IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I I^IZB |2.5 |jo ■^~ H^B £ Iffi HID IU& 11.25 il.4 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 i'l&i' i^MK JTMiT WiBSTER, i^.Y. 145S0 (716)S72-4503 ^. CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVl/iCMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical IMicroreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 6^ Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notas tachniquas at bibliographiquas Tha Instituta hat attamptad to obtain tha bast original copy availabia for filming. Faaturoa of this copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua, which mcty altar any of tha imagas in tha raproduction. or which may significantly changa the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D n D Coloured covers/ Couverture da coulaur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagia Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^a et/ou pellicuMe I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured init (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations an couleur Bound with other material/ Rali^ avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re iiura &.err6e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion la long de la marge intiriaura Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within tha text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouttes lors d'una restauration apparaissent dans la taxte. mais. lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont pas iti filmias. L'institut a microfilm* la ma^^leur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6xi possible de se procurer. Les details de cat exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographiqua. qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mAthode normale de fiimage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. [~~| Coloured pages/ D D J D D D D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies Pages restored and/or laminated/ ^agas rastaur^es et/ou pelliculAes Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d^color^es, tachet^es ou piquies Pages detached/ Pages d6tach6as Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of print varies/ Quaiit^ in6gale de I'impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire I I Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiallement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata. une pelure, etc.. ont M filmees A nouveau de fapon A obtenir la meilleure image possible. Th to Th pc of fill Or ba thi si( oti fir si( or Th sh Til w| Ml dil en be ris rei m( D Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimantaires; This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de rMuction indiqu* ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here hes been reproduced thenks to the generosity of: Library of the Public Archives of Canada L'exemplaire filmA fut reproduit grAce A la gAnirositA de: La bibiiothdque des Archives publiques du Canada The images sppearing here ere the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in Iceeping with the filming contract specifications. Las images suivantes ont 4tA reproduites avec ie plus grand soin. compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetA de l'exemplaire fiimi, et en conformit6 avec ies conditions du contrat de filmage. Originel copies in printed paper covert are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the lest page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the bacic cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the fir^t page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en pepier est imprimAe sont fiim6s en commenpant par Ie premier plet et en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par Ie second plat, salon Ie ces. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmte en commengant par la premiere page qui comporto une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on eech microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, seion Ie cas: Ie symbols —»> signifie "A SUIVRE", Ie symbols y signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., mey be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too lerge to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right end top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s it des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seui clichA, 11 est filmA A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant ie nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. ! 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I t»\/k/V^\>V/Vv>\>^ /\•»y»rf•■X^*V/X/^•V/Vl^/ '*/w ••'i/v/v'^V v/ v>.».'\,%.«. ^ /\ ■ V ^, CIRCULAE COXTAININO INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS, IN CANADA EAST, A5D A PRECIS OF THEIR DUTIES. MONTREAL, MAY 1, 1844 !!>■■ CIRCULAR CONTAISINO INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS, IN CANADA EAST, AKD A PRftCIS OF THEIR DUTIES. MONTREAL, MAY 1, 1844. Ge r gro ivnc cir< the to pri Co Uil suf tie gei thi oil thi wl cle ao( be in tli( in( INSTRUCTIONS. \o. 5. (CIRCULAR.) Gentlemcn, The nature of the dally correspondence between a great number of School Commissioners and this Office, and the fact that copies of the Education Act are not circulated to an extent sufficient for the information of those who arc called upon to put it in operation, seem to impose upon me the duty of placing before you a precis of the duties which, in your quality of School Commissioners, you are required to perform. I have taken the liberty of adding such remarks as have been .suggested to me by my anxious desire to see the inten- tion of the Legislature strictly complied with, by the general diffusion of education among the people. To thi.s end, it is necessary that the course pursued through- out the country, should be more regular and uniform than it has hitherto been, and that the duties of those who are expected to render the law effectual, should Ik- clearly defined, and perfectly understood. It is the more essential that, in the absence of new Legislative measures, the Commissioners should be iuUy acquainted with the requirements of the existing law, because more implicit obedience to it will be reciuired, in future, than has been hitherto rendered, as well by the Commissioners as by the Teachers. Indeed, the indulgence which has so long been shown, must be attribiitoil only to the liict that tlie hiw was new, littlo known, aiul always on the point of being amended. Nothing, however, must now prevent the rendering of that ob^idience which the law requires of its legally ap[)ointed ollieers, notwithstanding the neglect or refu- sal of some of the Municipal Councils to co-operate with them in carrying out the provisions of the School Act, passed in 184.1. 1 cannot too strongly commend to th(3 attention of the Connnissioners, the suggestions which accompany thn>;c parts of the explanation of the law which more l)articuhirly regard themselves, as well as the Teachers. IMy object is to induce regularity in their proceedings, uniformity in their reports, energy in the management of the Schools under their control, order in the method of teaching, and devotedncss in all tiiat belongs to the fullilment of the highly important and responsible trust with which they are honoured. It is only by means of our strenuous and united etforts that the great object, which the Legislature had in view in ffiving to tho country the Education Act, can be attained. ^Vt'tor the precis Avill come several forms, which, in making and in receiving returns, I trust the Commis- sioners will see exactly followed. I. The time appointed by the law, for the election of School Connnissioncrs, is the month of January of each year. The Scholastic year is to conunencc immediately after their election. Commissioners are to be elected, to the number of five for those Parishes or Townshi[)s which are entitled to retur« only one Municipal Councillor, and to the number of seven for those Parishes or Townships which have the right of electing two Councillors. () Should a vacancy occur in the number of Commit sioners, by death, sickness, refusal, or incapacity t act, the other Commissioners are empowered, by th«- law, to fill up the vacancy, at their next meeting, by the appointment of another person. Any householder may be elected Commissioner. It is, however, to be well understood, that no Teacher shall be a member of the body, and that it would be highly improper to appoint to that important office any person who is not sufficiently educated to be an efficient and useful member. The Commissioners may be re-elected ; and if the Pi-esident of the Parish or Township should neglect to cause the election at the time which the law appoints, the persons who hold the office shall continue to do so until a new election has taken place. It is very desirable that the President of the Parish or Township should send to this Office a report of the election of School Commissioners, every year. To this end, I trust the Commissioners will put themselves in communication with him, and, if he fails in doing so. that they will themselves furnish the information re- quired, as soon a" possible after the election. The Commissioners are, by the law, the judges in any questions which may arise among themselves rela- tive to their proceedings, and in any difficulties between individuals of their body and the Teachers. When, in their meetings, different opinions are held, the question shall be put to vote, and, as in all delibera" live bodies, the decision of the majority shall be the rule. In the event of a division, it will be well to enregister the votes on both sides. It will be the duty of the Commissioners who go out of Office, within the ten days following the relinquisli- a2 mcnt of tlu'ir cliir^f, to j.laeo in tlio liuiitld of their suc- ccs.'Ors, all bouL.s, jjupor.s, and otlu.-r objects appertaininjj; t J the O'lice v\' the Cominid^^ioucrs; and, in the event of a rei'ustd or n< .;lret to coiMijIy, the new C^unnni^sioniTs are fully euiii w.-red to exact uln;<'i..'nee by all l''^al me:in.^. ir. Tl;e Coninii.- .i'-nrri luii.-'t exan U'. v> ith cai'( api )ii- cants I'er the .sifualiv hh of Truehers in the Schools nnde." t'leir eonti'ul, m "{•■'- v »h;it llu y m:\y lUii!i 'o tin'lr jjiipiis, \\\\'. be, if followed, an excellent ni'-itti'^ i i' siM-ccfd. The signaMiies of ci 1 lain Teacl.ir,^ attached to the Ile[>orts for Is );j, sid.mitied to thii< Olli.e, are very bad, and show cl irly their uii!i(!.;'-s r.> t(meh tlie art of writint^, a ni"st esscntiiil part i.i'a [i:;' 'lical edueatioii. It is impuM.int thi't tli(! C'onr.iiisioiu'rs should enter into written on!i'a,'.]cnuiU.i with LIm' Tviicliers, in which the i-eniuner:Ui'.>n for ilu.ii' ki.'1-\ ici's siiould be clearly delined. Of ih'■^.' enu ^-^i mm! ^ every 'rea<:lier ought to be fm-nished n';ll\ a coj)y. It is not le.->i iiiiportunt tiial th'i Com nnssioners should make rules for tiie government of the Sv hools — of which rules the Tea-'!ierr"- sliould be furnished with a copy, and recpilred strictly ]low tlum. 'J'lic Commissioners sl:ould r.iqniro the Teachers to r SUV.- lalniii^ out of l-.jal kw[) a ihiily J.jiiiMa!, siiiiilai', if possible, to tliat k('[>t under t!ie rMticatlon Act passed in 1 H32, and which expired in 1S;J(J — of n!iich a form will be found at tiie end of this precisy (Xo. {)). It is, however, of little con- se4uence what llie foi'ia of the Journal nuiy be, provid- ed the Teachers arc eniibltd to render to the Commis- sioners u satisfactory account of all that concerns their Schools. It is not ncces^iary thtit eo[iit'S of the Jcnn'nul should be sent to this Uillce, the object of it being only to satisfy the School Connuissioners. 111. The Schools nrerccpiircd by law lobe held at least nine months dnrh)g thj ^'car — n;»t less tlian fifteen Scholars attending daily. 'J'hat this is prt)pei'ly complied with tlie Commissioners ought to be perfcclly satisfied, and the daily Jonrinil is intended for their infonnution vn this important point. If the appointed lunnbcr of Scholars has not been in attendance during tlie s[)ace designated, the Commissioriors should rcfiuirc the de- ficiency to be made up during the remaining three months, so that in no case whei*c Go^ernment aid is asked, ii loss number tlian fifteen Scholars bhall liave received instruction during nine months of the year for which the claim is made. One of tlic Commissioners at least ought regularly to visit the Schools once a month, and the public exami- nation should in all cases be attended by a majority of them. This public extunination must take place once a year, and prizes should be distributed to excite emula- tion among, and for tlie encouragement of, the pupils. The School hours maybelimited to fiveperday. In winter, on account of the distance of a number of the children from the Schools, and the inclemency of the weather, it will be well to assemble the scholars only once I* H a day, from nine in the morning until tliree in the after- nooti — giving a short time, about noon, for refreshment. IV. It would be very desirable to have in each Parish or Tovnship a Model or Superior School, where children attending the Common Sclioolsj particularly those who shew a better disposition, might complete a course of practical study. I cannot doubt that th 3 Commissioners will fully coincide in tlie view I have taken of the para- mount importance of establishing Schools of this des- cription, for the support of which the friends of educa- tion, in each locality, will doubtless make it a duty to contribute as liberally as possible ; for if it be desirable to give to allchildren a certain degree of education, it must be equally or more advantageous, to afford to a due pro- portion, a practical and rational acquaintance with the higher branches of knowledge, in order to fit them in time to become Teachers themselves, or otherwise per- form their parts well in the after business of life. The Teachers who should preside over these Schools should be qualified to teach — besides reading and writing — the principles of the French and English Languages, geo- graphy, history, arithmetic, in all its branches, linear drawing, and the keeping of books. Exercises in com- position, and particularly in letter-writing, should not, on any account, be omitted or neglected. There is no- thing which contributes more to prepare young men for the active business of life, than facility in writing on all practical subjects, and a perfect familiarity with the most approved methods of book-keeping. It is true that the theory only of this most important branch of knowledge can be acquired in School. But, if the foun- dation be well and securely laid, the practice is of easy acquirement, when circumstances render it necessary. ^ 1 The Commissioners, in whom is vested the power of selecting Teachers, will therefore, I confidently trust, exercise the greatest care in choosing the parties to whom they confide the minds of the generation rising around them — their own children, and the children of their friends and neighbours — who will, on their part, remember with gratitude that to them, under Provi- dence, they owe it that their younger years have not been spent in vain. V. A register should be kept in every Parish or Town- piiip, in which the names of tiie Commissioners, after each election, should be duly entered. In this Book shauld also be inserted nil the proceedings of the body — such as, the division of the Parish or Township into School Districts, to be tlcsignated by numbers — the manner In which the Government grant has been dis- posed of — the rules iulo;)tcd for each School — the monthly visits, and yearly examinations — copies of all reports made to this OlTico, and all other matters of interest and iinportauee — to the end that the Educa- tional affairs of tiie Parldh or Township may at any time be susceptible of easy investigntion or explanation. I am tlie more particular m making these remarks, because 1 have had great dilliculty in understanding the reports sent me from some of the Districts, obviously from a want of order and arrangement in recording the pro- ceedings during tlie year. I cannot, therefore, too strongly uv'^Q the Commissioners to have the proceeding, in their several Districts fully and cleaily recorded, in order that the Department may at any time be prepared to explain all the details connected with it, should the Legislature, which has made such libeial provision for 10 the education of the people, at any time desire detailed information as to the manner in which the duties have been performed, and the amount of benefit which has resulted from the grant. In the Register should be inserted also, the names of children to whom prizes have been awarded, as an ex- cellent means of exciting emulation. An equally effectual manner of inducing emulation, particularly in the Model Schools, will be to keep a weekly record of praiseworthy and objectionable points in the conduct and application of the pupils, with the view of giving them places in their respective classes, corres- ponding to the degree of merit each may have shewn. The practice followed in our Colleges, and in the School of tllC Reverend Brothers of the Christian Doctrine, is worthy of imitation in this respect. By it, the Teachers can at all times ascertain, without danger of error, what liave been the conduct and progress of the Scholars ; and determine, with the strictest justice and impartiality, the number and value of the prizes which should be distri- buted by the Commissioners, at the annual public exa- mination, to tlio most diligent among them, and to those who by the excellence of their conduct, have merited especial marks of public approbation, VI. If there be, in any Parish or Township, a number of persons too poor to assist in the support of Schools, the Commissioners have the privilege of exempting ten heads of families, in each School District, from tlie necessity of contributing to the Funds. The Commissioners are by the Education Act also empowered to exempt, in whole or in part, one, and even two, of the School Districts, because of their poverty, from contributing towards the support of 11 Schools, provided they (the Commissioners) are prepar- ed to show that a sum equal to that olBered by the Government, has been raised for the support of the Schools of the District, from whatever source it may have come ; and the School Districts thus exempted will not receive a less part of the Government alloca- tion. Suppose, for example, the Government offers to a Parish or Township one hundred pounds, for the support of five Schools, where there has been previously levied an equal sum for the support of education, the Commis- sioners may give their part of the appropriation to one or two School Districts, although an equal amount, or even any part of it, may not have been levied upon the inhabitants of these particular localities, (their inability to pay being ascertained.) But it is necessary, to enable them to do so, that an equal sum to that offered by Government should have been paid (from the general fund levied upon the parish or township, or from some other source) to the teachers of these poor Schools, who should be as well qualified as the others, and equally as well remunerated. There are not, at the disposal of Government, any particular funds for the support of Schools in poor Districts, nor for the education of popr children in those Districts in which the inhabitants contribute towards the Schood Fund. The Commissioners, therefore, can only provide for the education of these children in the manner herein mentioned. vn. For those Districts where the Municipal Councils do not co-operate, I must repeat the advice I have already offered to the Commissioners, and earnestly urge upon them the importance of providing, by voluntary con- 12 tributions from the inhabitants, or in any other manner, the necessary sums for the purposes of education. All disbursements in a School District for the pur- chase of a building lot, for the building or repairs of a School-House, for the purchase of books and papers, and for warming the School, should be over and above all that is paid to the Teacher, to equal the amount of the Government grant. There are no funds, at the disposal of Government, for the purchase of books. No part of the grant of £30,000 can be appropriated to any special object, the whole sum having been set apart by the Legislature for the support of Teachers. The Commissoncrs will render to this Office an an- nual statement, shewing the manner in which they have disposed of the portion of the grant placed at their dis- posal for educational objects. This is necessary to the completion of the Annual Report which it is the duty of this Department to lay before the Legislature. In making returns the Commissioners are requested to follow the Form (No. 6,) at the end of ipn VIII. There cannot be, in any School District, more than one School under the control of the Commissioners, although there may be Dissentient Schools ; in which latter case these Dissentient Schools can only claim apart of the allocation which belongs to the District, according to their population. Independent Schools are not recog- nized by the Education Law. Schools to which grants have been made, by virtue of Special Acts, of which there are many in our cities, and in the country under the name of Acadamies, can make no claim to any portion of the grant ot j£30,000. or 18 Dissentient Schools ought to be ruled by throe Trus- tees, agreeing in religious belief with the Dissentients, who are to appoint them for this purpose. These Trus- tees have the same duties and the same powers as the Commissioners ; and, where the Municipal Councils do not act, they are required to send to this Office, a report of tlieir secession, and of their own election. IX. There are no means, at the disposal of Government, for the teaching of any language other than that of the majority of the children attending the School. Thus, in an English locality, if a Teacher instruct his pupils in the French Language, he cannot, in consequence, claim any larger portion of the Government grant — and vice versa, X. The Commissioners, where the Municipal Councils do not act, are exhorted to transmit to this Office, their School Reports at the time appointed by the Act — that is, the 29th December ; these Reports should be signed by at least a majority of them, of whom it is desirable that the President should be one. However, because of certain circumstances in which the country was placed by the Act of 1841, the time for making the reports has been extended to the second Tuesday in February ; but, in this case, as in the former, the Commissioners who sign the Report must be those of the year for which tl'fi Report is made. The sending in of Reports, after the appointed time, even if it do not expose the Parish or Township to the danger of losing its share of the grant, at least causes much additional labour to this Department, the inevitable consequence of which is to retard, to the great prejudice of the Teachers — (as has been the case this year, and more especially the last) B 14 — the distribution of the money grnntcd by the Legis- lature to the different Schools in this section of the Pi'ovince. The Commissioners will have the goodness to write their Reports on light paper, and to keep them within the weight of half an ounce, with a view to make the expense of postage as little burdensome as possible. I may also remark that one Report only, to this Ollice, is required for the whole Scholastic year. In making their Annual Reports, I trust tlie Com- missioners will follow the Form of which a copy will be found at the end oi tlds precis, (No. 2.) I take the op- portunity of explaining that by the words "Period of instruction during tlie year," wliicli appear at the head of one of the columns in this form, is to be understood the number of months during which the School has been held in the year referred to ; and that by the words " Number of Public School Houses," which will be seen at t!u3 head of another column, is desired to be ascer- tained what Schools were built under the old Education Acts, and available for the purposes of the Act passed in 1S41, now under the control of the Commissioners, and also those whlcli have been built, and those in process of erection under the operation of the last mentioned Law. By the words " Total amount paid to the Teacher during the year," is to be understood the sum actually p.iid in money or otherwise, from whatever source it may have come (for the proportion of the year during which the Teacher has kept the School,) not that which has been subscribed or promised XL Many District Councils not having div' led the Parishes and Townships into School Districts, I ear- nestly repeat the advice I have already given the Com- 1, Cll missioncrs — if the Municipal Councils still refuse to do it — that they will themselves exactly ilefinctb*^ limits of these Districts, and report the same to this Oflice. This proceeding is particularly essential, at this time, when the Governmcn'^ is on the eve of distributing funds for the erection of School Houses. The Districts ouglit not to be too numerous, so that better buildings may be erected, and larger lots acquired, which ma}', in tin; cour.-^e of time, become small model farms or gardens, and assist in tlic support of the Teachers. It should also be borne in mind that multiplying the schools toe extensively would have the effect of augmenting the dilliculty, already sulHciently great, of procuring suitu- ble Teachers, by dividing among too many the mean ' for their support. XII. The Commissioners ought to assure themselves tiiat the lands on which the Public School Houses are built are actually public property, by virtue of old Acts for this part of the Province — examining the deeds of sale and donation, which were passed during the exist- ence of former Education Acts, and guaranteeing the possession, to the Commissioners, in perpetuity, fur Kducational objects. In cases where there are no titles, means should be taken to secure the property, as should ulso bo done in all cases where any doubt exists. In acquiring property for the building of School He uses wliere none now exist, good titles should be secured, certified copies of wliicli should be sent to this Offi^'e. If it be found in any case that the old School-House is not convenient for the purpose, because ofits being far from the centre of the School District, or for any other reason, the majority of the Commissioners, the Presi- dent agreeing with them, are authorised to sell or exchange it, seeing that the Public School Houses, and 16 tiie lauds on which thoy are built, as well as all tlmt apper- tains to the Public Schools, are, by law, the property, in perpetuity, of the School Commissioners, for the pur- l>o,ses of Education. XIII. Tiie Commissioners should name from their own body, one or more, to superintend the construction and the repair of the Public School Houses. TJiey are requested to send to this Office, a report of all School Houses, built with the aid of the Legislature, under the present Act, in the form hereunto annexed, (No. 4.) I trust that advantage will be taken of the Legisla- tive aid, to build commodious School Houses, taking care that the rooms are well ventilated, and that provi- sion is made for the residence of the Teachers on the spot. The interests of morality, as well as the health ol' the children, will, by such means, be best promoted. The Commissioners, after having determined upon the number of School Districts in their respective loca- lities, will also decide upon those which should receive assistance towards the erection of houses. Having done so, they may petition in their favour, or give their assent to the petition of the inhabitants who ask for such aid. No petition will be received unless assented to by the School Commissioners, through whose minis- try all money must be expended. There is, at present, at the disposal of Government, to assist in the building of School Houses, by virtue of an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, a sum amounting nearly to JG34,000, which will be divided among the different Parishes and Townships, upon cer- tain rules, with which I shall have the honor to acquaint you at a later date ; that is to say, when I shall have bad a communication of the result of the census now Ixiing taken in this part of the I'l-ovincc, — being hcM to inako, for this object, all my calculations accord in'.' to the population. Tho localities which have a right to any part of this Mun of £.'54,000, are those which have not received their full proportion of the School Money in IS 12 and lS4.'j. Thus, if, according to the number of its popu- lation, a Parish or Township has a right to £100 annu- ally, as its part of the grant of £;30,000, for the support of its Schools, and has received only jC40 for 1 842, and a like sum for 1843, it may reckon upon the balance — sav £120 — to assist in building School Houses. To have a right to any part of the £34,000, it will bi' necessary, also : 1st. That the lands on which the new School Houses arc to be erected, should be the property of the Parish, or Township,rcpresented by the Commissioners,who are, fur this object, incorporated in perpetuity. 2d. That at least £25 shall have been contributed towards the School of the District, in order that it may be entitled to an equal sum from the Government; but in no case, shall a larger sum than £oO be granted to any School District. 3d. That the Commissioners shall furnish to this Office, an authenticated copy of the deed of sale or donation of the land on which the School House is to be erected, securing it to them and their successors, in perpetuity, for educational purposes. They ought also to furnish the certificate of the County Kegistrar, of the registration of the deed. 4th. That the said Commissioners shall furnish to this Office, a copy of the receipt of the undertaker ol the said building. otli. Finally, that competent arbitrators, three in n2 18 I number, shall oertily tlmt the land and building arc wortli at least £50, according to tho requirement of the law; or not of less value than £100, if a grant ol £ ')0 he asked for. It will be understood, tlmt those Tru.>- tees should not be School Commissioners. 7'/V/rN»>. 1, nt the end of this^^mw, for the form of the ccrtilitate of the Arbitrators. The value mentioned by the Arbitrators is to be tlic present value of the building, not what it may have cost, u'lien purchased or built. I ought to mention here, that the Act of 1841, Aviiieh venders necessary a School House of the value of at least £oO, grants nothing for the building of new School Houses, or for the repair of old ones, and that the Le- gislative aid now given, is only temporary. in many localities, buildings have been erected by means of " bees." I believe this plan well adapted in thi; circumstances of the greater part of the inhabitants of country places, and I cannot but recommend it, knowing how happily it has operated in the building of .>5cveral of our Colleges. I trust it will be unnecessary to explain that it is not luy intention, in writing thus, unduly to interfere, in (lie slightest degree, with the local government of tho Seliools, which are placed entirely under the control of tlie Connuissioners, to whom the law assigns certain tijteciilo duties. It is required that they shall submit a siatenient of the Schools, under their control, to the (!()uncil of the District — where that body acts in unison witii tliem — the Warden of which is expected to com- jimncate with me, with a view to substantiate the chiim of the District to share the Legislative grant. The same course is to be pursued with reference to the expenditure of the money, when obtained — that is, the Commissioners will report upon the mode of the expen- diture, to the Council, which, through its Warden, will lay the report before this department. Where the Council does not co-operate, the Commissioners have the entire local management, and, instead of communi- ( iiting with the Council, they will make their reports directly to this Office. Being convinced, however, that the Commissioners will not be satisfied with a meagre lit porfornmnco of the legally proscribed duty, but tiiat tluy will be desirous of rendering tlie fulfiluient of that ilury elfeetnal for good, I have felt it incumbent upon mo, as Superintondant of Education, to otter for their consideration, and recommend for their adoi)tioii. •such suggestions and rules as seem calculated to eidist them more earnestly, and guide them more ett'ectivfly, in the prosecution of tlie important and most honorable work which has boon assigned them. AUvucly the inMuence of the endowment luis been happily I'elt, and the increase in the mnnber of Schools in l84o, over the previous year, affords the most en- oouraging evidence of the desire of tJie people to afford to their children all the advantages winch education is so eminently calculated to ditt'use. Our united efforts will do much to extend and cherish this most desirable spirit, which it is alike for the honor and interest of the country, should be universal. I have the honor to bo, Gentlemen, Very respectfully, your obedient and humble servant, J. B. MEILLEUR. Kin r.\MoN UiTit'i:, (East,) Montreal, May 1, K-^4-l. (No. 1.) /'(tr./i of Ccrt'ijicatc, to he (jivcn- b>j the ArhUraturs (ippohitcd to declare the value of School Houses erected Inj the assistance of Govomment. We, A. I)., C. D., E. F., Arbitrators appointed to estimate the value of the Public School House in the ScholJlUUil}l I \i s s .'3 1^ •|t.»sn s>|(i()ji 'H| ^IMpil|.)IlI (nil M1I.>A' Otp ,'rtl!UII|t •i'ni[ (>i |iiti(I luii:; .M|i .\<\\ i(l!'>'>'i' "I •,U .r.UI.UOS M.)i|.>it.\L 11(1 yi .MII|Ulij'^'!S •jmU.o JU.tUHI.Il.Mil^) .ll|l )u 1.I1II(S -HI ]>) .)Alsr.l.)\.l '.1I!.»\' .ll[) .T,|1I.I|||I iNl .It!.. A t. -,1 c 2 S I .i.HiMinii I'lii) J \ •s•J7^).v [,] (1) (J uiit.ij I san[(>i|.)^ J.I a.xnniiNy; '^ '^.isnoq [ooi(.ik^ ■'(•MO 'UOjl, ).),). I •}oiajsi(i |ooqoc^,^(i -o^*^ •saauoissiuitiiof) '?^ re: o o 5^ « ** ■ i (9 oi|.u piuil pa)(.iaiu oq |>inoi|8 o«o(|x M 9 ■.1 c h: E C IS I i V if 1 S 1 ?i 1 ?i 1 \>1 1 161 ^ 1 ^ 1 s; 1 Si 1 ^ 1 S 1 2 1 2 1 l: 1 '£ 1 21 2 1 2 1 2! 1 = 1 2 1 « 1 « 1 *- 1 « 1 1 '- 1 I ' + i "i+ + i "1 1 + - + 1 ' Is S. T3 s a u ti 3 ♦J "■ * •/. - r/. J; , I. 2 - U - 2 11 S -a 1. s s c c a •a Z Sec *J " s o ^ * ^ « = i •aay O I" -''X I PA -3 3 i s o u "o c o & ■'.ft a? oi 3 GO § "s. ■?-. 5 2i 1 « ^ • J£ Ui 2 a Zj r^ Ph "d •p.)pii3dxr> [tJjoj^ v5 CV. '3 'd OS ^sas Ph -non POM'-'S • oj{qn,x ,;o iiui TO u A g A -i)[tiiq om ao^ «^ A -d s sjsnoijiooqog »!iq".i y> <» o Jimlaj oip aoj 'fl "^ u 0) -6 i ^,so[qB -AOUI JO OSTJqO «• -and oqi aoj =*? 5 Ti 3 ^.unlcd puu 1 S3{Ooq JO osBqo • CO -and oq') aoj^ .52 «*? 3 c; • . ;.sja A -q0B0X»H»t'X «*l Cm S o _, 4< I I £ I s y5 M ;?5 § § CJ •sjfatjraoji 00 '^ •^UBJQ ^tiotntuoAOf) otp nio.ij inns oip .loj ^(iio.ioa v sn ^uUiajos 5^1 .oil) ^'i P?^'*^ luijaa aq] jo ^auj •sojnSy ui p.TjB^s 'UT30.C oqi SuTjnp sjoipuo^]^ oij; 0) pitjcl -jucaii oi[i jo jai^j «^ iSuunp noijonj)sin ^o pouoj a o I •saouoissiuinio;;) ;0l{) JO 5Jodoj£ {unuuv oq? jo. jojTjpoq^UB'sjBo.f 9 1 OH' uiojjsani j-oipsjoaoquin^ •sjBioqog JO joquinu pnoj^ •spio •s.fo3 •siooqng JO aoqainu CO C '■O a a o '/I (A o o c3 c 72 .a («1 SJOuoTssTtnnioQ aqj ^fq pa^jds ui 'sjoqDtjox oqi jo souiB^ (a C cc o '■3 C cs e § a s o O IS =s 72 -3