IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ■-IM |M 12.2 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ., 6" ► % vQ 7: PVintnorQnihip Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 L^

ft»?2 i^wTi'^-^ * « 3rd. That provision be made for a more competent and regular remuneration of the Teachers, and 4th. That for ihc carrying out of these measures a general Assessment of the rateable inhabitants be re- sorted to. For the accomplishment of this plan, it is proposed, that there shall be 12 District Schools, that is, two schools for each City Ward, the one, of a Primary, and the other of a more advanced character, with 4 Teachers for each School, 3 Male and 1 Female, that there shall be a Teacher for Drawing, and another for Music— who shall divide their instructions equal- ly amongst all the Schools of the city ;— and that one of these District Schools in the most central situation shall serve all the purposes of a Normal institution. Supposing that there is an average attendance of 300 children at each of these Schools, there would thus be provision made by the State for the education of 3,- 600 children, leaving about 1000 for private adventure schools. These schools, it is further proposed, shall be under the entire management of a City Board of Education, chosen by the rate-payers in each Ward. This Board shall act as Trustees, and have the full control and regulation of their affairs ; electing and dismissing School-masters, under certain conditions, choosing their own paid Secretary, &c. &c. This Secretary shall also discharge the duties of Superin- tendent of Education for the City of Halifax, and, un- der the direction of the Board, transmit periodical re- ports to the Government. In the event of the above plan being carried into full operation, which it could not be, from the very na- ture of the case, for several years, the expenses in round numbers would be nearly as follows ; — ^m I HBI 1. Salary of ToaohprK, X5000 2. Interest, Insurance, &c. lor Eight New Hchools, (four of the present riihlic Schools being conyorted into District Schools ^ • - 400 3. Contingencies, - - . . . . 900 4. Normal School, (additional,) ... goo 5. Teachers of Music and Drawing, ... SOO 6. School Books, 800 Total, £6,400 However large this sum may appear, it is not near- ly equal to the amount which the present defective mode costs. There are at present in Halifax about Seventy Teachers, and Sixty Schools, and the in- come of the former, and the rent of the latter, tooe- ther with books, &c. can scarcely be less than £6Q0O. Thus, with the present number of children in atten- dance, there will be a saving of £400, and when to this is added the education of 1000 more out of the 2000 children at present receiving no educa- ation, calculating at the same rate, there will be a saving of not less than £2400. But the pecuniary saving is only one of the benefits to be derived from this general plan. There are others far more valu- able. These are such as the following : a fair pro- portion of the population receiving a first rate educa- tion, a uniformity of system, a proper status assigned to Teachers, due scope given to the professional qua- lifications of Teac «ers, in being provided with all the necessary materials, such as school accommodation, furniture, books, &c., the vast comfort and advantage to Teachers, from the certainty that their salaries will be regularly paid, the general results on the social and moral well being of the community at large, &c. &c. But, as already stated, this scheme even under the most favourable circumstances, cannot be fully carried out for a few years, and therefore, the Com- missioners would propose and recommend that during 1 i I \ the first two or three years, the Assessment shall not exceed the sum of £3,000, which sum shall he de- voted to the establilhment of Six Primary Schools in the different Wards of the City, one of whichf shall be erected into a Normal Institution, as soon as means are available for the purpose, it being understood, that, in the event of the Legislatu-e, continuing the grant of £700, to the City of Halifax, out of the Public Treasury, the Assessment shall be thus far reduced. In the course of 4 or 5 years the advanced schools might be commenced in the more central localities, which would in all probability add another £1000 to the Assessment ; and so on, gradually, till the whole plan is put into operation. By this graduated scale, the burden would fall lightly at first on the ratepayers; the advantages become more and more apparent, as the scheme advanced towards completion, and the Board of Education would have time afforded for pro- curing the most efficient Teachers, either from their own Normal Institution or elsewhere. As to the particular mode of levying the assessment, the Commissioners would leave this matter entirely in the hands of the Municipal Authorities; acting under the sanction of the Legislature. They would however, beg to suggest, that the money thus raised be granted entirely for secular education, subject to such regulations concerning religious matters, as shall be deemed essential by the City Board for harmo- nizing a sound system, and obtaining the acquies- cence of the various Christian denominations in the community. The Commissioners at a mooting held on the 7th instant, having unanimously agreed to the foregoing proposal, — resolved, to recommend the same to their fellow citizens ; and, with this view to transmit a jg ;£;^'fta.v^gi^J"j-g3:!" - Jk i Copy to the City Authorities, earne^y soliciting ^eir approbation and support ; and rh'At no time be lost to petition the Legislature, that ilio Civii^ Authorities be empowered to levy an Asaessment in the bvent oC a majority of the rateable inhabitants approving of the scheme. Signed on behalf of the Comai»i3ioners. ROBEliT WILLIS, D.D., QaAiRtiAK. .•■<■: ■■ *»!,'.! .; 5di lit f-( in. tvsiii mo\^ ■1 V t#rl^. «^ nl ;;.^ ■' i'" - i 0:'i'