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Second ] I :w( Fathi To the H Baihu Centi desire, e: Council, port on il cation in There present \ mon Sch and Rem bruary, 1 once, wi part <>f 8 I was in — Sonne ,^-^e J ''-r^dedf V AoU .','iey shf during I tnen the jaily ati nay oft male an years ol other si piis are in the a the grej TheSc serted, almoeit or 12 s ten few than foi their lei syllable ception the yet too few stateiuT as it ini I educa;tion report.^ ^^ ••* ^ * ... 1 _-.r-_ -f .u_ — I* ,ni._ 'l^BCOND Report of the Supbp.inten- ''bxKT OF Common Schools for the l^THURST District. To Mc tVarden and Councillors of tne Bnihursl District. with the education of the yoiwg. It di$- courages Teachere, and almost destroy* the good effectc of their labors. The papilipi so withdrawn from School, must ncce«ia- rily lose much of what they had previous- CBtT"lS'-l\n accordance with your ly learned j-and thot,gh, wh,n the bu^ l^ENTLEMEN, *"'"^^" Session of season s over, they are agam sent to desire, expressed at y^" J^J^,.^^^^ '^^^^^^^ gchool, the advantages of their attendance Counc.I I have prepored the <«"" J|J«_ l):ZL^^.\v imnaired by the absence to port on the state of Common S>ctiooi Ji^uu cation in this District. There are 120 Schools in operation at present under the provisions of \ht Com- mon School Act in the Coimiies of Lanark and Renfrew. Since your Session m Fe are seriously impaired by the absence to j which they have been forced to silb-^J mit. This is an evil which every friend of the yoting cannot but deplore ; and which, so iong as it is continued, must to a great extent thwart the best directed efibns Z^jt^^::::^^^:^ ^"fn the course of my ^. duHr^ the 1 was in their respective neighbourhoods ; winter mor.ths, I was much^ gratified wrlh 1 was in ineir ie!>pco 1 B the general improvement of the children, -someofthem v..ce;anda few olten ^^/^^,j^j^ ^^e attention and diligence of the ®i^ oil- „„«..oi o... h^ttpi' at- Teachers. 1 found the Schiols well at- 'CSd fr^m t : e^fVolem^Mo the tended, and the pupils apparently very de- V ..of April. All through those months sirous to improve themselves. n the var-ous 'hey shov? to much better advantage than branches of knovvledge to which their al- durW the rest of the year. They have tent.on vvj.= directed. t "enT'ie greatrst number of Scholars in Amongst the Schools visited by me in -^laily attendance ; and among them, many the wmter .f gives mo great P easure to ^ nay often be fouid of young persons both not ce vv.th particular commendation that male and female varying from 15 to 20 under the charge oj Mr Warren in the years of age and upwards. During the Township of McNab, whose pupils evm- other six months and a half the older pu- ced a very decided improyemen since my nils are kept at home to assist their parents former visit m 1847,-ano acquitted them- in the agricultural employments in which selves rrost satisfactorily in Reading, Wn- the great majority of them are engaged, ting, Aruhmeiic, and English Grammar. . The Schools are comparatively almost de- Mr. Thompson's School m Brornley re- I sorted, having frequently, and that too in quires also especial notice, as being well almost every Township, n<^t more than 10 conductedjand very creditable to him as a or 12 scholars in regular attendance ;-ol- Teacher. In the Tovvnship of Lanark I ten fewer ;— in some instances not more was much pleased with the School taught than four or six little children just learning by Mr. R. M. Hammond whose scholars their letters, or reading words of one or two sustained an examination in their several ~ studies that proved most dearly the Teach- er's care and the pupils' diligence. 1 have syllables. There are, certainly, some ex- ceptions even during the Summer half ol the year; but they are very few j by far loo few to allow me to give a different as it interferes in a most disastrous way to notice also, with much satisfaction, Mr. McDougall's School in North Sherbrooke. In this somewhat remote Township there were 60 pupils in attendance at the ^hool, I _i9224 / and lb on the Teacher's dail- roll. Mv journey ,o thi, School was through a roS and apparently thinly settled ' country. indicate a School so numerously attended. Mysurpnse and gratification were rere- / fore equally great when the bu^v scene opQ^ed before me. On my arrfvaT ^^^ohn ^yero enjoying themselves in the bS. JnTrf"""? "^' intermission at noon ; ' but in a few mmutes th«y were collected logether and arranged i7the best order be edit M^'L^'i^ '^^\' ^^^'^in^tion show- ed that Mr. McDpugal had not neglected (4) k;. „ ^^-fwgw. iiau not negiecte M numei^uB charge. Mr. Morrison'- ■ I'^J^^';" Perth has sustained, during his I Supermtendenceofit,awell deserved re- I Sm"* ^^'^.^y^tem of instruction is ad- ' i"T.^'^5°"^ '« «J'ke calculated to excite ant fix the present attention of the Scholar, and to promote his sure and steady im- £r""T* ^'r*' me, and to many, a source of regret that we are t.> lose hisVer- vices as a Co«mon School Teacher: and Ifeel assured that all who know him will joio^wuh me in the most sincere wishes for n|s future welfare. The Teachers of several other Schools mayal^obe Noticed with commendation a- jnpng whom may be named Mr. Heely „f Carleton P^ace, Mr. James Poole, and Mr. ^?'^\f^^^^^y, Mr. McDougal of Beck- r„d lif 'tk'"^'.'^ f'^'' «ame Township -- rr^V ^''°'- ^°°'® of Pakenham. 4' *uo not now mention other Teachers Dy Mine, jt is not because I think slightly pt their labors, or imdervalue their servi- ces. I trust it vfill yet be in ray power to make honorable mention of many who la- bor diligently and patiently in their roca- twn, and whose pupils will doubtless soon evince such improvement under their care as will merit especial notice in some future rejport. Thereare a tew young men latelv en- tered upon the important and responsible duties of Common School Teachers, who givefairpromi?e of becoming an important acquisUjonipthp District as Instrur.inrs of routfa. I trust they will receive from those who employ , hem that re.Xltfn.f ' g'lten their labors, and (o give to (heir en- d^vours a sn,.,.e.«ful ,«sue. *" "Trict ^re in'rp'n^T'"' ^^^oughoul the Dis- irici are in general much loo small forron- venienoe and comfort. They are for^h^ teet square, and seldom 8 feet high. Ma- ny are much smaller and of lef heigh, And in each of these are crowded te made operative upon all parlies applv- >ng to ihem for sums of money «to beTvi- ed for the purchasing of School sites, and the erection and furnishing of School Hou- ses. At present, where money is levied f«)r these purposes, the duty of seeing it ex- pended IS often entrusted to incompetent, or selfish, or obstinate persons, who effect much less with it than might be accomplish- ed wit'a the same sum of money, under a well devised and known plan. I have no inrl'^u''. ?'^^°*'^»^ unnecessary expendi- ture j but I am anxious to see a well arran- ged and sufficiently commodious class of Jschool Houses superseding many, in va- rious parts of the Distric.S now used as such; but which, from want of room and other requisites, are quite unfit for the pur- pose. If the inhabitants of School Sections would but lose sight of their merely per- sonal interest m matters of this kind,— if they would unite for the general good of. their Sections,— if they would sacrifice a little present time, or some trifling, passing -■■•'•■•;•'•""'> "' a!" "1 wjc crection and pro" per lurnishing of good and substantial builds liiig» for Co ay would 'most unnet Iiionnl Asse w«»ld !4nstruci fTUere ai modious S( An>ongst tl the south fi same town ^t quite fi ings. The; i)ut the inti are much 1 lliave been " expense et seen. Tails, built ought to be itnct, and \^ fthezeal ac 'in Its erecti Section, an pendiiure, finished sts miserable I |kept, insufl ed it, in a I '^ There a; Houses in Bathut'st, a school IS tp |y lofty log Iprovement icomfbrtabl fiber in the 'In Beckwi ^og School fWesfmeatl- ^therest, no *too small, i i worse furni shattered fl Ttructed d |iipes, and i ?[lisregard t( l^oung, and an which li |nost culpal 1} i".y calco!«fe(i to give to their en- iighout the Dis- )0 3tnaM forcon- »pj are, for the >l more than 20 ■et high. Ma- t>r less height. Jwded together 'o.Ti 25 to 40 •ngpments are *ing the lahor e improvement I to be desired plan were a- ity, showing in > height, and And I would consideration 'ould not lend it they would for its object, rovements, to arties apply- y "to be levi- >ol sites, and School Hou- ney is levied f seeing it ex- incompetent, !, who eflect saccomplish- ey, under a I.I have no iry expendi- avvell arran- ious class of •any, in va- ow used as of room and t for the pur-, lool Sections merely per- is kind, — if »ral good of. sacrifice a ling,^ passing on and' pro** lantial build- / (3) ili»^ (or Common School purp«>ses,th3 out- lay \»ould be much less, — it would be nl- , most unnecessary to have rec( urse to Scc- iiional Assessment, — and the good elTTfs w«iild soon be apparent in the moro cer- ^tain efliciency of united efTorta for the bet- 'tep4nslruction of the rising generation. ■^TUeve are a lewgood and tolerably com- modious School Houses in the District. Amongst these may be mentioned, one on the south side of Penh ; and one in the same town erected this summer, but not jlpt quite finished. These are frame build- ings. They are both respectable as to size, but the interior arrangpments of the forn^ier are much less commodious then they might tbave been made at a very trifling addition- al expense. Those of the laUer I have not ret seen. There is another nt Smith's '""alia, built of stone, which il finished as it ought to he, would be the best in the Dis- nct, and v/ould indeed reflect credit upon (the zeal and judgment of those cencerned in Its erection. But to the reproach ofiho Section, and to their increased yearly ex- penditure, it issulfered to remain in an un- finished stats. A high rent is paid for a miserable buihiirg, in which the School is kept, insufficient in size, and, when 1 visit- ed it, in a bad state of repair. " There are also a few good log School Houses in some of the Townships. In Bathurst, at the bead of the sixth line, \he school IS tf'ught in a spacious and sufficient- ly lofty log building, which with a little im- provement would make a handsonrie and icomfortable School HotN^e. There is ano- flher in tJie same Townsh^ on theSih line. In Beckwith there are three or four good ^og School Houses, a veiy good one in nVestmeath, and another in Pembroke. Of ;the rest, not before alluded to, many are ?too small, and some few are ill-built and ^ worse furnished, exhibjiing in loose and shattered floors, hKokv>ri windows, ill-con- ^tructed desks, unsafe stoves, and stove yipes, and unplnstered walls, an amount of disregard to (he lieahli abd comfort of the |;oung,and the credit of (he neighbourhood n which tiiry are silu;i(o(l, that argues a nost culpable apathy oh ihe subject of cdu- caiion. * .. True, it is the duty of the Trusl'eeji> o'F S'-hool Sections " to do wbate 'er may be expedient with regard to bui!dr.ig, repair- ing, renting, renewing, warmin ,'or keeping in ortlerihe School House and itn appen- dages, lands, and moveable f. it perty which shall he held by them j" but (c do this re* (piires means, and the active ro-o'perotloiS oftlie inhabitants of their ijle-idons; atrd these it is not easy, ir» many instances, M obtain^ Trustees are un«ii!iiig to asir neighbours; and to provoke opposition )y proposing and carrying out the neceamrj remedial mea- sures at the general expers?. • And thus^ too frequently, but little i ■ done toward* <' repairing, furnishing, and keeping the School House in order. ' As yet, (hd Trustees of Schools are ha -dly aware of the magnitude and importance of the dutie* thtf Common School Act impbset) upon ihemi And the people are still less conscious of the powers with which Trustees are in- vested, but which they St. Idom exercise to the extent authorised by ihs Act. V.' On the subject of tej;t books to be used in the Schools, and vvh/c 1 may be selected by the Trustees <> from a istofBooks,raade> oui by the Board of Ed»cjtibn>«i.n'er th» sanction of the Governoi it) Council,*' I, hare to observe that a greater uniformity id beginning to prevail,,^ Where this pfovj- sion of the Act is carefiijiy attended to the advantages are plainly Jitnifest, and the improvement of the ch'Mren is icerlaitt^ and rapid in proportion. T";s is a point of higK importance, but one tw . little thought of. Every person, rt all acquainted v\ith the business of education, knows thaA wh6r«> proper books are irsed, and the children judiciously clasKed, a Teacher can effect more in one moni4i, witlt greater ease to himself, and more pleasure to the learner, than he, could under iess favorable circuni*. stances in three. Misn) parents ai'e not aware of the great lo;5s of time occa^Oned by the diversity of books used byitheirehil- drrn at School ;— -and in School affairs, especially in such settlements as omr, \ I ■ifiilr'^-''^ ^ I'l m % tvhere Ihc clnUren are so ofien kept at home to assist iheir parentiv tlie loss of time is the iossofmoney, and of what is in- finitely more valuable than mon^y, — the improvement (*( the mind iliirsiing for knowledge. 1 recollect vihiting one School last •vlnter> at which 15 children were pre- •ent,i.otvvoofwhnm had books of the same kind. Each had to be heaid separatnly, -—no class was formed in it,*— every one was cut off, as it were, fr?m his srhool fel- lows ;-— there was no community of stu- dies — no emulation, — no desire to excel on the part of the Scholars; and an almost endless and certainly most lire»)me round of lifeless repetition of isolated leiisonfi to be listened to on the part of the Teacher. I am not wilhng to allude further to this ill provided School ; and hope that those con- nected with it have long ago evened erted themselves to supply the necessary books for their children, and to show that they have at least a dtsire for their im< provement. The quarterly examir.ation , if properly conducted, and duly attended, would prove of great value as incitements to care and attention in the Teacher, ind to diligence and improvement in 'he scholar. But hith- erto, with few exceptions, they have been almost a dead letter. In maity instances liot a hingte person has been present to show the least feeling of interest in the ad- vancement made by the scholar?, beyond, perhaps, a solitary Trustee. Sometimes I hear of a Clei-gymen, a Magistrate, or a Gounciiloi being present on such occasions, but too seldom is the Teacher cheered in bis difficult and arduous duties by the at- tendance of anxious and interested parents to witness the progress their children have made, and to encourage them in the at- tainment of that useful knowledge which they ere anxious to obtain but have so lit- . tie time to acquire. Whether or not, the Teachers do their part in sending the ne- cessary notices, I cannot say ; if they do not much of the blame must, of course, rest with them. I have no dottM it would conduce to the encourafement ond improvement of the Scholars il arrangements went entered Into by three or friir Teachers in any particulan locality to attend the quarterly examina- tions in each of theirSchools. To efTect thit it would only be necessary to hold the ex- aminations in their several schools, on dif- ferent days, towards the end of each quar- ter, so as to give to each Teacher an op- portunity of being present at the Schools ol his brethren. Nor would the ♦.ime thus spent be lost,— lor each Teacher would probably see something to admire and to imitate in the system or success of his fel- low teachera; — parents also might, per- haps, by this means, be induced to come forward j and the children, in the expec- tation of such witnesses to their quarterly advancement in their several studies, wou'"i labor to acquit themselves with credit an ' would thus be sure to make a mure satis' factory progress than is to be looked fb under the present system of almost unive. sal inattention to this wise provision of th Law. But upon the whole, in spite of these va riqjjs hinderances, our Common Schools are undoubtedly impioviitg. Though tool little still, — there is yet more attention pai to the important subject of elementary edu cation than in past years. In the coursel of time it is to be hoped a more lively re gaid will be awakened, better School Hou- ses will be built, more care and di:>crimina- tion will be exercised in the election of Trustees, parents will become more alive to their duties, and all persons will unite to promote so desirable an end as the pla- cing of sound and useful instruction in ne- cessary knowledge within the reach of the poorest child in the land. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, J. l*ADPnBL0j5.C.S. Baihursi District. 2nd October, 1848. % wem entered Info •3 in any particular lopteHy examina- wla. To effect tliifi ry to hold the nx- •al BPh«ols, on dif- end of each quar-l Teacher an op-[ It at iheSehootAof lid the kiltie thus I 1 Teacher would o admire and fof Kuccess of his fel- j also might, per- inddced to cornel n, in the expec- their quarterly. ?ral studies, wou' ■ 8 with credit ai: ke a niore satis [> he looked fb ofalmotft uniire. 86 provision of th 1 spite of thejie va- Common Schoolsl I'g. Though too| )re attention paid f elementary edu- In the rotirsel a more lively re- nter School Hou-I 'e and di:>crimina- ) the election ofl come more alivet irrons will unite! n end as the pla- nstruction in ne> 1 the reach ol thel be, dient (servant, ^FICLO, -S.C.S. hthurst District.]