkN nf('fiiii|iuii}'inK n Vtutt of liili, iiinkinK 
 furthtT proviNioii for the iinpruvctnont of the NyNtem 
 of ('uiiimon SchiMjIit in I'ppor Canada, with an 
 Appendix, containing the following documcnlx. . . I 
 
 No. I. (I.) Oineo of Dixtrict Muptrintondcnt of 
 Coniiiion S('>i<miIn. ('j.) UifiicullifH and mhirieH of 
 Diotrict Sii)icriiit(.'rulonta 
 
 Nr. i. PnwrrH of th« Htnte and Chief Supoiintcn- 
 deniN of .SohiMilw in the l^tiited States and in Upper 
 Cuniula compared 11 
 
 No. n. ItonniN of F4<lucatlon in diflrrent countries, 
 their origin, uoimtitution, and objects 14 
 
 No. -1. Copy of the Memorial of the Municipal 
 Council of tlie (lore Dixtrict to the l^ginlative 
 A8Heml>ly, on the Nubject of the Normal Sohool and 
 the Sch<x)l Act, Uth Vict., ch. >iO, dated the iOth of 
 Novemlicr, IH47 17 
 
 No, fi. Cony of the proceedings of the Municipal 
 Council of the Celbome District, in reply to the fore- 
 going Metnoriiil of the Gore District Municipal 
 Council to the I^giHlative Assembly, on the subject 
 of Coimnon School Education, datei the 8th February, 
 1848 , 18 
 
 No. fl. Copy of the letter frjm the Chief Superin- 
 tendent of SchoolN tor Upper Canada to the Secretary 
 of the Province, expounding and recommending the 
 original draft f)f the Common Schcol Act, l)th Vict., ch. 
 •iO, transmitted the 3rd of March, 1840 30 
 
 No. 7. Copy of the letter from the Chief Superin- 
 tendent of SchooU for Upper Canada to the Secretary 
 of the Province, expoimiling and recommending the 
 original draft of the Common School Amendment Act, 
 (relating to Cities and Towns, &c.) 10th and Uth Vict., 
 ch. lit, transmitted the 27th of March, 1847 2.'i 
 
 No. 8. Copy of a letter from the Chief Superinten- 
 dent of ScIkhiIs for Upper Canada to the Secretary of 
 the Province, submitting the mi'ttiis of carrying into 
 ellect the tenth clause of tln'Conunon School Act, 0th 
 Vicl..ch. 20, which requires the Chief Superintendent 
 of Seli(M)ls, "To employ all lawful meons in his power 
 " to collect and ilill'use infurmalion on the subject of 
 '* I'Mucatlon, geiierully, iiniong the jtcople of Upper 
 "Ciinadn," by the agency of a Joamal of Eriucalimi, 
 and ollicial visits of the ("liief Superintendent to the 
 several Counties of Ui>i)cr Canada, dated the 20th of 
 December, 1^40 20 
 
 Acknowledcnient of the foregoing explanatory re- 
 marks anil Drall of Hill, making further provision 
 for the improvement of the system of Common 
 Schools in UpiKT ('anada, witli Appendix 30 
 
 Additional explanatory remarks accompanying the 
 extendeil Drall of Hill, (entire,) making further pro- 
 vision for the improvcnu'iit of the system of 
 Coimnon ISchools in Upper Canada 30 
 
 
!v 
 
 •tcmCDDLC OK COimr.SI'uNDKNf'K. 
 
 M'UKrr. 
 
 Tim S'prclftry of l!" IVii- 
 viiu'i' to III)- Cliii'i' Su,M>rin- 
 li'n<l<>iil of ^^«•^\l)<l|fl. 
 
 'I'lii- ('liici' Sti|>' riiiirndpnl 
 til S'liiMilx to iIk' .S'cwtar)' 
 ol' the I'rovincc. 
 
 T\\v Sfcrclnry of ih* Pro 
 vini'<> to ilip t'hjpl' Su|N<rin- 
 ti'iiilent uf ScIiihiIn. 
 
 The Chiff Supcrintnidont ^^I.Jul>• U, 
 or Sohu«iU to the lloii. UolH'rt 
 Uulilwiii, Kf. 1M>., Atlurncyi 
 (ifiirral, WViit. | 
 
 ! I 
 
 The Chief .SuperintemienlVIII. July Iti, 
 of SchooU to the Svcrvtary 
 of the I'rovincc. i 
 
 The Secretaij- of the Pro nC. July 40, 
 vince to the Chief Superin-| 
 teiident of SchooN. | | 
 
 The Chief SuperintendeDt X.^ec. 7, 
 of Scho<ilfi to the >Secn'tary 
 of the IVo^'ince. 
 
 The SecretAry of the Pro- XI. IVc- 15. 
 vince to the Chief >SupeHn 
 lendent of .SchooN. 
 
 The Chief Superintendent XII.j April 44. IHSO, 
 of .SchoolH to the .Secretary 
 of the Province. 
 
 The Secretary of the Pro-'xiH. 
 vlnv- to the Chief Supj-rin- , 
 
 teiuleni of Schools. | | 
 
 April 'i.'.. - 
 
 .Vckiiowleilirnienlof the fnn'RoiiiK additional expliinii- 
 tor> reiiiiirkn, with extriMlnl dralt nf Hill, (entire,) 
 miikinK fiinluT iirovinion for the iinproveiiiiiit of 
 the Myiileni of Coinnion S^'hooU in I'pprr ( 'iiniidii. . :i!> 
 
 Ileinnrkn, liy the Cliief SiiixTinlendent of SehiMils, on 
 the new SchiMil Hill for TpiK-r Cnniulii, [Hlh Wvt., 
 I'h. N.'l,] (liniiiulit into the U'Kinlittive .Vmniilily liy 
 the lion. .Miilooiiii Cnineron.i with an .\p|M-i'i4lix, 
 contiilliiiiK. ill l^to Mittir<tii'iil tnlileH, the reMlllH of 
 the o|M'nitionK of the Cotiiinoii ,S<'IiiniI .\el, I'th \ iri.. 
 rh. 'JO, Ninee iiH intriNluction in Ih|iV-7 ;i)l 
 
 Acknowli'dunient of the fon'tfoini; reipiirk" on the 
 new >Sch(Mil liill, with .\p|M>ndix .| 
 
 Prefatory note aceonipanyiiiK a letter eontniniiiK 
 remiirk.M on the ehnriicler and Itndenry of the new 
 iier Caimdii, I'itli N'li't., 
 
 SchiMil .\<'t for rpp< 
 
 rh. n;i.. i: 
 
 KeinnrK.. and recoinnu iidatiotifi with a view to the iii- 
 trodurtioii of School Lihrarii"* into l'p|)er Canada. 
 
 r..'i 
 
 Acknowle<lirinent of the forei^iinx reinarkH ami reeoni- 
 mendatiotis reKardinir .School Lihrariei) .'i7 
 
 Heinarks and miuKeMionN with ren|)eet to the earrying 
 into ellei't of the new .School .\el for I'piM-r Canada, 
 I'ith \ irt., ill. n;i .',7 
 
 Reply to the fori'itoiiiK remarks and NtiKueNlionN. roii- 
 veyiiiK lli.1 llxcellenev's approval of the jiiiifKestinris 
 for carrying into ell»H"t the new SoIkmiI Ait, I'.'lli 
 Vict., oh*. Nil Ml 
 
 Letter rei|iie*<tinK that IIIn Kxcelleney. iheCovrriHT 
 lieneral, may !»' plea<u.<l to sanction the lioMuiu of 
 'I'eaeherM' liwlitnle!* in the several ('oiiiitH'* ..I 
 l'p|Mir Caniula ,'i\i 
 
 Ueply t<i the foreKoiiii; jitter, sjiiirtioninc the Imlclintf 
 of Teacher*' liuititule.s in l'p|MT Ciuiada ,'iit 
 
 ERRATA, 
 
 On the aeeonil rolumn uf the flrit page, tecond line from tlio top, /or " oullvcting," read " oullating." 
 On the (ecotid coliiiim of ilie sixth |)«go, aeveDtoentli lino from the lop./ur "there wa* not a «ingl« onu In any of thi 
 locurportteJ Town*," rtail "them WM not n (ingle Inuorp<>ralr<l Tuwn in tlmt Ui^lriit." 
 
11 E P R T 
 
 ON 
 
 TJIK SCJIOOL LAW OF UPPKU CANADA. 
 
 
 57 
 
 .'>!> 
 
 1 
 
 I. 
 
 roi>v or A Rci'tiBT Ofi Ihf .Vr/ioii/ L'lw, niul Ex- 
 liliinnttiry Hemiiiku, ncfominimjinij <i Draft <»/' 
 IliU, inakinij fiirlhrr priivimim fur iht fm/iruri'- 
 mrni of th* Sjfultm itf ('i)iiniioit Seltuoll. 
 
 (Copy.) 
 
 r.ot'CATioM Orrii'B, 
 
 'riiiunlii, Uili Orliilwr, IH48. 
 
 SlK, — In mr 'r<l»ii<<' wiih *\w rpi|iiirainriili> of iho 
 (%iiiiiiii>ii SrliiHil Ai'l, 9lh ViaioriH, (xtia|ilrr 20, Hoc- 
 liixi t, CImiimi 11,1 Iiiivi-iIm< liiiiHiur loniiliiitit hrrvwilli, 
 fur ilii> ciirmiili'iHiiiin nt ihe (inviMiinr Oi'twral in 
 Ctiiiiiril, MIC h miofi'iiliim* ii< H|i|ii>nr In niv, (tx<m 
 IKTMiiial iiM|iiifiu> Hiiil »xpi'ritiir<-, ici Iw not i'«Mrv for 
 Ifii' iiii|iriiv('iiii>iit of till' lytiain of Co nmon School* In 
 IJ|i|H'r CiifiailM. 
 
 ()iiiliii27ili MHri'li. IH4t«, I liHil ilio hiiiiiir loiiuliniil, 
 Willi ilii' ri'i|iiiiiil)> i'X|iliiiiiiiiiiii«, iliii >iii)(iiiHl Draft nf 
 till- S. liiHil Art, Oili Vi<tiiii:i, ('li,i|iii'r 2U ; iiml cm 
 (III! :)ril MHrch, |H47, I liiicl ilii- limcnr to >iiliniil, Willi 
 i-orri'»|Kiiiilin)( ox|>lHn4ti<iii«. lh« ■lri^illl<l Dnifk cif the 
 8rlicHil Act, Kill) mill llth Virlcinii, ( liH|ili'r 19. — 
 C'ii|iii'ii cif llinw I'ciiiimiciiii'iilicini will lie fciciiiil in tlio 
 A)i|iviiilix, niinilH-rril himI 7. liiiil llw Driifis of 
 tliPHo Ai'lii iHiiiafd tliK Li'^i^liitiire in lliu fcirin in which 
 lliey wcrit MiliiiiitiRil, I »liiiulil havi' iM-vn rt'lievail friim 
 triiiibliiiK III* t.iiivi'rncf OwKT.il in Ciiiincil nKHin with 
 MKiot of tlir iitiKKetliciiiii which I fiel it my ihily tn null- 
 niii. Hul iu>vi<riil rliMni;!'* wrie inMile in llw Helalla 
 of tlie>e IMIii, while lii'furc iho l.)'Ki>litliirt', wliirh 
 hurc INI aiionccl nn iiniiirnii' ili'iil nf iniiinvenienie and 
 mm h illii«iill>f»rlicin in \\\e workcnj; c.f ihn Cmnnion 
 Hihiiicl I,»w in I'l'l""'' Ciiniiila. The rhangc-, or 
 nniikniiin, iir Bililillcui of » wiiril or Miiili'iir)' iniiy ilrn- 
 Irciy the liiiriiicmlciiii whole of it iiii'iiiiiro in a w»y 
 
 p»ri'|it (' 
 In thi> 
 hicvi' Minn- of ilii- il'iailx cif ih« (; minoii Sc hiKil Acts 
 li'fcrrcil lo Imvm rt'iiHiTcil nii({atciry or liimc anil iii- 
 rcdvi'Mii'iil. Slicicild llic |'rci|iricly anil iii'ccnitv i>f 
 rcioiiiiiiiiii; any of llic pniviiil'iiit of thu rxi^linx law, 
 nr ilip iiilci|iliciii iif ihov wlili li I liuvi) the hciiior Ici 
 iciiliinil ill the uciiii-yi'il l)r<ifi of a ScIichiI Hill, Ih,> 
 ■'ciiinlclircd clocihifiil, I .'•liiill !>«■ lcH|i| y to ^ci licforc imv 
 
 ( iiinniill >r C'cMii'iiiKmn which inay lie H|i|i<iinleil I'l 
 
 liiviisli|{Htu tho iulijpct, 
 
 lidMrc niiitiiiK till* ({riiiinilii on which I sohrnit the 
 prill isiiiiiii of ihv ari'ciiii{iiiiiyiii)( Draft I'f Hill, I think 
 II |ii'<|H'r to iiilicrl to ihi- tiii-iiiis winch have been fin- 
 jiliiveil lou-cvrliiio llieaclii|itnlion of the exi!>liii|( Sclicml 
 Law Ici tho lire ini>tuiii'i's of ilie iiiiiiilry, iinil tint 
 iiliji'cliciii> wliiih htivc lieeii iiiliile Hiriiin t M'me of its 
 (iriivivionii. 
 
 On the iiroviKlona of n Common School Law for 
 l'|ii«r ('Hniiila, I hnto K|iiireil no |iaini« to olilain the 
 fiilleKl, lliv tnotit |irHcliriil anil the miwt relialtlv infor- 
 
 wliich niiKht not he rmiceiieil l>v any pxceiit llicno 
 wli'i werii c line eriiidl in |ire|'Uii iK it. In tni> way 
 
 jnation. I have dona m n»l hy merely txatnining und 
 c>>llectiiif( iha Common School l.awi of many ulhar 
 co'intricii, anil invritiKalini( ihuir prnclical uiieratiuna, 
 hul by oxienaiva anil patient ini|uiry, by nieana nf 
 rcirreK|»inilpnru anil perional conaiillation, in the varioua 
 DiMricU of Cpjicr I'anuila. Two of ihn nubjecta ol 
 roiinullation al each of iho Di>tricl SchiNil meelingi 
 which I altenileil laul autumn, wuro Ihu fullowing : — 
 " I. To ani>w«r any <|ueMionk whiih may U* urouoaad, 
 anil give any ex|>lanaticiiia which may lie deiircil, re»- 
 (locting ill* aoveriil proviaionii of ilie Common School 
 Law, !. To conaiilvr any auggralioni which may be 
 made fur ila impnivumenl." 
 
 Thu«, the proviaioin of the School Act, hv provioua 
 public announceircnl, came under iliKcuation at iho 
 public meelin){« hehl in Ihc Kvoral Dialricia of Upper 
 Canada ; ami many pcrwina who had figured in the 
 iiewiipa|H*fi agaima ihe Schiad Law, and othura who 
 had olijoctiona lo it, or innuiriea lo make reKiicctini; Ila 
 prciviniiinii, appealed on tlio^o orcaaionn. Hut I found 
 thai, in almoal every iimtance, Ihn olijcctiona were 
 agaiiiil what had been erfoneoiiily rppro<ienlud or aiip- 
 jmsed lo lie the priiviiiona of iho ScIhiuI Act, and that 
 when lis provi»ion« wore made known and divcuted of 
 tho fain colnuia with which Ihey had been invested, 
 scarcely any one al any ninglo public meeting in Upper 
 Canada, waa diapoaed lo ubjecl lo itiem, or lo deaire 
 anything more Inun aurh cxlenaion of ihe powera of 
 Truiteea and Couiicili aa I propoie In Ihc proviaionaof 
 iho annexed Draft of Hill, and which I had previoualy 
 Auhmilled In the favorable consideration nf iho Qovernor 
 (icncral in Council. I know of no other law in Upper 
 Canada which has been tested by such a popular 
 oideal ; and al nol a singln one of tho public meetings 
 reforrod lo, was a rraolutinn pnsseil, or even pro|Ki8ed, 
 eonilomniitoi'y of ihu School L"*| of objecting lo any 
 of ila leading fealurca, 
 
 I think il pro|ier lo refer alio tn Ihe proceedings of 
 th<> various District Councils on this subject. Ad at- 
 tein|ii was mnde almut a year since, by a circular letter 
 iiddniiM'd to the District Councils of Upjier Canada, 
 Id diaw an expros.iion I'f opinion from them unfavor- 
 iiMe III the Sclioiil Law ; '..iit tho attempt (ailed, as a 
 iniijiirity of threi<-foiirths of the Councils either tiM>k 
 no nciliec of Ihe appeal made tn them, or expresaed 
 themielvps uiifiiendly to any change in Ihe law. In 
 the first section o( my annual School Report for 1847, 
 I have >t«led the eimmi<ilnnres under which dismtis 
 faiiicin has arisen in tbi* Western and Dalhnnsie Dis- 
 tricts, and which no School Law can remedy, and 
 which can only lie remeilied by the Councils themselrcs 
 and the progros* of knowledge. In no one instance 
 has any Coonril complaineil of the administration of 
 the Low liy Ihe Provincial Sii|>printenilent. An un- 
 friendly allu^ion tn him by the Bathurst District Council 
 may readily bi- accounted (iir by tho fact, that the 
 Ciiiiiirll iifihal District failed lo raise its mniety of the 
 Srliunl Fiind fur 1845, and the Provincial Sujierin- 
 teiiilent insisted that a condition which had been 
 
 c 
 
coni|ilicil wlih liy llic dllicr DKiricf Councils in Upiior j' 
 ("anfidH ciiijjht in In- fullillfl liy llic C'.nini il of llii' 
 linlliuriil Dislriit, bn rt'i|uiR'(l liy liiw, | 
 
 In onp or two inslHnii'S itii- nlfu'O imil imwor'- odho 
 I'roviinial Su|h rinliMiilcnl i>( SrlinoN linvr hi in nli- i 
 joi-tcil to, af rtlsii tlu' odiic of l)i>lric:l Sii|irriiitriiit<'nl, I 
 mill (lie i'slHlili>l\minl of ihc Norin.il Silionl. In 
 re>|«M I to 1^' Norm^il Si liool, I docin il iii('X|iriliiiil i 
 III Hilil any tiling; to wli.ii I Iihm' >Iiiii'(I in niv Aniniiil 
 Ri'|iort. Ill rrg.iril lo ilir nUin- ,i( DisiiitI Siipirin- 
 Ifiiilonl, I Ix'jj 111 ri't'iT I.I llii' A|i|)iiiilix to \h\> llfporl 
 No. I. Il liiiiiiMt Ih- mi|i, iiM iI iIi.iI nil ilu< DiNlnrl 
 (.'iiiiiu'ils liiiVL- hfi'ii n|ii.tllv t'lMluniiti* in llieir M'U'rlio-is 
 or H|i|>i iitincnls In llll^ niriri', iin I iIiiTi fore ils tililiiy 
 lull nol lii'i'ii I'linnllv cxi'iniilificil in nil llic |)i>lrirls. 
 H it I i|inslioii wlu'lliir tliiTu IS iiny nfl'irr in llii- Coiii- 
 nioii Sriiii.il Sy«li'ni of nn iilrr iin|piprliiiiii' ; :inil il i» sfi 
 vifwcil in Disiriils wIhto iIi« SiIiooIs hint- nmilu llir 
 );ri'Hii'>l iiriii^riis, iinil wlitii' iliu olVuo is filliil by 
 jurs.ii.ii of ai'.tluus iiiiluslry iinil suiliiliip nimlificntinns ' 
 anil i'X|KTioncc, , 
 
 .\» Il (lie olTicr mill |iiiwirs ..f ilio Provimiiil Super- 
 inli'H liMit, I linic only lo rrfir In llie ariMiiipanying 
 Apponili\, No. 2, wIht' iIh i'xaniplr<> mihI IiiWs nf iIh- 
 nei;.'lib.iiirin|; Sliiio<, mi lliis shIijitI, iirc (jivcn .il 
 ltn!;lli. Bill I lliink il propiT to rrinaik Ihti', iIimI 
 alilimi^li iliiiiui; llio la>l lliin' \cars, I lia' e liail lo 
 ilriiilf iijvin si'vcnil liiinilri'il i av- of niinplain', rrpM'- 
 M'n'alion miil appi'al, iirisins; mit of llii) nprialions if 
 Uir l.ito Si'li'Mil .\i't anil ill. ihliiiilocliiin of ilii> prtwiil 
 mil — yil Mill an iiis'uiur lias liirii aiMnii'il, or pvrii 
 nlli'(;i'i!, ill wliirli I Iiavi" rxi riisril tin- powers of nn 
 iilliri; iiiipriipirly or injiiri'iusly. Tliirc i.s ori'lubly 
 n 'I a Iriliuiial in lliv Pi'o\ inco in wliirli so nuiiiy laMs 
 of iloulit n.'il ilispulo liavo bcrn disposeil of since 
 jHHU.iry 1 840, as in llie r.ilnralion i)({'ue fur I'ppcr 
 ('Hhaila,rmisliliitini; asil il.ios a kiinl of ripiily Iriliunal ' 
 of appeal in a sytli'in nlinli incluilis all iliu Distrirl ' 
 anil ("ily ami Town Councils, nearly liOdO 'iVnrliprs 
 nnil 9000 'I'rustci's, bcsiiles vnrio i"; oilior inlrroslril 
 IKirlit's ; mill lliv fact lliat tlir GoMrimr (iiiu'ral in 
 Cuu:.cil lia« not set aside one i«f its di'i isiims, or cren ' 
 liecn iipiH'uleil in ill ro|;aril In but Uvo nf ihcm, is ii 
 sufTii ieni justifiialion of llieir couily and ilie manner in 
 wbiili ibcy liave Iwen I'miiiniiiiicated In parties coli- 
 ceriieil. I lliiiik it but just In remark al.sn, tb.ii, as far 
 a» i know, nut one of ibe variius Ui ;;iilalii ns wliicli 
 liave bi'en prepared in ibe KduiaLoii Ulliecas reipiired 
 by law, for the organiz.itinn and iii.iiia;jeim'nt of Cnni- 
 innii Si linols under llie preM'iil law, li is Ikm'Ii ap|M'ali'd 
 from or objected In as unjiisi or inexpedienl. Nor lias 
 tlirre been any failure in any nf tlie measures wliitli 
 it biis Ix'en my d ity lo submil fnr llie esl.ililisliinent nf 
 M Vnnnal Sibnnl, mil my rrTommeiulalions as In il« 
 oiriiers, besides llie almost daily rails made upnii me 
 in respirl In lis iiperaliniis and air.nis, and ibe \nbili- 
 larv lilinur and re»|Hiiisiliilily nf publisliitii; a mnnlblt 
 Journal of Education* 
 
 All I'lijerlinn lia\'in^ also Ih'i'Ii made, in niie inslani e, 
 ill re*peii In ibc resjMrlivc pnwir>, relalinns nid dunes 
 of ibe Obief SuperinlendenI nf Srle«ils and ibe IIikihI 
 of Kduratinii, I ref.r (n .Appendix Nn. ,1, wb.re ibe 
 examples and ii««pes nf llie inuntriet fmm wbiib mir 
 SiIhmiI Svslrm Ihis bi-en adnpn-d are siafeil ai laii(e. 
 Il will lliere Ix' Ml II likewiM', lli.il ibe nflii e nf Minis- 
 ter nf I'ijIiIii Insinictinn in Prussia bas mil been 
 [mliliial ninie IMI, and that llie Mead nf ibe Dtptirl- 
 ment I'f' I'lim-iry or ('iitniiion .SVAoo! Intlniclion 
 in Fraucr lias nevei l>»> ii a pnbliial nlHie. 
 
 A« to any measure wbicb it may Ik- ibnu)(lil rx(M'ili- 
 itil to aijnpl in regard eiiber to ibo ortiie of Su|>t'rin- 
 
 * Fiir itifsiili »ubaiitt4^l lit ftuliliili Ihi4 J<iuni«l kiiil lo full 111* 
 S<»»#-i»I J>uIricU in L'(»p*f Canm^la. S*-*- A|'Jw-ii<lit K". ^. 
 
 leiulenl nf Siboils for L'pper CanBila, or its inrumbenl, 
 I liiivu niiiliiii>; In say ; but I liave ronsidereil it no 
 nioie llian an net of jiistiee I .iiyself, to niaku the 
 above remarks and leferenees. Tlie ^lalistle.s contain- 
 ed in my Annual Kepmt furnisli a .siitrieienl illuslru- 
 lion of what lias been dniiu iind< r the adminislrntinn of 
 ihe present Si hmd l.aW ; and il '\* worlliy of reiiiaik 
 llial in llmse Districts where the Schools have most 
 advanced, and wlieie the ijreHlesi inieresi has been 
 evinied lo iniprove and eliXale lliem, the Miiliieipal 
 Councils have lorinally ohjieled to any proposilinn lo 
 (bailee the provisions of the Schonl l>aw. 'I'liis has 
 been done by ibe Munieipal Cniiiuils of the Midlnnil, 
 Colbnine, Simeix', and Niaijara Dislriils. If the pri)- 
 visiuiis of the Sibonl Law were iniiii ci .ssarily cmn- 
 plex or cumbr'Us, ii wnuld dniibtless be iliMoveri il in 
 lliese, as well as in nllier l)i-lrir:s. In the .Municipal 
 Coiiiiiils of llie JohiislniMi, Prime Kilward, Vielnria, 
 Tal'onl, and Hiirnii liisliiel-, I have nnder.lo d Ihe 
 ( irciilar anaiiisl llio Silinnl I„iW was not even taken 
 inio considernlion. I'Voiu the Cnmeils nf She Kastern, 
 Ottawa, Williiiutnii, and l.nnilnn Disiriiis, I have 
 lie.ird iinlliini; mi the siibjei I. In the Hunk District 
 the Mmreipal Cniiiiiil at iine Sessimi adnpied a hasty 
 peiieral re>nlntinn uiifavoiable to ibe Si Imnl laiW, but 
 at Ibe next Session when the snbiecl was liroiinlil bi'- 
 fore the I'oiineil in a proposilion to adopt the Memnrial 
 of Ibe (inre District Cnniii i! ayaiiisl the ScIkhiI Law, 
 the mover, after a lull discuvsinii, wilbdri w his pro- 
 piisilion — the Cniim il unanininii^ly leliisim lo enter- 
 tain il. Dnrini; ilie l.isi January Si ssinii »i the llnme 
 District (ouiii d, n .Memorial lo the Le|;islalure anaiiisl 
 some prnt isimis of the Sihonl I aw, was adopled in 
 Committee ; but at ilie fnllnwini; .lime Sessimi, al'iera 
 noliie bad In in niveii ai d a lime appniiited fnr con- 
 sidering llie Memoiial, il was iibamloiied by coinmmi 
 consonl. 
 
 The Memorial of Ibe llnme Dislrii I Council !iavi:ii; 
 lieeii williilrawn, {lbnui.diil bad bieri widely eirciilaled 
 and iniirli cnniinented iijioii.) .oid llie |iriin ipal objiclb 
 conlemplati'd in lb- Mi mnrial nf the ilatliursl Dislrii t 
 Cniini'd lieinjj prnvided fnr in lie aiinmpaii>iin Draft 
 of Hill, the mutually antaj;ntustic .Memnrials of the 
 Gnre and Col' irne District Cmnuils remain In lie no- 
 ticed ; and as the latter cnntains all the remniks winch 
 appear lo me to l)e tailed fnr in respirl tn I'le Inrn er, 
 I give them Imtb in li.e Appi iidix, .Nns. 1 and ."). 
 
 These fads sijfllr'eii'ly iinlicale tlie di bin rate ciH- 
 viclimis nf the nmsl experienced pmlinn nl the pnptila- 
 tion in repinl lo llie general prn\ isinns nf the Si linul 
 .\ct— ^'iiiiviclimis (nuiidid upnii ailual inipiiry uiid ex- 
 perimen', and nnl ibenries nf speculntinn, or iiiipui- 
 si^s ef pa.vsini). Nn law wliiili I'olitemplates the 
 reiimval nf grnM'lliiii; or si Ifisb ignnraiue and the 
 elevalinii nf mh ielv by means nf i llii ieiil rei;>d.ilions 
 and [inpular as.se^Ml eiit nr laxatinn, ever has lieeii, iir 
 ever will be, |Ki|iiilai Willi ibe pun ly sellisb nr the 
 listlessly ignnr.iiil. .Ml sill II l.iws must b- siisiaiiied 
 fnr n time at le.t-l, li\ llie |mi I iiillneni e nf die (i..n rii- 
 iniiit and the iiitelb^eiil and enlerprisiiig pnrlinn ol 
 the cnmmiinitv. In sm j, tasi's it is aUva\s in the 
 jKiwir nf the (iiivernmenl In luui the -i ale m favmir 
 nf eiiber knnwlidne nr i:;niranie. 'I liu \iews and 
 iiileiilimis nf llie presi 111 line.niiieiil risp. iting the 
 SebiHit Law liavini; been a matter nt ilntdit iidil \arinus 
 repiesi'iitdlinii, ibe ilillii idly nf adiniiiisli riiiK it during 
 the I iirrelil vear, has U-eii ineriased, and prrsmts h^- 
 |Hised In its o|H>ralioiis have lint been wanliiig in ibeii 
 ellnrts In parulyz ' Its aiitlmnly and impede its success. 
 
 'I'lie prim ipal alligalinii wliiib has Inen made 
 against ihe ib lads nf the Si IhkiI Law is, thai llnv are 
 ** Inn cninplieated.*^ H'll of this I liave never S' en 
 any illuslritmn given, imr any renu dv proimsed. I 
 bale never luaril nr seen il enii slated in wb.il parti- 
 
 
8 
 
 r.ilnr.1 llin '* too grc-al cnmplicii'ioii" ronxi.'ils, nr liow 
 llioy ciiii liii rrmi-ilioil, I have lii'Hrd llir hroad unc< vngiin 
 iiss'crtion lliiit llii' "(liilics of Triislci'<i are ton cnm- 
 plicaleil ;" iinH to llioso wlm Iiuvo not cxiimiiicd the 
 subjcrl, llie a^sorliiin inigtit sciin iin iiri;iiincnt. Hut 
 •in iiskiii({ llic DlijtTlor (as I liiivo dnm' nt viiriniis pub- 
 lio meliiigs) wlii-dipr the ofticD of Tnisli'es ou);ht not 
 l» he coiiliniii'd in ihu in:irhlnt'ry of iho School l,nw, 
 iind whilhiTTrii>tcTsiniml nor, I-.!., uniploy aTenchcr ; 
 2iid. liii|HiM' iiiid Kdlt'cl riili'-l)ills, iiriii ^ivi; orders on 
 Ihi.' Diviric I Sii|Mtinlc'n.li'iit for iho TiNicher'n fkdary ; 
 3rcl. See ihc S( hcMd-hoii«o is ki|)l in i<'|mirs iukI 
 Wiirmed ; ilh. See lo ihu seh't'lioii of suitable Si hool 
 books ; 5lli. Maku lliiir Aiiciual Report and Ueliirn 
 of Scliool-cliiidrin lo oblaiii their duo share of llii. 
 School Fund; (ilh. Apjioint ihe nieelings for Ihc elec- 
 tion of ihi'ii itudi'ss rs ? Tiie aii>wer of llie ohji'ilor 
 himself has, wllhoiil cxi i|ilion,bi'en in Ihu airirinali\e ; 
 iiiiil my re;jly has ln'i-n, auil is, tli.it these arc all ihc 
 duties lliat ihe law rc'cpiirts of 'i'rusli es, and Ihereforc 
 ihosi* duties are as few and ns simple as Mossihie in an 
 elfK ieiil syslcm of Schools. Anil lo aid ,'l'ruslees in 
 llie perfoimaiiri' of these duties, forms and plain .lircc- 
 tioii.s are provided for lliein. 
 
 It is true that with all these helps, many Trustees 
 are iiicompeleiil lo llie duties of lln'ir olUce ; but Trus- 
 tees cannot be niade competent by Aii of l'arirani..iil. 
 An Act of ihe 1,1 ^ishitiire caniiol hesl..w inlellifrvni e, 
 any more than it can iinpail inti lit cl. Il is indeeil 
 aliej^ed, ihal compeleiil Trustee's are not to be found 
 in many parts of (lie I'rovnici'. If this were true, ihc 
 objection wooM lie a;;iiin>l the ollire of Trusters, but 
 not a);ain«l li.e duties essentia! lo ii whereMT it may 
 exist. ItuI I lioiiht the correc liiess of the allegalion. 
 I doulil whclher llere arc ten School Sections in all 
 Upper Caiiiidii, ill each of which three men of some 
 iMlmalion and practical inlellijfence could not he fouml. 
 I am jiersiiaih-d that the most careful incpilry would 
 show ihal the reavon of incoinpolenl Trusieeshas Iwcn 
 Ihu indillereiice and carelessness ol the people in elii I- 
 ing ihein — an evil which time and expeiience will 
 yearly lessen, as it has already done. 
 
 It is also Worthy of remark, that the duties of Com- 
 mon S( ho d Tru^tei's are much more complex and 
 onerous in the Sl.i'e of New York than in' I'pp'T 
 Canada. There, in mUlltion to till ihe duties required 
 by l.iW of 'I'ruslees /irrf, the Truslees have lo veiify 
 ever) npurl and relurii by oath or aHirtnUion before n 
 Magi-lraie ; are liable lo a fine often ilollars individu- 
 »lly fir every departure from aii\ of ihe voluminous 
 inxiMiclions or di'cisions i^f the Sl.ile Soperintehilcht ; 
 a fi'ie of twenty-five dullars each, and to be held j;uillv 
 of misde;neii!ior, fir every fil>e report or fiKe reliiiii ; 
 and a petsmial le loiinlabilily l"r lb" ainonnl, with iii- 
 lere-l, fnr all Selioel monevs wliiih may be l.sl lo iheir 
 .Si hool |)i» ision in con^eipienee of llicir niglecl of dulv, 
 or irrej;iil,ir pnn ceilings. 
 
 It is on llie |irovisions of our ScIkm)! I, aw relative 
 to llie iliiliesif 'rru^tei s. thai ihe cliarj;('S of unin- 
 roriniMl and liiconsiilerale objc^flors h.ivi' been most fre- 
 ipieiilly and pl.iusilily r 'In;, and wilhoi.l any reason 
 whaleviT, aslh • ,ino\e remaiks and i-oMi|'aiisens show. 
 The resull w.iulo' be the saiiii' if I were lo notii e the 
 provisioi.s of our Sdio.d Law respiciinij ihe diilies of 
 Dislni I ('■luiiril'- anil Superinteiiili-nl>. Il has hi en 
 liiv endeavoiii' fnun llie coniiiiencem. nt, to make ihi' 
 provisions of our Si hool Law as few and as simple as 
 possible, anil lo a>similale iheni lo the other Municipal 
 iiistilulioiis of the ioiinli\ ; they are less than lialf as 
 iiiinierniis as ihe Sei lions of any other pojiular .School 
 Law of ihe neinhlKiiiriiii; Stales that I liiive seen ; and 
 I know not, all! r two years' experience, how any one 
 of lliiin can be dispensed w ilh wilhout injury In the 
 filicicncv of the wliiile. 
 
 The present Act has created no new office — no 
 office which bad not been authorised by two previous 
 Acts ; -but dispenses with ono whnlj class of (more 
 than ihrcG hundred) offices which had previously 
 existed — thus simplifying the machinery and reducing 
 the expense of adinini.slerilig the School system. 
 
 Out Hiill there are four classes or coteries of per- 
 sons wdm always have been, and who, in all pro- 
 " bcbilily, will be op|iosed to the provisions of any 
 'I and every general School Law, and who, though 
 'I not nunierons, make up in occasional dogmatism and 
 ' vehoinenre what they want in nnmliers. 1. The"! 
 !| are some School-masters — generally of inferior stand- 
 ini: — who insist on being made independent of the 
 Trustees — so ihal tlio Truslees cannot dismiss them 
 or dis|)en.se with their services, wilhout establish- 
 ing some charge against them for violation or neglect 
 of duly. 2. Tlieie are some Trustees — also of little 
 capacity or intelligence — who insist upon having the 
 right, (indnpeiulent of agreement and without notice,) 
 of dismissing a Teacher at any time, if he should not 
 answer their expectations, or make himself generally 
 IHipular. I liHvehad todecideuponnumeroiiscomplaints 
 and appeals coming from both these classes of persons. 
 3. 'I'liere is a third class of persons who are opposed 
 III any oiher than denominational Schools.* 4. 
 There is also » fourth class of persons who are op- 
 posed to any slate system of Common School Edu- 
 cation — who are therefore opposed to all taxes or as- 
 sessments for tlic support of Common Schools, and who 
 advocate leaving the education of the people to private 
 voluntary efforl. 
 
 Now, to have n system of Common Schools in 
 harmony with our institutions, and yield to any one 
 class of these objectors, is out of Ihe question ; but 
 they, in connexion with other persons actuated by 
 mere personal or party feeling, have opposed e»'ery 
 step wdiich has been adopted to establish and mature the 
 present Common School system. With how little 
 success, and what a small and insignificant portion of 
 the community all these classes constitute, Iho foregoing 
 references, and Ihc statistics of my Annual Report, 
 (for 1847,) allbrd ample evidence. 
 
 I have adverted to these facts and made these refe- 
 rences, in order ihal the Government may have every 
 iiiforni.illon as lo the character of the opposition lo the 
 School Law and the extent lo which it has received 
 the support of llie counlry. The fact that o|ipusitiun to 
 it has diminished and disappeared just in proportion as 
 il has biHonie i.ndi rstood and been practically intro- 
 duced in dilVerinl Districts, is a sulTicient justification 
 of its provivions, and a sufTiciunt refutation of the 
 v.ujuc allacks thai still linger in two or three solitary 
 , newspapers uut of the whole press of Upper Cinada, 
 
 Tht proposetl rtraft of School Bill, connialing of 
 Fourteen Sections. 
 I now proieed to explain Ihe grounds on which I 
 submit to the favorable consideration of the Governor 
 Genera' in Co .ncil the few provisions which are con- 
 liiiiied in the annexed Draft of School Mill ; in which 
 I do liol propo-e any lliing which will reipiire ibo 
 change of a single existing form or regulation ; hut 
 oiilv to provide for wants which ihc progress of the 
 system has ciealed ; and lo supply defects wliicli I have 
 repeali dly poinled out in ihe existing law. I beg also 
 111 remark that I have consulted three inlelliijent and 
 praclica! Kdiicalionisls (William Ilutton, Esijuirc, 
 Superintendent of Schools in the Victoria District, D. 
 D'Kvcranh", Ksipiirc, Superintendent of Sclnwls in 
 
 • For anawor to do' olij-rliun thst ttip City and Town 8cbo<iI 
 |i Art piTmitii Ihu cNlaliHshiiicnt of f/rnofliiniinena/ SchiMits, wf th« 
 ,; tliinl iiiiHeflliiiii'eiii iili&iTvation ill the c<>iu'tusiou uf my siiiuinl 
 Il lliii.irt fer 1S47, ji«g«' 83. 
 
I \ 
 
 ihe Nianrii DiKlricI, «nil A. K. Scholfirlil, RM|iiirc, 
 •n expcricnceii Councillxr and uxnclunua ActiiiK 8u- 
 
 E>riiil«nd('nl in ih* nine DiNtriri,) nn ihr Dr.ifl of 
 ill whit-h I brrtwilh nubntit, bihI lliey fully «-iiihui 
 wilh roe In ine exiwdirncy of ii( |)r»vi»i»iw, iiml ilial 
 changes in ihe |)rovi«iun» of the exisling Sil»i<<l Law 
 ^ouMbe altendid wiihttrrat incniivi'iiivni v and injury 
 to iha initraal* of Comiiion ScknoU. 
 
 Fir$t Stctim. Th« oliecl <'f the fint Scrlion of 
 (he acciimpanying D;uft of BiU i» to give BoanU of 
 TruMeck in Cilic* aad Towiih tli« stmv pnwiT t<> nn- 
 pua» and collect ratv-bilU which the law conftT* upon 
 TruMM* uf CwnOHMi .ichuoU in ibe rural dixUicla. 
 ll i* known (bat lh>> only mcana provideil liy IO(h and 
 I llh Vi( (oriu, chaplaf 19, lo raiM ihc aalarics i4 'IVarh- 
 «ra in Ciliva and Town*, i* by ai«i>w<ui«ni iin|M>««<l by 
 Ike CuunciU oc Boanlsnf l'«liit> — MTuriiig to all rlili- 
 lirrQ ofSchixd aga the privilrgr auU righi of uilvatllDK 
 
 will (hen be iho name diicivliuii in Cilivs and 
 Towni tu adopt either the Free Schiad, or the IUle> 
 bill Sy^lt■ll> as now cxikls in Disiriils ; ami kIniuIiI the 
 Firdt Stulion of the annexed Draft of Hill btcome 
 law, in coiinexioD wilh ilie exiting Act ; every Cily 
 and Town ran rtlablisli wImI kind of Schools they 
 may think prop<'r and support Ihem in any way the* 
 please— the law only |>ruviding Ihoae giiania whiun 
 are essential to a Public Sy^lem n<° EiaoaeDlary In- 
 siruilion. 
 
 The A>eroii'<5lrcfion of the annexed Draft of Hill pro- 
 |M>M>s to give all Tri:>lt'i-» of CoiiitntMiSrhools power U"^ 
 do what I soukIiI to gp< them ein|H)wered lo di> vheo 
 I Mibiiiitteil, (on ihe 3id March, 184(1.) the original 
 Driifiof the Ait.flth Viclnri i, Chi iter i \ IntheiixfA 
 Chiuse of the Tioenlif-Kixlk Sei-lion of the original 
 Draft ol that A«i. 1 |>r.>|»(ised to i-n>|>i>wer Trwtecs, if 
 lhi» thouijlil it pxpj-dirnl, Ml" (BUM the rale-hill to 
 
 Stbool without any fuiiher bur.len or hiiidcri.ii. c ..f i '>♦• nnule on all ih- iiilialiiiann of ili.ir S. Ii.h.I Sertion 
 
 n I cording to tlii< val'iation of |iri)pcily, as expressed iit 
 ihi' Tounship AsM'SMirN Itoll, wl.r >liall all>>w any 
 niie of the T:u>ice», IT ih' if Nnihorlxt'd (■ollcclor of 
 enrh Schiiol Sev'tion in his Township, lo make a ropy 
 of 'iich Koll so fiir iis it rvlali-s lo such School Sertimi 
 n ^lM'(•llT^ly." I hii»f U-en rrpeiilcdly o^ured in 
 viiriouii DiKlricts thai bod this Clani-e Uromu law, 
 gn'»l innHiri nirncr-i to Tiiisiecii, and great hindfiinres 
 lo the I'Oicii-ncy of thr Scliiads and the aticndance of 
 rliiUlmi,wo<dd havi- U'en prevenied. The Second Src- 
 lion of the aniii'Xod Dr.ifi olBill (iropiisP!! to in»^^t Trus- 
 tfi'" wilh ihisdi'rri'tiiHinry power. Sbnulil il hi'coino 
 law, Tnislees will have Ihe opiini if (lur dilPrrrDt 
 inrihods nf rHi>ii'n ihe salary of ihcir Ti-acbir — namely, 
 liv votiiiii.irt >ul'M'ii|>tioii, — liy Rali'-liillonparenlMM nd- 
 inc children to the School,— by imiHwing a Rate-liill 
 
 rale-bills. The aitendaiH-e of pupils hi the Conininn ' 
 .ScliooU in tbo several Ciiies ami Town.< in Up|ier 
 Cniuida, kiiM'e the iuli>Hluciion of ibis Act, is from »nr- 
 ibird lo oue-half mure than i*. wat biforu ; but nolwilh- 
 stantliae this incrva>e of pupils in the Cosiinnn Schools 
 of the City of Toronto (as well .is in udic Cilii-s iiiiil 
 Towns) iluriog ihv tinl-lMilf of the current yc..r, the 
 Couii'iil bas cloeed the School^ — refising to provide 
 lor iheir support uimn tbo principle of Kreo 8<:hooU 
 during ibe second-naif of the year. I am not uwari' 
 of any other inslance of a Cily or Town Council i>r 
 Board of Police in Upper Caiiatbi having ailnpieilsiicb 
 a course. 
 
 Though I am convinced of the equity, the patriot- 
 iam, and ike great ini|)iirlance of the Free S«'hiHil Sys- ^ ... 
 
 •em, and am perfectly salisAml that it will ulhiiiaivly I on hII ibcir roiisliltt.'iils acrordiig to properly,— or by 
 obtain ia all oar Cilies, Town*, and Dislricis j yet I | nnplyiiig lo ih<'ir Conni il to do f». I < imnot mm any 
 have not desireil other than its tmhitUary introdu'cii 'n | olij.rlion to giving »iich ilisi iclion. Tlie IksI meihoil 
 in any District, City or Town. On referiing to my f of supixirliiig ihe Si hixds Will iiliimiilcly obtain, and 
 communicLiion lo the Pruvinrial Secretary of March | oil others will Iw alhindonid. But if you atlempl to 
 t7lk, 1847, enckiaiag ihe ori/finul Draft of the Act f force e>in ihe Ixst niclhod upon any 8> luKd division, 
 lOlh a»l lilh Victoria, Chapter 19, il will he tiiuml '' . .. i 
 
 that I pni|MaK4 iuvosliBg iho Buanls of Tiustees lor 
 CilVs and lnr.or|»>raled Towns with Ihe saimi power 
 
 rhich I profMwe in the accompanying Draft of Rill 
 that each Council or Boaril of Police miglit exercis<- 
 its own discretion as lo raising a part or the whole of 
 the Tenchers' salaries by asses^menl, and having a 
 part or none to be raised hy rate lull iinpo«eil by the 
 Trustees on the parents of children alteniling Sriiool. 
 In the Min/ Clause of the ,/l/fik Section of that oritinal I: 
 DmO of Blil, il was pro|MMed lo cmjMiwer the Hoaril | 
 »( TruMeea, amongst laher t lings, " /</ im/insf any j 
 additional Rale-biU which thnj m'lyjud/f* txpnlirnl j 
 for paying Iht tahrie* of School Ttoch*r», forfiir- \ 
 niihing the School or Srhool$ under Ihrir chnrgr \ 
 with tuital>le npparolui and btmka, and for rrpnir- j 
 img, and wamnntf, and Aee/iwi^ in ontef the School 'I 
 iouw or Schotil lioH»t* in thtir pomieejiiiin, and lo " 
 mnftoy the nect$»ary meant/or cnlltcling /Ae sniiir. " . 
 But the Atlornry General beitiK impressed wnh my- f 
 self of the im|ioriaiicc of ihe Freu ScIuhiI Svik-m, i.iiil j! 
 being of opinion, that as the Kixhih Sicimi'. of the l' 
 Bill invested the Council or Bitanl of Police of each 
 City and Town wilh power to il<i the same ihiii^, il 
 W>is itot desirable to invest the nminl of Troslees Willi 
 like |N>wer ; and the ckiuso ahuve 
 
 voii excite prejiiiliei! and rouse renislanee against il, 
 anil do miM-e harm than gooil. Voii likewise eiMl.»ri«.v» 
 a!iil diseikKfage the adojilion of the tiest ineaos of sup- 
 jMirt'ng Schools wlien vou iiiipo^ olMiach * in ihe way 
 id" their attainment. This is llio ras«r when Triisleoa 
 are preveBl il fr^n ndopling the free a^tnh of su|>. 
 jHirling their Sclnsil wilhoHt (ip/ifying lu the hittrict 
 Council for a sjieri. I as«<wtnenl tor thai piir|m«u. 
 Making surh »p|i|icHlioiis is iilteniloil with n i;<nnI ileal 
 of trouble and ililay, iiiiil vimi litiats ili^aiiiMiintmi nt ; 
 for il siii|(!e selfish individual, xvho iii.iy ha|'|H-ii lu be it 
 p.iily friend and sup|iorler of ilui Towirship ('luinoiiior, 
 inn often iltf' at, in llie District Cuuiiril, the applicn* 
 lion and iirrangetiienls of any iiirjioriiliiui of rvs|<onsible 
 'rru»tees in lii> Township. I'his h.is been ulrcady ilouu 
 in several instiinces ;n diirri til l)l^lri^l► ; iiud Ti usIwh^ 
 siHiiier lliun ilirnr so niurli Iroubluaiiil ilillii'ullv, havH 
 allowed their .Stliisils lo drug on in ihe old wuv. If a 
 C'oiiiKiJ lonsisiiiiK ii(" one or two eleelid (.'omaillor* 
 friKi) est h Towi-ship, i an impose usH'.sjineiit . n|Min Ihu 
 whole Dislrii t (or iliv Dislriet |iur)»iM-, willioul lliu 
 iiiler|ii>silii.ii of the ProvitM'iul Legisliiliire, I m-f no| 
 why three tiecloil Tiii" s for vmU Siliisd Srelioik 
 'hoiilil not Im- iiivesleil wnli jsiwer to iiii|i|sirl Hie Stlesd 
 of ihe r own Sei lioi in llieir own way ,wiiIkiiiI tint 
 
 jiower ; and the ckiuso ahuve ipaueil, w.is allereil i, interiMwiinui of ihe Dislrici ('oniieil Thu inajoniy 
 as fulloWi^-(as il exists in liie (trinieil .\el,) " to '; of ihv .^clesil eletlors in h .SiIhsiI Seelion, will rlui | 
 
 Trnstt'us wlifi will irfrry into ell«tj| llieir own wishes 
 as to tlic mode of snp^airting then Sriiisil. Thus pub- 
 lie opinion ID eai h Selusil Seetioii will ijireclly ojH-rdte 
 on the interests of thu Sell nd i and tlie voiy ilisi'iissiou 
 of such i|Uestiiin> III |Im.< |M'oplii ill euih SoleMil iHviuull 
 Will teiul M wukeii iilleiilioii lo ihu ititjHM'laiH.e uf 
 Coniiiiun Silasil Kiiuialion, an.l protiiote its eKleiisiun. 
 Then, on ihv other hand, no evil or iiicoovenieiiie ctit 
 
 freparefiom timi to time, and lay hrfure Ihe Cor- .^ 
 porotum of mrk City or Town, nn niimaif of 
 the sum or sums which they mny deem expdicnt for 
 paying the salarie* of Srhoid Ta.ohers," Ihc. dc I 
 Kgrel exceoilingly llie alteitition in this Cli isv of the 
 original Draft lif the City ami Town Sihool Acl ; ami 
 I propose by the l*irtt fkction of llie anm-xed Draft of 
 Bill lo restore viriually the orijiual Clause. Tliero 
 
■• and 
 
 itNia. 
 M<l the 
 
 ariw from leaving to (he MunicipHi Council iig ptewnl 
 power M to ncparale Si-lioitl Suction a»f>Mni'nl, »» it 
 will never be exerciHcl unlfu desired by Trudvcs 
 Ibemaelveii. It will be ubwrv?d iIihI I do not propow 
 to eive Truiitees power to inipuae Riite'billi for the 
 building of Sehool-housa, or the punharing of 
 School premlseii. These belong to the Covuieil ; and 
 to (he Council alone, therefore, Is confided the power 
 of providing the meana of procuring or rrii-liDg tnem. 
 
 On the evils of the present Rate-bill system, arising 
 from the insufficient powers of Trustees, I need not 
 here r»mark. They are evils which I have, from tlie 
 beginning, sousht 4o remedy ; and fur convenient re- 
 ference, should any Member of the Government wish 
 to a>cerlain Iho charHclor and extent of these evils, I 
 subjoin in the A|)|iviidix, Nos. 6 anil 7, my remarks ac- 
 companying theformer Draftj of Bills. The too limited 
 powers "f Trustees (o provldn fur the necessary rviiairs 
 and furniture of School-housos and salaries of Teachers, 
 has occasioned more dissatisfaction and embarrassment 
 in the operHtiuns nf the School system than any other 
 subject wliatcver. I refer to tlie documents Nos. 6 
 and 7 in the Appendix for a full view of 'be ineffi- 
 ciency and injustice to Trustees of llie present system. 
 
 Thu Third S*clion of the accompanying Draft of 
 Bill proposes to enable Trustees to pn>vi(le the necessary 
 texl-bo(iksandap|Niralus requisite for their School. It is 
 found that the fourth aitdfytft clauras of the Tiotnty- 
 atvntl'i Section of the Common School Act is not 
 suflii ly full and explicit on this point. Thu power 
 I hero ro|iosc to ^ivo Trustees u (wsscsscd by ull 
 TruMees and StIkn)! Committees in the neighbouring 
 Status. The Itnlh clause of the Twtnty-Kventh .Sec- 
 tion of the Act em|>owers Trustees to select the books 
 for their Schwil ; but if they are not cmpoweretl to 
 procure them t' •'. any parent, who may refuse to do 
 M), can defeat thu uject contemplated by the selection 
 of an uniform scrici of lext-bonks, and prevent the 
 classification of pupils in the Si hool. The obvious 
 necessity and importance of the proposed Section will 
 su|ierseiie the necevsily of any further rcnnarks upon 
 it. It will be seen that this Section lias no reference 
 to Scli(H)l Lihraritf, but only to hook* and aj.parotua 
 "for th* vie of pupil$ in ihe School." 
 
 The Fourth Section priipii.«os to provide for Ihe 
 ndmission of pupils nver sixteen years of nge to the 
 Common Schools, u|)on the same terms and under the 
 same regulations as children of legal scliool age. The 
 law defines the Kchiiol ago to bu from 5 to IG years, i 
 Tlio law of the State of \cw York diK-s the same ; [ 
 mill inch a definition anil limitation arc re(|ui>ile where 
 S4'lioi>l population is miiilo the biisis of distributing the 
 Srhmil Fund. But I think no such limitation is re- 
 quired as '.> the attenttance of pupils at the School. 
 .Sliich Inconvcnicnee and m.iiiy disputes have arisen 
 from the limitalinn of the law as it now stands. M is 
 justly said that if ^ farmer docs not teach his sims to 
 work on the farm liefore they are sixteen years of age, 
 they will become averse to woik, and never make 
 good fanners. Itui children cannot acipiirc a proper 
 vilucalion before tliey arc sixteen years of age without 
 constant attendance at ScIkkiI. There isaUo compara- 
 tively little for many farmers' sonr to do in the winter, 
 especially since the introduction of ihreMiing and other 
 labour-saving machines ; so that not a few farmers' 
 sons got the greater part of thu education by going to 
 school in winter after they are sixteen years of age. 
 It appears to mu inexpedient, as well as injurious, to 
 throw obstacles in thu way of young |)ersons attending 
 the Common Schools as long as they please. I think 
 that facilities »houl<l rather be airorded them for doing 
 so. I h-tve had many rripiesls to get the law amended 
 in this rcs|iect. 
 
 The Fi/lh Stclion of the annextd Draft of Bill is 
 intended to snure to the iiihabilams of each School 
 Section full iiifurmalion anouslly reapflcling all their 
 School aflairs, iis well as an aocnunt of the expendi- 
 ture of their Scl«x>l moneys. At (he present time 
 there is no wa/ of making Trustees account for the 
 ScImioI moneys of the Section . or of enabling them to 
 vindicate ihemselvet from unjust accusations. Com- 
 plaints have been nMda to thu Office oi Trustees 
 misapplying moneys which had bean raised for tha 
 building or repairs of School houses. It has been said 
 that Trustees have assumed the work of building or 
 repairing a School house, and then paid themselves 
 extravagantly tor so doing. The law of the State of 
 of New York requires Trustees to account to 
 their »ueeettor», end auihorixes such successors to 
 prosecute their predecessors fof School moneys not 
 accounted for. But this supposes changes in the persons 
 of Trustees, and appears to me to be attended with great 
 delays and inconveniences. I think the method pro- 
 posed in the Fifth Section of the annexed Draft of 
 Uill will be found simple, efficient, and popular, llie 
 proposed mode oi having the Trusieea' Annual Report 
 read at the Annual School meeting obtains in the Slate 
 of Massachusetts with the happiest effects. And if 
 Trustees are improperly accused by any individual 
 respecting their mode of expending School moneys, 
 they can request the annual meeting to appoint a 
 person, in connexion with one of their own selection, 
 to examine their accounts. Such an txpott of all the 
 financial and statistical affiiirsof each School Section 
 at the annual meeting, cannot fail to give additional 
 imjiortance to such meeting, and be the r.ieans of 
 eliciting and diffusing much useful information, and 
 exciting much additional interest, on the subject of 
 Common Schools. Thus, in connexion with the in- 
 creased powers of TruHees in respect to financial mat- 
 tehi, it is proposed lo aSbrd increased facilities for 
 securing to their constituents an annual account of 
 llic exercise of those powers. 
 
 In the Sixth Section of the annexed Draft of Bill, 
 it is proposed to guard against false reports and false 
 returns. As the School Fund is distributed to ti^p 
 several School Sections in proportion to School popu- 
 lation or School attendance, there is a pecuniary 
 temptation for Trustees and Teachera to exaggerate 
 in their reports or returns. By the School Law of Ihe 
 Stale of New York the penalty for any such false 
 report or false return is fS6, and punishment for 
 misdemeanor. There, also, every report and every 
 return ui.d account, must be verified on oath before a 
 Magistrate. But I do not like such multiplication of 
 oaths ; nor do I ihiiik it is an efficient remedy for the 
 <!vil — which I fear is not an imaginary one. Besides 
 it would be exceedingly troublesome fur Trustees lo go 
 before a Magistrate to certify on oath every School 
 Report or arcoiiiit which thuy might transmit lo the 
 District Superintendent or Council. I think the pro- 
 {Kised remedy will be sufficient ; and as any person 
 can complain in case of such false report or return, the 
 inhabitants of neighbouring Sections will be a check 
 u|HM) each other in res|iect to exaggerated returns.— 
 Thus much in relation to Trustees. 
 
 In the Seventh, Eighth, ffinth, and Tenth Sections 
 of the annexed Draft of Bill, I propose lo give some 
 additional powers to Ditlrict CounciU, 
 
 The Seventh Section proposes to authorise the 
 apiMiiniment of a second Superintendent of Common 
 Schools in any District in which there arn more than 
 ISO Schools, A similar provision in respect to Coun- 
 ties was incorporated into Ihn School Law of the Slate 
 of New York in IS44. I proposed the same Section 
 in the original Draft of last year's School Bill. It 
 |)assed the House of Assembly, but was inconsiderately 
 
$ 
 
 I 
 
 li 
 
 omiUeci by Itw Lagialative Council. In Uilh the ITuine 
 Mil Limdun DiMricU, only twolhirdt <>r the ScbtMiU 
 ware viMtad duriofc ibe Uit ytar ; nnil I lixve hcRrd 
 uf ScbooU in (he Home Diitricl whicli hiivc mil U'vti 
 viuUMi by ibe District Su|ieriiilrntl»)nl Tor two years. 
 Thv rcaauB uiigned it, that the District it li:» l«rp< 
 fo( one man lo visit all the Schuul>, anil attenil lo tiu' 
 other ilu'jeaora Dittrii-t Superintendent. In the State 
 of Now York, a Summer and Winter vi»iiRtit>n of the 
 Schools it reiiuired, and a re|M>rt of each. I do not 
 prn|ipa« lo make it imperative u|ioii a District Ctnincil 
 to appoint a lecond IJitlriit SuperinlendenI in llx' 
 eaaet referred lu, but lo invctt it with diacreliuiuiry 
 power to do to. 
 
 The Eiglith Ste^to* providet for what I hare inti- 
 mated in my Annual Re|>ori, under llio liciiil uf 
 " Certificates of i|iialifioatiunt to School Temher*," is 
 a desideratum in (he Scho<d Low — an tniiforin iind : 
 efficient method «f examining; and clamirying Teacher*. ' 
 Formerly CertiArale* of qualiAcatinn were given by i' 
 both Dinlrict and Township Su|>orinlend«'nls. On dniiiR 
 away with the office of Township Superinlemleiil.ii did j. 
 not appear desirable lo ptace the Manding of all the 
 Teacnert incach Dialricl in the liandxnfa single indivi- ; 
 dual — the District Snperinlendcnt — whosometiines hmi ', 
 differences with them on financial groumlt ; nnd it j: 
 would alto appear a great inconvenience lo Teitcher«. ' 
 It was therefore proposed lo authorise any two Schixil :, 
 Visiinrs to give ■ »p.*i*l certificate to n Teacher for ': 
 one School and for one year. But I »t»le<l Ihiil this ' 
 •rrangement was but a tranaili«n-slep from an itM'ffiiient >■ 
 ' and iHiM'tive system to a better one, which I should pn>- ' 
 po^e as soon as ihe work of Common ScIuniIii would gel ': 
 a little more advanced. In various Dintricis iluring my i 
 (our twelve months since, I staled lhe<e viewn nnd i 
 indicated the plan which is emlmdied in lh«> Kighlli | 
 Section — namely, (he appointment of a H<wrd of Kx^tm- I 
 iners by each District Council, the Pisirict Superiiiien- 
 denl being Chairman and convener. My Annu.il Ri'|v<iti 
 shows thai, comparatively, n very Fmnll niimhcr of 
 Teach"*™ gel certificates of qualiticiiliiin» fr<im Visitors 
 —a fact which can note be adduced to show (In- imx- ' 
 pedieucy of continuing ihe prMclice. Thr ppipused 
 plan will relievo the Diitrii t Sn])eriiileiidenl ftum 
 much |)crsonal respon»ibilily, nnd prevint ci riifiiitles 
 from being given, as is often die case, u|uin Ihe jjrunnd }i 
 nfpilylo the applicant who Itegs Inr it iis the only 
 means of sub<i>lence. It will he a i;rent s^ivin^ o( 
 time to the Dislrict Su|>erinten(U'ni, ns lie will linvo In 
 devole uidy four or eight days in a yeiir l<> rxaininini; 
 and giving certilicatrK of <|ualificaliiin< lo Te.ichers ; 
 whereas now he is liable to be called ufHiii every weik ' 
 day in a year by individual candidati's fill tliul |ii.r|N>si'. [ 
 And wiine Superintendents in lar^re Disiriris assign |i 
 this fuel aia reason fiir not visiting the ScIhkiIs in^re — ' 
 tiio'igh I have advised that public iiotiie should be given | 
 1/ *he Dislrict Superinlendeiit, ihal only on cirt«iii ; 
 divs of each iwinlh he would ^e at liome lo examine ■ 
 and pay Teachers. The pr<>|HHH'd plan rvill have n ; 
 salutary influence u|)on Teiuher*, and proinpi lliein to j 
 improvement — when lliey have to meet u|Hin n iiMiiinnn 1 
 ground and in one place wllh olhers, nnd lie judj^.^'d ' 
 according In their merits by a i mnmon standard. Ii , 
 will alto afford the means of carrying into lienefi< in) 
 Oficration the Forty-/ir»l .Secliim of tin. riunnion 
 Schritd Act, which reijuires llie llirec-fold (lassific ali'ii f 
 of Teachers accurilinij In n I'nigr.inm.e wliidi »liall j 
 
 be pre|i«red hy d— Kii|>erintendeiit nf Schisils with tlic 
 
 confurrtncc of It..! Board .if Kdu'aiiMn and under the j |.«w» with wlii 
 
 tanclioo of the Governor Ge- t. i in Council. Such | ,„j^ ijn. l,,,-,,] s. 
 
 • Programme for tin Examinaliou and Clak«irtc»ii..n ' ,„ well *> i! v Siaii or N.niomd Fiin.l to itu 
 
 of Teachers I shall bo prei«red lo s.iliitiil on the I Muultipal I.Nalilies, I li. siialed In pr.ip..,ii,j- unv oil,et 
 
 Eighth Soclimiof Ihe annexed Draft of Bill U-cnmitiK f ,|„„| williln a (ew month. »iiae, wh. n I reielied the 
 
 law lii accirdsnce with such a rrogramtne, firM- | |,„t Annual Hepor! of the M.i-.a. hii ells H.iatd of 
 
 rat* Te«:hers would occupy tlieir proper place of| E I ,tatl..i,. In wl.l.h I fiml the dis butli.n of i|,q 
 
 dislincliun, and Ihe profession would be gradually sifted 
 of incuiii|teleut meinburs, nnd he elevated in character, 
 resiivclabilily, and elTiciency — liedunliig both a means 
 and indication of the advancrmont «f su-lely. The 
 propoaeil Section allows n whole year for carrying this 
 nnjiurlant imurovenieni inlu elTecl in each District, 
 afler the ap|Miinlnivnt of the Board of Exaniiners. 
 
 The Ninth Section, — authorising each District 
 Council to establish one or more Schiads for the 
 children of coloured jieoph'— is suhmltled w^lh extreme 
 pain nnd regret. I had hoped Ihiit Ihe Act authoriiiiig 
 dllTerent kinds of S«ho«ls in Cities and Incorporated 
 Towns would, lo a great extent, meet the case of this 
 class of our fellow-sulijects ; but 1 was surprisvil to 
 find, during inv lour Inst nuluinii lo the Western Dis- 
 Irlct, (whcic iheie is a large niinihcr of coloiin il 
 |ieoplc,) there was not a single one in any of the fn- 
 ciirimniled Torvns. Tin se jM'ople are taxed liir Iho 
 , siip|Mirt of Common ScIhmiIs ;is ate others; y« t are 
 \ their children excluJed fioin the Schools. I have 
 exerted all the power ihiit I pi)ssess4'il, and einidoyed 
 all ihe (MTSiiaiiioii ! could coiniii.ind, tint llie prrjiidics 
 and fi'eling'* of the people ,ire slioiiijiT lluin law. In 
 the Western I)isiiitl ihero happened lohe neatly JC2(X) 
 lialatiei's of ScliiKiI moneys of jneviiHis years in llio 
 liiinds of llie DislricI Su|ierinleiidrnl ; and iiinli r lliu 
 '•] aulliorlly of the 13th Seciion, chiiisi' 9, I'f !!ie Schiad 
 Act, I re(|uesleil the Dislrii i Siipi rime, dent lo aid tlio 
 ; Schools of the coloured p<Mipln according lo liieir 
 ' population, so as lo place ihein on an eijual fooling 
 villi llicir white neiuldsiur.'^. I have done the sane 
 in other Disliicis wiieii appi uled lo. But lliis is a 
 conliiigcnl anil im|M'rfecl nioiU' of doing ju.^lice t.i tlio 
 coloured (leoph-. I therefore proiuisc the NInlli Sec- 
 tion of llie anni XI d Draft of Bill lo mei I Ihiir ca.se. 
 
 The Tenth Sfrtion pro|iose» lo invest, in explicit 
 terms, each District ('oiincil wllh (Hiwer to decid.- ils 
 to the site* of ScIiimiI hoiise*. In cases of coniplHinl or 
 a|i|K'al lo this Onice ri'lalive to sites of Scliool houses, 
 I have it' arialily referreil tli'Mi to the Dislrici Connril 
 witliili lie jurisdiction of which llie parties eoueemed 
 re»ided-sl;iliiigniy liclieflhai the roiiiuil wns lhe|Hoper 
 Irihuiml lo decide mi »ucli case.*. Npverlhiles>, as 
 ihe Act is n it explicit on this |Miinl, I pro;.tts<' iho 
 Tilllh Sei-lioii. 
 
 i The Kleveiiilt Sec'ion pro|io»rs the t< [uniI of ihe 
 cinnseof the Common Sdesil .\el wliii h prolijliiis ifie 
 
 . giviiu: ('I'ltllieales ol' i|iiallfu "I ion lo iitiins. I have 
 In my Sjiecinl Re(siil of June, |sn, iiiliu.ati d uiv 
 doubt :is lo the nerntsily or U'liefiilal operaliou of tlii.s 
 ilause of tlio .\ct. From wli .1 I I. a:ni d duiiim my. 
 lour last aul .mil, I lielleie llie elTeii < I il.i^ clause Is 
 injurious. Il has, in luanv IiisImikis pi'eveiited the 
 iinployineni of giKnl Toacliers, mil lecessilaled llw 
 eiiiployiiienl of very infi rior oiks. In in st i a-c it 
 is of n I consequence ; and in the c a«es where il is of 
 practical inipoilaiut', I think ilie mailer may Im! ^a^ely 
 !efl lo die IiK'al Srlnsd aulliorilles. This is tin. oulv 
 repeat Ijecnou wmuIi I li.i\e i > piop.'ve 
 
 The Twelfth Si'ction f ro|M>«e» i>ivltig a discrelion- 
 nr» |iowii fir the di'lrliullon of the .Si hmd Fund in 
 • ai II I)i-lriil lo llie several Scho.ils ariordiiii; li> 
 atlind'iiiir, instead of rronliii^' to Si liiml popolation. 
 'I ill' Balli isl Dislriii Couiii'd has slroii:>lv .oliiHaled 
 atlintUince as ihe h.isis of di^ll• hnlii!; ihe D. strict 
 Scliool Fund. .\s {xipulalioii wiitiin certain a^;. ^ has 
 liei n !ii\ari,ihlv ailopiid lu all the popular Sihoid 
 h I hcivi! iiiel, as the lia>.is of di^inliiil. 
 I liig the local SiIkkiI Fond of lach ('ouniv or Town 
 
 ' - •"•■" ■■ '=••• v.. ..„,.! t- I ,.: .1 ,,,^„[ 
 
\ly nitled 
 
 faraetet, 
 
 I tnvann 
 
 The 
 
 Ji»(ricl, 
 len. 
 
 lOimrjct 
 
 \l<>r Ilia 
 
 l">ri«ing 
 
 llXTHlCfl 
 
 1 "( (his 
 Iwil In 
 rn His. 
 |>'i>iirii| 
 
 JifiB fn- 
 
 Idir (lie 
 \' t lire 
 Jiiivo 
 
 ||'l"ti"il 
 
 . In 
 
 jcaoo 
 
 ill ilie 
 r I III! 
 
 I'llonl 
 ill llio 
 
 l/ii'ir 
 
 i>iitiii^ 
 
 >UII>e 
 i« H 
 tllC 
 
 School Fund rarommended to the Legislature w'rtli b 
 fiirce (>f urgiimont wliich, I think, rniinot be resisted. 
 I find expi'riencetl ixTions whom I have consulted i>f 
 the sume o|iiniiin. I find on exuminnlion, iIirI In mnny I 
 liirgii School S<-ctiun», tKe allendnnre uf iiii|iIIr \* oAen 
 not larger ihirn in amnll ones. DintriliMtiiig ihc School 
 Fund ncciirilln}; to atltndancc will therefore lie fiivor- 
 able lo aniHil Sections. I find also thni the atlrndnnrn 
 of |iii|iiU in new iind poor rural Sections iind 'I'owii- 
 ihiiK i^ Inrger In pro{iorllun to ll>u wlude School 
 popiilHlion, than in older Townships and Citiea or 
 Towns. The adoption of the proposcil principle of 
 distribution, will tliorpforc be fuvoriibln lo the ncwrr 
 nnd |HMircr Hcciinns of the <ountry. TIiIm is the resiill 
 of n most oxteniled ini|ui[y intotho Mntislirs of School 
 atlenilance ns iiimpHri'il with Sclioul jtopulation in 
 the Slate of Miissachusclls ; iinil llie Secretary of llie 
 Sinie llourd of Kducatioii concludes hi.s argument on 
 this point wilh the following iinpre.iMvu rcninrks : — 
 
 " It is most obvious, ihen, thai an ap|)orlionment of (ho 
 iiiciiinv of Ihe SiIhniI Funil, iiccMnlliig lo iho nverngu 
 iitleiidiini'c of chlldien ii|Hin llie Sclioul — taking llie 
 ineiin of iilti'udiince for boili Siiniim'r nnd Winter 
 ScImhiIs — Would condure greiilly to the licnelit of lliu 
 ■niiiller, the more agricultunil, xnd the more sparsely 
 popiiliilod Towns. It would lli^l^illlllo llie bounty of 
 the St.ilu on llie principle of helping ihose who help 
 theniselves. It would confer the lieiietil of the incoinu 
 on the I hildreii who attend the public Schools, instead 
 of Ihjstnwing it in behalf of children who atloiid 
 Aciiilemies iind privnte Schools, nnd never enter I'uli- 
 lic ScliiHiU at hII ; aud thus it would give a pructicnl 
 an^^wir lo llie pertinent ipie.slioii why money should lie 
 given lo those who disilain to iim> it. And, lastly, it 
 would lie 11 new argument of great weight in many 
 minds in fnvor of u more uniform ntlenilnnie upon 
 3i hnol ; liecuusc, the detention from School of iiny 
 child who ought to be in it, would diminiitli the 'lown's 
 kliiire iif llie income, iind ilins inllict palpable injustice, 
 not only on ihe whsentee, but on all the other children 
 M the Town." 
 
 Till' Tliliieciilh Section prnpo-cs a sniiill provinlun 
 for comineiK'ing the eslabllKhinent of (,'iiinmon Sclimd 
 Libraries. I pro|iiise to ilo go on the same principle 
 nnd ill llie same manner willi that wliii li lins been so 
 extensively ain' so successfully adopted in llio neigh- 
 bciuriug States — except that the legulalions for this 
 piir|ii»o nre llure made by iho sole aulhority of the 
 Slate Su|ierinlenilenl of Schools, wliercis I propose 
 thai hfre su< li regiilntioiis-sliall liu sanclioned by iho 
 Governor (Jeneral in Council, 
 
 On llie importance of such a provision, I nerd not 
 sny n word. On lliis Section becumiiii; law, I sliall 
 soon Ih' pre|>nreil to submit a drnfi of ihi' tequisite 
 re!;ut'ilinns fur earrving it into cti' ct, anil also lo snj;- 
 gest nieans bv which n selection olKuiiabh' iHtoks inav 
 be made and proeiirrd fro u Kn'.;laiiil, and llie School 
 I.iliiaries uf llie Slaies of Massacliuselts and New 
 Yoik, iiiiil siiliiiiiileil lo llie coiisiileriiii<MI of llie Hoaril 
 ol Kdiicalioii, aiiil llieii the nioiles uf priHiiriig at the 
 luwesl priies, lor liny pati of Upper Canada, llie bonks 
 wliicli llie I'ouril iiiny san< lion f.ir C'oinmon Sclioid 
 l.dirniies. 
 
 The Fntirtcinth and lust Srctirm proposes to pro- 
 vicli' for llie holiliiig of Teachers' Inslilulis in the 
 se\'er.il Districls— leuilMirary a'-soeiatiiuis of Teaclu rs 
 wlili li have loiin lietn lirlil in (leriiiaiiv, and wliii li 
 have, cliMing llie l.isl lliree or four years, lietii iiil^o- 
 due I (I Willi great success in llie Stales of New Kiig- 
 laiid and New York At these assoi ialioov, ilaily 
 Lecuiris aie ileliverid hy persons pret ioiisly uppiiiiit- 
 eil, niiMles of inslrut lion explaim il and ex<'lii|>lilieil, 
 aiil the various means of iiiipiio ing llie lea< hilig, dis- 
 cipline, nnd elV.cieiiiy of the ScIiihiIs considered. I 
 
 pn)pn9e lh« (nme nipount to each District in which one 
 or more of the Inslitnles may be hold, as haa been 
 granted bv Iho Legislature or Massachusetts for each 
 fnstitule III that State. This aid is not authorized 
 unless "reasonnblo assurance" is gr\on that " a num- 
 ber not less than seventy Teachers of Common School* 
 will attend." But in our rules and regulations for 
 holiling these Institutes, the minimum number uf 
 Teachers promising to attend may be fixed at forty or 
 fiOv. Tlie Secretary of iho Massachusetts Board of 
 Eilucalion says : — " Our law restricts the expenditure 
 of each Inslitule to the sum of two huiulred dtdlars. 
 In some cnses where the place of meeting has Iwen 
 remote, and where, in addition to the cost of Teachers, 
 Lecturers, rooms, fuel, atlenilance, ai)d so forth, I have 
 been obliged lo procure some indisponstiblo apparatus, 
 the Bcliinl expense has exceeded the amount of 
 npproprintiim." The Mnswichusctts Board of Educa- 
 tion, in their Report foi I84C, remarks: — 
 
 ■' A most beneficinl ell'ect has resulted from the enact- 
 ment of the law of the Inst political year, providing 
 for iho eslnblisliment of Tenchcrs' Iiistitutc-s. The 
 great object nimcd nl whs, of course, the improvement 
 of Tencheis in qualilicntion for their work, nnd nil 
 which could ha\e been ex|ierted from Ihc iiistrnclion 
 of so limited n number of Tencliers, for go short a period 
 of time, has lieen fully accoinplished. lint lliey have 
 produced a slill more general etfect. The assemblage 
 of n large number of Teat hers in a single Town, for a 
 |)criod of ten ilnys, their assiduous ilevution to the 
 means (iruvided for their improvement in the art of 
 teaching, and the indueiice of those friends of |Hipular 
 educalion who have devoteil time and labour to the 
 in.strucliou of the Teachers assembled, have given an 
 iinpurlant impulse to the people of ihe res|icclivu Towns 
 where the Instilules were held, nnd made them zealouf 
 cuHtljiiturs in ihe work of education. 
 
 ' " In some <:nscs the full henefil of the new menus 
 of instruction wns ti<it realisifd by those for whoso im-' 
 prnvement the liberal approiirintiim wa.s made hy the 
 Legiiil.'ilure. This is the first year, during which 
 Teachers' Inslilutes have L.>eii held in Massachiisells, 
 under the patronage of the State ; nnd perhaps it was 
 not to be expected that the community should, nt once, 
 become acquainted with all the terms and conditions 
 on whii h they were established, nnd with the observan- 
 ces and regulations essential to their highest utility. 
 Rut all mistakes, arising iVoin the novelty of iho 
 institutions will iloublless be rectilied by lime and 
 further opportunities for iiifurnintion." 
 
 The Secretary ol that Board, in his Report for Inst 
 year, observes : — " Teaclieis' Institutes have now been 
 held in Massncliiisells for ihrec successive years, — 
 iheir expenses Imvo lieen defiayed, the fust ye,ir, by 
 the gift of one thousand dollars, made hy n well-known 
 friend of education ; and the last two yciirs, lij an ap- 
 propriation from the .Slate Treasiry. They are liiund 
 lo I'lillil iheir promises of nlilily. Tl ey are now held 
 not only in New York and New England, hut in all 
 parls of Ihe country where Common SvIumiI Educalion 
 is perceptibly advancing." 
 
 I hail prepared two more Sections — ihe one provid- 
 ing for llie piiynicnl of School moneys lo Ihe Distrii t 
 Treasurer insliad of llie District Siperinlendent, and 
 till' oilier providing for the collecting and paying of 
 DislricI Council ."^i hool assi-ssnienls after llie 1>1 of 
 .lamiary 1850, between the lir.sl of .Taiiunry and the 
 liisl of July of 1 mil year, and the payment of the 
 Li f^idalive firaiil on the l.'illi Deci'mlier, (the order 
 of providing lor llie Iwii parts of the School Fund 
 observed in llie Stale of New York, nnd which secures 
 the punclual |inMnenl of llie Si ho i| Fund lo Teachers, 
 and coni|ilileiie>s in llie liiinncint report and piiymenis 
 of each year,) hut, on consulting the gentlemen to 
 
 \ 
 
whom I have nf A "^•^^mi 
 
 School Uw in order lo «r.!i *"' P«>»i.ioni of ihe 
 
 ' '»"• the honor lo be 
 Sir, • 
 
 Vo«rm<»t„fcedl.„.8.r».m, 
 
 '^-H^jor.b.eJ.S'^;^ «.HVERSON. 
 
 ''*««'T^0f.h.p,„;i„^^ 
 
 
 • ■ ^'"N^ENTS OF APPENDIX. 
 
 "^ '■"si^iij:"-^' S"P.Ho..nde„. o, Co„.o„ ,,^^ ^ 
 
 ^0- 2-Po.er, or .He Su.c .„, Ch.r S • ""' "^""^ "' ^'■-•- 
 
 oo»,.re.. S-P-nn-e^... „, ^Coo,. ,„ .,. ,.„,^ 
 
 No. 3.-Bo.rt, of Eduction in diff '''^^ ^■""'» 
 
 IVoTinco, expounding .„h Sopennfendenf of School. f„ rr 
 
 •.-a-lcd 11:,, ^ii. of 0,c«B.ber. 18^6. 
 
r QiMdi, I 
 
 9 
 
 fos. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 !#' H< 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 [From the " Jimrnal of Education for Upper 
 CamJa,"— Volume 1, pp. 20-31.) 
 
 (I.) orricB or uistnict hdpbbintmoemt or 
 
 COMMOM •CUOOLt. 
 
 Tlic noccsalty nnd iraporlHriro of lliia nlBre hAii not 
 fi.r ;i moment Itocii (loublcil hy tlm fnunors of the Idil 
 Iwo Scliiiol Acl« fur U|)|H"r Ciinnda ; nor by any 
 pcrmin versed in iiy.«lem!i of public innlniction in any 
 counlry. It i» « maltor of iMurne in Great Britain, 
 France, nnti Germany. The office in Upper Canada 
 was borrowed frAm llie New-Yotk School system. 
 Tlie iiyslcm of Common Sch(H)l» in llie Stale of New- 
 Yoik was formerly conducted under the lociil super- 
 visinn of Town Commissioners nnd Ins[iecti>r» ; but 
 the sy.tteni proved most inefficient, until 1811, when 
 these local offices wore abolished ami the office of 
 County (idenliciil with our District) Superintendent 
 was crrnled. Dr. Potter, in his Prizu Essay, The 
 School and School-maettr, (pp. 262-3), oliservcs, — 
 " It was tu supply this lamentable deficiency on tliu 
 part of trustees, town inspectors, and parents, that 
 the offii:e of County SupcrinlenilenI was created. 
 The creation of this office seemed to be loudly callflil 
 for from all (larls of the Stale. Tho law is framed 
 nearly on the model of that which is considered the 
 best law for securing School in<ipoction that ihe world 
 has yet soi'n, [that of Holland;] and it is regarded 
 now, by tlie most eidightcncd friends of |Hipnlar inslruc- 
 tion throughout the counlty, and, I may add, lhruu){h- 
 out Ihi' worlil, as the one mciMurc, wiihoiil which 
 our system must have remained comparutively inert; 
 hut with which, it must, if pro|Mirly sustained, rise to 
 excel lince and cover itself with hotiour." But, during 
 the la^t few monllis, some (lersons in Up|)er Canada — 
 who have probably never investigated the subject — have 
 formed quite a (fureient opinion from Dr. Hotter and 
 his felbiw citiz«>ns. Of course, tlm utility of the 
 ollice de|>ends enlircly upon the ability and diligence 
 with which ii.s duties are di>cliarged. Where ihe 
 iiicuudR'nt of ihu offire is iucompi'tint or inadive, the 
 whcilesysleni within bis juriMliiliun(wiih some rare ex- 
 ceptions) will remain .••lalionary, or retrograde. lie is 
 (lie mainspring of the .sysli?m in bis Di»tricl. In illus- 
 tration of the iiiiporlaiicv of this office, and of the 
 great usefulness of whidi it is susceptible, it will bu 
 Aufficienl to quote Iwo paragraphs from Ihe Kepurt 
 (l>p. 17, 18, 10,) of the Superintendent of Common 
 Si liiHils for tho Stale of Now- York ill ISU — the first 
 paragraph dcMribing the cnmlilion and character of 
 tlifl Common Schools in lh.it Slate before the creiilion 
 of ihe office o| C'ounlv or District Superiutenileiil, nnd 
 the second showing tlie early results of the labours of 
 (hat office :■— 
 
 " Up to the year 1841. the oidy cbis.s of oflicers 
 whoso s|H>cial iluly it w.is to visit and itispect the 
 ftcliools, and III provi.le n siiilulilo body of teachers 
 for ihi'ir instruction, were the conuniisionerN and in- 
 N|».'ctors of Common Scliods. In what manner iheso 
 iiii|p«rlnnl and responsible duties were di.schargeil by 
 them, has already U'eii subinilted to ihu Legislature, 
 ill (irevious n-ports from this Department. Incom- 
 petent teachers were permillcd to lake charge of a 
 great nwjorUy of the Nchoota, under the official 
 sunciion of certificules of qunlification, granted fre- 
 
 quently wilhoiit »t\y previout knowledge of (heir 
 character or HtUinmenli ; and (he viaitillnni r«- 
 quired by law were seUoai, and in ■ nuijorily of 
 instance*, never made. Trualeea of diatrlcta con- 
 tented themselves with diicharging the duliri ipe- 
 cifically im|M>sed upon them by law ; and after 
 having cuiilraclcd with a teacher at Ihe lowest prices 
 they (ouM obtain, and made (he requiiilo arrange- 
 ments for continuing Ihe School for a length of time 
 ■ufficieiit lo enable ifauir district to secure its propor- 
 tionate share of public monc^, thoy rarely felt them- 
 selves called u|ion to investigate the condition of the 
 School ilscif ; and the inhabilanti of diatricte con- 
 ceived their duty discharged by sending their children, 
 when convenient, tu the School, and punctually 
 paying tlieir uuola of the (as list or rale bill, when 
 called upon (or that purpose. No op|)orluni(y was 
 alforded for coinjwring the condition of tho School 
 with that of others, near or remote ; and each 
 teacher, for the brief period, embraced in his con- 
 tract with the district, without supervision, encour- 
 agement, or advice, daily passed through a tedious 
 and monotonous routine of unintelligible, and conse- 
 quently, uninteresting exercises. After an interval 
 of three or four months, another teacher was em- 
 ployed, and ihe sumo process repeated, with such 
 varialions only ns resulted from the suhstitution of 
 one impracticablu inelhud of instruction for another. 
 The profession of the teacher became, too often nut 
 without cause, disreputable — the School-house a by- 
 I word of repulsion — and Ihe district School syno- 
 nymous with all that was vulgar, low, immoral, and 
 ! ilegrading. The repealed and concurring testimony 
 ' of indiviiluals nnd public officers, and the observa- 
 tion and exjierience of all wlio have had the means 
 j of knowing the condition of these schools, in the 
 \ greater portion of the districts of the State, will cor- 
 ! roborato tho truth o." Iho picture here reluctantly 
 drawn. That there has not been a gradual and 
 I sleaily improvement in their condition, notwithstand- 
 I ing the obstacles they have been compelled to en- 
 I counter, it would bu equally unjust and untrue to 
 I assert : but under ihu disadvantages inseparable 
 . from im almost total absence of public or private 
 ' sujiervision, that thorough and complete elementary 
 education, which it was Ihe policy and design of our 
 I system of public instruction lo secure to every child 
 I of the State, has been almost universally withheld. 
 ^ But we may congratulate ourselves -^[{s^n the acces- 
 1 sion of a new order of things, in relatiou tu the 
 . wui kings of our system." 
 
 ' " The reports of the several County Supcrinten- 
 
 , dents which arc hcrewilh transmitted, exhibit un 
 
 eipiivocal eviileiiie of efficit.it exertions on their 
 
 part, in Ihe performance of the responsible duties 
 
 , assigned ihcm by law, and by Ibc instructions of this 
 
 i Department. To llieir eflurts is to be Attributed, 
 
 to a very great extent, Ihe revolution in public sen- 
 
 timenl, by which iho District School, from being Ihe 
 
 object of goneiol aversion and reproach, begins to 
 
 I ullract the altcntion and regard of all. Tu their 
 
 enliglilened labours for the elevation and advance- 
 
 . ment of these elementary institutions, we owe it in a 
 
 , great measure, that new and improved modes of tcach- 
 
 I '"K> of government, and of discipline, have succeeded 
 
 I '.a a very large proportion of the districts, to those 
 
 I which have hitherto prevailed ; that a higher grade 
 
 ' of qualifications fur teachers has been almost uni- 
 
10 
 
 rtttMy rmuired ; thai paranli hav* bc«n iiiducrd 
 to Tjiiit ana lake an inleiesi in iha ScIhmiIi ; thai 
 privalt and wlcct Schooli havu Uren l« a cmiiiiiler- 
 able MienI diicounlcnancetl, and ihe viiliro uneigia* 
 iif llie inhabilanti n( ditlricli i-oncenlralrih un iho 
 Diitricl School ; and that iha im|N>riance, iha i'a|iH- 
 bilities, and exirndrd mean* uf uivfulncu of thew 
 nurioriet of knowledge and virtue, are lir|{iiining lo j 
 ba adequately apprecialoi in nearly arery irctionnriha 
 Stale. Colleclircly ronaidrred, iheie nfficera hare 
 well Tindicaled the ooiifidence reiMiaed in them by llie 
 lefialalura and iha people, and jiialilicd die Bnlici|ia- 
 liana of the frienda of e<luration." 
 
 No. i— {Continued.) 
 
 {From Ihe '^ Joumat of Education Jor Upper 
 Canada."— Volume I, pp. 159-IMi.) 
 
 (S.) DirilCVLTIBa AND aALABICa or DflTaiCT 
 aUPHIRTBNDBNT*. 
 
 In previous number* of ihii Journal we have re- 
 marked upon the dulies and responnibililiei of Di^lritl 
 Sn|)ehnlentlent» ; we will now make aoDie ob>ert a- 
 lions on their difficullie* and mlnrir*. 
 
 When the rare qualificulioiis appropriate to llii' iifTicu 
 of u District Superintendent are puiirlrayed, niiil wlien 
 the im|iortance and advantaxe of his allindiug with 
 sleepless vigilarice to each of his varied iliitifs is in- 
 sisted upon, il is just anil proper also lo t»ke inln mn- 
 aiduratiiin tho (fiflicullies of his kiluaiion, hi ' ilie 
 remuneration necessary to secure his reipiirvd and 
 rxpectml efficiency. 
 
 The mode of his appoinlmeni and tho leiinre »f his 
 oflSce are not unfreqiiently a source ami i)cciivi"n of 
 embarraument to a Ui'irict Su|N'riiilendi-nt. Iln is 
 appointed and hohls his oOire l>y lh<- S'lTragi'S of an 
 elective body ; and the |iers<ms at whose pleasure he 
 retains his office const itulc n portion of those ainonK 
 nliom he is to discharge his duties imparlially nnil en- 
 ergetically, arci>rdinK to the re^^ulation* proviileil liy 
 bw, " without fear, favour, or alfi'dion." It hn|i|>onH 
 sometimes that some of the Coumillors who ap|H>inl 
 the District Superintendent to olTice are Triisleci of 
 SrhooU, and parties in matters ri'sperting wliii h hi' is 
 called upon to decide. We have been informed of 
 in«lancpa in which a District .'luiicriiilendent hns been 
 threatened in regard boih to his salary iiml offire wiih 
 Ihe fullest exercise uf a Councillnr's opiHisiiinn iiiiil 
 influence, in case he (the Su|M>rinlendciil) slioiilil nut 
 sup|M>rl the claims or recumnieiidnlions ol^ such C'oun- 
 eiUor. We trust such instances are few ; hul it is very 
 natural that they shoulil, on Mniie (Ni-asimi^, oci ur 
 among three or four hundred (lersons, each >if wlioni 
 has a direct or indirect interest in s«mo Sclionl Sec- 
 lion. It has also hap|ieiied in seveial inslioires ilial 
 ihc coaslituenis of a Councillor (ihuse to wlumi lie is 
 under oblii^Hlioiie for liis elerlion, and tiy whose sup- 
 port lie hopes lu Im! elecleil ugiiiii) itivi'ki' liisjnu'i- 
 position with the Distrid Sii|HTiiitenilt'nt to uiiiiin 
 School money without futrilliiiK the cundilioiu of the 
 School law. Il is too niiicli to sup|H>S4' tliiil u Couii- 
 cillor should not in some insliiiires yield to ihi- soliri- 
 lalions of a constituent and iieigliLour rather ihnii l'> 
 Ihe requirements of the SchiHil lnw, es|ieriallv In ilie 
 infancy of the Scliiad .System. The Sii|ieriiili'tnlenl 
 is thus placed laMween olili)()iiions of ilul\ <>ii the one 
 side, and the wishes and iiifluiiice of one or niori. |H'r- 
 aons on whose votes his conlinnam e in oflire ami his 
 salary may de|H-nd. Ulher adininiMriilors of llie law 
 are accountable .0 tlie );o\ernnienl, whii h in lis imii 
 i» responsible to the country at large, ihrougli its |{<-- 
 preseiitAtrves in the l^'i{i»laliire ; hul Dislrirt Snpi - 
 llilendenis Untig eletted lo office by lo<»l eliclin 
 bodies, arc liable (o be uflucled by IihsI circumslimce*, 
 
 as well as ihoee hy whom they are chown. individual 
 prejuilice and sectional interest may soinuliincs coino 
 m contact with Ihu intent ions ol the Ligislalure, and 
 the requirements of Ihe law, anil the District Sujier- 
 inlenileni ailing in his judicial cajwcily of deciding 
 lielwoen parlies, or on questions iiff cling partic', finds 
 himself in a diflereni position fn<m thai of iht! District 
 Judge in the performance of kindred duties. 
 
 We advert lo this |ieruliiir and delicate |Misilion of 
 District Su|ierinlendenls, lo impress u|Hin all Coun- 
 cillors Ihe im|Kirlancu of insuring to each District 
 Su|N-rinlendenl ihal inlependencc of action which 
 every Kxeciilnr of the law shoidil |n>s44'ss in the |H'r- 
 formance of his official ilulirs — that ihe law is to Im 
 his guide even in matters in which their own pirsnmil 
 fei'lings uihI interests may Im> iiivolvi iI. A District 
 Sii|a'rintenilent, who, from his stimdiiig, qiMiliticalioiis, 
 aliilily, and exp'rieiu e, is hiokid up to liy the Council 
 as well Its hy (he iidnibil ils generally, will Ih' hi yond 
 the influence uf any piisonal or hx al iip|H>siiion. Hut 
 such fortuniile exaiiiplis — forliinato (or nil parlies — 
 are rather exceptil>n^, tliiin llie grnenil rule. It is ,.IU 
 im{H)rlanl, therefore, llnil ilie Distiict Councils, liiiv- 
 log made the best possilile stleclion fur the office of 
 District Su|>erinleiiilenl, should eliuble liiin lo feel lliiil 
 III' has noihing In livir as huig »s he performs his duties 
 efficiently acvoriling to law. 
 
 Hut Ihe most onerous part of a District Superin- 
 lendent's dulies is, lo visit the SiIkhiIs lliiough<"il his 
 District. He Clin prescrilio certain days or weeks of 
 certain months for the paymmt of tcarlieis and the 
 exaininalion of caniliilates ; but the visitation of ihe 
 schiKila IS literally the work of iho year. The excellent 
 art;, le in 'his numlier of our Jooriml, from the |a>n 
 of the llead-Miisler of the I'rorincial Nnrnuil Si IkkiI, 
 clearly slmws Isiih (he impoifanrr and the labour of 
 Sclionl-inspection ; and we ob 1 rve tluil several l)ls- 
 Iricl Councils have slrongly insisted upon it. The 
 fitigues, cxiMisiiris, iniluslry, and i|Uiilifiralions re- 
 quired in the |M'iforniance "1 ihis most essential purl of 
 a District .Sii|>eiinlendenl's ilnly — e-pii tally in new 
 Districts or sellleriinl.* — cannot Im' easily uppreiiuleit. 
 lie must be upon the mad, «'ilh n liorsi' or i ohm yani i- of 
 his own, during the cre.iler piirt of the venr. This 
 inviilv s no small item nf ex| eiisc — an expeii«e from 
 which nost piihllc officers are exempt, as iliev are not 
 com|«ll ••'. lo Iriivel. Pr'ihahly iiMie will ilouU 
 ihat a I islrict Su|H'rintinilii t's duties are inii' h inme 
 oneio IS lli.in iIiom' ..I a Disirirl Jmlgi ; nor will any 
 donlil that his iiDiie Is less linpori.ml, or iliat il 
 demands a lower order of varied ijiialllii ntioiis. Why 
 should, then, llie salarv of the one lie so ininli less 
 
 ' than llial of ill"' other? Ci-n il he sup|Hisn| that a 
 District SujU'rinlenilenl can lalmir Willi hi sit anil sa- 
 tisfaellon, with energy anil mn^laniy, l"r n remunera- 
 I inn little more I liimsiillli lent iMrhlslinr-e-hireanil travel- 
 ling ex|i<'nM' a reiniiiierallun less than that uf iiany 
 
 I |i-rl»s or h mk-ki' [wrs in a men haul'- simp ? Can 
 ("iiuni itliTs riasnnahlv ix(iii I nun h anil 1 IVn iinl ser- 
 vice from a Distiict Siiperlnli'iiih III, if iliey refiisit 
 him n salarv cipi.il to iha' of a siib'riliiialr writing 
 rh'rii i.'i mher pulil c iiirice< ' Il is gratifung to see 
 Ciuincillor'. alive lo the im|H>riance of rreip^eni and 
 lliriiugli s( li...il-vlsii,iti..ns on ilie part i.f Disimt Super- 
 inti'iiilinls ; I, ill llicv sIhmiUI Ih' eipially lilx'ral in 1 11- 
 ciiuraging iSiipi riiitenih nis to iln so hy showing how 
 highly liny value sii |i l.ilnpiirs. It i» ipiile unrcasnn- 
 alile lo Mip|M>s>' il at llie nffiie of Di^lrii I .'^iiiN'rinnn- 
 d< ul Will Ih .'lli'il hv iiiin iif proper qnulilii aiioiis and 
 ( hurai ler fur half llie sahny atlacl.ed to lai.er ullices 
 requiring lower qiialilli .ilions loiil h-ss lalsiur. .\ 
 I heap Siiperiiili'iiih III, like a 1 heap S< hiHil-masler, is 
 piNir eiiiiiomt. The aitdilnin of £5(1 or £75 lo the 
 sahiry of a l)i>lrii I S'lperiiileinlenl Wmilil not amount 
 
 , ton penny lor each inhaliiUint of nii ordinary District J 
 
11 
 
 I*" ")ino 
 !"«;, nnd 
 
 ■''•■ciiling 
 |''"i finils 
 1 l>i»(ricl 
 
 r'lioii of 
 
 Ciiurc 
 
 |l)iUrjct 
 
 'Vlliih 
 
 but it would bo nf nn inMll frnpoHtnen (o (he comriirt 
 atul Inbouri of nn iniliviiluiil, ami lo ilia cliHruilur Rnil 
 efficiency uf the mo»l important etiuviiliunul oflice in ■ 
 Ditlrict. 
 
 No. a. 
 
 {FYom lk$ "Journal qf Education for Upper 
 Canada."— Volume 1, pp. 65-71.) 
 
 i>oirKR8 or TiiK ciiur bijpchintknuicnts or aciiooi.! 
 
 IN TIIK UNITliD irATKS ANU IN IIITKIi CANADA. 
 
 The powers uf (liu I'.xccutive UovernmGnl in admin- 
 islurin|{ tliu Common School SyMem of Upper Chh- 
 udii, i» H •iihjvrl wliiih lini uliuitrd nime diiiciiuion ; 
 mid from ila grcnl importHiicc, and the apparent 
 abwnco of any gnnerat informal ion rc«|icctiiig it, ovi-n 
 on ihu jiiirt of ihiKe who huvu Njiokon iiioAt coiilldunlly, 
 we duvm il adviiuib' lo coimidor the foundnlion nnd 
 uxliMil of ihono jiowcr*, and mmpiiru lliom with ''•^ 
 |H)\vt'ri« piiiiix-ssod and vxiTciwd by the exi'ciili 
 nuilioriiiui of oihcr iHipiilnr K»vornmcnta from which 
 our School luwii have been derived. 
 
 lU'fore priN'ocding in thin inquiry, we bog to make 
 two preliniiiinry remarks. The first is, that forma qf 
 government, and ijfiletne of education, ought not lo 
 be riiiilouiided. The systems of elementary instruction 
 ill I'riissin and Swilcerlanil are subsiantiaily the same, 
 though no two furins of government i.an dilT'T more 
 wiilvly lliaii the demiNrrucy of Swilseilunil from the 
 dot|Kitism of Prussia. Thus may a system of instruc- 
 tion Ik! iNirrovved from a country without iidnpling in 
 any respect ihii |Miliiii'al princijilus puculinr lo ili form 
 of government. This remark furnishes an answer to 
 two clasw* of uhjiHiors ; to those who have objected 
 til otir Si hiMil system because il in purt exists under 
 des|)otiv monarchies, and to those who have objected 
 to il because it lias licen chielly ailoplcd from demo- 
 cratic repiibl'cs. The objcclioii is in lioili respects 
 fallacinus, though it has been ihn ihemc of much 
 tboughllesi wiiting. 
 
 A second preliminary remark is, llint there can bo 
 no provincial or slate system of elcmeiilary education, 
 unless il is one ihroughout ihu Province or State. To 
 bo one, there mutt ho one cenlrni or governmental 
 aiitliorily to direct its general operations. The funda- 
 miiilal object iif what is called res|Minsiblu government, 
 is III Nlani|i llie public mind nf a counlry upoii ihc 
 goveriirnent ill its composiiion, nnd in all its legislative 
 Hiiil Hiliniiiislrnlive aris, oven in the smallest municipal 
 ilivisioiis of the country. Each local officer and encli 
 loi al IhhIv ou'^hl to lie subonlinalo lo that Rxcculive 
 power wliicli reprevnts llio voii-e of ilio whole coun- 
 try. This principle is common lo liolli a 'epiiblic and 
 n IVee ciiii«tiliiliiiiial monarchy — only under the former, 
 llie peo|ile elect the Head of llie Kxeciitive, while 
 miller iho lalter. they control ihe appointments of the 
 «ilviMr> of llie Kxeculive aiilliorily. 
 
 The ipicstion now is, whether our Schn<d law 
 invesis llm (•nvernment, lliroui;h the Su|H>riiitenilent 
 of Scli(i,i|s, Willi too iiiucli pnwer ill the nilministration 
 ol'a |iiiblic system of ('ommoii Scliouls? The plainest 
 aiiil mosi Miisfiuiory iiieihoil of answering this ques- 
 tion, is 111 refer lo the power wiih which Ihe Exe- 
 cutive (■ovHriiineiil, (ihioiigli the Superintendent of 
 C.imiiiMi Sctiiiols) is invested in the Slide of New 
 Vork— from which our Sclioul law is derived — and 
 the citiz 'IIS nf which are op|Mm'd lo giving the Go- 
 verninenl any more authority than is nbsoliilely neces- 
 sary I'M- llie adininislrutioil of lli:' law. This part of 
 till' N(?w Vork Slate system is thus summarily staled 
 in "4 IMijeit of the Common School Syttem of Iht 
 
 Slult q/ Htw York," compiled and publiihad in 
 1844, by 8. 8. Randall, Esquire, Oonarai Deputy 
 8u|ierinleni{ent : — 
 
 " At the hciul of the wliula syilein — controlling, 
 regulatintf, and ifiving lile ami tfflciency to all ilt 
 part*, it Ik* Stair Suprrinlendent. He apportion* 
 thu public mone^ among the several counties and 
 town* ; dittribut** the law*, in*lruction*, dtei- 
 lion*, form*, fcc, through the agency of the County 
 ■lid Town Suiirrintcndeiits, lo iho several districli 
 — i* the ultimate Inbunat for Ihe dtcition of aU 
 conlrovereiei uriiing under any of the law* relating 
 to Comnum School* — kee|M up a constant correi- 
 |ionilence with the several officers connected with 
 the admlnistralinn of Ihe lyitem in all its parts, as well 
 ■■ with the inhabilaiits uf the Keveral diitricti ; 
 exerci*** a liberal di*cretionary power, on equitable 
 principle*, in nil eaie* of inadvertent, iininlenlionat, 
 or accidental omi**ion* to comply with Ihe strict 
 rerpiiiitloni of the law ; reports aniinally lo the Legis- 
 lature Ihe condition, proi|)ecls, resourios, and capa- 
 bililies of Ihe Common Schools, Ihe management of 
 Ihe School Fund, nnd such suggestions for the 
 Improvement of iho system as may occur to him : 
 and vigilantly watches over, enconrsges, sustains, and 
 expands lo its utmoal prncticablo limit the vast system 
 of Common School Education throughout the Stale." 
 (p. 80.) 
 
 The abovo extract ahewt thai the dutieaof General 
 Superintendent in the Slate of New York and in 
 Upper Canada are similar, while his power* are more 
 extensive and absolute there than here. The Stale 
 Schoid Fund is apportionetl upon the same population 
 bsiis lliere as here, and npuii the same conditions, — 
 except that Ihe County Boards there are requirtd to 
 do what our District Councils are authorized to do, 
 in respect to raising an amount by assessment equal to 
 that apportioned by the State Superintendent. 
 
 On the subject u[ form* and regulations respecting 
 which much has boon written, ihu foNowing is the 
 New- York State Law : — 
 
 " The Superintendent shall prepare suitablo form* 
 and regtUation* fur making all report*, and con- 
 ducting all neceiiary proceeding*, wider Ihi* Act, 
 and shall cause the same, wiib guch ingtructiona 
 a* he *hall deem neeettary and proper, for the belter 
 organization and government of Common School*, 
 to bo transmilloil to the oflkcrs required to execute 
 the provisions of this Act throughout the Stale." — 
 {Paued in \S\2, and atill unrepealed and unmodi- 
 fied, after the experience qf more than thirty year*. ) 
 
 Such l-.cing Iho aulhorily of the Slate Superinten- 
 dent in re>|M'ct lo the lules for the organization and 
 govrrnmeni of the Schools, it may be asked whether 
 the several "otHcers required to execute ihe provisions 
 of the law," are obliged to act in accordance with 
 iho instructions and regulations of the Sujierinlendcnt ? 
 These oCiccrs ore '■hiefly the County and Town Sii- 
 pcrintendonls and the Trustees. In regard to the 
 County (our District) Superintendents, the law is ns 
 follows : — 
 
 " The County Superintendents shall be subject to 
 such rules and regulations as the Superintendent 
 shall from timo lo time proscribe ; and ap|)cals from 
 their ncis and decisions may be made to him in the 
 same manner, and with the like eflect, as in cases 
 now providoil by Ir.w ; anil they shall make reports 
 annually lo the Superintendent ut such times as shall 
 bo ap|)oinled by him, which shall be llie same as are 
 now required to be made by County Clerks, with 
 such additional information as he shall require."— 
 (Passed in 1843.) 
 
 { 
 

 
 Schoolj, anU 
 '■» thtir town, w ?' ,r!/''*V •^" i**>traUif /oriHt 
 
 •» which . town w Cr. ^f"?'' "' •»* ■W'V 
 
 fi'Tfr" to rh. ..,wa o, Jii^r2^, ' f,T,'| •"■«'««=» 'hall 
 '""re.*, «f Ih. moiK,/. J, L '"' "r-"'. will" 
 
 '"^''' "'"' "Wi/ferf in 1843.) 
 From Ihii rmviiio,, „f (b- v_„ v i e 
 
 School Seclion m.» bj illZlT "PP""'^'' "' • 
 *'"■ tl'e '"ixirem/n,, „fi"^^J^ 7.-c«m,,lia„« 
 
 5 'ho 8l.ie S,,,*rin.enZ7 1^ J "^' "^ ^-i/ruc/ion* 
 deHrion which l« rrm«L;"'.1"',"""' "^i.!. by ,„y 
 
 S"P«rin(,n,l..„, ^f ConZ^ « k '! ""^ C"""'/. Ih! 
 , "'*f*«^; or Kwi «, much .T^L ''<^«<«/ *»„// 4, 
 
 b« b.i««.e wiibhow j«. I bTS'. •?;' "' •"•■'' «•«•• 
 
 v'»Mta In 1839.) 
 
 ^"'k Sl.ic Uw :~ ' " "■* P^^'iion of ,h„ j^/^ 
 
 "rtficwi.1 annual n.p„rt rtall^*^'^^"* whi'h no 
 •h. year ending ,« Tb, l«^ da^ ^ '^•'•' "T''^-' «'' 
 
 '|'g«llho,l«fo„f„„.bl,"' "'7 ''"""« Iho year end- 
 'l«' no other ,han JSril* ri^-^^^cW, 
 Such are lh« 1^1 • • I f ^ """' •'"''•'K .he vt^f ^""'^^i Tfuchtr had a 
 
 r,c.„ „„:....- y y^"» h-. .«»e««l .» _.. .^ I «M..^ lo ,/,„ ,« „ „?'^ ^ 'J^ .'.a, Uve boon 
 
 •hall be a,>p..rii„n„,, Z ,,«"| ^, ''t ^'•"•'r m.«„y 
 '1 'hall .,,(«.„ by ||„, /«,/ ' ' '", ■"/ Oi'tricl, unliu 
 "•■«», thai Jih, LibraTv mJL ""•' ""P"^' "^ «»>i 'IVur 
 
 •" l«w, ..„ .„ b,f.,„ ,h,'V"'y '•"«P«n.hNi arcoJimt 
 
 Ki as$ea in 1843.)* 
 
 — ■""'""/ Of ihx Commnn R^^i ^. ™'«-wnry am 
 
 ."can neighbour.-^?. ' J* ■■'^'«.»<1 •«> "ur Am». 
 .mlen<fcn. ,^ Common ScC.l^.'.'t <"'" 'h-i' Supo,- 
 C.r£-^ u,«n .bo Cht sSn.rK'I^^ 
 
 Bui Ihit i% not all Ti..i. n 
 Librarie. ihal b. p|e,C.. ' * '^""" '^e School 
 
 I'ermtendont *hall no. hare J' '"*''! " ^°""<y ««- 
 order of the SuperiJZl^Z'T"""^' ""''» h 
 ~{Pa»Md in IwT) "-^ (Common School,." 
 
 School affair.jro„rS«""?:''''"8""-. in ComJn 
 CIcrU Tl« followinr So „/""• "'■•"''^' ^"""'^ 
 
 ^^-^i>«cembeM„.acL-L;r:„«:-ir.t'c 
 
 •nd !».« Mn'n„„, ° '^■■'!}"'ir -"hyi^, '.«Ti.r *"' "• '**'•• 
 
 
18 
 
 Li!."-"' o^ 
 
 If; •<«/'M,« 
 
 I*' «*«// A, 
 l*.""'> no 
 
 'n»n« 
 
 " tliull 
 
 '•••■ »nj. 
 
 ''"J «( 
 tnoii/ii 
 
 '; «nij 
 '••• l*t.n 
 
 Ullitu 
 
 ''Vuj. 
 '"'aing 
 
 ■•'/lM>. 
 
 [-rt 
 
 'I'iio riillitwiiig pr)i« i*ic<n )m% btirn in foico mtira lluui 11 (irctrrilio ; 
 (wciiiy yvM» tu |iri'V('iil Ail><' TriifMverniiir<» : — ^ nmi\u in m 
 
 II IH59 i 
 
 *' Kvcry Tii.>li'v iif n Si ImmiI Diniricl, iir wiiarnle i| 
 iii'i);lili<>iir)iiii>il, wlici kliull i>i);ii H TuImi rr|iiirl lit iIm) 
 'I'liwii Sii|>t'riiituiiJi'iil III «|i|Hiiliiiii Niiil \my U> liii Dii- 
 trici or II ■igtilxiurliiHiil, u largir Hum iliiui ila jii«l |>ri>- 
 piiriiiiii nr mIiiiiiI iiioiicya nl lliit tiiwii, uluill for each 
 off'fticf, forjril thf turn of hvmty-flre iMtari, ami 
 Miull Ih) ^U'PUiril Kuilly "r» luiMliMiii-uiiiir." 
 
 lull no uHowtncfl <>r cuin|j«nM(ioa ilmM U 
 MiJ vinjiura fur luch Mrvicci." (/'m««< im 
 
 An 
 
 Lnv County 8uf>ertnt*ndettl itny h» lemoni 
 olliro by Iht Suftrinlmdfnt of Commom 
 
 'Ilii.' r>illiikviiiK i> llio |iriivi»iini ri'ii|i«>cliiig ll:c mininge- 
 niciil iiT .ScliiMil Difttrii t librarii'i : — 
 
 " A Ml i>r grnrrHl rrKulnlioni rrii|ictliiig Iho pmiT- 
 vnlliiii i>r Srliniil l)i>lri<'l Libriirii'ii, llic tlvlivrry of 
 iIm'Iii liy l.idrMilaiifi unit 'rriikd'cn lo llii-ir inmH'wmii in 
 <i<rii'i', l4ii> iiMi iif llictii liy llii' iirfiiibilAiilii of ihc Dlnlrict, 
 ilif iiiiiiilinr of volumi'x lo lie iiilti'n liy iiny onu |ierion 
 III liny oiH) time, or iliiriiiK niiy 4if in, ihv |)«ritMli uf 
 ilicir rt'lnni, \\" fiiicN iinil |M>niiliii'ii (liul miiy be im- 
 ]iii!«il liy llio TrimliM'.'i of miih Liliraric* for iiirt rt'liirn- 
 in^, lo>iii^ or ik'nlroyiii); liny of tin.' booiti lliiTi'ln, 
 or Cur Miilini!, ilcfai'in)!, or injuring Ilium, map be fra- 
 mrd h;i thf Superintendent uf Cimimnn Schools, ami 
 nrinlcil cniiii'd lliercof hIhiM Iti' fiirniitlicd (o eiicli SrtiiHil 
 UiiiriH of ilii' Sinif ; which regulatiimt thall he obli- 
 ffdtnry upon aft jteraan* and ojicerx having charge 
 if Httfh Lihriirite, ur unng and poigeesing any nf 
 the boots f thereof. Sued fiiim may Ito recovricil in an j Rralniloiitly. 
 (11 lion of ill bl, in ihe nuiiio of the Truilo«» of any aucli Cl«rk of oacli Oirtrict [ 
 Mliriiry, of llie [wrsoii on whom thry are imposed, wlioao dulp' it aliiill bo 
 <>xr«"pt will |ifr«<»n In" n niiniir ; in wbich (•««.• Ilii-y 
 iiiiiy 111! rcioviri'd of ibc |iitrriit or )(iiarilian of audi 
 tniiior, iinlcwi iiolicc in wrilliif( tiliall have li«cn i^iven 
 by Hitrh pnrttil or giiardj:m lo ibo Triwlera of biikIi 
 rilirnry, tliat lit- ntill mil bo roipoiiNibli! for any b<M>ki 
 dc'liMTcd to Hwh minor. And pcrwHi* with %vlium 
 minora n-siilc i^iall lio ll.ib'o in ibo »itnu munnor, iind 
 (o lliv xamr rxtrnl, in rnwK wliurc tbn iwrt'iil of nurh 
 minor dooi not rcaiJa in Ihf iliKliirl.'' {I'asetd in 
 1M3.) 
 
 from 
 
 Schooti, whenwer in hit judgment eufficitnl caut* 
 for tuch remc •.•at rxitti ; and iho varaiiry Ihvrnbr 
 (MTaiiioiu'd Jiall Ini aupplictJ under bli liand and om- 
 rinl mal, until llifl iimt meeting uf IIh) Hoard of Hu- 
 piTviMira of ibo cniinly in wliii'h such vacanry edits. 
 A ro|iy of ibo order tnakin); lueb removal, ipecifyinK 
 Ilia rmiiiea ibfrvof, nhaM be forwarded lo tbi' Clerk of 
 lbt> Hoiird of Siijierviiinrii, lo bo by biin laid liefiire Ihe 
 Hoard at tbeir lirti meeting llieru/ler." {Pautdi* 
 18 IS.) 
 
 On all ibc sidiJM'tii above rrfiirrcd to, ll will «|ip«nr 
 obviiMm III every one ii<'i|iiainli'il with the Cunudian 
 S< liiNil All, linw mm h inori' exli'imivu and efllrient 
 ;iri^ lliv piiwvrii of llie Cieiierul Sii|H'iinleiulent of 
 Siliiiols in die Slato of Now-York ilian in Upper Ca- 
 nada. Tliis '\n true in rej^ard lo sevifal parliciilarn, 
 liesideK those above mentioned, ns iho foUowing Kctiimii 
 will sliow : — 
 
 " The Ruperinlenikint of Common Scliotds may dc- 
 iiinnnte and n|ipoint any one of the i:lerk» nrapioyed 
 bv linn to be histJeneral Deimly, who may iK-rforin all 
 tin' duties of iIh- .Sii|ieriiileiid<nl in i u«e of his absence 
 <ir u viicaiicy in h\s olliie." {Patted in 1811). 
 
 " The Supiriiilindenl of Common Sehinda may ap- 
 (Kiint nmh and so many |K>r8oiis as he idiall from lime 
 (o liine litem ni'ee!i.siry, to vi^il and cxainiiiu into Iho 
 < oiiditloii III Comnioii KcliooU in iMiy cuuiify where 
 Mirli piTMiMs ri'Ki<le, and ie|Hirt <o llie Sn|ierinli'Ddciit 
 on all liUi-h inaller!i relaling lo llw condUion of surli 
 tuboola, and llie mcan.H of improving tbeiii, un bo »liul! 
 
 " 'Hie Su|H>rinirndenl of Cninmon Schonli froni 
 year to year, idiall bo authorixtd to iiAtcrib* for n 
 many cnpion of any iierimlical publithed at loait 
 monlhly in rtiia State, ovclijaively devoted to ihocauM 
 of Kdueulion, and not partaking of a sectarian or parljr 
 rharaclPT, aa ahati be anfficiont lo aupply one ropy (a 
 each organized School DlitricI in the SlRle ; in which 
 periodirni the Slatnlet relating lo Common Srhooia, 
 naaaod at the preaent or any future Scasimi of the Legli- 
 lature, and tlie general regiilationa and deciaiona of (he 
 Su|i«rinlen'!erK puraunnt lo any law,ahall be publiihed 
 Ttie aaid periodical ahall bo aerrt to the 
 "Trualee Secrefary-Troflsorcr] 
 lo cauHO each volume to be 
 tNiiind it the vx|inn9onf the diatrict, and the aame ahall 
 be pieaervcd in tho District Library for the uao of the 
 iliMricl. Tiio ex|H.Miao of lurh subscriptiim, not ox- 
 i:ocdin;( twenty-eiaht hundred dollart annually, ahall 
 be paid out of the aurplui incomo arising from the 
 nioiieva d<'|ioa ted with tliii Slate by thu United Slutei. 
 (Patted in tS4\.) 
 
 ,.l |lW|M 
 llT 111.' ! 
 
 icH prfi'iir.xl l>v till' Ilnard of KJuciitioit, anil trftn»mltt(Nl \ 
 i-ri'Ury i.f Sl.ic. lb, § I. l| 
 
 " 4t)l. 'I'li^ S^'luH.I ColiiliiitU'i* t>f Haid Inwil nr rity mililt tinvu | 
 inmli. a Ji'tMlfit rrpnrt nf tlii' cKiiditiiin of tho ». vorttl I'ublia 
 hfluxiK i^iiliin ilifir jiiriMthllun, wliirh ri-|M)rt iniiKt ■'oiilHiti mtch : 
 .iUU-UH-iits Miiil ml};Kr!>lii)iii 111 rclMliuli Vi BuiJ hc-tiucltt lu Uu> ^\nn' ,, 
 lnilu-'» limy tlii-iii iiiivHsarv or prnjuT in onli'r to pruiuoli! tin-ill- 
 ItTvils lhi>r«Hif. '1 lUH rf|Mirt niiint W> n-ud in o[i«ii town ini>i.|in|;, I 
 ul onu of tlif abiuKtl tni'ftiii^H i.f iIm town, or. •! the iliKcmtkin of I 
 ihu t'.niiinillw, W iirintiil f-r tit.' us» of iho iiiliakiuiai ul' the 
 liiwn. Tho ori|:innl ri'port niu.«t Ix' ili-potitt'il in thf nfflco of thu 
 •r.'ivii Cli rk. kiitl a iwrlifii"! i-py of il Iw tr»inniitl«l bv Iho Cora 
 iiiilU'o to llii> 84'«!ioUiry uf Ui« (Jotuuiuuvivaltli 
 da/ uf AjirU. ib. | 4." 
 
 oil ur boluru Iho laat 
 
 Wo need acorruly any, that not ono of ihew poweri 
 il poAieiii'd by Ihe Su[<crintendent of Schools in Upper 
 Caiindn, who instead of expending (wo thousand eight 
 hundred dolLirs uf public money per annum fur a 
 monthly iwiiodical, liai gratuitously undertaken the 
 labour of edilin); onu himself, and publishing it upon 
 his own rea|»inaihility. Were it necessary, other pro- 
 viaiona of llie New-Vork State Law might be quoted 
 to the siiinu clfect Willi the above. It will Ihus be seen 
 how gtoundlesa are the objections which have been 
 made (u the conipnratively limited poweri of tho Super- 
 inleixlent of Sehmds for Upper Canada. I( is painful 
 lo reflect iliat while our republican neighbours aie 
 gradually (as is hhown by the dales uf the several tec- 
 liona of their St'hiMil law quoted aliove,) building up 
 their Ciiininon .School .lysicm in r\\ its departments, by 
 alringenl piovisiona of liiu law and ample Executive 
 nulhority, there are nut a few in Canada who profeae 
 to adniiie the educational inslilulions and intellectual 
 progri sa, ns well as general prosperity, of the United 
 Sliilca, and yet arc opposing those very provisions of 
 onr School Law to which the American people are so 
 much indebted. Wu suy American (leuple ; for the 
 School Law of the State of New-V'oik is the model of 
 the Scho',! Laws of tho other Northern Stales from 
 Maiiio I't /'icliigiin — with two exceptions. Four out 
 of six a'ttiu New-Kngland Slates have lately provided 
 for a Gemr I Sniicriiitundent or Commissioner of Public 
 Sehoula; and his powers are similar to tlioae of the 
 Su[ierintendciit nf Common Schools in the State of 
 New-York. In iho newer Slates those powers are still 
 more general and ellectivc, as the following Sections 
 from the School Law of tho State of Michigan, passed 
 in 1843, will evince. The first section relates to the 
 duly of tho Superinlcndcnt to make an annual repcrt 
 to the Legislature. The second and (liiid sections ant 
 as follows : 
 
 \ 
 
14 
 
 " B«c. t. th* SiiiwrinlrniWnl of Piihlir Inatriirliini 11 
 ■hall iirvpar* anil ritiiif Id Im prinli>il with thr Uwi ' 
 rtUiing lo |>riiiMfy m ImhiI*, nil nrrrMiiry Jitr»\» mitl " 
 ngulati<m» fiif eonJuHinif all prwrHlinf umlrr 
 miiil Une$, *nH imnonil llm Mmit, tiHIh «urA tnirirur- 
 htmi rfUttir* lo Iht nrKitnitnUon itnil eifrrmnifnl 
 o/lh0 inMie §clUtf4t, and Ihr cnuri* of uluilim pro- 
 fir lo 6« tmrtutd ihtrrin, na kf mai/ ihrm niM- 
 mhll, lo th« irveral ninrcri vntrutliMl willi llirir run- 
 nigtmcnt anil rarr. 
 
 " Sac. 3. Hiirh law, fornw, anil li»lrurli<in« kIirII 
 he prinird by Ilia iwrwiii hnvinf tlii< iimlriri I'nr llic 
 8lal» prinlinf, in |« i<|>hlri furin, wilh a |ini|ivr mtli'ii ; 
 anil thall alnt have annrxril ihfrHn, a liil of »ufh 
 lehiml hoolu a$ Ih* Suprrinlmdriil §hnU iMnk hti>l 
 milaplH lo Ih* NM o/ ikt primal If ichmili ami ii lint 
 of baokt conlaining not Itti Ikim two kuntlrnl i'i>- 
 tumr* $uilaN* fi-' Tmontkip Libraritt, wilh tuih 
 ruin Kttt hi mof/ Ihink pntprr lo rfcommtnd /or Ikt 
 govirnmtnl of mich librariii." 
 
 Il ii iiur|iri>in|( loiiJMTvr li'>w far (lie ciliiiMm of llii' 
 JounK Slair iif MirhiKun nrr, in rcliirHlional li-^iiliilion, 
 in Hilvancc uf many iintfi-im-ii ailvurnlpi »( iinivpr>Hl 
 eiluraliim in tha iililt>r I'mviiuv i>f l'|i|M-r ('anailn. 
 What ia {hrn m>II|i-iI by ninDmnii omi'CIiI i« Imtp iIi'- 
 balml ; what ii llicre law, ami ibnl \ty iinivi'r«,il Kiif- 
 fragv, M brra mitlml, ami ihat by imtumm who |l^>fl'l>< 
 III wrila on ihv mihjMl of cilucMlton. Ilrri- wo liml 
 peimn* ''ihinkinK a« rbiblrrn, uiiilpralaniliiiK a* ibil- 
 drrn, lulking at rhililn'n;" ihrri-, in a yixm^^iT himI 
 •Vfn ilemiirralic coiinlry, llioy " have piil awHy iliilit- 
 iah thing*," ami Ihink, anil pi|>rak anil ail hi im-n on 
 tba grval queatiiin uf atlucalinK lhi> |>c<>pli>. 
 
 In rmtcluiion wa have to olwrrx, ihal nii no iIiITit- 
 ence of opinion hai vxiMnI Iwlwrrn ihv viri-ffMlrv iiil- 
 niinitlralioiu of CS'irprnnirnl in ri-|{aril lo lh« lii'tewily 
 ami ini|Mirtanre of thu olliiv of Sii|i)TinltMiil<>nl of 
 SiIhmiIi in rcKaril lo both L'p|ii>r nnit l,owi>r ('dnii<l.i, 
 •o no nn« can compare lhi> iMiwrrt wilb whii h thai 
 office bat been innitoil in Upjicr C'aimila wilh ihow 
 allHihril to it in Lowi-r Caiiaila or in iiiiy Siiilc of (lie 
 neii(hliourin){ Kopulilir, wiihoiil |i«rcfivlii^ ihiil, mi far 
 from ill imwrn bciiiK cxiHbilanl, iIhi powiTS of ihf 
 Su|M'rintrnilenl of Sclioolii are more limitrH in IpixT 
 Canaila than in any mhrr Stale or Province in Ame- 
 rica ; while inullituiiri in the varioiii DiMricli of I'piicr 
 Ciinaila, anil the corri!»|i«nilrncp ninl puMi^ii <! iIiku- 
 menti which hare emanateil from llie OITh e >iiice ihr 
 present incuinbvnl avunnil ii> itulii'!>, urv wilni>MH'a 
 that it hai betn ailminiilereil wilh |icrf>'cl impatlJHiilv, 
 without rrgarii to rcligioui >pcl or |iolilicul imriy. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 From the 
 
 ■'Journal of F.Jucaliun for I'j^per Ca- 
 iMiia," ViAumi I., pagt> 111 Mi. 
 
 ■0A«0* or KOPCATIOM — THEIR nRIGIM, COffSTITU- 
 TIUIC, AMD ouitcn. 
 
 A» i-nperfecl anil erroneoua notionn apjioHr lo exM 
 relative lo the appropri.iie functions of nonnU of Kilu- 
 calion, il will bn iiM'fiil, ami we trii-l uii epinlile, in 
 give mine account of their origin, con'tilnlion and ob- 
 iirct*, in connexion with a »y»lem of pulilic elimi'iilarv 
 iniiriiclion. In this cnnnrxinn, ilii'y are of AmiTic an 
 orii^n : and from the /niled Slule^ have In en incur- ' 
 pnraled into iho Common Si hool syMfin "ri'|>(icr ('«. 
 naila. Wo refer nii« hei^ to «uch a h.Kly a« the f'ni- 
 veriit;/ of Prane* — which atanila at the heail of ihi- 
 •nlirc ayatem of Cniveraity, Collegiate anil I'rimary • 
 iattructiun — preiided over by a Council of »ix, each | 
 
 Coiinrithir havini( rharge of one •>( more iliviaiona of 
 public ihdriiclion, ami over which ('oiincil preaiilra a 
 Uranil Ma«'er, or Miiii«l'r I'f I'lihlic Inalriiciioii ; or 
 H< ihe Minhlrii of I'lihtic littlriir'inn in l'iii«aiu, 
 which ho* II' en aeiNiraliil from ihiil of the Sliile aiiiiv 
 |NI7, anil wliii II i* ili\iih'il into M'leriil «eitioiia, 
 hiivinu tha oviT»i({hl anil dirrction «( the whoh' •y«leiii 
 of Kdiii Hiion in till kin)(iloin, Irom ihr Primary Nihoob 
 lip lo the I'Miver^ilie*. In Uilh lhe«e i miiilriea, i ach 
 ai'Clion or di^ i^ion of piilihc inatriiclntn liii* ii liiail,Hnil 
 the whole tynlein i« ailmini<lered hi iihIiviiIiimI heaiU 
 of ilep.iiimi'iil<. N>>i do we refir to aiich a lioiiril a* 
 ihe ComiiiKiiomr* of Nalicmal K.diiiuii"n for Iri'lanil, 
 Kor tlioii|(h iheir Iniii linn* me liiinleil lo piimary in- 
 alriiclion, ihcy idoiie lon-liliile ihe inai hiiiery of ile- 
 menlurv inairHclion in that couiiny. In iHiih Prii»iit 
 and France, the |>rotiniia, rcKeiii ie> and |Hiriiilieiii ihe 
 ile|iarlmi'iitii, iiriondi««'ininl«iind I'oiiiinnn «, i ii-oiierate 
 
 in the l''.|rni<'nUiiy Si ho"l Syaleiii na il ir Dialliil 
 
 ('oiilii'iU mill SrhiKd Seiii'>iia, hut in In land ihe local 
 miinicipHi Imdira jiHVe ii'iihiii|( ti do with ihe Si lnMd 
 Statrm ; ihi' amiul aialn of ihe conmry iiiilil> il for 
 am h Miimiip'l co-<i|iei.iti"n ; and llie hoard alniie 
 I'ducatia, ill leimiiiia tin' i.iiiL and <cali' of «ul'irii'* lo 
 li'ili lier«, ap|Miiiil> ihe Srli'iil lii»|» i t<>i<, |iiildii>lii'< ihe 
 School JHioka, and lontroU all the Silio-d h'liiae* aiihil 
 
 10 ihe i'arliaiiientary Kr.iiila, The Mali'iii la •itiiple, 
 central, inaKiiillci nl, |iowi'ifiil ; ii« Si I'md |iiililiralii>ita 
 are iinrivallid, aa ila prini iplea are Chri^lian and i a- 
 iholii ; hul it la iiecea>arily i\peii«i>e ihr ci rrinl 
 eaiipnaea of (llhcera, aulaiii'il ('oinliiia«iiMier, SiCfela- 
 ri' a, Clerka, Sii-., JNini; uiiwarda ot jCli.lNMI «li'iliiig 
 per aiiiiiim, iiah'iH'iidi'nl of ihe expiiiM'a (i^'.IMN) aler- 
 lini{ |M-r anniiin) of iha Nornuil and MihIcI Siliiad*, 
 and ataxit £I,(NN) |a'r iinniim lOir and alaivv the ri- 
 ceipt*, ex|N>iiileil in the piiblicalioii of Umk* ; and ila 
 miNia of adminialratliMI ia firei^n t<> the |ih hI iiiMilii- 
 liona, circumnlHiirea mid habila of the |H'ople of iIhh 
 coiinliy. The hoard was not i reated lo i xecule » law, 
 hut to Ih> a law ; it waa ealahliOiril and li la existed for 
 (ifli'en yiara under the auihoriiy of a Itoud |)i'.|.,iii h, 
 not lo administer u preairilHcl «v«ti'in delimd In l,i\v, 
 but 111 crrnle n »y»lem ; and ii in Ihi' aile, aliaolulo 
 moving in wer of that M'Vi'IH. Tlie power'> i-veicia il 
 liy local palrona are i;iven, n'll by aialnle, hot by llie 
 hiwrd ilM'ir, and i an la' miHJilied at ila pleasure. I he 
 h «rd oxpi'iida Ihe Purlimiieniary fjr.mia upon termi of 
 Ila own preMTibinif ; lor ia a »i\|H'iiri' niveii lo n 
 Teacher nnl on ila own li»l, nor nn ln»|«'i lor "f Sih.aila 
 emploved excepi by ita own jpi'oinimi nl, nnr i> ihi re 
 any hwal Si hmil auihoriiy ixiipl In lU own cnaliou. 
 
 11 can hnidly la- ex|M>cled thai llie I'UhI CiiiMHila in 
 Tpiier Canada woulil la- willing to ri'liiii|ui>h llie 
 powcra which lliey laiawva in our Si !ii«i| <.).|"m to n 
 cenlnil Hoard ap|aiinteil by the Crnwii, like iluil in 
 Dublin, and ileaigned for ii iliitc of aia icly like thai of 
 Irelaiaf. 
 
 The liiMrda of Kdiicaliiin of which We protaiae to 
 a|K-«!< un' iho-e wliirli have la'iona- u pari ol'ilic t 'om- 
 nion Schiail avalema I'nim wliirti «e have ■ liii lU l»ir- 
 rowed, and which have rot ii< yet deiim led a r„rihin)> 
 from the Si h'Hil Kuiid of anv C'lunlrv. The lir»l of 
 ihcM' hiHirda waa crealeil in llie Suite of ,M,ia>«i IoimIIi 
 in \HM — mi example wlmh La' bii n lollonrd (it ihe 
 Stale of Maine, while the Sl,ilei of Ithode lalaiid, Niw 
 Mampahire, and V'erinont, hate foHuwed the New- 
 Yoik Slate model in having a Slate (.'uiniuiwioiier or 
 Su|M-riiilendeul. 
 
 Ttie ayslum of Coininun Srhiaila in thcae Slatra ia 
 (icciiliar. For inure Ihaii a century i ai h town or 
 townahip of aix null a ai|gare liaa laeii reipiired bv iliu 
 la'» ol the Stale to have a .Silaail or Si luaili of a cer- 
 tain r.ink ao many nan iha in ilie year, accorilinn lo iho 
 poptilaliiin — and for ihe aiip|ioi| of iheae SchiBijn tytry 
 inliabitani wu> made liidiie according to hia properly. 
 
15 
 
 III I'liw (iflhf r>'i|iiiri'niriil iif lliu law IwiiiK iicicli cIimI, 
 lliu iliiMli>n<ul iiilmltilaiilii <li'tiiiii)( <'iliuiili»n lur llicir 
 rliililroii niiilil i'iini|iliiiii Ir ihi> Umiiil Jury u( lliuir 
 ciMiiily, iiml lliu ilvliiii|U«iili wiiiiltl mirrly U- iiiillvlnl 
 Hiiil lliieil. Tlia rriiii'ily wiii wi rurluiii iiiiil t'lbiluiil, 
 anil llio ili'iirp fur mliitiiliiiii no giiiariil, lliut in 
 vi'ry fuw lii>luniT> liavu lliu ri'i|iiirt iiicnii «( llic law 
 Im'i'ii ili<ir('|(iiril<>il ; ill iiiimI inMrnirrit llii'y liavn U'liii 
 ttlri'iiilril. Itiil Mill, llii) nyMuiii Wi<> mil ii llalf, ur 
 evi'h ctmnly, il whi oiily u (iiiiiti >) <li'iii. Tliu tinliiiury 
 niiirU iif Ihw wito ilia unly Mi IhniI ■niliurilici liuyiiiiil 
 tliv iiiwn ciiinmiltaiiii. Knell lnwn liuil no hi)(livr 
 •lunduiil lor Hi Ii'hiIh iIihii ihut riiriii>lii'il by ilM'H'. 
 Tim Si'lioiiU hull llirrcriirv rtinmni'il tliiliiiniiry fur 
 innrv lliiiii hair a I'l'nliiry, anil wvru rHiliiiK U'liinil iliu 
 wiiiili of iliK ii|{u, wlii-n, 10 iiiiifily lo Minn' I'Xlriit lliv 
 il milt'raluiii III' u ('unlriii hiiiI ^I'lu'riil •yad'in by llii- 
 iliirimion of iiM'lul knuwIi'ilKi', n Jlmiril of Kiliitulioii 
 \\ii« (•kIiiIiIikIiimI ill lliii Sliilii III' Miixuii'liilH'lii ill IH37 ; 
 uiiil 411 lliut lloutil m lliu tiiixlcl iilicr wliicli oiIidih Iiiivii 
 bvi'n unlublialit'il, wo will i|Uulo viiliris lliu Act irvuling 
 it. It il iM rollown : — 
 
 " SBrr. I. lliu Kxri'lliimv lliv Governor, willi llin 
 atlvici- anil roiiu nl u( llir Council, ia liervby author- 
 ixi'il III a|i|Hiint cikIiI fn'riHiiiii, who, logi'llK-r Willi 
 llii- (iiivpriioi mill l.ieiilfiiiiiil (iovrrnor, tx offlciii, 
 kIiiiII <'iiii«liliili) mill Ihi ili'iininiiiMkil lliu ItoHril ul' 
 Kiliiciiliiiii ; anil llio |M-rMinii to a|>|ioinli'(l iiliiill hulil 
 llii'ir oirirca liir llif Icrm nl' i'IkIiI yvara : Provided, 
 llii' Iiml |M'ri(iin nmiK-il in luiiil liounl tliall ^a out of 
 ■illii i' III ilii> I'liil iif onii yi'iir, lliu iHTMin next nanii'il 
 i>liall go mil of iiUlrc at lliu cinl of Iwo yciim, uiiil wi 
 iif llii) ri'inniiiiiii; invinlH rn, onu rrliring viit h your, 
 anil in lliu oriU^i in wliicli lli<-y arc nvnitil, till lliu 
 wlmlu hoHril Iki rhanf^iMl ; iinil llio (iovi-rnor, willi 
 lliu iiilviru ami roimcnt of lliv iMiiinril nit al'oroaiil, 
 tliiiil till all VHciinciua in Mini IIhhiiI, wliitli may 
 uci'ur from ilualli, ruaignalioii, or oiliurwiw. 
 
 " Sect. i. 'I'liu liounl of Kiliication nhnll prepare 
 anil liiy liuforu lliu I.ruinlaliiru, in a jirinU'il form, on 
 or U^loru tliu •ciiinil VVi'iliiuMJay of Jiiniiury, annually, 
 an Hli>(rai:| of llie mjIuhiI riluriia ttruivi'il by Ihu Su- 
 (II l.iry iif lint ('oiiiiniinwuallli ; anil lliu nuiil liiiiiril of 
 Kilni iiiion may ap|ioint llit'ir own Secretary, wlio 
 kliall rvcuivu a rcaxinablu com|K'n!>alion for liif aur- 
 \iii'H, mil exiri'iliii); one lliuuaanil ilollara |M'r aniiiun, 
 ami who »IihII, uinlrr ihe iliri'clinn ol the ISoaril, 
 culled informalioii of the iicliial cn.iililion unil tlli- 
 lieniy of lint Comniiin SchiHila, anil olhvr tm'ana of 
 po|Milar uiluculioii, anil ililFiiMi ua wiili'ly aa imuible, 
 ihriiiighiiul uvriy part of the Cuinmuiiweultn, iiilor- 
 nailioii of llii' iiHMl appriivi'il anil aucceaaful liiulhiHla 
 of iirraiif{in)( lliu »liiiliea, unil ciiiiiliiclin;{ thu eiliica- 
 liiiii of lliu )oiiiig, lo lliu unil ihal all chililron in lliik 
 ( iiiiiiiiiinwcalih, who ilppi'inl upon C'odunoii Si'hoola 
 for iiiKlruiiion, may liavu lliu liu.«t uilucation which 
 lli"M) M liiHils can lie iiiailu lo imparl. 
 
 " .Sklt. :). Till' iloaril of KiliicHliim,nniiunlly, shall 
 imiku a ili'lailt'il ivport lo iliu l.uj^isliiluru of all ilN 
 iloiiii(s. Willi Mich oliwrvnlioim aa llieir cx|H'rivncu 
 anil nnirinin may Mig;;usl, ii|Min thu comlition nnil 
 clhrii'iicy of our avatuin of jaipular eilucatioii, nnil llio 
 iiiiKt praclicabhi muana ol improving ami extumling | 
 II. 
 
 " Sect. t. For the aalary of Ihe Secrciary of the 
 iloanl of F.iluiaiion, proviilcil for in ihu suconil aec- 
 liiiii ol llii.i .\cl, Ihu (Sovi'rnor il anihiirizeil lo ilruw 
 Ilia warranla from timu to liniu, aa Ihe aamo may lie 
 reiiuirud." 
 
 {Pauedin 1837.) 
 
 In the following year Ihc Lfgialuluro paaauil ihruu 
 Alls rulaling lo ihe Houril of Kilucalion — tlio one i-nm- 
 peiiialing ita memliera fir thvii expensea, the secoml 
 anlliorising the Boanl to prepare blank furms ami iii- 
 
 quirici III Im (ilh'il lip mill aiiawvrcil by .ScIiikiI Cum- 
 inillrna — anil ilirii ling lliat llh' ritiiriia lo ihuMi iliipii- 
 ria* aliouhl Im inuilu to ibv Secretary of Slalv, anil an 
 abatrai t of iheae rvlurns ho iiiailu uniler ilie ilinilioii 
 of iha iloanl " in the olDcu of the Sacrelary or lh« 
 CoinmouwaNllli ;" ami ilia lliinl Act iireMrihing liiu 
 iluliai unil iiHrra>iiiK lliu aalary of ilia Secratary uf tlia 
 Iloanl, ami ia ai foliowa : — 
 
 " Sect. I. Tlio flrrrelary of thu lioanl of Rilmn. 
 lion, in nilililiiin in the iliilica reipiireil of him by ihe 
 Act eaialilialiing the Iloanl of KiliiCHlion, ahall, umn 
 in each yeiir, at aiich tiinri aa ihe Iloanl of Kiluca- 
 lion may npiminl, iillenil in rach loimly of ilie Coin- 
 monwealih a inueling of all inch leai bera of piihlic 
 t« hiNila, meiiibrra of Ilia achiNil i oniinilli ea, of the 
 aeverni lowna, anil friinila of eililcalion geiierHlly in 
 the couiily, aa inny voluntarily aa<embl<' al llm lima 
 anil place in ihe rouniy iloigiialeil by thu IhianI of 
 Kilucalion, of which aiillicii'iil nolici' ahall by him be 
 given ; ami >liall ihen ami llieru ililii(i'nlly apply him- 
 aelf lo llie oliji'ct of colli'ctitig information of iho 
 roniliiiiin of public tchiKila of »uch coiiniy, of tne 
 fiiUilmeiil of llie ilutiea of lliuir ollli e by all nnniln'ri 
 of lliH M'hiHil toinmillei'a of all Ibu towiia, anil llie 
 circuiiMlancea of Ihe M>venil achiKil ilii'ricia in ri'ganl 
 tu all iho aiilijncla of luachera, pu|iiN, lNMik>, apparn- 
 tua, ami melniNli of eilucalion ; wilh Ihu intent of 
 fiiiiiiihing all ruquiailu maloriala for the re|Hirt by 
 law requireil from ih'i Hoard of Kiliication. 
 
 " Sect. 3. Tbn coni(ienaalion of the Secretary nl 
 iha Hoard of Kilucalion iliall lie one thouaand live 
 biinilruil dolhira |ier annum, to be mndu in V(|Ual 
 quarterly paymenia, 
 
 " Sect. 3. Tbii Act ahall lakeeflert fnim and aAer 
 ill pasaagu," 
 
 I Paued in 1638.) 
 
 Such arc the powers of Ihu Maasachiisolta Iloanl of 
 Kilucalion. Il will Ini perceived that the HiMiid has 
 nothinit whatever lo do with ihu nihniiiialralion of liiu 
 ('omriion School law ; but that thu aolu ohjecia nf ila 
 calebliahmont were lo collect and ililluac iiaeful know- 
 ludgo in llio moat (Nipular and impreaaivu methods for 
 ihe improvement of Ihc Schoola generally. The an- 
 nual Coiinly SchiMil Mecliiiga held by thu Secretary of 
 the Board, and bia able Indurea (of which he has 
 piihliahed a volume), together wilh bia eluNira'c an- 
 nual re|Kirla, have already reaiilted in a very great im- 
 provement in the Schoola of that Slate, lie has also 
 edited the Common School Journal; but the joiirnol 
 il>elf ia puhliahi'd hv a private laiok ealnhlishinent in 
 lioslun, and fiir ita conlonla tito Hoard of Kilucalion are 
 ni>t rcaponaible. In tH3H a wealthy and philanthropic 
 citiaen, T. Dwigbl, Kaipiire, placed nl the diH|Miaal of 
 the lion. llo'Hce Mann, .Secretary of the Hoard of 
 Kilucalion, the sum of $ilO,000, upon condition that 
 the C'ommonweullh would contributu the same amount, 
 to be didmraeil under the direction of lliu HoanI in 
 qualifying Teachers o| Common Schoola. The Nenate 
 and Aaaembly, by a joint resolution, nccepled Ihe pro- 
 posal, and other similar proposals aincu ; and llio result 
 is ihu ealabliahment of ihrcu Slate Normal Schools — 
 Iwo male, and one female. The Hoard has also rc- 
 commenili'd a series of honks for school libraries, 
 |iublislied by a bonkaellur in Boalon. Thus Ihe Board 
 has charge of the Statu Normal Schoola — recom- 
 mends library schiMil hooka — collects and dilTuses useful 
 information, and ninkea practical auggcations as lo 
 schnnis ; but, though including the Governor and 
 Lt. (iovernor among its iiieinliers, does not as a Board 
 administer the achiMil law of the Slate. 
 
 The system of manogemcnt which nblains In the 
 other New Kngland Slates, may he Inferred from the 
 folluwiiig concluding paragraphs uf the Report uf the 
 
IG 
 
 Mawncliufidts nnnrd nt Eduraticm, daled Dec. 4, 
 1846:— 
 
 " \V(' inimot ciincluclc lliis Roport wiiluMi wtiniit- 
 tiiii{ B few romnrkn riiih«r of n'jiicinir liiHii of [iiiile 
 at (lie rliHiiKei which liave rullciwcd thi" (•duciiliimnl 
 |iulicy iif our uwn Commnnwonhh, in oiher S|hIc». 
 
 " In ihe Stnle of Rhixle Island, under (lie nu.ti)ives 
 of th«l di.sliiiguished eduiatitini t, (Iciiry linrnnrd, 
 E«<)., Sl»le CiMiinmii Srhitul C'cimmissinnci, the 
 whide Sihixd Svsili'iii h.is been re-nrpmizcd and 
 groftlly improved ; n wise und ellicient Scliool Law 
 enar(cd, and a (lulilic senlini iil thoroughly revolu- 
 lioniied. Few Slaiis, If any, are now aiiimaled lijr 
 a beUiT spirit, or promise more f.ivoiirahle resuIlK, 
 on ttiis tuhjert, lluin (lie Stale of Hliode IsUind.* 
 
 • Tlw Sfho.ll l»« i.r llie Sc«l.' .if Ith.Klo I«l«nil, »hirh Ihi. 
 M«*«fliii*elt» IVwrtl of Ivtiu-fllioii icrni '* **isi« an ( i flirit'nl," eon- 
 fir* tifHtii ilic ('i>ininis»i>>nt?r nf ISiblio S**hiHif4 much irrfater 
 P)Wi»r« ihiin an' i>> wHriw.i liv lht> Suj^TinlfliHetit of S^-lioola for 
 piHT C'liru.U The Acl »%luch ««■« l»a»i«( in ISK, |)rovitit-4 itiut 
 Ihp fiHnmiH'.ion.T fthall Im' np[)oint4Ml by the QoTi-rnor of the 8l«u* 
 and iletinM liia itutii'S ai fttllows : — 
 
 o $ III. Th.. Comiiiuftiitner of Public Sohooli i« Hiit1)uriE«lt ami 
 .t u umdo 1:1* ililty — 
 
 "<f I. To a|ipt»rlit>n anniiaUy, ia iht* month of May, the inon«y 
 tppropri;iU><l lo rnhlic S^-loiul^, afh-r <l4iliK-(in}; Mich iinmi ft* may 
 Ik- !ij'tvi(ir«lly H]«nroprial»»t IjV tlit- (JciK-r;it AsM-mbly, aiin<iii; tJu' 
 aeri-ral town* «tf lnc>*l)iU-, in pro|>ortiim to the nuinhor I'f chiitlrfn 
 uniltT the ai^t'of tli^i*rn vi-ar«, a<-t><>nllnf> to tin' tvnttii* taltrn under 
 Ihi' auliioriiy of tin- I'nilotl Stut«*, lu-xt pri-cviliug tin.' liiao of 
 niakinK *ach apporliiiiinicnt, 
 
 '■ 'J. To ■ii;ii all onli-rs on thi) Gi'n«Tal Troaaunr, f'lr the pay- 
 inont of KUi-n apporlionriicnt in faionr of the IrentuiTr, of lUt h 
 towns ii« RliatI (^lUiply with the temis of this act, uu or befurv the 
 1st Jul^ ..imially. 
 
 *• X To prrpan' suitable forms and remtlati'Sns for mnkint; all 
 f«|>orla, am) tHitxhictin^ all niTi-Ssiiry procesilii>i;s uuik-r this act, 
 and lo transmit (tu- sano-, itith siith instnu'lions as he sbuli 
 df-m nivfsviiry an! prop' r for tlio uniform and ttiorotij^h adnii- 
 Di^lntion of the S-hool Systcnt. to the Town Clcik tif tach town 
 for dislnbutioii among the offii.'i>rs rt'tjuireil to vxtTute thcni. 
 
 •' 4. To atljitst and divide, vilbtml appr.il anl without rrtst to 
 Use iiarties, alt rontrovrr^ii-s and disputes ari^in:; under Ihi* act, 
 whicn may be Mituuiucd to hiui for as-itlcnifnt hmiI ih-s'ision i iho 
 fart^s of w^irh cases shall hf slats"! in wriliuj;, venftc'l liy oath 
 or atfinoalion if rc<pi.rcl. and accouipanied by certitiiHl copies of 
 alt ncceasary ininutca, contn»'''s, ord^-r--, and other docunn-nts. 
 
 ' 5, To visit as oAs'l) and as far as praclicnbl,-, eviry town in 
 
 Ihe Slate, for the nurjK'se of inspeeinn; tlip S*:Ii'> .Is, an<r difTusinj; 
 AS widely as |)os<iliK- tiy public ail ! -^nes, and JM-ivinal Columu- 
 tlication with ssdKnJ olftcsirs, tcaeht-r*. an<l pirvnla, a knowUnliro 
 
 .l..„:_-KI _ ... .1... _J..:. r 
 
 of cKtefinr ilefwl^, and desirable iiiipri.v, lat-uls in the adminls- 
 tritio-i of the systcio, aud the i^oscruiucnt and instructiua of the 
 Khuolt. 
 
 " fi. To reeommrnd Iha best (eit bxiks, an<1 socure, as far as 
 prmcticablu an uniformity, in the schools of at least every town; 
 and to assi't. when ce'1'.-d upon, in tlu.> estiiblisLuient ul^ and the i. 
 selection of iKiotis for school libraries, !; 
 
 ";. To eslabbsh al least c ne M.«M Sch.«J and Teaclieta' ; 
 Iiislilal" iu each cunty, and '.ne iboroiiKbly or);anlb-d N,irinjl 
 Hch-xd in the Sl;itc, sshiTe Teiirlin^ iiod such as propose i,> ' 
 teach, may tws'oine aeijnainted with the most approTesI ami 
 sui'c'ssful ineth'Mls of arran|{iii); the studieh, and comluctiiig the 
 discii'line and ioMnnli m of [lubiic ss-b"ois. 
 
 ' |j 
 
 " K. To appoint such and »o many inij.^.elors in i-ach coimtv, as ' 
 be shall from tune to tune dei-nt necessaiy, lo examine all '{^r- ^ 
 sons offeriii)^ theinselsea as randidat«*« for teaching putHtc sch'sils : 
 Bad to visit, insps-ct, ami n-p>rt, c^ucerninjj the patdic sclmola, '. 
 under such instriii'tioti* &• said t'oiniDi«sion<-r niav prevrdn- 
 yVof u/.J, tiiat (ss far as practicable Mich inspet-tors shall Im-, or ' 
 shall have been, esperielieeil tearbers, and shall sef^e without 
 any allowuuce or conips-nsation fr^ini the tjeiieral 'J'rcasurv. 
 
 "'I. I'o frsat ei-nificates .-f ijuatitication to an -b teacher* a* 
 bare bivn apfirovisl by < ns- or more county iiis|ios-tors, ami shall 
 give Witisfas-tory evidence of their moral ^haract^T. attainments, 
 and ability to K<ivrm and instruct cbitdren. !' 
 
 " 111. T" enter, or cause to Im- enlensl. in proper books to tw 
 m.nidtsl for the purpt*!' in his otfii'e, all divisions, letters, ivr- 
 ders >'n tbe Treasunr. and other acts a4 ('iiinaiuso.ner of Tub 
 Jic .Scb'i -Is i and to submit to the (j,heral .\s.u-mUv al tiir <r-to 
 ber sessi'Hi. an annual rs'port conlaiiiinfc, tojretlier with an acT'iiint 
 of his ir.n ilotngs, — 
 
 " f 'iril, — A stalemeift of the cnndition of I'utrlic fsebords, and 
 ibe mraiis of popular edueatlon ^•■nermlly in the state ; 
 " .ScTfimi,— llans and sttgj^estions for Ibeir lusprovement i 
 " 7^ir*/,— Huch otber mailers relatin}; to the 'lutii-s of his office, j, 
 «i b« usay deem iu«f\J and proiier ts) CLiimunicale." ^ 
 
 •♦ During the rccpnt wtsior of the Maino I,pgig|a- 
 tiire, a Boaril of Kdiieation for tliiit Stale wai> ovtii- 
 hliiiheil. ■(• cons(i(ii(ioii brum a sitoni; rvsrtnlilanrc (o 
 lliiit of the Masvnrhii«-«« Hiwril of Kiiiiialion, and itt 
 objtcis are identically the Mine. In onlcr to t-arry 
 on iOi work with more system and vin'ir, the lioaid it 
 ompowereil (o up|Miin( and employ a Secretary, whose 
 whole time is l<i lie tievuleil Iu (he imprDvement of (lie 
 mIkmHs. 
 
 " At '■•" last .session, iho Lei(isl,.iiire of die Slate of 
 New Hampshire, nl.so, uppuitiled a Coininon Sthoul 
 I'oinnitssioiier; ant), in the act eslidilisliin^ the ollit'e, 
 it is expressly providesl that (lie Coniniissioner shall 
 sgienil at least tweiily weeks, earli ye;ir, in visiting the 
 ijilleretit roiinties, ililiverin){ aililies,He», 8ie, He is (o 
 prepare (.lank forms for the s^huils, make an annual 
 report, atiil |H'rfiirm other servires incidental (o so ira- 
 portatil an olVite. 
 
 " In the auttiiiin si'ssinn of IS 15, the Ix-gislature of 
 Verniunt ri-i'rt;iiiiizeil its whole .system. It adopted 
 the genet.il fealtires "f llie system tinilur whirli the 
 State of N't w York, williin the hist fiw \ears, has 
 made .so i»raiifyiii); ami a.sliinisliiii); adv.iiices in the 
 c.ireer of impnivement. Tlin ilislini;uishiiii; I'caliire of 
 this .system is, a proiisioti for the app liiitmetit of a 
 Slate Siipeiinleiiilent fur ihe Slate, ol' one or ti.ote 
 ('otitily Su|n'rintrnileiits fur eaih county, and of a 
 Town Su| erititeniletit for eat h town. 
 
 " Thus five of the \irw Kiichitid Stutes are imw 
 zealously eti);ni;fil in the promotion of a cause, from 
 which pistcnly will mcive am|iliT and more prcci.nis 
 ble!!«ini;s, than if (hey Were (o inherit from their an- 
 cestors the rithest luiiies of silter anil t{"''ls inilieildetl 
 in a soil spontaneously tee mii^g with the choicest pro- 
 duclions of the earth." 
 
 It Will thus l>c seen that (wo out of the six N'ew 
 Eni;laiiil States administer their s< IhhiI hiWit as other 
 laws, Willi, Hit any geiicial sii|M'rinlendeii<e — (heir 
 local ami ancient aiH-iiil insliiiitioiis nut admiitiii); of 
 it; liul tli.ll they have lioaids of Kdiication for litniled 
 ami special pur|iOM's ; while llie other four Slates 
 have atlopteil the syslciu of the .Stale of \i'w York in 
 having a <,;euer.il SuiKTiniindenl or (Niinmissioner. 
 
 When il was determined to esialilish a Normal 
 School for the Slate ol New York, the follow ity; pro- 
 vision was made for its management : — 
 
 " By chap. .'JIl, laws of |8|i, ilie sum of f,9,00O 
 
 is appropriated for iheCnst >ear, and SilO,t»00 ni;,iiially 
 fur five VI iirs thereafter, and until otherwise dinrted 
 by law, for the i si,Milisliiiii til and siip|n>rt of a 
 'N'oHM.»I. SriiooL for the in^truclion and practice of 
 Teailiers of Cominoii Si himls in the w lent e of i duca- 
 tion and in tin.' :;'! of tiai liing.' 'I his inslilution is 
 ricpiired to !»• losated in the county of .Mliaii\ , and 
 is to tie under the su|iervisiim, nianaj^iineiit and 
 ilireriioii of till' Sii|H'riuti'n'lent of Coniriiiiii .SdiiMila, 
 and the lleoints of the rniversily, wh.i are aulliu- 
 rixo.l and rei|Uired 'from time to iim<v to make all 
 neeill'iil rules and iix"laiions; to f\\ the niimi.er 
 and ronipensation of tiai hi*'* end others (o la: ein- 
 ploycil therein ; to presirilM; the preliminary enami- 
 natain.and tin- lirins and .'oiidliions on whiili pupil* 
 shall he received and instructed therein — the nuin- 
 Ih'r of pupils fioiii the te.|KH'tive cities and (uunties, 
 conforming as tninly a< niai Ih" to the ratio of 
 population — to fix the losatioii of the said arloxd, 
 and the tiruis and londitioi mi which the j^iounils 
 and hiiiMings ihenTor shiill Ix' teiiled, if the saiiie 
 shall no! he |irovided hy the cor(Hiralion of .MhnliV; 
 and lo provide in all things for the ni"«l government 
 and maniiiji'meiit o( the said »«hool.' Tliey ar« 
 nspiirvd to ap|Kuiit a iHiard, consisting of Cvu ^»•r- 
 
 % 
 
17 
 
 ■lirio L«.gi«|,. 
 I'<' Wild e»(ii. 
 Iwinliliinro to 
 jtiiin, and it* 
 lilw lo carry 
 I'lic Koiiiil i, 
 
 V'lIlciK of (In, 
 Jll"^ Siflie (if 
 
 |l"l"l Sll((H<| 
 
 •lio "(lire, 
 
 veiling liw 
 III' i-i III 
 
 ' «'l Hllllllill 
 
 r'tl 111 XI jiD- 
 
 ^K'^'wdiro <if 
 
 '• «'N>|ile(J 
 
 wliiili i|,e 
 
 >»•«", lillS 
 
 '""• in ihf 
 
 1,' (laliiri' iif 
 
 lini'iil iif ii 
 
 ' "r ri.iire 
 
 iiii'J iif It 
 
 •onH, including the Siifierintendent of Common Schools, 
 who are lo corutitulu nn exuciitive commitlve for the 
 CHrc, roiinagenicnl anil government of the School, 
 under lliu rules prescribed hy the Hoard of Regents. 
 Such executive commilico are lo muke full and detailed 
 re|)orl.s, from lime to time, to the Su|>erintondent and 
 Regents, and among other things to recommend such 
 rules anil regulations as Ihey may deem pro|)er fur 
 said schools, 
 
 " The Su|)erinlrnilenf and Regents are required 
 tinnunlly 4o transmit to the Legislature an account 
 of tlioir prooecilings and ex|iendilures, together with 
 a dvlnilcil rr|iiirt from the executive committee, re- 
 lating to the progrciis, condition and prospects of the 
 f^hool. 
 
 " ExecxUive Commillee. — lion. Samuel Young, 
 Stale Snperinlundenl, Rev. Alonzo Poller, D. U., 
 Rev. William II. Ciim|il)cll, Gideon Hawlcy, and 
 Francis Uwighl, Ksquires.'' — Mr. RandaWa Digut 
 of the Common School System of the State of New 
 York, \>. 335. 
 
 The Regents of the University ar« a body which 
 liavi; lieeii in exi^lnnco more ihiin sixty years — their 
 sixllclh anniiiil rcpcrt having bcnn printed. They 
 consist of the (iiivcrnor, Lieutenant Governor, and 
 Secretary of Slale, e.c officiis, and twenly other mem- 
 Ihts, appoirileil for life ; and have Ihe visitation of all 
 Colleges iinil Academies receiving aid from the State, 
 and the appropriation of money for books, apparatus, 
 and the aid of Colleges and Academies upon certain 
 conditions ; but have no connexion with the adminis- 
 Iralion of Ihe Common School law Iwyond lie regu- 
 lalions and apiHiinlnient of the Committco for the 
 management of llio Stale Normal School. It was 
 aficr this example that Ihe Hoard of Education for 
 TpiK-r Canada was consliliiled — giving the Su|)erin- 
 tdident of Schoids in Upper Canada less, and the 
 Hoard more power, than in the Stale of New Vork ; 
 the Conimilico there having nothing lo do with school 
 b<K>kfi, Ihey lieing amon^ the instructions of the Supcr- 
 inlendenl, — lo wlicpin also the annual rejwrU of the 
 Kxoculive Comiiiittco are made, the Superintendent 
 comilersigning Ihem ami expressing his concurrence 
 ill llicni ; nor are the Kxecutive Committee or even 
 Ilcgenis of the University authorised to do any thing 
 in llic adiniiiislratioii of ihe Common School law, or 
 even lo give ailvico to Ihe Sup<>rinlendenl if he should 
 ask il, Tliey wore copsliiiiled for other purposes ; 
 and were .'o more consliliilid fir the general adiiiini.s- 
 tratiiin of (he school law, than was the Council of 
 King's College at Toronto. 
 
 We liavr ihiis given the origin, conslilution and 
 .ilijccis of iliii Sliilu lioanls uiiil Commillucs of Kduca- 
 tion il, llif c(junirics from which llie Canadian school 
 syNtom liiis Itfi ilcrivtil. In every instance do those 
 Hoards imiudu the (iovcrnor or responsible head of a 
 dipiiriiiielil of eaili Slalo in whiiii lliey are eslab- 
 liKlieii ; in no itislance are they connected with the 
 general admiiii.slralion of llie school law ; in no in- 
 .Maiicii are ihev inveslod with as l.'r)j;e powers as have 
 been coiilerrei! oii llie Hoard of F.ilucalion for Upper 
 Caiiiula; and in every iii.slaii'e are the powers of the 
 .Siiile Commissioner or Slate Su|>erintelident of Schools 
 Uiealer in the United Stales than Ihoso which have 
 U'cn conferred upon the Suiicrintendent of Schools for 
 Up[H^r Canada. 
 
 The inquiry may arise in the minds of some readers, 
 why il is that in every free country, Imlh F.uropean 
 ami AiiiericHii, bolli monarchical and republican, 
 where a ^{eiieral system of elementary inslruclion has 
 lieen eslablished by legislative enactincntj, its admin- 
 istration has been placed in the hands of an individual 
 head of a departineul, and in no instanco in tho hands 
 
 of a Board or Committee } The answer is obvious, 
 that the administration of a law by a Board it at 
 variance with the practice ot free Kovernments in all 
 their ordinary departments, and is the principle of 
 irresponsible oligarchy, while Ihe administratioD of it 
 by a salaried head of a department is an enential 
 elomeot of the principle of practical responsibility. 
 How can Ihe principle of personal responsibility be 
 applied to the acts of a Board f Is the Council Board 
 of King's College, Toronto, responsible .' Not only is 
 |>ersonal responsibility divided, but it cannot be known 
 what individual members have or have not been partiei 
 to particular acts : nor can any penalties be justly in> 
 flicled upon unsalaried persons for what is gratuitously 
 performed. But an individual head of a department 
 can be called upon to account for every thing that he 
 does ; and his acts can be arraigned before the Govern- 
 inent or Legislature, and he be dismisaed for any 
 neglect of duty, or abuse, or improper exercise of 
 power. Acting under a responsibility in which his 
 character and prospects in life are involved, an indi- 
 vidual will not only seek tho best information from 
 men and biMiks, but act with corresponding caution and 
 energy. The only way to have this principle of eflec- 
 livo responsibility applied to a Board, is to have each 
 member of it the recipient of a salary — to require that 
 its acts should bo unanimous, and of course the atten- 
 dance of its memlx'rs unanimous, and that each mem- 
 ber should be responsible for every act. This, however, 
 would be n departure from the ordinary practice of 
 responsible government by heads of departments — 
 would greatly increase expense — would impede if not 
 in mony instances, altogether obstruct the performance 
 of administrnlive duties — would be a fruitful source of 
 discord ; while Ihe dismissal of a number of men for 
 an individual act would bo attended with inconve- 
 nience in various respects. 
 
 Tho reason is, therefore, obvious why our successive 
 administrations of Government since Ihe Union of the 
 Canadas, acting upon tho principles of practica' res- 
 ponsibility, have provided both in law and practice 
 that tho new department of Elementary Instruction 
 should bo adminiiitered as arc other departments ; and 
 the nature of the case, as well as tho practice of other 
 counti ies, has suggested the propriety of tho provision 
 of ihu present School Act, in separating the department 
 of elementary instruction from any political oflice, as 
 had been done in Lower Canada, while the responsi- 
 bility of it is greatly increased by the many additional 
 and important duties attached to it. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Copy of a Memorial of the Municipal Council of 
 the Gore District lo the Legislature, on the sub- 
 ject of the School Act, 9th Victoria, Chapter 20 ; 
 adopted by the Council lOth November, 1847. 
 
 " The Commillee appointed lodraA n Memorial to the 
 Legislature on ihe subject of the School Act, respcc- 
 fully beg leave to present llie same : 
 
 " To the Honourable the Legislative Assembly in 
 Provincial Parliament Assembled : 
 
 " The Memorial of Ihe Gore District Municipal Coun- 
 cil : 
 
 Kespbctfullv Shbwkth : 
 
 That from tho great dissatisfaction manifes- 
 ted throughout the District with tho new School Act, 
 and feeling deeply sensible of tho importanco of a sys- 
 tem of Eluineulary Instruction suited to the wants of 
 
 Ol 
 
18 
 
 lb* pMpla, your MemorinlinU are indurf <l lo bring ihc ] a y""ng mRti nf »nch exrellpnt rliamrler n n canilr 
 
 Mbject under the Di>tice orVour Hoouuralilo Uixl}, witl 
 • view to obtain, by IvgirUuive enarlment, mm h inodi- 
 ficalioD of (he aid Act, m will simpliry ilii prntinions 
 M)d roeder it Vim expensiro in ill u|)«rali«ns, or (ilh"r- 
 wiie thv MibditutJdO of ihr Aoti repealeil by tlie -ith 
 •nd &lh Vic, Chap. 18, witli surh iiin>'n(lnicnt« as will 
 ia conformity with the MunitipRlity Aci, M<nire ibew 
 ratulti. 
 
 " Your Mcmurialitta belierc, that the Act in quosli>Hi 
 is too unwieldy and compliratfil in ita innchinrry to 
 be worked auccosirully by the parlii's eiripuwcrcil in 
 carry out and enforce il» pnivisloni. and (hat Iho 
 monfyn required to pay the Provinrial nnd Divriit 
 Suprrintvndent^ as w«'ll as tlmso lakcii fri>m llm 
 School Fund for (he BsliiHishinenl nnd siipimrl of Nor^ 
 Dial and Model Srliool^ are litllc Ivus 'hun n'n>le of so 
 much of the [^pgi.ilalive Ornnt, or ollii-r fuiidH rHisi-d 
 for the iiuppcr( of Common Schools which may I* 
 applied to thoae purposes. 
 
 " Wi(h relerencc to the working of ihc Act, il miiy ' 
 
 be remiirked, Il M the dutios impostMl uimjii Tri;sli-c« 
 are of (pi onerous a nalure, to indulp? a ho|ie iIihI lliey 
 will be efficiently, if at nil, performed in (he rural 
 School Seclions ; and indeed when il is n'en bv ihc 
 Chirf Superintcndenl's Re^x^rl, llial mIh)iiI icn illiroroiil 
 li>rTas, wilh numerous explanalions of ibe same, urn 
 linind ncceinary fbr the guidance of iliis class of olli- 
 cers, in the least imporlanl part of tlieir funrtions, il is 
 obvious too much limo, trouble, and riireful applicalion 
 are exacted, when the whole of their duties are luken 
 into consideration. 
 
 dale i« required to be, by the Vnl ions 1 1)011 rd of Edu- 
 cation in Ireland, lo enter a Normal Schmil, (paj{e 36 
 of saiil l{e|Hirl,] and liiivuig the advimlage of i;o(hI 
 education Ite^iides, need only turn to the right hinid or 
 to the lelt, to make his wrvices much more ngtccablo 
 and |)rolilRhle to him>elf lliun in llie drudgery of teach- 
 ing a Common School, »l a salary of Iwcnty-ninu 
 |H>unds per annum, wliidi is llie average amount paid 
 .'^chiMil Teachers liir llie year 1H43, as sel fi>rlli in Ap- 
 pendix No. 2, t'l Ihe said lle|)4>rt ; nor do ymir Memo- 
 rialists lio|)e to provide ipiiilified Teachers by any other 
 meims in Iho pre>enl circumstances of ihu cuunlry, 
 lliau securing, as l» rrlofoie, the servit. s o; ihose whoso 
 Physical Di^abililies from age render lliis mode of 
 olilaining a liveliliooil the only on; suited lo lliuir 
 deciyinu eneigles, or liy employing such of llie niwly 
 arrived Kmlgrnnts us are cpialifn d for Common School 
 Teachers, yeiii by year, as ihey come amongst u*, and 
 who will ud<ipt (his as u meuiis of leMi|Mirary supfiort, 
 until llieir char^cler and abilities ate known audlurnv«i 
 lo heller account for iheinselves. 
 
 " Your Memorialists would also beg leave to repre- 
 sent iImiI the sums rcipiired lo pay a Provincial Sii|>er- 
 intendent as liefore slated — ii Cleik and ilic ci«iliiigi-n- 
 cies of his office, ainouuliiig, as is sup|Nised, to MHlie 
 eight or nine hundred pounds, as well as those (uiid lo 
 twenty District Su|icrintciidenls, wliii li will, if all art- 
 paid in pru|>or(ion to that uHlccr in this Distrut, amount i 
 to three thousand |Miund.s more, making the whole fall '. 
 little short of four thousand |niunds |ier annum ; would, ;i 
 in the opinion of your Memo.ialists, lie more profiialily it 
 applied in ihc |>«yraeiil ol Common School Teachers. 
 
 " Wilh reference to a N'irmal ScIkhiI, coninining 
 one nr m.iiw Elementary Model Stlio.|-, esialdislied 
 by the 5ih Clause of the ScIumiI .Vi I, Memorialists liml 
 that the sum of fifteen hundred pnund>, arc aporopri- 
 alcd lo procuring and furnishing ilie ncxessjirv build- 
 ing, and a like sum for the payiueni nl' Teiuliers' ,■ 
 salaries, and other contingent expenvs; U'siiies wliidi j 
 it is staled by the Chief Su(Hriiileiideiil lo ihe K.'|Mirt , 
 alreaily alluded lo, llial ' llie ex|Hrieiite of olh. r < nun- | 
 tries, kimihirly siluutud to uurs, suiricienlly shows how 
 mach th« current expenses of such an eslablislimeiit 
 must exceed ihssuni graulcd loald ui<UriH)iiiK 'hem,' 
 — thus showing, dial the large sum of ilu.e ijiouaaml 
 pounds are lakeii from llie Coiiiinon Si IhhiI funds for ■ 
 Ihe current >e.ir, and the sum of lifieei. Iiundnd (.ouuds, ^ 
 with as much more as ihu ciirn iii ex|Mnscs will exceol 
 (he latter amount, will be reqiiirfil annually llieiialtir, 
 for (he maiiitenence of this de|iartini iil of Uiilion, with- 
 out, as your Memorialists most seriously Is litve, anv 
 boiirfu derived by thu community from an outlay of such 
 roagiiituiie. 
 
 "Your Memorialisls having now had tlicexiM-rience 
 of the working of several Common Si hisd .\rls, arc 
 of opinion, lliiil nolwitlislanding (he atiscncc ol all 
 l/i'gislalivH provision, llie .^cls repiahd liy llie tlh and 
 .'ilh Vic. chap. IK, oiierated more elficienlly, and gave 
 more general salisfadion than any since suhslituteil, 
 andyoiir Meinorialisls Iwlieve that Ihe same might bo 
 reslon'il, with such amendments hs will make ihu Dis- 
 trict Councils Ihwrds of Ediicniion, with full |>ower to 
 lux fiir School purjioses, ec iiiinuiiig the Legislative 
 grant, transferring the duties |)er(iirmed by the Siiperiti- 
 lenileiils lo the Distrirt Chrks, nnd making such other 
 amendments as may Iw found necessiiry to carry out 
 iliesi! and such other alteialions an will lie rei|uiri d hv 
 11 the Muniri|>nl .Vci ; lir this means a saving will l» 
 I made for the iHinelil of the Common School Fund of 
 j aUwl s.x ihousfliHl |H>iiiids per animiT), and th<' object 
 ' obdiiMi-d ol" giving lo the [x.-ople a Sehisil Act, simple 
 I ill its provisions, cheap in its management, and wull 
 iiiiderstoofl in its o|iernlions. 
 
 " Your Memorialists would, thercttin!, prav voiir 
 Honourable Hmiy would ho grariiMisly pleased lo lake 
 the preinities into coiisiileraiioii, and adopt sm h mode of 
 relief, as lo your lloiiorahli' H.iilv inav vi'iii til, and 
 vour .MetnorialisLs, as in duty Ixiiind, will ever prav. 
 
 " All wliu h is respe« tfully subinitli d. 
 
 (Signed,) JAMES I.ITTI.E, 
 
 f 'Aiiirmnu. 
 .lOIIV WmiE. 
 FRANCIS ( AMKIUiy. 
 
 " CouKciL Cnambcr, 
 
 llainilton, Nuveiubvr Khh, 1847." 
 
 "With respect to iho necessity of eslablisliing a 
 Normal, wilh Elementary Woilel S.hnols in this Pnv 
 viiKe, MornorlHlists .ire of ojiinion, Ihal however Will 
 
 i 
 
 .No. 5. 
 
 f'opfl nf thf I'riHt'rilitiKs of thf Munii-ifinl Council 
 ot llie Colhornf iJialrirl, iii irifiiril lo Iht Mr- 
 vmrUil <7 'Ae (loir hialrict CoiiticU, lo tht 
 l.mialultvf A$.sriiittlii, uu Ihr guhjrct of t.'otnimm 
 ScluHiU. 
 
 " Till' Standing Coinniiiti* on Cinimon Si h.viU to 
 whom was ref.rn d llie MnnoH'^l of I' Mnniriitnl 
 
 adii|.ied such an Insliiulion might b« l» tin- waiiu »t \ Council of thr flnrr Ditlrirl, to Ihr f.ri(i>ilaiir» 
 
 llie old nnd den si I) popul.iii d fouiitriis of F'U pe, 
 where services in almost every vrKulion will st.irielv 
 yield the common necis«aries of life, ihev ate, so far 
 as this ofijert ex(i<-clpd to Iw gained is rom. rn<d, allo- 
 Ifether unsuited (o a country like I'pper Canada, win re 
 
 .l.«siniWi/, o; th' siihjec' of Ci'iiiiii'm Schools, 
 lieg leave lo lU.'p<irl : 
 
 " Thill ) our Committee have mnturelv considered 
 ihe ohjieis conlemplaled in the Memorial of the Muni- 
 
 m 
 
10 
 
 cipxl Council nf Ihe Gorn Di»irict, niiit the reasons 
 ofTt-red ihi-rcin for llie nttcrnlions in ihe |irownt Stliool 
 Law, (leiiircH by the Memoriatinl*, are i>f o|iiMion, that 
 il is nut expedient that your Honourable Council should 
 connmit itself tn the course ri'commendcd by the Mem- 
 rialisti; numely, to co-opi-riite wiih the other District 
 Councils throughout the Provini'c, in endeavouring to 
 procure the re|)enl of the existing School Act, and the 
 revival of the Acts repeuled by the 4lh and 5lh Vic- 
 toria, chap. 18. 
 
 " Vour Coinmiltec beg leave re!'|>ectfuliy to add, that 
 ihcy conceive the provisioii.s of llio A('ts proi)osed lobe 
 ri'vived, so inapplicable to the present circuiunlunces of 
 this Province, the powers conferred by Ihein so inmlo- 
 (]inile, nnil (he moans lliey provide as agents or iiistru- 
 nieiits for cnrryiiig on the great work of Popular 
 FMuialion, M) (llsproportioiied lo the results expected 
 ami needed by iIk' people, lliiil ihc an eiidineuls which 
 must be eillier tiow inlroduced into lliein, or which a 
 very slinrt priiitical experience of their working would 
 sliow lo be indispen>>able, wcndd produce a inassuf leg- 
 isliilianiniii'h inxre ' unwieldly and complicated' than 
 the law for which it is proinweil to substitute (hum, 
 
 " However desirable il may be lo liave ' simple and 
 clieap' eudclnients lor ihe conrluct and support of 
 SrhiHiJs, it is much uioro ejueiilial (hut these enact- 
 ments ^hnulil uls» l>e eiru'ienl ; ami llial they should so 
 proviilo lor the conlroul and ex|ieiidilure of the public 
 money, the supervision of ihe Schools, and above all, 
 the "deipiate supply ut conipi'lent and well-trained 
 Teachers, so that iho rising geiiinition of Upper Ca- 
 nada may be i)repared at least o make some near 
 approach lo thai place in the social scale, which their 
 more inlelligeul, because heller cdurated, neighbours 
 now ilirealen to inonop(dixe. That the youth ol Iho 
 rund Districts of this flue I'rovinco are much b<>hind 
 the age, and that this inlVriorily is aolely owing to iha 
 defective system of Piihlic: Instruction with which the 
 {leoplu have lieen urged to ri'maiu content, are mournful 
 j'acis whit il no omr can ilcny, and wlii. )i read but a 
 sorry coinineiil on ihe laws the Memorialists propose 
 to revive. 
 
 "That ' llic moneys reipiired to pay for the estab- 
 lish.^ient and support of Normal and .Model Schotds 
 are little less than a wasic of so much of Ihe Legisla- 
 tive grant,' il an opinion, in which your Committee 
 are so far from roncurrini;, thai they liilieve il is from 
 ihesc sources must mainly arise tlie inslrumentality 
 through which Ihe frienils of F.iliicalion can alone lio|ie 
 for the tirsi ninsidcrable ameliiration of the evils they 
 I itneni ; and lliev can only re;;rel thai Ihe great benefits 
 ihev anticipate I'rnin lliese Insliliilions must necessarily 
 be larilv in llieir operation. Nor can yair Coiiiiniltee 
 rrroncile it either with their jn^l expectations, or 
 iheir sense nf duly, In resi satisfied with 'the services 
 of lliosi' 1 lidse I'liysiial I)i«aliililies frnni age and 
 decaying energies ' reniler tliein until ; or of those 
 'newlv arrived Fniiuranis' wlin>e 'iinktiown character 
 and abilities' render ilietn unable tn pnKuie a live- 
 lihoeil liy any oiher means than by becoming the 
 preceptors of iMir 1 liildren ; the dicliiturs cf their sen- 
 timents and manners; the guardians ef their virtue ; 
 and, in a liii;li degree, the masters of llieir (utiiru 
 destinies in thii world and the next. 
 
 " Your Coinmitteo are ol opinion, from the lies( 
 infonnation they have been able to collect, tlial ' the 
 dissaiisfaclion manifesleil ihronghoiii llio (Jure District 
 with the new School .\i I,' is far from lieinu; general 
 in other parts of the Province ; and that on llie con- 
 trary, as the existing hiw iM'cotnes Iiettei' understood ; 
 as ihe ilinic'iihies, in most rases imaginary, which at 
 first iiilertered with the proper disi harge of the iliilie.. 
 of Trustees, are explained or dispelled ; as an enlight- 
 
 ened public opinion shall gradually be brought to bear 
 on the parts assigned to Visitors and District Supcrin- 
 lendents, impelling them to a more vigorous J 
 effective discharge of the important trusts confider? to 
 thorn ; as the Normal and Model Schools begin to 
 yield their legitimate fruits ; and as the blighting effects 
 of employing men as School '"eachers who are, neither 
 in manners nor in intellectual eiulowments, much above 
 the lowest menials, shall press less and less heavily upon 
 the mental and moral habitudes of the rising generation, 
 the great boneAts to be derived fiom the present Com- 
 mon School Act, and its immense suneriorily over all 
 former Schixil laws of Upiier Canada, w;ll become 
 more and more confo».sed and appreciated. Already 
 that public apathy, which is the deadliest enemy to 
 improvement, is shiwiy yielding lo the necessity im- 
 posed by Ihe preseit law upon Trustees and others, of 
 acquiring extended information ; of entering with a 
 deeper interest into all matters connected with Com- 
 mon 8(Ikx)Is ; and of joining with Visitors, Su|>erin- 
 tonilonts and Municipal Councillors in a more active 
 and vigilant oversight of them. Il should not bo 
 considereil a too sanguine expectation to look confi- 
 denlly forward to u period not very distant wher. the 
 admirable marhinery of tho present law ; its active 
 and zealous Chief Su|>erintendent ; its Normal and 
 Model Schools ; its Di.strict and Township School 
 Libraries ; its Visitors and Tiustecs, shall begin to 
 pimluce in Upper Canada, the mighty intellectual and 
 moral reformation which similar institutions have 
 already effected in other lands : but it is quite too 
 much to ex|)ect, that in an existence of little more than 
 one year, with many of its mos: impurtnut agencies 
 yet in embryo, and others totally ino|)erativc, in the 
 face of prejudices, agaiikst much ignorant, and .some 
 wilful opposition, amongst a population in many places 
 as unprepared to comprehend as to accept its advan- 
 tages, — that under .such circumstances, it could already 
 have prn<luccd results at all commensurate with the 
 pecuniary expense of its first introductici. That which, 
 it is believed, will prove a most mateiial nnil beneficial 
 adjunct to the present School law, in disseminating 
 useful information, and fostering a just appreciation of 
 its more minute and detailed arrangements, — the 
 * Journal of Education,^ — has made its appearance 
 only during the present month ; when it shall have 
 secured the patronage and attentive perusal of every 
 ollicer concerned in the admiui.stration of School af- 
 fairs, but little, it is hoped, will l>e heard nf ihe 
 dirticully of carrying out the provisions of the present 
 School law. 
 
 "The recollection of Ihc incalculable evil of perpe- 
 tuating incc»,sant changes in the Scho<d laws of the 
 Province, changes which were as loudly clamoured 
 for during tho operation of the law recommended lobe 
 revived by the Memorialists as of any subsequent 
 enactments, has concurred with the foregoing couaide- 
 rnlinns, in iletermining your Committee lo recommend 
 no fundamental alterations in the existing law. Vour 
 Cornmitti<e, during the examination of this momen- 
 tous question, have Iwen deeply impressed with the 
 conviction that most, if not all, of the defects com- 
 plained of, are chargeable, not .so much upon the law, 
 as upon the administration of it, and this applies 
 peculiarly lo the oHice of District Superintendent ; 
 the vigorous and faithful discharge of the duties of this 
 officer, cannot, in the estimation of your Committee, 
 be too vigorously insiste.'. on. In the course of his 
 visits III the Schools, and his intercourse with Teachers, 
 Trustees, and Visitors, lie bus it in his power, far 
 above any other iiiilivid4al connected with hical School 
 manag>>nient, to give a tone lo public sentiment ; to 
 stimulate Teachers and pupils to a more earnest and 
 diligent application in their respective spheres ; to 
 exalt the sla'idard of popiilar Education ; to origi- 
 nate and procure the adoption of plans for improving 
 
11 
 
 20 
 
 il 
 
 the internal sirarturo and regulation of Schools ; to 
 allny (lisMnMons ; in inculcatu s<nind moraiily •: — in 
 sliorl, lo cnligliten, invigorate, and controul nearly »'l 
 tlie suliurdinato agciiciva emjiioycd in (ho wido range 'j 
 of the present Common School system ; and ho who [ 
 does less than this, cumcs short of the just exjiorta- ■, 
 tions of the framers of the law, and fuils lo contribiilc 
 his share to iirtxliice the satisfactory ami beneficial i 
 working of it. When the public voice shall unite j 
 with his own awakened sense of duty, to imiml this 
 oOicor lo bo present at, and take an active pari in 
 every public quarterly examination of every School 
 in each District, thi-n, and not till then, may we hop« 
 to see the present School law ot|ual to the ?'- gcncc it 
 was intended to meet. 
 
 " In a measure so com|>rehensivo as the present 
 Comnnon School Act, involving such vital interests, it 
 WHS scarcely possible that no defect should appear to 
 exist, or that no changes should seem desirable, when 
 iti> practical ilelails were brought to the test of a widely 
 diversified ex|ierience ; and some suggestions, chiefly 
 regarding the duties and accountability of District 
 Superintendents, will be olfered for the consideration 
 of the Council, in n Report which your Committee 
 will l)e called on lo offer o;i the printed Circular of the 
 Superintendent of ICdiication, dated Toronto, 14th 
 January, 18-18. Vour Committee are of opinion, 
 thi.t in the |M)wer to appoint and remove at pleasure, 
 and fix the salary ef the District Sujwrintendent, Dis- 
 trict Councils have as much controul over this officer 
 as it is exjiedient they shouM possess, with the exceji- 
 tion of the financial (le|inrtment of his duties. 
 
 " All whiih is ref|H!ctfully submitted, 
 
 (Signed,) THOS. BENSON, 
 
 Chairman. 
 " Municipal Codncii, Chamber, 
 
 Colborne District, 8lh February. 1818." 
 
 No. 6. 
 
 benevolent intention ; that its objact was to secure to 
 the whole (leoplo the benefiti of a Common School 
 education — providing fur the MtaUishmcnt of both 
 elementary and su|)erior Common Schools — protecting 
 the religious feelings of each class of the community — 
 rendering the S.duols accessible lo lh« poor, by pro- 
 viding for their relief from the |>aymonl ui' Schutd rates 
 — and evidently contemplating tha true theory of public 
 instruction under a constitutional government, the co- 
 operation ofthu government, and the |)cople, in ila admi- 
 nistration. 
 
 But with these general objects, and with many ex- 
 cellent provisions for accomplishing them, the .\ct is 
 intricate and lame in many of its details, and altogether 
 defective in some essential pn)vision^ ; and it contains 
 some provisions which are inroni|)alible wilh other pro- 
 visions of the Alt itself ; and oiheis again which are 
 not in harmony with the principles of our general system 
 of government. 
 
 By com|iaiing the Act wilh the Common School 
 Law of the neighlK>uring Slate of Now- York, it will 
 bo seen that the princi|>al 'iroviHions of our Act, in 
 regard to every class of Olficcrs mentioned in it, and ir. 
 res|«'cl to the whole t>y.slem of procueiliiig, is Iwrrowcd 
 from the New-Y'oik Statute, wilh the alteriilions and 
 chiinges of terms only, which our Municigial Institutions 
 and phraseology rendered absolutely necessary. 
 
 .And in this ailuption of the New-York School Law, 
 two things seem lo hare lieen ovurlooked. 1st. The 
 difference U'lwein the workings of a dcniocralic Kc- 
 [lublic and those of a lles|K)nsiblr system of Govern- 
 ment under a Constilulional .Monarchy. 2nd. There 
 is no provision for the exercise of >hc same executive 
 authority over the system of public instruction wilh that 
 which has been provided for in the State of .\ew-York. 
 The functions of the Kcgenlsuf the rnivcrslty, and the 
 I most nmlcrlul |Kiwers of the Superinlemlentof Sc'iools, 
 I — constituting the regulator, if not the main-spring of 
 the New- York sys 
 Act. 
 
 ystem— are wanting in the Canadian 
 
 Without adverting to the diilics of that important 
 IkhIv, called llic Ri'jjiMils of the Inivcrsily, I will rc- 
 
 Cop\ of a Ltlter from the Chitf Superinlrndent o^ ^ _ 
 
 SchooU/or Ipfter CntMdaJo the fivcrHary ofthe i maVk, il.at" in res|")Lc'i I., the St^ito Si.,',i,iini'..,.".:i!':-7( 
 Provirtce, rjcpoundinir and recommerulir>fi the ■ ->"- ^. • y.. . . 
 
 ori/final Draft of the Common School Act, 'Jth ! 
 Vicl., ch. 20. 
 
 Edccatio.v OfKicE, (West,) 
 Cul«urg, March 3rd, 1846. 
 Sib, 
 
 In ol)o<liencc to the commands of His Excellency, 
 the Administrator of the CovcrnmenI, conveyed by 
 your letter of the Mlh ultimo, I have the honour to 
 submit, for His Excellency's consideration, the follow- 
 ing r»"narks anil suggestions on the Common School 
 Act, 7ih Vic, Cap. xxix, {(lasswl in 1843.) together 
 with the anncxeil Draft of a proposed School Bill. 
 
 Many of the olisi!rvntions which I make in this paper 
 will Hjipcar to disiuivantage in the alm-uco of r, Report 
 on a Sytlem of Puhtir Elemxmtary Inst'uclum for 
 Upper Canada ' yK\w\\ I hope to bo able to submit 
 to His Exiillency Ixifore the meeting of the Legis- 
 lature, or very shurlly afterwards. 
 
 My present remarks and suggestions will be confined 
 to the .School Act itself, and shall be made in as few 1 
 words as possible. | 
 
 From a careful examination of the present Act, (of tl 
 1843,) it is obvious that it was constructed with a li 
 
 f 
 
 • T»iUI!i-f-.rt •Mmn«n.ill..llh<j:ihi.f IhiMinim.inlh.uiill*,, , 
 wUli'jaa of II bs«* Iwm priai«<i hj orJcr . f ih« IIuiuc of AkwiiiIiI/, ] 
 
 ...H.», ...... ,1. ,^..j.^^. ... ..... ...V-.... •-..f.v.i.i. h.. , y..i, 
 
 as we term the same Olfuer, r'Aif/"Sii|>erinti.iic'.'nl,)it 
 is provided, " Thai, if any person who consolers him- 
 self aggrieved by any dcci-ion made by any School 
 district Meeting, or any deci-iion in rcgiird to the ;illor- 
 ing, torining or relusing lo form or alli r any School 
 district, or in r«>gHrd to paying any TuiicIiit, or refusing 
 to |iay him, or in refusing to admit any scholar gratuit- 
 ously into any School, on account of alleged inability 
 to pay ; or, in fine, cimcemiuff any matter ariaing 
 under the ffeneral School Imu\ in.iy ap|H.al to tho 
 Su|iorinleijilent of Common Si.liiH)N, ami his dcclNion 
 U|ion ihe ra^e is liiiiil and coiirlu'<iiu." Not a shadow 
 of any part of this jHiwir in vented in ihe liiimls of the 
 .Su|iciint*'nilent of PMuc.iiloii in l'{i|H'r Camilla, nor 
 even in the (iovcriior in Council. Nay, the (Jovernor 
 in Count il ilix.'^ not iiow.ss so much uuthorily in the 
 adininislralion nf llio Law as ,\n\ Couiily or Town.slilp 
 Sii|K'rintindent, or even the Iruslics of any single 
 SrhiHil Dislrii't. Tho lioverninvnl has no aiilhorily 
 whatever to inieiferu wilh the doings of any County, 
 Township, or St l.ool distiici, in L'p|ier Caaada. 
 
 There ran lie ;io Provincial system of Educalion — 
 except thai of a|i|sirlioniiig i.ioliey — where there is a 
 eompleteOy inile|M'inleul [nmer in each of ihu Silio<iN, 
 in regard lo Ui'.h the Uxiks and regulations of tho 
 School — a tulijuit on which the (Sovernmcnt iliulf is 
 not ufilliorize'l to say a single word ! 
 
 Il is true that the spirit ofthe people is very far from 
 being coiifurinablc t > tho provisions >>( tho Act. .Ml 
 
SI 
 
 pnrlicH liiivo liui'n in llin liiibit ul iip|iptliiig In (lie Sil- 
 i)rriiil(Mi<lvnt mi ilnulitfnl and ili.H|iultMl (|uc»licin<, and 
 lie liax bt'iMi in lli« ciinvlnni hiiliit nr lircidiiig U|>im 
 tlic'in : liiit iIktc is no law I'lr eithitr llio one nr llie 
 olIiiT ; lliu wIkiIu ciiurso of priiccciliiig lius lieen vnlun- 
 Inr^', and diclu(t>d by necewily and llio rilnesR oi things. 
 
 The Aclaullu'rizvslhe ChirfSuficrinlFnilent tndraw 
 up Kiihin nnd Hcguhilinng for Hchnols; hut nn imo is 
 n><|iiiro<l III iihsorvu them. The 65lh Svrtion provide* 
 thiit Ihu i|iiidi'^i'iilion of 'IVaohuri of M<iilel Schools shall 
 Iw iiltpslcd In iho principal Teacliert of a Normal 
 ScliiMil, iifier It shall have lii-oii oslahli^hcd ; but the 
 Alt nii.ki'M no provisiDii for Ihu esliihlishmenl of such 
 (I SrIiDiil. Sliniliir dvft'cts and unnmalii's [icrvado the 
 (lelails of the Acl. 
 
 Bcliiro procncding lo oITit any snggcstions f.ir amend- 
 ing tilt' Act, I Ix'g to lay diiWii two or tliron principles 
 wiiicli I consider lundaini'iilal. 
 
 If it lir iiitcnilcil that ihi- tystem of pnlilir instnic- 
 (inn III' I'rovinciid. or Niilinnal, it must hi< oiM Ihrongh- 
 oiit 111!' I'riivincp. Tlnrc cannot he a distinct system, 
 or no system, as it may happen, in every County, 
 Township, or School district. 
 
 In order thai a system of instrucliiin may Im Provin- 
 cial, ihu tiiachiiinry of it most he s<i — the various |i»rts 
 of it niU't he niaile I'l move in harmony, the one with 
 the other, iind the whole must be subject looiio common 
 direc'jon. TIiks cannoi be the case wlieru the dillcront 
 part< are wholly inilependenl of each other — where the 
 County and Township Superintendents, and each Cor- 
 ponilion of Tnislcps, are as inde|iendent of the Crown 
 in Canada as ihey am of that in China. 
 
 Kurlhermore, one chief design of a Monarchical 
 svstem of Rcspinsible (invcrnmcnl is to stamp llic sen- 
 timent ami spirit of ihe public mind upon iho adminis- 
 tration, as well as legislation of Iho country, and to 
 •eciirc the collectivo ads of the country against the 
 aniagonislie or hellish acts of individuals or isolated 
 sections. It makes the F/Xcculirc Uovcrnment not 
 only the representative of the whole communily in its 
 actual i'oiii|K)sitiiin, but also in the execution of every 
 part of llio law for the lienetil of Iho communily. As 
 there is one responsibilily, so there is one nullKirily, one 
 mode of apjioinling to, ami removing from, the head of 
 every deparlmeiil of aulhorily — whether supreme or 
 subordinate — in nil localities, and grtidalions of oflice. 
 This ptiiiciplo of Responsible Ciovernnient is contra- 
 vened bv ih" ('ciiiiooii School Acl, in If, J whole system 
 of ln<;al »ii|H!rintendeiicy. The Ai t therefore makes no 
 provision Cora I'no iiirlal system nf Schools, but contains 
 pro\ ii.oni wliicli are ihe re verw of it, in every res|5ccl, 
 and winch .ire not in hariiionv willi the principles of 
 Kespoii^ible liiivernmenl as ap|ilied lo every other du- 
 partini'iil of the Adniinistratioo, 
 
 i assume, also, that Christianity — the Christianity of 
 tbo Hilile, regardless iifllie picularilies of seelsor parlies, 
 IS III be llie basis iif public instruction, as it is of our 
 civil Ciinsliliilion. I '.leg, also, lo reni:irk, that the 
 ( 'oinniiiii ScliiHil Alt of Lower ( anaila- -passed during 
 the last session of llie Legislature— supplies si'veral of 
 Ihe defects of the I'pper Canada .\ct ; and I think it 
 muili more disirable lo assimilate, as far as possible, 
 the I iiminon Srhovil systems of the two sei'tioiis of the 
 I'riivinie, ihan to assiinilalo that of Upper Cniuida to 
 the New- York Slate system. 
 
 The first seven sections of the Act (of Ifl-lS) relate lo 
 the apiHiinlmenl and duties of Ihe Chief and Assistant 
 Ku|)erinieiidenl« of Common Schisds. At the time of 
 my appiiinlmeiit lo the situation I have the honour to 
 hulil, I was informed that it was the intention of the 
 
 Gnieinmenl In acparalo Ihe office of Chief Superin- 
 lendent of Kduiation from thKt of Secretary of the 
 Province, nnd lo place the Superintendent of Schools in 
 Up|ier Canada upon the mme footing ai lo meani of 
 siipjiort with persons in similar tilualions in other de- 
 (Nirtinenti. This hat been done in respect lo Lower 
 Canada ; and the reasons for Ihe change there apply 
 with equal, if not with greater, force to Upper Canada 
 — the latter being al a distance from Ihe Seat of Uovern- 
 menl. 
 
 I would aiso add to the prescribed duties of the Su- 
 perintendent of Schools. In place of the first seven 
 sections, nnd the sixty-seventh section of the present 
 Ael, I would propose the first end second sections of 
 the accompanying Draft of a Bill.* The duties which 
 I propose to im|)oso upon the Superintendent will more 
 ihan double the work which the present Act prescribes 
 to him. 
 
 I propose the appointment of a Board ui Education, 
 and the establishment o( a Normal School, (see annex- 
 ed Draft of Bill, Sec. 3-5, f) The Board ought to 
 consist of Ihe most compoleni men in the country, and 
 be a fair representation of the religious feelings of the 
 country, witliout reference to political party. 
 
 TTie Sujierintendcnt of Schools, as an Officer of 
 ; Govcinmeiit, nnd accountable toil for all his acts, fought 
 I not, 1 tliiiik, to be, in his administrative act.., under Ihe 
 < conlroul of any intervening body ; and in availing him- 
 ij selfof the counsels of such body, which he may often 
 
 have recourse to, he should do so, as well as acl, upon 
 '! his own responsibilily. It will bo observed, that the 
 " (Hiwer which each District Superin'.endent has over 
 f each District Model School is nut given totlie General 
 I Su|M'rintBndcnt in res|iect lo the Provincial Normal 
 Ij School, but to the Board of Education, under the sanc- 
 : lion of the Governor, and that the Superintendent liai 
 
 only a general oversight of the Normal School, 
 
 Tlie proposed arrangement in respect to School 
 Books — a matter of extreme delicacy and difficulty — 
 will, I lio|ie, bo an essential improvement on a vitally 
 iuiporlant featuru of the system of public education. 
 Nothing can bo worso than the present state of things 
 ill res|M.'ct to School Books. Kvery communication 
 received ul this itlTKa referring to the subject, speaks 
 of the absolute necessity of something being done ; but 
 no one suggests what shoulil bo dune, except tliat there 
 .should be an uniformity in Ihe text-books use I in Ihe 
 Schools. In Iho Stale of New-York, by a law passed 
 ill 1813, the Sinto Superintendent of Schools, and 
 even every County Superintendent, has aulhorily to 
 reject any book from the School libraries. Objections 
 would 1)0 made in tliis Province to giving such |>ower 
 to the Superintendents of Schools. In the State of 
 New-York the Regents of the University make out a 
 list of books for School libraries, and no books can be 
 introduced i ilo Ihein except such as are contained in 
 the Regent's list, or except the permission of the Re- 
 gents of the University bo first obtained. I do not 
 propose to give quite so much power as this to the 
 Board of liducalion. In practice I intend that the 
 Board sliiuiM make out a list of School Books in each 
 bran>li of learning that they would recommend, and 
 another list that they would permit, — leaving Ihe 
 Trutitees of Schools to select from these lists. 
 
 The proposed duties of Municipal Councils are 
 slated in the annexed Draft of Bill, Sections 6-10.^ 
 With one or two exceptions, they are the same as 
 llioso prescribed by the present Act. 
 
 • 9tti Vic, C«p. XX, Stc 1, 2. 
 t 9lh Vic, C«p. ««, 8«. 3-5. 
 { 'jiU Vio., Cap. XX, Sec. 6-11. 
 
22 
 
 li ;! 
 
 I propnie iho abolition of llie offiro of T<>wn«lii|i 
 SuporinlenilenU — the IpRKt iNipular ch»!> nf oflirers 
 created liy the prewiit Act, anil a^iiiiL^t wliow ron- 
 tinuanco objection is expreucd in ninn out of ten of 
 the cotnmiinicationi rereiveil nt this office nn the sub- 
 ject— «spFcialiy thoM) from private intliviiluaU anil 
 District Su|ierintenilent9. This projxiseil ilianf^e rIK'cIs 
 the grcnter part of the tnnrhinery of the prownt Srh(X>l 
 Act. TIm! duties now iHTlormrd by Towii!.liip Sii|M'r- 
 intendents, I pro|)oso to Ikj iliscbargo ri'»|H'Ctivcly by 
 the Municipal CounciN, the District Su|HTiritiMiilciils 
 and Iho Trustees ; the first making, in^lend of ap- 
 proving of the School divisions ; the second giving 
 notices of npportiontnenis, and paying 'roariicrs ; the 
 ihini giving notices cf local SclkM)l nwrtings. 
 
 I have leained that much inconvenience lia< been 
 ex|)eiicncc(' in rospcit to School inerlings, for want 
 of the proper notices which it is siarcoly |)i)ssibb<, in 
 all cases, fo^a Township Su|H'rinlrndeiit to give. I think 
 the pru|MMed arrangetnents in resfiecl to surli niceling»< 
 will add touch to the convenience of the jieiiple. The 
 princi|)al, jind, indoed, only inconvenience, in the 
 pro|)osed plan, is the payment of Teacliors. I'ndcr 
 the old School law, the ^Teachers were p»id by the 
 District Treasurers. I have never lu'iird of miy par- ■ 
 ticular incunveniencc attending it. I wnulil propose 
 the same now, if the District Treasurers wnnM not 
 dciluci a (>er centage on the ScIkhiI moneys passing 
 through their hands. 
 
 i 
 
 The payment of the District Schoid Tax to the 
 District Suiierintendent will be ijuile as convenient for 
 each Township Collector as the present system, h« such 
 Collector must go to (he District Treasurer to pay ilie 
 other taxes, and the District Suwiintendent's residetice 
 is generally adjacent to that of the Trensurer. Then ; 
 the District Su|ierintcndent is reijuired lo visit each 
 School throughout his District once <i year— which 
 will atliml facilities fur financial, as well us other ar- 
 range meult. 
 
 Tlic moilo of appointing District Su|M'rinten- 
 dents, and their duties, are pri'scrlbed in the annexed 
 Draft, Soc. II, 12.* It wdl be seen that such a 
 change in the mode of their npimintment is prii[K>sed 
 ■I accords with the principlr of Res|MinsiMi' fiovern- 
 ment, and is essential I) the harm<>nioi;s and elhiieni 
 working of the School system. It would cluublless l)c 
 more simple and consonant to our system of (lovern- 
 ment, if tlie District Su[i«-rinlendenls were nppoinli'd 
 in the same manner iis all other adminislrators of the 
 law ; but, as a completely op|»>sile system has obluincfl, 
 «o great a change mi^hl create dissalisfiuiion. Ii is 
 also proiKistnl that, as sikki as praclicshle, iho odices of 
 Clerk of the District and of District Su|»rinifnilenl 
 shall lie fdled by the same [M-rson. f Tlie convenience 
 of this arrangement in [K'rforming many of the duties 
 of Superintendent, and the linsi'rinl gain of it to ihu 
 Kveral Districts, will Ix- ap|>areiil to every obvrver. 
 The duties of Ixith ofhcers can If easily |«rfornieil by 
 the lame (x-rson ; the ullowance will iialur;iMy lie >ucli 
 >s to secure the services ol [lenxuis of hi^h inlelli- 
 gcnci', IhjiIi as Clerks of Councils and District Sujier- 
 intendenii of Scbouli. I 
 
 • 91h Vic, C»p. XI. Bee S. 13 tnJ 11. | 
 
 f .\ctt, — Ilirupriipoii«dt<'aP{v'jint I>t*trirl Sapt>ririt('ni)i.nuii)llie ! 
 line «KV ttitl C't^rlii (tf Ihtlnrt C.<iiim-iI* wi-re •! itimt (iiuf- ns4il> ' 
 
 sp|M>iiit«<l — n<<minftlMl tiv ih*- l>iitri<-l 
 
 tfc« Cniwn. Tb* eUuM fiT ttist pur|MiMf wk 
 
 isme 
 
 'outw-il^, still iififKiitihHl Itv 
 I ailt'catJHl liv lb«- iht-ii 
 AUicn*y-Orn«r%l (imw Mr. Ju»tii-«) I>n|i*.r in tli* ll'i«i«<> .if At- 
 •MTitily, tmt WW l<ni by s •niftit iimjohly , •ml (h« nlij nwHW of 
 spp*Mntii»|( liulrtn Hufwni.ti^tMiu wan n.|Aiiw.<l. It mm aUo 
 pr •»^.«J that aa ».i"!i aa «p^ ('Iirliftlii|) i>f a Dmlrirt Ciutii-il ktii.ulil 
 bcoiiDD \ai«iil, lb*- twii "fl\t»t'>S ('l.-rli nf ih*- C.unril anil Uiktrlrt 
 buiN-nnlt-iiJcnt ibiivtil U- ftilMl ti\ tbf talni |H'rtNiii. 'I'hi. ilauM* 
 wsa bt.l hajM-tii'ni-*! hy Ibt^ (i'ivrTnii)f.nt j but suc-h baa U^cn llit- 
 cs*e up t" the prf><riit ttuir in litt Virt'tU Ihalru-t. it mtj \jl- »u 
 ta lAhn IhtuicU si Iba |>lc«avr< uf U>r UialncI Cauncila. 
 
 I In.the proposed arrangemc:it the ilutiei of Sujicrin- 
 ■ tentlents will lie very considerably increased, which 
 will doiil-ilcss be considered by Disti ict Councils In 
 ! fixing the amount of their remuneration. 
 
 The iliscontinunnro of the office of Township Su' 
 I perintenileiit will lie alleniled with considiTable advnn- 
 ! lage to the School Kund. Township Nuperintendents 
 I (as far as lean judge by Ke[Mirls from several Dis- 
 tricts) receive, each, from five to twenty-five |)ounils 
 |)er annum. To plme the avenige ainownt paid to 
 each Township Su|Kiiiitendi'nl as low as ten poumU 
 (for 310 Townships) it would amount in all lo more 
 than i.'3,000 (ler annum. 
 
 The sinallness of the remuneration to Tuwnsbip 
 
 Stiperiiilendents prevents tomnelciil |M'r»ons, in miiiiy 
 
 instances, from unilertiiking the t»kk. On the other 
 
 hantl, many jf the Township Superintendents are well 
 
 ipi.ilit'.i'd and elVu ient men; but sui li men are alino.st 
 
 invariiilily Clergymen of some denomiiiation. I do 
 
 not pro^iose to di»|«'nse with their valiuible co-opera- 
 
 , tion ; on die contrary, I pro|Hise lo relieve them from 
 
 . the vex .lions and thankless pari of their duties, and 
 
 add lo their iiumlK-rs by providing (see Srclions IJ 
 
 ■ and II of the annexnl Draft,*) that all Clergymen, 
 
 . ami Mii^'istrali'S also, shall be Sclioid \'isitor.s, under 
 
 stico precautions, regulations and instructions, as mav 
 
 Im' prepared by the Sii|ieriiileriilrnt of Si hiwiis, under 
 
 , the immediate sanction of the (invcrnor in Council, 
 
 i, 
 
 It is not pro|>n.«ed, as will Iw seen, to give such 
 
 ; Visitors any tontroul in the managenieni of Si IhhiIs ; 
 
 but from their co-o|ieration anil intluiiiie I Hiilicipalo 
 
 ■ he greatest advantagis in the improvement of our 
 
 .SchiHils, and in ibo ilitluiiiun of useful knowledge. 
 
 Tlic election i>f Trustees and their Julius, as pr >- 
 (snetl, arc stiitud in Sections 16-27.) The most im- 
 |M>rlanl change pro|M>sed is, their cunlinuing in odico 
 I three years instead i»f one. The disputes res|iecting 
 the ap|ioinlinenl and payment of Teachers, arising 
 from annual changes in the present system, nre nu- 
 merous and painful beyond conceplinn. 'I'lie evils of 
 annually ehrting all tlie Tru..lees of each •Scbisd has 
 U-en de<>ply felt in tlie neighlKiuiing Slate of .Niw- 
 Vork, and are vividly |iourtrayed in some of the 
 lle|Mirts of .Su|ieriiiteiiileiil» In IM13, h law was 
 pusseil extending llii ir [M'riod of oflicc to tliric vears. 
 This is the imtioiI presrrilird in the Lower Canada 
 .\ii, pa-wed last sessiiui. tin the ini|Hirlan(e and ad- 
 vantage of iliin change I nei il iml enlarge. Two oilier 
 ! iiii|>orlant changes are pr(>|).>M-d in coinrnon wiib iho 
 I dulies of Triislees ; Tiie one is, that they shall not 
 receive aid from the ScIiiniI Fund tiiilil the amouni 
 I of the Kate-liill wliirh ihey have im|>.iseil i» i ollerled 
 or shall not ri'rei\e a larger ainouni I'roiii (k. .Stliiiol 
 Fund ihaii ihey provide aixl pay In Uale-bills or vis. 
 Iiinlaiy siil>s<riplion, (tlie s)«lem in llii' Sljle of New 
 \oik.) This arranijetni'iil will miuii' lln- Srhixd 
 ; Fund from the abusi's whiili are ronsluiilly Ixing prai- 
 tised u|xi!t it: it will alyi secure ilie Tijicbrr a mini- 
 mum amount of »un|M)rl. I 'ruler the proposril ar- 
 raiinement, if Ihe Ugislalno grant lo a Srh.xil be leii 
 [xiuiids, the District Coiiiicil must provide icn |Hiunds 
 more. Thew! two sums constilule ihe St liixd I'und- 
 , The 'Iruslees must rai.vr u sum tipiai lo ibnt „f \l,e 
 S( liixil Foiiil - iiatnrlv, twenly pounds, in die mno 
 sup|B>sed ; ilie uliolc auiounling In forlv iniuiids. lln 
 ihe Siale of .Massai hii.setls iho luliaiiilaiils of eaili 
 School divsion an- ri'<|iiiri I to rais«-, hv l.x-al rnle nn 
 prM|ieily, al llie rale .if one dollar and IWeiiH -live i ciilj 
 |HT annum lor e,u h i liild Ixlween ihe ages of 4 and 
 l»> years, in order to Iw vntilled tu any aid from tin 
 
 • aib Vic, Csp. ii, ««. 14-lt. 
 _ t Oih Vii-., Csp. SI, 8«c. U.»7. 
 
 i 
 
 a. 
 
90 
 
 wdich 
 
 I'lip Sin 
 
 ' «i'vnii- 
 
 l''n(teii(s 
 
 hi i>iM. 
 
 |M"iitiifci 
 more 
 
 SiHto Srhot)! Fund.] In lonkinK •"'*'■ 'h* Rep*""'" 
 Iriiin kcvithI Dialriilii I fiiiil ihnt, in thn inHJnrity «( 
 rates, (liu nnioiinl.'i livri'ti>riirc riiiM'il by Knln-bill Imve 
 oxi:p<nIi'iI llie riilii) I propow.* Hut, in iHlicr cnitos, 
 (lio amount rniscil liy Rmu-bill )iii!i not (.'Xrcediul n few 
 Nbillin){s — ihi; Scti(H>l \\a% l(t>cn kept oprn only tbrco 
 innnlliA of the ymr, iind tlint ill ii very low suliiry — 
 JUAI long cikiUkIi to get llio public munuy. My nllen- 
 lion liils Ih'CIi ie|K-iile<lly culleil In lliis evil by lucul 
 Supvrinti'iiiliinl!!. I pro|x)so ti> rvinniiy it by rDi|iilring 
 tbul u Si'liDol Svctinn, in oriliT to be eiitiilfil to n 
 conliiiuiition of iiiil rrom llic Siliool Kunil, nhnll Imve 
 II Sriiuol o|H'ii iliirin); lit least nix inonllis of the year ; 
 and sliall, bonfi fide, pay an aiiKiiiiit eijual to tbul 
 wliicli llicy draw frunti llio School Fund. This ar- 
 ran({eincnt will alwi tend to nccuru the punctual pay- 
 ment of TenchcrK, and keep the aicounls of each year 
 M'paralo and distinrl. 
 
 The nrxt important cliange which I propose is, that 
 llie Rale Mill, imposi'il by the Tru»|pes of each School 
 Section, .shall he levied upon the inhahitaiil!) of rarli 
 Section, irenerally, accorilinj; to property. It is the 
 inhahiliinis (fenenilly who elect iIk; Trustees; it is for 
 till' inhaliitant.1 (generally that the ftrant is made; and 
 the Name principle, I think, oiiglit to lie acted upon 
 ihroiijrboiit the system — all having n right to uvuil 
 lliemkelves of the SchcHd, 
 
 I need not say how just and pulriolic is this prin- 
 ciple , how important it is for llie poor, uml especially 
 those (as is ol'len the (ase) who b.ive huge families; 
 how mui h it would lighten the burthen of sup|)orting 
 the Schools ; bow greatly it would increase the atten- 
 daiii-o of pupils, and, consefpirntly, the blessings of 
 education, and how strictly then would our Schixilsbe 
 public Schools. I may oliservc, that this system ob- 
 loins in the State* of Ncw-Knglaiid, where there are 
 the best Common Schools in the United Slates. It is 
 also the l'rlls^^!an and Swiss gysloin. 
 
 On the other hand, the evils of llie |)resenl system 
 of School Halo Hill have been brought under my 
 notice from the mo^t populous Townships, and by the 
 most experienced educaiionisis in Canada. When it 
 is apprehended ihat ihe Katu Hill will be high, many 
 will not send their children to the School at all ; ihun 
 ihurn is ni> ScbiHil, or else n few give enough to pay 
 the Teaidicr three inonllis, including the Government 
 part; "r even after the School is i-ommenced, if it bo 
 found that the Si hoed is not so large as had been anll- 
 cipaled, and iImI those who send will c(in»ei|iienllv be 
 reipiiri'd lo pay more than they had expecte<l, parents 
 will begin to lake their cliildriMi fmni School, in order 
 lo e.«< ape the Ualo Hill, as persons would lleo from a 
 
 • *V(rf«. — Ttieelatiie of Itin Till hf ro rccomrjpndcd wns ftpnrnved of 
 by theflovpnimfnt, but «*iiH"|ip..8Hl nml lost in tlio Iloil^uot Aitseni- 
 biy. lift"! il b*s-"nii' I,i«. in roiiuiinti Hjih tlio rliuMi' rvH'diiiiiH'ndctl 
 in" tilt* fiilliminif |isrH};nii<>i. (iiii(liorixiii); l>ii!«u>i>i ti» inipoM' Itrttf- 
 bilN ii)M)n nil tht< iiihnbiliOlta c<f tlicir S-tinul Sirtioji ur-f>rilint; to 
 |ir'iMTiv.) lit>w (liflTiTrnl, nlrciidy, wtnild tinvo lii-cn ttio htaU' of 
 luaiiy of our Scliool, from nhal Ilo-y now mv, — hnw dilfiTt'til would 
 bnvtt iH't'ii 111'' firL'umttaiiPc-* of St-hool 'tViuTlu>rH— und tiow {tlain 
 nnd fouijnrntivt'ly im*v would havo l(.'cn thy ditty of 'frustct's. 
 Tliti niii'iunt of upportioiilni'Ut li tlu^ iiitlnliitHntH of i'Ui-li Sit-tion 
 wo'ild linvd d(>t4>rnniimt iIil- minlinuiu of Itit- ■mount to Iw ruiai'd by 
 thi'in tiy Itiiti'-liill or voiunlury nubirription. 'i'lmt amount, imy- 
 
 fnWng houie. The consequence Is, that the S *ionl is 
 either broken up, or (he whole burthen uf pa ig the 
 I'eacher falls upon the Trustees, and often a quarrel 
 ensues between them and the Teacher, I have been 
 assured, by the most ex|)ericnccd and judicious men, 
 that It is impossible lo have good ScliiMda under the 
 present system of Rate Hill. I think the substitute I 
 propose will remedy ibu evil. I know of none who 
 will object to it but the rich, and the ihildlcsa, and Ihe 
 scltisb. Education is a public g<M)d ; ignoianie is a 
 public evil. What afluctstho piiblie ought lo be liind- 
 log upon each individual composing il. In every good 
 Government, und in every g<Hid system, the interests 
 of the whole auciety are ubiigatory upon racli member 
 of it.* 
 
 To secure the punctual transr.iission of School Re- 
 ports, I propoM) ihat ibe payment if the last instalment 
 of Ihe School Fund to each Section shall be condi- 
 tional im Ibc presentation of the Annual Report from 
 such Section ; and to relieve Ihe Trustees from prepar- 
 ing the Report, (a duty to which many of them have 
 strong feelings of repugnance, and for which, in inanv 
 instanced, ibi'V are not very well ipialified,) I propo.so 
 that Ibc Teacher shall act as their Secretary, in prepar- 
 ing il, if required ; a duty to which be will be prompted 
 in oriler to get bis money. 
 
 I also propose a Section (SSf) stating the general 
 duties of Teachers. These duties are applicable to all 
 Common Schotd Teachers. I think it is important, on 
 various grounds, that such duties should be maile law. 
 The first division under this Section is transcribed from 
 the School law of Massachusetts, except that I have 
 modifitd and limited il. 
 
 As Ihe term ' District ' is retained in our laws and 
 applicil lo the I irgcr municipal divisions of Ihc Prtv 
 viiice, I have ihougbl it inctmvcniei.t to apply Ihc same 
 term to the minor School divisions of Townships. I 
 have propixscil to apply to tliese jailer divisions the 
 term " Section," which is as convenient and as appro- 
 priate as any other which has occurred tu me. 
 
 On the miscellaneous provisions (see sec. 29— 13,| ) 
 propostid it is, )M'rliaps. not necessary for me lo remark. 
 Each will speak for itself. I have retained all the 
 Sections of ihe [irescnt Act which appear lo me to bo 
 necessary. 
 
 There are several minor modifications to which I 
 have not referreil ; the expediency of which «ill Lo 
 sulTicienlly apparent without remark ; and I am aware 
 how impossible il is, within any lolerabh? limits, lo ex- 
 plain by writing Ihe nature and imfiortance and o|)era- 
 ilohs of many of the inotlltications nml amendments lo 
 which I have nlluileil, and which I think it expedient 
 to submit. 
 
 (yonsiilerable clianges in any system are alwavs at- 
 tended 'with inconveniciico, if not with difticultv. 
 The Iransilion from the generally coinplainid of work- 
 ing of the present Act, to the adoption of the modilica- 
 lions recommeniled, in the annexed Draft of Bill, can 
 
 Kldu bv alt tlu> inhiibitunli aoeonlinj^ to pro|i«Tty, would lia 
 lltlU' for t-acli —would nlwavi linvc providi'd a salary 8ulHi-ii> 
 vnablo tlu'in t» liioi' a liood JVnclnT durin;,' nioru than half, and 
 
 liildn-ii would liavf had 
 r nio-l of Ihodiapulr 
 
 in thii inoxt nwi'i,, all the yrnr ; all tliL- 
 etfual ut>c'o44 lo the Sirtio il ; an.) Ihn i-aus 
 
 iM'lwtM'n nrii;lilf lurs, and U'twiH'n I'ari'ntN, 'Pt-inhi'i's and Tru^lti'S, 
 would havu l)wn pn-vi-ntinl. Thy harmony of ibf Ititl waa dt-s- 
 Iroycd ; il «a< mntilatrd iiiiil maimtHl in sonii* ofil* nioat pnu'tii-al 
 snil u^Kt'iitial diMaiU by llii> fnicct-.iHfid iippinition to thi'in whih' 
 under Iho i-on»idi'r.*liou uf thn AsMMiibly, and the Superinti-ndfiil 
 of Scbidjiii has IkHMi avHaili-d for tht> *yry dfl'iN;ls in tliu law thus 
 en»at*id, an t whii-li In- hai i-inployed all thy iin-ans in his powi-r to 
 pri'V.Mit — il.-fis-ts whifh hiivf. indt'od. bii'U partially ri'iui'diyd by 
 Bulise.itt.Mit iMiactiut'iilt. but which cannot hi- wholly rt'uiovcd with- 
 uut further Iffjialutton. 
 
 * .\utt, — The inti>ortant clauMi of (he Itill thus recouunpndttt, was 
 strondy advoyateit by .Mr, Altonii> U»'neral Druper, but was op- 
 po..td and lovt in thf Assembly by a luiijorify of four or tivf. It 
 was the piHir inan'.s clause, and the clause of the enlif^htoned pa- 
 triot; and the loss of it has intlicted ^tcat injury n|>()n many Cum- 
 inon Schools, besides inutlviiiK Trustees in Krcal {H-rplexit'ies ami 
 cmharransinents in eonse'inptu'e of their not beinf; able to impose a 
 Kcnerat Halo lliU for Scboul. house, repairs, fumilnrc, &c. lint wo 
 ndoicu that the principle tlius lirst sulunilted to ilie ronsiderutiun 
 of the tioverntnenl in 1S4I>, lias been ineor|HirattHl into our system 
 of SchiHils for Cities nnd lucur]>orated Towns in Uppor Canaita, 
 and that District Councils have also Itoen invested with power to 
 act ntH>n it, as far as thev may think it advisable. See the whote 
 subject explained in thu brst number of tills Journal. ^/i/j, 11, t.*}. 
 
 tDlh Vie. cap. \x., sea, xxviiL 
 
 J ytli Vic. cap. XX., sec. xxix^-xUii. 
 
bo ltii« vsry |>Rrtiiilly rlTe<'lrd the present year. Tlie 
 y«ar li::'< coiiinwnrcil ; (lie iip|iiMntii)rnlii linvr liri-ii 
 mxle; hI' is in the IiiiikU of llic tcvrrnl l«rnl ilFu cm. 
 Tliry mils' Ui continueil in the rn<l of iliv ypiic. (iil 
 I tliiiik Ih < iird trn Scclioni nf llio iinncxpil Drnfl "f 
 Hill iiiikIiI f(« into iinmrilial> nprralion wilhotit it nil 
 iiilotrrriiig Willi tlip local mm liliicty nt' thv )irriHMil 
 Act, iiml wiiiilcl fully |iro|>«re llio w«v for romplelinn ' 
 llic initisitiuii liy llio lirsl of next Jiintiary, witliont . 
 proiliiLing liny iliminlvr or inronvt'nii'nro. I liiiru nr> ' 
 < onlin^ly pn'piirpil a Sccliun to that eflfert. |' 
 
 I. 
 In tlip mrniilimp, In ra^o of rtip npproviil liy His 
 FxrclKnry ofilicnnncxoil Dnift of Mill, nml its licrom- 
 inp a l.iw, it wmiM lie proper lo Ikivo nil llio regula- 
 tions loiil iniitrii('llon«, nnil fonns, for wliii li it pioviile<, 
 logellier witli lopifi of llie Hill ilwlf, pri'pnreil, (iriiiled, 
 nnil |>iil into tlie ImiiiU of nil ihtkoiih nlio inny lie ml- ; 
 minisirnlors of it, I lliink it woulil nUo Ih' iidvisiililc ' 
 lo prepnrti anil get printeil lilnnk forms for Kcporls, j 
 Imtli f>r Di*tricl9 Sn|)crintenili'nl!* iinil TniMees — »o 
 thnt all |iHrl!i's may roinnienre pro|M'rly, aiil lliiil ' 
 llicrc iiiav Ihi an uniformity forllinilli in llie mlininiH- 
 tnition of llie law lliroiinlioiil llie lounlry. Siuli pre- 
 cautions nnil niiN, for a ycnr or two, will ri'nder tlic 
 wi>rkini{ of the whole system harmonious, iinifurm, and 
 efficient. 
 
 The nnncxcd Draft of Hill may have goiiio cnsos 
 unprovideil for ; liut it provides for all tlio rases lliut 
 have Mt come under tliu notice of ihirt Dllice, and all 
 that 1 can conceive after uxnminins; tliu various Scliuul 
 Laws af dillorent states nnd kingdoms. 
 
 I lies to remark, generally, lliiit I have retained as 
 much of the n nchinery nnd phrawology of the pre.H'nl 
 Act a< I could ; have soui^ht to make (he nrrange- 
 roents more melhodical .ind more ^iInplo ; and have 
 reduced the numlier of Sections from 71 lo M. 
 
 I would al«o observe, that the nrncxed Draft of Hill 
 does not give the (i.ivernmeni, llirough the .Superin- 
 tendent of SchiMiN, any thing like ns much |H)\vcr as 
 the new School I,aw for Lower Cnnnda gives the Su- 
 perintendent of SchiHils there. I have desired to 
 retain no more [Kiwer in the hands of the Superinten- 
 denl llian is alisidnlely necessary lo (n.dile the (iovern- 
 roent lo (ciiiiroul ihe general principles and character of 
 the system of public inslruclion, and to seu that m<mey 
 appropriated hv the Legislature is faithfully anil judi- 
 ciously ex|iendril. I hold it as n true principle, nnd 
 as expeilient, that the Legislature, in .ippnipiiiiiiiig 
 money, should provide, through one or more geiieraj 
 officers, that its lilieral anil l«nevoleni iniriuions Im' 
 accomplished in the ex|>endiliirp ■ fthnl money. Then, 
 as Ihe |ipopli! conliiliule locally, they h.ive ihi l.wal 
 right of employing and disioiul..g Teachers at their 
 pleasure. 
 
 It is not easy to adjust precisely the diflerent pnrt.s 
 of H mixed machinery. I h»ve sought to simplify it 
 as much as |x>s«ihle, and have projuiMil to give the 
 Governiiienl no mote powir iliaii is iiidispens.dile tu 
 make the system I'rovincial, and fiihil ihe intentions 
 of the Legislature. 
 
 I would thai the liahits and circuiiistuiices of Cana- 
 dian society might allovr of simplifying tlic system still 
 more. 
 
 In resjirct In the means for the psinlilishmrnt nnd 
 support of n N'oininl ScIiihiI, I may reniark, that llic 
 Legislature of the .Hinte of New- York has grnnleil 
 jiil.lMtt) to rent nnd t'liniish huildings for a Stale Nor- 
 iiial Schoid nl .Mhany, and $IO,IHM) per annum for ill 
 support 
 
 I think there should Iw plared at the dis|iosal of tho 
 I'rovincial Hoard of Kdnralion, nl least XI, MM), to 
 pstnhlish n NormnI ScIuhiI, nnd the same amount, |mt 
 iinnuin, for iis support. I Iio|m' it may lie pshihlisheil 
 and maintained for a soniewhat less sum ; hut, it ap- 
 pears to me es|iei'iHlly desirnhle ihal Ihe Hoard should 
 not lip meanlv lied down to n possihK iiisiidicient sum. 
 Such n priMppiling miglit cKcasion i\ complpie fnihiri', 
 with nil its niehiiicholy ciuis«>ipiencf s. The eircuni- 
 slnnces, and inHiingemetil nnd uuthority of (iovernmeni, 
 ill the ex|H'ndituie of the grant, would lie a giiiiranlee 
 thnt not a sixpence more shoiihl be .xpendcd than 
 would lie absolutely niresMry. 
 
 I triisl some means will lip availahle from the sale 
 
 of school hinds hv which encouragi tneni may he given 
 
 lo ihe formnlioii of School Lihrarirs in the several 
 
 Distrie's nnd Townships. .\ small sum dis|ios<'il of 
 
 ' annually in thai way would pronipl In the conlrihiition 
 
 I of much on the pari of the inhahitnnts of dilferpiit Dis- 
 
 ' Iricts, and would le.id lo the circulation nnd rending 
 
 of a \asl iiuiiiIht of useful iHmks. Hut I am nut sulll- 
 
 < irnllv infornied on this point lo suggest niiy clause lo 
 
 ! lie iiilroiliiced irio the .\cl res|u'( ling it. I am inclined 
 
 I to think it may he done li\ llie (iovernmeni without 
 
 nny .^ct on Ihe subject and in conformity with tho 
 
 provisions of the proposed Rill. 
 
 I 
 
 I In conclusion, I have to re|ieat, that, Hllhuiigh this 
 '■ con.munici'tioii is prolrailed to a great length, s<'\eral 
 i topics remain iiniioliied, and lo others, I am nfiuid I 
 have alliidi d loo hriclly lo Iw either explicit ur sntis- 
 I factorv. Shoulil nnv farther cxplanalions Ih' deemed 
 \ necessary, I shall ho happy lu give ihein in any way 
 i that ihoy may bu m|uirc<l. 
 
 Hill I must lieg |>erinission lo add whnt escnped mo 
 lo notice in Ihe pro|Mr place -thai I have received in- 
 formation that there are several Townships in l'p|>er 
 Canada settled hv (lermons, in whii h all the Schools 
 are German, and all the Teachers aliens. 
 
 Relieving that it was not the inlciilion ol the Legis- 
 lature, and that it is not cNpedient, lo prohihil Kiiro- 
 |M'aii aliens from heing eniplo\ed us Couiinon Sihuol 
 Teni hers, I hate exi epted iIm in in the niinexi d Druft 
 of a Dill. Il is peihaps not llfctaaiiri/ In except aiiv 
 I'llur than foiei;;ti (ii rmans, hut I hate thought Iheiu 
 might he casis of FreiK h ai;d llaliaiis proposin;; (,) 
 teai h M IkhiIs in Ipjier Canuda. The sillily of ihu 
 Kreiiih hiiigiiiige esjHi'iiillv should, 1 think, l>e encou- 
 raged to as Kre.il uii extent us |Hjssilile, 
 
 I have the honour lo U-, Sir, 
 
 Vour inosi oin'dieiil, humble servant, 
 
 (Signe.1,) KCJKinON KYKRsSON, 
 
 The lion. It. llsi,v, M. I'. IV, 
 
 Secretary of the Province, Montreal. 
 
 Nuineroui and intricate legal pivtvisions in matters 
 
 of detail, in relation cs)HM;ially to Kiliication, are |ier- 
 plexii.g to the |«eople nnd emlwrrassin^ lo iho Govern- i 
 mtnt. I 
 
[Ti. ilixIXly ^'""'*"'> '"•* wUlun -ucl. bound •■ " ', .^ ^^,, Section, .here 
 
 . I. H,o lK....u.r 10 ."bmil I- «1... f.'v;:>"»»" ,u„l Section, «.paral«'y "^^ '^ r. ^,.,ely <! 
 ,„,i,lon.lion of 'I'V;.^;; " „^,r,. for ll.a l'"i'«r f '"'^ wiO, Cilie» ami Towm. X" °, ^„^ti„„, ih( 
 
 (lilTorenl 
 li,l, ami »u|>l.'"|- 
 
 In C..n..c.., '• '" ^■;";,;,,,.„ „f Commou ><;■>-"•" ■" 11 „,r„i,.r llian that ot n '"'"',,„ „f gupportino; a dozen 
 Ci.i..» »...! «''^'"1"'^''' ' f'rwl.i I. "'-^^^ '""'"' '" ?Z' '" C. .n— S. l,o«ls a..dc from ScIhm, ^^_ 
 
 Seta,. ..r"Tr:"'_: A.'™ ".•'*'-«v':;:! 
 
 ofllic I,, gislaluic. 
 
 ,,i.r.-.l .!..> .«»■"•'""' '^'^•''' , ' i. n. a» ..|M>enf '" '"*'." '' 
 
 l,.MiiMe«-nr.S ' "l^ "I, "^ 
 
 Excellonry in toui.c.l. 
 
 I,^v of .l.»t S.alo ." 7 ;L Kcw York Stole School | 
 
 Law i.. r,.s,..H to r. » ^1^ .:\i«..ial AC., have 
 
 SchoM ill!"''"' "f '*''' '', I ,,rp IV.t, »» ouf »«■" 
 
 S a.seahyth.fSta|e J..<" ;»^J,,,„„^^ 
 
 Tow.; ami City School dhn ^^^^^ ^^^^^.^^,^,^ , ,^ 
 
 j,„rto»;.bm..twoK»^ „t the sarno 
 
 iBliherntioii ami l.«H'»'"".\ „,, ,„-•-„,.„„,.. 
 
 nnv oil"") "" — ".• 
 
 wholly by local '"'"*A.i:*„a that .uch as i« adapted 
 i, but one k.nd "^ S'^''""'* , under the present 
 
 ,„ ,h„ youn^cl .IB'" "S„,io„ of Schools in a c.ty 
 ,vsle.n, Ihi-rc ran bo "".f "^""""mry. Thus the edu- 
 Z tow'n any m.-re .l>»n ";^ ^c^res are but partially 
 ,„,i„nnl ^v«nt» "f 7''*"» ?"};,^, ,,e«!rintion are mote 
 supplied. Schools of a^nfer'o J^ ^^ ^ ^,g,,„, 
 
 ,„;,;,ernust.an 'Vf^^^^; ° xcept as they may, .n 
 or.ler arc '«>'"«'• ''"'Im^?,, „nd .ipp-'rt^l by private 
 
 onterprize. Bu ^'V^^l, of cities and towns • nor 
 a largo cl«s.s ''^ '" J"'f i, arge ch«s o( our ■fellow- 
 should <b«'-"'''r^V'o\Kl English education on 
 
 ::^;x;lS'.^;::^v^ecnterprizo. 
 
 yp»^ *" ":*" , I .HriHlniive tViscussion "^ — •""■; i, «eocrHpl»it»\ atviswn ot a tuy ^ Schools 
 
 .able, .be S.hool Law f'" ^^"^ ., ^^ ,„„,,„„. f,.r the f"r v. r 
 :;;,:; .r;erwar,., - j.>-"t-- ,S" 1ml 1..C rated J- ,, 
 
 Sow, .be proximity of ''-"j^»';^;ir^,r^^^^^^^ ft 
 in cities and towns, -IP'";! .J';; ^wn into sma» sec- 
 geographical division o . ^''X "[ ^ to School. 
 
 ^- lu..les.s to a toted extent |;^.re8^^^ ,,^^ ^j„,,. 
 
 --"'•"■« "•« 77' inl^duce a distinct measure „.r u.e . ;v;, ,;„ '^r^ ^S^J^d toW.«^ ..- J^f »^.^ 
 ,,,,.,„,,,,r«ard» .... dm^; i^, «"'' lncor,«.rnted -"'^ , «>>"-f"'? " T ^ year. K" •-» V^ 
 
 -.s-':"rEb;ir'-?s";i ;*!''• ^ — '■- 
 
 ,r ,ys...n ..1 1'""', ; .,„f.ne myself lo u smiplc ^ 
 ; U l"r t;..'."'-!. > ^ , ,f „ ,^,,,„;re such ns I l...v« ^ 
 
 <ipal provi»iv..i». 
 
 ui Iligi. S*'>°"'».'. "=£^,,„; Children at the pro- 
 thorough mercnnt.^ educ t.on ^,^^^ j ^ 
 
 ,,..rn«e, and ^^'""^f^^.o primary to tlio inter- 
 remove.1 a..d pr..*.ttH\ rom u ^.^^ ^ ^,^f^, 
 
 .nnrtlale Scbools ^vbere W c" ' ^^^^ ^,^ 
 
 Commoi. School «;'"" .^ " \,/^' „ ^^re thorousb edu- 
 i parents could allordlogijetlam an g^|^^^,^_ 
 
 'lalion, should '- '7f" i' juld be'ercctcd or 
 or course the School '""«'',„' ,,„„,e ,.rom-rf«d. 
 
 Incorporaled Town. ^^^^ ^ 
 
 2. The peculiar --'7:t:;::;Ssr"ldica.i;m";:i- 
 
 „„., TOW..S ap,.e«r .o me ^^ '"^ > ,,.„ „,.. ,,opub...on 
 onr Sch.«.l Sysicm. '"/"J, ■„ .lenso. A .""g'-^ 
 i, sparse; in t'..H» "";['-;.,; ,,,,,„,,es as many 
 
 Butsuch»sys,eniofSc.^aSty-S;-:- 
 
 volvesoue system ot ««"»e^'i^;' Tovl/n where such 
 
 autborily. . y---; "exis's ^e « but one Board of 
 
 a svsteni of Schools «"<*'"'"'' j,,^ management of 
 
 "Trnstec-s or ^Cmnm.ss.one ^ I - "^^ ^1;,^ .,„ ^e 
 
 Comnion Schools. Tins .s > _^,^^ .^^ „,„ .^..f 
 
 best educated C.t.eH ot '■^""^"y'^.^.uch as Boston, 
 
 I Cities of ''-"-'^''i;^::.?,,e^,Builalo,&c. In each 
 
 I New-York, Albany, ^^^^^'^^^ poard of Trustees, or 
 
 ?S:i^:::^!:^C— schools; and inmost «. 
 
I 
 
 ihcin the mcmbera nf nirh nmnla nro n|<|<n nlril li)' 
 ih* Ci>rp<>r*liuiii — one-tliinl u( llir nii'liiliari lliiii ii|>- 
 IMiinleU or (liimrn rulirinir frum odii'i' niiiiiinllv, ■ml 
 ihvir |iIm.-«i filled by the CoriNiriiliiNii nmnrmMi. 
 
 Sucli ii Iho princijilp i>f lh« me*«urt> wliicli I Kdvu 
 the honour lo tiibmil, in rr*!!*^) lo ihr Cilirn nnil |i)- 
 rorpomlrd Towns in I'l'jwr I'niinilH ; anil •luli i> llir 
 tkraign of iIh> Hill — r l)r»ft of whirh ia liiTcwiiti 
 trdwniitted, mil on lliv Innling |>rovi»ioii« of wliii li I 
 beg now tu odvr minu ex|iUniilor]r remmks. 
 
 The A'l'rt/ StTlion proviili-* fur (liv er^i lion of nirli 
 Cily (ml lnror|Kinilcil Town in l'|i|H't Ciinuilii iiilo a 
 Munii-i|>*l Ditlrirl for Common Srhool |<iit|HiM<>. 
 
 Tlie Stcoml Sorlion prnviilrt for Ihp n|i|)iiinlmoiil 
 and »iirro«iiioii of the incmlHrii of n n^Hnl of Tru>li-r« 
 for each Cily »nd liicor|MirRtfil Town nfort'Minl. 
 
 Tho Third Scrlion proTldoa for lln> pavmrMl of 
 School monrv* into llie haniU i^f llii- (liamlNrlufii or 
 Treasurer of ra«li Cily or Town, tulijetl lo the orclirs 
 nf lliu Hoaril of Truslera. 
 
 Tho Fourth Section providoa for IIh* »r»lln({ nf lli<> 
 Common Srlu»>l pmperty of rHch City in il Town m 
 thi' hnmU of ilio CorporHlion of nucli Cilv, anil tlir 
 Roaril of Poliir of such lncor|><irati'il Town lo lie nin- 
 iMgvd t'V the Itoanl of Trustrcii »p| oinlnl as uforrsalil. 
 
 TJie Fi/th SocliiHi prFMribci Ihr scvrral iliiliii nml 
 oblijtntioni of nurli Hoard of TriiMwi, in li.irmony willi 
 the Common Srhool Act, 9ih Viol., tap. \x. 
 
 The Sixth Section makes a timilir provision in 
 retprcl lo the Teacher* cinployeil by »uili Hoanl. 
 
 The SfVftUh Serlion proviilr* for llir Viailorn of 
 Common Si limdi in eai h Cily and Town — not inclii- 
 JwK Maf(iatrati«, who are loo nunieriMit in Ciliet iinil 
 Towns to Ik.' aiillwH-ized lo ai i lu ScIumiI \'ikiioii ; anil 
 the AMi'imen in ('itit<a ami llio Mi-mkcni of the Koanl 
 of Point! in Towno, woh ilin ri-Jiilci.l Clergy, will 
 (irai an ample corpt o( il Vitilor*. 
 
 Tlie Eighth Section inrotls llw Municipal Auihorl- 
 tict uf Citiea, Town*, and l>i»lrict« Willi ili>crt tioiwiry 
 power to rai»o money, by am-Ksinenl, for Comnun 
 Srhool piir|Kia<'S Kenrrally, inrliiiliii)( llie puirhaoini; i) 
 S<'faiHd sites, the erecliiMi uf ScIkhiI I louses, llie Sala- 
 ries of Teacher*, kc. 
 
 Such are tlie prim-ipal pruriaions of tlic prn|Mia)-il 
 Bill in ri«|iert lu Cities and lncor|Miraic'<l Tuwni in 
 Up|ier Canada. 
 
 The few rcinainiiiK Sections of i he flill nri> liesi^iieil 
 to ri'im-dy acxne def«'<'i« whii;li oust in iliu Common 
 School Act of the lakt Sivimn of llir Leniilnlure. 
 These S«H liona ar« so few,— hihI somi' !■( llnni iipplv 
 also lot iiies ami Towns llmi I hnvr ihou^hl il IhIIi r 
 to include lliem in llie pro|H»»!il |til| il,«ii in ri'<oii|. 
 mend (lie intiiHluclion of.i scpiiruii: Mill for unjiii'lnii'iil 
 of I 111' Coinimtn SchiN»l .\i I. The C'ominoii SiIkniI 
 Art and llie pro|HiMrd litll iirr .«• nMini-ctnl ihal sIi.ujIiI 
 llie latter become a law iIkv ought tu In.- printed '•>- 
 gether. 
 
 I now hi'n tu explain the Set! ions which I have the 
 honour to pri>|K>«e, willi a view of remedy in({ llic dufeclt. 
 of th« Cuminuu School Act. 
 
 It was one of the defects o( ilic Corninon Si hmd 
 Act of \H4;1, that II did iioi iinf^t Muiiiiiii.il (.■ouiinls 
 with iiulliorily to im|">'*' lukseoinenls lo a sulTn ii'iil 
 •mount for tlio purihusing of Srlnxil situs und the , 
 
 huildiiiii of SchiHd Hoiws. In the Hlh Section uf iho 
 oriKiinilDriin of the Srlimd .\i I of liisl year, I pro- 
 jiosed lo invest lhi< Cuumil of each District Willi diacre- 
 lioiiary |Hiw*r for theae piiriHSHs ; but duriiiK llw (lasa- 
 iiig nf llin Hill throuiib the l^gisUiure — iit which 
 Mage I know not, for I did iH>t jierceive the nlleration 
 for several nionlbs -a liniilini{plinis<< (iiiiinely, "within 
 ihe limilsor tlifir (Miweri of iiii|ii"iii}; luxes") fuiinil its 
 Wiiy into the Hill Section uf iIh' Kill, in (oiim i|iielire uf 
 which Miinicipiii "'oiiiicils are siihjeit lo llic saiiii- dis- 
 ^ abilities under whiiS tiny burr hen'lofore lulMiiireil, 
 In till' Sih SecliiHi of lI;" iicroinpanyiiii( DiafI uf lliil, 
 Miiiiiiipal CoiiiuiU of Disirlds lire iiuliiili'd with City 
 iind Town Cor|Hirations, and are pro|>um'd lo U' iii- 
 veslfil Willi rroiiisile powers of im|MMinj|; assessmcnls 
 
 I for CoinniiMi ScIuhiI pur|)o»es. 
 
 l! 
 
 ; The iVi'iiM ai.il Ttnth Sections eiiib Illy an important 
 
 II principle wliirli lies ill llie very foniidation of a sound 
 sysii'.n of piiMii' inslriirlion, and whii li is iswnlial li> 
 tin' Mnii'rrj«(i/ ediiiaiioti uf any louniry — il is ilie prin- 
 iipli' of >i IkhiI Hull' hill, as well as Si liool . ijt.ii »»iiifi>t, 
 
 I airuriliii|( lu /irnyxr/y, lioiii in town iiml ruiinlrv. In 
 E my cuminiinii'iiliun of ilic did ul Manli Lisl, I dwelt 
 I* at sunie li'ii^lli oil the iiii|V>rlalire of lliis principle, iind 
 I' n fiT'eil lu ilic li'sliinoiiii'S of eX|H'rienreil eilur.iliinisls 
 in dilKrent parts nf Cpper Canaila as lolliii iinpossiliilJIy 
 of ever li.ivii.^ ,(imnI ScImhiIs, iniiili h-ss reiiiliTiii)( lliein 
 accessible to all tin' yuiilli of llie land, iiiidi r llie past 
 , Mild present system of. ScIumiI Itnlr-lull a sysii'in which 
 has iievei Ih'cii iiilinitled in llie Stale of Mas.siH liuaetia, 
 wliire Conimuii SiIuniI eduniliun is nearly, if iiol ipiile, 
 iiiiiversal amiriiK the jiuiiiesl ilasscs of llie I'oniiiiiinily, 
 The prim ipir einlsiilnil in tlie iiiiilli and letiili Seiiioiia 
 of the HcrompiinyiiiK llrafl of Hill was i'IiiIhiiIii'iI in lliu 
 original Driifl i>( llie ('iMiinion Srliu^l Art— was sjinc- 
 , tiitni'd by the lalettoieriior-fii'iier.il in ('ouiiril,aiid waa 
 udviaateil in llie House ul .\sseiiilily by ibe Honoura- 
 ble .Vllorney-iii'iieral l)ra|H'r ; bill llie j roposiiiiin U'ing 
 new, and Is'inn npparenlly misiind.Tslood by some, 
 and lurninK in coiilarl Willi wiallliy st'llishin ss, w.is bisl 
 bv a small inajorily. Hut sinre llie last .Ki'ssiun uf ibn 
 l.i'i;islature, several Dislrirt Councils li.ive expressed 
 llieiiisi'lves III fat our uf this priiii'i|i!e, and tlie siibji'Cl 
 lias re|)i'uti"ll» lieeii bruiii;bt U lore me by Triistoe*. 
 The pniii iple of Siliu.il rule luTorilini^ lu pri)|MTlv I* 
 rl•co^lliI!^'ll a 1.1 41 led ii|>un in res|Mi I to .Vs'essnx'iits 
 ini|H>M'd bv ea< Il District Couiii il lor ibe raising of ii 
 tiioielv of the Si liiNil Kiiiid, and lof llie ert'i lion of 
 .Sliixil Houses; but 111 iIh' pittcliial p.irl of llie Si limd 
 »»!i|em, wlieri' tin' i>|ieralii>ll of ibe pnnriple is iiiosi iin- 
 porlant, it does not obiaiii. .VII lli.il is ilonu by the 
 District Coiitiril will answer no praiiiial piii|MPse, if 
 till' Triisleis ilo iiol fiirtiisli and keep the School House 
 I'oiiifurtable, and employ a pru|Hr Tearlii r, and provida 
 Kir the payment of bis salary. Tins llu' ThisIm's cannot 
 do, as a general rule, iis long as tliev are tlirown iipoji 
 clianre and capriie ami si'llisliiess fur the ies<iurtei 
 n< cesaary lu fiiltll and satisfy tbeir eiii^ageiivuts. 
 
 Till ciri unislaiii-«'suf Tnisli es, a', llie l.iw imw slands, 
 are as follows . — They can selilom ennaije a coiii|Kient 
 Te.u b> r w I'lioiil aKrieiiig lo jMiy bin a stipiilalid Siil.'.'V, 
 aiiil gi'iii rally In llw ye,ir. Very lew gisiil Tein liera 
 will a;;riv to deja rid ii|>oli llie i baiire fees ut" tuitiun 
 arising frum llie i li.iMie alieinl.inie of pupils, fir the 
 priiici|ial ur a laige part of their salarn s Hut ii|Hin 
 tui'h I bailies eilber llu> Teui lier iniisl ili-|ieiid f u tlio 
 I bief part I f Ills means of »;ip|.iirt, or llie Triisleis must 
 de|»'iid for llie iliiel part ul llie nieaiis m ressiiry lu 
 enable lliein lo p.iv ibe Te.n lier ami support ll»' Srii.sil ; 
 lor lliev have no resource but volunl.iry siilisiriplioii or 
 Kali diill ui>oii llie parents who may phtfe — and only 
 as lliev mav please — lo st-iid llieir cliililien lo llie Si IhhiI. 
 Tims Triislees, m onb r to cslalilisb ami tiininlain a 
 ({i«id Si liuul, must iigri'e lo pay a slipulaU I sum [let 
 
27 
 
 quirlvr, or |i«r yrnr ; liul ihey harp no crtlNii) rrwiurrea 
 iMyiiiiil llivir iiwn privHlu nwuii* t < nly u^xm In viiulilu 
 Ilium (<> pay iha iuiii *li|Milal«<l. 
 
 'I'lml tlie retiiiirrBii ariiiinK fnim llin im[iiMitiitn itf 
 rnlr-ltill* ii|i«ii |>nr<'iilii volunlNrilv mmiiIhik llii'inliildroii 
 III lliii Si liiMij iirii iiiviifflcii'iil, Hiiil llmt lliii »y»t»m i« 
 ijolrinii'iitol III llin inlaruila nr iliit Srlimilii nnil or llm 
 yniilli i>r lliii iMiininunily , will Ui iibviniin rrmn llu' fullnw- 
 ini( niimiilviHliniiii, wliii h liHVa lH<i'n ri-|iuHl<'illy liriMi)(lil 
 JH'liitit nil- HI facli in lliii fiirm nr (iiiniilairilt ami a|i- 
 |ili>'Hliiini for I'oiiiiM'l anil ailvire : — VVhcii it ia known 
 lliHt H L'on<iili'r:ililn num will In' ri'i|iiirril to ri!|iMir ili< 
 ScliiNil lloiiM' onil inttkn it roirlorliilili', pHrpiiK, m 
 iiiHiiv iiiitHni'cii, ili'ni^l I'riini acnilinK llivir ihili'iin until 
 nliiir till' i'om|ili'li<in of lliu rii|iiiirii, mi mh I<i iivoiil licinK 
 riili'il lor lli>' |inv'ini>nt ofllii'm. Oncol tli«<'vili aiunil- 
 ini( Kuril II |iroi'i'('iliii){ in, lliiil tlir rliiMri'ii of micli 
 liiiriinln nri> ili>|irivi>il of a i|iiiirti'r'« in-'lrurlion in llm 
 Si'liiKil. Anolliprovil ii, llial iht' ri'l'iiMl of^omx piironlii 
 to lii'iir n piirl ol tliiirx|wii<4i iirri>|>iiirinK iin'l fiiriiisliini; 
 lliii Si'liool lloniwi im|)oM>» II lii'iivirr liiirliMi ii|Kin 
 tli>v who i|o M'liil (o lliM Scliiiol, mill noniiiliint-» 
 |irrii'iil« Ml ninny olhiT", that llii' 'I'msli't's iir« 
 i-om|»'llril eilhiT to Inivi' llic Iloiiiii' iiiirn|iiiiri'(l, 
 mill niiiiiniif to ii(iii|iy it when iillrrly niil'il for usr, or 
 rcKort to viiliinlnrv ii>iliNrri|ilion to );pt nii'iinn lo iniikii 
 ihn most nri'ilfiil of «iirli roimirt. To iivoiil tlii'M' ini'oii- 
 vcnii'iirii'i mill ovils, Triiilfo^ liuvr, in numeroiDi in- 
 Kliinrt'i, iip|ilii'il lo thi'ir Dinlrii'l Ciiiinril to i-xvr('i.w llm 
 |io\vrr» niiilirrtMl ii|iiin it hy lli<> (.-'oinmoii Srhool Art, 
 III i>ii|iii<H> mi A«ii<"win<'nl n|Kin ihoir Srilioin for Srliool- 
 hou«r roiiBiri miil fiirniliire ; hiiiI I hnve nilvi«'il llicm 
 loilono. riiiH, however, in iinrxii't'Hinnly inronvciiicnt 
 mill rounilnlioiit {iriK'ccilinK to ohliiin tho n|>|ilii'iilii>n of 
 tliu |iriiiri|ih' whirli i« (•rnlxAlinl in the iitnlh miil tciilh 
 Sections iif iho iinni'xoil itroft of Bill. 
 
 Hill anolhur rontilih'rnlion, I'vinring lh« evil of llio 
 |iro«Mil nyslvin of School ralii-hill ix, Un iicrnicioiis in- 
 rtiii'iiri) upon ihii School after its I'Mliilili.shniL'nt. It in- 
 vhIm* a |iri »ciil piciiniary iiiilin cnirnl to every parent 
 to keep \nn ch'lilren from the Si liixil. Many paruiilit 
 ill narrow i ircimislanrin are iiitluenieil hy lliis iiiolive, 
 mill lle^i^l from eiliicniini; their ehihlren ; iiulevil, I 
 have lieeii inhirrniil of niinieroii« in^iliinie^ of poor mm 
 with hirjjc fitniilieH heinj{ coinpelleil lo ihi »o. A)(aiii, 
 many pnrenis posxensin;; ample ineaiiH to eiliirate llieir 
 cliililreii are iiiiliirereni ill respect lo ii. Not having 
 li.iil the Hilvaiitages of early eihnalion iheinvlvci, they 
 lliink llieir dohlren tan ilo ao they have ilone. A ^light 
 pecuniary iiiiliicemenl will, tlierefire, prevent Ihsm 
 from M iiilnii{ iheir < hihlren In llie School. These same 
 coiisiih r.ilioiiHWill also iniluce many pa. '".In withdniw 
 tleir I hihlren frnin the School, on sli(;lil nmuiiils nf 
 oll'eiire or iiiioiivenienco. The wilhilrawineiil of every 
 pupil from the Si lio-il involveii llie iin esvily of inlpo^illg 
 ail .iih'ilioiial mnoiiiit nf ritte-hilU upon iIiom' whn i iiii- 
 liniie In si'ilil llieir rlnhireii lo the Si hnol, ami fiiriiishe.s, 
 Iherelnre, iiilililion.il iiuluceiiieMt In iheni lo remove 
 their eliililr.M iiKo. .\nil Inw.iriU the cI.im' of the year 
 nr leriri nf the Teaclier\ eng ii;iiiiiiil, if il Ih' fouml or 
 appreheiuh il thai llie rale-hill must In- increa>eil in oriler 
 lo pav IliN H,ilrtry, many parenli remove iheir ehihlren 
 fioiii ihe Si h.Mil ; nlln r« lake ihe alarm; anil I have 
 lii'fii liilormeil of ii:xlaiice<i in wliiih llie Sclionl has 
 Ihiii nearly alwniloniil, anil ihe Triislees have lH>en 
 invnlveil III llie mn.l painful eiiilMirra.isinent. Then the 
 Trunliei, peiliapi, hiame the Teacher for ihi.s ilimiliu- 
 linii ill llu, alliinilance at iho Sclin.il, anil rel'iiw: lo pay 
 him Ins slipiilateil wayes. I have lieeii appealeil In nn 
 •everal occasions lo sellle iliiipulea arising nut nf .such 
 circumslaiiced. Tn milicipaie anil prtvent these ililTl- 
 cullies, 11.1 far as pnssihle. Trustees have, in snmo in- 
 »tani es, lufore engaging a Teacher, gone abniil ainnng 
 (heir i.eighbours with u view of gelling Ihein vnlunliirily 
 
 III aubacribv u lulBclrnl amount to pay liin aalmy. In 
 •uine inilanci'ii ihey liave parlially siHceeilvd ; in olhrr 
 iimliiiiceii 'hey liiitu U-en ahlo lu inihico liiil u lew lo 
 join with Ihrin in aurh an olilignlion. liul, in many 
 indancea, Ihii umployinrnl of infvrior Teachcra, upon 
 lorina lui.'li aa a coni|>«lvnl Tenrlirr wniihl not agree Id, 
 hax Iwen the rvanll. — Now, ihfwholv lenilelicy of .such 
 H aysUiin ia n« |it<rni<'ii)ua lo iho feellliga, views, nnil 
 mental hiihila of all piirliea roncornvtl, ua il is hilal tu 
 tliu I harncler ami inlereaU of lli« Coiniiain School*, 
 
 <»fl 
 
 »KK 
 
 )flhu elli'i I of lliia unpiilriolic system npon tlio 
 rrgn>i>nlli lahinceofchililrcnalourl omtnonachonls, 
 annu) opinion may he liirmeil from the fuel, that ilia 
 uveragv niimherorrhihlren lauglil inlliemMr(i/Ar/'fiior< 
 than fifty per crnl. lf».i than in a nriKhbouring Slalt, 
 where iho principle nf raie-hill itccoriling lo pmiierly — 
 inilenit of accoriling lo aiienilancu — ohiuins. 'lo leave 
 ehihlren iMii'ilurateil ia In train up thieves ami inceli- 
 iliariea anil niiiiilerera ; anil il ia the liilervsl anil ihily 
 of ImiiIi the (iovcrnmenl nnil every honest menihur of 
 the commuihly, lo uiil in the prevention ns well na 
 piinishmen), of crimes nml Iheir kimlrril vices. For 
 tliii (iovernmeiil, or Province, with resniiices at com- 
 manil. lonfiiao or neglect In Hlloril means of subsit- 
 lence to slnrviiig nnil famishing mulliluih's, woiihl Imj 
 justly regarileil n« n piililir crime nnil ilisgrnce. Hut, 
 is il n lesa crime, nnil lighter disgrace, to siilijecl hy 
 neglect, hiindreila and ihouaunirs lo inlellectuni slurva- 
 lion mill iliu pealileiu'c oferiinu and misery which follow 
 in ila train .' Yet at theiirpaenl limo mart than one-half 
 of the children nf Lpptr Canada, of School age, 
 nrf iwl in allemlance at any School ! Uiil phu« 
 the poor man on n level with the rich man in lh« 
 divinely ordained menna of audi instruction for his 
 children a.s will qualify und dispote ihcin liir their 
 ihilioa in Ihe aiM-inl syslem ; h'l the poor man feel 
 that hy paying liia penny of ScliunI ussewimenl, his 
 ehihlren iiavo na good n right lo the Schmil ns lliu»o 
 of his wenllhy nrighUiur who puys hi.« thirty hhillinga, 
 nnd how muny will he aeen crowding In Iho ScIiikiI 
 of knowledi^e und virtue frnin ihal very class of the 
 community Irnm which nur gunl.s nnd prisons me now 
 filled. Compel the unlutored nnd misguided pnrent lo 
 pay his ipinln for iho ncluul n|M'ralioiis of the Schiml, 
 ninl n dmir of instiuclion will he opened to Ida chil- 
 dren which, otherwise, parental ignoinnce and sellish- 
 nesa would shut again.sl lliem ; nnd their nntural rights 
 and host interests will thus Imi prolecleil and secured 
 during the period of their chihlhiHxl and lielp!es.snps.s, 
 and they will not grow up hnrharians und nuisnnces in 
 the commimitv. Keipiire every man In pay for a 
 necessary ('oininnn Schi>ol education nccording lo iho 
 ' pro|H-rly which he has nci|uircd nnd enjoys in the 
 ; ('ountry, and vmi lighten the hurliien of supporting Iho 
 i Common Si li »il~, from those pnreiits who ate cdiicnt- 
 ; ing their fnmilies ; voii remove lie strongest lemplalion 
 i tn keeping children frnin the Scliiml, nnd furnish every 
 i parent with an nddiliniiril and direct inducement lo 
 send his children lo the SchonI ; ynu remove nil con- 
 tention liolween parents mid Trustees nnd Teachers, 
 1 on accoiml of llie present syslem of Hale Hills and 
 siiliscriplions nccording In nitendance ; ynu relieve 
 1 Trustees of llm moat |ierplexing par' of their ilulies, 
 nnd place lioih them .ind the Teacher in n position 
 : more agreeable and more elliiient in regard to tho 
 ohftrniler and interests M' Ihe ScIuhiI ; you provido 
 means for obtaining better nnd more regular salaries 
 I for Si'liiMil Teachers, and nl less expon.se to each of 
 I Ihe parents now sending children to the Common 
 School, nnd thus ensure a belter class of Teachers ; 
 o|H'n Ihe School House rlnor lo every child in the 
 hind, and thus lay the foundation for a virtuous, intel- 
 ligent, und pros;)orous cominunily. 
 
 Such arc the nbjecis contemplnlcd by Ihe Ain/Aand 
 Tenth Sci lions of the accompanying Draft of Bill i 
 
28 
 
 I 
 
 ( 
 
 MiH, •hmiW lh»y ttrronw law, I mmrt Iruly Ulirvr 
 iImI ihry will prixliirr » grrnlar iin|<r<>vitnH>nl in lliv 
 Cimimon Srhixl" miil in thf iIiITikumi of ('oinmon 
 Hi liiHil riliir«li<Mi ihitn ntiv ulitrnllnnitl rnHrlmi'nl wliu h 
 hi\t n'l tnluMi iiliiri" ill ihii I'nivinrr. In mnnriiun ! 
 witli iIhi indurnrc of our Divine ('lirinlimiily, I rxn j 
 nmrriirf of no ((rriilrr lilminK tn C'imiii|( fp'iirriiiioiiii j 
 of Cuniiilii tliiin iIh< iiiri<r|'i<riili(in into our S< h<>i>l lnw 
 iif llie |>rinr>|il» wlmh I Ihtv imIviitiiIp, nnd wliiili i» i 
 ihiit •iirnmiinly rii|ireMir(l lit llii> Mu'wrhiiwlli Itixiril . 
 of Kiliiiniiiiii in llirir AiiniiHl Ki'|>>rl I'or M|,i: " 'I'lio I 
 lariliniil |iritH'i|ili>, wimli lira iil llin r>>iin<liiliiin nf our " 
 riliiriiiiiii nl Mticm, '», ilhil nU Ihr ckililrrn of lh» \ 
 Stall »haH h* tJucalfd 6y the SMt. An <>iir (Suv- 
 iTnmt'nl wn« IhumiIoiI U|hiii iIii> virinr iiiiil iiili'lli|;iMi<i' 
 «r llif |NMi|ilr, il will ri)(lilly r'>n< liiili'il liy iIh IrniiH r« 
 dial, wIiIkmiI n wim' nliiiHlinnnl «y>li'ni, lliv (i'lvi-rn- , 
 mrni ilM'll' oiHilil nut kianil ; ami in i>rilainiiiK that llic 
 I'xpi-nM-ii III' riliii'Klinx iho iM-niilr »Ii>miIiII>i' ilcfrati'ij 
 liy tlii> |«<>|i|i< at l>ir)(r, wiihoiil rrr<ii<'iu-r< In lliii (wrli- 
 riilar iNMitlil of iiuliviiluHli, ii wii< nitianli'ri'il tlutt 
 th<NH>, who, |ii'rli<i|iii, wilhoiil any rliihlrcii of tlii'ir 
 own, iioviTlhli'u would Dliil Ih! i'oni|H'lli'il |o piiv n 
 lnri(t> liu, woiilil rcd'iiru iin iiiii|>lu <M|iiiviili'iit in llii' 
 |irnii>t'iion of tlii'ir iwrMHiii and in Iha ivciirily of tlivir 
 |iro|icrly." 
 
 Th" Klii<riUh Scrlion nf the arrompanylnK DrHfl of 
 nill priit iilvn I'or llio u|i|Miinlnipnt of n mtoiiiI Dinlrirt 
 Sup<'rinli'iidcnt of Coiiunon SrlimiN, al ihti dixrciion 
 of till- Council, in Dinlricli lliu Si hoolt ol wlii<hi-k- 
 reed one liiiiidri'd and lil'iy in nuinl>i r ; n |irovi»ion 
 minli));oii<i lo oiii' wliiih I'xinii In ilic Smii' of Ni'w- 
 Yoik. Il will ohvialu an oliji-ilion whirli ixittt in iho 
 pri'irnl Common Srhool Arl, in rr({iird lo two or ihreo 
 of Ihv liiri;i<>t DiMricli in I |>|>vr (.'nnada.* 
 
 The Twtljlh Section [auiUirisini; llw (lOTernnr in 
 Coiinnl III remove a Ditlrirl Su|ieriiilrndi'iil for nogli'i I 
 or violalion ol duly, until llie eniiiin^ meelin); of hia 
 Diilrict Council,) in rendered nerewary by ihe loan 
 of llii' rlnuw in iIh' A«M'nihlv diirio); llie lii<it Si'iuion, 
 wliii'li waa inliodiired into the Si hoot Hill rehilive to 
 Iho optioiiilinenl of Djuiriri Su|>erinti'nili'iiiii ol Com- 
 mon Sth'i>ila, 'Phut c'Ihii*' providi'd for tin" iip|MHn|. 
 mciit i>f Dulrlft Su|irrinli TidenlN hy the (Jovernor in 
 CounnI, on the riTommenda'ion id the l)i»iriit Coiin- 
 cila. I refer to my i-ommuniralion of the 3ri| Miirrh 
 taal for the reaaoni of dml rhiiM', — namely, to eon- 
 form the Srh nd l.iw lo our «y^lem of IVovinrial Km- 
 |K)n»ilile (iovernmeni, and to »>cure the fullilmenl of 
 the jnli'iilion^ of the |,egi«lHlure in e<lalilishini; nnd 
 aiding a Provinrial »yatem of Sehoidn. Hiil iIihI rlan«e 
 not having lieen adopled hy a mnjorily of ihe Houw 
 .if A»H-Mihly , and Ihe ap|Hiinlmenl of Ditlrii i Sii|ier- 
 intendenli li«viii({ In-en left eorliiaively with Ihe |)i«- 
 trirt Couiu iU, it w.ii nereuart ti provide ooini' meant 
 liy wliidi re»|Kiiiiiliiliiy nhiill he Mcnreil to tht (io\- 
 ernment in re>|H-(t to the applicilion of money « wliiih 
 liavc been cranted hy ihc Lej^inliilure, nnd in re»|H'fl 
 lo the nd'ninialrntion of the ScIiihiI ^v^ll in, »s f,ir an 
 the (iovernmeni i« renponsihle for il. Al the present 
 lime, nny District Sujierinlendiut m»y or mnv not 
 exerule the law, may or niiiv n^it iipplv the Si hool 
 Fund nrcordinn lo the condiliont anil regulutiom re- 
 quired In linv, and the (iowrrnmeni has no |«)Wfr lo 
 prevent him front doini; »»■ If ttie SiIumiI Fund were 
 created entirely by Im al awieMinent, then n li^al ri»- 
 pon«ihdily alone could In.' pro|ierly inniiiled ii|H>n ; hii' 
 aa one-half of ihe Fund i% providiHl bv the Provin- 
 cial lA-)(isliiture, there ou)(hl to Iw re<i|Nin«ihilily lo the 
 PMvincial (ioverntnent on Ihe part of all iho!* who 
 are entrualed with iti inanajKemenl. The profiriely of 
 
 • Tliii «u !<'■( in 
 fba Anral'l;', 
 
 ib« L«fUtatir« Ciiancil, ttitr fcaiiag funi i 
 
 appninlinK all lurh Otilrcri liv the Provinrial Clovvrn- 
 meni itobviiHit; hill it would llH't, follow that Ihvir 
 wUriea nhoiild h<i |i«ld out of the piihlie revrnua, aa 
 are Ihoin of oihir piihlii' olFlcitra. |lu> an oppoaite 
 ■ydeni ol ap|niinlmenl hiia oliliiiiipd ; and aa the Din- 
 liirl CiiiineiU providu for the anUriaa of Dmlriel Sii- 
 |ierinlriiilenl< out of DialricI FuniU, and provide al»o, 
 onedialf of llw aniounl of the Nchiuil Fund, | do no! 
 iliink il advi»ahle to pro|)iia<iany cliaiiK» in Ihe rehiliona 
 and re<|MHi»iliililiet of Dinirnl S<i|H'rinl«iiil(>nl* to ihn 
 DialricI ConnriU. Hut for Ihe aanie reaaon lliiil Div 
 tnrt Sii|M'rinlenilenla aro Ihiia rp«|ionaih|e to ihe Coun- 
 I ila, ithoiilil lliev Ih> rea|Hmadilii lo llin |;ovpriinienl — 
 bi-inx eniriKled with llie controiil of moneva ami other 
 |MiWera for tlis due adininialralmn of which llie Diiv- 
 virnmenl ia rea|ioiiailde. And ainh la ihe olijecl of 
 the Iwflpk fpction of Ihe annexed Drail of Kill. 
 
 The law of the Slate of New-Vork, from which »o 
 much of our ScIuhiI law liaa laeii derived, conlaina, 
 amoiiK olhera, lh« followiiiK [roviaioiia relative lo the 
 appointment, reniovnl, and dutiea, of DialricI Sujierin- 
 iindenta : — 
 
 " 'Hie noiinl of ,Su|iervi»ori in each Counlv of tlio 
 Stale vhall ap|Miint n County Su|H'rinlenili.nl of Coin- 
 iiioii SiliiHiU for am h County ; nnd in iliow Coiinlii.a 
 in wliii h there shall Imi more ihan one liiindrid and 
 liflt Sihoid l)i>trirl<, reckoniii)( iwo pntia nf junl 
 
 I Dialrii la ua ime. they may up|Kiiiil iwo Couiily Super- 
 Inlendenla, or one in llieir di>crelioii ; nnd al all tucli 
 
 I uppoinlinenla hirinfler iMiih', tin' Hoard thall iliiidu 
 the County into two lonvenienl Diatriila, deai^'fi.iiing 
 the IHTMin appoiiili'd liir eucli DialricI reajMi ti\uly, 
 when there klinll Ih' Iwo ap|H>inled ; hut no ahare of 
 the public money ahall licrMifler Ih- np|Mirlioiied lo any 
 
 , Coiinly in which a County Sii|MTiiilenileii| >h«ll not 
 have iM'en ap|Hiinled, uidi«a by order of ||h> Sii|«>riii- 
 lendenl of Common Si h<N>la. Such Coiinly Su|H'rin- 
 lendclils sli.ill hold lliiir olficea, reifieclivelv, for two 
 \car», !iiih|ri I lo removal hy ihe Hoard of Su|arvi»or"j 
 on compliinl, for cauKs to lie atntcd," 
 
 " Any County Su|M'riiilenilint mny Ik- reinored 
 from olTiie by the Sii|H.riiili iidiiil of Commui Si hoida, 
 will neVfr, in hla juilumi iil, aiitlii ieni en uai' for audi 
 removal exiala : nnd ihe tacnnc 'lierihy iHcaaioneii 
 ah.ill Ui aiipplied bv iip|Miinlmi n, under hia hind miiiI 
 iifficinl u'ul, until ih. next iiMHlini; of ihi' Hoard of 
 S jperviaora of llie .Mly in whuh audi vacancy 
 
 i'xi»l». A copy of i|ii< irilur making audi removal, 
 s|K-iif\inu the iMii^ei thereof, >hidl be forwardi d to the 
 Clerk of llie Hoard of Sit|i«'r\ ianr-, to la. by loni l.iid 
 before Ihe Bourd at their first meelin){ thereiifltr." 
 
 " Tlie Counlv Superinlendcnia ahall la- auhjii i to 
 "inch <{eneral riilia nnd regiilaliona n« llie Su|ii'tinlen- 
 ili 111 may from litne lo lime pre-crila'; uiiil apiHnIa from 
 llieir ai la and rie<'i<'ion« m.'iv Ih' niade to hiin in the 
 Millie innimer and wilh llie like ellici aa in i a».a now 
 provided by law, nnd lliey shall make lit |Hirla aiinuullv 
 to till' Su|K-riiileni|i'nl at aui h liinea us ahall liv ap- 
 pointed hy him, which *hall Ix- iIm- same iia are now 
 reipiired lo Im' made by Ihe County Cbrk', with such 
 ailditiotial inforimilion at ho alinll reipnre." 
 
 (/xJtt'f oj IMIJ.) 
 
 The School l.awa of the Stale of \ew-Vork are 
 the ri'Milt of nuiny ex|»fim<nla and iipwanls of I'lirltf 
 yrtim' IriruUilion , and the aUive ipiola'ioiis >hovv 
 how fully the adeijuule aiilhoriiy of the Fxeculivo 
 (ioiernnienl ia ncogiiijed nnd mainlaineil in regard 
 to all the regulnliona nnd priHvedinga of ihi' Slate 
 Sihivil .Systrni. Hut, I think, il i» more coiigeniiil 
 wilh our aystem of (Joveriiment to place in the liiiiult 
 of the (lovernor in Council that |iower in reijaid to 
 the ren)o\ul of a District Superiiitciident which lh« 
 
 
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 ''>•<■( 111 
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 law i>f ilw filiilii <>r N^w-Yiifk (ivc* ilia Nii|wrinlrii- f 
 ilrni iif I'lilliriMHi •Silimiii, Tlivru il oxU'liilii ufi'll In j 
 iiimtHltncjf iir Jiliuu for ullim ; in lliu i«i'iiiii|iiiii) mg 
 Uriili iif liill It I* |>rii|iuM;i| III tiKtviiii It mily In mi§con- 
 Juil. 
 
 'I'lir Thirtitnth Si'iiliiMi c.f till) iiririuxtij Draft of 
 Hill |ii<iviil«a liir iiiiikiiiK, iit llii' iliMiiiiiiii ul iIh' 
 (iiiViTii'ir III Cuiiiiril, lliir('riimirir« iir Di^lriil Kiiiid*, 
 lliii 'I'mxin'r* of ihr Diairii I School KiiniU hImi. I 
 >iiKKi-»li'il lliin |iriiviiiiiiii ill my lti'|H>rl mi lln' SiIi'hiI 
 Hill of tilt! ;iril of MHri'li limi , Inn >||iIimI iIiiI ii^ mhih-, 
 if not ino>( (if tliu Diiiiricl 'rri'«iiiirii» ri'ti'inil (iir 
 I'i'iilnKi- on lliii iniinvvii wliiili luiui'il iIkohkIi ihvir 
 liniiila, II linn woiiM Imj iiiiiliiliivii liy mii li a |iriiviitiuu 
 iiiili'M a •iirciul iirruliKi'liM'iil imilil hv inuik' i'X»iii|iIiiik 
 Si liiKiU inoiii'irH 1111111 Niirli it ilriiw-liiiil. Siiiiu llii'ii 
 nil Ai I liiK Ki'i'ii |iiii»c>il rlini>)(ii.K ill!' li'iiurn ol llui 
 ollini of DiniHl 'rrviuiirrni ; uiiil I ImIii'Vi' iihiiiI, if not 
 nil ilii* l)i«lri(t Trtutiiii'in iiuw rt'ii.'ivc liwiliiiil.iru'ii. I 
 think lli.il il will liiiw Lh' |iriii linilili' In inny lliu lliir- 
 li'iiiilli M'i'liiin of till! iililii'Xiil Driill of llill iiiio I'Xr- 
 nilmn, Isliould it licrninr ii liiw) willi<iiil iiny \ins In 
 
 lIlC S( IliHll Kllllll, illlll Willi lllltlllllll}{l' In llii; SlIllNll 
 
 <y»li'ill.* 
 
 Il is lint I oiini'liri'il ({iinil |iiiliry in iiiiy oiIht I)i'- 
 |iiiiliiirnt of ilif I'lililii: StTvii 1', 111 iihili' in ihe «iiiiit> 
 |icninn llir lliriu olliri'* ol 'rrriitiiiriT, Aiiililor, mid I'liy- 
 lna<litr. Yi'l it in xi in our ScIkhiI kvmIimii. TIiii 
 Diolriit Siiiwrinltndi'iit ii iiihiIu llii' 'I'ri'iiiiirir uf lliu 
 Si liiHil Kund of lliu l)i>lriii ; lie jiid)(i'!i nf lliu |iro|irit'ty 
 of nil ordcra iinil cliiiina iniido ii|iiin llial Fund ; iind 
 III) jinya llinii or not na liu tliiiik* |irn|i))r. Nnw, as u 
 KCIMthI rule, it la un nilvmitiiKu i'nr niiu In liavi' aut li 
 fumla ill Ilia liundu, iind to ri'liiiii lliein u-i Inn^ a^i |hh>- 
 ailil(',ea|ii'iially if lio laviigugud iiiorrnnnecti'd Willi any 
 kind uf liuninuM, Il i> liia inlerc^t, tliiri-foit', lu iIlIVi 
 till) payinriit nf i laima ii|»iii fiiiida in liia liiiiida aa Imi^ 
 ua |inaaili|i-, nr llii> nolilicalinli of tlicin In parliia cnli- 
 rirni'd: and llio Inral ndiiiiniMMlioii nf llii> Srliiml 
 Act I'rcM'nIa nuini'roiia n|>|n>rlunilic'a mil prvli'Xla fur 
 
 tiriHTiisliniiiiniiiii ImiIIi tlu'M.' rl^^|■t'cU, .Many cniii|ilainla 
 lavf, dnwii evin In llin |iri'H'iil inonlli, Iwcn liiadu 
 nj{ainal Tnwnk|ii|i Sii|irrinliMidi'nls fur didaying, un 
 vnrioiii KroiiniN, lliu payiiicnt of Srlimd Funila in 
 lliLir li.inda. Wlii'lliiT any nni> oflheati coin|dainl» ia 
 will foiindi'd or mil, I Imvr im mcHiia nf knowing ; Iml 
 nwiitiiini( llirin In Ih' ill-ronndi'd, nt I Iio|Hi llicy are, 
 is It |>rii|H'r In place Su|H'ntileiidunttnfCniiiinnnSclii>nN 
 in < ircumalnncea in wliicli lliey are liable In audi iin- 
 |iiiUlion< and auaiiiciuna willmul any niiaiis of diaprnv iiig 
 llii' injiiHlire nf lliein ' I'n l>i^lri( t Sii|ieriiileii(leiilK nn 
 aiK'li MiiiiicioiiH ran allacli ; for lliey have, as yit, had 
 iiolhin); tu do wiili ihe |Miyiiienl of the Sulnad r unil to 
 'J'eHchera ; hul iiiidrr 'he (ireteiil Slalulo, tliev are 
 bImiuI to asauilie thai part ol'lhe duliea of the ahnlished 
 ofliie of 'I'lmnahip Superinlenilenls. Il will iinw In; 
 the duly of llie CiMnniiHi School Suiierinlendenl ofeai !i 
 DiNlnct lu pay nul in dilail all Ihe ('oiniiion Si hod 
 Funds uf audi |)iatrict. It is, tlierdnre, a ipieslion 
 wliiiher he should contimie to he llie Treasuier of 
 Sdiuol Funds or wlielhor Ihiy bhould not lie placed in 
 Ihu hands i^f Ihe ordinary Treaaurer of ihe District, 
 |uiyablu In Sdiool 'renclieis on die nnlers or ihei|ues of j 
 lliu DisliicI Su|H'rinli'ndenl. AicnrdingUi ihu latter 
 mode, llieru would he the nio>t ilfiilual provision f >r 
 correi I acci.uiilsof iho ex|H'n(lilure nf llie Sdiool Fund, 
 and f >r ita pionipl puyinent to parties cnlilled lu it— - 
 the Ileal security against any ahii.sea in umnuxiuii with 
 ita applii alion, and against allacks or sunpiciuna nn- 
 fatuurahle In any Dislrici Superintiiulent. Should the 
 thirleenlh Section liocnnie law, il Would, nf course, not 
 be neccaaary fur u Diatricl Supeiiiiiundenl, any mure 
 
 * NoTit. — Thii clauai' fuand llw Uuum uf AaMiabljr, but wm lott 
 In Oil* l.c)|;iiliitivu I'uuiicil. 
 
 ihnn ill* PrnvinrlHl Supcriiiienilcni, In rniar iiiiu iHiniN 
 with twnnr innru lurrlioa fnr llir fallliful p' ifurnianc* 
 nl hia duliea, Tlio anMilideil law nf llin Main of New 
 Vnik ia lliu Mime aa ihal which ia |irii|nMM'd in tlia ihir- 
 ternlli Secliim uf iIhi aniiexvd Drnl^ of Hdl. Il ia aa 
 fellnwi : — " 'I'liu auiii annually In Us dislriliiiUd for iha 
 eiicoiirHKumeiit ofCninninii Sclinnla ahdll Iw paid nn 
 Ihe liral day nf Fuhriiary, in uviry year, nn lh« wurraiil 
 nf ihe Coinptmller In ihu Trtatiirrri nf iliu iwveral 
 (Iniinlina and ihu ChutnlN'rlniil nf ihn Cilv n| NaW- 
 York." 
 
 Hul, aiill, I dn mil prn|KM<) that ilit pnwtr ;;ivi>n by 
 the (hirlacnih Set lion of ihu annexid Dral'i of Hill 
 ali'iiild Im' exi'tcised, iiiiIi'M where ihe i halite of Dia- 
 IricI Treaaurukhip nf lliu School Funds can hu iiiadij 
 willioul any additimial cliargu upon iheni. 
 
 Tim Fimrlttntk Sectinii nf llie Hline\ed Draft of Hill 
 prnvidea for llie nppninlinunl nf ihe Mayor nf ihe City 
 nf 'rorniiln aa H MeinlMT of ihu llnaiil of F.dilialinn. 
 'I'liu reawin for this apiminliiienl i<, that the Provincial 
 N'nrmal Sihonl is eslahlishi'd at Toronlo, mid Ihe Mo- 
 del Sdionl inunecled willi il will be < omiiosed of 
 chihlren resident in the Ciiy. Thu f'ily will, lliiriToru, 
 linvu a peculiar inlereat in the rroviniial Norniul 
 SdiiHil, and ita nuthnriliea may yet I'ei I thum>ulvca 
 I ailed upnii to ciinlrihute someihini; Inwards ila suiipiirl. 
 The aulhoriliranflhu Ci^y uf Alhaii) provide the iiuilih 
 ini(a fnr ihu Normal ScbiMil nf the Stale nl Nrw-Vnrk. 
 I.'iiiler llivau circumaluiii:ea, I think il very prnpir ihul 
 llie Chief Maifialrnlu nf llie Cily uf Toiunio aliould b« 
 n Mumbvr uf iiio Itnnrd of Rducaliun. 
 
 I havu lliua explained as fully aa pppeari lu mo ne- 
 ccaaary, and na hrielly na the nature nl' thu suhjecla 
 iiividvvd Wiiuld ndniit. the piim ipal prnviaiona ol llie 
 annexed Draft ufHill, and which I innsi respeciriilly 
 submit to till favnurahlu cniisiileralinn nf ihe (Jnvernor- 
 (ieiieinl in Council, with a vi*)W In its inlrudiiclion 
 inin iho liCgislnturp, in urder In ualahlish a prn|H)r 
 ayalem of SclnMila in Cilicannd Towns in I'pper Canada, 
 and lu remedy Ihe defecta wliii h have been referied to 
 in the Commun Scliuul Act, Olli Vic. cap. xx. 
 
 I liavc till) honour In be, &c., 
 
 (Signed,) KGKKTON RYKRSOX. 
 
 The Ilim. D. Daly, M. V. P., 
 
 Secretary uf the Province, Montreal. 
 
 No. 8. 
 
 Copy of Communication to the Stcritury of Ihe 
 Province, Kubiniltim; the miiinn o/' cuni/ing into 
 effect the ind Section, ID/A iliciiiion, !)//i I'ictoria, 
 Vojt. 20., icAicA rei{uirea the Supeiinleiutent of 
 Schoiils—" To eviptoif all liiuful meaiia in hit 
 "power to collect and diffuse information on the 
 " miliject of /education generally ainonjf Ihepiojile 
 " of i'pper Canada." 
 
 F.DucATiON Office, 
 
 Turonlu, iJOth Dec, 1846. 
 
 SiH, — I have llrf hoiiniir In submit for Ilis Kxcel- 
 h'licv's favourable oiinsideralion in Council, ihe (idlow- 
 iiig ineiiiis of carrying into < (feci the second Section, 
 tenth division, uf the Common Schuul \ct, wliich 
 reiiiiirca the Su|i«rinlciiilent of Schools : " To employ 
 " all lawful means in lii:i power tu ciillecl ami dilliiao 
 " inlnr'nulinn on iho subject of education generally, 
 " among the ponpic of I'pper Canada. 
 
 The first ineasurc which I ro»|)Cclfully propose lu 
 give ell'ect to this provision of the Act, is, the publicn- 
 
30 
 
 
 (I 
 
 tion. of II K>nii-monlhly Juvrnal of E-hicalion ; rnch I 
 niimlior InronlninnlKiul tC pHpcsilniililcinliiniin, somo- 
 wlinl nimilar I" Ularkwixid'a M.ipnzini', (ir ilic I.i'iKliiii 
 •ml Wi'Vmilistrr Kcviow. To Ni |Milili,»lir(l iit n 
 (lolliK n ycnr, and «ij|wrinli'ii(lc;f hy mysilf 
 
 *.:»ii a publiialinn cnlilltMl, "The Cuniinon Stlux)! 
 Journiil " i» !iiilili>lic(l iit linston by the S-ctetarv <il' 
 lliv Uonril (if EdiicHlion, end fur tliv pulilirntinn i>t' 
 wlildi lilt) lA'i;i%!iitiirp of lliu SiHic of .M<iv<iM IiiimIis 
 ^rnnK H.^KisliUKo, A (imilnr Joiiniiil is |iiilili»l>i'd nt 
 Allmny — i«i|i'd ilic " Dislriit Stlin"! Journal," and 
 lo ihc circulation if wliirli llic S(alc of Ni"v York 
 linn conlribuled — n» sude.l !:: llie last received Ke|iorl 
 of (lie Slate Sii|ierintendenl of Common Sriiools — llio 
 «uin of "several tbouwnd dollars." Tlie Scliivd au- 
 lliorities in tlio two Stales nHM\lioned, sjHMik in the [ 
 Mronsiest t?ims of ilie innM>rlaiico and iiserulmst of : 
 iheM? Kduralion;il irnals. In Paris, there are. |nd>- 
 li»hed under the sanction of the Minister of I'ubhc 
 InMrurtion, two inonllily Journals. The one entitled : — 
 " Kevue de rinslrurtion rulilique, en Frame et dans 
 " les ;iays I'lrangcrs," the other entitled, — '" Manuel 
 " j;('n6ral de I'lnslruclion Primaire, rerneil meiisuel 
 " licsline, lo it donner aux comilC's el i { nseils muni- ' 
 " '•iprux tons les renseignenients ni'eewniires |i<>ur la ' 
 " fornmlion, renlrelien et la direction iles eioU's ; in 
 " a i,auleiiir les inli-ri'isde* iiistiluteurs et A les ffuider 
 " d-'is le choix -.ler nielhodes el prociMlrs d'enseiirne- 
 " ment ; 3o ii repandre linns loulcs les communes do 
 " France les meillcures principes d'cducation." 
 
 The imjiortancc and almost ahssduto necessity of 
 such a publication, lor I'pper Canada, can Karcely 
 admit of a doubl, besides the various facilities it .roiild 
 afford the Education < (Ifice in the tr.eculion of the law. 
 i have ascertained ihat the ex|<enses of printini;, ad- 
 dressing, Ike, the twenty-four nuiiitxTS of mi< li a Jour- 
 nal couli' 1)0 prelly nearly ilcfrayeil by the fxiymtnt of 
 a dollar a copy per year — a.ssiiniiii); the ( iiculatinn to 
 lie iCKH). No allowance nec'd be ma<lo for editing it ; 
 but allowance must lie made for losses of suhscriptioni 
 and oilier incidental cx|>en«e», such as aijenries, &c. 
 A Legislative grant for this pur|ios«> might be objiuled 
 lo ; but I pro|H>s« the following means of >u>tiiiniiig 
 the publication for one year. As the I.egisl.iiive \»- ' 
 scmbly will probably sanction ihe printing of a pain- 
 phlet edition of my lle|«irl on Elemeniary In.Mriiclion, 
 I would propose that the estimated expense of siu li i n 
 edition of 250(; W. placed at my di^(»»al, and that 
 sudi edition of the Ue|uirt \>v primed in »uiTe(isi\e 
 numbers of the Journal of Educaiion. The Schiml 
 Act requiring me : " To prepare as soon a« pr.iclicable 
 " and recommend the ndopiion of suilable plans of 
 " School-houses, with ilie proptr fmnilure and a| imi- 
 " (lagct " — a RejHjrt on wh.t' I ho(M> to iuive readv 
 by the ensuing Sewion of the Legislature — I pro(Hw 
 lliat the sum estimated by the fJovernm' lit Pfinter fi^r 
 llic printing of «i'( li RejuTl on .**<'h'><d-lioii'4's, l)e aUo 
 placed at my disposal, and that the Re|«irl, when ap- 
 proved of, lie printed in llie pro|«>«iil Joiirnul I't Eilii- 
 e<tlion. 
 
 Willi suih assistance, I would unilerl<iki' lo ii>cur 
 the res|Kin»il)ilii» ami bilxnir of publii>hin); a semi- 
 rnonihly Jimrtutl of Hducalion for one year, ui the 
 end of whii li lime it can be eiuily detiiliil whelhci 
 the Journal .*bould bi- coiiiiimeiT, »i"l what kind uf 
 aMistanca would Iw retjuired fur ihal pur|s>ac. 
 
 Should this underttiking receive ihu approbalion of 
 His Kxcelkncy in Couniil, I sh'i'dd »i>li lo i«siic ihc 
 first number, soaslo date it the 15lh of January, 1847. 
 I Un ihrri-l'ore lo lie apprizitl of 1 1 is Lxctlteiuy'i 
 decikiun at yuur earliest convenience. 
 
 A second iitca'.tire by which I propiiee to proinoio 
 lh« ulijecli of tli« SclwHil .\cl, is, in ihe course of the ( 
 
 next four or six mnnths, lo visit uml employ one or two 
 days in Si Innd disooursj-s anil dfliberalions with Iho 
 Su|H'rinleiident, Visitors, Teachers, and Trustees, in 
 each of the seveial Dislricis in Upper Canada. I 
 know if no means so enTcctual to remove prejudice — ■ 
 lo create unanimily of t it W's and feeling", and lo ex- 
 cite a geiu'ial inleresi in the cause of a popular Kdii- 
 ralion, iho cst.iblishineni of Libraries, &i'. The lalHiurs 
 of su( h an iindirlnking would be very considerable, 
 but Would, I think, lie amply rewarded by its results, 
 I shoidil not however 111 sil.ile lo atlempl it, should llis 
 Kxcellency appiove of il and allow me for such ex- 
 |icnMS as may be incurred in travelling. 
 
 1 propose these two iinderlnkirgs in addition tn llie 
 alieady inereawd duties of my tlffice, 
 
 I have liie honour to lie, 
 
 Sir, your inosi oliedient hull hie servant, 
 [Signed,] r.(;KRT()N RYEUSON. 
 The Hor;. 1). Daly, M. P. P. 
 
 Secretary of ihe I'rovincc, Montreal. 
 
 11. 
 
 AchnoxcUdgimtnt of the foregoin/f Ltllrr. 
 
 (Copy,) 
 
 SitrnETAav's Oi-nre, 
 
 Monlreal, lOih Oclolier, 1H18. 
 
 Sir, — I have ihe honour to at knowledge the receipt 
 of a Re|H)rt on ihe Common Si ln«d Law of rp|ier 
 Canada, (wiili an .\ppendi\) and a Draft of a Hill, 
 with Explanatory Remarks, making firllier provision 
 lor the improvement of the system of Common S( IuhiIs 
 therein; and am to inform you, ih.il Ihcy have lieen 
 laid before Mis F'.xcelleiicy ihe (juvvrnor Uenetal, in 
 Council, for con»iileraiion, 
 
 I have lliu honour to lie, 
 
 Sir, your most ob't. servant, 
 
 [Signed,] J, LESI,IE, 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 The Reverend Euertun Rverson, D. U. 
 Su|ierilitendeiil ul Sclitwls, 
 
 Toronto, C. W. » 
 
 III. 
 
 ('oi-r of Additional /■.xpliinatory Remarks accoin- 
 jiani/inif a Diiift of Uitt iiuiktng furtlirr /iruvi- 
 sionfor the lii.j'rtvtintnl vf llie St/ttnn of Com- 
 i/iim Schooli in I'/iper Ciinuda, by the Chief 
 SupffinttiulitU if kchoola. 
 
 EiiucATioM (tKncr, 
 i'oronlo, :23rd February, IM-i9. 
 
 Sm, — I have the liiinour lo transmit, for the con> 
 sideraiioii of lb.' (iovcrniT (ieneral in Council, the 
 .intiexid Di.ili of Mill for I'piwr Cai.adu. For con- 
 venience, I lia\e indudel in the annived Driifl of |li|| 
 all the provisions of the Draft ot Hill which I bad iho 
 honour to Irai.sinil Willi ixpl.inHlioii>., ihe 1-illi of bisl 
 OcIoImt. The first fouriicn Seciioiis of the aniiexiil 
 l)r..fl of Hill are idenli. .1 with the Diafi of Hill of 
 the 1 lib uf Dell ber ; and I have nothing to add lo the 
 explanations and remarks on llie School l^w generally, 
 whiih Bcconipanieil that Urafl uf Hill. 
 
 The Fifttntth Section of the aiinexeil Draft of Hill 
 nrovidis lor giving bgal ellecl .o the pr.>|H»ilion of llie 
 Hoard of Education, ol llie 4tli of .March la-t, and aji- 
 
81 
 
 provc'l iif by (lie Qovcrnur GcnGrnl in Council, ns coin- 
 iiiuniciiled in your ivttvr of lliu 3lsl (.f Oclobtr. Tli' 
 Proviso in lliis Sitlion will »lii)W tli<il il is nut iulcndnl 
 to I'liiTiiiirli u|Hin lliii iiuiuuiit iif uiil now ^iven tu lliu 
 ('•itiinmn ScIuhiIh of Upper ('hiihiIii ; hikI it will lliuro- 
 fuio not only giiurd llio ninount nf ni«l llius l^ivcn, liul 
 piL'veut »i\y ilis.<'fltisl'.i('liiin oiisiiig iti tliu niiuil.sor ils 
 rccipient<>. 
 
 The Sixteenth Sei lioti pnniosos n smnll provision 
 for tlie esliilili>liinerit ofn I'roviiuiul ScIkniI of Art nnil 
 Design, on lliu viist iinporlaiicti of wliiili I uceil not 
 cnlitrgv, I have trcattd (Ixr sulijecl ut some leti);lli in 
 l)i« roiicludin); piirl of a I/'cluru JukI pulili.slicd in (lie 
 liunikT foi Filiruaiy of llie second volume of llie 
 ' Journiil of KciuiHliou for I'pper Ciitiiida." I may 
 
 no inclination to remark ; and I will only remark, that 
 allowing trHvelling expenses to the Superintendent of 
 Sc'IhhiIi) for Upper Canada will be rauro advantageous 
 lo IiIti lliaii making hii salary the same as that of the 
 Superiiileudeut uf Schools for Lower Catiada. 
 
 The Nineteenth Section proimses to limit 4he power 
 of Trustees lo odiect rate-hills for the salaries of 
 School Teachers, to the year for which they are levied, 
 and lo make llieiii (icrsonally res|)onsible for wliat may 
 be dui u TeiK:licr in ('asu of neglect of duly in coU 
 b'cting it. A most fertile source of disputes and em- 
 burrassment in sc hool opctalions is found in the delays 
 m collecting rate-bills — the Trustees nf one year refus- 
 ing to collect ihe rate-bill debis uf the preceding year, 
 and ilie school of one year being injured in Ihe attend- 
 rematk, that llie (loveriior of ihc Stale of New York Ji anco of pupils, and in soma instances shut up in con- 
 
 w^qiicnce of payments due from parents of children to 
 Ihe schixd of the preceding year. The Nineteenth 
 Section will lie a help lo Trustees who insist U|X)n the 
 regular payment of rate-bills, and will prevent the evils 
 arising from delays. 
 
 Tlieso first Nineteen Sections of the annexed Bill, 
 I have the honour (o recommend as necessary lo render 
 the Common School Law of Upper Canada efficient 
 without any reference to the new " Municipal Corpora- 
 lions Hill ;" and should not the " Municipal Corpora- 
 lions Bill" become law this Session of the Legislature, 
 I most carneslly hope the first nineteen Sections of the 
 annexed Bill will be passed. As I explained in my 
 Communication of the 1-lth of October last, these Sec- 
 tions pro|fi5u no alterations in the provisions of the 
 present School Law, but the remedying of defects 
 wliii'li ihe omissions of clauses in the Drafts of previous 
 Hills biivu Paused, and the supply uf wants which the 
 progress of the school system has created. Many- 
 fads and rerniiimeiiibilions from local Superintendents, 
 and two or three District Councils, have come to my 
 knowleilge since last October, in favour of Ihe princi- 
 pal Sections of the Draft of Bill then transmitted — 
 and especially in favour of llic Second and TAird Sec- 
 lions ; and the only amendments in the School Law 
 which have been urged by the Municipal Councils of 
 ihn Brock, Talbot, and Home Districts, at their recent 
 Sessions, are embraced in ihe annexed Draft of Bill, 
 i have not seen any recent proceedings of any other 
 Dislrict Council in Upper Canada, on the subject of 
 Ihc Schoel Luw. 
 
 has rc'<enily recoimnemhiil the Legislature of ihal Stale 
 to make a grant for llieeslalilishinenl of a School of Art 
 and Design, lo lie iiiidir ihediiection of ihe sairo Body 
 that manage^ llie Slale Normal Sibool. There fs room i 
 and iliero are facilities for ejilablishiug sucJi an Institu- I 
 lion on the premise) and |iarlially in connection with | 
 the Normal ScIkmiI for Upiier Canada, at murh less 
 than half the expense reipiiied lo establish il under any 
 other tinuinslaiKes or in any other place. 
 
 The addilion.il amount coming to Upper Canada on 
 a new and ei|iiilablc division of ihc Legi-lalive School j 
 Ciaiil of jCritt.lMJO, will in'.t llie expenditures propos- | 
 c>d ill 'Ins Hill for till' eslalihslimenlof Common Sthoul | 
 Libraries, a Provincial Sclioid of Ait and Design, and ! 
 lo facililHle llie allendaiico of Candidales lor School- : 
 leachiin at ihe Normal Sriioid. When the actual I 
 oiirraiiimt of llios<> d.'parlineiils of public insltuction ; 
 shall have been witness d, the Legislature will then 
 bu able to judge wheiber they ought lo be oxtended. j 
 
 The Sectntceulh Sedion proposes lo confer upon ; 
 Ihe t:hief Superiiiiendeni and Masters of the Normal j 
 SJiiHil, aiilliorily to gixc Provincial Ceitilicatcs of I 
 (iualiliralion as Teacliers lo Suilenis of Ihe Normal 
 Sih.Hil a power wliii b is [mis-scsmmI by ihe Superiii- 
 iendeni of tdiiiiiion Schools f'l ilio Stale of New-V'ork 
 ill regard lo (i;i,y Coiniiion Si IukiI Teacher on the re- 
 roiiiiiiinilalioii oi' a loral Siiperinleiideiil. I can iii'a- 
 giiie no objection lo this Section ; and I am siitistied it 
 Will bu advantageous in several rtspeils. 
 
 The lii'jhteenlh Section is in liaimony with the 
 gracious ile< ision of ihe (iovernor General in Council, 
 u< coininunicaU'd in your lelter of ihe inili ultimo, iu 
 repiv lo inv ap|iliialioii and ihe recoinnieiidalion of ihe 
 Board of Kiluralion for the employiiienl of a second or 
 as»i»<aiil Clerk in ibe Kduralion OlTiee for Up|if r Can- 
 nila. I have also lo reni.irk, that sliouhl ibis Section 
 be ajiproved of in .Is present loriii, the Sii|MTiliUndent 
 of Sill. HiU for both sections of the Province will be 
 placed ii|ion die same fooliin; in lespei t to salaries. It 
 Will add, probably, Uom £,10 to X-IO |K-r annum, for 
 iwoor tliiee >ear>Io wlial the Sii|H'rilltenileiit of Schools 
 for Upper ('anada will Ih; ollierwise entitled to, on a 
 new division of llie L' iji-lalive Si liool (inilit — a |ior- 
 li.ili only of llie eNpenses iiiiiirreil by Mill ill pilblisl. ng 
 Ihc lirsi' volume of \\\v .Inurnnl of Education, besides 
 ihe laboiirof editing ii. If il Ik> lie-iied by llie (Jovern- 
 ITioiil ibal Ihe Sii|Mriiileiidenl of ScIhhiN for U|iper 
 Canada should make olfinal visils lo ihe several Dis- 
 Ificls, be ean llieii Im' enabled to do so, eilher by having 
 Ills salarv Miade ihe same as lli.il of llie Superiiiiendeni 
 of Kduiaiioii for I.i.wer Caiailu, or by being allowed 
 his travelling exiionses ; but ho is not able I o do so, 
 nor can il lie reasonably expeded o( him, at Ills own 
 expeiiM' from bis pn-seni salarv. On the accumulated 
 duties of ihu Education Ollite for Ipper Canada ilirim; 
 Ihe last two years, or on a (omparison of lliein with the 
 duties ol theKilucalionOHicc for Lower Canada, i have 
 
 Sections deigned to adapt the School Law to the 
 proposed " Municipal Corporations Bill." 
 
 The last six Sections of the annexed Draft of Bill, 
 are designed to adapt the School Law to Ihe contem- 
 plaled cliaiigu in the Municipal Councils uf Upper 
 Canada. 
 
 There is a great ditference in the comparative efll- 
 cieney of the School System in dillcrent Dislricis ; and 
 I b.lieve lliat dillerence is chielly owing lo the char- 
 ailer of the local Su|)erinlendeiils. Where the Dis- 
 Irid Siiperiiitendenl is an intelligent, practical,active, 
 indiii'Irious man, ami heartily alive to the great inter- 
 ests oj the work in ychich he is engaged, there the 
 progress of the system is obvious and most gratifying, 
 ami the Municipal Council isdisjiused to carry out the 
 judicious and various practical recommendations of the 
 Dislrict Superintendent. As examples, I may refer to 
 the Brock, Talbot, Niagara, and indeed to more than 
 one-half of the Dislricis in Upper Canada. But in other 
 Districts, where the lix-al Superintendents are far from 
 liei.ig elllcieiit, cither from want of practical talent or 
 diligence, the stale of the ScIkhiI System, and the in- 
 terest of the people in the Schools, arc very ditrurcnl, 
 
83 
 
 Now, in ihis last class of Districts, I lliink nnv 
 change in the local supervision, cnnnot In- oihprwi<<> ihnn 
 an improvement ; but in Districts which have Ix-cii fnr- 
 tunate in the selection of local Supcrinlcmloiils, I diMilit 
 whether a change in the system of local supervision 
 will be advantageous to the inlcresis of the Schools — 
 at least, for some time to come. Hut with n Mslom i>f 
 Township Municipal Councils, tliorc can lie no oilier 
 than n system of Township Svi'trintmiience ; anil 
 there must bo also a corn?sp<ini)ing system of corres- 
 pondence with the Provincial Kilucalion OITicc — lliirc- 
 by greatly increasing its duties. 
 
 On the whole, however, and in tlie course of a 
 short tinae, I think a Totcnthip School System of 
 Common Schools, (which prevails in some of the New 
 England States), will be found very »ii|h'rior to llie 
 preaenl C'ountr or District System ; although I nm 
 aware that, in this opinion, I ditfrr fn>m the ^tron|rly 
 exp iesatd views of the New York Slate Su|ierinlen(lent 
 of Common Schools in his last Annual Ke|Mirl. Hut 
 Ibo Townships in l'p|H'r CanadH are very much fi'wer 
 than in the Slate of Now York, nor is there tiny Town- 
 ■dip Municipality System in that State ; and I have 
 constructed some of the last six Sections of ihe an- 
 nexed Draft of Hill, with a view of ^laiding against 
 the defect) and evils i>f the Township SujH'rinliiHlenl 
 System complained of by the New Yoik Sliili- Su|h.t- 
 intendent. 
 
 The Twentieth Section prescribes the times when 
 the several provisions of the Hill shall come into force. 
 
 The Twenly-fir$t Section invests Toxvnsliiji Coun- 
 cils, within ihoir respective jurisdiclimis, with the 
 power* of the preaent District Councils for Common 
 School (Hirposcs. 
 
 The T^enly-stcond Section requires each Mutiici- 
 pal Council to notify the Chief Superinlendcnl uf ils 
 appointment of a local Su|ierinteniient — u iiecevsary 
 precaution and provision. 
 
 Tlie T^tnljf-third Section confers iip<in Township 
 Superintendents, within the limits of iheir rc!<|K(live 
 jurisdictions, tlie ixiwcrs of District Sii|MTiiilendonis, 
 with two vitally important provisos : — The; one fixing 
 the minimum of the allowance to Township Sujieriii- 
 lendenls, the other prescribing additional iluiies of (lie 
 highest importance to the progress of Common .Sch.sds. 
 Without these provisos, ! ihiiik the sysieni of Toicn- 
 thip Su()erinlendenls will prove a failure, an it lias 
 done in the Stale of New York ; with these priivinon, 
 I think it will add very greatly to llic efficiency of nur 
 Common School System. In the " Mutii(i|ml Coipo- 
 ratiuns Bill," 1 perceive Ihe niiniroutn if allowmice ' 
 to certain cflkers is jirojiovsd to be prescril)eil lo l.iw 
 and I think such a provision absolutely e»$tnlUil to ilie 
 etTiciencv of the offict of Towiivliip Superintciiiiecit. 
 The inefficiciicy of Itic late offi<'e of T(>\vii»|j|ji Supir- 
 ir.tcndent was, I am persuaded, chiefly owitii; to the 
 absence of the proviv>s which I here |iriip<we. In 
 some; iiiftances, ptirsons offered lo (lerforiii the ilulicf of 
 Townsliip .Superintendent gruluitou<i|y, and such nlTers 
 were invariably accafited; hut that gratuitous zeal soon 
 subaidad ; and at f^tuiluut aurvice in irre«|x>nsdilc 
 service, those wlio perfonned it tun«idetecl llM-mseive!! 
 entitled to gratitude for tlie little that ilipy did, r.iiher 
 than liable to hiamo for the much that thi'v did not. ' 
 Resides, when llterv were rival c aiididatcs for the oirice, ' 
 the luwast bidder almost always received the largetl 
 (I'C'ag* i but wb«n once ia uwce, he would prii|i<)rli»n ' 
 hw Work to his coro|i<-nsaliiin. Such vi»i the timli nry 
 and practical edecta of the system ; tlniugh thitre wi r<' 
 many Itunourable exceptions. And a still worw lilic i ' 
 at tiiat syslcin was, tlte appcjinlmcnl, under sui h cir- 
 cumatancca, of many inc:ompctenl |>erMins. Tim fust ' 
 proviso whii.L I projiose, will remove all ciirn(i<'iitiiin > 
 
 for the office upon pecuniary grounds ; and while the 
 com|K"n«aiii>n w ill Ih- sue h as to »ei ure the services of 
 roin|ieteiil jwrvons, the duties eiijoini'd liy the ticond 
 pronio can hardly Iw diMhargi'd, nr even altcnipted 
 by incompetent iiersons. The second proviso will pre' 
 vent Ihe CounciiH ftoni ap|>oinlin^ |icrsons who are not 
 competent to prep. '■ ntid deliver public lectures ; and 
 |H'rsoiis wlio are cc>in|ieleiit to do tliul will l)c mo>l 
 jiki'ly lo Ih> ciunlilii d lo insjiert and sujierinlend ilw 
 Sc hools — llioir cpialificalions for which will Ih.> tieccs- 
 »»nly increased h\ their ohiigalioiis In prepare public 
 lectures on such suhjecls. The stcond /irofilo will 
 produce, pir annunn, I2,'.I00 h-IiooI vi^ils of SiijcTin- 
 tendenls, iiiNlead of .1,000, a.i ill [refitit, hevides, .'),0I10 
 pufilic icIkhiI Iccltireii, —<nw w each Sclioid Siclion 
 in Upper Canada. The vn-i! anmunt of giMul which 
 will result from such an arrutigeinent, can scarcely be 
 estimated, 
 
 Tliis Twtnty-ihiril Section is |.kewis«> mi worded, 
 that the same per-. in may Ih' a|ipi>iii!i'd St lioid Sii|«'r- 
 inlendenl cf more than nne Towri'.liip ; and it will 
 prohahly I'llen hnp|ien llml the >niiie person, — known 
 lo lie |M'ciili.'rly ipialilied for sni li mi oiricc, niid de- 
 voted lo the iiitiresis of Schools — may he Hp|Miinled 
 Superinlendriit of Common SiIiikiIs by the Miinic ipal 
 Councils of Iwo or three or four coiiiiguous Town- 
 ships, ll is prohable that some of the lii'st of ihc 
 present District Siipcrinlendenls will lii? so employed. 
 
 .As to the exji^ nse of the Township Sii|>eriiitendent 
 System, I remark that in several of the Dislrii Is, the 
 salaries nmF paid to District Sii(ierinleiidenls txcred 
 one |iound cirrency per Schisil; and in other Districts 
 where this is not the case, the salaries of the District 
 Sup riiitendents are iioloiiously loo small. The pay- 
 ment of both District and Twnship Supcrinlenilenis 
 would Ih.' flit as a luirilpn, as llir system ilself is Imlli 
 complex unci fichle ; hut lhi> dill', n nee in the expi list 
 of a system of Township or Disliici Siiiieriiilindeiil.«, 
 will be nominal, while ahoiit f'lir hundred |ier cent, 
 more lalmur will U; |iirfornn'd under the former than 
 has liicn |i<rfirtned nnilir the lallir. 
 
 A Township Sc hi»d System will also lie favoiir- 
 ahle to ihi! system of Town«liip School Libraries, with 
 the School Sections as hianrlies. I'nder this s>slem 
 the Chief Su|ierinlendent can render his oflirial an- 
 nual visits to tlie several Counties or Districts more 
 us«.(iil than at present, hy meeting the ScIhkiI Sii|M?r- 
 inlendents of the several Towiishi|'», ai.d through iliem, 
 hrincinif to liear, in the course of a fi'W inonlli<, u|i<in 
 every Township and Sc IhhiI Section In kucli Districts, 
 any mi asures of practical improvements in the SchcMils. 
 
 Since the (itregoing was written, I haw aiidiil u 
 Ihinl proritit to ihe twentv-iliinl Siiimn with the 
 vii-w III seeiirini; ihe atliiolanre of Township Su|ierin- 
 lenileiiti at County or District im-etinqs, such as were 
 hilil hy llif Cliief Su|KTinlench'iil m the autumn of 
 
 1^*17. I apprelieiid I Iijc- ion to such n pro\ is<i ; 
 
 r.iiil I tliink It will In' alleiided Willi advantai,''' in 
 iiianv instances. 
 
 Tlie Tirritly-fmirlh Section provides (lir the iiecu- 
 liaiities o| I'niiiit SchiNil Sec ti'Uis. In alliiosi every 
 Townthip linr, itie Sc IkbiI Srclions iiru i'oni|iosed of 
 (Kirtioiui of adjoining Townsjiips, ,ii>d the nieihod | 
 prii|>o»e to proviile for them will, t think, be louiiil 
 situple and elTec lual. 
 
 Till- TxvtuI y fifth Si rtiiin provides for County i er- 
 lifiuiti's of ipi.ililii atlon to Tun hers, as lliosi; of a 
 Towiisliiii Hoa'il of Kxaininers caniiol haxe force 
 U'\onil till' limits o) such T.iwnship, and as many 
 Teachers will fiel it an incoiivenieiiee lo lie iom|H'llcd 
 to j{et a new rertilirBtc every lime they reinii\e from 
 one Township to anoiln r. Hut in the F'roi^ratiiine of 
 
83 
 
 sulijecU which I should rccommPDH for the rcmciir- 
 TciH'e <i (ho hiiard ..f K'hicalinri iiml (lie »iiiiiliini of 
 the (ioverniir Ovnoral in Ciniiiril, fiir the yiiid.iiicc of 
 «urh (.'oiinly liciardii, I wouhl prHvidu Owt noiif lint 
 the liiM or highcM class of cerlifii iilos sliuutd be given 
 by rticm. 
 
 Tlio Twenly-$irlh Sprlion provides for llio conli- 
 tiiianre in olhcc of llio Distrid Supcrinlcndi'iits until 
 Ihe first of .Mercdi, 1850, am! th«ii for the triinsft-r of 
 Iht'ir Scho i| inoni-ys mid pii|)iTs to Town-^hip Siiiwiin- 
 londcnl*. Tlu,' lond School Kcporls for llic currtnl 
 year cannot U' prc|i«rcd bifore the firs' of March 
 1850; aiid iho greali'sl ronfusion wonid arise from 
 their earlier retiicMiciil from olfice. 
 
 Should any further information h(> rnquircd on any 
 of till' suhji'cts t'liibraced in ihu annexed Dr.ift of lldl, 
 1 shall '.Hi happy tit fiirnish it as fir as in my puwer. 
 
 Believing that ihc l.itest prn< tical iiif irniallon as to 
 iho M-orkiiij;s of the (^>n^'■lon School S)slcin in the 
 State of New-Vork, would he acceptable niid useful 
 to those Members oj' ihe lIonoiirHble llie Kxeculive 
 CoiHu'il who miiy tiike charge of ihe proposed School 
 Hill, I have priKiired and hercxvilh transmit copies of 
 <lie last OlVicIal Keporls of (lie Norniul mid Common 
 ■Schools uf that Slate. 
 
 I hove tlio hiiDuur to be, 
 Sir, 
 V'our most ohcilient servant, 
 (Signed,) KIJKRTOX RYKUSON. 
 
 The llomiunible 
 Jamfr I^ehlir, 
 
 Secretary of the Province, 
 
 Montreal, 
 
 Copy o/n Dni/'l of fiill niak-iii;/ finther proiisinii 
 J'vr thf fiiii>r<ii'fiiii'itt of the Si/itfui uf Coiniiimt 
 Schnoli in I'pper Canailti. 
 
 WIIKKl'AS il is eX|iodiiiit to make furllier provision 
 for the liiiprovemeiit of llieSyslein of Conimoii S<IiimiIs 
 in l!pper Canada: He II ihiril'ori' enacted by the 
 Queen's Most Kiicelleiit Majesty, by ami willi ihe 
 advice anil consent of the Legisl.itive ('oiincil and of 
 the Lenislalive Assendily of the Province of ('.niaihi, 
 roiiklitiiicil and aMieinliled by virtue ol and under the 
 aulhor"' . an Act pnsved in ihe Parliament of the 
 (.'niled Kingdom of (inat Mrilain and Ireland, and 
 i'lhtubii. An Act to re-U'tileIhe Pronnctsof Upper 
 ami iMWtr CaniiiUi, and for Ihi- (ioviriitnmt (if 
 L'unaili ; and it is hereby enacled by the autliorit) of 
 «he same, '1 h.il ihe lloanl of 'I'mMeis for i acli ("ily 
 and lni'or|K>raU'il Town in I pjier Canada shall have 
 y.iv n\u»! aullairii) lo lev\ iiiid cause tu hi' collccleil 
 rate bills lor Cominou Sc!ioo| purposes which the 
 Trustees III Common Sclio.i|s piner.illy posses*, or 
 with wliiili ill') nan he iiivesled \i\ law, any lliini; 
 roiilaiiicd ill any law or staluir to the a>|ilrary iiol- 
 ivilhslandihk;. 
 
 II. And Iw it cnaHed, That it lihall and may bo law- 
 ful for ihu Trustees of any Common Si IuhiI, in addition 
 lo ihe (lowers Willi wliii II iliey are now inveslid by 
 law, to ( aus4>, if I hi V shall jiiilne it e\p<'dirni, any law- 
 ful rale-bill to lie ui.ide aiiie: iiiy, or ollener, upoii all 
 the uihabilanlii of iheir Sr' ml Serlion accordiiiK lolhe 
 vahuition of pro|H-rH, :is .-■xpri'ss. .1 iu ihe Assesjor's 
 Roll, who sh.dl allow any one of the Truslees, or iheir 
 aulhorileil cdhclor, to make a copy ol such lloll, so 
 tar as il may relate to ilieir Sclnxd Section. 
 
 Ml. And be it enacted. That il shall and inay be 
 lawful fT the Trustees of any School Section to pur- 
 (base hooks, niap-', ghdies, Miirkbonrds, and olhef 
 apparatus hir tlie use of piipds in (heir srhnol, ami lo 
 levy (he necessary rale-bill or rate-hills upon the pirents 
 of children nttending thcM'hm)!, or upon the inhabitanis 
 of their School Section according to Ihe valuation of 
 propiTty, as heretofore provided in this Act, as they 
 may judije expedient, for the payment of the said books, 
 maps, glolics, bladiboards, and other apparatus, and the 
 lawful exfienses nf collecting Ihe same. 
 
 IV. And he il enacletl, That persons over sixteen 
 years of agn applying for admission into the Common 
 Scho d ;'lhe Section in which they shall reside, shall 
 be reieivcd upon the same terms and under the same 
 regulations as children of legal school age. 
 
 V. And be il enacted, That it shall be the duty of 
 the Trustees of each School Section to prepare and 
 read, or cjnisc tu be prefwred ami read, nt eiicb Annual 
 Siho.il Meeting for (heir Section, (he Annual School 
 Report :' which shall include among other matters 
 required by law, a full ikcouiiI of (he receipts and ox- 
 pi ndi(4iru of all School moneys which have been 
 
 I received and expended in behalf of such Section !<,: 
 any purpose whalsoever iluiing the year then tcrmina- 
 tiii)^ ; and if said account shall not be satisfactory tu a 
 miijoriiy of Ihe lioustdiolders present at .such meeting, 
 then such houscdioldeps, or a mnjorily of (hem, shall 
 n[ipoint one person, and the Siiid Trustees sliall appoint 
 nnoiher, anil iJie two aibilralors, thus apjioinled, shall 
 examine said accouiil, and their decision respecting it 
 shall he final ; or if the two arbitrators thus ap|Miinted, 
 sli.ill not bo able lo agree, lliey shall have aiilhorily lo 
 select a third arbitrator, and ilic decision of Iho majority 
 of the three aibilrator.s, thus appoinle<l or sele<ten, 
 shall liu liiuil ; .ind such arbilruloro, or « nuijorily of 
 them, shall have auUiority lo collect or cause to be 
 collw:led whalevi-i sum or sums may be awarded by 
 ihem, in the same manner aiMJ under the same regula- 
 tions as those iu cording lo which Tru>tees are 
 aiidiorizei' III collect school rate-bills ; id the sum or 
 Slims thus coll cii'd, after deducting the lawful expenses 
 of collection, sliidi be paid into the hands (>t the District 
 Superintendent, and expended for the Common ScIiihiI 
 pill poses uf said .Section, 
 
 !' VI. And hci il enncled, That every Trustee of a 
 C.iuinion School who shall lie convicted before a 
 Maxislralc, on (be complaint of any person whatever of 
 sii;iiing a false report, and every Teacher of a Commim 
 
 I Si liool who shall be coiivicled, in the .same way, of 
 keipini; a false ret;isler or making a false relurii, with 
 the intent of obiaining a hinder sum than the just pro- 
 portion of School iiioiieys to su h Conimon School, 
 shall, for la. Il oll'ence, forfeit to the Comtnon School 
 l''iH d of the District, the sum of live pounds, and shall 
 lie li.ilde lo be tried and punished for misdomeanor, 
 
 VII. And ho it onacled, lliat it .sliall and may he 
 lawful for the Miiiiii ip.il Conncil of each District iu 
 I'pper Canada, il' il shall think proper, to appoint and 
 provide fur the salaries of two District Siiiieriiitendenls 
 of Cotiinioii Scbinds, whenever there are more than 
 one huiiilred and fifty Schools in such District, mid to 
 preset ihe (o lacli of the Sii|«"rintenilents so «p|)oinlt>d 
 the part or parts of the District in which they are 
 respeiiiMl* to peil'orin Ihe duties reipiired of Dislrict 
 Siiperililendents of Common Schools. 
 
 \ III. .\nd II it enai led. That it slmll and may be 
 lawful for each Municipal 'omicil in Upper ('auada 
 to ap|Kiint a Hoard o| Kxaminers, not exceeding .seven 
 in iniiiiber, of who n lite District .Superintendent of 
 Ciimniiui Schools shall be one, and shall picside at all 
 mertings ul such Hoard ; and it sinll be the duty of 
 
84 
 
 the Board of Eximioer*, lliter of whom »hall (iirm a 
 qiioriim for the lianMction of busineai, to mcoi, nut 
 oftenrr than four timet a year, at such liinc and pliirc 
 ai may bo a|)|ioinlei1 by iho Diilricl Suprrinti'hilinl, 
 fj examine and give ccrlificatri of (|ualification lo 
 candidates for Scli<H>l-:rarh''ng, iin<lrr «iirh ri'gulaiii>n< 
 at may be provided according In hiw r>r cundnctinj; 
 auch pruceiMbngs : Provided also, thiil no Teaihi r in 
 any District where such a Board oi Rxaminers sliall 
 be npiMiintcil, shall lie considered as ii l.iwrully <|iia- 
 lified Teacher who shall nul, within twelve inoi.tbs 
 after the appointment of such Honrd, hitve idiiained a 
 certificala of quaNfication ^igned by the ('h»i:ni»ii 
 under the sanclHHi of the miijorily of such Board pre- 
 sent at a lawful meeting of ilic I'anie : [Vovidiil like- 
 wise, that in no District where such a lioard of 
 Examiners stuill bo appointed according to the provi- 
 sions of this Act, shall it be luwrul for any two School 
 Visitors, or liv the District Su|)eriniendciil wilhmil 
 the toncurrence of a maririly of such Board of Kxiimi- 
 ■ers |ireaent at any Inwful meeting, lo give a cerlilii .>te 
 oTqualificalinii lo any Teacher or Candidate for S( hind 
 teaching: Provided furlherimMv, that i( shall be liiwful 
 for the Mioicipai Council of any Ui!>liict in which 
 there arc iwo Su|ierintendenls of ('omtnon Schiioli lo 
 appoint two B4iards oi Kxaminers for the parts of llio 
 District respeciively which have been as'signed lo the 
 res|ieclive Ditlrirt Su|)erintt<iiilenls. 
 
 IX. And be it enacted. That it may ami ^h«ll h^' 
 lawful for lh« Municipal Council of any District lo 
 authorise the esiabli^mcnt of one oi more Schmils for 
 lh« education of die children of coloured jieople, 
 which School or Schoida shall be managed in the same 
 manner and be sub)<<cl to the same obligalioiM ns the 
 law prescribes for iho management ol se|>aniie SclKulii; 
 Provideil neverlhelesK, thul such SchiHds shall b<> 
 aided out of the Common Sclnnd Fund of the Dislrirl 
 in proportion to the allendance of pupils at .il!i 
 Schoida as compared wilh the attendance of pupils at 
 the other Common Schools of such District. 
 
 X. .\nd be it enacted. That in c»«e of any dispute 
 arising in a Schixd Section as to llic site of llie ScIi(k>I 
 hcu>e of such Section, the Muiiicipal C<Hincil of the 
 District, in which such Section is siluHled, shall deciih^ 
 in such manner as it muy judge ex|M'diciit ; as also o'l 
 the sites of all ScIhmiI houses buill liy means of iniinev 
 raised under the authority of such Municipal Coumii. 
 
 XI. And be it enacted. That so much of the fifih 
 Clau.ie of tho Thirteenth Section of ihe Siulule 9ili 
 Vict., chap. XX., as prohibits the giving of a cerlifiiaie 
 of qualil)calii>D for lea< hing a Conmum .Schiwd In any 
 other than a natural born or naturalised subjivt of Her 
 Majesty, Her Heira or Succesaors, be and is hereby 
 repealed. 
 
 XII. And bo it enecled, That it may and shall In- 
 lawful for each Dislfict Su|HTinli'ncleni of Comruin 
 Schools, (unless otherwise din-cicdhy lawful aulhoriiy,) 
 lo apiiortion the District Scho<d Fund lo the several 
 Sections in such District enlilie<l lo receive ihe »jime 
 acconling to ihe ratio of ihe average numtier of pupils 
 Blleiriling each Common School (llie nieai. altendauce 
 of pupds for bolh summer and winter iM'ing taken) ks 
 compared wilh the whole aieraije nuniU'r of pupiln 
 attending tbe Comnmn Schools of such Di^trid. 
 
 XIII. And l« it enacted, That it may and i-hall Im' 
 lawful f<ir the (•orern»r-Oen< ral. hv anil with the loii- 
 rem of the Rxrculive Cooncil, lo cximmmI ii sum not 
 exceeding [2,000] |N>u!:ds, i urrcncy, fn-r annum, for 
 the esiablirliment and supi^irl of ConimiHi SchiH>l 
 Libraries, under such regulations as may fiom lime lo 
 lime lie prescribed by :he Chief Su|ierinlendeiil uf 
 Schools, by and with the sanction of the Governor 
 
 (lenoral, in Council : Providcif ncvrrihrfess, that no 
 aid shall lie given towards the rslublishmeni and aup- 
 port of any Common Schrol Library without an equal 
 I amount \m»g conlributcd and exiwnded fiom local 
 iourcrt for the same object. 
 
 XIV. And Ih> it enacted. That it may and shall he 
 lawful for ihe (ioveinor-Cieneral, by and wilh the ccui- 
 »«nt of the Exiciitivp Conncil, to exfirnd n sum not 
 exceeding fifty [Hiunds |>er annum, in any one Di.slrict 
 in U|i(KT Canada, for Ihe hohling of a Teachers' Insti- 
 tute or Institutes in such District, under such regula- 
 tions as may from lime to time In- prescriU'd by the 
 Chief Superintendent of SchiNds, by and with tho 
 sanction of the Covernor-General in Council : Provi- 
 ded also, llwl no such Teachers' liislilute shall con- 
 tinue for a (leriiMl of less than five, or more ;han ten 
 days. 
 
 XV. And lie it unacted, That it may and shall 
 Ih" lawful for the liourd of Kducalion for Up|>cr 
 Canada to ex|<end out of the Legislative fJrant 
 for the siip|H)rl of Comnion Sch<s>ls, a sum not ex- 
 ceeding ouc llioiisiind jiounds |ipr annum, to fucililalo 
 the allendaiicv of candidates for schiKil leaching at tho 
 Noimal Sch.sd for llp|ier Canada : Provi '■•d always, 
 Ihnt the sum thus authorized to lie expended, and any 
 oiher sum or sums aulhorized lo be expended by this 
 .\cl, shall not lessen the iinounl : Telufore ex|>ended 
 liir ihe sup|H>rl of the Normal, Mmlel and Common 
 Schoiils in Upper Canada. 
 
 XVI. .■^nd lie it enacted, Ttiat it may and sh.ill lie 
 lawful for Ihe Board of Education for L'pper Canadii 
 lo ex|iend a sum not erereilin^ live hundred "ounds 
 |ier annum, towariU lh«> eslahlishliient and sup|N)rt 
 of a Schisil of Ari anil Design for lJp|"'r f'auadu, 
 in connexion wllli the Normal School or olherwisc, 
 miller such regulaliona as may lie adopted liy said 
 Board, and approved oC by the Uo\ernor-Uciivral in 
 Council. 
 
 XVII. And be it enacted, That it may and shall be 
 lawful for the Chief Sujierinlcnduiil of Sihoids, by .ind 
 wilhllieailvi-e and recominendalinnoflhe .Ma«ter>i>fihi! 
 Normal Sclim.l for Upjier Canada, to give a Cerliliintu 
 of qoalifwations as a Teadicr of Common Schisils in 
 any District in Upper Canada: Provided always, that 
 no such cerlifii ale of qualificatinns shall be given to 
 
 ^ any [icrson «ho shall VM have lacn a Student in said 
 
 I Normal School fur :i |i<riod of mil less than live nmnlhs ; 
 Alii! jrovided also, ihal every (Mrum to ubom such 
 ceriiflcale of qualillcalioDs is given, shall he cntiiled 
 lo all the (irivileges anil advantages i.f a legally quali- 
 fied Teat her in any |iart of l'p(ier Canada, until hii 
 certificate of qualifications shall have licen cancelled. 
 
 XVIII. And be it enacled, Thai Ihe same allow- 
 ance shall lie made in resjiei I to siil.iries and conlingenl 
 expinsi's fur ihe munagemenl of the Kducalion tlffico 
 for L'pjMT Caniiila which has la-en aulhuriz<-<l by law in 
 resjiecl 111 Nilnries and conlini{enl ex|ieiiM-s for Iha 
 munagemenl of the Kduciiti'in Office foi Ivower Canada. 
 
 XIX. And be it enacled. That after tho year of our 
 
 I.Mril one lli.iusond ligtil hunilrid and forly-ninc, the 
 Trustees of liny S< limil Sii ii.iii sIihII nut have aiiihnrily 
 to colli ii any rales whiih ihiy in«y lia\e levied f.ir 
 ihe salarv uf a Teai her or Teac.iers, iifler the ex^iira- 
 liiin nf die lear for which such rales have been levied ; 
 and such 'I'ruHeis shall la- held (lersoiially liable for 
 
 II ilu- putiiieiil of any sum or kimis due lo a Teacher or 
 ji Teachers whiih such Tiuslees have neglected to col- 
 i lecl a^ aullionsed by law. 
 
 I XX. .And he it enacted, That tlie foregoing aecliooa 
 I of this Alt sliall have force tnd elfccl irmnediati ly 
 
85 
 
 anvr the paiwinK (liortiif ; anil tliut thu rulliiwiiigserliniis 
 of this Act •hall have force onil effect upon and aftei 
 the fimt (liiy of January, in the year of our Lord one 
 thousand eight hundred iind fifty, and not licfiiro, and 
 not unluu a Bill entitled " An Act to provido hy one 
 general law for the erection of Municipnl Corporalionii 
 in and for the nevcral Counties, ('ilies. Town*, Town- 
 ihipa and Villages in Upper Cunuda," bi'cumes a liiw. 
 
 XXI. And 1)6 it ei>acled, Thai the Municipal Coun- 
 cil of cai h Tonrn»hip shall he, and is hereby invested, 
 with idl the aulhoriiy and |iowcr and suhjerl to idl the 
 ob'iigaliuns fur Common School pur|H)scs within the 
 limits of its jurisiliclion, whicii ap|)erlain to each dis- 
 trict Courcil in Upper Cnnadit under ihe authority of 
 the StHtulcs, 9th Vic, cap. 20, and lOlh and I llh Vic, 
 ca|i. 19. 
 
 XXII. And lie it enacted, That it shall he ihc duty 
 of eiich Municipal Council of a Township, or City, or 
 Town, toreporl to the Chief Superinlendentol Schools 
 for U|>|ior Caiinda Ihc name of every (lersou a|ipointed 
 as Supi-rintcndi-nt of Common Schools for iuch Town- 
 ship, or City, or Town. 
 
 XXIII. And bo it enacted. That each Township 
 Sii|ierinlenili-nt of Common Schoids shall, within the 
 Township or Townships for wbiih he may bo ap|H)iiit- 
 eii, possess all the powers and be subject to all the ob- 
 ligations whiih appertain by liiw to each District 
 Su|)erinlendont of Common Schools : Provided always, 
 that each T iwnshipSu|)erintendent of Common Schools 
 shall be entilleil to a sum of not leu than one pound 
 currency per annum (or each School under hischiirge : 
 Provided also, that it shall be the duty of each Town- 
 ship Su|)erintendent of Common Schools to visit and 
 examine cHch School under his cimrgc at least once a 
 quarter, and to deliver a public disrouiseor lecture on 
 (oine subject connecteil with Ihe objects or interests of 
 Common Schoids in each School Section at least once 
 a year : Provided furthermore, ihat it shall be the duly 
 uf eai'h Township Su|>erinlendent to attend such Coun- 
 ty or District Schocd meeting of Township Su|)erin- 
 leiidi'ntt as may ba apiMiinled by the Chief Superin- 
 tendent fniin year to year, to confer on matters relating 
 to the interests of Common Sch.mls and the diffusion of 
 useful knowledge in the wveral Townships of such 
 County or District, 
 
 XXIV. And 1)0 it enacted. That each Union School 
 Section coiniHwed of iM)rlions of adjoining Townships, 
 shall, for all purposes of Trustee elections and conlroul, 
 be deemed one School Section, and shall lie consider- 
 ed in roiiect to Superintendence and laxin;; for the 
 erection of a >Sclio<>l-house, as belonging to the Town- 
 ship ill which the School house may l)e situated, and 
 the SchiMil Fund ap()orlioned to the several parts of 
 such SchiMil Section »hall be paid into the hands of the 
 Suwriiilendenl of Common Schmds for iho Township 
 to which such S.hool Section is hereby declared for 
 certain puriM«w» to ap|)ertain. 
 
 X.W. And be it enacted, Thnt the pt)wer conferred 
 by till' I'ighth Section of ibis Act, u[X)n Municipal 
 Councils for Dislricis, shall lie invesleil in the Miinici- 
 nu\ Councils for Counties ; and the Hoiitd of Exami- 
 ners np|Hiinted by ihe .Municipal ('ouncil of any County 
 ■hall have tliu same aulhoriiy and be subject to Iho same 
 ubligalions wilhin the Couniy for whicli they may be 
 appomled, as ap|iortain to each Board of Examiners, 
 according to lh« eighth Section of this Act ; Provided 
 also that each Board of Kxaminers, up|iointcd under 
 the acihorily of ibis Act, shall, at any biwful meeting, 
 appoint u t halrman who shall exercise liie same power 
 in regard to the objects of such meeting, as the District 
 Superintendent of Common Schools is authorized by 
 
 the eighth Section of this Act to exercise : Provided 
 likewise, that the Municipal Council of the County 
 shall ilesignato the member who shall call the first 
 meeting uf Ihe Board uf Examiners. 
 
 XXVI. And be it enacted, That each District Su- 
 perintendent of Common Schools who may be in office 
 on the first day of January, oneulhousand eight hundred 
 and fifty, shall continue to exercise all the powers and 
 |)crform all Iho duties whicli he is now authorized and 
 required by law to perforin, until Ihe first day of March 
 of iho said year, one thousand eight hundred and fifty ; 
 on which day he shall deliver into the hands of Ihe 
 SuperinlendonI uf Common Schools for each Township 
 within the District ol his charge, all Common School 
 papers and moneys (remaining in hii hands,) which 
 relate or have been apportioned to the Common Schools 
 of such Township ; and for every refusal on Ihe part 
 of any District Superintendent of Common Schools to 
 comply with this provision of this Act, he shall be sub- 
 ject to the forfeiture of twice Ihe amount of the sum or 
 sums uf money (exclusive of costs) which may be in- 
 volved in his refusal ; and the Superintendent of 
 Common Schools for each Township concerned, is 
 hereby authorized and required to sue any such de- 
 faulting District Superintendent of Common Schools^ 
 before any of ihe Courts of law authorized to lake 
 cognizance of such cases, and to add the amount col- 
 lected, after deducting necessary expenses, to Ihe Com- 
 mon School Fund of his Townibip. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Acknowledgment of the foregoing Leller, wilh 
 Draft of Bill. 
 
 (Copy.) 
 
 Secbbtart's Orrici!, 
 Montreal, 3rd March, 1849. 
 
 Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt 
 
 of your communication of the 23rd ull. enclosing a 
 Draft of a School Bill for C. W. ; also the last official 
 Re|)orU of the Noronal and Common Schools of the 
 State of New York ; and to inform you in reply that 
 the subject of your communication will not fail to 
 jeceive Ihe consideration of His Excellency the 
 Governor General in Council. 
 
 I have the honour Sir, to be, 
 
 Your most obedient Servant, 
 
 (Signed,) 
 
 LESLIE, 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 The Reverend 
 
 EOKRTON RtERSOW, D.D. 
 
 Superintendent of Schools, C. W, 
 Toronto. 
 
m 
 
 m 
 
 CoFT <)/■ Remarkt. by the (liiff Siiperinlenilmt of 
 ikhooli. on the AVir School BillJorVpptrCanniia, 
 {12 lie. r. HS.] hroughl into the Lf/fhialire 
 Assembly by the Honorable Malcolm Cameron. 
 
 REMARKS ON TUF NKW SCHOOL nil.I-. 
 
 CoMTEJIT*. 
 
 GftH-nil rrm«rk« on the Si'w Sihi'ol Hill. 
 
 1 Ini)uirief which >hiiuKl precede 'urlher Irgiilation on the 
 •ubjei't <if t'liminon SihnoK 
 
 •i Spirit of the new Dill. 
 
 S lliffercnci- in the principle* iifSihool I.pglnlnlionhftwern « .111 r . 
 
 Upper .nd l-owr, Cni-la pm|m.c>l bv thi. fiill .xclu.ion of 1 nm j.r..|«,re(l to c»li.blii.li ii. f,.rl 
 the riergj in Tpjier ('•i.nila fnnn licin^ Stlimil Vi«ilor«, while 
 they arc coniiniied, with eitraonlinarj |K>wcr>, in Lower C«- 
 ntda 
 
 4. The new Uill doci »w»y with » rroiiucUl Sjttrm of 
 8eh<wU. 
 
 1 Pn-judicial lo ccrtnin great ohjerli of the Normal School. 
 
 6. Mode» of prrpari:ist School Ilcporn proponJ hj the Uill, 
 tediou«, eipen*lTc and inefficient. 
 
 7. Financial |m>»i»ion» riiidir 'IVachert liahle to a lo«» ot 
 twenly-fiTe lo fortv per cent, of the .*H'hool Fund— and ihe 
 proviaiuiii to prt»iilc for (Hnir S<.h<M>l» unnecoMrv nnd inef- 
 Hcient. 
 
 rri»ision« of the llilt examined in detail, aud vaiious 'jefeetn 
 and anomaliea (Minted out. 
 
 I'racti. :d reinarki and reeonimendaliona nibnutlei for cvn- 
 aidermti^.n 
 
 (copy.) 
 
 Edccation OrncE, 
 Toronto, Uill May, 1H»9. 
 
 or lliree ye»n i>( the o|ierali(>n» of llie Ule Common 
 SclicKil Act fur Up|M!r Cannila. HeforH iloing what 
 eXjMTM'ni'o liH» sliowii (lie iiitrodurlion of every now 
 gpiicml SrIiiHil ,>ikw imiiiloiio In l!|i|ier CaiMidn : ilirovv 
 Iwck the SchiHi' o|ier«lion« of the roiiniry an onliro 
 I yvHT, woiiM if nut bo |iro|M'r to examine into our 
 Si'lioiil alHlialio, anil r<iinpiira them from year In year 
 wilh (hose of other alalei or cotinlries where the ad- 
 vamoinenl of I'ommon Schinilit haa confraacdly lietn 
 nioal rajiid } U aiich u i'oin|iari.«iii ohoultl reniilt in 
 favour of I'l))"''' (unaila in every (larliciiliir which 
 involves the local voluntary o|M'rulions of the |H*o|ile, 
 would it aaiielioii the rejieal of our preM-iit .Si:Iiim)I Law, 
 or Migi;eat the propriely of merely tupplyiiiK Its proved 
 It defecia .' Yet wliul I here iiiliinaU) hy|M>llii'(iciilly, I 
 
 And if it ^!lould, 
 fiirliiiTt.ioro, appi'iir on incpiiry, liial llio.ve very Uia- 
 I Iritis a III porlioiia of DiatriclH wliiili have iniide the 
 [ grealea' pri>j{re« ill llie rharucler and ellirieiicy of llieir 
 I SrhooU, In the allindniKe of piiplU nnd llic aaluriea of 
 1! Tcacheri', uri' iiverse lo any organic changeN in Ihe 
 ' preaeni Srhiiol l.nw ; ihat im li!a.s llian three Dialrirt 
 |i (■iiiiiicil- whiih III 1817-8 e.xpresveil Ihcm.selvet iin- 
 favoiiri.iily in regard In the provl^loll8 of the present 
 : Sch'ol .\ii, hiivi' in IHIH-!) expresM'd •lleln^elvra 
 'lireiily therevernc; lli,il not more lliun one or two 
 DiMricl Conni'lla in all l'pi<'> Canada have (ivlilioned 
 ihe I.,egi<>liil(iie Hi its present SeMinn for any ronaiilcr- 
 aide changes in the SiliiKd Law ; llial Ihe (daces and 
 pniliea where ii|i|Kialllon has lietii made lo the law, the 
 least haa liern done to sii(i|iorl Common ScliiK)ly, and 
 the olijeii i.s In do still lew liy relaxing ihc existing 
 ivhlignliotia of the law ; and if il ran llkewi^« !«• aliowii, 
 lliul the CHM' of evciy (Mior ScIiihiI Section ha*, as far 
 as haa Im>imi made known, liecn provided for, or can bt; 
 most eHeclually (novidcd for uniler the (>resenl law, 
 and that wIiIiomI deducting a faithing, much leta 
 twenty-five (ler rent, out of the I,i.-ni-l»iiv« (iraiil 
 ap(ii'rl|oiieiI for tin: paynuMll "f Teai In.r*, uimI without 
 
 Sir, — Wlion recently in Montreal (where I arrived 
 on Ihe 20'! Ilimo) ihi; Momberx of Ihc OovernmenI ■ 
 were so ciiliiely iKcii(iicd with mailers growing mil of . . 
 
 the proceedings which have divgra.ed the Cilv of ^ '■''l'''''i''''i''t! " rlass of pau(M'r schihils in llie lounlly,- 
 Monlfeal,andinlliclell irre[>araldcloviup..ti the Province, [ if an inijiiiry into the o()eralions of out S«li..ol Law 
 that thev were unable lo gi\e an> delilicriilo nllcntlon '' shoi-Id establish wli.il I have here sii(.(ioscd — ami which 
 lo the great inleresia involved ii'i a Srlimd Liiw for ' ' «m <'<'rtain Would Im' the rase — I am iwrMiadud iho 
 U()per Canada. In accordance, iheref.re, wilh the ; Ooveriior-(ieneral, in Coiinnl, would not desire to iin- 
 suegesliona of one or two Members of Ihe (Jovernmrni, |x>»' "1"'" '''O I>eo|de of r|.(M>r Canada Ihe Ironble, 
 I proceed to submit in writing, for the consideration of ;: expense and (HT[dexily of Mudylng and learning to 
 the Cfoveriior-Ceneral in Conncil, obscrvatiotia on the ,: api''.V a now law, niurh longer, much more ininrale, 
 
 School Hill lately brought into the Legislative As- 
 scmblv — observations wliicli I sliouUi have (ireferred 
 making ()er*mally, had it not been for the humiliating 
 events to which I have alluded. I tnake ihrseobiiervn- 
 tions the more freely liccau.se I was Inlotnied that some 
 Members of the (loveniincnl had not even read the 
 Bill, and l)ecaus«' I am jiersiiadrd many of its (>rovi- 
 aions will not l>e approved of by llis Kxcellemy, in 
 Council, when the re.1l cbaracler and o|K?ralion5 of iheiii 
 arc carefully exaniiniHi. 
 
 Previouslv to my entering iiilo the details of the 
 Rill, I desire lo make some general remarks. 
 
 \. M» first general remark is, that liefore undoing 
 liearh all that has U-en dotie In Si Inxd Legislalimi, 
 and subverting our whole hyslcm of SiloNd o|K.>ratiuns, 
 I think a ('ominisaioii or t '.iniinitiee ol tnijulry shouM 
 examine into wbnl has lieen elfected, and wlut causes 
 have jireventi d greater suiiess, — whether the (irovi- 
 slotis of the Schxil Law, or other eircumstances which 
 time aiid labour alone, and not law, can roatmul. In 
 such iiiijuines, eilucaliuiiist.s and educational stat**afnen 
 tiav Iwavshad recourM' to eduialiunal statistics when 
 attainable. Minute and extensive statisiirs i,| Com- 
 mon Srbixda in I p|ier Caiiaila during the two full 
 years of the o(ii.ratioiis of the |>re»ent Si hind Ai t, have 
 been rolletled, as well as loleraldy (oniprehrtisivo 
 
 niuiii more troublesome and cx(iensive hi work than 
 the (iriMiil law; and reijuiilng new forms In cnriy nilii 
 elTecl most wf lis provisiuiis. 
 
 2. My at'Cond general remark is, that the new Hill 
 has lieeii conreived, and several o( its (iroviaions un- 
 doubtedly drau :i up in a sjiiril of hokiiliiv to tiiVM-lf 
 (ursonally. Indeed the delails uf tin Hill teem to 
 have Ih-oii (ircpaied Willi a View of dis|M'iisin:; wuh the 
 ollici' of I'rovini wl Sii(H'riiiieiiiletil , and in loiineMon 
 nth those details that uliice «|i|H'ar9 to lie a sort of 
 addeniluni (llio gh lir.st in order) to the other pruvi- 
 I sions of the Hill. I ha\e Ihiii informed u(miii nutiiorily 
 , wlilih I I atiiiot doubt, that tin Hill has bi>en chiellv 
 draogliled by a inrsoii who litis, for the last three »ears, 
 , Ixeii wriliugina l)istri< i liewa|«i|Mr ugainst llic jiresent 
 ; Sidiool Law and against iiivM-Jf— a (lerson, who, as 
 jj Chainiuin of the Kilui alion Conimillee of the Hathurst 
 I District Council, has |iul forth three Council dm 11- 
 melils rcl'irting ii|Min myself— the oidv Council diHU. 
 . ineiits ol the kind wlicli have a|i(iMire<l in I p(ier 
 ! Canada. Il is wry natural to »u|i(>om> thai such a 
 :; genlieiiuin would frame a Hill in hartininy With Ins 
 i (irevlous jiublii aliuna. So strong Was my iinpression 
 i, lif the feeling which dit^lHled the framing of the Hill, in 
 I lis omissioi:] and (Hxiiliar provisions, that I su|i(Hiseil il 
 I, was al least intended to niake a eliange in the lleail of 
 the l)e|iartmeiil, but on lieiii); assured at Montreal thai 
 
 finaiicidl stallttics uf uut Con.nion Schools during two | such was not the intention of the (•ov«riiiiieni, and 
 
Vf 
 
 being mlisficH ihni ilio Membem of the Unvcrnmont 
 genurHll)', liail no ■ym|mtl)y Willi, or luniiicion of, lliu 
 Ik'lingH wliii'li inuM Iihvu iiu)!g)'ii(«(l >t>veial |iroviiiun!> 
 aiJil orniwioiis in the Dill, I huve fell it due In lliv Go- 
 vernor-OuiiLTiil, in Cou-,i:il, dun to llio Hoard of Ediica- 
 lioii, and duo lo niyiH'ir, ai well en to llio |)cii|ile of 
 U|i|H'r Ciinnda, 'u analyxa tlie |irinci|iHl |irovi>ionii of 
 llii.H Hill — u Bill widely diirvruiit in ils giiieriil ili.iriir- 
 Ut iind i)bji'Cls, from what the re|uirled ex|diiniition of 
 Iheiii, on its inlrodiictionin 'o the l.cgi''hitivcA>»eiiihly, 
 would lead Ihu public to supjioKc. 
 
 3. My third genvriil remnrk i*, <iii the wide ditPirnnrc 
 in the piinci|ile.<i oft Icginlntion and of llio Kjiirit and '•' 
 rhururier of the Sch'iol System whieh this Bill pnipo- I' 
 sen ill regard lo Upper Ciiiinda from that which is ! 
 pursued ill respect to Lower Ciin.iila. The newspiipers I' 
 anil Hiiperiiitundi'iii'ii Sclioid Itepnrts for Lower Ciiiih- '! 
 da khow Ihiit much slrniiger and more extensive nppo- ' 
 aition liiis been maile to the KcIkhiI Law there ihan '! 
 here — lh.it much less progress bus been made in llio |1 
 ScliiHij System there than here. Hut it has not been Ij 
 propimed to repeal the S(tli>iol Law there^lo introduce j 
 an entirely new Law, involving mm h new machitiery, I' 
 iind reipiiring new forms and regulations for ils exccu- ;' 
 lion, and at the same time that it thus imposes upon the [ 
 Siiperiiilenileiit a long task of tedious and thankless '[ 
 lalMiiir, denuding him of the means by which the expe- 
 rience of oiher educational countries, as well nsCanada, 
 ■hows, that his labours can he rendered successful, and 
 llio practical operation of a general system of elcincii- | 
 lary instruction matured and perfeeicd. Though thu ;| 
 powers of the Sii|ieriiitendent of Scboids in Lower ' 
 Canada are much greater ihiin they arc in I'pper Ca- 
 nada, the constitution of his oflice is not changed, nnr 
 ihe fruits of his past labours destroyed ; but ho is aided 
 in his woik by having the defects and uncertain'ies of . 
 the present law remedied by the introduction and pass- 
 ing of a short Rill for amending il. But the SchiMil 
 Bill under considcralion proposes to treat the Siipcrin- [ 
 lendcnt of Schmils for Upper Canada and his labors in 
 a very different way. I liiink that any |ierson deemed 
 worthy of btiiiig continued in llie olTice of Chief Super- 
 intendent of SchiKiU in one section of tlii- Province, is ' 
 justified in expecting the same connlenancc and support 
 from the Goveriiinciit, as ii accorded to his Colleague ■ 
 m the other section of the Province. This counlenanco ' 
 and support I have ceit.iinly received up to the present '' 
 time ; and this Hill is the first indication I have receiv- 
 ed of a ditfereiil course of policy— whieh I am confident 
 was not coutein|ihiteil by the Oovernor-Oeneral, in 
 Council. It is wonby of special remark, llml by the 
 provisions of this Hill the Clergy of various religious ' 
 |iersua>ions, as well at District Councillors and Magis- 
 irales, III t'()|«'r (,'anada, an^ ileiiudrd of the ollice of 
 School I Mi7(>M— while the same description "f per- ' 
 sons, and others also, are retained as School Visitors 'n ' 
 I.owi't Caoiida ; and there the Clergy have also even 
 the powers of selecting the religious bonks used by the 
 pupils of their own perMiasion. So essential a difler- 
 eiice in llie prim iples of School legishilioii for the two 
 se< lioiisof Canada, must appear exlraorilinary (o every 
 iinpai iai observer — that ill Lower Canada where thu 
 Koiiian CathoJK- Keligioii is piedoniinanl, the V\ergy 
 are invested willi s<i greal power, while in Upper Can- 
 aila, where the ProteslanI IMigion is more generally 
 prevalent, the Clergy should Im' excluded froin visilini; 
 the Schools at all. I am snii-fied the Oovernor-Oene- 
 ral, ill Council, could not have been aware of so invidi- 
 ous an omissinii in ibis Hill. If the School Visitors' 
 Section of the present School I,aw for Upper Cani-da 
 IS a dead hilter— as the reputed aiillior of the new Bill 
 hiis often asserted in the public papers- then it can do 
 no harm, if, on the other hand, tins wction of the 
 p'€!seiil law has not p.oved a dead lelter, if it has been ■ 
 the means of often bringing Clergymen ofdilTerent reli- : 
 gious per»ua»iiiii» into friendly |«rsonal intercourse wiih li 
 
 each ulhcr, and of incroaaing a catholic inirit of Christ 
 ian charity in whole neighbourhiMjds, and of combining 
 the influence of the Clergy, Magistrate! and otheis, in 
 cunnectiun with that of parents and children imme- 
 diately concerned in behalf of the inlere.Hts of Common 
 Schools, and if not a single instance can be adduced 
 that this Section of the Act has ojierated injuiiously, 
 why should it be repealed 'i I can imagine no uher 
 reason for such a pro|iosilion than thu hostility of the 
 reputed author of the new Hill to the more numerous 
 religious |iersuasions in Upjter Canada. It apfiears by 
 the statistical school returns for 1847 and 1848, that 
 there were school visits of Clergy in 1847, 1,823 — in 
 1818, ti,2&.t ; of District Count illors in 1847, 882— 
 in |.S43,05a ; of Magisiralos in 1847, 1,203- in 1848, 
 1,459. 1 submit then, that no candid, enlightened 
 friend of general education could wish a section of the 
 school law re|ii-aled which has developed in the course 
 of the first two years of Its o|M<ratiims so powerful a 
 hitherto dormant influence in behalf of the Common 
 Schools. 
 
 4. I remark in the fourth place, that this Bill makes 
 no provision whulever for carrying into effect any gen- 
 eral system or regulations of Common Schcxd.s, although 
 il rccognices the necessity of such regulatiims and such 
 a system. By one provision of Ihe third Section, the 
 Chief Su|)erlnlendenl is icquired '' lo see that all mon- 
 eys ap|H)rlioned by him under the authority uf this Act 
 be applied to the purposes for which they shall have 
 been granted." This provision admits and assumes the 
 necessity of some general Governmental oversight in 
 order lo secure the fulfilment of all the condilions of 
 the Legislative enactment in the application of School 
 moneys. But when we come lo examine the provis- 
 ions lif the Bill for the carrying out of this principle, 
 wo find them not only wanting, but contravened by all 
 the details of the Bill, which do not enable the Chief 
 Superintendent even to learn, much less decide U|)on 
 llio local application of School moneys in any case 
 whatever, and which place the absolute distribution 
 anil application of all such moneys, not in the hands of 
 responsible individual officers, (as is the case in other 
 Departments of Government) but with elective bodies, 
 each member of which (like each member of the Le- 
 gislative Assembly) is concerned to get as much as 
 (lossiblo for the section that he represents, whatever 
 may become of other sections ; and he whoso tact and 
 vigilance will enable him to secure most for his own 
 constituents, will bo most applauded by them, whether 
 from a Kelief or any other Jund, wilhoul any regard 
 lo the claims or wants of other constitucncie.s. The 
 members of such elective bodies, as representatives of 
 different constituencies, are interested parlies in all 
 such act.s, and cannot, therefore, be impartial. The 
 impirtialily and rospiiiisibilily of a Judge in such 
 admiiiistrf.tivo acts requires, I think, a different method 
 of executing the financial provisions of the School Law 
 from that which is proposed in this Bill. And I am 
 the more confirmed in this opinion by the provisions of 
 ihe SihiMil Laws of every State in .■\merica, as well as 
 every country in Kurope, where an elementary School 
 System exists. I know of no School System in Lower 
 Canada, or any State of America, in which a Stale 
 officer is not the responsible nulhority lo decide upon 
 and guard the faithful application of Statu appropria- 
 lio:,s. But my object is not to establish a theory ; it 
 IS to call attention to the fact that the details of this 
 Bill contradict and oppose, throughout, the admitted 
 principle and reiiuired duty, that the Cliiel Su|ierin- 
 teiident shall " seo that all moneys apportioned by him 
 under the authority of this Act shall be applied to the 
 purposes for which they shall have been granted." 
 
 On il f point I desire to remark further, that this 
 Bill requires the Chief Su|)crinlendent of Schools to 
 iiiiiko Forms and lieguktions for conducting all the 
 
88 
 
 opvratioM of Commao Bshoola— ihua Mlmilliri|| H« I 
 
 nccmnity iiT mimp Kvrxrul rrgoliitiotia; IjhI Ih* Bill 
 proviilen no mriiw whutevur htr upcurinK iha nbtcrv- 
 HDce of lhe^• rc^jiiUliim*, or ihf fulrttmenC of any of 
 
 llio I' lillonii wliitli ihey winht involve. No pro 
 
 vision wliulrvcr i» mud* by which the Chief Suiwrin- ' 
 teniliMK can uvrn Haccrlain whelher any one of the>e 
 rrgulalionii it obo'rrnl in a ainKlv To«rii»lii|i or Si h<Ki| 
 Sgcilon in llp|ivr CniiHil.i. No proviaion it maile lo 
 enable liim lo Iciirn (he name of iho Towmhip Siiper- 
 inlendrnl of Common S('hiM)lt; nor ia any Township ■ 
 Su|H>rinleiiilent reijuiri'd t<> answer any ini|iiiriei which i 
 llie Chief Sii|i«rinlen(l»nl may miike, much lew to eom 
 |ly with or enlorco any <if Ilia deci<iont, inttruclioni 
 Of regulation*. ! 
 
 a. I remark liflhly, ihal the provitiont of \\h% Hill 
 are e(|iMlly iit variHOcc with another iniportant olijcct 
 of a Provincial ly^tem of Common St hoola, as it I 
 deniiilen the Provincial U<>ard of Kdiiciitioii of ill mi- 
 thority to recommcnil KchiMil-liooka, uiid pliicct that 
 aiilhorily in a great niinibi>r of Local Hoard*. The Lct;is- 
 laliiic of iho Stall" of .New-Vork wisely placed the man- 
 ageincnt of (he .Siata Normal ScIhmiI in the ImiiiIk of iIk) 
 »aiiic Rmly which wan inve«t(il l>y law with authority 
 lo rccoinincnd bonki to lie uiied in the l.ihriiiieji, etc., 
 of the Common ScliooU. Thit example hut lieen fol- 
 lowed in Upper Canada. One object of the Provincial 
 Norji al School it, not only to train Teachers in the 
 best melhtxl* of leaching certain milij*! is, but also In 
 fuinillarixo them wi!h the character and tH'^l modes of 
 leaching rerlain Uvikt mid make a curropondin); 
 clatsilicHlion ol pupils in their scIiihiIs j and also lo 
 acipiiiint Teachers with the general charaiter oflKHiks 
 which may bo recommended fiir Commnn Schiwl Librii- 
 riet, and iho liett meant of inlriMlucing thciu. The 
 provitiont of this Hill set a>iile thete iiii(iorliint and 
 culluleral objecu of the Normal School — ilo iiwiiy with 
 an already widely introiluced s«riet of Provincial 
 srhool-bookt — prevent any Provincial publithcr from 
 printing a itIkmiI book, ai he can have no assurance of 
 ilt general us<! — iral till up the tcliooli with the books 
 iin|Nirted and praiaed by itinerant vemlort, at the 
 Local Hoards cannot command tlie meant ami facilities 
 of acijuainting thcmselvei with the forei);n liook market, 
 and procuring various UKiks, and by examination and 
 coni|iari*on, select the best and the cliea|>ett for their 
 Schools. I would also submit whether the pmceedingt 
 of ilie Provincial Hoard of Kducation have not tliua 
 far tieen most taluLiry as well as tuccetsfiil in regard 
 both lo the character and the pricea of the Uxikt now 
 used in nearly Iwo-tkirdt of the Common Si IhhiIi in 
 Upper Canada, huiI that, in a jieriml of less than three 
 years, I cannot conceive any suflicient reason for put- 
 ting an end to such a courM^ of usefulness, and blasting 
 itt aoticijuted friiitt, by setting aside llic i'rovinciul 
 Board of Kducation, and creating a nuinlier of Local 
 Huardt, winch are noi in a siliiiiliuu to ascertaii the 
 cktapi^ and best U»>k*, much less to iiegoti ite and 
 devise mi-ans for making lliem acceskible at tlio lowest 
 prices. On the eve of providing for School Libraries 
 and oilier improvepuiils in the fticililici of gener.il 
 knowledge, I can conceive many reasons fur eiilar^- 
 iiiK the nunilwr of .MemU'rt, and for increasing the 
 powers and imfioitance of the Provincial Hoard, or 
 Council ui Eiliicalion, but not one for aboliilnng it. 
 
 6. Another general remark it, ihul Ihe moile of 
 pretMriiig School Reports provided for by this Rill it 
 inefficient, laboriout and exiicntive, Ix'yond all prece- 
 dent,. It requires two copies of each Tru-lees' ItejNirt 
 to be made — the one lo be (Histed in the School Sec- 
 tion, and the other lo lie tviit to the Township Super- 
 inlrndint ; it ihen n-ipiires two copii s of the Township 
 S'iperiiilendent's Kr|Mit lo lie made- the one lo In- 
 laid before hit Township Council, ami the mher lo 
 be tnntmilted tu the County Clerk: it iLeii reijuiiei 
 
 the County Miiiicipat Council In prepare and Iranamii 
 a County School Keporl to the Provinri.il Su|H>rinten> 
 dent. Thus, in a matter which hiral (lerliei regard na 
 moti irksome, and which they |ierfiirm wiih the greotetl 
 reluctance, their work is doubled — duplicate Ueporif 
 being n'ipiireil of both Trustees' and Township Su|ier- 
 intendcntt. Then the Township Snperinlendenl 
 it required to forwani a copy of his Annual Report 
 lo the CiMinty Clerk, — which is quite n. iniuh trouble 
 us to transmit it to the Provincial Superinlpn>lent.^ 
 .After this the County Ch-rk (as it may be sup|H)sed) 
 miiNt prepaiii and transmit to the Provinci.il Sii|icrin- 
 lendeiit n Couiily .St hisd Report, compiled fioin the 
 Re|Hirts of the several Towiishi|>* in liis Couiily. Thai 
 oiricer, as a generiil rule, knows nothing alHuil preparing 
 such Re|iorls— has no interest or obligation in ris|H'cl 
 to ihi'ir c.iinph'leness is under no oblig.ilio" to write 
 and g< I the difrciv of any haal Reports suppl.ed, shoiihl 
 he (lerceive Ihim. Now, it is to iliis County Council 
 al'ni', which will pmbilily meet once or twice n-year 
 for n fiw ilayn, or at moti lo the Coiiniy Cb rk — « 
 |»rson not pracliciilly connected wiih siliooN, or lon- 
 versHiil Willi llirir o(M'ratioii>, — llial ihe Chief Su|MTin- 
 tendiiit is lo limk for nil bis inforiniilion in rei^.ird In 
 llie ex|>i liditure of si liiM>l-money, and the opi rations of 
 till' school-law in the VMrimis Townships and liHiililiet 
 in I'pi"''' Cunmla. The contemplaled County Councila 
 cannol I oii.miind nil llie iiiforniHlion, on loc.il school 
 niBlters, which the presi'nl District Councils possess ; 
 yrt were the Cliiif Siiperinlindeiit left to depend on 
 that source iilone lor Iih.iI Kej'orls and Iih.iI iiifonna- 
 lion on M'hool mailers, his kiiowlcd^e of the conditions 
 of schisils and of the workings of llie School Sislenu 
 would lie Very vague and utterly insulflcienl lo enable 
 him to ilevisi> and sii|{gest appropriule means for improv- 
 ing llie various IihiiI iiileresis of schrnds. I tlii'ieforn 
 siihiiiit, whether, insleiid of pre|Miring Sclioid Rr|Mirt« 
 and priM'uring schisil iiifortniilMMi, su onerous and im- 
 perfect, il Would not Ik niuch easier and more etteclivc 
 fot the Trusters, who are requited to pre|uuo their 
 Re|H>rt before their annual scIiiniI meeting, to read it 
 to their constituents at such meeting, thereby adding 
 lo ilt interest and iin|Hirtance, and thus securing n 
 larger attendance, and then transmii such Ke|K>it lo 
 the Towhthip Supvrinlendeiil, wboshoulil re|Hirl loiho 
 Chief Supeiinlcndcnl, III Ihe same manner that llie Dili* 
 IricI Su|a'rinlendenl» do now. According to ibis n ethod 
 of prep.iriiig and traiisinitting Annual Si hool Ke|Kjr|s, 
 there is no double or su|ierlluoiis labour or ex|M'ns«. — 
 The Chief Su|ieriiilendint vrill receive from year to 
 year, what every Iliad of a IK'parlinent should |Hisseti 
 III order lo ascertain the working of every part of the 
 niachinery of the Syslcin, and thus imptove and (ler- 
 iV-ct it as far and us fiisf as |Missihlr — u Report of the 
 slate of each Si lnsil in I'piK-r Canada, iiiid llie unnwal 
 ol>servalioiis of the Sii|a'rinleiMlent of em h Township 
 on ever) thing coiini'i led with llie progress and interi'sta 
 of (.'omiuoii .S< biNils wiiliin his jiiritibitioii. Ifuiiy such 
 Re|iorl weredeficlive, the Chief SupirinlendeM could 
 do, as he has done, write to the Supeiinlriiilriit c^'tii ein- 
 I'd and have ihe ilefei 1 1 orrecled or siip|ilied ; and il any 
 Township Councilor Sn'lion thoiild fail locoiiiply with 
 ibe provisions of lie l.iw, the iip|Hirlionn>i'iit of school 
 moneys would lie willile Id from such Township or Sec- 
 thin. Hut llie new Hill, while it limits the Cbiif Sii|ier- 
 inleiidelil lo ihe County Coutii il or County Cleik for 
 liM' il S. hool Report* and IinmI infornialion, il requires 
 the wiihholding of llie Schisd ap|Mirlioniui'nl from any 
 County, ihe School Repurt of whose County Council 
 is not forwarded, or .s not satisfni tory. This is the 
 only nil ant plai ed in the bands of the (biif Sujierin- 
 Undent III seiurv the execution of the whole Si hind 
 Law. H't a mominl's exatninalion will sIk'W the in- 
 jiislii e and evil ihat would retidt fiotri ixeciiting Ibii 
 provision of llie Hill. Should an^ Township Su|>eiin> 
 i tcndcnl fad lo report to the County Council, or shuutij 
 
39 
 
 •r.-.- 
 
 von 
 
 (he Report from ony To\vn:<tii|i lie I'Mwuiiitlly i\v 
 •ivi', (he Scli.ii.l R)'|Hirl .if t|ii> Ccitily r.)iiiicil (o, 
 »ii|i|Hi«in« it liHil hmr, nml wrro iilili- mid (lispiw I lo 
 pri'imri- Kiiili H l{f|i,Mi,) cchiIiI not li.' ►Hti<.far|.iry, in 
 tiiii»d|iiiMi<o iirwliich cviry 'rii\viiOii|i in tlml Coinity 
 Wiiiilil liu liiilili' In Ids.. ii< ii|i[iiiriii)mni'nl — in lhi> Hill 
 (li>i-» nol Riilliiirizc till' riiiif Sii|MTiiiti'nileiit Id iipimr- 
 lion Sclimil itioni'y In, nr willilmlil it frotii, ToiVruiiipH 
 but Countten. Or, s ippoic h Ccmnly Cniiniil wn« 
 
 not to nifct hi'lwopii ihc lime iif ninkinij ((»> 'I'dwn^liip 
 Scliii il Hi'|iiirl«, iinl lliiil ri'rpiirrd fur forwurdinn '''" 
 Ccmnly Sclmnl lli'|ioih, iind Miiikin;^ ihc Aiiiiual Ap- 
 pnniiinnic'iit nf Schonl innncy^ ; or iiii{ipii<H> lln' Ciiiiniy 
 flrrk >liMiild ni'nlccl nr Ciil in |iri>piiri- and lr,iii»iiiil llic 
 ("niiiily Stlmnl H('|inii wiililii ihe pi'm-d ri fcrri'il In, 
 lien t'Vi'iy TnwiiOiip in fiiirli ("niinly wnnld Ite dt'pri- 
 
 'I'd n( lis uppnilii It III i.f S( hmd innilcy, lllnllgll I'ViTy 
 
 Town-liip limy li,i\r Cully rnin|iliiMl willi llm pinvii-iniis 
 
 T , , , , 
 
 <'( llic Liiw \ ll II piifci lly « Iriit, iliiTi fnic, IImI diiiIi 
 A pmvisinii i.f i|i(. Mill vV'iiild In- IMi;;miiry, or lliiil lliu 
 oxcciilinii nf it wniilil lii' iinjiini uiiil iiijiinnu", iinli'Ks in 
 • lirnlli'iU iinpmbiililc ciw nf riU (lii> Tnwnoliipiii nf ii 
 (.'niinly tiiiviiin M'MT.illy forfi-ili-d llicir ri)(lil lo tin' 
 St'liiHil iipjinrli inmciil. 
 
 7. I rt'iifiirk nni • iimn' I'li llii> ijri'nrnil |irnvi-.inn!t of 
 llil^ltill, iliul, iinili r till ir n|«rMii.in-<, '!'('«< Imts will bp 
 liiililc In ill.. I.i-H nl from IwiMily-fivr lo fnrly per rpnl. 
 <'filie Srhool Fninl inlriiili'd for llicir Mijiport. This 
 
 Dill providi-^ lli.il lliu S( I I Hpporlionini'iit lo pikIi 
 
 Coiinlv uliiill lit; |iiiiil ll llic Coiiiilv 'rriiiMiriT , iiiiil 
 Kill ll 'rri'.i-iiror i^ iiMially iiiliili'd In four per cent, nf 
 all inoiirys wliirli |l,l^^ lliroii;^!! liin liaiids. |ii llip next 
 pliiie ill • Coiinly (loiiinil ii. muh inaifd lo d.iliirt 
 Iw nly-fioe pir cnit. of iIh; wIioIp Hiitmilionnii'iil, to 
 form a fund iiiidir iu own toiiirnol for " miiIi SiIkhiI 
 Sftlioin lis liiiiy nol, wiilio ll *|ii'cinl assisliiiicr, lie alilu 
 lo psl.ililish mid niiiinliiiii Si IiooIh ;" mid it ii> vvry 
 \t ill km Wil lliiil Mit'li .Miiiiirip.il liody is iiiixious In 
 luipiiic" ilic conirnul of mII iIi« moiK-'y wliicli it aiu oli- 
 tiiiii, mid iMtli Ciuiily Cniincil will lie ur){Pil loiilislriirl 
 IIS liir({0 :i porlioii nf llip Si lin.d appnrlinniiiPnl lis ;ossi- 
 lilr, Ly tlioM mumliers wlio lio|iv by iIihI nioiins lo 
 cnhiintu llio upiiro|iriHtinii!i to lliu Towiitiliipii wliiili iliw 
 riire-uiil. 'i'lieiiiiiiiiiiil lliii> ubstracli'd froinllie Si Imnl 
 ajiportioiimi'iit will not mdy rvduiu lln' mnoiml dislri- 
 liiilrd lu cxdi Towii.dii|i, but rediuMi in llii' sainn rMlio 
 lliv aiiiiiinl wliirli I'Hcli 'rowimliip in obli^rd to raise bv 
 iisiM'^siiiiiil. Till 11 it is fiirllicrinoft' prondi'd. lliat ibi' 
 «*lary of I In' '!owii«liip Siippriiilfiidi'iil iiuiy b« pinvi- 
 ili'd for bv pdviiii; bini ii per ((■iilagi' uf llic iimnevs 
 I Hvsin)( lbrnii|;li Ins bands. 'I'liiit tin- ppr cei tnfii^ nf 
 llie (yoiiiity Tii'iuun'r, ibi" per I'l'iilanc fir poor School 
 .Scci ions, and ilie piTiciil,.i(ii lor llic Township Siipcriii- 
 icmIkiii'ii wil.iiy, may nil bo deducted iron) llic School 
 Fiini/ — rciliiciim in a «■ iricvp.iiidinK ratio ihc .iinouiil 
 p.ii.j for the .s.d.irlcs ofTi aili r<. Now, tin' (insi m biw 
 |iro»ii|,.. Ilial ihc wliii'e of ill" .ScAi.'o/ l-'lliul -i.hiil is, 
 lie l.iMfislati\c (iraiit, and a sum equal to ii raised liy 
 ii»si'ssinciit — 111 i>t Ik' paid lo Teachers ; so thul llic 
 •aluricK ol" Sii)iiriiilc[;di Ills and all oih.r conliniicnt c\- 
 |iciis.s unending ihc inllcitmn ,ind payinciii of .School 
 moneys, iiiiist lie |'io\iilcil for over and abotc the 
 anioiiiit piji^il 1,1 ih" l.e^islaiivc (Saul npjii, Ii med lo 
 any Tiiwn.slii|i or |.)isirici. Thus the Si hool Kiiiid is - 
 Mil taxid or I spoiled a -ix-petifc by ibe onlirc udinin- | 
 istration uf the ScIuhiI Ijiw. { 
 
 |l i< also lo b I icm irked, Ibal In select " Mnh School || 
 Scclions ns may iml without s|HMial n»s •■lanci' bo able {' 
 to csiabli>li an I niaiiiliin St h mis," r<-i|iiireH the most I 
 iiiimile knowledge of llic ciicunialuiii cs and rharaclcr { 
 of the fir<M inajonl) of ihe people in all ibo Sections jj 
 1 tniccrncd - a kiMHvled;;c which live Councillors in |, 
 (■•nil Townslii|i iii.iy lit) vnppnscd lo pos>ess in a five- |i 
 /old greater dix'ef diaii one, and therefore iIip 'I'nwn- 
 thip Cniincil niav ln' fuirlv considered fn 
 
 liinps ns 
 
 cnmpetcnl lo iKcidii on surh delirale and dilliciill mai- 
 lers nf individual and soclnl want within its own 
 jiiri>ilictinn as a County Council. Nnr ia there any 
 
 Iirniisiiiii in the flill lo enii' !e a Countv Council to 
 [nnwcienthc SchiHtl Spclinn divisions ol'^a Township ; 
 and it caiinnl lie Nnp[Miscd ihe Tuwnreevc ran recollect 
 them all and bn intimaloly conversant with iho |>ecu> 
 liarities of each. 
 
 The Thirly-nxtk Seclinn of tlie preaont Act 
 
 aiilliiiriB s the ex|wniliture of £)iOO |icr aiinum in aid 
 of Schools in new Townships nol olherwise provided 
 for Nol nnedialf of ihis sum has lieen exjtetidml nr 
 applipil fnr in any one year, lo iny cotnmunicalion of 
 the I lib of Oclober last, 1 shiiwud how ollior |MKir 
 
 \ .S'bool Mections have been providml fur ; and tbiiuld 
 any fiirllior moans for ih.il pur|x>w) be desired iil the 
 
 I discretion of each Municipal Council, sucli Council 
 has a.iiple power to provide them. 'I'lio Sihttol Act 
 niithoriins any Council to raistt as larfto an ainimni at 
 it pleu'cs for Common Schonl purposes. I have never 
 insisted, as the (,'imniion ScliiMd I'uiid, u|nmi a larger 
 Slim, in each District or Township, than thai up|Mirlion- 
 ol out of the Le({islntive (Jrani. Any sum over and 
 above thai amniint which a (Council may think proper 
 to raise, may, (as has been done by some ('uuni ils) be 
 applied in s ich a manner to the relief of any otherwiic 
 unprovided hir poor ScIumiI Sections within its jurisdic' 
 lion, at the |den<ure of each Coiiiirll. K«ch Council 
 li.is also aiith iritv to niter, enlnrKc, or unito School 
 Sections «i its ilKcrelion ; Ihe Mimici|)al Corporalinns' 
 Kill provides fnr iiniliair thinly willed Townships with 
 iiioro popidniis Townships; and ihu* may ifae wants uf 
 every poor School Section b- siipplie.l without deduct- 
 in;; any ihin^ from the School Kiind, without ctealinf; 
 any distincl (lass of I'uiiper Keciiona, or placing them 
 under any oilier rcKiilatinn" than lliosc which apply to 
 Sclioil Seclioin jfeiierally. 
 
 Having iiiadti these general rcmaiks on ihu provi- 
 sions of the new Si hool Bill, I will now advcit tu 
 siiiic of the provisions in detail. It is nol possible for 
 ine, wiihiii any tolerable limits, to notice them all ; nnc 
 do I lliiiik it neccs-sary after the foregoing ub>crvations. 
 
 Firit and Second Srcliona. No prtivision is inade 
 for a vpcond Clerk in the Kducntion OITiro fnr Upjier 
 Canada, ns is mndu for thni of Lower Canada, and aa 
 ihe (iovornor-Genoral, in Council, was ploiiscd to sanc- 
 tion in H letter from the Proviiiciiit Secretary, dated the 
 l!)lh nf January, 1819. And the omission and repeal 
 ol ill" authoriiv n'ivvn in Ihe fiftk nnd tevcnth claiisra 
 of the Second Section of llie present School Act, 
 (which authority rn bnlh resjiccls is posscsid by tho 
 Siiperinlcndeiil of Schools for tho Stale of New York 
 in a much hi){her d'jjree) deslroys the means by which 
 llie ('liief Superinlendenl has been most successful in 
 I romoiiiiR 'lie elTiciency of this School Law and of Ihe 
 iVornial Si hool to u degro • whiih. I could demonslrnlo. 
 Were it necessarv, would not h.ive been otherwise 
 atlaincd. Hut reference wdl be made to this siiljecl 
 ill anoilier place. I have already adverted to the fact 
 thai the U 11 |iroviiles the Chief Supcrinlendeni with 
 no means of oxct'uliuj; the third anii ft/lh clauses ..; 
 the Second Section. 
 
 Fourth (nul Fifth Sections. Loss to the School 
 Pmid — iiec'l ssly truublesninc and expensive. 
 
 StJclh. Sefenlh, Mghth and ffinlh Sectiimi. 
 Olijeclinnnbleness and inelficiency already shown ■ 
 involvin:{ much useless labour and cx|)eiisi', nnd ticcu- 
 siuning many complaints and ilispiiles. 
 
 Tenth Section. Proviso mot objectionable, and 
 never applied lo the individnnis who compose a 
 inajorilv mi money cpiestions in Ihe LeJ;i^lative A* 
 seniblyi or in nry Corporatior,, as each Mnnicip»l 
 Council is mnde ai d regarded 
 
40 
 
 KUvenlh Stditm. riinr<:eiw«ry. 
 
 !tlio niiljr tiicam lijr 
 ... 
 
 Iijr wliii'h the St-linol Kiinil run !>• 
 I fioiii jiImho nnil nail)', nml ti mcmt iniimrliwil 
 iiii'.uiii ii( ili'taliiix ll»< nlitiiil.Mil mill cli.ii.ii'tir nf 
 (iiiiiiiinn SrIiiiiiU. Tliii Lilt |iiirl ifllu' irvrnlh i'Ihikii 
 !• iiiiiiniiiliMin 1 mill lliK l.t.^l |im't iif till' iii'iiM rIaiiMi 
 i* iiiriiiiipiitilili' willi till' Ihiril ilnuito of llio Steoiul 
 .Vx'fimi. 'I III' niakiiiK <if tnn rii|iii'K urilii' T<innilii|> 
 SiliiMil Iti'piii'l, ii« ri'i|iiiri'il \>y tlir Imth I'laiim', lia* 
 Im< n n lliHI'ki il li|iiiii. Till' CrmffflfK nraiirli ltr|>iii't 
 aa riiiiiiii'r.iti'il in llii' arvrrnl ili\i<ii>iiK iif lliU rIaiiHK, 
 
 Twr(/tk Sfclion. A Sii|i' riuliiuli i.l niigiil I' vi«ii 
 each SiliiHil at li'atl Urice h ii'iir; liul lo uMIki' IiIiii 
 tu I'xatiiiiH' I'at'h SihiNil pnhlifly in rnnlinrv In all 
 IPKiilaliiili* Mini UMtfi** III all Klali'ii anil rmiiilrira iif 
 Ciininiiin Sihih>l«. Ilii' third cl.iuw i>( llin Ni'iiimi la 
 •till rimrr at variamr wiili tin' Vi'fv "liji'ct nl in«|»i lliiK 
 S<'liiMil«, ua well aa the rrviTM' «( iill lii«lriirlii>iia In 
 Sihu"! In>|ic<'ii>r« i>n lliul auliji'ii, in KiikIhihI, irtlaiiil, 
 •nd rvprr oiIkt coiinlry wlit-re h lliiir"ii)(li Malpni of 
 Srlinul inafirciion vxiala. 
 in«|><'(tinf{ a Si hm 
 
 to ■rqiiaiM liimarirwilli tlir rial alali' ami rharaclir •>( 
 the ^rhiNil — the ritndilinn "( llii' Si IhmiI-Ihi »i — ilii- 
 di»ci|iliiii' III' llw .S'hiNil — llii' lialiil« nrilii- 'IViii'lii'r, liia 
 fDiidf iirif'ai'hiiiK, llir atuilii'a iinil ullainironli ami | nv 
 gri'M iif llii' |i<ipila, anil tu |i"inl mil In llir Ti'm Iht 
 wImiI i>ilrfi't'li\i', and aii^^jcal l<i linn wliat i'> iirri"»ary 
 lur Ilia )(rciil>'>l tuiiiw anil iiairnliii'M*. In nriliT In 
 Ihii, Iwii lllln^a arc nrcoaaary. Tlii'rc ^hl>lllll ni'l Ih* 
 prev ill I la not ire nf amh viait, nr a|M'i Jul |iri'|>ai«'iniia 
 may U' iiiailr fur it, Iif iiicirnii'iit 'rrarliiiK, in ilii' 
 ■|>|Manin<'P and nrilcr nf llii- Ihhim'. ihi' •illi'iiduiirr I'f lliiin I'y llic ini'lliixl |>i'ii|>iiaoil. 
 
 iirr till' annul ni tlinai' nnw iri|tiiri'il liy l»w and iw 
 I I'Xiala. Tli.1 |.rimaty nlijuta "f ' lm»,' |„'in pnniiUMl f.,i- l.y lli.' Idank fnrina of Ri.|HirtJi 
 il an-, In nialili' ili.' Sii|K'riiiH'iHl«'nl_ wl,i,.|i ||„. (jiiif Su|iiiii'ilomk'nt lini fiiruiahcd to all 
 
 Ini'iil Siipri inlciidcnla. 
 
 TiifllVi I Thirteenth ', Srftiim. Tlip |ii<iialty fitr do. 
 Ia\ iiij; 111 ri'i'cit liy witlilmldinjf tin- Si'liiinl nimiry 
 fmni a 'riinii'<lii|i until llir Irmi^mi^-inn i>raiirli |{i<|iiirl, 
 ia I'f nil iixhII In jii'riiri' ita lranaiiii«aiiin liy iIh- |at 
 iif Manli. ainro thf Si'linnl nvnry ia lint p>y- 
 alilr liy tin' Hill until two nmiittiH iifliTwania ; mid 
 till' f>'li /><iUii>/« |irr.ally rniild lin rnlji'i'loil liy llio 
 'rin%n ( Irik,"!! till' Tiiwnrci'M', iiiiirli iimrr [iruiii|illy 
 
 pufiila, Pit-, and ihrn tliu Siiicriiili'iiilpiil iMiiimt rutin 
 an iilt'a of lln' ordinary alalo and • liararirr nl the Srli'uil. 
 Ssroiidlv, lliPre lamlit in l»' the fn'riliin nf |iiivaiy. 
 Il wiiiild Im) injurioiia to iIip 'I'i ai lirr and to ilii' Srlio'l, 
 lur liii' Sii|iPiiMl"iid<-iil, by rxannnaliiMia, in<|iiirii's ati'l 
 rnnaik", pubtirly to rln it llio ilrri-i la m' a Trai lur or 
 hia nn«Ui of ronduilinj; liia Srli"iil. 'Ilirri' i» a wid-' 
 diflcrenci' in the nbjicla and i liaractcr nf an Innprclor^H 
 mitit to a Si'liixd, and a Quarterly, m Vrarlif I'iMic 
 Kxaininalin I of siirli S< lionl. 'I'lic laltir i'i a alinw 
 day; llip furnirr is a day of ri^iil intcstii^^itinn, nf 
 ri'priaif, nf rniincil and i iironraKinii'iit, aa may » i ni 
 ex|>t'di<'nt. The suhji'i'l nf llii' Hindi' and nliJKla nf 
 ina|M-('tin)( Srlmol!., and tin- tilti'r iniprnprirly nf ({ivinj; 
 prt'vioiia public nnlire nf Mali in«|Mrli"n, liaa lie'ii 
 ibiy Iroalcd by llic Iliad Masli r nf tin' l*rn\ iii(i,il 
 Normal S'biHil, in ihr Up|Ki Canada Jnuiiial nf Kdiii a- ': 
 lion for May, |H.|H, |i«i{is I2!»-I3.'>. In nmal paria nf < 
 theriMinlry,llipgiviiii; nfilip |irn|inaid llirrpilaia' nniiro 
 to llip Tparlirr wnulil Im' dflinili'd with i;n'al ininii- 
 renipnt-G on tlip |>arl nf iIk- Sup' riiilinih nl ; and his 
 failiiii^lii d'l a<i (aail would ni'cpasanly liap|H'ii in many 
 ciufa) wnuld givp ria4' In (iitnplainla and ili^aHli'.fiir- 
 lion on the |>>!rt nf TiarluTt. I inn awam thai it ia 
 uapful In aaapniblp ihc Tiuatpoa and aii|i|iorti'fa nf ihi' 
 Schcxd Iwlinoea ; hut aiit h ari' tlii.' nbj' ilanf ih" Sii|Hr- 
 inlpndpiit'a l,p<'lurp» and tin' tiiiarh riy Kxainiriaiinn". 
 Thorp maifbt intlancrs in nrdinary \ iait* of ina|«-i In.n, 
 in which it wo'ild Ix' agn-pahlp ln<ill parliea and napful 
 for Triiali'pa and parrrilH lo Im^ ptcMiil ; lull I ihilik all : 
 «urh mallPia nf ilplail, aa In niodpi of prmppdin.., and , 
 whcrp varinly is ailnnanildo, in annip c.i.apa, to Ipavo 1 
 thcni In individual diaorntion and gpiioral inatructinna. 
 l/«'(;ialatinn on evory dpiail of nuMlpa of procedure t 
 swclla ihi' law to an undue Inngtli, iinharra.aai'a artinn J 
 and givi-a birth to pndhiia di«puliii. Thia roniark , 
 
 Tliirlteiith Sirtiim. A ntntrinmt by thi' Town>liip 
 Siipiiiiitrndi'iil In ihi' Tnwn (Mirk nf hia rt'i'i-ipta and 
 pxpi ndiliii i< of H. Iinni inniu'va, ia nnt HiiHicii'iil. 
 Ap|Miinli'd anditnra ahould r\aniiiii> hia nri'iiiinta, nnJ 
 It nimhrr sh'iiild lip ri'ipiircd fnr ivprv pxpPiiililiiro 
 rp|«ir|pil. Nil prn»iaiiin ia niado fnr liie npiiliralion 
 Iif tlip fnrfpit of twonty-fi»i' ponnda iin|><iapiJ l)j 
 Soition. 
 
 ponnda iin|><iapiJ by this 
 
 Fonrleinlh Section. T'ho iinticea ami ri'DorLa ro- 
 tpiiri'd by Ihia Sriiinn are trniihh'aonip ami, for tho 
 ninal |iarl, napli'aa, and nfiin iniprnrlii'abh', aa llin 
 (nnnrila iiro mil irmpnlly likply to inppi nilliin iho 
 prrinda during tthipli thr r('(|nirpil imtin-a iiro lo ho 
 i;i»cn lliPin. To give aui'h noticpa at the iii'll pnaii- 
 iiig inoiling ufiir thp nivurrpiicps rrfrrri'd In, aivina 
 lo hp ipiilp Milhcinnl. 
 
 Uttrtnth Sirtion. TI.p payini'lit of llm ro\vnahi|) 
 .SiiiH'riiitpnihiit'a fier friitaije. out of llio School J-'uml 
 liaa boon aufKiiontly imlicpil. 
 
 Sixtertilh, Sri'rnlfetilh, I'iijhtrenth, Aintteenlh, 
 Tiiriiliilh (iiiil 'I'li'mlii fir.it Sri'tiont am «ub- 
 '•l.inlially Iraii'iripla of iIk' rnrriapmi'ling aiH-tinna nf 
 tlip preM'iil Alt ; but tlip I'mrito nf tho Tuvntti fiitt 
 Sccliun invulvi'i grpat iiijii-'liri' mid will Im |irodiiL'- 
 titn of il,'<|iiitra wilbnut iiuiiibor. It auppoaca mi 
 indiiiduul (linuilril nf the pnwiT and ri'Miuroca of 
 niKi'u in a ror/iuratiiin, yet iinliviiliiallv aiil'ji'i't, al 
 the pU'U.auri' III .iiinlluT, to ihn obligalinna nhii'li wprn 
 ronlinctcJ whilu li« waa a iniinber nf such corpora- 
 tiun! 
 
 Twenty nrfondlo Tii'fiitij-iiijhlh Sirtions imluaivp, 
 am tranM'ribid and adaptiul frnin lliP prraint Art.px- 
 
 applii'a to nuiih that i> cniitaiiu'd in the si'veral i-lauaea i ippt the latt'-r part uf the Tiiviity-tixlh Sirlinii which 
 ol lliia SiH-linii. A County inalcad nf a I'rniimial ;, mipiirna ;» ilui4iciite inpy nf ru-h Triiati'i: ilpiiion 
 
 iiupliiig In 111- niadp till' I 
 
 infnrinatinii nf llmai' 
 
 Board nf Kdui-atinn to rcromnipn.l S. Ii.m.1 H..nka, lui* 
 bct'n «nffiiii'ntly nnticetl. Tlin /uurlh and tixlh rlauana 
 of thia St-<li in auplKM'a rnuih p.iWir in tin' li.mda nf 
 the Tnwnaliip Supirinlindpiit : but 'itlipr prnviainn* 
 »how that Im [•oNM'sai'a no [kiwpp whati'vor to cxwiite 
 what theac clauaoa r<(|nirc him to do. 
 
 The tet-enth. eiyhlh .ind ninth rlauaea nf thia Si-p- 
 lion alxilish a ProTincial Syalpni nf upplyin:; Srhnol 
 monpya, and annul the eiialing cnndiliona fnr the 
 payment of anch mnpeya. And evpn the bithirln 
 and, in all countrie* where Public .Shnnl Syilpuia arc 
 calabliahed, the indiapenaable rnnditioii nf k<'>'|iing a 
 School in nfieration during a prinMriU'd period nf the 
 year, by a Uyally ijuatifieii Teacher, ia act aaide, - 
 
 ilie to III' pnati'd f^iV tho 
 am aiippoaed and ought tu 
 be jireai'iit at anch niei'ling, and the nihnr'tn be aint 
 In tho Tnwnaliip Clirk. liiit which niiglil to bi' ai'Ut 
 In the Tnwnaliip Sii|iciintiiidcnt, wh) slmiilil have a 
 liat nf the n iiiii's nf all llni Trinlcea nf hi> T'nwiiahli> 
 in Ilia pnaaeaainn in nidcr In judgu of the nrdera for 
 Kcliuul niuncya preaenteil lo hini. 
 
 Twenty ninth Section. Tho Jint ciAiiac of thia 
 Si-clinn reipiirea Trustee* " to receive the mnneys 
 from whatever source derived;" while olbur provi- 
 ainna nf tlm Hill refpiirp the Tnwnahip Siipennlen- 
 dunta tn pay the whole Schttut Fiinit. not In TniiteeA, 
 but (as it ought tu be, and aa the present law 
 
41 
 
 mqiiim) to Ttnehwt, im tlio oril«ir» of 'I'ruiilrd*. 
 Tlio i*euiul cUiwo uikI tlio flmt |>iirt of llin iHirit »r« 
 ro|>i«<l from tlio prcariit Ait : Ixit l)iu rcotriotivn coii- 
 dition impoMii upon tliu l!ouni'il nmy Iw inndo tlio 
 o<H»«ion of much wruni^linK anil vmliiirrMiiiiiuiit, ami 
 0*11 do no ((ood, >j no ('oiinRJl would draira to iui|Mwa 
 an uiiiMicoiiMry aut'Minoiil for tlui purcliiwu or uroo- 
 tion of a Hi'lioul liouw. A KruAl |»trt of tlin fuurtk 
 uuijtj^h clau»ua ii, I am Mtiafiod from mi.cli iii(|uir,v, 
 liablv to tliu lame oliipctioii. 'I'lio lixtk, irvunth, 
 eiijkth, ninth, Itnth and eUvenlh clauwi, nre lu^stan- 
 tiallv from the uri'iMint Act. Hut in the liittvr part 
 of the 3rd, 4th and <Uli diviiion* of tho tUvtnth 
 rlauu, exiriiorilinary tliin|;!t are roqulrvd to ho om- 
 Uxliod in tliu i'riiiittMiii' Hciiortii, two rojiita of ettfh 
 of which aro oiijoinod to ho niiidu. It in rraiiirod 
 that not only tho numlirr of tho children of School 
 nf(o in each Section nhall ho reporlod, but " tho 
 n(im«« of tho jiarmti or oChvri with whom luch 
 children roiide, and tho numhnr of children reaiding 
 with each" — a roquiromont which will douhin tliu 
 lenifth and iroublo of Truateoa' ltoport«, and which 
 nppoam to mo to b« witlumt any necouily or valuo. 
 Tho Truatcin aro also roquired to report tho name 
 of each pupil over lixtoon yoart of ago attonding 
 their iSchooi and tho numlmr of dayi ho may havu 
 attondod, and tho tiutnth or monllu in which tliono 
 (lay* wore — another troubloaome and, in my opinion, 
 wholly luporfluou* roquircmont. Truitoo* aro liko- 
 wiio roquired to report the " number of such pupilii 
 M ahall hare distinguishod thomivlvci by good con- 
 duct and proficiency." Truitooa may not havo tho 
 information or bo able to make tho nico official 
 discriminationi between pupils, and may not bo dia- 
 intoroatod judge* between tho morita of their own 
 and their noighlraun' children; and the Teacher 
 may not bo willing or find it convenient to decide 
 between tho claims to distinction of thu children of 
 hi* employon. It t* one of those little matter* of 
 detail which I think ought not to bo made the *ub- 
 joct of law, but left to local discretion. 
 
 Thirlielh Sfelion. I have already remarked on the 
 t««lioui and cumbrous proTisions ol this Section. 
 
 Thirty-firit and Thtrtyatcond Stction*. Tho »nnio 
 aa the preoeot law. 
 
 Thirty-third Section. Transcribed from tho Draft 
 of Bill »ubmittoU by mo in Kcbruary, and I think j 
 ample to pro»ent fraud without tho latter part of tho ij 
 lira diTiaion of itie tltvtnth clauie of tho T%o«nty- ' 
 ninth Section. 
 
 Thirty-fourth and 'Ihirty-fijlh Seetioiu. Much in 
 these .Section* which will bo found tedious, compli- 
 cated and useless. 
 
 Thirty-tijtth Seftion. The first part of this Section 
 is noccsaary, and ha* been copied from the proient 
 Act ; but tho second part from tho word '' year" in j 
 tho second line of tho littli page, to tho end of tho j 
 Section, will proTO in many oases impracticable for a j 
 Council to adininistor, and a aoureo of irregularity : 
 and dissatisfaction. Tho simple provision which is !j 
 contaiucd in tho Twelfth Section of the Draft of ,1 
 Hill which I submitted in Kebruury, will mcot tho | 
 diYorsity of views which exist in diiTcront Districts 
 on tho i)rinciplo of distributing the School Fund, and 
 will ultimately secure the adoption of tho boat prin- 
 ciple. 
 
 Thirty-tevtnth Section. No provision is made for 
 assessment to procure Librariet, and tho I'rovuoa 
 impose forms, (Hjuditioiis and restrictions which can 
 do no good, and which will eniharniag both TruBtccs 
 and Council*. I 'hiiik tliat Trustee and Council 
 
 Corporations ought (0 bo tliair own judge* a* to the 
 miimIi' or iiioilo* of providing for tho siip|Kirt of their 
 own ScliiHils. Their own experience and interest* 
 will III! a Ix'lter guiile than tho hedges of legislativu 
 restrictions, in ailopting tha beat meUiods of support- 
 ing their School*. 
 
 Thirty-eighth Section. The firtt part of thii Sec- 
 tion is law now 1 hut the addition of the second part 
 from tho colon in the ninth lino nf the 20th page, i* 
 another addition of neodleu and troubloaomo form* 
 and ro<piiromonts. 
 
 Thirty-ninth nnd Fortieth Section*. These Sec- 
 tions aro uni>t!ceswry, us each Municipal Council ha* 
 power to abolish, alter, enlarge, or unite School 
 .Sections at its discretion; anil the Trustees can have 
 OS many Teachers and Departments in oach School 
 a* they please, without ikiiy of the tedious forms and 
 rogiihttioMs here iinposi'il, and without the unjust and 
 iiioHt objectioimblu I'roiriio which conclude* tho 
 I Fortieth Section. 
 
 j Forty-firtI Section. Thi* Section to the word 
 "belong" in tho 24th line, is tho *amo as tho present 
 law ; but the Proviso adds another to those uicleia 
 and numbroii* condition* and roetriclion* with which 
 this Bill abounds, and which, I think, will -ie fruitful 
 of litigation and injurious to tho interest* of School*. 
 The greater part of tho diiputoa which have been 
 brought under my own notice for the Ia*t three 
 year* have arison from tho posaosaion of too little 
 (and not too much) power by Council and Trustee 
 Corporation*, and by their being hedged around by 
 too many form* and restrictions. 
 
 Forty-tecond and Forty-third Section* are copied 
 from my Draft of Uill *ubuiittcd in February, and 
 are necosaary. 
 
 Forty-fourth Section. Can do no harm, except 
 from thu space it may occupy in tho Statute Uoolc, 
 ns it will not bo acted upon, and as it is unnecessary 
 from the discretionary powers which aro elsewhere 
 given in respect to the formation of School Section* 
 and the assistance of poor ones. 
 
 Forty-fifth, forty-tixth and Forty-tevtnth Sec- 
 tions. All that is aimed at br those Section* hoa 
 actually been accomplished under the provision* of 
 tho present Act, and may bo accomplished at any 
 tiino without tho forms nnd Provisos hero enjoined. 
 Thoy appear to mo to bo superfluous and eumbrou* 
 in connexion with existing proviaions for both Gram- 
 mar and .Model Schools. 
 
 Forty-eighth Section. Tho prohibition of tho ap- 
 pointment of any person ns " Teacher of a Grammar 
 Scho<4 unless ho shall have produced a cortiticato of 
 qualifications signed by the Head Master of the 
 'Jornial School for Upper Canada," is a very exfra- 
 i.rdinary provision, es|>ocially when it ia considered 
 hat tho Normal School is not a Classical School, 
 that the Moud Master is not Classical Professor, nnd 
 when most of the candidates for teaching Uranimur 
 School* aro Graduate* of tho British or Caiiadiou 
 Universities. 
 
 Forty-ninth Section. Thia Section eoem* to bo aa 
 anomalous as tho preceding one. Should the Head 
 Master nf the Normal School be empowered to give 
 a Provincial certificate of qualification to any applicant, 
 ho will have hundreds of application* each year ; and 
 ho must either refiuw to act and tlius give applicant* 
 ground* of complaint, or ho rou*t devote a groat 
 part of his time to such applications. Ho cannot know 
 tho applicants ; nor indecKi doe* tue Section require 
 
him to itii/uirr mr.ior rrcn know tlipir moral clmrnrliT. 
 U«*iil<<a, llir Hi'iiil Mnnli-r lonhni'* lii> Iimi'IiImk In llii> 
 de|)arlini'ti(* (>r l,anKiiii|t<'< tii'ngrnplijr niiil lliitur;, 
 llio ili'iwrtiiiinU of MiilliininlK'n, Chrniiitry hikI 
 NalurnI l'liiliiMi|ihy \Mnnt Uii|{lil hy lh« Miilhvni«li«Al 
 Mitairr, nliu iiiikIiI i'i<r(uiiilj' In Im) nMMiomti'il willi (he 
 ilfnil MiittiT ill K'*'"K /ViiriHriii/ I'lTliliinli-*. Ilr- 
 mcIm, ihi> Sirlitin |ir<>|N«uii In iiix-iit llix llrml MikIit 
 of llio Nnriiiiil SihiH'l with hii \rrf»iHiniiMr i'«ilM«i»i> 
 powiT iif givini; Hint I'nnri'lliiiK /'ruiiMrmlrrrliAntlrn 
 of qimlirifntiun in Ti'iirlii<ra - it piiwrr wliirh, ii|miii 
 till- |<riiiri|ili*« I'f r)'*|i<MI»ililr ({I'vcrninrlit, nlinuM onljr 
 lx> I'liTriwil \<y II ri"i>|>.iniiliU' I'rotlni-ml nfflivr. 
 Till' lli'Hil Mfl'liT of till' Mnrillltl Scliiinl i* nut nil 
 offiiTruf llie ^»<>i*rtim»ri/. Imliif itio llnnnl of Kiliirii- 
 tioii ; liul it \* |ir<ip<HU'i| Iniiiviol lilin with mi nl>'i>liili' 
 pnwiT, nliko inil<>|)i>n<l(>nt of \\w llniiril nml "f llii< 
 Giivi'rnni<-iit. It is nl<ii MilmiittiMl. wlictlirr mirli 
 certiHiiitrii finnnnliii); from llir Nnrnial Sellout oiikIiI 
 not til In- tiinitwl to StHilfiUn of ttiHt Si'liixil, wliono 
 (•hnriicliTH iimt npliliiiti' to Inii-li, »« wi'lt .11 iillniii- 
 nuMit.<, »ro known to llm iiiilliorilio* of llio SoIiimi! ? 
 In Ititi S< viMilcciitli S<>otinn ofilic Draft of Hill wliii li 
 I nulMiiittetl on the l.'llli of Kolirniirr, it w«« propowil 
 lo niiiko it " liiwfiil for lliu I'liicf SiipcriiitiMiiti'iit of 
 HfliiNil*. Iijr •nil wilti tlii< iidvinj niol riTomnicnitalion 
 of till- Miwlom of Itie Norninl Sr km.I for Tpiwr 
 Caniiiln, tn j^ivo n iiTlitii-nto of i|n»lificiition »■> n 
 Traclier of ronimon SrliooU in any l)ii>trii'l in I'pniT 
 i'linaiU : I'roviiliil, tlint no mirli ( rrliticatr of ipialifi- 
 caliont iilialt l><> ^ivcn lo nwv ni rMinn nlio i>)iitll not 
 liBTc born a f*luilpiit in Miit Norniiil SrlnMij for a 
 porioil of not \ni limn fivo niontlH. Ami proviilcil 
 alwi. that cvory pcrwin to whom «iirh rprtilh'iito of 
 quiilifiiMiion!! is ^ivi'n, shiill l>o iMitillpil to all tlic 
 pri»ili'({r« and a<lv.inlii(»f«. anil »iilijr''t to all thoohiim- 
 tion* anil rc«pon«iliilitir», of a lojjallv (pialifl>'il Trai'lirr 
 in anv part of fppiT Canada nnlil lii» ccrlitifato of 
 (pialihcatiun slmti liaTc liccn i-am rll<'d." Thi< known 
 liiwtilily of tlio aiitlior of till' Hill umliT ron^idcration, 
 to till" ('liirf Suporinlrnilont of Siliooln.iloiilitli'!*-! pri'- 
 Tfntcil his adoption of fho St-ction wtiirh I havn 
 quotrd, am) induroit tiini to prepare 11 rliararterintic 
 ■ulistitutn ; hut I snhinit nhi<ii Sn tim i^ nio«t in 
 harnionv with the fitness of ihinj»>i and our sj«lrmof 
 goviTiiim nl ? I reinark, llmt. in the Stat* of New 
 York, ihu Chief Siiperintendi iit lia« all the aiilhonty 
 whieli the Korty-ninth Section of thii Kill pro|Mi«s 
 to ff'iir to the Head Mast' r of tlie Normal SeliiKil, 
 but whieh I have ne»er reeomniomted to lip given to 
 the SuiH-rintondeiit of Sehoolx for I'pper CniiHila. 
 
 H/iinh. f\/1ii-flrit. Fiff;/ nfcnnil.ami Fit>!i-thin\ 
 Steliont In the Turutu-fitUt Srrtinn of the Drall 
 of Mill which I Hiihmitted in h'ehruary, I ri'eoiiimemled 
 tlie ap[K>intniont of a County Hoard of Kxaiiiiner« ; 
 but 1 am satisfied tliat tlii-se Sections of iho new Kill 
 will op«Tato ri-ry injiiriounlr. forreasoni whi.li I tiavi- 
 slAted in niT general remarks. There is no prorision 
 made lo defray ttic eipcnscs of tlic*o Koardt. 
 
 fift;/-/ourlh Sfclion. Tliis is a proriaon of tlie 
 
 present law. 
 
 Fifty fifth, Fifhj-»ijrtk, Fiftiil'ifnth. atul Fifiif 
 eighth Strtiimi chaiijfe the wholi- charaeler of the con- 
 slitulionofthe Normal Si hoot, and entirely aubvertthc 
 system of nianagement hy which that Institution has 
 lien e»tahlishe(l and matureil, at so small an e»|M'n»e. 
 to its pre»<'nl slat*' of nrknowled);eil ellinency. Had 
 the author of this Bill e«er eieii s«-eu a .Normal 
 Srhool, and eiaminwl into its cunstitution and mode 
 of management, lie would not liave frume<t iIhso Sec- 
 tions as he has. I coiild show, went il ne<-dful, that 
 the operations of these Sccti'Us would enti 1 a loss 
 ujion tlie Normal School Km of fn.m JtlOO lo ii'ilK) 
 per annum. At any eipensc it might iudtMxl gratify 
 
 t the feelings of the anthiir of this Hill tn letar thn 
 Chief Su|H'riiitendeiil from the general oTersiKliI of 
 an Institution wtiieli Im has orivinatud, and Mianiiousljr 
 endenTouri'd lo perleit as lar as possihlti ; hut in 
 atlrmptinK to do so, the author of itin H.ll de|Hirta 
 .' nil all preeeilei't. In Dublin a Coininiaaionvr Iiim 
 liecn paid jCI.INH) sterlin|r p<>r anniiin to take iIm 
 ((pneriil o«ersit(ht of the Norninl and Model Si'hoola, 
 In the Slate of New Vork the law providiHi that '' Ihit 
 .Normal Schisd shall he iiiHler the iiiiin-ii/rmenln/lht 
 Slitif Siifurinftniitnl nf (iimmnn Sfhintln (in«f tlie 
 Itejfeiils of the I'liiver >ity.'' So llmt Mot even a 
 cdininitteii of inniiN)(einent can tie ap|Hiiiil<<il, or nil 
 ottlcer seliMted, or a ilollar etpeiided, or n r«Kiilatioii 
 made, without the separate and dl'tmct sancMon of 
 iho State Superintendent-- -11 power whieh I lia»a 
 never proposed to five lo the Chief Sii|H'rinteni|iint 
 in respect to the Normal School for l'p|i«r Ciinadii, 
 Hut il is neec'xary that there should Im< some rttitxnti- 
 Nt link of ciuineiion iM'lween such an I'stalilisliinent 
 ,iiid tKi' lioveriimeiit on llio one hand, and an very 
 day priw'tieal cminexinn lietweeii ihe Hoard and all 
 connected with the Normal ScImkiI on ttin other, 
 eilher lliroii^li the Chief Siiperinteinlunt, or his eon- 
 lidi'iilial assistant and represenlalivp whwn alisi<nt. 
 The e\lent and ini|s>rtanre of lint i^aiiineiion uren in 
 till' Tarious supplies and expenditures of the Normal 
 ScIkmiI can only ho coiiivived hy persons conversant 
 with the operations of such liistilulions. I shall only 
 aihl on this iNiiiil, that I have heard the opinions of 
 all the .MenilxTs of ih<' Boanl of Kdiication, eic»|>t 
 one, on tliesii .Sections of the Hill, and their opinions 
 are .w piTlect harmony wilh the views which I liavo 
 expressed. 
 
 Fifty-ninth Sntiim. Tho sainu oa tho [ircunit 
 
 law. 
 
 Sirlirth Srctiiin. .Anpropriatinif i^l.OOO peranniiin 
 to faiilitalo the altendance of Sliiileiiis at the Nor- 
 mal School, is the Fifttvnih .Section of my Draft of 
 Mill siihiiiilled ill I'l'hni iry ; hiil I think the Mihicct 
 of tho I'roi'iKo may and onjjhi. las it is in New 
 Yi'rk,) to Ih' left to the ei|H'rionce and judgmvul of 
 the Hoard of Kdueation. 
 
 HilUjfirtt SfCttnn. The ohjerta of ttlis Swtion 
 can he hitter alMiioil hy a Ciniilar htler of instruc- 
 tions from the I'roiiiicial Secretary K|H>eifying the 
 tutijrcin and J'vnin of such lleports. 
 
 Sixty-ifftmd Stction. Copied from my Draft of 
 Hill, as also the 
 
 Stjrtythinl Srrtinn. l*roii(lin({ for the estahlish- 
 inent of School l.ihraries; hut the essential Provino 
 which I addeit 11 omitlfi — n.iinely, that "no aid 
 shall l«' citeii I iwards tlo' claMi^hment .iiid Kiippnrt 
 of any Conimoii School Mhiiry without an rinuil 
 iinumnt Iwinij cimlriliutnl itnd ej-iM-niled from lucal 
 tourerl for thr tiwir t>hjerl." 
 
 Sistif/mirlh, Sirt;ffifth, .Sir»./-i->fA and Sixty- 
 levtnth Strtwna. Siit»laiitially tho -.aine as siili- 
 niilted in my Draft of Hill in h'lli.. iiul confusclly 
 expreaaed and requiring tedious foriiis. 
 
 Sittyriijhth Srrtinn. On tho tronhhsMHiin snd 
 imperfect system of Cnunt-4 Coiittrih making; Annual 
 ScluKil l{i|">i-ls; and of reipiiriii({ ilii/4irale 'town- 
 ship and Trustee School lii porl«, t have alriady 
 ' remarked. 
 
 Sixly ninth .'^rrlion. Copied from my Draft of 
 ; Mill subinittiil in Kehruary. 
 
 i Sevtnlitth ainl Stvenly-firit Stctioii$. Nvodluai. 
 
4» 
 
 Sfi<inly-4tcunil StcUon. 'I'lia pri>Mnt Uw. 
 
 StPtntylMrd SttlUm. Wcmlil on tlii< lit of Jmi- 
 uary, IN/^O, li>«Tn all l'|)|Hir Cnnoilik williout a diiikIu 
 li'Kiilly i|iiikliflcc| ('ointiiiiii Si'liiml Tiiiii liir, miil wuuld 
 t'siiMi an iinmonM dvnl uf truubls mJ iiumorgM dii- 
 
 pUtM. 
 
 8*v*nl\/ /ourlh Htftinn. I'roviilini for thn ntal>- 
 liiliiiii'iit iif II I'riivliicial ScliiKil iif Art anil DnaJKn, 
 copivil from iiiy Draft uf Hill milmiittrd in Kuliruarjr. 
 
 StvmUi finh Srtliim. I« tli" vuvemo nf innrjr pro- 
 vniixi fur Inn lii'tiniiiiiii on ( 'iinnion Scliuol uiitttori 
 in tlio niH|{libourlnf{ Htiitc* anil otlmr Cuunlriot - 
 iliic-a awiiy urilli all i»iiy(Tniii«<iili»l piiwiT Id nnfiirro 
 tlii> priiviniiint iif iIp' Srliool Act, anil aiilMiniinutvii 
 tin' inntriii liiin^ anil cli'iiiliuiii of thti Cliiof Hiiprrin- ] 
 Itiniluni anil uf vf un lliu (SiiviTniir (>i>nvral, in Council, | 
 to lliu " linal duciiiiin" of oacli lucul Cuuucil. 
 
 Srvtnly-tijrih Sfelion. 
 law. 
 
 Ttin Mino a« llio proavnt 
 
 Stvnljf-ifventk and lait Secliun. ilopouU all 
 former HcliuoU Ijtwi. 
 
 Ilavin); tlin> nolii'i'il tlio novorol prnviaioni as well 
 an Ki'ncral fi'iituri'a i>f iIiih Hill, I nnw submit to tho 
 (iiiyi>rMi>r-(iiiirral in Cminril, tliat npnrly I'vcry 
 Snctiun uf it wliii'li i^ not i-onluinril cilliiT in tlui 
 pn>>«nt Art or in tin' Draft of Hill wliii'li 1 «ul)mittod 
 ni Kibrnary, in olivioiiily tlnnri'tii-al, cumbrous, 
 intrii'utr, cxpriisivi; and inrlTiiiunt. I would rcsncct- 
 fullv Huiiniit, wliiit iiilvantUKit will tiu gnihod liy 
 on'ImiiKini; tl"' pron'nt Siluml Art for ono mon- tbiin 
 twii'o as niM); in wonU, wbirb Ii.ih twice ait m li 
 mut'liincry, nmri- nunnToiis formit, littlo or nu ai.iu- 
 gumcnt of subjucts, and no biirmony of parti ? 
 
 In nildition to wbat bus Iwn In nloforo slated, 
 and wbat is brru intiiiiatrd, I rrniaik tbat to pafts I 
 tin' n<w Hill will break U|i tin- now witlnl sui-eciwioii 
 of Sibool Tr»«li'in, and intnuliii-o at (In- beginning | 
 of Cbii noit year all tbo iliTiin(ji'mi'nt» of Hibool con- 
 traitu, til"' diipiitrs and rviU wliiib fonnrrly attondi'd 
 tliu entire ibunm'H of Siliool Corporationn, by tho 
 election if tlinn Trustroi instead of ono at tliu first , 
 annual nnetiii);. 
 
 It will involve tbo pxponso of printinK and diitri- 
 bnlin^; (^alniojit riilirely by I'ost) of from 5,000 to 
 7,(MM) copies of Ibii voliiniinoiit Hill, to supply Supor- 
 intendcnlH, t'onneili, 'rniHtei -t and 'I'raibers tbroii(;b- 
 out I'ppir Ciiiiada; ami it will require tbe preparation, 
 
 priming and distribiitiii;; of a eorrcKp Iin({ number 
 
 of new Kornoi and Itejiulalion*. 'i'lie expense of 
 printiiij; tbc Alt'!, I'^nns and llej;iili>lions will consi- 
 derably e\i'<eil £100, and ibo ilistriliiition of tbeni 
 by Post to Ibu varioui Townsliiim will amount to a 
 considehibli' sum. 
 
 It will render a tour of tbo Province on tbo part 
 of till' Cliiif Siipcrinteiidint niicssary to prepare 
 properly for a hiw so unusual and multitudinous in 
 Its pro»'i«ions and fornit ; and it will Ibrow back tbe 
 wliole BV.-leni of Sibi'iil iipiratioiis and interests at 
 loa«t one year. I In leto annex a .Ht.ili^lical Alwtract* 
 sbowinir lliu riMilts of tbe opemtiouH of tbe present 
 t^cliool Alt since ISII! tbo year of transition fr'ini 
 tbe Lite to tbe present School Act ; and aUboujjh 
 every iiieiun wis eiiiplovi d liy explanatory Circu- 
 lars,' printed Koruis I'nr .Mictint,'-, KeporU, etc., to 
 render tbo trunxilion from oiio law to tbo other lis 
 easy and a(;reeable ns possible, yet tho returns for 
 
 •»M U.'porl for IS48, pugM 30 39, "l"' Al'l'i'lllil No. i nn<l J, 
 
 in in niliibit a roniidoraliln falling off a* onmparad 
 with tboMi of tliit prrcitdiiiK year ; whils tho incrrani 
 from thai time to this, in nvury dopartmant of looal 
 rlfort and u»-op«ratioii, and in oynrr niuoieipality of 
 I'piMir Canada, aioept tliu Cily i\f Toronto, ia niarVcd 
 and gntMymg. 
 
 Tho introdiifltion nt a naw 8clio<d I^iw must alio 
 defer thii ostablishmnnt of (,'iiinmon Sohixd Librariea 
 fur another year, na it would Im umIos* to attempt 
 doing more than uet the people to understand and 
 work a now School Act in onlinhry Hchool* luattora 
 during tho first year of it* operatiuna. 
 
 Ami it itrikm mo aa very inconvunienl and innp- 
 |>ortuna to intrnUuco an entirely now School Law at 
 the very monaint the poupio am learning to work 
 entirely new Municipal Institution! — the agonciet fur 
 working tho Scliuul Law. 
 
 On tho other hand, if tho present School Act, with 
 the removal of its proved obscnritiei and defects, b<( 
 allowed to remain and be simply adapted to tho von- 
 teinpUted Township Munici|>alitiiM, not a single now 
 regulation, or form, or copy of tho Act, will bo 
 reipiired to be pre|Ntred or iirintod during tho current 
 year, ns all the local Sehuol Authorities are luppliod 
 with them. No further explanations of the provi- 
 sions of tho Schixd Law will bo rei|iiired, as the 
 Iiooplii are now familiar with them, by means of my 
 oat Provincial tour, the Jnurnal of I'.duention and 
 practical ex|K<rienco ; and tbo labour and addrosaoi 
 of the (;hief Suporintondent during a Tour of tho 
 Province, tho latter part of the current year, can bo 
 devoted to the direct practical work of improving tho 
 Schools and School houses, and tho great worli of 
 establishing School Libraries. 
 
 In my observations and conversations with all clasa- 
 01 uf School utHcers, I have found tbat tho felt defoctt 
 in tbe present School Act consist cbietly in the too 
 limited powers of Trustees and Municipal Councils. — 
 In the Druft of .School Hill which I submitted in my 
 communication of the 13th of February, I devoted 
 tho first six Sections to remedy the defects of tho 
 present School Law in respect to Tnuli-ei in botb 
 Cities and Towns, as well as in rural Districts; in 
 tho next four Sections I provided remedies for similar 
 defects in respect to Munici|Hd Councils. Then hat- 
 ing provided for a more effectivo and systematic me- 
 thod of examining and classifying Teachers, I submit- 
 ted tlie provisions roipiisito for tbo Normal .School, 
 School of Art and I )esign, and Common School Libra- 
 ries. Then, in six short Sections, I nrovided for tho 
 adaptation of the wholo School Law to the contemplated 
 Tiinnsbip and Town Councils — placing tlicm in all 
 respects as I think they sliuuld bo, in tbo stead of tho 
 present District Councils. 
 
 I submit, tlici'eforo, whether it is not bettor, at 
 
 f resent, to pa»H the sliort Hill which I submitted in 
 'ebruiiry, (with the ri<|uisito e.vnlanalion of tho do- 
 si^in and connection of tbo several clauses ;) and then 
 when the new .Municipal liiHlitiitions shall liavo been 
 tested, and the workings of them understood and ap- 
 preciated, let a thonugh and sifting inquiry be inado 
 into the working of every part of the .School system 
 — let that inquiry bo made by competent and candid 
 individuals, and let a clear, comprehensive, methodi- 
 cally arrnnged School Law be prepared, such as will 
 bo worthy of any (Jovernnicnt, and adapted to tbo 
 then developed Municipal Institutions of tliu country. 
 
 The nioJe of paying tho Legislative Grant to tho 
 local Superintendents, should, I think, bo left, os has 
 always been, to the liiacretion and convenience of the 
 Government ; and I shall bo ppcparod, in duo time, 
 
44 
 
 to nibaiitto tht Impaotor G«iunl • method of najriiig I 
 Um LafitiiktiT* Sohool Onwt to Towiuhip v^ Towa A 
 SapwintamlMta, Um troablewnM to tbo GoverwnMit. 
 •ad More adTantagaow to the Pablie TrMwnrjr and 
 to tha cAoiMMjr of tha School SjrtiMn, than that 
 which haa been adopted ia the mode of paying .. to 
 Diitriet Superinlendenta, and much more coDTeoient 
 aad eeonomioal than that which it providad for in U>o 
 MW Bill which I hara rvmarkod upon. 
 
 In the annexed Appandiz. tha Statiatioal Tablea, 
 nioa. 1 and 2,) will ibow what haa been done under 
 Ae preaent School Law, with itiacknowledfjed defecta, 
 in remct to the attendance of pupil*, the TuiU which 
 hare been nuwK and the reaourcea profided by local 
 Tolnntary oo^pwation for the support of Schools, 
 
 rrt from the erection of nnmeroua School houses, 
 astabli«hment and sueeeas of the Monnal School, 
 and the introduction of an uniform and Taluable se- 
 ries of Text Books into about two-thirds of all the 
 Common Schools in Upper Canada — and all this with- 
 in a pwiod of less than three years, and under circum- 
 itaDoaa peooliarlj disadrantageoua. 1 submit wheth- 
 
 er such a Uw ihouid be suppUnted by a haatilr and 
 loosely concocted 1)111, and whether such labors should 
 be thrown to the winds, and the foundation of the 
 School System broken up, without inrestigation and 
 iaqairy. 
 
 A strong conviction of duty, and the great impor- 
 tance and TariotT of the topics to which f liaro refer- 
 red, are my apology for the length of thb oommuni- 
 
 I hare the honour to be, 
 Sir, 
 Tour moat obedient semnt, 
 
 (Sign*;!,) E. RYERSON. 
 
 The Honourable 
 Jajixs LnLn, 
 Seoretary of the Prorinco, 
 
 Montreal. 
 
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 4T 
 
 VI. 
 
 
 Acknowledgment of the fortgoiny Lttttr 
 (copy.) 
 
 SkUKKTAHY'S OliFICB, 
 
 Montreal, 14th May, 184!). 
 Sir, — I IiftTo tho lionour, by Coinmnnd of tho 
 OoTornur-Qoncral, to ackiiowltnlge tlio rewipt of your 
 lionmrks on tho now School Bill ; and to inform you 
 that the lubjoct will rocoivo Ilia Kxccllcnny's ntton- 
 tioii. 
 
 I hnro the honour to be, 
 Sir, 
 Your most olxidiont sorvniit, 
 (Siguod) J. ;.ESLIE. 
 
 Secretary. 
 Tho KoTorond 
 
 KoKRTON RybR.SOS, 
 
 Superintendent of Si'hools, C. W. 
 '■ Toronto, C. \V. 
 
 No. VII. 
 
 Copt of a Pnfalory Note addreased lo the Hon. 
 Robert Baldwin, M. P. P., AUoiney General, 
 fVial, encloein/( remark* on the character and 
 tendency oj the new School Act for Upper Canada, 
 12M Vict . ch. 83. 
 
 Toronto, 14iIi July, 1849. 
 
 Pri'Hite. 
 
 My dear Sir, — I this day transmit lo you, by Allen's 
 Kxprc^s, my |)r<Hniwd rimiirka on llio prinriplrs hiuI 
 provisions of iho new StlnH)! Dill. For a full expo- 
 sition of the irxistini{ law, and of llie improvements 
 \vhi> h I liavi! pro|M>s(il, hiuI iIiu reusoiis for them, I 
 refer you to my olTiciiil ciuniiiuiiiriitions (o the I'rovin- 
 ciiil Sorretiiry on the siibjecl — the one .'nted the 14th 
 of liisl October and the other the 23rd of Ftbrupry, 
 
 Thou)(li my remark!! have extended lo a great length, 
 I could not well reduce them to narrower dimensions 
 and give you a clear cxpiwitioi: of theipicstions referred 
 lo uiid my realms for the views I entertain, and the 
 course which I ^hull deem it my duty to |jursue in Iho 
 3Veiit of the new School Kill becoming the established 
 law of the lauil. I have thought it my duty to express 
 my sentiments iiiid feelings unreservedly and fully. I 
 hiive prepared my remarks in the form of an otricial 
 com'nunit'uiion. If, idler examinalionHnil deliU'ratioii, 
 yiiu shoiilil coni'i^r in ihe general view« wliii h I have 
 expressed, -iii.i feel il your duly to employ your uiriciiil 
 iiinuiiice to niiiiiilMiii the u; eiit piinciples Hiid fraturesof 
 the presriit Coniiiioo SihMil System, I desire my com- 
 mnnicHlion to be considircd m private to yournlf Kul 
 it V'ou should arrive at a dillereiil ('iHiclu''ion,and deter- 
 mine ij)iiin the muinlt'iiance of the new Hill as the basis 
 <if our fht{;re Connnon Krliisil System, I liopu yon will 
 not iibji'ct lo niv nMnnoHiii'alion U'iiig considered as 
 olhiinl, and prop<T to Im- olhrially referred lo hereid'ler 
 us cciniitining a staliinent i)f the reasons for my retire- 
 mcnl troni oDice. Ot course I sluul be drsirous, butli 
 on |H.'rMihul and public grounds, to know tbu resflt of 
 your dcliberalious as s<nm as il will lie convenient for 
 you lo slate (hem. 
 
 SbouM ;''<u ronclndo to advise the suspensiiui of 
 the new ScbiMil Dill until the next Snwnui of the 
 Legislature, or ilisl Her Mi.j-sty slouM disallow it, 
 I see no dillicnity or iiiconveniiim' in the working of 
 tlui present Act until tiie meeting of lliu Legislature, | 
 
 as all the Scho<ili are tuppliei^wiih Forms and ropies 
 of the Act. I am persuaded great confusion will 
 attend Ihe inlroducllon of a new School and Municipal 
 system at uuo and the ramu lime. 
 
 When, in obedience lo the commands of Lord 
 Cathcart, I prepared ihe Draft ofa I'chnol Bill and expo- 
 sition of its principles and provisions in March, 1846, 
 Mr. Ura|)er (then Altorney-GeneraH examined the 
 measure, and carried it through the Legisl.ii ure. I 
 think if you had taken the subject in hand, the result 
 would have been diflerent. I can certainly see no 
 identity or analogy between Ihe qualifica ions of a 
 Bouril ot Works' Commissioner and a Schixil liegislator. 
 I hope you will feel it your duly (o turn your attention 
 to this great question of moral, intellectuul, i!iunicijial 
 and soiwal economy, and assume the charge uf il. In 
 the order of Providence, the highest and most Insling 
 intellec'ual and moral interests of Upjier Canada appear 
 to be placed in your bands. 
 
 In the mean time, after mature deliberation, 'i have 
 tlxiught il upon the whole advisable lo proserutu my 
 roiitemplalcd work, (as fur as I may be or.ioled) for 
 the next few months as if no change in the School 
 System had been intended. I will, 'Tierefore, as soon 
 as I can, reduce to an official form and transmit for Ihe 
 cimsi'leration of the Governor-(ieneral, in Council, Ihe 
 proposal and measure I explained to you for the pur- 
 pose of procuring and preparing the way foi Ihe intro- 
 duction of Common School Libraries into the variouK 
 ')wnships. 
 
 In Ihe fndfx lothe volume of the Joumal of Educa- 
 tion I have enclosed lo you, you can ascertain the ex- 
 |Hisitions which have been given of every part of our 
 present Common School System. 
 
 The printing of my two last Annual School Re|>oris 
 has been completed since I was in Montreal, and they 
 arc in the hands of Mr. Lindsay, Ihe Clerk of the 
 Assj'mbly. I refer you to my Reimrt for 1847 for an 
 ex|)osilion of the practical principles and working of 
 the present system, and lo my Report for 1848, not 
 merely for an illu^'tration of the progress of Ihe work, 
 hut for the opinions of tho Su|)erintendents of several 
 Districts as to Ihe sentiments of intelligent people on 
 the general jirovisions of the present. law, especially 
 those of the Niagara, Talbot and Brock DistrfcU — 
 each of them a decided supjiorterof the present Admin- 
 istration. I understand that painful feelings arc expe- 
 rienced by the members of the Niagara District Re- 
 form Deputation who went lo Montreal lo present lo 
 Lord Elgin, in the former part of May, an address of 
 approval of his administration, ns they say that mem- 
 bers of GoverniTicnl gave them an assurance that the 
 SchiH>l Bill then iH'fore the House would nol be pro- 
 ceeded with during the Session. 
 
 But I have done on this subject. It is now for you 
 lo decide and act, and for Divine Providence to direct, 
 
 Vours very respectfully, 
 
 (Signed) E. RVERSON. 
 
 Copy of a Letter addressed to Ihe Honourable 
 Robert Paldwin, M. P.P., Attorney-General, West, 
 on Ihe Characler and Tendency ofihe New School 
 Act for I'pper Camda, ( Wh Vic, ch. 83.) 
 
 Education OFricc, 
 Toronto, ]4th July, 1849. 
 Sir, — In arrordai,.e with tho wishes which you 
 I'xpressi'il when I saw you the week before la '. in 
 Montreal, I proceed to statu in writing for your con- 
 
41 
 
 
 ■iilcration ami (hatof )-||ir Cullt'ogucn, ao for a* you 
 m»y Uiink (iropcr (o '^j tliii luller twforu llicm. i'ir> 
 cuinalanccs cunneOed with ihc new School Oiil fur 
 U|<|>cr Canada, and the position in which it \i»w» thu 
 interests ofuur Common Scbouli. 
 
 I shall, in the flrsl niace, make a ffw remarki n( a 
 personal rhararter, on Iho manner in which I have Iwen 
 Irpsted in ronnrclinn with the Bill and the School Law 
 of Upper Canada. Leal, however, I rhouM in any 
 manner be miaappraheiided, I beg tn stale distinclty, 
 thai from roiirselr and Mr. Mrrritt Hiid Mr. Hiiickn 1 
 have riiceired all the c<;<irle>f which la dur fnim ono 
 gentleman to another, and thai I do nU believe ihaU 
 either of you has intended or desired that I >hould be 
 treated in any way dilTerfnilv from the Suiierinlenilvnt 
 of St'hoids hr Lower CHnaila. I have had tliiefly to 
 du with the Inspector General's Departtnent, and I will 
 here say, what i have stnlcd on various oi ctwiona ant! 
 beR're diflt-rcnt parlie*, that I have found it a real plea- 
 sure to tran-ai I olTu iai btisincs.'s with Mr. Illm'ks, (an 
 well as with his Dupiit v ) from his courtesy, |iroini>lni'M, 
 ready and clear aiipreltciwions of the various financial 
 matters it ha* been my duly fiom lime to time lo bring 
 before him by personal iolorviews. Mr. Merrill has 
 invariably treated me io a manner equally respectful 
 aad considerate ; and I should ihi injuaiice to my own 
 feelings, did I not acknowledge ihe same treutment nn 
 your pari in the several interviews I have hail with 
 you on matters connected with my Department. When 
 in Montreal the last week in April, I wa.i assured by 
 Meaars. Merrill and Him-ks, that it was not the wiah 
 of the Government to interfere with my [Miaition or du- 
 ties. After this spontaneous and apparently cordial 
 assurance on Ihe part of the President of the Council 
 and the I(i»pertor General, I felt the), in future at least, 
 equal justice would be dune lo the Rducalional Depart- 
 ment of L'p|>er with thai of Lower Canada ; and I then 
 esprvaaed my readiness, in accordance with the sug- 
 gestions of Mecsrs. Merrill and Hincks, lo submit 
 remarks and sugseslions on the then pending School 
 Bill lor Upper Canada. The communication, of the 
 Itth of May Usi, waa ibe reaull. But it is painful to 
 remark that that commuiiiration was not oven read — 
 though it related to a moat important nteasure then be- 
 i'i>re the Legislature, and lo a subject involving the 
 viial interests of the country, and lo which I had aevo- 
 led much attention for nearly tweutr-five years, and 
 my attention almost escliisivsly fur the last four years, 
 and a subject affecting ir.lerests on which I was at least 
 entitled lo a hearing. I think I am juslifieil in saying 
 mf communiratiun waa not read ; for you have assured 
 mu that you bffd n<>l seen it ; Mr. Merrill told me his 
 engagements were such that he could not enter into the 
 subject ; Mr. Hiorks had leA for England before Ihe 
 question was decided ; and Mr. Cameron, who intro- 
 dured and carried through ihc new Sctioul Bill, lidd 
 tl)e Reverend Mr. Graselt, (Rector of St. Jan>ei>', 
 Toninlu,) two days after the (taningof the Bill through 
 Committee, that he (Mr- C,} had not read my com- 
 niunication respecting it. 
 
 J think ii is gr<-air, to be regretted. Sir, that you 
 have not felt it at much your duty to give your altcn- 
 lioo lo Ute siibJFCI of legislating on Common School, 
 as well a< on University Eilucaiion. I do not lielievc 
 you would knowingly be a parly to thai of which I liave 
 reason lo complp.in ; and I am confldeni you would n >t 
 allow yourtelf to be tiniiif >mied on so grave a subjt-cl 
 of lei;i>lation, or be influenced by |)ers<inHl hostility, or 
 lifcome the insirnment of |iHly intrigue. I diink tlie 
 Public System of Education ibould be one from llie 
 Common .ScliO'd up to the Uiii«eraity, suih at I have 
 ri|ilained in iny " Re|)<irt on a System of Public Rle- 
 incnlary inniruction for Upfier Canada," (|>ages 9, IS3, 
 154) ; antl orhen ymi have felt it your duly tn aaaume 
 the re^poiudMlily o| the one, I do not aae how you can 
 
 j cnntislcntly feel yourtelf relieved ol all obligation to 
 I attend to the other. But to the comparative treatment 
 of myself and my Department on this subject. 
 
 t. I remark, firnl, that Ihe Repoit of Ihe SuMrlii> 
 temlent of Schools for Lower Canada m Ihe subject of 
 the School Law. as well a* the stale of the Schools, 
 ■v-s laid bvfStre the Legislature and the Public, white 
 my Repi.rt on iho rame tubje«'t was withheld from both. 
 la this im|«ilial f Is this fair ? In Dr. Meilleur's 
 Report lor the year IS47, he ctmnedad hia Report on 
 the Schoid Law with iluit un Schtwla. To Ihe former 
 subject he devoted ii[)ward< of eighty printed pages— 
 discussing nol only ihe principles of the law, but the 
 various plans and proceeding* of parlien op|MMed lo it ; 
 and he did so, in tome parts of his Re|>ort, with consi* 
 derable acrimony — pronouncing u|ion llio nieritt and 
 motives of the opi>onenls of the law. Ilia Report was 
 not only laid hef >re the l.f>gislature, but printed in 
 pamphlet form. I kept the two aubjeds separate. I 
 made one Report on the state and pmgresa of ilie 
 Schoids e9tahli>hcd under Ihe taw ; I submitted another 
 Report on the Schrxd Law itself, — explaining and il> 
 luitrating by precedents and examples the parts lo 
 which exception had been taken, and suggesting 
 amendments, I transinilied my Reports on both sub- 
 jects in Ol tober la»t. Dr. Meilleur's remarks and 
 suggestions for the amrndmenl of the Schmd Law of 
 Lower Canada were in print and in tlie hands of Mem- 
 bers i>f Ihe Legislature anil the Puhlitr, montlis before 
 the late Session of the Provincial Parliament, while 
 my remarks and «uggpsliiins for Ihe amendment of Ilia 
 School Law of Upper Canada have been kepi from 
 l.,rgitlators and the Public until this iliiy. I submit lo 
 your own scnac of justice wlu-ther this Is treating tlio 
 Srhotd Departments of Up[H'r and I^ower Canada with 
 equal fairnetsand impartiality .' I submit whether such 
 a courae of proceeding is juot to me or to the friends of 
 the |>reaenl School System in Up|ier Canada ? I sub> 
 m\l whether it is not tak'ng an unfair advantage of m<i 
 lo my injury, and the injury uf the system I have Ubur^ 
 cd to esiaUiah r 
 
 9. I romark, secondly, that the Sclxwl Law of Low- 
 er Canada was introduced and |mibc.-.I uniler the aiiapirrs 
 of the late Administration ; that Dr. Meilleur submitleil 
 Remarka and a Draft of Bill to remedy tho defrcis in 
 some of its details, maintaining Ihe |{l^nerl:l principles 
 of it inviolate. This amendeil Hill InrreBses the already 
 great powers of the Superintendent, and alTorils him 
 various facilities for carrying out his system of Srhoids. 
 The subject is formally intriMluced into the S|iecch from 
 Ihe Throne at the opening of the Senion, and Ihc- 
 amended Bill recommended by Dr. .Meilleur, is 
 adopted by the Loglalatnre, and ia now part of Ihe 
 Scliool Law of l.«wer Canada, in U|ip4>r Canada, 
 tlic prenenl Schiwl Act was also Inlroiluccd and |>hmh-iJ 
 under the ausplcea of the late Admlnistrdtiun ; I also 
 submitted Remi.rks and a Draft of Hill to remeily its 
 (Meets; and on the intriMlnrtion uf the new Municipal 
 Bill, I Bubmilteil further Rrmarkt and some additional 
 Clauses to adapt the KrhiMd Syslam toih«contem|ilated 
 Municipal Sys(i;n. Hot no allusion was made to ide 
 subject In the Sjieech from the Throne at the ojieninf; 
 of the Session. Soma werki after the uiH-ning of the 
 Session, legislating on the sul)je<:t al all was stated by 
 yoiirsrlfosa matter of uncertainty . At length, lownrds 
 iIm! clow of the Session, a Hill is briHight In, not lo 
 amend the exiMing Law, but to repeal it — to abolish 
 all that had been done, and lo iniriMluce an eooentlally 
 new system. Of the InlriHluclion o| such n meaaore, no 
 previduf notice had been given; and not only had my 
 letnarks and siigge>linns on the subject of llie ,S4>ho(i| 
 I.JIW t>r Up|>er Canada tieen withheld from the Mem> 
 bers uf the I.^'gislature, but i am ni4 even permitted to 
 see, much less lo confer, nn the provisions of the new 
 Bill until it is brought before the Legislature a* a Ua> 
 
40 
 
 vcrnmeni meaaure. 
 
 And tlicn, whrn, in iho Inst w>'rk p At (hat moment «f excilomenl, I dure lay certain Mem- 
 in April, al lh« reqiip^t nl the Diianl iif Rdiicalion, I '' li«ra of Iho Opposilion would have been glad to have 
 
 |)riK-,ved to Montreal in reference to mime provinionsof ' 
 ihii Uill aflertin<; Iht- NormnI Srhotd, ihu Mi'mhcr 
 of (he Govornmeni lo whom thin Bill i.i inlrnsted, rcfu- 
 *e!i even lo return my lalulaiion when I meet him. I 
 informed yoiirwlf, and Mevsrs. Merritt and Hinrk«, of 
 ihii in»ult ; and relying u|ion the juitire and ihe fair- 
 nrn of the Oovernmcnl, as avowed by yourselves, I 
 pre|>ared the remarks and suggest ions, dated I2lh May, 
 1849,011 Iho sulijccl nf Ihe new Bill. Those remarks 
 and sugi;eslions, as I have already slated, were nol | 
 even read, — Ihe provision lor Iho Normal School llie j 
 current year, which had been decided U|xm by the 
 Governnienl as early as last November, and the omis- 
 sion of which I had, al the request of the Board ufEdu- 
 CHlixii, pointed nul, was nol supplied ; but ccilain 
 clauses were inlrmluccd into Iho Bill, in Commillee, at 
 Ihu last and confused hours of ihe Session, and without 
 any previous notice whatever, affecting tho whole char- 
 acter of my Uepartmenl, my responslbililies and duties, 
 (o my einliarrastment and injury. I confidently leave 
 it to your own high sense of honour and justice to say, 
 wl elher such a proireeding is such as would have been 
 adopted in retard lo ihe Snpt'rinlendent of Schiwds for 
 Lower Canada — whether it is fair to me — whether it 
 is above boiiril, — and whellior it is not undigniticd and 
 unjust between man himI man. 
 
 3. I lemark, thirdly, upon the difference in legisla- 
 tion in reference to ihe Departments of Common Schools 
 for Up|H'r and Lower Canada on financial matters. — 
 [Private note from a third parly omitted — as it ought 
 nut to lie publiahi'd without the consent of the writer of 
 it. The note, however, contained noihing but some 
 incidents connected with ihe passing of the Bill.] — 
 According lo llic Division of ihe £50,000Granl, bused 
 upon thu last census, which i submiited lo ihu Gov- 
 ernment l;isl aulumii, and which, after examining my 
 figures anil calculaliun:<, was concurred in and recom- 
 mended by Ihe Inspector Gener.d, I am ctilitled by law 
 lo a salaiy of £480 |ier annum. The new Sdiixd Bill 
 reduces it lo £420 — Ihe amount I have received the 
 last three yenis. As lo the amount of my salary itself 
 I liaie noihing lo say. i have undertaken the duties 
 iif the office as a great public trust for the welfare of 
 my native luunlry ; aiul while I am provided with llie 
 needful lucuns oi doing so— whether much or liltlle — 
 I feel my>elf bound to priwcculu the vast work I have 
 comniviu:eil, as long ai I can do it coiisiMently with 
 |ieisonul iioiioiir aiui Christian firinciples. But I refi^r 
 ti> the niiinner in which the <{Me.Miiui of my salary has 
 been ileall wiili,as<>n« iiidicalionoftlieanimusofllicBill. 
 I think It also worthy of iiotit^, llml the salary of the 
 senior Clerk in llie FMucalimi Office for Up|K'r C'lioaila 
 is £ 17 J per annum, ami that of the junior Cleik is £60 ; 
 but the new aimMiileil Sch>s>l Act for Lower Car.aila 
 increiiM's llie wlary of the senior t'lerk in the pMuca- 
 lion Olhce for that >eclion of the Province from £179 
 III £225 |XM aiiiiiim, ami tliat of the junior Cleik from 
 £U0to£l7.'>. I leiive the last two Annual Reports 
 wliii h have eiiiariateil from the two Oflices to show in 
 nhich of tlieni thi: most work is done. 
 
 The Bill passltig without any opposition, reminds 
 ine of the course wlii< li I fell it my duty to pursue on 
 the sulijecl in my intercourse willi the ^lembers of llie 
 Legislulurc duriiig the week ihal I was in Montreal. 
 I WHS ask'il, among olliets, by several Members of the 
 <)p|Misiiio(i, my opinion on the Bill. My reply was, I 
 ihougll il would need some aineiidmenis ; but I inili- 
 cateiTiMi oiijections to llie Bill, and I observed that ihe 
 uniform im|ires»io(i w««, thai I was, as a matter of 
 course, a laity to the preparnlion of llie Bill ; and I 
 urn credibly informed llial Mr. Cameron stated lo a 
 hailing MctiilM'r of the Op|Kiiiilion, lhal h« (Mr. C.) 
 hud udojited my suggestions in reference to the Bill. 
 
 obtained maleriaU for a speech against the measure ; 
 but I felt myself in honour bound lo confine my re- 
 marks, on iho general character and proviiioni of the 
 Bill, to Member* of the Govornmeni. The only Mein- 
 ber of the IjCgislature, beiides yourself, Mr. Merrill 
 and Mr. Hinrks, with whom I conferred on Ihe pro- 
 visions of the Bill, (and of lhal I informed Mr. Merrill 
 at ihe lime) was Mr. Joseph C. Morrihon, with whom 
 I had acted as a Member of Ihe Board of Education 
 for nearly three yeari ; with whom I had often con- 
 ferred on the subject of the School Law, and who wai 
 known to be a decided supporter of the Govornmeni. I 
 am informed thai it is Ihe general impression in Ihe 
 country thai I have nul only concurred, but assisted in 
 the preparation of the Bill— though I was not even 
 granieil an opptirlunity to express my views (icrsonally 
 on its provisions, and though the clauses which affect 
 mo must were, (wilhoiil any previous notice, as is al- 
 ways given in ihe British Parliament) introduced at 
 Ihe very heel of ihe Sessitin, and could nol have been 
 understood by perhaps len Members, since the whole 
 Bill of lhirly-<ine pages was pasaeil through the House 
 of Assembly in lesa than two. hours. 
 
 From thu mere mode of proceeding relative to my- 
 self personally on the whole subject of my Department, 
 I proceed lu nnlice some nf ihe provisions of Ihe Bill, 
 having either a personal or general application. I will 
 only mention them here with an observation or two- 
 referring you to my communication of the 12lh of May 
 last, for further explanaloiy remarks respecting iheir 
 character and tendency. 
 
 L Accnrding lo the Bill, Ihe present School Trustee 
 Corjiorations cease locxisi on the first of next January, 
 without any provision whatever being made lo |ierpe- 
 tnnte the obligations contracted by them or to secure 
 any parlies having claims against the Trustees at that 
 lime. I understand that it has lately been decided by 
 Ihe Court, that Trustees are not ptrtonaUy responsible 
 for any of Ihe engagements which they make as a 
 Corjioralion. Tho oA'ct, therefore of abolishing Ihe 
 present School Corjiorations without providing for Ihe 
 fulfilment of contracts made by them, wili be lo inflict 
 u|Min poor School Teachers the loss of several thousand 
 (monds of Iheir hard earnings. The experience of 
 past years shows that Teachers do not, on an average, 
 receive more than one-half, sometimes less, of iheir sala- 
 ries by Ihe 31st of December of each year. Il cannot 
 be supposed Ih it it will he much better Iho present 
 year, though I have, through the Journal of Educa- 
 tion, drawn Ihe attention of all parlies concerned lo it. 
 The his-ses and difTiculties cx|<ericiiced on former occa- 
 sions, iiniler similar circumstances, constitute Ihe most 
 piinful epochs in the educational system of Up|ier 
 Canada, 
 
 2. Under the n|)eration of Ihe new Bill, (as I have 
 sliowii III my communication of the 12lh ol May last) 
 Teachers will be liable, even though Ihe Counter Treasu- 
 rers be allowed no jieicenlagc, lo a deduction of more 
 than one-fourth of the present amount of Ihe Common 
 School Fund paid lo them. This is one of the several 
 discouraging features which this Bill presents lo Com- 
 mon School Teachers. 
 
 3. The new Bill gives Trustees less (towers and 
 imposes u|Hm them greater obligations and duties than 
 those given and imposed by Ihe present law, and ihus 
 increases the uncertainly and difTiculties connecled with 
 paymenl of tlie Teachers' salaries. It has been my 
 endeavour, from Ihe beginning, lu increase the powers 
 and render inure simple and easy the duties of Trus- 
 tep<, and more certain and prompt the payment of 
 Teachers' salaries, as is evinced in each of my three 
 
50 
 
 unpubliahxIRepnttiior commuiiit-nlion^ liillifiiovprnor 
 Gi'MmI, in (.'ouncil, dm thv Cdmimm Srliiwil Lnw for 
 Upper CanailH. Th« provislnii!! iif ilie iivw 1)111 iire »( 
 ■ ilirccily opposite characlrriHKioliDwn in ilie roniinu- 
 nlcalion above rcferreii li>, lr,<)i>ml »> (liiiC(>urn|(iiiK ii llif 
 future, preienletl In Teacheri by the iiriiviitiiiniiiil iIh! 
 now Bill, tbal RD old itn<l eX|H>riencril Trnrhi>r iRlleil 
 U|)on mo, a ihorl lime liiice, o) know on what Icrmft bin 
 ■on coulil be admilli'il for a sliorl prriiMl lolbo Norn ul 
 School ai a paid pupil — ilaliii); ihnt lie liiiil iulvnileil 
 to prepare hi* aon for liia »wn proffaiiion of leacbin); 
 and had intended to wnd bim to iho NoiiiihI School 
 ibr that pur|><iiia ; but ao durk wero ibe prKapcclii pre- 
 (cnled to Teacher* by ihe iiuw l.iw, ibiit he inlrndcd 
 to qualdy hia mmi for busini'm. In emh of my Sriiool 
 Law R«|Mirt« and CoininuniralionK, I liiivu ri'innikod 
 upon the hard«hipi« of TniMi-cs under the priwnl law, 
 and meant and nrrewiily of lpi>i.i'iiiii)( I hem ; but the new 
 Bill inrrfaM>« ihnin. And it npin'iirs lo im- inijii^t !>■ 
 impow u|x>n rerlain men the »bli)(alion, under a |N*n- 
 ahy, of astsuminglhe dutienofTruatees, ull'iwiii)(lhein 
 no remuneration lor iheir trouble, a* are Counnllotn, 
 and yet reotrictin^ their |H>wera ami bunieiiiiiK litem 
 with athhlinnul fonntand eoridiiiun^ in the jivrfoi mam e 
 of their duties. It i* nul potsiblo, in my o|Mnion, for 
 un lo have ifooil and improving Cumni'ii Srli.mU uniUt 
 auth circum*tances. 
 
 -i. Tlio iwm Kill abniisihci tlio present n<nrds of 
 Trustee* for Cities and liu:or|iorM!cd Towns — ai.nihi- 
 lales Iho nyitlem of SehiniN coiniiH-need in seieral 
 Town.*, ami re-establishes iliu old syslein, whu li ihe 
 eniire ex|M.'iienee of America ha'* shewn to he iniMpii 
 hie of eslablishinft any more limn the lowest ehiss of 
 isulaird Common Schools — making no provi^inn wlmi. 
 ever for a system or gradation of SchuoN in any T'lwii 
 or City, as primary, interini'iliaie. ailil hit(h SeliiKib, 
 aui h a» are fuunded in ev ly Cily and eonsiderahlc 
 Town in the nei)(hl><>iiring Slates. Il is true that lillln 
 ha« U'vn done in our Cities and Towns in roin|uirl'«'ii of 
 what might and ought lo have U'en dmie ; hulilisalso 
 truo thai murh more ha« lieen done in nil tin' Cities and 
 lncor(sir«H"«J Towns of llp|ier Caiiiidii (T.innilo aliiin> 
 exci'itted) under ihe prc-enl llian under any former 
 Uw, notwilliManding the oini^sion «( a provision lo 
 imjioHi rate-bills — the cause uf vihich I explained 
 to ytxi when in Mniilreal hi>t auluinn. Il is aNo 
 to Im! obst-rvid, llirti Corp>irali<Mis «( seviral Town* 
 have mailu a noble comim'ncenieui in ihe iieclioti uf 
 profier Schind-liouMs and esr.iblisliiiij{ a prii|ier sylein 
 of S('h<s>U. In llaniillon four liiu' m liis>l-l'<ls han' 
 been obtained in dilKniil wards o| ihe ('ily, ami slips 
 taken to erert as invny lino st IkwI-Iious< s. In Si. 
 Catharines, I understand ilio erecimn i>f ii Urj;'' Cen- 
 tral Sclii">! with several de|iaritnenl>, has U-eii projw I- 
 ed III ISrHnlforil, such an cnclion las Is-eii ililer- 
 min<d ii|mhi, and a lTi«'ml>er of ihe ('oi|>oraiion w.i* 
 Ian Iv deputed In come lo Tornnri and piociiru ffmn 
 me ?• Illuhle plans — wlilc h I w.is eiwliled lo ri coMl- 
 inend. In the Town of l.iiiidon, such a hiiildoi'.:, capa- 
 ble of arcomtixxlalinK 600ihildren, in dilli'renl ileparl- 
 inenls under ilitfererit Tenrher*, but ihe » hol> niiiler ihe 
 flireclc'li of a lliail Mailer — has nlreadv U*eit t ttriiiiietH- 
 e<l. The Bp|s>rlioiimeiil of ihe l.e^t^l.ilive (iianl lo ihe 
 Town of lyoiidon for lh<'<ur>eiil \rar, is lillh' more 
 than i^lUI), bol iho vadmlary s<'lf-iii'poM>il m iMiril-iiix 
 emeeiN JCJIHI -line 'ir Ian hiindred |MriiiiU Iiviie lh<iii 
 the aH'tiMinl of ihe M h'lfil a«M-sslr)eM I'l" ihe hitj^e Cilv 
 of Ton'nio ' TIk"*"* frtfls ate prevaye* of lieiii r iiiur » 
 (••r iIm- yiMilh of onr Towns, if such n-dde eff-rls are 
 linl rriis^ieil in the bud hv lite introilticiiiin nl ilie new 
 Srlnsil Hill, whii II, wilhoiii H s!ni;le (M'tiiion frinn snv 
 quarter, snd Without a soi<;le Woid of nolire or txpl.i- 
 nalion in the I>eKi»lat"re, sweeps ih<- presiiil City and 
 Town Hih'ol l.aw from the tlalnlelxxl,, and ■lonnis 
 the ffM'fiil« ,if improved eil'iCHtiim iii our (iliis and 
 tawna lo disa|i]iuiniinent, defeat and disgust. 
 
 5. Till) new Dill atHdishea all that hai been done 
 under thu preat>nt Act lo intrHJuce an uniform Maries 
 ol excellent texi-hisiks into the m hiads- unniils the 
 aulhoiily of the I'nivinciul Hoard uf Ednculioii to 
 rocoininend text hooks for the schools, and places that 
 u'llhoiily in a great nuinlier of County Hoards to Ik- 
 apiHiinled by thu Crown. Thu uw iif an uniform and 
 suitable series of lext-biNiks i* ono of the most iin|M>r- 
 laiit feuliires uf a gtsHl Schmd Svstoin, ami the most 
 diflicull uf entablisliment. Yet in lesi than three years, 
 has a series of lexl-biNiks, unrivalled for excellence and 
 cheapness, bi'tii introduced inlii a consiilerable majority 
 of iho ('otninon Si liools of lIp|H«r Canada, and that 
 without thu prohibition uf oilier books, or arbitrary 
 Ruthorily, hut by simple riM-ominendation and providinj; 
 fill ililieslo make them known and accessible to all parts 
 of the I'rovinco, I know of no instance of such suc- 
 cess on ihis |Hiinl, oven diirini{ the |M>riod of Kvo years, 
 ill any Slate or I'rovinco of Kurope or America. But 
 the new Kill not only denudes the Hoard of KihtiMlion 
 of lliu power thus si> henelirially exereis<-d, hut ihasnul 
 providu f >r tlin loiilinucil iiiilhorizalion of thu texl- 
 IsMikt already recommended, until olliers ate aulho- 
 rixi'd. To the prineedini^s of ihe Hoard of F'lliiculinn, 
 in rejiard Isilh to ihe Norimii School und lexl-lsMiks 
 for Ihe Common Scliisds Ki'iie^ally, I have heard not 
 one whisitt*! of o|i|H>siiiiiii or dis>ulisf.ictioii fioin any 
 putt of Canada, yet, Wilhoul a |>otilion, wilhout a 
 '•ingle reason awigneil in the Lej^isjiitiire, are the two 
 yeari' hilMiiirs of the Hoard in regard lo lexl-l>ook«, 
 dashod to the gioutid, the schisils throughonl Up|ier 
 ('anada on Ihe tir«l day of January, IH50, are left wiih- 
 oiil ,01 nilhorized lext-hook, imd are opened lo the 
 inlroiliii lion of every kinil of booktrash which itiner- 
 ant vendors and their dupe« Mid njfenls may supply 
 until the conleiiipliited liM.il Hoards liocnine organized 
 and ')rp|)ared fiw action — which will not he much 
 Is'foie the end oflhevear. Hrsides, no proi jiiinn is 
 mule in the Hill to defniy the expenses of these pro- 
 jected L<khI Hoard*. .N'ol a f.nlhiirg is provided to 
 enable them to proriiro s|M'cimeii texl-li<H>ks, lo eon- 
 d'iCl their proceed! gs, n,- ;;ive itTei I lo any of ihe> 
 rei ojunvi.dalions. They ale lo make brick* wilhonl 
 straw. 
 
 Thr idea or hope of having an uniform "Crhs of 
 Il xllsHiks III the schoiiU, when tlnir use ii de|M'nileni 
 on ihe sanction oflwcniy five independent I,ih',iI Uii,ir<r<. 
 i«, of enurs*-, pieposieroiis ; mid I have Milfn ic ntly ex- 
 plained, in tin hist inlorview wlih vou, how inferionr 
 lire ihe ndvu tages of any l-oial Ho.iril fr B»ierl.iin 
 itig, and rei iinjinending and providing farihlies foi 
 (innMiring, smi.ihle text l«>ik' in comp.irisnn of wh.il 
 are |K«sse«seil liy a I'rov ini nil Hoard and Ihe Sii|>i'rin- 
 Ivndenl of SihisiN. I h ive also explained M you llie 
 great import, nice of the piini iple acted upon in olhir 
 ciamlries, ih.it the anlhoiiiii's managing Ihe Normal 
 SthiHil, or Si lesils (or a Slalt , ri'i'oin i.enil the hniks 
 used ill till mIiisiIs of ►■!( h Stale and lor llie nhvioo', 
 re:is<in, ihiil the Ixioks iimiI in the Normal and its 
 Mish I Scliisil, ouglil to he u«id III the t iMninon 
 Si leMd«, and thai it is of great advantage fir Teachers 
 to h.' tiaim d in the projier mode of u»ing sudi l„ioks, 
 lis vvrll as lo h.iie some knowledge of llie i har.ii ler ol 
 the h iok*> conipoiitig ;he Cotiitieili Silexil l.ilir<tries - 
 1 ipie« id which slionld, of i.MirM', lonsliiiiie part of 
 ihe l.diraiy of llie Normal Silnsit, and i h.ii.iclirislii 
 notices of which •hoiihl be given ill soini i>f the Norm.il 
 Si Insil I.ectiires. 
 
 fi. The ivily WB» ill wh'ih a State or N.^iioiiil 
 
 Si stern of Seliciiil<i ran In- eslaldished and inaintaineit 
 
 in connexion with lo<al |Mi|>ular iii'liliili >ns, is, ht the 
 
 ' Kxi I iilive authority making ihi' general n'gnlnlions, 
 
 ' and tii-iiig aide lo si-riire their td>si"i'vaitce liy rn- nns of 
 
 the di^lrlhllli III, and a vein jHiwir in the applicalion of 
 
 9 iIk- l.)-gis|ature Sihisil (ininl or Sl.ite t'und in aid of 
 
51 
 
 St'litHil], Thi« ii jiroviiluil fur «l evurv |)oin( unil in 
 llin niDKl pfDi iciit niaiiiitT in llm SchiNif Lhw i>r chcIi 
 nf iIk! iicii^liliourliiu SlHles wIiitu lliori' U a Sliilu 
 Syilcin i>r SrliiHiU. TliiH in (:otn|>lt'li'l) |ir<)viili'il for 
 in llif Naliniml ScIiihiI Syslt'tn in Iri'luthl. It In pni- 
 vidi'il for, 111 « litnitril extftil, in the (ircwiil SiIiikiI Atl 
 for l'|>|M.'r Camilla ; but ilie new fiill, nii Ik i«)iitn-n 
 in lliu aimi'xcd commiinicalioii, iirci^lndeM, \iy lis 
 fiMiimial |irovi-.ionfi, nil |inssiliilily of » Provinciiil 
 Si IiihiI Synlrm, anil a|i|piar» lo rrniliT llm nflicc of 
 I'rm inciiil SiipiTinli'nilinl, to a (jri'nl ivtrni, niignlory. 
 Inilei'd I am in'ililily iiifornicil, iliat llm i>ri;<niir Dritfl 
 of lliu Kill jirovidi'il fur lliu idiolilionof lliat oiriri: ; Hliil 
 llii- wliolu Bill itcfini to liavii lioi'ii mn^lriirli'il with 
 lliHt view. Hut lh<>ll^ll llio olliire lian iH-rn rvtaini'd, 
 an I am luld liy the ilcrlniiin of tlit- niiijoriiy of tlio l 
 Exifiilivu Counril, it is ilc|iiiv('(I of tliii niian« l>y i 
 wliicli il lian lirrn inslriiini'iilal during tin- liiitl thror j 
 yi'arM i>l |iiiidiiriiig tli<^ |iri'Ni'nl rnniilla in our M'^lrm of : 
 ihu Normal iuid Cummi'ii Si'limiU. | 
 
 7. Till' nun Bill cniilitinii a nii ioiin nrnvi»iiin invniv ! 
 i: g a virtual iiisull to llii' Boaril)! of TriisicfH 6[ Din- 
 Irict Gianiniar Si'IiiikIn tllrllu^llllnt llio Provinco, 
 |iroliiliiliiis; llii'in fiom rinployiiii; any Ti'arlier — mil >in 
 Univemily Ciiadualv — uidiw li« (iroducc a ct'riilualo 
 of i|ii»lifi('atioii nigneil liy tliu llrad ^(H^tl'^ of llio 
 Moriiiul Sc'liiNil— lliiiuv;h tlicro i« |ivrlni|ifi not n Board • 
 uf Giammar Scliiiul TiiiiiiecN in U|i|ii'r Canada 
 ainoiiKitl wlioMi inenibora llivro arc not one or more 
 Uniicrsily Gradiiatrfi, and inilwilliHianding lliu Head 
 Master of lliu Normal Scliiiid, llimigli an exoellenl and 
 able ollirt-r and teacln r in liis own di'partniinl, is not, 
 and lias not bi'en fir miiiiy yiars, eonnectrd with a 
 Classiciil ScliiKil al all ; bt'sidcs liis oilier diitie.s lo llie 
 Board by whom bo in H|i|M>inU'd, and wbn arc mil even 
 ro<:u){iiized in this anomalnus |irovisioii of tlie Bill. I 
 also obHurvo iini) mclion in ibis Bill aniliorizini; ibe 
 Biwid of Education lo xivo Normal Scbixil Sliideiils 
 cvrlifnali'it of iiiialiTiCiitions for oni' year ; while ihere 
 in .iiiiilbtr st'clion anlhoriziri); the Head Master of ibe 
 Normal Sehool to giv ' t'eiiiAiali's of i|niilir":alii>ns, al 
 his own ilis(Telion, to all a|i|iliraiits and f >r an indefniite ' 
 |M.'rio>l — lliuii uivingan otlU'i r of llio Unard inde|)eiiduiil ' 
 and murli greater |Kiwer than thai |io(>$e.vsed by Ibe > 
 Board of Kdiicalion ilM-lf. There are many other 
 anoinulies and iii<'i>ngruilir.s in ibe del.iiU of the B:ll 
 to wlii<b I will not slo|i lo refer in this (ilace, bul , 
 wbitb are |.iiinied out in llie i-nmmiiniiaiion before 
 refeired l<>, al llie same lime, lliul due mention is made 
 of may useful |iruvisiiins wbiih are retained fiMin Ibe . 
 proenl Alt. ! 
 
 8. Anolher feature of ibe new Bill is, lliul vtbieb [ 
 |ir.'( liides .Mmislers uf riligiuii. Magistrates, and ' 
 C'i>iin<'.illor>> liiiin ai ling as mIiuoI visitors, a |iri>visiiin 
 of llie (iieseiil Ait lo wbii II I li.ive beiid no iibji'ition 
 
 from any <|uailer, and fr which signal U'lielit.-i loihe 
 
 M'hooU biive already n sulliil. Not only is ibis (irovi- 
 Kiiiii rel.iiiieil in the .Selioul .\rl lor l.owir Canada, bul 
 Clergyiniii— Hill! I'lergymin abuie — are lluro aiilbnr- 
 isi'd lo »ide< I all ihe si hiiol IkhiIvs relating to " religion 
 and iiioihIs" lor tin ihililiin of their resjii'eli\i' persuii- ' 
 •ions. As a large iiiajunly of the piii|>le in Lower I 
 Catiadii .ire Km an ( allndirs, lli>' Sebinil Fund there, , 
 fiifin llie gunt powers gi\ in to Clergymen, iseipiivalenl 
 in perli.i|i.s nine ea>«'> lint of ten, lo an enilownKIII of the ; 
 Koinan Caibolie ( hull b f >r eilue.iliuiial purposes. Bul 
 in I pper Ciiiada where the Kiial tniijoriiy nf the |M'opli' 
 anil ileig) ale I'rolesl.iut, the [mn isioii of Ihe pre>etit ; 
 ,\i:l authorizing Clergwnen to ail as Sihool Visitors ' 
 (.mil that without any power to interfere in stdinol | 
 regululioiis or bonks) is repealed. I'lider the new ',. 
 Bill, ibe Ministers of religion eaiuint visit the si bonis 
 as d iiiaitir of i inlil, or in lie ir rhar.ii:ier as Ministers, |^ 
 but as private iniliviilu.ils, anil by the pi rmission ol the , 
 teaehi r ,il his ple.isuie. The repeal of the provision 
 
 under whieh Clergymen of thn tcveral religious 
 parsiiasioiui liavo nrlcil as visitor*, is, of cnur.<c, n 
 virtual eondcmnation nf their acting in Ihnt rapacity. 
 When thus denuiled by law of bis ofTicial character m 
 respect til tbii schools, of course no Cleygyman would 
 R<) far sanelion bis own legislative degraiTation ns logo 
 into a IicIkniI by sulTerancc in an untninisleria! character. 
 I am jiersiiaded ihat si.cb n change in Ibis tnnat 
 important feature of our acbool system escaped the 
 knowledge ol the principal Members of the Govern- 
 ment ; but its eharaeler and tendency in connexion 
 with the I'rnlestant religion of Up|icr Canada, in con- 
 trast wilb a directly opposilo provision in connexion 
 wiih Ibe Romim Calbolir leligion of Lower Canada, 
 must bo obv' IS to every reflecting person. 
 
 To the .'School visiting feature of Ihe present system 
 I altach great importance as a means of ultimately 
 concenlraling in behalf of the schools the influence and 
 sympathies of all religious persuasions, and the leading 
 men of Iho ciinntry. The success of it, thus far, has 
 exceedeil iTiy most sanguine expectations; the visits 
 of clergy alone during tho last year being an arerngo 
 of more ihan/i»« viiil$ for each Clergyman in Upper 
 Canaila. From such a lieglnning, what tnay not be 
 anticipated in future years, when information shall 
 liecomo more gener.il, and an inlcest in the schools 
 more generally excited. And who can estimate the 
 bonelii, religiously, socially, educationally, and even 
 politically, of Ministers of various religious persnasinns 
 meeting logelber at Quarterly School Examinations, 
 and other occasions, on common and patriotic ground 
 — as has been witnessed in very many instances during 
 the last year — and liccoming interested and united in 
 the great work of advancing the etbicalion of the young. 
 Much additional lieiiefil may Ih; anticipated from Ibis 
 feature of the [iresent School System, when Common 
 Sibool Libiaries are e.slnblished, * - ■ 
 
 The exclusion of Ministers of religion from all con- 
 nexion with the School System, is not re(|ulred by 
 example or public sentiment any more than by a due 
 regard to Ibe charnclcr and intircsts of schools. The 
 regulation nf tho present law is emb<idied in the 
 National ScIhmiI System in Ireland ; the principle of 
 it has been embodieil from the beginning in Mas- 
 s<iihuselts' School System. In that Stale the Reverend 
 Dr. Seats (President of a Baptist Theological 
 Seminary) has been appoinleil siieccssnr lo the 
 lloniniralile Horare Mann, as Secretary of the Board 
 of Ediicalion. In the State of New Hampshiio, the 
 Keveretid Richard S. Rust, A.M., Principal of the 
 Wesleyan Wilbraham Aeatlcmy, is the Slate Commis- 
 sioner of Common Schools, as is the Rijverend Dr. 
 f.nrd, (Presbyterian Clergyman,) State Superintendent 
 of Schools in Ohio ; and I observe that Clergymen 
 ciim|Hisc a large proportion of the members of Ibe 
 Regents of tho Univeisity in Ibe S'lilc of New York ; 
 also of Boards of School Trustees in Cities and 
 Towns. It is so in ibe Boards of Trustees in the 
 Di-lricI Grammar Si Imols in l'p|ier Canada ; and who 
 has beard of any injurious results from it? It is also 
 worthy of remark, thai in the Jiue vnenneies whieh 
 have occurred in the olficc of District Superintendent 
 ^inco last .latiuary, Jive Clerrjymen have succeeded 
 Jivt laymen by the spunlancous appointmonts nf as 
 many District Councils. I take such fads to bo ibe 
 expression of eidigblened public sentiment on ibe suli- 
 jecl. That ilistingiiisneil American Statesman, the 
 nonoiirahlo Daniel Webster, has forcibly remarked : — 
 " I maintain that in any institution for the inslriiction 
 of youth whe-e the Ministers of Christianity are shut 
 oiil from all parlicipalion in its proceedings, there can 
 iM) more he charity, true charity, found lo exist, than 
 1 vil can spring out of the Bible, error out of truth, or 
 halted and auimosily come foilh from the bosom of 
 perfect love." {Speech on Girard'a Will.) 
 
1^ 
 
 t. IVra an yU two other pMvitiona iif the new 
 Bill (o which I mutt liiiecl yuiir parlicuUr ■llenli<>n. 
 Duthoflhrw provitiiini were intmduoed m amend- 
 roenli ■! the lant mnnienl, antl without any proriuu* 
 notice, when the Bill w«i Iwing paoeil thniiigh the 
 Commille* of the Houw at a Kalli>|iiiin iiiectl. The 
 one plare* the dulif i ut tnj iiAce under Inc Board of 
 Education ; ihe other |ir<>acrib«i alt b(M>ki fniin ihn 
 achool* conlainina " conlrovvrtrd ihi-ological dognMa 
 or docliine*." If the pruviaion to make the Super- 
 inlendenl a aarvani of the Board of Education, ia not 
 deaigned to I«e practiced, it nuM then bo intended 
 HMrely to gratify the enmiiy ul certain Individuali 
 agaiiKt the preaeni incumlxnt by placing him in a 
 comparalirely humiliated ptwitiim, nnJ denuding hia 
 office »f Ihe Mantling and influvnro which it now p<M- 
 iciiea. But if ihia proviuon ii designed to be practical 
 — aa I think muitt be Huutned — llieif it ia liable 
 to ibo fulluwiiig (iiMiVioiKi/ ubjriliiHii. (1.) It iub- 
 jecla every decision, every letter, eveiy act, every 
 part of the pniccedinKi of llic Su|ierinleiuleiit (» 
 the emburruameul, delay, and per|>lcxily of diwruaiiim 
 in • Board. I know the operation uf this syaleni in 
 the comparatively limited ctHietpondence and local 
 tnatlera relating lo the Normal Schoid — wlieie I think 
 it ia unAvuidable and nereMary. In such a Board of 
 weekly meeting and u'wumion, oni> unfriendly nenon 
 can render the official life of a Provincial Su|>er- 
 inlendent disgusting and miserable, and no situation 
 can afli>rd belter opportunities for intrigue again«t him. 
 If he girea any Mvice, or perforins any miasion nr 
 duty in any part uf the Province, there will net lie 
 wanting peraooa lo awuiil him in private letters to 
 iodividual member* of ihe Board— especially lo any 
 individiial member known lo be unfrieiMlly to the 
 SuperinleD<ient — and tbua the whole course of his 
 labour* imy be embittered aa well as embamuiaed. I 
 apeak on this point from experience, in llm more 
 limited aflair* o/llie Normal aiid Mwlel Schools. (2.) 
 Ic ia at variance with all precedent. There ia not an 
 instance in any Slate in America, much less in Eunipe, 
 of a Slate Superintendent or Ctimmimiuner of Public 
 Schoola, or Minister of Public Inslrurlion, being 
 placed under a Boa-d of unofficial, ami ihrrefore, of 
 inesponaibia persona. The only example which 
 approacties, even in name, is thai of iho Board of E<luca- 
 tioo and its Secretary in the Stale of Massachuwitt. 
 But in that caae, three things ar> to lie noted : — firil. 
 The Secretary is appointed by ilie BoanI itself and is, 
 therefore, its officer— nr' -^.pointrd by, and ihe officer 
 of Guvemmeol, in r .rndisiinclion to the Board. 
 SteoHtllf. The P ' ilself is not constituted to 
 administer the Schi . .w, not even to-apportion and 
 distribute ihe Stale .School Fund, but ii is constiluled 
 merely lo collect and diffuse informatiuu and prepate 
 forms and rcfiorls of ihe Schools. Thirdty, The 
 Board is, in fact, lh« Govemwiemt ilself as a Board of 
 Education for certain purponee— consisting of ilic 
 Govtmor, and Luultitant Govtmor of the Stale, 
 and seven other persons appointed by tlie Governor ; 
 and lh« Secretary o( a Board ihus constituted i« virtually 
 lU Educaliooal Secretary of the Slate. (3.) This 
 feature of the new School Bill withhobia from the 
 administration of the Common School System the 
 applicalion of ihe principle <>f rttpontibHily which is 
 sfiplicd to every other Department of the Public 
 Siervice. An unsalaried BoanI is not a responsible 
 body ; nor can its members be supp<i*ed lo devole, 
 without remuiteraiion, the requisite lima and study 
 ncceasary i> beoime acquainted with ali the interests ' 
 and questions involved in Ihe administration of ao 
 important a system. A salaried Superinlenilcnl is 
 res|K>n»ible, like that nf any other Government officer. 
 He has ihe stitnului of such rcr«ponsibility on the one 
 haul, and the protection of a res|«tnsil>lc Government 
 on ibe other; anH the principle of res|>oniiiblc govern- 
 ment ia applied to him and hi* Department, llie same 
 
 as to olher public officers and (heir De|>iirtinent. I lirg 
 to refer lo mv discussion U|Nin the appliciilion of ihe 
 principlea or respon<ibte government to ihe office of 
 Su|ierinlendenl of Schixil*, in the fir«l vidume of ihe 
 Journal of Education (a copy of wkirh I krrewUk 
 franami'f ami b*g your acc*ptanci of) pages 40-&6 
 where indeed ihe |Niw'nrs,dulie>, kr. of^ii|H<rinlendents 
 of Schools, a> existing in difTerenl countries and Slates, 
 are act forth an-i expluined. 
 
 10. The last feature of the new Bill on which I will 
 remark ia that which priscribcs from Ihe Schools all 
 books containing "controverted ihnolngical dogmas or 
 doctrines." I doubt whether ihis provision of ihi' Act 
 harmoniaes with the clirislinn fiTJuigs of Member* of 
 the Government ; but it is needte^s lo inquire what 
 wer«? the intentions which diclaied ihis oxlraordinary 
 provision, since the conslrui-lion of an Act of Parlia- 
 ment ile|iends u|ion ihe hnguago of Ihe Act ilself, and 
 not upon the intenlii'ns of its frniners. The effect of 
 such a provision is lo exclude every kind of book con- 
 taining religious irulb, c»en every version of ilie Ifoly 
 "cripluies Ihemaelves ; for ihv Pnileslanl version of 
 llicm ronlHins " theological doctrines" controverted by 
 Ihe Ittiinin Catholic ; and the Dousy version of ibem 
 contains " theological dugmns" conlroverled by lh« 
 Protestant. The " iheologiinl diKlrinc" of miracles 
 in Paley's Rvidences of Chrislinnily i« "conlroverled'' 
 by the dikciples of lliiiiie. SevernI of the " iheologicHi 
 doctrine*" in Piiley's Mural Philosophy arc als<i " con- 
 lroverled ;" und indeed there is nut a single ilnclrinn 
 of Chiistiaiiily which is not cmilroverled by soma 
 parly or olher. Tlio whole scries of lri»h Nntional 
 Rcadera must tie proncribed as containing " ccuilro- 
 verted ihetilogical doctrines ;" since, ns llie Cominis- 
 ■ionnra slate, tliese books arc |M>rvailed by ihe principles 
 and spirit of Christianity, though free fmm snyliiicliiro 
 of sectarianism. The regulationaof the Irish National 
 Board, which I have quoted and adopted as the basis 
 of our Canadian School System on Iho subject of 
 religious instruction, arc as follows : — " Wo allow 
 religious inslruclion lo be given, and of course, iho 
 Scriptures lo be read, or the Catechism learned, during 
 any of the achool hours, provided ihiit such an arrange- 
 ment be made as lluil no children shall lake |>Hrt in, or 
 listen lo, any religious loading or in«triiciion lo which 
 their parents or guardians object. With this view we 
 have framed the follu«ring regulations: — t<t. Tlio 
 ordinary School busines<, during which all chit 'rvn, 
 of whatever denomination ihey ia»y be, are required lo 
 attend, is lo eml>race a competent number of hours in 
 each day. 2n<l. One day at least in each week, or 
 part of a day, (inde|iendently of the Sunday,) is lo lie 
 set afiart for the religious in»lruclioti of ihe children, 
 on which day such payors or olher (lersons as are 
 approved of by their |iaients or g'lardiano, shall have 
 access lo l|i«m for that pur|)osc, whether lhow> pastors 
 have signed the original application or not. 3rd. The 
 managers of sthools are alvi ex|iocleil lo aflctrd con- 
 venient opportunity and facility for the same purpoae 
 on irtlier days of iIk- week. But where any coiirae of 
 religious instruction is pursued in a schoid iluring 
 M hotd hours l<i which Ihe |)arents of any of the children 
 attending it object, an arrangement is lo lie made for 
 giving il se|iaralely to those who are lo receive it. 
 4ih. Any arrangement of this description that may lie 
 made, is lobe publicly notified in Ihe schools, in order 
 that iIkmc children and those only, may be present at 
 tlie religious instruction whose parents and guardians 
 approve of their being ao. 5lh. If any uliiur books 
 than tlie Holy Scriptures, or Ihe standard books of the 
 church lo which llio children using lliein belong, are 
 employed in communicating leligioui inst'uc-lion, the 
 title of each is lo be made known to the Board. 6lh. 
 The reading of the Scriptures, eillier in llie Prutestanl 
 auth'iriiwd or Douay version, is cnnaidered asreligioui 
 instruction." 
 
These rrgulalioni havo b»en ixarcfully, ■uiT<!ufully I 
 ■iiH Iwni'ririiilly in iiperHlioii in irulanil »ince 1837, anil I 
 lire in liHrrminy wild ihu Sf< lion inlriNliituil into Mr. | 
 Ilinrk'a Htliixil Hill in 1843, unil n-laineil willioiit 
 altt'rulion in lli« |)r«wnl Ail, i-xiini-raling a rliild from 
 alli'nri'ng any exerciie orreliKiun or ilevolion, or reatl- 
 ini( any ri'li|{ioiia Inok to whiili liiit or her iiarcnti or 
 guariliani nhall objert. Thii wi urily, I ihink, ii 
 aiii|il« ; anil iinJor it for the lant lix yvdri | am nut 
 aware of lliu orcnrrrnru of h ningle iliiriiMilly. 'Flio 
 exriiiiion of all kinds uf Chritlian lnMiku— oven ihu 
 Uibli! — involve!, ofcuurie, iho vxt'luainnof fvrry kind 
 uf ruligioud innlruclio' On thia gri'at nulijvii I cammt 
 de|Mrt from wiml I havn ataled anil illuilralcd at liir^u 
 in my " Ke|)uit un a Symem of Public Klemintary , 
 In.sirnciiim fur U|)|icr (.'iinada,'' under the lieadii of 
 lidile, and IUili|{ii'U« InMrurlion in SchiNdii, ((laKva 
 22-51,) wlir while I liavu huhl n|) to re|irobutiun ] 
 miTvly Kclaru.. inntruclion in (he SrhtHils, I have j, 
 aliown iliu extent to whirh ihi- Holy Srriplurea aru ;I 
 UM'ilancI religioiiainMriiclion given in the non-neclarian I! 
 mixed Sch<M)l4 of diirvrent ihriKtiun rounlrie*— Pro- : 
 leMant and lluman Catholic. I think there in tiai little ' 
 Chriklianily in our Schoola, inatrad of too much ; and ; 
 that the united ellnrta of all christinn men should be to I 
 intriiduco more, inali-ud of excluding what little there J 
 i«. On thia vital queiilioii I am ha|i|)y to be austaincd I 
 not only by ihe authority and >!XHni|ile of the Irish j 
 National Itoard, and the practice of Kurn|iean countries, I 
 bill alio by the |i(ni lice of the New Knglanil Statea I 
 and the tealimonies of their great educationists. The | 
 ilonouiable Daniel Webster, (already ijiioted) ob- 
 serves : — " li is idle, it is miN'kery, and an insult lu 
 common s)>ni>e, to maintain that a SchiMd fur the inatruc- ll 
 lion of youlh, from whiih Chrislian instruction by ,| 
 ChriMian Teachers, is sudidously anil rigorously shut j 
 oui, is not deistiial and infidel, Uith in its pur|i<Me and i 
 tendency." — " The objection lu the niulliludo and Ij 
 diirviences of aeds is but tlie uld story — tliu old infidel 
 arguiiMJiil. It is notorious that there are certain great ' 
 religious truths which are udmitlcd and bi^lieved by f 
 all Christiana. All believe in the existence of a GinI. |< 
 All believe in ihe iinmortnlity of the soul. All believe 
 in the resiHmiibility, in another world, fur our conduct 
 in lliis. .\ll U'lieve in th» divine authority of the 
 New Testament. Dr. I'ab-y says, that a single word 
 from iIki New TrslHinent shiili up the mouth <>f human 
 qiii'iitioiiini;, and excludes all human reasiming. And 
 cannot tdl iheM) great truths be taught to children with- 
 out their minds living |MTplexed with clashing doctrines 
 and sirturian controversies .' Certainly they can." — 
 " How have they done in thf SohooU of New Eng- 
 land ? There lh« great elements of Christian triilh 
 are l.iui;ht in every ScImmiI, iis Ttr as I um aci|U»inled 
 wiih ihem. TliM ,Si'ri{ilures lire lead, llieir aulhorily 
 taii)>lii 1111(1 enfon'eil, their evidence explained, and 
 prayers ii>ually alteiuled. 'I he trulh is, that those 
 will) leiilly value Christiiinily, and iH'lieve in ils im- 
 |Hirliiiice, iioi oiily to llie Kpiriluiil welf.ire of man, but 
 to the Halety and pr»s|ieiily of humiin MH-iety, rejoice 
 that in ils revelalioi'sand its leachingA there is so much 
 which MnMints alxive controversy, and .«lund« on uni- 
 versal arkirowied>(ment. While inanv things aluiul it 
 are disptileil, or :ire dark, they still plainly see its 
 f>Miiiilalioii, luid ils nmin pillar^ ; and they Uphold in it 
 n »»( red >lruclure rising up to (he heaven". They 
 wish Its general principles, anil all its great truths, to 
 bo K|>reail over the whole enrlh. Hut iIimm- who do 
 not value Christianity, nor beliuvo in iti ini|Nirtance to 
 STH'ii'iv or iiidiviilii'.ili, cavil nbout sects and schisms, 
 and ring rnonutonoiis cb<ing>'s ui»>n the thallnw and so 
 often reliiteil ol'j<><li(iii» founded on alleged variety of 
 discordaiit creeds and clashing doctiincs.'' {Sjtfteh 
 on (Sirard't Will.) 
 
 The Hoard of Education for iho Slate of Mas- 
 sui liusetts, in ils eighth .\nnual Report, bus put forth an 
 
 elaborate vindication of the Holy Scriplurea and 
 Religious Instruclion in the Schoola— commencing 
 iheir reinarda in the foHowing words : — " We cannot 
 cuiiclude this Report wiiliuut referring to a subject of 
 vital inl^esl, not only tu the pruaperity of all uur 
 institiitiona uf learning, but tu the welfare, also, of all 
 the children of the Cominunweallh. Wo lefer tu the 
 imiHirtance uf ' ullivaling, as well the moral and 
 religious, aa the intellectual faculties uf our children by 
 the frvqiienland careful perusal uf the Sacred Scrlpturet 
 in our Schools." 
 
 The Board then proceed to show that Ihe Bible ia 
 used in all the Schiads in the Stale, except in those nf 
 three Towns, either as a reading Imik, or in exercises 
 ofdevnlion — adding:— " By the recommendation nfthe 
 Hoard, it [the Bible] has been In daily use, in all the 
 Normal Schiads, frum the commencemciil, 11111 ll is 
 believed that it is used, in like manner, in all our 
 Academies." 
 
 Fiom the lengthened remarks of the Massachusetts' 
 Hoard of Education, I will only further extract the two 
 following sentences : — " It is wurlhy uf remark, that 
 while our Legislature have guarded, sedidously and 
 elFoctuallyi our Common Schiails from becoming places 
 for sectarian instruction, they have, at ihe same lime, 
 provided for the instruction of youth, both in the Sihools 
 and in liie other iristilutiuns of learning, in a knowledge 
 of the principles of the Christian religion." — " ll will 
 also be reculleclvd that the Common Schools are under 
 the chaiga of Committees [Trustees] chosen by the 
 |ieople, who have power to direct the manner and 
 amount of religious instruclion." 
 
 Thia last sentence deacribes precisely the mt nner in 
 which I have provided for religious instrui* o» in Ihe 
 Common Schools of Upper Canada — at the ojition and 
 under ihe direction of Trusteea chosen by the people. 
 I have not assumed it tu be the duly, or even cunstitu- 
 lional right of the Government to compel any ihing in 
 respect either to religions books or religious inslructiun, 
 but to recommenii the local Trustees lo do so, and to 
 provide powerg and faeUitiet to enable them tu ilo 
 so within the wise restriction imposed by law. 1 have 
 rcs|iccted the righl.sand scruples of the Roman Catholic 
 as well as those of Ihe Protestant. By some I have 
 lieen accused of having loo friendly a feeling Inwards 
 the Roman embolics ; but while I would du nothing 
 to infiinge the rights and feelings of Roman Catholica, 
 I cannot be a parly to depriving Protestants uf Ihe 
 Text-book of their faith — the choicest patrimony 
 bequeathed by their forefathers, and the noblest birth- 
 right of their children, ll afliirds me pleasure tu record 
 the fact — and the circumstance shows Ihu case and 
 fairness with which I have acted on thia subject — that 
 bcfure adopting the S(>ction in ihe printed Forms and 
 Regulations on the "Constitution and Government of 
 the Scbimis In respect to Religious Inslructiun," I sub- 
 mitted it, among others, to the late lainenleil Roman 
 Catliidic Bishop Power, who, after examining it, said 
 he woubl not object lo it, us Roman Catholics were 
 fully protected in their rights and views, and as he did 
 not wish lu interfere with Protestants in the fullest 
 exercise of their rights and views. 
 
 I cannot conclude my remarks on this subject with- 
 out adding the following paragraphs from the pen of 
 that eliNjuent and true educational [latrint, the Ilunnur- 
 ablu Il>>race Mann, who, in hisSchoid Report fur 1848 
 — his last, and twelfth Report as Secretary uf the Mas- 
 sachufctts Board of Education— <levoled forty-two 
 printed uctavo pages lu the rindii alion of Ihe system uf 
 religiout iiisliuction of the public Schools, not against 
 iwrsuns whu objected tu such itiHlruttion, but against 
 thuse who insisted that too little religious instruction 
 was provided for in the public SchiM>li, and that they 
 sliuuld therefore be made "parochial" ur "sectarian." 
 
64 
 
 T)ie formrr ofllir f«ll<iwitig |iiiri-KrR|iliiiil)<iiTt llin kind 
 of iiliji'ciion'* iir);«il iiKniniil lliv MMvin, lliu Udrr iha 
 ri«wf nf lit niili|« ailriN-alr : — 
 
 " ll ia known," nyt Mr. M«nn, " ihiil iiur noble 
 lyili-m cif Krw .S4IM111I11 for ihe wliol« |M'0|i|i<, 1% ilrrnu- 
 ou«l,v oppoM'il — l>y ■ fi'W |N>rM)n« In our own Stale, anil 
 by no inronnidrralile nniiibrni in loinr of lli« olhrr 
 Slate* ol (hill I'liion ; and tliiil a rival •vali'in i>( ' l'«r- 
 orliial" or 'Si'iiHrian* Si hooln, i« now urgi>d u|Min 
 tlw! puMic br a niimvniui, a |iowi>r(ul, aiiit a well- 
 orfcniiised iKidy of inen. It ban plrMwd lh» ndvor«lc< 
 of thin rival ayntrni, in viirioin pulilir Nildrci'Oa, ill rr- 
 piirl<, anil throiigli |HTiiNliraU di-viileil to thi'ir raii«o, to 
 Henounri' our atali-niHn irnligioiia iiml aiili-Cliriitiun. 
 They do not trouble llit'inwlvr' to ilcM-riU' what our 
 ■yali'in i", but Hilopt n more aunilnary w.iy to fort'alall 
 publir opinion nf;ninat it, by uaing jjrncral e|iilhi'lf of 
 re|>roarli ami »igii«l( i>f alarm." 
 
 "In thia age nf the world, il aeema to me tlial no 
 atudent of birlory, or ubnervvr of mankind, ran In* hoe- 
 tile to the preci'pla and ihi- diKlrinea of tbr Chriotian 
 religion, or opfHwed to any jnatifulioiia which I'xpound 
 and exemplify tbein ; and no man who ihinka, aa I 
 cannot but think, reapm-tiiig tlie enduring elemenla of 
 cliarai'ter, whether public ur private, can bi' willing to 
 have hi* name menlioned while he ia living, or lemem- 
 brreil when Ih> ia dead, aa op|MMed to rrligioua iiiatriic- 
 tinn and Hibje inalriiclion for the young. In making 
 thia final Report, thrrefore, I ileairo to vindicate my 
 conduct from the chargea that have been mido a;^in»l 
 it ; and, ao far aathc Board hn<becn implicated in theait 
 chargra, to b-ave my teaiimony on record for llieir ex- 
 cul|Nilioli. Inijci-d, on ihi* point, the t)'>ard anil rnvwlf 
 mual be jiiatifird or condemned together ; for t do 
 not believe they woild hare enabled me, by their an- 
 nual riVloctiona, to carry forward any plan either for 
 excluding the Hible or religioiia inatruction from the 
 Schoota ; and had tin- Board re<]iiired me to execute 
 auch a pur|toao, I certainly ahoiild have given them the 
 carliett up|Htr(unity to appoint my aucceaaor." 
 
 The aentiment of the concluding aentenco of thia 
 quotation it ihe language uf my heart and uur|MMe. It 
 will be aren that the New Knglaial ur Irinh National > 
 School advocalea of a ayalem of^mixeil Si IhniU, in con- , 
 Iradialinction to ae|>arate and aeclarian Sclioola, did nut 
 maintain that the Scriptiirea and all religioua inatruc- 
 tion ahould be cxcluileil from the Sclioola, but that the 
 peculinritiea of M.'Clariaiiiam were no i-aaenlial part of 
 religioua instruction in the ScliiHila, and that the eaicn- 
 lial elementa and trutha and morala of Cliriaiianity could 
 be pn>vided for and taught without a ajngle bilicr elo- 
 ment of Seciarianiam. The adviaatea uf public 
 Schools meet the advocatea ofacctarian School*, not by 
 denying the connection Iwlween (hriitianily and Kdu- 
 catiiHi, but by deiiving the connection lietween Rduca- 
 tion and Sectarianiam — by comprelieiiding Cliriatianity 
 in the ayatem, and oidv rejecting M;clariaiii>m from it. 
 The same, I think, ia our aafely and our duty. l)o aH- 
 aured that no ayatem of (aipiihir education will flourish 
 in a country which does violence to ih'- religioua aen- 
 linwnta and feeling* of the Churches of ihat country. 
 Be aaaured, that every auch ayateni will droop and 
 wither which ikiea not take riwt in the Chrialian and 
 patriotic aympailiiea of the p<-ople — which doea not 
 command tlie reajiect and confidence of the several re- 
 ligious |ieriua«ions, Iwlh Miniatenand l.aiiy— for tlieai- 
 in fai I make up the aggregate of the CbrialJanity of the 
 country. Tlic cidd calciitaliona of iinchrislianixed scl- 
 fithnena will never auatain a Schi«d Syatem. .\n>l if 
 you will not embrace Chriatianity in your Schind Sys- 
 tem, you will ai»n lind that Christian perauaaiona will 
 commence establiahing Sclioola of their own ; and I 
 think tliey ought to do ao, an ' I a'xiuld feel that I was 
 performing an imfieralive duty in urging them to do 
 
 iiig 
 
 ao. lint if you wish I • aerure ihv ii>-opi ration of ihe 
 Mini>lera mid MemlMTa of all reli),'nui peri>uu>ioiia|^ 
 leave out of your ayalein llie (Hiints wherein ihey dilli'r, 
 anil biddly and avowedly provide ficililie» for the in- 
 culcNlion of what they hold in coiiiinon and hImiI they 
 value m'«t, and that i> what llio beat intcreats of a 
 country rc<|uire. 
 
 This waa the moat iinxioua oloect of my iiupiiry diir- 
 ( my educational lour in ihi- ri.iled Stales and Kii- 
 ro|M> fiiur yi ara siiM V ; on this ground of broiid, non- 
 aeciarian Chriatiaiiilv, after more ih.in twelve niniilha 
 freah and eaine>t deliber.iiion, I deiirniined to take my 
 aland ; and in ihia, I lielieve, ia involved the philotii. 
 phy of ihii uiiprecedenleil aiic -eaa of the preaeiii ayntem 
 during three aliort yeaia Not a aiiigle religious jH-r- 
 aiiaaioii hn«, in any Klni|ieoi form, olijected to it. Kven 
 Ihe Lord Hiahiip of Toronto and " The Chun li" newa- 
 |>a|ier, whoop|ioaed, by |X*lilioniiHiiilotlierwi<H', the late 
 Si hixd Act, have withdrawn op|Hisiiion to the present, 
 and the Minialera of feli;{ion generally, have given il 
 their aiip|iiirt — leeling thiit without comproiiiiaing reli- 
 gious principle, nay, upon the ground of religioua prin- 
 ciple, and in the inainlenanie ol their olBcial ehitracler, 
 they could civoperale in its priM-eedings and promote 
 its intereata. Yet it ia free from the tincture of aei la- 
 rianiam, from the Normal Schiad down to the village 
 primary ScImmiI, and under iia o|i<'rationa " ae|>ariile" 
 or aei larian Scluaila have declined nearly two-ihirdi 
 during ihe laat three yearn. 
 
 Now, from my Commuiiic.ilinn of the I2ih of May 
 la«l, and the foregoing nlwrvaliona, il ia obvious that 
 the new .Shool Bill invnlves the aubveraioii and over- 
 throw of all the great |irirciples and hailing featiirea 
 of the preai'iit «clioid a)s|em, uimrl from the taak which 
 il ini|Miaea upon Ihe people of aliidying a new law, 
 more than twice as voluminous b» the prewnl .Act, and 
 learning new condiliona and new modi a of priH-e<>iling 
 — a law tiHi, even aiip|K»ing ila princi|'lea were sound, 
 cannot lie ailininialered a migle year without miMlitii a- 
 tioiis and aniendnvnla in its delaila, much more ex- 
 lenaive and numerous than the moat practical and ex- 
 |ierienied men have thought necessary in the presvnl 
 Acl. 
 
 As il rrlalea to myaelf, the new Bill on i>s coming 
 into operation, lenvea me but one cour«e to pursue. 
 The character and tendency of the Bill — wh.ilevir 
 mav have lieen tlio motive in iis preparation — cle.irly 
 is to com|H>l me to relini|uiHh office, or viilually aban- 
 don principlis and provisiuns which I have iidviaaled 
 as of great and vital iin|H>rlance, and Ix-conie a parly 
 to my own |MTaon'il humiliation and degrad.ition — thiia 
 justly ex|HisJng mywll to the suspicion and impuiation 
 of mean and mercenary conduct. I can readily retire 
 fioin ofVice, and do murh m"re if neceasiiry, in main- 
 tainance of what I U'lieve to Ih< viliil to the tiairal and 
 educalionni interests of my native coiinliy ; hiil I can 
 never knowingly lie a party to my own hiiMuli.iiion 
 and debaaemeiil. I regret thai an unpni • dented ni.ide 
 of legi>lalion hiia Win revirled In to gialif) the feel- 
 ings of |u rsoiwil envy and hoaliliiy. I regioil il as u 
 virtual vindication i>f mvM'lf against oft re|H-alril alle- 
 galions, thai il was fell lli.il I could not lie rem bed 
 hy llie usual stiaigli'-forward ailininislr.ilion nf gotern- 
 im-nt. Lately, in llie Kngliah lliiuae of I^irils, the 
 Marquis nf |jin>doW'ne staled, that Mr. LuKonlaiiiu 
 had reluriM'd to Canada, anil bddly challenged impiiry 
 inlu any of the a!'eg;iliona against him in ii'lereiice to 
 past yeafa. I have ie|M-aleilly dune the >amr. No 
 aiiHi inquiry has la-en granted or instituted. Vet I am 
 nol only pursued by base caliiinniia nf ceilnin |MTMma 
 and pajiers professing l>> aup|Hirl and enjoy die cnnli- 
 deiiie of llie (iovirnineiil, hul iej^i^lation isresnrleil to, 
 and new provisinna inlrialuced at the last leuir of tlie 
 Session, to deal out u|ion me iho lung mcilitaled blowt 
 
&5 
 
 nf un«rrii|iiiliiii« i?nvy iiiiil niiiniiiiiity Hut I <li-r|il) 
 ri'){ri'l tliHl lliu lilowii wliicli will lull niiii'iiralivi'ly 
 lixlil ii|iiiti III)', will foil vvilli iiiiirli Kri'iitiT W4'iMlil, 
 mill mori' ■•■rimi* < iiii'm>i|iii'Iii'<"<, <i|iimi iIh' yunih t>( ili>' 
 iaiiil, mill ill rmuri' iiiniiil iiml rijiiculiiiiml iiiloriiit*. 
 
 Uiirici;; ihn firit fvw yi'Hru "f liix filucHliiiMHl iHltnur*, 
 tlie llitniiiirHlilw llorHrii Miinn wim ii|i|himiiI liy « |iiiw- 
 vrful jiHrly, hihI hiiih kml willi ii< iiiurli viruli'iirc u» 
 (hut Willi Willi li I liutu bt'i'n nwiiiliil. In liia lu^l 
 Ht>|iiirl, Mr, Muiiii »«yii,lliiil III- li. Ill •■ximtU'IK I'll ''ynir* 
 of I'liiliirHiirp, iiuiri'rii')( iiii'liT iiiiM'niiMriiriiiinii of i on- 
 iliii't, iiimI till! iiii|iiitiilliMi iif niiillvt'4, wliiwc eitfiv in i 
 ■linr|><'r iIihii h kmrr." Ami in rtTfirin)( lo lliu miilmri- „ 
 lii-> liT wlii>tn III' liHil hriMi u|>|Miiiili'il In uMii-i', lii' ni:ikr< 
 llin riilliiwiiiK iiignilii'Hiil iviMiiik : — " I Ti'fl llml, liail il 
 mil lu't'ii for llii'ir rniilili'iii r in nii', iliitin){ luMn)' nf lln' 
 yciim or iloiibl mill iilrii)(',(li', llirmif^li wliicli I Iiiivp 
 |iHM<>il, lliin ciluciiliiiiiiil eiidriiriiiu wnulil liiivi' |iriivi'il 
 n f.iiliiri* in my IihihIii; iiiiiI iIiiik, my nami*, in mii' of 
 tlic n'>lili'«l nf all litiiniiii nnili'rtiikinit'i, wmilil Imvti 
 brrn ritiiniTtril will) llie ilinhiinniir nf u ilvfiMl, anil 
 wilh llio riilinile lliiit |iiinupi h viiinnary M-livmiT.'' 
 
 Tlirno H|)|HMir lo li ivp lii-fp ilin anliri|iiili"n« nf t>x- 
 trrini' |iarlix<iii)i, in ri>«|MTt In niynvir ami my liiliniirii ; 
 ■ ml iliiulill>'<ii «iu II »r<> llic rrmill'i wliii ti llii'y i'l|H.'rt 
 rniin ilir new Hill. Ilnl llii'y am a lililii Iihi IuIi' »» il 
 ri'i<|icrlN mvx'If. llml llii'y iiiii'il I wriv' ini'iillismNimr, 
 llipy inii{lil liavn ri'allzi'il llivir wi»lii'ii. At lliul limn 
 I liail nil mallMim, nn iitliriiil fiicU wlialovrr, In prnvo 
 llial my |il.iin wiri' mil llio vanarit's nf "a vininnary 
 jH'liriiivr.'' Mill »ini'i> tli.il liini-, nnl only liavc lliu 
 pin;*'" nf llii" "yournn/ of Ktluciiliim" iliviln|M'il my 
 vivwaln a hir|{i> |iiirlii>n uf ilie pulilic, liiH Iwn Annual 
 RflMirU liiiVH Uiin |>ri'|inri'il, uml arc within ihc lufit 
 wi-rk in (iriiil ; uml to ilm iitimi'rmiii f.nii unil leMi- 
 nionivH I'liniaim-il in llic r il>iciimi'iiln I now ffarlrixly 
 U|i|»'iil, ill to llii- iirai'liial rlmracliT anil mii c««s of llin 
 M>li'in anil ine.i-iiri'A wliii'li I liavc ailoptpil ami ri'ioio- 
 mi'iiili'il. To ilii- M.iU'mi'ntK ami ii|iinionK of several 
 DiHlrii't Si IioiiI Su|ii'riiiienilt'nl« — as given in my Si liool 
 lli|iiirl for last viar, 181H— ai In Iwlli tlir ai r<'|il.ilili-- 
 m-vi anil I'lTirii'iiry of tin- ^imral |irii\ isioiit of even 
 llie |iri'Ki'iit SrIiiHil Liiw in llie e>timiilioii oflliono wliii 
 li.ne liail miwl ex|M"rienru nf il,— I a|i|ieal, »» of mire 
 wi'ijjlil tli.in till' iinlions of ill"' jirojiTlors of llie new 
 Bill. 
 
 On llie minor ilelails of a law, no one in iliK|Hi<ril to 
 lay leM tireiti lluin mysi'lf On miili gronnil I nlionlil 
 not feel myself jii<ililii'il ill not liilNinrin); lo ^ive etiii ien- 
 ry to il ini'ii»ure. Aitiiin a« I iio|*: I ilo, u|M)n Cliria- 
 lian mill piililii' )!roiinii?i, I slioiilil not feci iiiyM'lf jii^tiliuil 
 ill wiil.ilr.iwiiiK I'loni a woik in riHi«'i|uence of |h.t- 
 winal ili'<roiirie<>y ami ill irealmeiit. or a reiliielion of 
 means ol su|i|ioil ,inil usefulness. Itut wlien I M'e llic 
 fruits of lour yellr^' anxious l.ilioiirs, in a single lilu»l, 
 M'allrri'i! lo ilie winds, iinil liate no saiislHrlory frmunil 
 nf hope lliHt Mirli will not Im' llie fate of aiuiiliiT liiiii 
 years' I ilnnir ; wliell I see llie foiiiiHations of ureal 
 priiici|ilrK, wliiili, after exieiikive iiii|iiiry ai.il long ile- 
 IIIk'Hiiioii, I luite emiravoiirisl lo hi\, liirn n|i iiiiH 
 tliiowii Bsiile as worthless luhhish; when I see myself 
 deiiriveil of llie proleelion Mini ailv.oilii^e of llie ii{>|ili> 
 uilion of llie |irim i|ile of res|H<iisili!e novern'neiit at 
 a|i|i|ieil lo every oilier In ail of ii |)e|iiiilnieiit, aii>l iiiiiili- 
 tliu siil><irilin'<le a)(eiit ol .1 llonril wliieli I have oii<;iiiii. 
 •eil, anil ilie iiieinliiTs 01 wlmh I have lia<l the lionoiir 
 III reeoiiKiieiiil for ii|i|»iiiilnient ; when I see niyelf 
 iiflfii'iailv M'vereil from a Noriiiiil Si liool liisiiiiiiion 
 wliii'h i li.ive ileviseil, ami eveiv fe.iliiru anil ilelail ol 
 wliiih aie aiiiverikilly cuiiimemli'il even lo lliu iiuli- 
 viilnal iii|(ariiie« of ihu Masters wlioni I have sought 
 nut ami reioinmeiiiieil ; when ! see myself |ilui eil in a 
 ixisili' II, to all eiiiirel) 1 ovel syillem of ednealioii al 
 larue, 111 wliii II I laii eillier burrow in innrlivity or 
 
 lalaiur willi lilllu lai|ie nf iiiccpw; when I fiml myulf 
 |>lai'i'il in lui II I ireiiinslanreii, I eaniiot lieailalo hi Iu 
 the roiirse of iliily, «• well u» lliu ubligaliona of honour 
 ami «etfie«|HCl. 
 
 Il in neillier my ri((lit nor wiah to proiumo to 
 iliutatu to tliu (■iiveriiinunt na to it* monnuru* or pro- 
 eeeiliiif(ii. Rut I think it iaiiiy riglit, nml only frank 
 iinil respectful on lliu oarliuiit oeeafioii, tu atttto in 
 reapect to my own liiimblu laboura, wliutliur i can 
 aorvu iiM ternm ami prineiplua nml eomlitiuna ao JilTo- 
 rent from tlioso iimler wliieli I have, up to thu proaunt 
 lime, neteil ; tliiiii)(li I eamiot, without iluop re)(rol 
 nml emotion, contemplatu tho liiitu of ao much time 
 and labour, uml Iiml inyaelf iinpelluii to nbiinUun a 
 work on which I hail act my heart, nml to qualify 
 myaelf for wliieh I have duvutuil four of t'.iu inuat 
 matnri'il years of my lifu. All that 1 hiivo duairud 
 of the (iovernmcnt ia that wliieh 1 Imvu ruapuctfiilly 
 auKK*'"'''*' "I ''"' ''"'''^ leiiiark of my communication 
 of till' Ittlli .May last; namely, that before diMnolisli- 
 \\\H lliu proacnt Common School ayatem if Upiiur 
 Canada, the Government would iiKpiiro into ita clin- 
 raetei', working, and resiiIlN, by a Cominifcaion ur 
 ollieinise, and hear thu atalementa ami opinlona uf 
 ililTereiit men and partiea of much expcriuuco ami 
 varied infnrinatiun on thu subject. Thu ruiwuna why 
 the spirit which ori);iniited thu nuw Hill dreadud thu 
 light uf audi invcaligutiun, aru i|uitu ubviuua. Hut 
 if thu cunvuniuncu nt thu pcoplu and tho Coininon 
 School inlercHt nf thu country aru not wurth ao miiuh 
 atteiiliun .ind trouble on the part of thu Government, 
 I griovu for tho oducatioiial tuturu of Upper Canada. 
 Had the Government thought proper tu inatituto 
 laich oil inquiry, either bei'uro ur dnriug tho loat 
 Session of the I.egislatiirii ; or had it aeon Kt (aooing 
 that it declined adopting; tlio short Hill aubniittud by 
 niu) to defer leginlitioii allogethur on thu aubjuct 
 until thu next Session, us thu present School Act 
 coulil bu administered fur .six ur niiiu montha under 
 the new Municipal system as well aa undur llio pro- 
 acnt, and in thu mean time li.tvu inslitulud nn inquiry 
 into thu piiiici|iles and wuiking ut' tho pruaunt Scliuul 
 Law and ihochangea necessary toamond and porfuut 
 it, 1 bulievc thu roault would have buuii as hunourablo 
 and giatifyiii); to tho Govornmunt oa boiiuiiciul to 
 tlio country. 
 
 Having now lullillcd my promise — to coinmnnicatn 
 to you, in writing, my views on this important and 
 extensive subject — I Icavu the whniu 'jucstion in your 
 hands. 
 
 I linvo Ihfl lionuur to hf, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your inojt obedient linmblo sorvart, 
 
 Si-»cd) K. KYEIISON. . 
 
 The HiHiourable 
 
 KoBKliT HaLIIWIN, 
 
 .All Mliey-(iener;il, West, 
 Monlreul. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Hemiirku and I'lCOiiiineiuta'ioiia, villi a 'ietv f.i the 
 Inliodiu-tion v/ St-houl Librariet into l/pptr 
 Canada. 
 
 (tOl'Y.) 
 
 Kducatios Okfick. 
 Toronto, Kith ,lulv, 1H40. 
 
 •Sir, — I have the honour to submit to tho favour- 
 able cunsideration of thu (iovurnur-Guncral, in Council, 
 
50 
 
 lh« fiilfiwing rrmarki knd rornnimcniliitiiniK wllh n 
 vi<'» to llio inlrodurtion o( S<'li"ul l.il>riiririi into 
 Upper CanuU, u cnnt<Mn|il.ttptl l>,v <>nrli of tin* Com- 
 inon Si'IhmiI ArU which hit«u bcvn Mnclioiifd l>^ the 
 
 Tlii<r«< oan b« bat on« opinion m to tlio Krmt im- 
 portanec of intrmlucing into each Tiiwnnliiji of lYp**"" 
 runaiU, M MMin m |)ouilil«, » Towiuhip l.ihrurjr I 
 with hranrhea for Iho (CTcral Srhool SiTliona, con 
 liitinK of a auitabin iclKotion of ont<rtaininK anil 
 inatruetiro Roolia, in tho Tarioui (lopnrtnu'iitii of 
 Biojfraphr, TraroU, llitlorv (Ani'ioiil iiml Moih-rn) 
 Natural i'lillo*ophjr and llintur/, IVaclintI Aria, 
 Agrirullure, Literature, Poliliral Kmnoniy, ttc. tiv. 
 he. It ii not raj^T lo conrciru tho vail ami naliilar^r 
 inllncncr that would be exerted upon the rntire pnon- 
 lalion — the younger portion e»pe<'inllj- — in rnrnisliinj^ 
 UMful oerupation for leiauro huiin, in improving llii- 
 tatta and feelinKi, In elevating and enlarging the 
 tiewi, in prompting to varied and nieful enterpritc, 
 that whould now from the intriHhiction of nuih a 
 Kountain of Knowle«lge and enjo^rmont inoarh Town- 
 •liip in Up|>er Canada. 
 
 But in or<l»r even to commence luch a noble and 
 patriotic undertaking two thing* are mfewary. The 
 nnt i*, to obtain, and f<>r the lioard of Kchication to 
 exaiainu anil iielecl tlie pro|>er Book*. The icconil 
 ii, to render such Hookn easily and clicupljr ncccs- 
 lible to every part of the Province. 
 
 As tho nooks are not and ' annot l>o pubiitlicd in 
 this country, they must, for ^ me time nl lea»l, be 
 obtained from abroiul— from Kngliind .imllln' I'nitcd 
 States. Arrangements niait Ih) madn for tliiit pur- 
 pose, as the ordinary agencies of Itook-trade are 
 mtufficient. 
 
 When in Kngland in 1833 I ma<lo an arrangement 
 with 04-rtain U<Hik»elleni in Loinlon in biliulf of the 
 Wealeyan llo<ly in l'p|ier Caiudu, on the Utniii of 
 which Books have be<'n obtnliKil from thiit tiiiir to 
 this much below tUe /irinttd wkolrtal* prioi**. When 
 in Dublin in IMA, I arnuigeil willi tlio Nulionitl 
 Hoard to obtain their liooks f"r ScIi<k>N in r|i|MT 
 Canada at cost prices— iiiuch !•• low llie irhi>lr$itle 
 prices lo the British i'lililic ; nnd by nii'ans of IJiiit 
 arrangement tlioM- cxculliMit Itiioks are now wiliI in 
 Cppcr ('.inailn about twenty |>cr cent. rlR'a|H'r tluui 
 they were three yc.irs ulni'i'. ATid wo now .s-o to 
 each of our Cunudian BookKJU-rK, lli.it if bo will 
 agree not to sell those B>H>k» at more that two pcnco 
 currency for every |H.'nny sterling tlul lii>|Mi^sfor 
 thfin, wo will give him a ivrtifl»-ato tu tho Nutioiial 
 Bo.ii d in Dublin to obtain ibcin at the reduced priceit. 
 By ibis iiiiii|ile arrangement pritiilo trade is encour- 
 aged, at excellent protiLt, ntllier than interfered wiili ; 
 and the Books are then wild nt nimti lower prices 
 than heretofore. The iwlling prices of the l(<iuki> are . 
 published in the printed Forms and Ki'gulatioii« for 
 schooU. anil am uniform in every |iarl of tin I'ro. 
 vince, md known lo every Trustee and TimiIot. .\ 
 Csnatlian IIouac has reprinted an Kiiition ii{ most of 
 these Hooks fac similes of tho Dublin Kditionj at even 
 lower prices titan the imported Kditloiii. 
 
 Now I propose the adoption of an cxtonsinn of the 
 same arrangements to priu-ure Hooks for Scbo'.l 
 Libraries. I pro|iOHe to inaki' an arrangemiiil willi 
 some of tho HoiA Six-ictics in Luiiilon sot K ai tlio 
 Society for the ililTusion of riw'fiil Kiiowliilgc, kc 
 &c j and the Cheap LibrMj- I'ublipbers in London 
 and Kdinburgh for proiuring such of llieir Book* »• 
 may be rrijuircd for .Shool Libraries in C'anada at 
 the lowest prices. I propoot to make the sann? < 
 arrangement with tlie National Board in Dublin for 'i 
 
 ftroiiiring (Hirtions of llio Heries of BiMiks which they 
 lave liileiy selected and udo|iti'il for ScIiihiI Libiari'S, 
 that we have hereloforn in.iile in order to proouro 
 their Schmd HiMiks. And as but few of tlii> Books 
 coni|MNiing the SchiHd Lilirnrici in tlio neighlHiuring 
 States of Now York and Maosachuwtts aru of an ex- 
 clusively local and |>oliiically objeclionable chursiter, 
 and as the greater part of their Si'limd Library 
 BtMiks are as suitable lo the youlli of Canada as to 
 those of tin rnited Status — many of the Bmiks being 
 reprints of Knglish Works and 'I ranslations from tho 
 French and (iernian — I proposv to make a similar 
 arrangement with Sclimd Library (and |H'rl<a|is soino 
 other) publishers in New York and Boston that I 
 haveatiovo pro|M>*ed lo make with Knglish I'ublishcrs, 
 
 Accoriling to this arr.iiigviiieni, I propose lo sei-ure, 
 at the I lM'a|H-st rate ptMsilile, to the reading yonlli and 
 people of Canada, the bett iMipiilar Works wliiili riiia- 
 nate from the British and .Xmorican press. Tliuro 
 will tlins be a liritith and Anirrirnn series, with tho 
 prices utlixed to euih, and dirii'lions where and how 
 they mar bo prmiired - leiivinu to loral Councils or 
 Committees the oiilion of seli'iiing friNU either series, 
 or from iHith, at their discretion. 
 
 In the catalogue of these Library Books, I think a 
 characteristic notice of each iHPuk should \»' intcrtcd 
 (including; two or three seiitciiccs, but of couise re- 
 iiniring considerable thought, jiidgiiiciit and labour, in 
 the pre|iaration)', a catalogue should 1)0 fnrni<hed to 
 each local Council, and the books generally bo also 
 brouglit to the notice of ilie public in tho coluiniii of 
 the Jiumal of Kducation, and |M'rsonaIly by tho 
 riiiif Su|M'rinlendent during his vi«its lo the various 
 Districts- line of hIiIcIi I bad intended to make during 
 iho latter part of the current year. 
 
 Should the plan thus briefly exnlained bo approved 
 of bv the (lovernor-ticncnil in ( ounril, I proiHW to 
 
 li 
 pro|Hi»e to 
 
 devote the next three or four nionllis to its accnm- 
 plis'iment, by going to tlie I'liiled Slates and Kngland 
 III make the arrangcnienls suggeiiti'd, and to st'lnt 
 and prM'ure s|)ecimen biKiks for tin- Si'lnnd IJbraries 
 lo lav before the Honril of Kdii< alion for Cpiier Cana- 
 da for their eianiinalion and judgment. My own 
 IH'rsonal ex|M-ns4-s will, I think, in all. inrludiiiK ilif- 
 forcnce of exilianai'. *"■.. bo under JL'.'OO, and that 
 £3.'il) or jt<t(KI will bo Rulhi lent to purcliav ropies of 
 the books retpiircd. It is not likely that many 'I'own- 
 slii|is will desire, at leitsl for a tinii', a Lilirsry north 
 half of i!3(X) ; but tlio si liool autboritiei of several 
 cities and towns will donbtli'sssooii demand a Llbr.iry 
 of greater value than lliat sum. The sums mciitloned 
 — In all i-I.^Oor H'M.) would, of course, dedediK'ti'd 
 from llie first money ap|>ortliiiii'd for esl,ibli»bing 
 I'ulilii' Scliool Libraries III I'piuT Canada. The books 
 thiisobtaimil and appr"wd of by tlic Hoard uf Kduca- 
 tloii. would be cither iiiircliiised to iniTcase the Normal 
 Si'hool Librurv, or lie iIihimiviI of to any of the 1ih«I 
 Coiincilsort oinnilllces e^t,ilili<liliig l/ilirariei, a« part 
 of their ap|N,rlioiimeiit ; and lliiis the only ilediictioii 
 from the Ligl»lative lirant firSi'liiMil Libraries wiuitd 
 be llieaiiioiint ol'iny traviHin^' ox|H'iises — wliicli would 
 be abunilsntly coinpi'iisated by llie iinpoiliiice and 
 ci^inomical idvaiils;,'i'i> of llic arrungenienlK wbicli I 
 would be atilo t" iffi'it, and wblrli, in sonic slia|u' or 
 form, are ol coumc liiill'<|H-iivilile to tlie e^laliliriiinent 
 of .School Libraries. 1 look forw.ird to tli.' d.iy wlicii 
 such Libmries will be iiicrra«i'd and enriilicd by Caiia- 
 diun contribulloiis and publiialioii.s. 
 
 With thcte remarks, I submit this im|Mirtant sub- 
 ject to tho fsmruble lonsidcnilioii of the (jovcriior 
 (ielieral in Council; and hboiild the lank I have pro- 
 |>os<>d be npproviil of, I will h«e no time in prosiH-u- 
 ling it. Ill the mean time, I would rcspi-ctfully rccuiu- 
 
St 
 
 
 S:t;nor(.;n«rj.V"<;;;» ;^^;^^ 
 
 knowMge •"•» •*»''">• 
 
 Sir. 
 Your«Wi«nt,hun,WoSor«nt. 
 
 The llonoorablo 
 
 SeoiTw 7 Montreal 
 
 lion ..f .».« i»w "'";«;*£'„ i],,*r i;--«'"' •• '' 
 
 h. Clerk, of .h. \"""''^..;;^'^„ ,„..,. .-.nti»> l"«'«. 
 „| Ibe 8ch.M>» Uw vwi i,„„H|„clion m<i» '■•»• 
 
 Common 8.hool» 
 
 immon n. ■■"■•■" f 1 ■ Aci »i 
 
 2 Uul iii.f« Hfo miiiiy l.""*'"","J,[j| menlitMi fi 
 
 llilt 
 
 ima 
 
 IX. 
 
 (W) »t.,MitiAHv'ii Orrii'«. 
 
 more mjufiou. ...- ■■ „iH,ii,|,e. »tl llm liM W*n 
 
 I ..fihc mo" ««"«'»': ^YauUtion, will. • V.OW of m- 
 I .,,.„e by lb" Board 'f .;"'•'!„ • . ..... ;„ .K« C.m>. 
 
 .,,.„. l,y ,b« Board of »;'^^^^^^^ 
 
 1 ».»»o tbo honour, uj >^-" f ,, n i,^,^ upon »» n..-" ■•-. ,„ ^ n murt »lii« imp»ir, 
 
 'of Scbool V'HT::.. ."^t w.l\Teoeiv. Hi. Kxcllency . 
 
 and rw" — . ;„»„ I'nDor taniui". ....■• — 
 
 atlcation. 
 
 I Ju»TO the boDour to be. 
 
 Sir, 
 Your mo.t obedient «>rv»nt. 
 
 (Signed,) 
 
 LESMB, 
 
 Secniaiy. 
 
 ,., „ ...,n.id«rabl« M, »'« „f ,,„ „,,„,„. of 
 
 ""' ^""""' .r: "l';; li.u.ion i. nl.mly to quabfy A.« 
 Teacher, m '>» '"' 'Z iM..t m«nner, tut 'o te.chtb. 
 
 Nalion.l S. b.»'l »"•*».'''", ,h,.,n.— «n object w ii ch 
 organixe H.b.H.1. -«;S«J '^tn ibe au.hoVily wh.ch 
 i., in a ureal lO'"""" '"T'tJ!' „«! SrbiHii i. denuded of 
 
 all „ihl I" »»y "7 V""LU. »»ve been given in 
 U«.k«. Sc""- "f . r rThe « ,.rre.pondence of the 
 OlVu.al ll^r/'» "'"^.."Lir^. .„ ibe benefit, already 
 .. Journal »/ '^^''"*^:^' „f. l.iH.ur. of .be Board o 
 K..ul.ing to S^>''';'";^'r'rJ:S»k...wella.inre.pect 
 Edu.i.ilon in reRHrd to I ex ,ecommendB. 
 
 1 ,1„. No'""'» »''',°'l „ot evrperpetualed until the 
 «•'"»• "f "'\""«l.,d» while iU.uthority, in respect 
 action of oiber »'»"':' ,X.k. for Librarie., .. aW 
 boll. '-'If y'?;^" new Uw alter, 'he C«n...lut.on 
 ■rated. 3), !''« """' aZ, Normal School,-rei*al. 
 Snd .y.tem of m.n.g« g ^^^^^ „«„. iu very ex* 
 ,,roviMon. o ^h-'h '.Ht In^ .^ ,,armon.ou. and 
 
 __— — n ence, and, to » 8'^ ", domain, provision, which 
 
 taimnK **f*'"\Ztof the Ntw School Act, 18 
 
 Xho RcTcrend 
 
 Supt. of School, for U.C. 
 
 &C.. kc-. •"'•• 
 Toronto. 
 C. W. 
 
 Vic. cA. 89.— 
 
 (Copy.) 
 
 Edi'catiow OrricB, 
 Toronto, Hh Derember, 184P. 
 
 :enr-cbai.ge.lh.twe^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 c.m.ultioR'»'« ^TTHucation, who had e.labl..hed 
 U^, „r the «',"»"' "f,.;;^,"", "he Normal School but 
 and matured '>"' "l^^;\"'"V4.) What ba. been dona 
 a>,»in.l ibeir J"''*'"^ "„„ f.,/ Unprovingihe .y.lem of 
 .lff.ring .be 1"' '^",r.nd I c. rT.Sr«.ed\owns, i. .I» 
 School, in our Cilie» ano ^ ^^^^ g^^j, ^ 
 
 ,.,bo abolished, ""^ ';i*;Vrow^ "' ^"'V^'f 
 
 Trustee, i". '!">»« C"':T'. ..jae. and a retrograde 
 
 Toronto, lib Ueremoer, ."-- ■ ,„ bo ao. ...-• . ■" , .j.„^ns ,u.noriiy », ....r™ 
 
 ,. ,. „ ... ;. , „,., ... ... -r: rs:t3 r,s ,r,t'otf.;.»s 
 
 ,e,.,fuUv lo V:*'':''.u : .t app«'"''-> '"" '"'"' "'. Tw ii"'' »" «*^''*'L ""TrnT.be Cite, and Town.of 
 'General, .n ^^t^-^^^^;;, ti.'^u in re.,K-c. to .bat law. »K ^^ experience ha. .lu^";"^^' J;',^^, (q.) Tho^ 
 
 t'j.per Cttiiaui : IMt n ni»«. ^i 
 
M 
 
 rnmiifniHiimi; clinu of neranns in Lnwrr CinaHa nre 
 relained ■« School Viciiurn, anil wliili' tlic Clergy 
 ihera are not only coiiiinnptl in llir unice of Sihoul 
 VUitnri, bill am invested with tliu itbsxiiile and pxi lii- 
 live autjiiirity to aelcrt al< ImmiIi* uwd in the ScIiiniU 
 " rtlaling to rtligum and tnoralt" — a |miw<t that it 
 wu never ihuuiihi of ninferriiig upon thn Clergy of 
 Upper CaiMda. They have mil been invested with 
 authority to inleiferM in re«|N.ii to a ainKle regulation 
 or boik used in the ScliooN. The Srhool visits ol' 
 the Clergy of tlie several religious (lersuasionH (hcsiiles 
 1,469 visits of Magistrates and 959 of Dislrirl Coun- 
 cllliirs,) have Rmounled, diiriiii; the Inst year, In 
 2,254— ericeeding an average of five Sclmol vi>ils for 
 each Clergyman in Up|)er Canada ; nor have I hcanl 
 of rn inst»rre of any thing unpleiiMint or hurl fill le- 
 'ulting froM siit'l) visits ; but, on the iiiiiiniry, llir m»sl 
 abundant pniofs ;iave U'cn given of the snlu^nry, HK-ial, 
 ind ciluc'Uional ;nA«ien<U! arising Iroin enlisiing so 
 raat a mora! ;iower in the eausr lif |Mi(iuli<r eduialion. 
 The rcjieal of the Ir|^;:! provision by whii h Clrri!ynnn 
 can, in their official chararter and as « n.aiirr of ri^lil, 
 visit ihe Srhools, i», of coiii>e, a Ligisliilive ronilcin- 
 niition ol il:fir acting in ihat iHpnnty ; nor cm .uiv 
 Clergymen be expected to vii.il ihc SchooN or ri'Kiinl 
 them with inlere»l, after having lieen ilrnmlid > I llic 
 right of doing so except by >ufliriiiice and us a priviiie 
 individual, while the Clergy in I ower Cnnada (where 
 a diffireni form of religion most widely preiaiK,) iire 
 placed in so very diflli'reiil a legal leliil'oii In the Scliixil^. 
 I fel* saiivfied at the time, as I hnve since learned, 
 li.Bt the members of the go*oriimcnl ^i iieniMy, were 
 not aware that the provisions of ihi- new Act iiiviiivi^d 
 siuh an ins'll lo the Clergy of l'|i|iei Canada, hihI the 
 severanti! from the SchiMiU "f a cnrdiMl 'n i>()ernli(in 
 ami influence nsist im|HiriHnl to ibei- ndvancrinriii. 
 (fi ) The new Act contains provisions cl.iiiiig to iIh' 
 groi ml and iniinncr of admilling into, t.d oxHiiilmg 
 Doolisfrom ihe ScliooU, which apjiear » me fiaiij;lii 
 wi|)< iho most injurious aud |Hiiiiful cons< iiieni es, ami 
 I', whi-h I do not wish lo make furib-. r iclerence in 
 iiiis place. (7.) While the pres,. u law iirolti Is ihe 
 ScliiMd Kuiid agiiinsi the loss or npi ! '-Niion of h six- 
 |)ence for the enure adminisiralion of the School sys- 
 tem, the new Act |)eriril> ihe whole i'N|m>i.si: «( ihe 
 local sii(>»TinleiKlence of Si hools lo be (Iciliicled fio;n 
 the Schinl Fund, and aulliorizis ilie iilicnnlmn of onc- 
 Jtntrlh of the entire S< hisil Kiiiid from iiiiliiiiiry np- 
 porlionineuls to the establi^liincnl and siipjiorl of I'iiii- 
 |ier Scbixds. The divrclii'n.iry alienniion i.i wi l.irije 
 a |M>! ion of the S-liool Fund caiinil b'-. I» iiijiiilons 
 lo oidin.iry St'hools and iheir Ti.ii h'-rs ; iind I iliiiik 
 the iniroduciion of a class of paii|>f<r S> hiuiK in ilrc 
 country is m>ist earne>lly lo Ix- dcpn chIciI. ' . nii show 
 that I have not only bad regiir'l lo fee* .• anil iiecily 
 Scbisl Re<(ions, but thai under ihe ; ovisions of ilie 
 existing Law, I have iiivariHbli met the cnse of sub 
 sections ; so that no one of ih-m, iis (,ir a» I b;.ve In en 
 able lo Hscertaiii, has been deprived ot the advnnlii'^' s 
 ofllx' School system on accixiiil of ils [nivefly ; iimv, 
 that su< h Seclioiis hate lieen sideil in ii whv inr»l 
 eli<*4-|wallv lo prompt and enco«i>ii}^' loi-al exeriioiis, lo 
 eximpl ibeiii fiom ibe Iwiiefid influence iiinj il>i[riidrt- 
 tiim of < onst'iiiiing n distinct cliiss of |i«ii|<'r Si tio.i|«, 
 snd not I.I deduc! a firlhing rioiii the orfbiiiiry npi'or- 
 lioi.menls lo Trachers and Si'biHils. (H.) The new 
 All re<ioires condilliHis nnd forma if pr.i. eecl!n;;» fioin 
 Scboid Tiunees uiiTessarily onerous .'ml biideiisoin.- ; 
 and i-n|M«es rrsirii lions and obstacles u'»mi Triisli is in 
 |>ru> I. ling for Teachers' sitlaries, wliii li lann ' fii'l lo 
 cause losses lo Teai iieis and trouble unit disi ourji^e- 
 meiil to Trustees. Tins is one |ioint on which die 
 |iresent Ijiw hds Ixeii justly con plained of; bit the 
 new .Act pMviib^ for greatly tnultipl)iiig those groiinds 
 of cori|.l.titit, rather limn reiniirin^ ihcm. (!l.) Tin- 
 met It' d (as p.ovided by the new .\cl ) of (jelling up , 
 Imal K''|Hirts through lite tneiiiuin of Couiily ( lerks, 'i 
 
 who have no prirlical rnnneclion with, or knowledge 
 of the operations of Ihe Schmd I.BW, has Utn tried in 
 the Sinle of New-York, and has lieeii found iillerly 
 uborlive, as I can show from alalemenls on Ihe subject 
 by the State Superintendent. 
 
 Such is a siimiiiHry stalcment of those provisions of 
 
 the new School Act whii h, I feel aiili.slied, must render 
 
 its opetiilions a source of incalculable injury to the 
 
 Schisils, and of gn-nl ilissalisfaction to llie people. I 
 
 can uddiice fuels and authurilits to illustrate nnd estob- 
 
 lisb any or all of the (Miitils iibovu slaled, whenever 
 
 ! desireil. What Ins lieeii referred lo as ihe (lopiilar and 
 
 I I'cmedinI features of the new Act — such iis the Couiily 
 
 DiNinls for iho examinaiioti of Tenchers, Schools for 
 
 the childien of coloured people, the apporlionment of 
 
 cerlHiti sums for the raiablishmenl of Libraries, exiend- 
 
 ' ing the facilities of the Normal Sihisil, the eslablish- 
 
 mcnl nf 11 S<hiMi| of Arl and Desiijn, adiip'iiig the 
 
 Schmd System lo ihul of Tuwtiship ( ouiicib — were 
 
 riHommemled in my commiitncHlioiij nnd l',riifts of 
 
 Mills dill, d the 1 4tli' October, 1S48, nnd 23i.' Fef>- 
 
 riiary, 1849; but they nre so nniiibileil and soion- 
 
 necled will) inroinpHlilile nnd most siriingc provi- 
 
 i sions, IIS to Ih' nciitniliz'd nnd reiiiiered useless. The 
 
 new Ai I srem»lo be ihecnnlion oriiii \|h rienci d llicor- 
 
 i"!!) and Ihe collectiin of Set lions ami pnrls of Sections 
 
 , from s»»rrnl Ads nnd Hills willi"iil any ch'.ir |ieri ep- 
 
 lion of tlieir lelaiion the one lo the oilier, or llieir 
 
 ' working us n whole. .S.inc i.fibc most ohjiclimmble 
 
 provisions were not in the printed copy ol lie Bill, but 
 
 wi re inliiHluced when this .Act of fortv-ninc oeinro 
 
 paces was pressed ihrouj-h the l.eirislniive Ass<'mlily in 
 
 a single hour at Ihe very heel of ihe Session, nfli-r 
 
 most of lit Members' copies of the printed Drnfl of tho 
 
 Mill hail lieen deslroveil by fire, and wliei. | erhaps not 
 
 five I'crsons could l.irin ihe bast iile.i of its cotiti Ills, 
 
 and when the only Mcnilier of the ,\sseml>lv who was 
 
 a Memls'r ol the Mo.inl of Kdiiculion and Wno un- 
 
 dersliHid the law prai In a'ly as well as bv careful ex. m- 
 
 i inalion, and wlm had ixprcsMil lii> preparedness and 
 
 I inleiilion to olfer siijjMestions ami aniciidmi Ills, was 
 
 i known lo be iibeni from his place in llie Hoisc. 
 
 I It U'lng necessary that some decisive action lie taken 
 in ri s|i<vt to ihf s,||iH,| Systeiiius i.H'ii leil liv lie- n< w 
 .All, I t.ike ilie Idieity of subinitlii i.( the lollowii.i; ri - 
 
 . coinini ndatniiiS lo the (iovcrnor-tieneriil, m ("o'lncil : — 
 
 I. Tl...t I'le Corporations of Cities i.ml Towns I).' 
 ailu'ed to lake lio sli'| s ,il pri^si ni, towanls i uliinu up 
 the c.iiislitiieni ii'S wl.ii li ihey tL'| riseiit into Inili imlc- 
 |.i ii.lcnl pctl\ School .Seciioiis, hut allow ihe presenl 
 Moard ol Tri)>|i es to ri main |oi I he lime U'lng : and 
 iniler the I7ih Section of the m w .\cl, lhes4' Momds 
 \ ofTnisleis will U- uivesii tl with all ihe powiis with 
 which ii invests any niwit elecleil 'I'nisiees. Thus 
 will confuMon ami the breaking up ifall llial is doing 
 ill lilies ami Towns \h- priMiilt il until the i nsniiig 
 Session if ihe l.ek;is|,i|iirr. 
 
 i. 'I hat in eai h of the iiir I ScIhsiI See: ions tliroiigh- 
 I'lil I'l pi t Cinada, one 'IViistce Ih- elei li il, as M-ems 
 to III intet.iliil l.v the S;Jril Sule n of the New Ait 
 laki n itilo connexion with tin- I7lli S'llac (,is ha« 
 Is 1 n advisi'ij liv the .\i.omii k liemiul) and u« should 
 bale Im*i n the case .'lad noi the present f^.iw Is'i-n in- 
 Il ilirid Willi. Thus there will la- no brink ti the 
 1 xisiinu Sriiisil ('or|'oralion>, iind the ci ils icsulling 
 iliirilroin will be uvonleil. 
 
 3. Thai as the fourth clause if ihe Second ■''ection 
 I the III w .Act provnhs that ihe '■chools sIliII Ih' lon- 
 ilui'ied at ( oriliii;r III Aiif'h |otn s an. I (egiihili'iis iis shull 
 lie provideil In the Clio f Su|h riiiteiiilent, the |ire-eiit 
 rofins mill Iti gi l.ln lis (whiili nie in tin Imiiils o| all 
 the Trustee Corporations ihroughoul l'p|nt C. n.oln, 
 and are liitnilai lotheiti) Ix loniinued uiicli>iii|{iil unlit 
 
 r 
 
69 
 
 the ensuing SeMion or the Legiilalure. Then a* the 
 73rd Secliiin of the new act continues the present Dis- 
 trict Superintendents in office, with their present powers 
 nnd duties, until the first day of next March, all the 
 opnrations of the Common School System can be main- 
 tained inviolate until that time ; no provisions of the 
 Dew Act will be contravened, and the manifold evils 
 of its introduction will be averted. 
 
 4. That on the meeting of the Legislature, the new 
 Act be withdrawn, and the present Law continued 
 with such amendments to remedy its defects and adapt 
 it to the approaching Township Municipal System as 
 I pro|Mised in a Draft of a short Hill transmitted to the 
 Provincial Secretary the 23rd February last, together 
 with any further amendments that a careful examina- 
 tion and consultation, with persons of practical ex- 
 perience, may suggest. 
 
 Thus will the people feel themselves relieved of the 
 dreaded task of beginning again to learn the forms and 
 regulations of a now and complicated Law ; the friends 
 of Education will feel that there is some stability in 
 the great principles of the syMem they have laboured so 
 much iind so successfully to establish, and that it will 
 n.)l bo suujecleil to the caprices of party legislation or 
 llio m'::u'.ions of party power, while it will, from time 
 III tiiiie, undergo those amemlmenis and improvements 
 whiih experience and ilic progress of society shall 
 demaiul. 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 Sir, 
 Your roost obedient Servant, 
 
 (Signed,) E. RYERSON. 
 
 The Honourable Jamu Leslie, 
 
 Secretary of the Province, 
 Toronto, 
 
 XL 
 
 Reply to the foregoing Lttler. 
 
 Sbcretabt'b OrricB, 
 Toronto, t5th December, 1849. 
 
 Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that His Ex- 
 rellencv, the (invernor-Uuneral, has had under His 
 toinicluriiiion in Council your letter of the 7lh instant, 
 cimlaiimig M'vi'riil suggestions with respect to the car- 
 rying into olTi'ct i>r the new School Act. His Excel- 
 ItMicy fi'els llial your practical knowledge of the worlc- 
 iiiK of the SchiKil System, entitles your opinion to 
 iiiucli weiglit ; and a.t the »ui;gisiions offered in your 
 ItMliT H|>iH.'«r iiiiisiNtenI wiih tlio great |irini:ip|ps nf the 
 SrIiiMil Ai:t, His Kxi'ulloncy lias diicrteil iliat they 
 sli Milil Im- conjidrroil in Cnuncil with h view In Lrgis- 
 Inlii.,. on the suhj(>('l during (he ni>xl ScvhIoii ol' iho 
 I'rovini . •! I'lirhaini-nl. In the inrniitiiiir, I am instruct- 
 fil lo uulhori2(! voii to Hclopl siirh rneaMin's iis may 
 »()|M!iir to yiMi cxiM'iliniit, loronlinue the pri'M'iil Forms 
 ami Ki'giilalioiis anil lo iiiitiiiluiii the prvsenl .syslem of 
 in.iiia'j;<Mn III urCoiiiinoii Schools in Cities unci Towns, 
 Ml l.ir .IS you inav be able to do so in accordance with 
 ihu Law. 
 
 I have till- honour lo lie, 
 Sir, 
 Your moat obedient Servant, 
 
 [Signed,] J. k.KSLIE, 
 
 Sicretary. 
 The Reverend 
 
 liSMiaTo.4 Kybb»»n, D.I)., 
 
 SiilierinteiHkiiT of Si hool«, IT. C, 
 Toronto. 
 
 XU. 
 
 Copt </ a Comtmmioation to the Secretary of the 
 Provinee, reaue$ling that Hu Exeditney iti 
 Council may be pleaied to lanetion the holding qf 
 Ttaeheri' In$titutee in Upper Canada. 
 
 (copy.) 
 
 Education Offioi, 
 Toronto, 24th April, 1860. 
 
 Sir, — The )Sth Section of the present School Act, 
 12th Vic, cap 83, authorizes the Oovernor-Oeneral, 
 in Council, to i unction the holding of a Teachers' In- 
 stitute, (or melting of Teachers during a few days 
 for professiona' improvement,) in each County in Up- 
 per Canada, ' ' under such regulations as may be pre- 
 scribed by thii) Chief Superintendent of Schools." 
 
 As the Board of Education for Upper Canada has 
 determined not to coromonco the next Session of the 
 Normal School before the first of September, it has 
 been proposed and concurred in by the Board, that 
 the Masters of the Normal School should employ a 
 part of the next four months in holding short Teach- 
 ers' Institutes in the several counties of Upper Cana- 
 da. The Masters of the Normal School have heartily 
 responded to the proposal ; and I think we shall be 
 able to provide for their travellingexpensesoutof the 
 Grant to the Normal School, and not ask for any part 
 of the sums allowed to be advanced out of the general 
 School Grant by the Section of the Act referred to. 
 
 I respectfully pray, therefore, that the Governor- 
 General in Council, will be pleased to sanction the 
 holding of such Teachers' Institutes, during the ensuing 
 Summer. 
 
 1 have the honour to be. 
 Sir, 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed,) E. RYERSON, 
 
 The Honourable 
 Jamks Lkslib, 
 
 Secretary of the Province, 
 Toronto. 
 
 XIIL 
 Reply to the Foregoing Letter. 
 
 (COPT,) 
 
 Sbcrbtary's Officb, 
 Toronto, 25th April, 1850. 
 
 Rev. Sik, — I have the honour to inform you that 
 W\* Kxcolloiicy, the Governor General in Council, has 
 bcrii ploasoil to approve of the suggestions contained 
 ill your letter of the 24th instant, viz., that the Mas- 
 ti^rs of the Nuriiial School should employ a part of the 
 nu.tt four inoniha in holding short Teacliors' Institutes 
 in the several t'ountios of Upper Canada. 
 
 I Imve the honuur to be, 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient Servant, 
 
 (Signed,) J. 
 
 The Reverend 
 
 EoBRTON IIterson, D.D., 
 
 Supt. of Solioolit, U. C, 
 Toronto. 
 
 LESLIE, 
 Secretary. 
 
C^ovotfto: 
 
 PBI 
 
 NTED Bt LOVELL » GIBSON, 
 
 r%om ffTwrr.