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CONTENTS fofniaat dimpproral of tii« pr—ant ■yrtom g An Advisory or OonraltatiTe Council needed Ite repreeentatire character defined g Mr. Whitney's propoaals in detail -j Eminent ediu»tionists lavor it 7^ Public School Education g The Oppr» • r>tj , olicy outlined ... \'. lo Bviden. i« disfavor ii Thaoostofl . -c-books U TheSocrek ^i ussion to uphold prices . io Names of *.he Witnesses jg Why the evidence was not produced i« Oost of the Commission 13 Some reductions in price that were never mnde .........' U The Commission's findings examined 24.jg Books that cost too much ,- Royalties and their purposes Ig Mr. Ross on authorization in 1875 ig Mr. Whitney promises cheaper books 20 List of officials and their books 2r) Too many changes in text-books ■■■■..... ... ....... 21 University of Toronto and Opposition Policy 22 Reforms proposed by the Opposition 23.24 Results of poUtical control ! 26 Why Toronto receives so few benefactions. ..!.!..!...!".."".. 26 Examinations, and how the system should he changed 27 The High Schools „ ■ 30 A Ptoa for the Intarssts of Teachers ,j 7 . The Education Department ITS NEEDED REFORMATION |i Oraat Ui the diiMtlafacUon throughout the Province with the adminlstn- tlon of this Department Popular opinion is very strong against the political faToritlum as nuuiifested In the Text Book Ring scandal and the examinations. It is no wonder that the great body of Intelligent teachers should be diSMti's- fled with a system that sacrlflcee our educational Interests to political intrigue and wire-pulling; that deba«« Instead of elevates; that dsetroys indepen- deooa, and makea of the teacher a subservient slave, who feels that the cheaper quailtiea of "hustle, " "Influence" and "pull" are of more practical value than IndJistry. application and devotion to duty. We say we do not wionder a( the dissatisfaction when 'e consider the importance luce the price of school books, and thua leaaen materially th aMen now imposed and borne by the people of the province, by reason of the large aums ttey are compiled to pay for auch books." 6 Thli moCfOQ WM Totod down. Mr. Bom bM midwvorad to luggMt ttet Mr. WbltMjr's idM wm not a conaultatlv* body choMu by taachan. bat • body to be appointed. Mr. Wbitaagr. spMklns tn victoria Hall. (opt. Si^ IMl. ■aid:— THE CONSULTATiVF .OUNCIL. With regard to our attitude In relation to tble. I And that In Port P^ny Mr. Rom gave the InformaUon— It wu Information to me, my frtendi; rery pleasant to hear, indeed— Mr. Rom abandoned the Jeering attitude with regard to my propoaltlon of a conaultaUve council, and h* declared there that thie Idea a mine had been advocated during tlie patt yeai^-that la three or four yearn a<.«r I originated it— by the Educatioml Council In ttglaiid, and . it had fa0an publicly advocated by two memberj of no ! tihe edu- caAlonal interests of the peoplci would be considered by that cou toil, It would not be what Mr. Ross thought or what Mr. Whltnr y .-anted ti, t. would be connldored at aU, would it? But my proposition wf ' lat the Puollc School teachers. Separate School teuc art. High Sohool taachen. professors In col- leges and mlveraitles should, each cIsm of them, elect or choose certain representatfTM to form this coosultaUve body, wboae advloe would be at the dlspoeaJ nt the Minister at all Umes. Amd It Is coming to that (Hear, hear.) In order to prove that my ideas and the ideas of those who agreed with me In this matter, both in the Legislature and out of it, with regard to the praa- ent condition of education are not exaggerated, let me read you a few words of that great man. Sir Daniel Wilson, the prtncipal of the university, In his convocation address u long ago as 1888, on the uniformity of the Public School system of Ontario examlnaUons, that festering spot on t' b educational system of the Province of OnUrio. Now, Sir Daniel Wilson said:— "In truth, profeason and students are alike in danger, under the modem system of elaborate programmes, m the Public Accounts, 1898, page 468-9: — Judge Morgan 1450 James Bain, Jr. 210 J. Blackett Robinson 210 Wallace Neebitt (legal fees) 300 P. N. Nudel, clerk in Education Department, and paid as such yearly salary lOO L. W. McKorkindale, caretaker EMucatlon Department 30 A. W. Briggs (legal fees) 60 Kerr, Bull ft Rowell, legal services b42 21 Mr. Rowell is one of the direlctars of the Globe, and waa the Liberal candidate in East York In 1900. Kerr, Bull & Rowell, witness feea 240 Kerr, Bull & Rowell, steaographers' fees 74 45 Warwick Bros. & Rutter 16 34 W. Barber & Bros., paper g 73 F. Doane (cab hire) 14 60 $2,346 63 N.B. — This does not include the printing of the report. Judging from the sum paid for legal services, the Government must have been determined that no witness should be allowed to state anything timX would enable the public to form any idea of the cost of books. WHAT THEY REPORTED. That l)he following books might be reduced: — First Latin Book, from fl.OO to 76c. Hig^ School Bookkeeping, from 66c. to 60c. Public School (3eographr t'vm. 76c. to 60c. P. S. Writing Cour-i, VertlOMl Series, 1—6, from 7c. each to 6c. each. Primai7 Latin Book, eroai $1.00 to 7^"- 13 -^- -.j^^a^ts m Not la one sintfe instuice ba« there beea a reduction made. Why? Be- cause In every Uutance apeclfled, either new booka or new editions were In course of preparation, and consequently It was quite safe to recommend a reducUoni "If coaUnued after tfae end of 1898." What did they say about the books which were to be conUnued? On page 11 of their Report, speaUnc of the Hlglh School Orammsir and High School Geography, published by the Can- ada Publishing Ca, they say: — The publishers ihave realized a good profit cm these boota, which has been sufficient^ after deduction flor a living profit, to pay rii the capital account and leave a moderate surplus; the circulation, however, of these books is small, and the plates will hive to be renewed; we do not, therefore, think that the pnrflt Is so large as to call for any reduction." In the same sentence they soy the circuiaUco is small and the plates will have to be renewed. It does not require an expert to tell you that If the platee were worn out the circulation must be very large. Everyone knows that a very large edl- tlou cam be printed from a eat of plates before they show signs of wearing. Printers who are accustomed to handling this kind of work will tell you that, with careful handling, a quarter of a mlllioo co^ieii can be run off before tbe plates will show signs of wear. As the number of pupils studying these subjects in the High schoolB is about 17.000, it is fair to assume Uiat not lees than 10,000 of each were sold annually. The net profit to the publisher, after paying his royalty. Interest on capital invested, running expenses, etc., could not be lees »hA.n 27c. each, which would mean a net profit of $27,000 on each of these two books on the ten years' contract Speaking of the "PHYSIOLOGY AND TEMPERANCE." the commiaslon- ers say:— "The price of this book is too low. It is published absolutely with- out living profit of any kind, and but for the very large sale, the publishers would suffer loss in not being able to realize the capital account" TIhe ving clause seems to be the phnuse "living profit" As Uit -e about 200,000 pupils taking this subject the annual sale cannot be less than 100,000. The book cannot cost more than 10c. at the out- side to manufacture. It sells tor 26c. Assuming that the net profit is not more than 8c. per copy, this would give the very handsome profit of |8,000 on 100.000 books, or 180.000 on the usual ten years' contract HIGH SCHOOL ALGEBRA. "The capital account has not as yet been realized on this book, the profit is not excessive, and the price cannot reasonably be reduced." So reported the commissioners. In the first session of 1897. Mr. Roberlwon. one of the 14 Author of the High School Algebra, ww examined before the Public Accounts Committee (see Journal), he stated that they received 16 per cent, on ttie retail price tm royalty, equal to 11 1-4 centi on each copy. On being asked If he received |800 a year for his half of ro. 'Ity, or |1,600 for Mr. Blrchard and himself, he declined to answer, and the majority of the committee, Messn. Cldland, Davis, Harcourt, Haycock, MacNish and Mlddletnn, voted to sustain the ruling of the oihairman, Mr. Charlton, that Mr. Robertson need not answer the question, on the ground that "we have nothing to do with the private affairs of a gentleman." It is worthy of note, in passing, that four of theve six members were left at home at the laat gtsneral election. It is fair to assume that Messrs. Robertson and Birohard have been receiving |1,600 yearly for the past fifteen years for royalty on this algebra, or $22,600 for work that would have been well paid tor at |1,000. The Minister's Report for 1901, page viii.. shows that the^e are, on an average, about 22,000 pupils studying algebra in the High Schools alone, and on that basis the annual sale bhould be not less t&ian 14,U00 to 16,000 copies. At the time that tihe commission made their reiiort, there must have been sold not less than 160,000 copies, so that thef worthltssne^s of their report .» apparent. WHAT THE ALGEBRA CAN BE MADE FOR. ESstimating on an edition of 16,000 copies, the compoeition, press work, proof- had it aeoei>toa. wu dTen the tMk of preparinc a nmr gaofmphy m com- PMMtlon for the gnmnwr betog glyeii to another man. who had a itronnr The Oeogmphy carried no royalty. Mr. Bryant waa given a lump sum (1700) to prepare It. The cost of manufacture could not be more than M oenta at the ontaide, and in quanUUee such aa were uked It probably coat no more than 16c. For a number of years the book sold at 11.00 retail, or 7B oenta wholesale, but was reduced to 7Bc. a few years ago. AccepUng the lat- ter figure aa the selling price, and the cost as 20c., tihe net profit on each book would be 67-20. or 87c. each. As the Minister's report glveis 316,000 aa the number of pupils in the Public scbools studying geography in 1887, the year in which the book was authorized, the number requiring the book the first year of pubUcaUon could not be lees than 260,000, and in subsequent years it is fair to assume that not less than 100,000 were sold each year. This would give us for the fifteen years 260,000 plus 1.400,000, or 1,660,000 books. Supposing that the net profit were not more than 36c. each, we have the enor- mouM figure of 1677,600, representing the profit of one firm on one book! This is what the oommissionera called a 'leglUmate profit" THE ONTARIO READERS. Few people know what a gold mine for the publishers this monopoly is. The publishers paid $9,000 to the Department for a set of platea and tiie excluaive right of publishing for ten years. These publlsherB. better known aa the "school book ring," are: W. J. Gage & Ca, Copp, Clark ft Co., and Tho Canada Publishing Co. The immense profit can be worked out from the fol- lowing t. We of prices, pages In book and number of pupils using same. The figures are taken from the Report of the Mlnlstar of Education for 1901:— ONTARIO READERS. Pupils Pages. Using. Price. i «t Reader, Part 1 64 177.614 iQc First Reader, Part 11 94 jg^. Second Reader 134 ggggg jOc! Third Reader 280 94.069 30c. Fourth Reader 344 84507 ^^^ High School Reader, . .., 512 •17.468 50c. •This is exclusive of what are used In the High schools. The ring do not always print these books themselves, but farm out the prinUng and binding and pool results. Their contract caUs for paper at 6c, alb. Anyone familiar with paper knows that he can supply the Id«itlcal paper used at 4 l-2c., cr, in large quantities such as they use it. at 4c. The con- tract also calls for ink at $2.00 a oound. but, as a matter of fact. tSie ink used oosts only 30c. 16 * , ii I We purpoM to take the ■malhat book of the aeriee. Plm Reader. Part I and show lU actual ooet and the proflu in ono ytmr on tbis lltUeboi>k. "fit crimlae ab uno disoe omnM," W. J. Oace ft Co. onoe contracted for the manufacture of thii book (In- cludln« paper, prlnt« Uist book* with apiMtrentljr no oUmt WM o n than to comp^ Um pupils to buy a n«w book. An oxample in point It th« Primary Latin Book, which formerly contained tOiree parte, and now two more har« been added, making it a cumbrous book, which is altogether nn- ■uitable tor beginnem in Latin, though it may be good enough for upper form pupils. This change aared the publishers from the recommendation of the commissioners, who said the price of this book should be reduced, and served the double purpose of compelling High school pupils to buy a new book. The High School History of Greece and Home Is anouwr instance in point, causod by the bungling of the copyright referred to in anotlier place. UNAUTHORIZKD BOOKS. Although the law provides a penalty for using unauthorized books, > t It is well known that lai-ge quantitiee of Helps publtsbed by the Educstiooal Publishing Co. have been used in the schools and winked at by the authori- tiies, because they also publish The Teacher, which has a very targe circula- tion among teachers, and, consequently, great influence, which might be used against ttte Government if they did not receive a snane of the plunder. 21 TORONTO UNIVERSITY Mr. Whitney's policy on this queeUon has been debit with ao fully that we append his words, as used In Toronto on Sept 3rd, 1901: — UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. With regard to the Unlveraity of Toronto, I say In no unpleasant tone, nor with any Improper meaning, that Mr. Ross has beeto the evil genius of that InaUtuUon. I say the effect of Mr. Roes' connecUonB with, and his ac- tions with regard to the University, have beesi a distinct drawback and injury and damage to It for years. And I could show that he has Interfered with almost everything the faculty wished to do; he ^has endeavored to keep con- trol as he had control of the Departmemt of EducaUon, when, as one of the officials told me. If a man tried to drive a nail in with a hammer hie would be brought up before up before tlie Minister of EducaUon to explain his con- duct. He Is determined to see that nothing is done that does not appear to him as an individual to be just and proper to be done, and this has occurred with regard to t*« University of Toronto, and it has hampered it for yeiors, until it has been brought Into a condlUon of stagnaUon, out of which, with tte help of the OpposIUon, It will be drawn before long, I hope. To prove what I say with regard to the attitude of the Government. Last winter while the University Bill was under discussion, Mr. Harcourt, whoHs an amiable man, and not apt at all to use harsh language with r«gard to anybody, broke out into a most violent tirade against. Principal Loudon, and he did it by order, of course. He was told to do it And I want to read to you some of the words which, according to the report of all tihe newspapers. Mr. Harcourt used with regard to Principal Loudon:— "Mr. Loudon had spoken without reason and without knowledge of our Public school system. He had utterly misconceived the effects of the system. He spoke without knowledge, as a man who had stood aloof from the Public schools of the pro- vince, etc." As soon as I got my breiath, I asked Mr. Harcourt not to dismiss Prof. Loudon before the end of the year but he got a litUe angry then, and he said it was not the Intention to l jIss him at all. I said. If he is the man you desortbe him, he ought to be dismissed. But, if you noticed, be did not attack Principal Grant nor did he attack Prof. Watson, of Queen's University, who oame up here and made the most thorough exposure of the educational system of this province. Now, the situation was getting intolerable, and at last it fell to the Oppo- sition in tiie Legislatune to taJce a stand upon this question. Tbe Opposition 22 did take a stand upon the question, and I made an announcement In the L«g- ialature one night which I think I had better read to you, although I am afraid I may tire you. The reason I read It to you is this, as I will dxplain after- wards, the Olobe newspaper did not publish tihis announcement of mine on the University question. These are the words I used: — "With a true foundation thus laid, and the InterestB of tho»e who cannot hope to go further than the Public school in tbe acquirement of education, and whose interests should be our first care, duly safeguarded, we then oome to the quetstdon of University education. Those who are watching the signs of the times must believe that we are approaching a period of great changes in educational methods. Just what form or shape these changes will take we cannot yet see, but the true lover of the educational intereste of the pro- vince will not be afraid to take steps to be ready for changes that may come, nor be astute in discovering obstacles in the way of preparation. We must take a forward position on the University question, or else consent to be left hopelessly in the rear, with the disastrous results, one of which will inevita- bly be that our young men will go elsewhere for higher education. It is too late now to discuss academically the question of the advisability of a State or Provincial University. It is a condition, not a theory, with which we have to deal. The Provincial University, which is at once a provincial asset, so to speak, and a public trust, has been dragging along for many years, doing noble work, considering the means at its disposal. Several other colleges have oome in under the federation scheme, and the University has struggled on 'manfully under great difficulties. Year after year, those connected with It and best able to judge oi its requirements, have) pressed upon tbe Provin- cial Government its urgent needs, but practically a deaf ear has been turned to all their appeals. The situation has at last become acute, and, indeed, intolerable. We must either support or abendon the University. We have arrived at the parting of the ways, and we must decide whether we will go for- ward or drop back. "Being convinced that the people of the province are unwilling that the present condition of blight and mildew shall become chronic and permanent, we, on this side of the House, are determined that, so far as lies in our power, a remedy, immediate, permanent and lasting, must be applied. We take the responsibility, sir, of insisting that the finances of the University be put on a sound, stable and permanent footing, by providing such an annual payment as will fairly and fully meet the desires cuid propositions of those best able to judge of its necessities to-day, and that this be done forthwith. "Further, that as soon as reasonably may be, with a due regard to the financial ability of the province, and to careful outlay, appropriations for neces- sary buildings should be made, and, in order to the due carrying out of thld latter suggestion, it may well be considered wise and prudent to submit the 23 ■lii qoertlon at boUdlngB to a connnlsslon of genUemen who. from tlieir standing and experience, majr be trusted to arrive at a conclusion which will be saUs- factory to the Leerislature a«id to the people. Such a commission need not be costly. "We further urge that .tlhus dealing with the Provlnda: Jnlverslty. the direct control of the Government over It be relaxed to a certain extent, so that the experience and judgment of the governing body of the University shAU have more influence and power in the appointment of professors, siid In the Internal management of the InsUtutlon than at present "The fees should be so regulated that the sons and daughters of the relaUveJy poor may find practically an 'open doar- at the University. "We believe that the fund provided by tJie succession duties should be drawn upon for. at any rate, the annual payment to the University, or a per- centage of the amount realized from such duties should be devoted to that purpoea If it be that the moneys arising from the succession duties were to be devoted to keeping up the asylums and chariteble InsUtuUons, the answer is that educational instituUons are 'chariUee.- in the eyes of the law. This Is well-settled doctrine. "It Is not possible to ignore. In the consideration of this very Important question, the subject of Queen's University. Ite standing as a great ednca- Uonal inaUtuUoo is weU known. From a small beginning, its foundation caused and Justified by the then condlUon of our eduoaUonal system, it has gone on girowlng dwervedly in Importance and Influence, unUl today it Is not too much to say that It is no small part of the educational life of the province. It cannot be lightly passed over. However, sir, as I have said, we are deal- ing with condiUons, not theories. We believe that the steps I have indicated should be taken without detay. with reference to the Provincial University, and then any claim that may be advanced by the sUter InsUtnUon should be consld«(red fairly and equitably on its marite. and not lightly dismissed. "I am convinced that if the policy on this question which I have proposed be adopted, it wUl meet with the cordial approval of the people. It is a policy which should not be tossed back and forth between political parties, and if li be grapifled with earnestly, I beSleve the reeult will be that we wlU hold our own. In an educational sense, among the other commonltieB on this conti- nent, and the way of life will be nuude easier for those that will- come after us." That was the attitude assumed, not by me alone, but by aay 41 colleaguea and myuelf, in the Xvagistoture of Ontario, and it was of suoh Importance that when, within 48 hours afterwards a large meeting of the alunuii of the Instl- tuUon was held In thd cltQr of Toronto to insist on the Gtovammant doing wOiat I had suggested should be done, a large deputation ot distinsulslMd men of 24 the Alumni AMoclation, every one of whom I believe waa opponed to me in P.ue testimonials in the world." 25 In July, 18S8, the OoTernment appointed Prof. Htncks, m Hozlegr iMut predicted. Huxley's opinion of QoTemment ccmtnol is very clear. In a letter to the Tlmea in 1892, he wrote:— "In holding up the University of Berlin as our model, I think you flail to attach sufficient weight to the conslderaticm that there is no Minister of Public Instruction in these realms; that a great many of us would rather have no university at all than one un- der the central of such a Minister, and whose higiheat represen- tativea might come to be .not thfj fittest men, but those who stood (oremaat in the good graces of the powers that be, whether demoe, ministry or sovereign." BENEFIT OF NO-POLITICS. Look at the history of Upper Canada College. It was dying of "dry rot." But as soon as It was relieved from political control, its friends came to tlhe rescue, and raised by private subscription |50,000, ; ' put new life and new blood into the school, and to-day there is not a moro vigorous or more pros- perus educattnal institution in the land. AN INSTRUCTIVE COMPARISON. Similar results would follow lihe abolition of political oontrol in the Uni- versity. McOill University may be cited for the purpose of comparison. It shows how a great educational institution, which is free from poditical con- trol, will be supported by private benefactors: — Original Endowment and Donation in Land $425,235 Subsequent Donations — Lands, Buildings, Apparatus.. 1,813,077 Miscellaneous Endowments 2,057,004 Endowments of Obairs, Medical Scholarships, etc 892,393 Here we have nearly five million of dollars given in recent years to Mc- Oill, whUe Toronto Im tho same period has only received the follow;.:g: — Library Building $ 60,732 Oymnasium Building 2,404 Reaidenoe Ebctension Fund 6g4 Women's Residence 7,727 Physical Laboratory 2,28(i Pathological Laboratory 1,208 Scholarship funds 62,885 Library Restoration Fund 40,000 Mr, and Mrs. Goldwln Smith 10,000 1187,920 36 EXAMINATIONS rhope iB « pretty general feeling throughout tthe country that we have too many examinations, aoul that the method of conducUng them is too costly. ThlB is a subject that engaged the attention of the British AssociaUon, which met in Liverpool last September, and It waa also pretty fully discussed In the Times on dittenent occasions subsequently. Mr. Whitney maintains that on this subject there is a good deal to be said on both sides, and that, consequently, it should be left to experts to (leal with rather than politicians. How the subject is dealt with by Dhe present Educational Oouncll is pretty clearly set fortb by the following letter, published In the Mail and Empire on March 14th, 1902: — THE EDUCATIONAL COUNCIL. To the Editor of the Mail and Empire: Sir, — In the present letter I wish to show, beyond the possi- bility of denial, that the Educational Council is not working tn the interests of the schools of this province. This contention was proven in the course of a long correspondence in your columns last July, and I shall here merely summarize the conclusions reached at that time. The composition of the council is not such as to bring it Into touch with either the primary or the secondary schools. Nine of tiie twelve members know nothing whatever of the pre- sent needs of Ontario's schools. Only one of the twelve has any connection with High schools, although from the High schools come ne i the candidates for examination. The only men who ci .ow anything •. jut the High schools are carefully excluded year aft.?r year from this Junto of education- ists. The fact that the two High school inspectors are never consulted in regard to a matter with which they, and they alone, are conversant, shows conclusively that the Government have something else to consider besides the real welfare of the schools. The members of the council are, directly or indirectly, appointed by a politician, and political expediency governs the appointments. The members of the council, it is conceded, are scholains, but intimate knowledge of the schools and of prospective exiaminers Is of more importance in the matter under discussion than high scholastic attainments and prestige alone without such knowledga 37 mni TlUit the appointments to the council are Improperly made la shown clearly by the vicious operation of Ohe limited functions of the council. In my last letter I showed thajt the consultative functions of the council are a farce, as that body is never con- sulted by the Minister of Eklucatlon. As briefly a« possible I shall now show tihat the only operative functions of the E^duca- tional Council are, if possible,. a greater farce. In the one cue the work of the council is nil; in the other case. It is absolutely worth lees than nothing. 1 have before me the public accounts for 1901. On pace 36 I find tihe list of associatB examiners for last summer, and the amonnts paid for their services. An analysis of the list reveals some astonishing facts. Those who know anything about our schools will acknowledge that majny of these examiners are quite incompetent to perform satisfactorily the task assigned to them. It is well known, too, oonong Ontario educationists that the capa- city of the collective examiners ihas been of late rapidly deter- iorating and that it reached a very low ebb last July. The coun- cil in making appointments has been guided by no fixed princi- ples based on sound scholarship, length of pedagogic service, or special fitness for thoroughly accurate work. In the Education Act (vi. 9) I find this clause: "No examineu- or associate examiner shall be appointed for more than three consecutive years." Still 1 find on this list of last July the names of many examiners who have served continuously from four to seven years. In Statute vi. 4, we read: "The council shall appoint asso- ciate examiners, who shall be actually engaged in teaching and be tiinMluates oif university or specialists according to the regu- lations of the Education Department" This law, also, is flag- rantly disregarded by the council. Some of the exaiminers, and that, too, of the higher grades of papers, hold only Interim cer- tiflcatee, and some even are not eng^aged in teaching the subjects which they examine. On the list before me I find a lamentable paucity of well- known educationists. Only two principals of the thirty-nine Collegiate Institutes are here! Only eleven bead masters of the ninety -three High Schools are here! Of the hundred and twentgr examiners from High Schools and Ci^IIdgiate Lostitutes, thirty- three are not specialists> although the council bad three hundred and thirty-nine specialists to choose from, and many of these qualified specialists have not been examiners for many years! The council deliberately passed over hundreds of competent aoid admirable examiners and wantonly selected incompetent non- specialists! Three years ago not a woman appeared on the list of exam- iners. When the door was opened to women, the fair ones made It, grand rush for the gates ajar, and the sentimental council r«- oeivied them with open arms. Of the ninety-nine women at present 28 taacbins In High School's, forty are aaaociate examiners, nlhereaa of the four hundred and seventy-four men, only el^ty are on the list. That is, a voman ha^g now one chanoe out of two of secur- ing an appointonent, while a man (poor, weak sex) has only one chance out of e4ght! This fact alone shows the utter absence of rational principles among the august but tender councillors. We have now a reign of sentiment wfbere. If Ln any region, sturdy business methods should be paramount. There is much dissatisfaction among the schools on account of the reckless Inconsiderateness of the council. Many High Schools have no representatives among the examiners, while other BchoolB have their whole staffs appointed. Six Collegiate Institutes have no representatives; seven Collegiate Institutes have one woman each and no men; and forty-four of the ninety- three High Schools are without representation. Such a hap- hajuird and desulUxry mode of selecting examiners was studiously avoldied nnder the older and better regime. The council have so lost control of themselves that there is no longer any appearance of the principle of judicious selection In appointing examiners. A year ago these perplexed savants actually cast ballots for examiners! The charge made by your correspondents last sumnxer that many of the examiners are quite incompetent was proven fully by the examination results published in August. A competent examiner "hews close to the line," and the weak candidates go down; an incompetenti examiner accepts wrong answers as cor- rect, or, at least, accepts imperfect answers as If complete, and the weak candidate passes. By enquiry in various quarters I find that never before in the history of Ontario examinations did so many weak and ill-prepared candidates pass as passed last summer. In nearly every High School not only did all pupils pass whose names appeared on the confidential report of the staff, but also many were successful who, in the matured opinion of their own teachers, were quite unfit to meet the test success- fully. Better results would, therefore, have been obtained last July — results better for candidates and schools and the truest interests of education — if there had been Educational Council and the masters of the High Schools had determined tihe results. Better results would have been obtained, and the self-respect of pupils and of teachers would have >had a more enduring founda- tion, and the province would have saved the enormous sum of thirty thousand dollars, squandered — worse than squandered — last year on departmental examinations. Yours, etc., LICTOR. March 5th. n THK HIGH SCHOOLS. Tlw HItfa School! occupy a rmy imponrtant place In our eduoaUooal ty*- Uni. but in the opinion of tfae Oppoeition thejr are not dolns M efflcieot work M thoy micht be doing if they rtood upon their own utlUty, instead of beins. w Mr. Rom describes them, a "link in the educational chain" coonecUns t^e PubUc School with the UnlTenity. Mr. Whitney datma that It la not the ■pedal function of the Public School to prepare pupils for the High School*, nor of the High Schools to prepare students for th* University. Under the preswit system the Unlremlty informs the High Schools what they must teach, and erery High School student is headed for the Unlvenlty. The High Schools tell the Public Schools what they should teach to fit their pupils for ttie High School, and the efficiency of boOh Public and High schools is Judged by the numbMs that are able to pass these reepecUve examlnaUcoi. At a recent meeting of the Toiroiito School Board, Trustee Parkinson, who has had a long experience as principal of a city PubUc School, said it would be "• grand thing if feiwer pupils were able to pass the entrance ezam- inaUons." Prof. Ooldwin Smith recenUy said, ^««iat every bualnen mvi knows to be true, "that there is more demand io this country today for a boy of 14 or 15 with a businesa training than for Unlvenlty graduatw." Mr. Whitney maintains that the training in the PubUc Sdiools should be for the benefit of the greatest number; tthat the High Schools should take a boy at the end of the Fourth Book claw and do Uw best they can for him In the two or three years which he spends in the Higb Schools, regardless of what the University would like to have done for theUL In ottier worda, that our school system should be like a ladder; the Kindergarten, the PubUc School, the High School and the University each a sepsrate rung In the lad- der, instead of Unks In a chain. Then we should not have the spectede wtlch we sea to^iay. of PuWic Schools trying to do University work, and the Uni- vandty conducting what have been called "Kindergsrten daaseat" l.a, large dasses of students who have not passed the matriculattan t^ iH n g up the ■iemenury wwk in the University wbich should b© done in the High Sdiools. Aa one of the main reasons for the existence of the High School is "the discovery of geolua." Mr. Whitney says, give a Uttle more discretion to the teadier both In the uae of teort books and in the selection off couxaes of study — make the teadher more a man and less a "'n^'hlnff. Today the teaching profession is not reoognized aa a profeasion and too often we see In the press, and hear on the streets, the term schoolmaster and "school marm" used as terms of repnwch. This Is not ak it should ba Tliera is no class in the community so deserving of our esteem or so beneflcisl to the state, with the possible excaptlan of the medical profession. Everything 30 \- ^r.t-, thai can bs don* to make the takchins prorjv, ?>V,i^ ' With the other readers, the noteworthy feature is that the number is ^mailer this year in. each than it was last year. The largest number of pupils ^ti|n./' in any reader is found in the Third Reader ; more than in the Second, by 5,%^ ^ The attendance at our Secondary Schools during the year 1900 is less by 737 than in 1809. This to us is unsatisfactory, for the higher life of the province is very largely dependent upon the Secondary Schools of tho province. Therefore, every symptom connected with them should be moat oarefollj oonaidered." 81