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REPORT OF THE Mi listorg, eb "Bxmwt CoitHt0n, OF THE COMMON OR PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE CITY OP TORONTO. TORONTO : LOVELL & GIBSON, YONGE STREET. 1359. PREFACE. As beyond the ordinary Statistical Report annually sent in to the Chief Superintendent, no further informa- tion than the publication of the School Accounts has been officially given to the Ratepayers of the City ; and as nearly all the Cities in the State of New York, and, in fact, some of our own Canadian Cities — particularly Hamilton — have published their School Reports, in pamphlet form; it has been deemed advisable that a Report of the past history and present condition of the City Schools should be prepared and published, under the direct authority of the Board of Trustees. The following pages have accordingly been prepared by a Committee of the Board, and have, further, been revised and formally adopted by the Board itself. The Report is now submitted to the Citizens generally, in the not unreasonable hope that its perusal will not only satisfy the Ratepayers that the School Assessment has been advantageously expended, but will induce a larger interest m the School affairs of this rising City. On behalf of the Board of School Trustees, Toronto, May, 1859. J. Q-. BEARD, Chairman* a. A. BARBER, Secretary/. ^-, .V , #• UV{ I . , U eii »-'' ri'l NAMES OB' GENTLEMEN WHO HATE BEK!I SCHOOL TRUSTEES UNDER THE ELECTIVE PRINCIPLE, i.ND THE YEARS FOR WHICH THEY WERE ELECTED. WARI) of ST. GEORG^E. E. F. Whittemore, Esq 1860, 51. James L. Robiason, Esq 1850, 61. Wm. McMaster, Esq 1852, 53, 64, 55, 66, 67. Dadd Maitland, Esq. .1862,53. Kivas Tully, Esq 1854, 55, 56, 51, 58." John McMurrich, Esq. 1868. WARD OF BT. LAWRENCE. Wm. Gooderham, Esq 1860, 51, 52, 63, 54, 57, 58. J. G. Beard, Esq. 1850, 5l, 52, 63, 54, 56, 66, 57, 68. George Piatt, Esq 1866,66. WARD OF ST. PATRICK. J. H. Hagarty, Esq 1860. James Price, Esq.. . « » 1850, 61. WiUiam Hall, Esii., 1851,62. Charles Fisher, Esq 1852,53. # Thomas Mara, Esq ;. 1863. Robert B. Denison, Esq. 1854,55,56,67. Charles Fitzj.bbon, Esq 1864. John Baxter, Esq.. ...•*...» 1856, 60, 67, 6Bi F. J. Joseph, Esq 1858. ,. ., WARD OF ST. ANDREW. George P. Ridout, Esq 1860,51. Alexander Macdonald, Esq... 1850. A. McGlashan, Esq 1862,53. Richard Brewer, Esq 1851, 52, 6S, 54. James Lesslie, Esq. 1854, 55, 56, 57< Charles Fisher, Esq......... 1854. James Grand, Esq. ., , 1855, 56. Henry Godson, Esq 1857,58. Thomas Brov;n, Esq 1868. WARD OF ST. DAVID. Joseph Workman, Esq., M.D., 1850, 51, 52, 58, 54. A. A. Riddell, Esq 1850, 61, 54, 55. William Shepperd, Esq 1852, 63, 56, 67. Jolin Piatt, Esq 1854, 56. James Morrow, Esq 1856. # F. W. Cumberland, Esq 1857, 68. Emn. Coataworth, Esq 1858. WARD OF ST. JAMES. J. D. Ridout, Esq 1860. D. Paterson, Esq 1850, 61, 52, 53, 54, 664 James Lesslie, Esq 1851, 62. Samuel McClain, Esq 1863, 54. Thomas Henning, Esq 1855, 66, 67, 58. R. H. Brett. Esq o 1866, 57. J. C. Geikie, E&q 1858. WARD OF ST. JOHN. William Hall, Esq 1853,1854. John Greenlees. Esq 1853, 64, 55, 66, 57, 58. Arbuckle Jardine, Esq 1855, 66, 67, 68. OFFICERS OF THE BOARD. ILocal Supettntentient * ^ftretara : G. A. Barber, Esq. 1860, 61, 64, 66, 56, 67, iyr. 1858. Hocal SupetCntrntttnt anlj Ffaitorfal SEfacfjtr : James B. Boyle, Esq 1862,63. ^emtars: G. A. Barber, Esq. 1852, 63, | yr. 1858. Hocal ^uperJntenlicnt : Rev. James Porter |yr. 1858, . ti 1, a ii ; r « -J . CONTENTS. PAOE Preface , jij Names of the Trustees, from 1850 — 1868 y Officers of the Board y[ The Past History and Present Condition of the Schools 9 Circular Notice 15 Elective Principle established, 1850 19 Eeport on Free Schools 21 Free Schools Established, 1861 26 Public Meeting, 1852 27 Chairman's Address to the Board o. School Trustees, 1852 41 Statement of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Building Fund, 1853 46 Eeport of the Building Committee, with the Building Fund Ac- counts, for 1855 60 The Internal Economy of the Schools and their Mode of Instruction. . 58 School Discipline 64 1. As regards Teachers 64 2. As regards Pupils 66 Text Books , 68 School Attendance 69 Address to Parents and Guardians by the School Trustees 71 The Expense of Maintaining the Schools 72 Report on the Free School System 78 Separctd Schools 83 Compulsory Attendance 89 Officers of the Board 92 The Superintendent 94 The Secretary , 94 Evening Schools 97 School Visitors 99 School Libraries 100 Library Regulations 102 Opening the Schools with Prayer 103 Deaf and Dumb Schools 104 Penalty for Disturbing a Public School 105 VUl PAGE The Preaont Condition of the City Schools 106 Abstract of School Attendance for 1858 « „ g . , 106 School Statistics for 1868, viz. : The Western Auxiliary School 108 Trinity Street School 108 The Park School 109 Victoria Street School Ill Louisa Street School 114 John Street School •• . 117 Phoebe Street School 119 George Street School ...122 Appendix: . • 1. Comparative Statement of the Schoolg, from 184.4 to 1847 . . . 126 2. Abstract of School Attendance, for 185*7 12t 3. Annual Statement of the Income and Expenditure of the Scbopls, for 1958. , 129 ■%■■■. • •II • • ■ • • • •• * «• 'VK-.-i *»•• •*«t«a«^> • * . . % i UL t . • • . , . « CITY OF TORONTO. E E P E T OF THE PAST HISTORY & PRESENT CONDITION OV TBB COMMON, OR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OF THE CITY OF TORONTO. Before submitting, for public information, the statistics of the City Public Schools, for the year 1858, it has been thought advisable, as this is the first occasion when a compendious Report has been published, that the past should be referred to, before noticing the present history of our Schools ; and, accordingly, the following brief nar- rative of the rise and progress of the City Schools, from their inception and practical commencement, in 1844, up to the present time, has been prepared. Under the original School Law, viz., that of 1843, the first step taken towards improving the Common Schools of the Province, was to secure, so far as possible, the ser- vices of properly qualified Teachers ; and a Board of Examiners was appointed by Government to examine and grant certificates, and licences to teach, to duly qualified Teachers. This preliminary step having been taken, it then devolved upon the Municipal Council of the City to bring the tSchool System into practical existence, by pro- viding the ways and means for the erection of School B / li ! i. \ ! 10 Houses, or the renting of them, so as to receive pupils and for the payment of Teachers' salaries, and other ex- penses connected with the system. The scheme, how- ever, did not work well ; for, although the Board of Examiners did their duty, and granted certificates to numerous applicants, the Corporation omitted to provide School Houses and employ Teachers, so that nothing practical was at this time accomplished. In 1844 the School Law was amended, and under its provisions the Corporation was empowered to appoint an officer, designated as Local Suf erintendent for the City. An advertisement, inviting applications for the office, was published, and the choice of the Council fell upon G. A. Barber, Esq. It wsls tlie duty of the Local Superintendent to examine Teachers, and grant certificates ; it was also his duty, in conjunction with the Clerk of the ('ouncil, to divide the City into a suitable number of School Sections, on the basis of population ; and the amended law pro- vided, that ihe rate-payers of each section should have the privilege of electing from among themselves three persons, as School Trustees, in v/hose hands were to be placed the power of bjilding or renting School Houses, the appointment of Teachers, and generally to manage the School affairs of the Section. To provide, to some extent, the ways and means for putting the new machinery in motior , the amended School Law embodied the salutary iprovision, that a Government grant should be appropri- ated in aid of the Common Schools of the Province ; but that to enable any County, City, or Town, or indeed any School authorities, to share in this grant, the Municipal 'Council of said County, City, or Town, was obliged to assess the rate-payers thereof for an amount at least equal to the Government grant— the united amount forming what was termed the " School fund," which, under the a.nended law, was to be exclusively applied to the pay- ment of Teachers' salaries, so that by this means the 11 Teacher had his rights sufficiently protected. The City having been divided into twelve sections early in 1 844, the rate-payers proceeded to elect their School Trustees but for a consi(' .able part of the year the machinery of this new School System was not brought into working order, chiefly because of the difficulty that the Trustees met with in obtaining convenient School premises, and their hesitation to incur the responsibility of renting and furnishing them when they were obtained, inasmuch as the Corporation was unwilling to assess the City for anything more than the law strictly required. More than half the year had now elapsed, and 1844 seemed likely to follow in the steps of 1843, by doing nothing, when the Local Superintendent, Mr. Barber, desirous to start the Schools in some way or other, and bring the new law into practical operation if possible, suggested, that the one moiety of the School fund, as represented by the half year just elapsed, should be applied to pay for the rent and fur- niture of school premises, so that the teachers, who had been provisionally appointed, might enter upon their duties, and thus enable the trustees to apply the other moiety in payment of salaries for the remaining half year. This suggestion was considered, at the time, to be the only arrangement whereby the difficulty could be met ; for, had it not been so settled, the teachers, who had been so long waiting to enter upon duty, could not have commenced, and would, consequently, have been enti- tled to nothing at all. It is true, according to the letter of the law this application of the fund was not strictly justifiable ; hut, as a matter of necessity, and in the spirit of the law, it was fully justified ; and it must always be a subject of regret that, owing to the bad faith of some of those for whose benefit this arrangement was intended, it should have been set aside to subserve the personal interests of a few of the teachers who, though actually employed for only four and a half months, namely, from \ !i i I the middle of August to the end of December, (1844,) demanded, and under the letter of the law, succeeded in obtaining payment, of the whole year's salary — the courts holding that the school fund proper, could not be applied to any other purpose than the payment of teachers. In addition, however, to the amount of the school fund, the teachers were authorized, by the respective trustees, to collect a rate-bill from the parents of the children attend- ing the school, at the rate of Is. 3d. and Is. 10|d. per child, according to its age and proficiency, together with a small charge for fuel, pens and ink, &c. The population of the City, in 1844, was about 18,500 ; the school attend- ance was 1194; and the cost of maintaining the schools, for the time they were in operation, was £1,377 ISs, 2d., which amount includes £237 17s. 6d. paid by rate-bill during the four and a half months the schools were open, but is exclusive of the sum expended in furniture. During 1845, 1846, and 1847, the same school system was in operation, except that, owing to the increase of population, the City was divided into fifteen, instead of twelve school sections ; and the City population, the school attendance, and the cost of the schools, for those years, will be found in the " comparative statement " in an Appendix to this Report. One of the prominent evils of the system of School Sec- tions and Local Trustees, was the entire absence of all uniformity of action, as regards both the mode of teach- ing and the use of school books, together with the impos- sibility of having separate schools for boys and girls, (for, during the whole period of school sections, pupils of both sexes attended the same school, and were taught in com- mon by the same master,) and the difficulty of classifying the scholars according to proficiency. A parent removing from one part of the City to another, to his annoyance found, upon sending Lis children to the school of the sec- tion he now lived in, that the teacher practised a different 11 system of instruction, and used text books altogether different from what the child had been accustomed to in the school it had just left ; and besides this, there was a want of purpose and organization, which pervaded the whole system, and interfered with its efficient working and onward progress. It became evident that some change was required, at all events so far as Cities and towns were concerned ; and, towards the close of 1847, the Legislature, by the Act 10 and 11 Victoria^ amended the law, by establishing the principle of centralization, and establishing in each City and Town one general Board of School Trustees, in whose hands was placed the sole management of its school affairs. This Board was to be nominated by the Municipal Council of each City and Town ; and the Board of this City, first established under the 10 and 11 Victoria, by the then Corporation, com- prised the following gentlemen, selected, it was supposed, as representing the principal religious denominations, viz. ; — W. H. Boulton, Esq., Mayor, — Chairman, — ex offictui Hon. J. Elmsley, W. Cawthra, Esq., J. McMurrich, Esq., F. W. Barron, Esq., J. G. Bowes, Esq., John Cameron, Esq. The amended bill was brought into effect in this City, on Nov. 20th, 1847, when the new Board met for organiza- tion. During the remainder of the year, the Board was occupied in considering what action should be taken to establish and carry on an efficient and uniform system of public instruction in this City ; and one of their chief anx- ieties was to secure without delay, commodious school sites, whereon could be at once erected substantial build- ings, of a character which, while sufficient for existing requirements, could be enlarged as occasion presented, to meet any increased demand for school accommodation. ll If ! 4 'I IH k ill ^•1 il I H li 14 and at the same time, of a handsome architectural appearance becoming a City like Toronto. The intention of the framers of the new law, and the desire of the newly appointed authorities under it, was, however, most unfortunately embarrassed, if not actually impeded, at the very outset, by difficulties altogether unexpected, but over which the Board had no control, and which it could not overcome. In the first place, it was found, although not so stated in precise terms, that the amended Act did not empower the Board to collect a Rate bill from parents, and, in consequence, that the schools must necessarily be free, whether the Board of Trustees, or the City Council as representing the rate- payers, approved of it or not ! The Board, finding itself in this dilemma, and having no power of itself to raise money for school purposes, made an earnest appeal to the City Council to assist the Board in this emergency* As Free Schools, the amount of the Government grant, with the corresponding City assessment, namely, about £1,000, would be barely enough to maintain them in operation for six months ; the Council was appealed to to provide the means for keeping them open the whole year; the application was refused, and the Board had, there- fore, no alternative but to close the schools at the end of the first half of the year, viz. : June 30th, 1848. Under circumstances so discouraging it can be no wonder that the schools suffered in efficiency, for although the attend- ance was nominally greater during these 6 months, viz : 1,431, yet owing to the irregularity of that attendance the result, as an educational question, was anything but satisfactory. The City schools having been thus closed on the 30th June, 1848, remained in the same unfortunate condition to the end of the year, and further continued in the same condition for the first six months of the year following, 1849, the City Council persisting in the refusal 15 to give any aid, or advance any means, to keep the schools open. The Board having no funds at its disposal after meeting the expenses of the schools up to June 30, 1848, and as the Government grant and City assessment could not be made available until about the middle of 1849, the City schools were necessarily closed and the Board brought to a dead lock with the Council. During this gloomy interval, some of the teachers continued their schools on iheir own account, and exerted themselves, as they best could, to keep up an interest in school affairs in the public mind, until the schools were re-opened as public schools on the 1st July, 1849, and kept open, free to all, for the rest of the year. The attendance was 1,325, with the same allowance for irregularity as in 1848, and the cost for the six months was about £1,000, derived from nearly equal proportions of Government money and City assessment. The Board, strongly impressed with the necessity of keeping the City Schools open without interruption, de- cided to assume the responsibility of imposing a rate- bill, although the law did not expressly sanction such a proceeding. The Board considered that it was more pa- triotic to educate the children of the City than to regard technical objections, and they accordingly issued the accompanying circular notice for the information of the public : CIRCULAR NOTICE. COMMON SCHOOLS — CITY OF TORONTO. Under the system of free admission, as practised during the past two years, viz., 1848 and 1849, the Board of Trustees were compelled to close the City Schools for six months in each year, inasmuch as the Common Council declined to make the appropriation required for keeping them open, as free schools, for the twelvemonth. The Board of Trustees, from their experience of the I 4' 16 past two years, are strongly impressed with the neceasity that exists for keeping the City Schools open throughout the whole year : and, as a return to the former system of " school dues'* is the only mode left whereby so desirable an end can be accomplished, the Board hereby notify parents and guardians, that the principle of payment of school dues, by pupils attending the several city schools, is now in force, taking effect from January 7, 1850, al the following rates, viz. ; s. d. 3 9 in Summer. 5 in Winter. 5 in Summer. fi 3 in Winter, For pupils under Nine years of age . . } s For pupils over Nine years of age . . J per quarter, which for 1850, will be as follows, viz. : 1st quarter, from January 7th to March 28th, inclusive. 2nd *« « April 3rd to June 28th, " 3rd " *' July 15th to Octob.T 4lh, " 4th " " October 7th to December 20th, « The 2nd and 3rd quarters to be counted as being " in summer,'' and the 1st and 4th as **in winter" — and no allowance for absence will be sanctioned unless in case of sickness. The foregoing rates to be paid to the teacher in ad- vance, cr, at latest, during the quarter; but if not so paid, the amounts due at the end of each quarter will be levied by the Board, according to law. The children attending the City Schools are required to come clean and neat in person, and decently clad. The better to ensure punctual attendance, and to pro- tect the regular proceedings of the school classes against the interruptions canoed by late comers, the school house doors will be opened at half-past eight o'clock every week-day morning, (except Saturday, which will be a whole holiday,) and continue open until nine o'clock ex- actly, when they will be closed until half-past ten o'clock ; 17 and no children will be admitted during that interval. At half-past ten the doors will be opened for a few minutes, to admit children who may bring satisfactory reasons for not being present at nine o'clock, or a1 any former part of the week. The doors will then again be closed ur*il twelve o'clock, noon ; and no children will be admitted during tiiat 'nicrval. At a quarter to ono o'clock, the school house doors will be again opened, and at one o'clock exactly, closed until four o'clock, and no children will be admitted during that interval. At four o'clock the children will be dismissed for the day, and directed to go home without delay ; and it would be well if parents and guardians were to oblige their child- ren to report their return home ; and also, were they to examine them, occasionally, as to the progress they are making in their lessons, &c. It is expected that all cases of absence, or irregular attendance, will be satisfactorily accounted for, by the parent sending some sufficient excuse in writing, which will be duly recorded by the teacher, for the inspection of the school authorities. No pupil will be received into one school from another, without first producing an acquittance of all *' dues" to the school he may have left; and secondly, a statement in writing, from the teacher, as to the cause of his or her so leaving said school : in order to enable the Board to check, as far as possible, the hurtful practice of capriciously removing children from one school to another, and, further, to render previous improper con- duct in one school a ground of non-admission into another. Lastly, — It is sincerely hoped that parents and guardians will see that it is for their own interest to co-operate with the Board of Trustees in strictly observing the fore- going regulations : and they are earnestly entreated to enjoin upon their children, the duty of being regular and 18 constant in their attendance at school — diligent in prose- cuting their studies while at school — and orderly and well-behaved while going to and returning from school. .9ii Order of the Board of Trustees, G. A. BARBER, City Superintendent of Common Schools, ' Offibb Common Schools, Toronto, Feb. 15th, 1850. No one demurring to the course taken by the Board, the schools were thus kept open throughout the whole of 1850 — but owing to the change which had been made from the free to the paying system, and the doubts which prevailed as to whether or not the schools would be conti- nued regularly open all the time, the attendance for 1860 fell as low as 1259, although it was more regular than in 1848 and 1849. The cost of maintaining the schools for the whole year was, in round numbers £2,000, viz. : — Government Grant £468, City Assessment £800, and the balance by Mate Bill. It will have been observed, from this explanation, that the principle of centralization, in this form, however sound, as liively to effect a unity and force of action in the internal economy of public schools, wa' too feeble to carry out any enlarged system of general mduagement. A Board so constituted, and which was liable to have all its proceedings controlled by the City Council, was not cal- culated to meet what was required. The Board had tbo power to legislate for the advancement of Public Educa- tion, but the City Council held the purse-strings, and had the right, at any time, to nullify the legislation of the Board. Whenever the Board prepared and sent in to the Council an estimate for School purposes, the Council had the power to refuse to provide the amount ; and as the Board was appointed by the Council, it had no re- dress, and was fain lo submit to necessity ! It became evident, therefore, that if vigour was to be 19 infused into the School System of Cities and Towns, a further change was necessary. To accomplish this, the theory of centralization was associated with the elective principle : and the School Act of 1850 (13th and 14th Victoria) was enacted. Under its provisions, each Ward in the City had conferred upon it the right to elect two Trustees (one of whom was to retire each year, and his successor be elected in like manner), and the Trustees selected were to form a Board, aud to choose a Chair- man from annong themselves. The first election for Trustees was held on the 3rd September, 1850, when the following gentlemen were returned for each of the City Wards, namely — St. George — J. L. Robinson, E. F. Whittemore, Esqrs. ; St. Lawrence — J. G. Beard, W. Gooderham, Esqrs. ; St. Andrew — G. P. Ridout, A. Macdonald. Esqrs. ; St. Patrick — J. H. Hagarty, James Price, Esqrs. ; St. David — Jos. Workman^ M.D., A. A. Riddell, Esq. ; St. James — J. D. Ridout, D. Paterson, Esqrs. ; and, at the first meeting of the Board, Dr. Workman was chosen as Chairman, (23rd Oct. 1850 ;) but the newly elected Board did not exercise any direct control over the schools during that year, although it occupied the inter- val in deliberating with regard to its future course of action for 1851. The advantages enjoyed by the elective Board over its predecessor appointed by the Corporation, were manifold and important — the elective Board became a body corpo- rate, with full powers to purchase land for school sites, to build school- houses, to provide school furniture and appa- ratus, to appoint and fix the salaries of Teachers, and generally to manage and control all matters relating to the City Schools — and that these powers should not be a mere shadow without the substance, the Legislature invested the elective Board with authority to make out an estimate of whatever amount they should judge expedient for 20 maintaining the schools under their charge — and the Le- gislature made it the duty of the City Council to provide said amount accordingly. By this means antagonism, as regards school funds betv' '"e Board and the Council, has been prevented. The CvJncil have no discretion to even modify, far less reject, the Estimates so sent in for school purposes — and the Board of Trustees in fact are clothed with large executive as well as legislative powers. The elective Board commenced its actual duties in January, 1851, and among its earliest proceedings, under its enlarged authority, were the adoption of resolutions affirming the necessity of obtaining sites ami erecting suitable buildings for school purposes — the propriety of having separate female schools, or female departments in the schools — and the principle of free education as the basis of the Common School System of this City. According to Law one half, namely six, of the Trus- tees for 1850 retired by rotation. An election for Trus- tees to fill their places was held in January, 1851, when four out of the six were re-elected, viz., Messrs. Dr. Work- man, W. Gooderham, J. L. Robinson, and Wm. Hall, while Mr. James Lesslie was elected for St. James's Ward in the place of Mr. J. D. Ridout, and Mr. Richard Brewer for St. Andrew's Ward in the place of Mr. A. Macdonald, the retiring Trustees not coming forward for re-election. The members of the Board for 1851 were Joseph Workman, Esq, M.D., Chairman. E. F. Whittemore, Esq. J. G. Beard, Esq. G. P. Ridout, Esq. James Price, Esq. A. A. Riddel, Esq. W. Gooderham, Esq. J. L. Robinson, Esq. Wm. Hall, Esq. James Lesslie, Esq. R. Brewer, Esq. D. Paterson, Esquire. Among the very first proceedings of the Board, thus organized for practical business, was the consideration of i 21 free admission as the basis of the Common Schools of this city. The proposed change from the Rate-bill system, and the establishment of Schools open to all, free of charge, so far only as assessment based upon rateable pro})erty was concerned, naturally led to considerable debate in the Board. After much discussion the question was referred to a Committee to report upon, said Committee consisting of James Lesslie (Chairman), Dr. Workman, D. Paterson, James Price, and A. A. Riddel, Esquires. The Committee brought up their Report, February 26th ; the same was de- bated at two consecutive meetings of the Board, and finally adopted, March 5th, by a vote of seven to four. As this Report enters fully into the merits of the question, and sets forth the grounds upon which the Free School prin- ciple rests, and according to which the establishment and maintenance of Free Schools in this city was then sanctioned and has ever since been continued, its publica- tion in these pages will be acceptable, viz. : — REPORT ON FREE SCHOOLS. " The Committee to •whom was committed the consideration of the im- portant question relative to Free Schools, beg to present their Report. " The education of the young being intimately and inseparably connected ■with the welfare of the State, the question becomes one of intense interest to every wise and benevolent mind — • How shall the blessings of a good , education be most widely and universally diffused throughout society I' •' By reference to the statistics of the School population of this City, and comparing it with the number on the Rolls of the Public Schools, including also those in attendance at Private Institutions, there is exhibited the re- markable and lamentable fact, that not one half of the population from 6 to 16 years of age are enjoying the benefits of elementary education. The number of children of that x^e, as found in the Report of the Chief Super- intendent of Education for 1849, is 6,149 ; the number in attendance at all the 29 Public and Private Schools is 2,746, leaving no less than 3,403 of the youth of this City who are growing up without the advantages of early and useful instruction. "There appear, therefore, to be some obstacles in the "way, to remove ■which the exertions of this Board, and of every good citizen, will be re- quired ; for, so long as one half of our youthful population are thus de- prived of the blessings of ediication, so long will the broad avenue of vice i V f 'ft' 11

' mEB SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED. The course pursued by the Board, in establishing Free Schools supported by a general assessment, created a good deal of agitation out of doors ; and as the time ap- proached for the Trustees' election, 1852, a movement in opposition to Free Schools was mada, and tlie following requisition was sent into the then Mayor, (J. G. Bowes, Esq.,) to convene a public meeting, where the question might be discussed, viz. : To His Worship the Mayor : Sia,— The undersigned inhabitants of the City of Toronto, opposed to the present heavy Tax for the support of Coraraon Schools, and the pros- pect of a permanent and increasing City Debt for the purchase of land and the erection of School Houses thereon, in the several Wards, as at present contemplated by the Board of Trustees, request that you will call a Public Meeting of the citizens in order to get an expression of public opinion on the subject. George Bilton, J. Watson & Co., John 0. Bettridge, J. Kctchum, Jr., Alexander Ogilvie A Co., P. Paterson, W. C. Ross, Wm. Atkinson, Tho«. ^ Paterson, W. M. Jaraieson, James Hall, Scott k Laidlaw, William Policy, J. G. Joseph, M. C. Kahn, Francis Richardson, Betley & Kay, Joseph ' Dixon, S. F. Urquhart, William Hall, J. Armstrong, John Skelton, J. E. Ellis, J. Riddell, J. Beckett A Co., W. H. Dow, Thomas McLean, John Tyner, E. McPhail, James Pauton, Walter McParlane, T. J. Fuller, Robt. BargeDt, John Molatosb, James HutduDBon, James Aahfield, 0. B. Greea, 27 Jobn O. Howard, Heniy Rowaell, Richard Score, William Harris, John Griffiths, J. E. Pell, William Osborne, Thomas Brunskill, Robert Beard, Joseph Lee, Obarlea March, Thomas Smith, F. H. Hewwd, Thomas Clark- son, George Monro, Q. M. Jarvis, B. Torrance, Alexander Dixon, Thomas McVittie, Ross, Mitchell & Co., K, M. Sutherland, George A. Pyper, R. Hocken, John McGee, Lawson It i ■1 I M 1 rill I !ii 32 benefit commenaurate with the cost. They were also of opinion that the Trustees were taking an expensive mode of carrying out their duty, by erecting a number of small school-houses, when it might be necessary shortly to erect larger ones. Ho believed he was one of those who had suggested the purchase of sites and the erection of school-houses, instead of keeping the children in the hovels which they at present occupy. But he had said then, and he would say again, that if there were two common schools erected on a large scale in the city, one east and the other west of Yonge street, to accommodate a better class of scholars and masters, and mistress- es, they would be better calculated to eflfect the object they all desired than the system proposed by the Trustees, which would render it, impos- sible to give that higher class of education that all admitted to be neces- sary. His constituents, as he had said, objected to a tax for the proposed outlay BOW, when perhaps the whole School Law would be altered at the next meeting of the Legislature. Then wherever Protestants had a school, Roman Catholics would claim a right to a school also. This would un- doubtedly be demanded, and thus an increase of taxation would be needed for the erection of mere "Ward Schools, which he contended, and he would appeal to Dr. Workman himself for corroboration, were not adapted to give the children of the tradesmen of Toronto that education which they had an equal right with the poorer classes to expect. If bis suggestions were adopted, they would be enabled to bring under the one roof several different masters, and establish such a gradation in the classes as would en* able the Trustees to give the children an improved education. In confirm- ation of what he had advanced, Mr, Thompson quoted a passage from a report on the subject of education, to show that in London and Brantford, where the system of centralization had been pursued, it was attended with the best effects. He argued that if the Trustees would follow the example of Brantford and London, they would be able with a far less expenditure of money, to carry out the principle of Common School education more perfectly than by the proposed erection of uniform Ward Schools ; that principle he believed to be the taxation of those who were able to afford it, for the benefit of those who were unable to pay : but conditional on the tax-payers also deriving a benefit from it. If they did not derive some be- nefit from the expenditure of their money, and if their children were vir- tually expelled from the school which they principally supported, that it was extremely hard on a large class of the population ; for it must be ap- parent to all, that there were numbers of people who could afford to pay for the instruction of their own youth, yet could ill afford to give away their money and receive no value for it. Db. Workman said he stood at the bar of public opinion. The requisi- tion calling this meeting had arraigned the Board of School Trustees of this city, and he in his own person as President of that Board was called upon to answer to this bill of indictment, prepared by Mr. George Bilton and hia sixty-nine co-partners. He appeared there to give an account of his 38 stewardship, and to put it to the good sense of the community whether the Board had not justly and sagaciously discharged its duty. Thia bill of in- dictment charged the Board with a very weighty offence against the poli- tical economy of this city. The grievous offence of having contemplated to buy lots of land on which to erect schools, of having contemplated to erect certain school houses, and to go on to fill up the whole city with school houses, until it would be impossible to get a lot of land for any other pur- pose, because the Board have determined that every lot of land shall be appropriated to the erection of a school house. That certainly was a griev- ous offence. Mr. Dallas had read to them long reports from the Yankees, they may be good or bad, that does not matter. He has also told you that he is acquainted with all the systems of education not only in Canada and America but throughout the "whole world. (Hear and laughter.) Mr. Dallas — Throughout Europe. Dr. Workman — Was it not a great pity that a large expenditure was in- curred for the purpose of sending home his learned friend — (pointing to Dr. Ryerson) — for the purpose of gaining information in Scotland, England, Ireland, and Germany about the best systems of education, when Mr. Dal- las was here, who could have so easily explained all the matter. But Mr. Dallas sits quietly, looking after his wooden ware until Dr. Ryerson comes back. But how is it that he and those associated with him now come for- ward in reference to this system of free education. What was the reply.— Their pockets were never touched before. Mr. Dallas has told fou a good deal of the difficulty experienced in carrying out this Free School system, but this difficulty just amounts to 2|d. in the pound. We might have gone on to al. eternity in the Free School system if we had not touched their pockets. In looking over the signatures attached to the requisition, he saw the names of many persons of liberal mind, and it is evident that they had consented to the requisition in order to have an expression of public opi- nion. Tliat expression he hoped this meeting would give, and he knew well by their countenances what would be the verdict. Mr. Dallas had reai from the Report of the Education Board of Massachusetts to show that after a trial of two centuries the system had been a complete failure. He would also quote from that Report. The Dr. here read an extract to show that after two centuries of successful efforts, the Board could safely pronounce that the plan on which their schools were based was a wise and sagacious system, and said that the audience would observe how carefully Mr. Dallas had picked out bis extracts, and the extreme reluctance he manifested when he came to the very edge, to go one step further. The Dr. read another extract, to the effect that many persons, actuated by selfish principles, men of extensive influence, were endeavoring to persuade the more ignorant of the community, that the school money is lavishly expended for useless pur- poses, and in this way they raise against the system a formidable resistance, but the subject only needs a little explanation to prevent the public from the fatal error of acting blindly against the free education of their own I'll! ■f.t# M \^ I 34 ebildren. Now that was exactly the position in which Mr. Bilton and his assoeiatea would place ns, and by following their advice, they might vote against a school tax, but they must increase the payment for the Luuatio Asylum. He thought it quite enough to shew that Mr. Dallas did not quote fairly from the Report, and that here they were prepared to be tried upon their own merits. He believed every member of the Board anxiously desired the promotion of the public interest , but as there is a certain place said to be paved with good intentions, they may have been wrong notwithstanding. The Board came to exiGtence one yrar ago, and the first conviction which forced itself upon them was the necessity of a very careful examination of all the schools, so that if anything was defective in point of accommorlation or any other way, it might be rcmeilied. The Dr. here alluded to the defective state in which they found the several schools, and said they had sufficient evidence of the necessity of further accommoda- tion ; in one of the schools which usually contained 67 acholars, he found 35 prevented from attending by an epidemic disease. The school-houses were destructive to health,— some improvement was necessary — neither scholars nor teachers could endure to be cooped up in them. Ho knew five or six of the latter, among the best men of the city, who were actually dying from the injury done to them by the unhealthy places in which they laboured. The Board had full authority to erect now houses without con* feulting any one, but they wished to take the City Council along with them in the movement, and acfiordingly proposed a conference with a committee of that bodv. With the exception of those who were School Trustees, only one member of that Committee gave them any assistance in their views, and that member was Mr. Alderman Thomp »n. The Trustees pro- posed that only one School-house should be built in the first year, in order to make it less burdensome to the people. They thought that if they got up one large School-house well built, and installed in it 5 or 6 good Teachers, the people would be so pleased with the improvement, that they would cry out for the remainder to be erected immediately. Mr. Thompson, however, gave them a new light on the subject, ho pointed out that the economy of the Trustees was bad, that it would be better to issue debentures and build the whole four required, and that the interest would not be greater than the rent of the shanties which they were at present occupying. The requi- eitionists stated, that the Trustees were about to erect a large school in each ward, but he could assure them that the Trustees had no such intention. In St James' Ward, for instance, a Common School was not wanted, ia the upper part at least, because the Model School was erected there, and he thought that Ward verj fortunate in having such an institution within its bounds. In the lower part no suitable site could be found on which to erect one, and there would consequently be none iu that ward. There was a district of the town rapidly increasing in population, as he cor'd testify, lying between Nelson street on the west, and Parliament st. on the east, and to the north as far as the City limits, — and a School-house was very necessary in it. A suitable lot had been found at a very low price, 35 and he was happy to say, that th« purchase of it had been completed that very day, because the Trustees were told they were to be all annihilated at that meeting, and so thought it well to do all the good they could before their dissoluticu. One would be erected there, another to the east, and another to the west of Yonge street, — and that was all that would be requir- ed. The Upper Canada College had been very liberal to them, in having given the use of a large building belonging to it in Adelaide street free of rent for one year, and at £20 per annum, fur two years thereafter ; and the City Council, had also been very liberal ; they bad expended j£2,000, in providing accommodation for two butchers' boys, and as many calves, on the Garrison Common, (there was no indignation meeting about that, by the way,) the upper room of this building (St. Andrew's market) was rented for £20 a year, and there were two large and flourishing schools within its walls. It was absurd in these requisitionists to say, that they were in favour of education and yet opposed to good School-houses. — They must have proper buildings or they would never be able to raise the standard of Education. They said that the schools were not Common Schools. Who formed the majority attending them ; why those called poor classes. He had inspected thetit f.nd knew the parents, they were the respectable mechanics, the small traders, the honest labourers of the city, and was it for them that they would erect what they called pauper schools or ragged schools. No, but public schools to the support of which they contributed by means of taxation. He saw Mr. Dixons name appended to the requisition. Now, this gentleman had several sons educated at Upper Canada College and at King's Con^e-, which were supported out of the general funds of the Province, why did not Mr. Dixon discover before, that it was wrong to tax all for edu- cational purposes. He was told that every student in Kin^ 's College cost the country £800 per annum, and it was not very fiir from th« mark ; surely, Mr. Dixon, and Mr. Tyner, another of the r^qtusitionists, whose SOD had gone through that University with high honours, wiien they paid their school tax, were only paying back in a snmll proportion to the people what they had received in times past. Dr. Workman then proceeded to speak of the value which the education of the pet^e gave to property, tha; houses or land would be valueless among an uncivilised people, and concluded by asking if they could confer a»y greater benefit on the rich man, than by using a small portion of hi3 property for the advancement of knowledge. Rev. Dr. Rtebson said, that the meeting had been called on the looul question of taxation, but as rW the speakers had discussed the principle of Free Schools, he had no hesitation in appearing as one of its advocates. The extracts which Mr. Dt> i!;^ had read from the School Reports of Massa- chusetts had no more referencv to cities and towns than they bad to th« moon. They reffirrod to the ct inty towns, a word which, in Massacha- setts, answered to township w^l9 i I 36 oar system, the power of examination and certifioate has been placed in the hands of a County Board, which has made n complete reform. He •well remembered tlie cause of his first impressions in favour of free schools" He went to visit one of the public schools of Boston, the High School, where boys were prepared for College, yet as free of expense to all classes as the lowest, and the Mayor of the city, who accompanied him, wishing to give a lesson in aristocracy, probably, pointed out two lads who occupied the same seat. He told him that one of these was the son of Abbott Lawrence the great manufacturer, and now American Minister in England, and the other was the son of the door keeper of the City Hall which they had just left. They were enjoying the same advantages, the son of the millionaire and the son of the door-keeper ; that was what he wished to see in Canada, the sons of our poor have the same opportunity of educational advance- ment as those of the richest. Did it appear from this that the rich did not attend the Common Schools of Massachusetts as Mr. Dallas had told them. Why, the Governor of that State, in a speech which he made lately at Newbury port, said that if he had as many sons as old Priam, and was as rich as Astor, that he would send them all to the Free School. — There were rich and proud men in Massachusetts, undoubtedly, who would not send their children among the poor, and rich stingy men, who objected to be taxed for other people's children, but they were the exceptions to the rule. Doctor Ryerson then proceeded to quote from the school reports of HallowcU in Maine, and Lowell, Massachusetts, to prove the advantages of the free system in the improvement of the character of the schools. In the former place, they had three different grades, primary, grammar and high schools, and the practical operation of the system had removed every objec- tion urged against them at their introduction. There was one fact that he wished to mention in connection with the Free Schools of Massachusetts. A body of European clergy belonging to the Cathoh Church had gone to their bishop in Boston to request him to use his iBflunnce against the Free School system. — He returned for answer, that he knew the character of the schools, having been educated in them, and having owed to them his position in the Church and the world, and be would do nothing to impair their use- fulness. If the Free School system was bad, would not the people of New England have found it out with the experience of 200 years ; in that time they had discovered errors in the management, but the pri'-ciple was more strongly and firmly established than when first introduced. It was an ex- traordinary fact, applicable to the more immediate business of the meeting, that though there were more institutions of education established by the public, in Toronto, than in all the rest of Upper Canada, yet that the city itself had never erected a single house for educational purposes. Toronto, had, in fact, been living on all Upper Canada. Upper (.Canada College and King's College had been established among them, and they had enjoyed all the benefits thus provided by the whole people, yet the people of Toronto now threatened to say, that it was not just to be made to pay for the educa- tion of others. They should have thought of that when their own children 37 were enjoying the advantages of free education. It was no reason that thove should be no public schools because all could not or would not send their children tu them, just as there was no reason that n great thoroughfare like King Street should bo closed because there were bye-paths which some people fuund it convenient to take. A glance at the school systems of other countries besides New England might be advantageous to us. In Prussia every parent was compelled to send his children to the public schools between the ages of 6 and 14 years. In Switzerland, a democracy, all children arc compelled to go to school, until the time that they are ap* prenticed to a trade, and there is a board to examine and judge of their qualification for the business they are to engage in. Dr. Ryerson conclu- ded by urging the claims upon the wealthy for the support of free schools, as a means of improviug their property, and sat down amid loud applause. Rev. Dr. Burns, before proceeding to the matters more immediately under discussion, desired to express his satisfaction at the improvements recently made in the school system, by the introduction of periodical exploitations, by raising the salaries of the teachers, and by the extension of the number of Grammar Schools. He also paid a high compliment to Dr. Ryerson, for his efforts on behalf of education, and was rejoiced that so much progress had been made under his managemet *;. They had good cause to thank God for the advance, and take courage for the future. Dr. B. then proceeded to speak of the willingness of the American people to be taxed for Free Schools, mentioning Alleghany City, in Pennsylvania, as an example, a town not larger than Toronto, and not possessing so many advantages, but which contributed a much larger sum for the purposes of education. He then spoke of the advantage of avoiding anything like pauper schools, and that it was desirable even to avoid calling the schools common instead of public. He Qi'oted from Mr. S. Buckingham in proof of the American interest in schools, and from the work of a foreign author, to show the benefit of edu- cation in improving the skill of artizans. He concluded by moving the following amendment : — " That a sound and thorough elementary education 18 the birth-right of every citizen, and enlightened patriotism demands that it ought to be in the largest sense of the term 'universal,' therefore this meeting approves of the system of free public schools, subject to such wholesome regulations aa the Trustees may see meet to adopt." Rev. Mr. Jennings wished to say a word as to the statement of Mr. Dallas, that Free Schools necessarily made bad teachers. All the teachers now in Toronto were of the first class, which they had never been before. A second point was, that the number of scholars did not increase under the new system. He could contradict that positively, from information received in his visits to the schools and to families. He desired to notice also that the new system had been a loss to the teachers instead of an advantage, aa some supposed ; yet so sincere were they in their desire for the public good, that they went earnestly for Free Schools. This was truly generous and patriotic. Mr. J. then spoke of the necessity of new Bchool-houses^ instead ■i% -m 38 m of tilt hovels !n which, during the heat of summer, it was hardly possible to breathe a minute, much less to live many hours a day. He only touched upon these points on which he would have wished to enlarge, but waa unable from the lateness of the hour. He seconded the amendment of Dr. Bums. Dr. RussELi. said thai he came forward to vindicate himself and some others who had signed the requisition. When the gentleman called upon him to sign that paper he told him that he would sign it for the purpose of having the sulyect discussed ; but for his own part, he had both written and spoken in favour of Free Schools for several vears; and as for the tax being too high, he had also told the gentleman who had called upon him, that al- though he was a bachelor, and, unless this leap year should do something for him, was likely to continue one, still he was willing that the tax should be doubled so that our Common School system should be improved. All that he desired was to have the si bject freely discussed — and as it admitted of various opinions, and as he was sure there were as honest advocates ou the one side as the other, the subject ought to be met on the ground of fair and legitimate argument alone. We should leave motives out of the ques- tion in such discussions altogether. Mr. Dallas had talked of us going back to the old system. The words "going back," were not in his (Pr. Russell's) creed. There was no going back in the laws of Nature. The whole universe was in a state of progress. Even what were called fixed stars, of which our sun was one, were found to be circling; rourid immeasurable orbits, which took millions of years to accomplish. He was willing to con- ceive human institutions as a part of Nature, and as such there could be no going back. He did not believe in this crablike philosophy. It was ad- mitted on all hands that ignorance engendered crime. The question was which system was the best to dispel ignorance. He considered the Free School system the only one worthy of being called a system. By it the knowledge resulting from the experience of all could be concentrated for the benefit of all. It was known that an aristocratic or federal party in Mas- sachasetts had opposed the equal rights of the masses. These men had pertinaciously opposed the Free School system, and now they bring for- ward their own opposition, as an evidence against the system. But he f Dr. Russell) had only intended to set himself right in regard to signing the requisition. Hon. Henbt John Booltox declared himself in favour of public school education for all classes, and proceeded to speak generally of the advan- tages of instruction, against the resolution, and of the necessity for the es- tablisment in Toronto of an industrial school. Mp. Dallas Bald he was astonished at the course of Mr. Boulton. He had understood that he (Mr. B.) had promised to propone the resolution. (Laughter.) Mr. BouLTOit explained that he bad been asked to do so, but had not promised positively. On inquiring into the matter, he had discovered that Iho KLUuMQtt of tb« r«solutiou could not be defended. (Cheers.) 39 Mr. A. EiDDEtL was liappyjin having an opportunity to say a few words with respect to the proceedings of the Board of School Trustees during the past year. From the able and clear manner in which gentlemen who preceded him had addressed the meeting in favour of the cause of edu- cation, there was no necessity for his oflfering to the meeting any lenghty I'emarks. He should therefore detain them but for a few minutes. The g<}nt1emen who are getting up this opposition were lately invited to Bosio"? by the authorities of that city. All their expenses were deirayed and they were continually feasted while in Boston by its inhabitants. They returned to Toronto, and show their gratitude by belying the institutions of those who bad treated them so kindly, and declainaing against their educational and domestic policy. (Hear hear.) He was happy in being able to say that he was born in a country, and lived under laws which recognized all men as equals. — His employer (Aid. Thompson) — and a kind employer ho had been to him for nearly fifteen years — had seconded and spoken for the resolution which had been put from the chair. Now he (Mr. R.) was about to speak against it. He was formerly averse to free schools, and ho sin* cerely thanked Mr. Thompson, who had converted him. If that gentleman had changed his opinions since that time, he (Mr. R.) had not. There had been a great cry raised against building scliool houses, but no one had told their cost. If a school site in each of the six Wards were purchased at £400 — the price at which the Board had already purshased three — it would amount to £2,400. To erect school premises to accommodate more thau double the present number of scholars, would cost £800 more, or £1,200 for each Ward ; making in the whole £7,200. Now if the city property never increased iu value, it would take a tax of only one penny in the pound for ei(jht years to pay for them all, and they would be the property of the citizens for ever. (Cheers.) He would treat the matter in a busi- ness way, and would show that it was to the advantage of those who oppos* ed free schools that that system should be perpetuated. Suppose the people could not read — that their minds were sealed and blind — how many newspapers would be sold in our streets ? Would it not be better for the proprietors of the Press if all men were educated ? (Cheers.) He (Mr. R.) had had some little experience in the world, and wherever he found health and comfort, the people were educated. Wherever on the other hand, he found depravity pnd drunkenness, there ignorance dwelt. Now, they would allow that it was but justir-^ that all classes of the community should, if possible, be represented there that evening. The merchants, the doctors, the lawyers, and the clergy had been already represented ; and he, a journeyman mechanic, trusted that it would not be considered presump- tion if he had risen to represent a class more important than any of them. (Cheers.) He had a great deal more that he might state, but ther^i w^a not time : and he now begged to conclude, more particularly as ho observ- ed by their intelligent and smiling countenances that they were ready to pronounce in favor of free schools. It was a good time now to take the Boose of the meetinjj;, as the noisy cosmies of education bad left tb« 40 11 meeling— to wet theit whistles, and left the sober and thinking men be- hind. (Laughter.) Mr. Lesslie desired time only to quote the language of the Massachusetts Board, in their Report for 1851, in favor of Free Schools— viz : " The people of the Commonwealth generally manifest an increasing regard for our inestimable system of Common School Education. It is becoming more and more apparent to the whole community, that our Public Free Schools are destined to exert a controlling influence upon all the great interests of society. The expression of public opinion in regard to the tendencies of popular education among us, is heard only in the language of eulogy. Our danger now lies, not so much, in any opposition that may drive against the system, as from a feeling of complacency in it-^asit is only a small part of its capabilities that have yet been brought out. Tf it can be made evident to the common mind, that there are faults and defects which are necessarily connected with the administration of the system, or that a much higher degree of success is easily attainable, Strong hands will be ready for the work, and they will never be taken from it, till these faults shall be re- moved and that success obtained." Mr. Alderman Thompson said j. few words, when there was a loud call for the vote, and the Mayor called upon the opposing party to separate, when nearly the whole meeting passed to the right for the amendment, and only about a dozen supporting the resolution on the left. The meeting then broke up, with enthusiastic cheers for Free Schools. The School Elections, which occurred immediately sub- sequent to the public meeting, took their character from the Free School question, and, in every instance but one, the supporters of Free Schools were returned — the excep- tion being in the Ward of St. David, where, on local con- siderations, Mr. W. Shepherd defeated Mr. A. A. Riddell. The Trustee Board for 1852 consisted of the following gentlemen, viz: — Dr. Workman, Chairman ; Messrs. James Lesslie, Wm. Hall, W. Gooderham, Richard Brewer, A. McGlashan, Wm, McMaster, D. Paterson, J. G. Beard, C. Fisher, D. Maitland, and Wm. Shepherd, Esqrs. Having in view the effects produced on the pub.ic mind by the recent discussions in St. Lawrence Hall on the sub- ject of Free Schools, the newly elected Chairman, Dr. Workman, on the occasion of his re-appointment (January 21, 1852), read an inaugural address to the members of 41 the Board, which, as explanatory of many circumstances of great importance to the school question at that time, will be perused with much interest at the present day, viz : ADDRESS TO THE BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES. Gentlemen, — I thank you most cordialiy for this renewed assurance of your esteem ; and for the third time in succession I accept from your hands the office of Chairman of your Board — an office which, in my estima- tion, is, in point of true honor and dignity, second to no other of a public character in our whole community ; for whether I regard it in view of its hie'i authority in the advancement of the general weal, or with a single reference to the respectability and superior intelligence of the individuals to whose kind consideration I am indebted for the distinction, I feel equally gratified by the compliment which you have unanimously and courteously conferred upon me. Were I, gentlemen, to consult merely my own con- venience or pecuniary interests, or even to defer to the requirements of my present bodily health, I should decline the acceptance of your high honor ; but there are times of emergency and urgent public necessity in which no man is at liberty to withhold hia aid from the great work of human amelioration. Every member of this Board, I am satisfied, feels, iu common with me, the imperative claims upon his sympathies and eflforts which the educational interests of this city, and of the country at large, now urge in language not to be mistaken. I believe, gentlemen, that we Luve arrived at a momentous crisis in the hitory of general education in this Province — a crisis in which strong minds and firm hearts are called for, and must be put to the test. The education of the children of the operative, and the humbler classes of society — the oifFusion of knowledge among the multitude — the awakening of the thinking powers of the now unlettered masses — are objects of high import, and are regarded in different lights by men of different opinions. Suffice it to say, that general education, the education given in the Common Schools, has its opponents ; some open and declared, and therefore not much to be dreaded ; but others covert and deep designing, and most destructive when most smilingly avowing their solicitude for the cause of popular knowledge, I feel well assured, however, that those whom I now address are men of a different mould, and have been sent here by their fellow-citizens for good and wise purposes. How gratifying must it be to me, on this occasion, to know that I am upheld in my efforts in the work of intellectual reformation by such as you, representing alike the wealth, the intelligence, the moral worth, the industry, and the religious excellence of our population ! I would now submit to you in order the various matters of business which appear to me to call for immediate action. FREE SCHOOLS. The recent unequivocal expression of public opinion given by your con- stituents, as well in public town meetings as more recently at the hustings, 42 has placed you, gentlemen, in approaching this very important question, in a far more advantageous position than that held by your predecessors. The establishment of our Common Schools on the free system was an experiment, made by the late Board under serious apprehensions ; and, considering the very imperfect educational machinery at command, it might be termed even a hazardous experiment. The die, however, was cast, and fortune has smiled on the enterprise. The voice of the people has pro- nounced the verdict, not of mere acquittal, but of strong approval. But let me admonish you not to be too much buoyed up by this manifestation of public feeling. The best friends of education, as the best friends of other great works, are not the most ardent amongst its adherents and admirers. It is in your power to lay, in this community, the foundations of general education, on a broad and deep basis ; but 't is also in your power to des- troy general education totally, at the very outset. If you would lay a deep foundation, proceed cautiously. Do not, as you value the happiness and intelligence of posterity, make general education burtheusome in its infancy. Do not ask men to sacrifice too largely in behalf of a distant, and as yet unappreciated, benefit. In providing your ways and means, forget not that those who are chiefly to contribute them are to be indirectly and perhaps not immediately compensated, and that some of them have not yet learned to see any sort of personal advantage resulting to them from increased popular intelligence; nay, that not a few may be so blind as to hold the very contrary opmion. SCHOOL HOUSES. A very short experience in your office of Trnsteeship will convince you that a better class of scho-.; '■ .jses than we at present occupy must be pro- vided. Three good sites stand ready for your operations, and I trust before any of us appear again before our constituents, we shall have something substantial to point to, to prove that we have not been here for nothing. It is in your power to provide the pecuniary means for this work, without any or with but a trivial addition to the past year's School Assessment. Whatever you do, I would recommend that you do it quickly. The °ooner good works of this character are seen, to testify for themselves and for you, the better. SEPARATE ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. This, gentlemen, is an item of business to come before you, calling for calm consideration, and, as I believe, moderate and liberal action. What- ever may be our individual views and wishes on this deejily interesting question, since the law of the land has definitely prescribed our duty, it behoves us to carry out the requirements of tlie law. In consequence of the neutral positinu held by me as chairman, I have never had an opportu- nity of declaring at this Board my views on the general question of separate denominational schools. I have no hesitation, however, in stating that, though I am and always have been convinced that, under the i)rescut School Act, the Roman Catholics have a legal right to separate schools, and that I 43 XTOuld, in obedience to the law, accord to them this right, I yet regard the In- stitution of sur^h schools as ultimately detrimental to the best interests of the Roman Catholics ; and on these grounds chiefly am I opposed to them. It has been my opinion that, between my Roman Catholic fellow-country- men and the people of other countries and other creeds, there was already TOO MUCH separation. I would rather lessen than increase this separation. I fear that a day will come — and may not now be very distant— in which those who now are most in advocacy of this system, or most clamorous in demand of it, will feel the evil results of its operation, but too late for retrogression. Were the Roman Catholic population of "Western Canada the most opulent and intelligent portion of our community ; — did they con- stitute the bulk of even our middle and operative classes, or merchants, traders and mechanics — then, I might see how it could happen that they should not suffer materially from the Separate School System ; but as mat- ters really are, I cannot contemplate without alarm the position which in a few years hence will be occupied by the rising young men who, from the forms of Separate Roman Catholic Schools — separate Irish Schools — will step forward in quest of preferment, as apprentices to trades, as clerks and accountants, or shopmen, and in other business capacities. It requires (at least on my part, for I know something of the bearing of national and other prejudices in Canada,) no great stretch of imaginative power to forecast the working and the depressing tendency of this system of separation. It will end in a social segregation ; and if this be the end really desired by its advocates, then are they righ tin their persistent course of demanding its full development. But, gentlemen, it is for us to administer the law as we find it. I trust we shall bo able to do so in perfect good temper, notwith- standing the abuse that has been so wantonly thrown upon u"- from certain quarters. I am happy to be able to state that, in conjunction with our Secretary, I this day effected an amicable settlement of the claims of our Roman Catholic brethren for the past year with Dr. Hayes tlieir accredited agent ; and I have great pleasure in also stating, that Dr. Hayes, expressed himself as well satisfied withtb-^ terms. Had this gentleman represented the Roman Catholics at an ear'Ier period, there would not have arisen those difficulties which the Board has bad to encounter in the past year, in its relation with that body. It is highly desirable that early action should bo taken for the adjustment of the Roman Cathohc Separate School claims in this year ; I therefore trust you will take up the question among the very first which will engage you. APPOINTMENT OF A VISITORIAL TEACHER. The appointment of a Visitorial Teacher, whose office it will be to attend by rotation thi-ougliout the whole day, the various schools under the Board, and to take a regular part in the process of teaching, with a view to the int''odiiction of a good and uniform system, but more especially to superintend the writing classes, has been reserved for you ; and numerous applications, accompanied by testimonials, will be laid before you by the i:;i 44 Clerk. The Visitorlal Teacher trill, jts he very appropriately and adrafl tageously may, perform ia addition to his tuitional duties, those of Local Superintendent. GENEEAL MORALITY OF TEA0HER8. Tiie standard of moral character among our teachers should engage the moat serious attention of every member of this Board. Should any com- plaints against the intemperance, the violence, or the general reputation of a teacher reach the ears of a Trustee, it must certainly be the part of discretion and duty to make early enquiry, and to see that errors are corrected in the bud. I do not desire to be understood as having any special reference in this observation ; but should such present itself to any of you, there can be no evil result from my remarks. SOHOOI, VISITATIONS. I doubt, gentlemen, whether any department of your duties, even that which you perform at this Board, may, in point of true usefulness, rank higher than your school Tisi Nations, "Would I might say that your prede- cessors had left you a good example ! You will never have realized the true purport and force of your mis :n, until you have entered fully on your school visitation labours. None more earnestly desire to see you than the teachers — or perhaps I should say the scholars— certainly I have found both well pleased ; and always best pleased where best prepared to en- counter my visit. I trust you will not der./ yourselves this great pleasure ; and might I, gentlemen, ask of you, as I am aware you represent various religious denominations in this city, that you will endeavour to interest our clergy more warmly in the cause of common school education. I regret to have to state it, but I must tell the truth even of the clergy, these reverend gentlemen iiave been sadly negligent — very few clerical vi its have been iiitnlj to our schools in the past year. Education unconnected with, and un- controlled by religion, is a very unstable sort of national morality. If our common schools are discountenanced, or neglected by the men who are appointed to teach the sacred truths of religion, what hope can there be for the safety of the multitude ? The School Law invests every minister of religion with the visitorial privilege ; and no doubt the Legislature anticipated beneficial results from this provision. It is much to be wished that the teachers of religion should fraternize more closely, and more cordially, with the teachers of secular knowledge. I do not say that our common schools should become the arenas of religious controversy, or that the clerical visitor should there occupy himself in expounding the peculiar or distinguishing doctrine^ of his own denomination. He may find other and more befitting topics on which to engage his young auditory ; and now that the Roman Catholic body have taken their children into separate schools, a very material source of apprehension has been removed, as to the tendency of elerical interfe- ence. Qentlemen, I trust wo shall in this, and in every other matter oonDectei "with our important duties, be sustained by an intelligent community ; and that we may be so sustained, let us proceed in all our acts with circum- spection and Christian moderation. The new Board of Trustees having come to the con- clusion that it was advisable to engage the services of a gentleman who, in addition to the duty of superintend- ing the general economy of the schools, should also act as a Visitorial Teacher, devoting the whole of his time to these conjoint duties, Mr. J. B. Boyle, previously a Head Master in the City Schools, was appointed to that office in 1852 — which, having been continued during 1852 and 1853, was considered to be inconvenient, and the duties of Superintendent and Secretary were again united in Mr. Barber. The year 1852 opened with preparations for building school houses. Designs had been sent in by several archi- tects, and the Board decided to erect one according to the design of Mr. Sheard, on George street — and the other two, both of the same size and plan, according to the design of Mr. W. Thomaf . The contract for the (xeorge street School was taken by Mr. James Price, for brickwork, and Mr. R. Bell, for carpenter work ; that for the Louisa Street and the Park Schools, was taken by Mr. P. Daly for the whole work, although Mr. John Brown executed the brick work. The buildings were commenced on or about July, 1852, — they were finished early in May, 1853. The school furniture, manufactured by Jacques and Hay, was all ready about the middle of March; and the three schools were for- mally opened for the work of education after the Easter holidays, April, 1853. In all these premises there are distinct and sepa- rate male and female departments, each wil»i its own play ground and entrance gate ; and each department has its three divisions, namely, the first or gallery division for juveniles, the second for those more advanced, and the 46 third for the higher classes — each division having its own proper teacher. As there was no census taken in 1852, the City popu- lation can be only approximated at 35,000 ; there were 16 Teachers; the school attendance was 1,346; and the whole cost of the schools was £2,558, in round numbers. It would have been injudicious for the Board to have called upon the rate-payers to contribute in one year the whole amount that was required to build and fur- nish these school premises ; and, accordingly, the Board applied to the Corporation to issue School Debentures at twenty years' date, redeemable one-twentieth every year, to meet this expense. Debentures to the amount of £3,500 were issued for this purpose, and sold at the cus- tomary discount. The Building Committee were Messrs. J. G. Beard, and D. Paterson, Esq. ; and for the better information of the public, the report of their proceedings, submitted to and approved by the Board, at a later pe- riod, viz , 1853, when the buildings were finished, is worth reproducing here, viz. : — At a meeting of the Board, held on "Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1853» fhe following proceedings, inter alia, took place : — Besolvedy — " That the thanks of this Board are justly due to J. G. Beard, Esq., and D. Paterson, Esq., for the fidelity and care with which they have discharged the duties devolving upon them, while acting in the capacity of a Building Committee for the three new School Honses recently erected." Statement of the Receipts and Expendituei of the Building Fund — Made out in accoedanoe with a Resolution of the Board of School Trustees, NovEMBEtt 30th, 1853 — as follows: — debenture account. 1852. Dr. £ Oct. 8— To City of Toronto for £3,600 School House Debentures 8500 To interest accruing on Debentures 17 To interest on Bills receivable, viz. : Rev. A. Green's notes 8 Q. 9 10 n 2 £3520 17 •' 47 Cr, Oct. 14, 1852— By Mr. Short— Proceeds and interest (£1050 Debentures) £897 15 9 « By Rev. Dr. Green, ditto ditto, (£625 Deben- tures) 481 19 6 16 By Messrs. Crawford > ■-s-a ¥ c r B O S?<1 go ;o c to C 4) OS .2 § o .a en a^ o I So a 00 c4 ^ gal 1 >> |.s sa « o »- a .2 o la C O <50 o CO 5'S (M © in 94 s O O DO CQ M O N o O H FN -4 1^ .2 13 u § H • ^-1 #^ c3 •rs ^ a ^ a> S J • P>4 «4-l ^ t3 S e« o 4-> « r« a r! ^ ^ ;! C4-1 ** • -< ^ «^ CQ a hJ c • m4 w ;?; ^ B ;£; p; to Ah •d ^ § .a ♦id b jj ^ 5J « '3. fl S ■43 a 2 r. ^ 1 '^ 3 p Vi *M «M H »-i c P4 FN 5u § •2 .2 i^ 1 |i ^ S 2. 1^ g ^ P g If 1^ 1 • 1 S i 1 .2 fc'a °s • P m P II g 1 1 ■■s i • 53 a a e P. H ^ ^11 p Fh ^ M i H •"1 g •S H It is 1 • 1 is a t CQ H 1 03 s i '3'S fctj °s a ^■| p 1 •J a 1 a 1 § 8 s s ^ 8 H IH 04 p^ oi ei CO f-i T-< r-( rH 1 § s s s s s s s s (» s «4 •^ Q^ ei V) c •a .5 CD •73 a c« to a o OS I? S 8 ■a -c J3 % ^ ;3 be QQ a o Pi bo a 'Si .s a % !"< I ' III 11^ li; Hi: the Board of Trustees ; but any child thus expelled, who shall, in the presence of the school, ask forgiveness for his or her fault, and shall promise amendment, may, with the sanction of the superin- tendent, be reinst'ited in the privileges of the school. 14. When any teacher is compelled, by sickness or other cause, to be absent from school, the principal of the depaitment shall make temporary provision for the care of the classes, recording the case, and promptly reporting it to the superintendent; and if such absence shall continue for more than two days, the appointment of a substitute shall devolve upon upon the superintendent, and the substitute's rem meration shall be deducted from the salary of the teacher, by the authority of the Board. 15. No teachers shall award medals, or other prizes, to the pupils under their charge. 16. No subscription or contribution for any purpose whatever shall be introduced into any school. 17. No addresses shall be presented by the pupils to any teacher, or other school officers or authorities, and no uses other than those connected with the regular exercises of the schools, shall be made of the schcol-honses, except under the special sanction of the Board of School Trustees. 18. Teachers are expected to refrain from all public, political, and ecclesiastical controversy, and to remember that the public schools are intended for the children of all, without regard to the party principles of any, in matters religious or political. 19. The daily exercises of each school shall accord with the general programme of studie,: adopted by the Board, and a printed time table denoting them shall be permanently suspended in every class-room. 20. There shall be a recess of ten minutes for every class, each half day. 21. There shall be a repetition examination of every class on the Fiiday of each week. 5 2nd. as regards pupils. 1. Parents or guardians desirous of sending a child to any public school, are required to apply to the head teacher of such school, on any Monday morning, at nine o'clock, at which time only new pupils will be admitted. 67 ' 2. No child will be admitted under five years of age. ---" -j, 3. On admission, the name of each child shall be entered in the general register, which shall record the name, age, and date of admission of the pupil, and the residence of the parent or guardian. 4. Pupils are expected to come to school with their persons and apparel neat and clean ; and if any neglect this regulation, the prin- cipal teacher shall at once send them home, that they may receive proper attention, 5. No pupil shall be suffered to remain in s«hool unless promptly supplied with the books deemed necessary by the Trustees for his or her classification and progress. 6. The daily exercises of each School shall commence and close "with Scripture Reading and Prayer. 7. Each school shall be open from nine o'clock, a. m., until noon, and from one o'clock, p. m., until four of every lawful day of the week, except Saturday. 8. Every day the schools are open, the pupils shall assemble in their respective play-grounds, at the ringing of the bell, by five minutes before nine o'clock, a. m., and by five minutes before one o'clock, p. M. At nine, a. m., and at one, v. m., the doors shall be closed and the roll called ; and every pupil not answering at the call of the roll, shall be registered " late." 9. No pupil, not present within a quarter of an hour of the time appointed for opening the school, shall be admitted for that half day, unless the absence be explained by his or her parent or guar- dian, personally or in writing, to the satisfaction of the head teacher. 10. No pupil, absent from school during a whole day, shall be re-admitted, unless such absence shall be explained by the parent or guardian, personally or in writing, to the satisfaction of the head teacher. 11. Frequent absences, unless satisfactorily explained, will be punished : first by public suspension, and finally by public dismissal from the school, the parents or guardians being duly notified. 12. No pupil, who is irregular in attendance, punctuality, or conduct, will be permitted the privilege of the school libraries, or be eligible for reward of any sort. 13. No pupil shall be allowed to leave before the hour appointed for closing school, except in case of sickness, or some pressing 68 f^ 11 emergency ; and then the principal teacher's consent must first be obtained. 14. Pupils who are known to conduct themselves improperly, on their way to or from school, will be debarred for a time from the privileges of the school libraries, or otherwise punished, according to the nature of the offence. 15. Pupils will be held responsible for the care of the seats and desks appropriated to their use, and any injury thereto, or to any school furniture, will be punished according to the nature of the offence. . 16, No pupil shall be transferred from one school to another, except on account of the change of the residence of his or her parent or guardian ; and in every case of transfer, the pupil shall bring a note from the head teacher of the school he or she is leaving, to the head teacher of the school into which it is desired that such child shall enter, which shall state the ground of the trp.iisfer, in order to its being recorded in the register of each school. 17. Pupils are required to be respectful and obedient to their teachers, and kind and obliging to each other. All games likely to excite ill-feeling are strictly prohibited. 18. Pupils habitually inattentive, disrespectful, or disobedient to their teachers, will be suspended from the schools and i" they persevere in such misconduct, ultimately dismissed. 19. Generally. — Pupils are required to speak the truth on all occasions ; to refrain from indelicate or profane language, and from mocking or nicknaming their school fellows or others ; to be obedi- ent to parents and guardians, and respectful to all persons in autho- rity ; to be attentive, quiet and orderly in the s:hool ; to promote, as far as possible, the comfort and miprovement of others ; and, in fine, to do unto others whatever they would thi\t others should do unto them. .' ; TEXT BOOKS. . The Text Books, to be mPae use of in Common Schools generally, are prescribed by the Council of Public Instruc- tion under the powers given by the 38th section of the School Act. Subject to these general regulations, the M •III' 69 Board of Trustees will sanction the use in the City Schools of such books only as may be authorized by the Board, or as, under special circumstances, may be temporarily sanctioned by the Local Superintendent. According to these regulations the text books chiefly used in the City Schools are the National Series of Read- ing Books, (reading, as elsewhere observed, forming the standard of our school classification) and the National Arithmetic and Book-keeping— but Sullivan's Literary Class Book, Murray's and Lennie's English Grammars, Thomson's Arithmetic, Bonnycasile's Algebra, Chamber's Mensuration, Simson's and Colenso's Euclid, Goldsmith's Histories, and Roy's History of Canada, are all more or less used in some or other of the City Schools. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. / The question of school attendance has for a long time occupied the anxious attention of the Board of Trustees. It cannot be denied that the number of pupils regularly attending the city Public Schools, does not bear that proportion to the number of children of school age in the city that it ought to do : while those whose names are registered as pupils are neither so regular nor so punctual in their attendance as is desirable. The views enter- tained by the Board, with regard to a subject of such vital importance to the welfare of Common School educa- tion, will be readily understood from the following report of the Committee on Free Schools, submitted to and adopted by the Board in 1857, viz : — "Your Committee have had under consideration that most important subject, irregularity of attendancCy which naturally affects the whole educational interests of the city. This subject has occupied the attention of the friends of popular education in other countries — for all, more or less suffer from the evil which it creates and fosters, However advantageous may be our $QbQol r^i> 'i' m'' iU 70 system, however commodious and comfortable our school-houses, however able and industrious our teachers, but little comparative good can be effected so long as the attendance of pupils is marked by irregularity and want of punctuality. With such evils at work in a school, the developnoent of the mental powers of the child and the formation of good habits — which are the great object and end of education — is prevented; the discipline of the school is thwarted ; the efforts of the teacher destroyed ; while derangement and confusion take the place of order and harmony." " The origin of this evil, the Committee impute, in a great measure, to the little responsibility felt by parents and guardians in this matter. Children are too often kept from school, or made late, for the most frivolous causes. Did the heads of families but reflect upon the serious injuries thus inflicted upon their children — injuries which in after life they may never bo able to recover — injuries which affect them not only morally and intellectually but pecuniarily, and not only themselves but society at large, they would surely hesitate before encouraging, too often on the slightest grounds, an evil fraught with snch consequences." " The Committee, with the view of at least mitigating the evil complained of, recommend that the visitorial system be cordially entered into, and thoroughly carried out, by the different teachers. It is quite obvious that a zealous teacher can do much, not merely by enquiring into the causes of absence, but by judicious and kindly remonstrance with the parent, and by showing that the welfare of the children is their great aim. They can also render the school room attractive to scholars, so that they may learn to look upon it, not as a restraint, but as a place where they experience true enjoyment." With reference to this recommendation it is proper to remark that every teacher is now required to visit the abodes of all those children, of his or her division, who are not regular and punctual, or who do not comply with the regulations of the school — a visiting book is kept for the use of each department, wherein is recorded the number of visits paid ; the persons to whom those visits have been made ; the cause for such visits ; what took place on the occasion of the visit ; and the result which attended it. 71 The same Committee also recommended that an address to parents, setting forth the advantages to be derived from our City Free Schools, and the evils entailed upon parents and children by a desultory attendance, should be prepared and published. This course it was thought might be of some service, and would at least deprive parents of any excuse for continued neglect. The recommendation was not however acted upon at the time it was made ; bat more recently, a brief address of this character, was adopted by the Board, and made the preface to the new rules and regulations ; and as the same is strictly pertinent to the consideration in hand, its publication in these pages, as a portion of these remarks, will be appropriate, and it is hoped serviceable. ADDRESS TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS BY THE i, , BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES. ToRONTOj July, 1858. ' "The trustees have prepared and published regulations for the public schools, in order that parents and guardians, as well as chil- uren, may fully understand and carefully attend to them. The yearly expenditure of public money, in maintaining these schools, is very large, and every rate-payer, whether he uses the schools or not, is required to contribute towards their support. The public have a right, therefore, to demand that the schools shall be manaoed in the best manner and for the good of the whole com- munity, and those persons whose children share the advantages of free education, should be anxious to comply with such reasonable regulations as may be necessary to their efficient government. The education offered in these public schools is sound, thorough, and of great value, whilst the management is based upon kindness and judicious consideration towards the pupils, A" the schools are entirely free, and every ch' " proper age is earnestly invited to enter them, the parents c» any child who remains uneducated, are alone responsible for the loss that child suffers, and for all the future consequences of its ignorance to them- selves and the coramunitj ^ l;i 1 ' "'I S I* 72 The greatest difficulty the schools have to encounter is irregu- larity of attendance on the part of the children : no business of any sort can succeed, but by dint of constant and steady applica- tion, and it is probable that six months' regular attendance at school is of more real benefit to a child than irregular attendance duringi, twice that period. Absence operates badly on the school as well as on the scholar, for it not only checks the progress of the absent pupil, but it pre- vents the advancement of those who attend with regularity. The trustees have accordingly established strict regulations con- cerning the attendance of children ; and as it will be the duty of the trustees, the superintendent, and the teachers to enforce them, parents are entreated to perform their duty by taking care that their children attend school regularly every day, and punctually at the appointed hours. If parents neglect so simple and easy a duty, they inflict an injury upon the schools as well as upon their own children : and they must not afterwards complain if the habitual irregularity of their children be punished by suspension or dismissal, as the only way in which the discipline of the schools can be protected and maintained. A daily record of the attendance of each child will be kept, so as to enable the trustees to enforce these regulations, and a copy o' the same will be issued to the parents or guardians of every pupil, for th«ir information and guidance. Half-yearly public examinations are held in every school before the Midsummer and Christmas holidays, at which all parents and the publ i rally are invited to attend." u THE EXPENSE OF MAINTAINING THE SCHOOLS. In the Appendix to this Report there will be found a comparative statement of the annual cost of the City Schools, and also the cost per child, from 1844 to 1857, both years inclusive. It is proper, however, to explain that the said statement, although sufficiently reliable for what it was intended to show, namely, that the expense 73 of maini'aining the City Schools has largely increased since 1844 to 1857, and even since 1852 when the Free School System came into operation, up to the present time, yet it must be looked at with some qualification. As a mere matter of figures, the comparative statement certainly presents a discouraging appearance ; but it is not simply as figures that the question ought to be con- sidered. The mere cost of an article should assuredly be measured by its quality ; and, in fairness to our City Schools, the proper consideration of expense is not whether the Schools are or are not more expensive now than they were, but whether the education and training acquired in the City Schools of the present day, costly as they may appear when compared in dollars and cents with the Schools of fourteen years ago, are not, in fact, quite as well worth, if not better worth, the money they cost now, than what they cost then 9 and whether, in fact, the expense, at $12 per child in 1858, is not actually a better educational investment for the citizens of Toronto, than the expense of $6 for the same purpose in 1844? In the School times of 1844, the School Buildings — if they indeed merited the term at all — were small, incommodious, badly ventilated, and ill adapted for the purposes of social and moral advance- ment, through the agency of popular education ; children of both sexes assembled in one School-room, and mir gled together in one common play-yard — in several cases as many as a hundred young persons were huddled together in a space not fit to accommodate — far less teach — two-thirds, or, it might be said, one-half, of the number ; the pupils attending the Schools, from the child learning its A, B, C, up to those farthest advanced, were all taught, boys and girls, by one Male Teacher ; so that there could be but little, if any, system or classi- fication ; and much that was attempted could not fail to be done otherwise than in a hurried and superficial manner. j iM m Ilii I !■!■ !^l' r 74. It is true that the Teachers of that day worked, or rather slaved, amidst these contending difficulties, with an earnestness of purpose and an industry of action which merits all praise ; and that they were able, under such circumstances, to impart so much knowledge to their pupils as they confessedly did, is a matter as much to be wondered at, as it deserves to be admired. But, at the same time, it would be simply absurd to compare the City Schc r 3 jf 1844, or even 1852, with those of 1858. In 1852, the prest"' six handsome, spacious, and commodious Schools, suitably fitted up and supplied with all needful appliances, were commenced, and in 1855 they were completed ; and to compare the cost of education from 1844 to 1852 with that of 1858, would be about as rational as to compare the miserable School premises of that period with the superior accommoda- tion of the present day; for, cost what they may, our School Buildings are recognized by every stranger as an ornament to the City. Nor does the comparison, or rather contrast, end with the question of School Buildings and appliances ; for while, in the olden time, boys and girls were taught together by a Male Teacher, now they have distinct and separate departments, and the girls are in charge of Female Teachers : then, there existed no opportunity of classification, while now, the pupils, being arranged and divided according to a recognized standard of proficiency, are advanced from one division to another, according to progress — and each division has its own appropriate Teacher. In fact, the comparison between 1844 or 1852, with the present day, migkt be extended all through every part of the School system ; but enough has been advanced to prove 10 every unpre- judiced mind, that although the City Schools do cost more now than they did in former years, yet the people have, in return, an article quite as valuable in proportion in 1858 as it was in 1844. h 75 Improvement in anything cannot be accomplished without an increased expenditure. Education, surely, is not to be the exception ; and if the excellent, but therefore, to some extent, more expensive education, so liberally provided in our City Schools, has not as yet produced the good fruit which was reasonably to be ex- pected from their establishment, the whole blame lies at the door of those for whom these benefits were provided, but who, nevertheless, are not sufficiently alive to the advantages of them ; otherwise, in a populous city like Toronto, every School-room would be filled with anxious pupils, urged on to a regular and p iclual attendance by equally anxious parents. Let us now turn our attention to the cost of the Schools for the past year, 1858 ; and by referri g to the Appendix, where the annual statement of he whole expenditure is set forth in detail, it will be found that the whole amount of money actually paid out during 1858, was $28,757 44 : the resources to meet w^hich were derived from the Government Grant and the City Assessment. But, with regard to this total expenditure of ^28,757, it will have to be borne in mind that $2,276 w^ere paid on account of 1857 ; and that several large amounts paid, such as the items for instalments on sites, and for principal on debentures for School Buildings, are to be considered as belonging to permanent investments, and not to the annual cost of maintaining the Schools. The following statement will more intelligibly exhibit the actual expense of maintaining the City Schools for the year 1858, namely : Salaries to Tepchers, Superintendent, and Secretary, and al- lowances to the Care-takers $1 54G3 1 6 Rents, 6401 57 ; Election expenses, $86 487 57 School Libraries 224 70 Fuel, viz.. Wood, cutting ditto, and Coal 1150 63 Insurance on 850,400 330 75 Maps, Object Lessons, &c 157 S4 %:. llLi SBW &% . I.i I I- if HI \ 'I t % r HI* 76 Amount brought forward $17714 65 Advertising, $126 97; Printing, $229 355 97 Pens, Ink, Pencils, and Stationery, for the Schools 123 12 Stationery for the Board, and for Offices 80 00 Miscellaneous Expenses 76 88 Annual Estimate for Dilapidation and necessary Repairs . to School Buildings 1200 00 Annual Interest on permanent Investment of $80,000, for Sites, Buildings, Furniture, Ac 4800 00 Total $24400 62 Say, in round numbers, $25,000. In the comparative statement of expense, from 1844 to 1857, previousl}' referred to, the cost per pupil was estimated on the basis of " Daily Average Attendance" inasmuch as the resolution of the Board requiring that information, specified that il should be so calculated. But this very strict and narrow view of the question of expense, is certainly not the fair light in which it should be viewed, inasmuch as in every public institution, and in every private business establishment, a reasonable per centage is always allowed for absence caused by sick- ness, weather, or other unavoidable causes ; and to show to what an extent our School attendance is sometimes influenced by extreme cold or heavy rain, it will be enough to refer to the fact, that although so many as 2,444 pupils have been present at one time, yet there have been occasions when only 700 were in attendance ! It is frankly admitted that the proportion of absentees and irregular attendance, is much greater than it ought to be ; but the fault rests not with the Board — not upon the Schools — not upon the free principle — but altogether with parents, and with them alone. The machinery of the Schools is, and will be, going on steadily, whether every pupil be present or not ; and the cost of maintain- ing the Schools cannot w^ell be diminshed according to a sliding scale, dependent upon indifferent or neglectful ab- sentees. It has been shown in the " Abstract of School 77 Attendance for 1858," that not less than 4,742 pupils had their names entered on the School Registers, from the 1st of January to the 3lst of December ; but it would not be fair to take these figures as representing the School attendance for 1858, because, in the first place, a propor- tion of these pupils, in consequence of change of resi- dence, or after the Summer Vacation, have had their names entered on the Registers of other Schools ; and, in the second place, because in that large number are in- cluded all those who, we find to the extent of 650, were at School but a few days altogether ; and of nearly 1000 present only from 20 to 50 days out of the whole year. In the same abstract it is al^o shown that the " average registered attendances^ (calculated by months) was 2,622, and this number ought to form the basis upon which the cost of education per child should, in fairness, be calcu- lated — because, although of this number (2,622) of scholars, it is true that a proportion of not less than 25 out of every 100 were, on an average, absent every day, (the fact is discouraging, but the truth must be told) yet it by no means follows that the same children were absent on all these occasions; on the contrary, this per centage of absence was distributed over the whole number, and sometimes one and sometimes another was absent, according to circumstances ; so that every one of the absentees did, more or less, receive instruction, and, in some degree, participated in the benefits conferred by the Schools; and it is, consequently, no more than right that they should be included in the average cost. On this basis, therefore, the cost per child would come to ^9.60 ; while for the purpose of keeping up the com- parative calculation, as based upon *' daily average," the cost per child, in this consideration, would then amount to $12.58, which is somewhat lower than for 1857, owing to the increased attendance for 1858. The accommodation and the existing appliances of 4| our Schools, could receive and instruct a much larger number than they do. It is not too much to affirm that jive hundred additional pupils could be taught with but a trifling addition to the whole anuual expense. And were parents and others to take a greater interest in the education of their children, and by this means ensure a larger as well as a more regular attendance, the cost per child, on the basis of" daily average," would be materi- ally diminished; while the cost per child, on the basis of *' reglsterd attendance," would be brought within a limit which could not be seriously objected to. If, how- ever, the earnest endeavours of the Board of Trustees should unfortuately fail to accomplish this result, and if thereby the present Free School principle shonld be endangered, those parents and guardians for whose children the advantages of free education were intended, but who do not seem to value it, will alone be responsi- ble for all the consequences that may ensue. Ir: V-}: to i! ! REPORT ON THE FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM. Towards the close of 1857, the then Local Superinten- dent and Secretary, Mr. G. A. Barber, presented a report, No. 25, in which, on the ground, that according to his experience, "the result of the Free School System, as now carried on, was incommensurate with the cost of main- taining it," he therefore asked the Board to reconsider the whole question. x\t the same time that officer sug- gested the consideration whether the welfare of the schools, and the efficiency of the whole system of com- mon school education, would not be advanced by separa- ating the duties of Superintendent from those of Secretary. The views entertained by Mr. Barber on the Free School System, as carried on in this City, having been already published in pamphlet form, it is only necessary to refer to them here ; but as the reasons which influenced 70 him in suggesting the separation of the two offices have not been made public, it is proper they should be stated to be, in eflect, — " That he was disappointed as to the ex- pected success of the free school principle in the city schools, and had therefore a conscientious disinclination to share the responsibility of a system so costly, and yet so comparatively fruitless" — and, "that he thought and felt the free school principle, if it was to be continued, might be worked out with a better chance of success in other hands ; for, as he himf?elf regarded the experiment as a partial failure, a person free from such a feeling, might more efficiently, perhaps, superintend its opera- tions." Both hese matters were taken up and discussed sepa- rately, the latter consideration being first disposed of. The Committee on School Management, to whom the same had been referred, reported as follows, viz. : " The Superintendent has communicated the views inducing him to make the suggestion in question, and as they are based upon his experience of the working of the present (free school) systena, which he regards as inefficient, undisciplined, costly, and compara- tively fruitless, your Committee, aware of the weight attaching to such testimony, have anxiously discussed the question, and have decided not to assume the responsibility of recommending the continuance of existing arrangements, as regards the agencies em- ployed to work out the principle. " It is clear that to pursue a system, which after extended trial is condemned by those charged with giving it effect, is to concen- trate the responsibility of its failure upon the Board, who, how- ever strong their faith in such system may be, cannot undertake to operate it themselves, or practically to promote and secure its success." The Board having adopted the Report of the Commit- tee, the office of Superintendent, so declared vacant vas opened to applicants, and the choice of the Boar 'ell upon the Rev. James Porter, who assumed the charge of the schools on 1st July, 1858. fir r i«!'r n.j Ls^': ^ »; u <° i4 ! I '^il I 80 The action of the Committee of School Management, on the Free School question, having been delayed, the consideration of the same was brought up in the Board by Mr. TuUy, who on the 12th May, 1858, moved the following resolution, seconded by Mr, Geikie, viz. : , " Whereas the Local Superintendent, Mr. G. A. Barber, in his report No, 25, submitted to this Board on the 2nd December, 1857. has expressed the opinion, that the existing Free School System in this City was a partial failure, costly, biTt comparatively fruitless, and has further stated it to be his conscientious conviction, that it is no longer consistent with justice to tax a whole community, by a compulsory assessment, to accomplish at best a par- tial purpose- -and whereas the assessment for school pur- poses was, in 1857, three pence in the pound, being one- twelfth of the whole City Tax, and it is therefore unjust tf^ a large portion of the rate-payers to continue the Free School system on its present basis — Be it resolved, That it is f'd^'lsabie to estabii:sh an assessment by rate-bill upon such portion of the parents and guardians of pupils now attending, or who may hereafter, attend the Common Schools of this City, as are in a position to pay for the education of their children — and that the subject be re- ferred to a Select Committee, to be composed of Messrs. Geikie, Coatsworth, Beard, Brown, and the mover, to report thereon." And in amendment thereto. Mr. Cumber- land, seconded by Mr, Baxter, moves — " That in view of the changes about to be made in the administration of • the Schools, namely, the separation of the office of Se- cretary from that of Local Superintendent, so as to secure the undivided attention of the latter officer to the duty of a constant supervision of the schools, and the adop- tion of a code of sufficient rules and regulations calcu- lated to amend their discipline and improve their effici- ency— which it is hoped will result favorably in the in- crease of the number of pupils, and the diminution of ex- i. 81 penditure, — it is inexpedient, to disturb the existing system until it shall have been more completely and efficiently tested." A divison ensued thereupon, when there voted for the amendment Messrs. Baxter, Brown, Coalsworth, Cumberland Godson,Greenless, Henning, and McMurrich, 8 ; and against, it Messrs. Geikie, Joseph, and Tully, 3, — so the amendment was carried by a majority of 5. Somewhat later in the year the Committee on School Management considered the subject of the aforesaid re- port No. 25, and presented the following Report, which being adopted by the Board, settled the question for the year, viz. : To the Board of School Trustees of the City of Toronto* The Standing Committee on School Management beg to present their Seventh Report. That in pursuance with the resolution of the Board, adopted the 17th May last, your Committee have had under consideration the Report No. 25, of the Local Superintendent, Mr. G. A. Barber, dated December 1st, 1857. In that Report the Local Superintendent calls upon the late Board to reconsider the whole question of the Free School Sys- tem, upon the ground that, as at present carried on, its results are altogether incommensurate with the cost of maintaining it. in support of that opinion he submits that the number of pupils attending the Common Schools is below that in due proportion to the whole number of children of school age in the City ; that the attendance of the pupils registered and entered at the Schools is irreyidar : that those actually attending are unpunctual ; and lastly, that a compulsory assessment and a voluntary attendance would seem to be manifestly inconsistent with eai;h other, and ac- cordingly that recourse should be had, cither to the principle of compulsory attendance, or to the Rate Bill system. Your Committee lament that the number attending the City Schools is smaller than it should be ; and, whilst they have not failed to discover that irregularity and unpunctuality of attendance which woald seem to vindicate the necessity of a sterner discipline and a bolder administration, they are unwilling to charge upon the It I I'Mi **Hdii ! w^ iff!"' ' I ii 82 Free School System, as such, the responsibility for evils which but distantly, if at all, result from it, and which may probably be capable of correction, without resorting to fundamental changes. it is worthy of observation that Common School Education in this City, as a system, has never yet been permitted to enjoy that stability and permanence of operation which is generally acknovv • ledged as essential to success. It is vain to expect mature vigour and full fruit, from a system subjected to such frequent and fundamental changes ; and although during the trial of the last three years, it may, in some particulars, have failed to justify the sanguine expectations formed of it, your Committee are inclined to regard as premature, any such unmea- sured condemnation as would result in its disturbance, until every effort shall have been fairly exhausted to secure that efficiency and value which it has achieved in other places. The Board has already separated the offices of Superintendent and Secretary, a. measure which promises to S3cure a more con- stant supervision, and more efficient government of the Schools. Your Committee ha\ing discovered that no code of Rules for the instruction and guidance of Teachers and Pupils had yet beea issued, have prepared, and will immediately issue, Regulations in regard to the duties and powers of Teachers, to the admission and expulsion of puj)ils, to regularity and punctuality of attendance, and other details of discipline ; and they trust thereby to arrest many of the evils which are regarded as evidence of the failure of the system. The Board has already, by resolution, determined to maintain the Free School System, as they found it in operation when they were elected ; using every means at their disposal, further to im- prove and strengthen it, if possible, to full efficiency. It is there- fore unnecessary for your Committee to enter upon any discussion of the relative value of the Free, Rate Bill, and Compulsory System ; a discussion which belongs to, and must find its issue with, the Kate-payers. Your Committee, within the limits of the duties entrusted to them, accept the responsibility of administering the system, which, as Trustees, they were elected to administer ; and they are not prepared to recommend that the powers committed to the Board, 83 by the Rate-payers, should be used to initiate the fundamental changes suggested by the Local Superintendent ; and in regard to which, the Electors, as yet, have had no opportunity of expressing an opinion. ^ i^f ' SEPARATE SCHOOLS. The Board of Trustees of this City have at all times taken strong grounds against Separate Schools. So far back as 1848 the then Board (constituted by appointment from the Corporation) in reply to applications made by the principal denominational bodies in this city, decided it to be inexpedient to establish denominational Schools within this City. On various occasions the elective Board of Trustees have expressed themselves in the most emphatic terms against Separate Schools — to the utmost of their ability they have opposed the principle of de- nominational teaching as connected with Common School education : and on two occasions the Board presented petitions couched in earnest terms, praying that all religi ous distinctions in the Common School System of this Province might be altogether abolished. In 1852 the sentiments of the Board with regard to Separate Schools were expressed in the report of a Com- mittee, adopted by the Board and sent in to the Legislature, from which the following paragraphs, as more particularly bearing on the question are extracted, viz : " It is one of the recognised principlea of civilined society, thut all shall contribuie to establish and sustain Institutions deemed essential by the niiijoiity — [U'ovided that the demand does not infringe upon the rights of conscience. Thus, the charges attendant upou every branch of public legislation, jurisprudence, or any other bi-anch of Rocial economy, security or defence, are, or should be, borne e(iuitably by all the inhabitants ()f tho country, because all are partakers of tho benetits resulting from tho ex. penditure. No good citizen complains of being taxed to make the hiAvs of his country, to guard it ; ;.iin8t foreign enemies, to secure its internal peace, — to repress and punish crime, or to extend the benefits ot public economy throughout society, ileligioub dietiuctions io auch cabes ure b if«r », '■■* r li'' It?" Ml'" '> 1 i' >. w 1 Ilf*1 84 tinknown — the f^clarian is tv holly merged in the citizen. We never !.oM' oi eonarate nouses of legislation being demanded by Protestants or Romi^n OathoHcB, — separate Courts of Justice — separate Houses oi" CVireotiou, or any other of the numerous arrangements which the peace, safety and well- being of society demand. There is a universal admission of the rectitude and necessity of co-operation in public affairs, and of submission to the burthen imposed to uphold those civil institutions which the majority may deem essential to the social existence or welfare of the whole." "Among all the instrumentalities employed to secure the moral eleva- tion, and to promote the best Interests of society, none appear to be more important than a wise and liberal system of public instruction, based upon moral law, but free from sectarianism. To promote intelligence and virtue all admit is better than to punish ignorance and crime : to pay by a public tax, for the moral and intellectual improvement of youth (com- mitting their instruction in dogmatic theology entirely to parents, guardians, and religious teachers,) experience has proved to be the best public economy. The system of Free Schools, recently established in the city, rests upon the recognition of an entire equality of rights and privileges among all classes of citizens. The religious convictions of all denomina- tions have been scrupulously respected, and their i-ights sedulously guarded by the law under which the schools have been established. No Protostaut teacher can thrust his religious opinions upon Roman Catholic yout' jv can a Roman Catholic teacher upon Protestant youth." " Your Committee would further remark thMt as Roman Catholics are required, as well as Protestants, according to the assessed value of their pi'operty, to contribute their sliare to the entire local tax levied for Scho(d purposes, — not merely that which is required to secure the share of the Legislative grant, but any excess which the ^' 'ii'dof Trustees may deter- mine, — your Committee acknowledge t' . i ^ ley should share in the advantages of the whole fund equally with Ooiieis — not however as Roman Catholics or Protestants — not as the prof essors of any system of religious faith — BUT AS CITIZENS. If either party, members of the body politic, choose to isolate themselves from the rest of their fellow citizens on the ground of holding to certain religious opinions ; if they refuse to co-operate in arrangements for the general good, which do not at all infringe upon their rights as religious communities ; and, if they thus voluntarily forfeit the ndv^antages they are invited to enjoy equally with others, the blan.e rests not with the Board but wi*;h themselves. Neither the general nor the local Governments of the State have any warrant to make laws, or to collect taxes, to build up any system of religious faith whatever. Such functions btiong exclusively to the lawful authorities of religious com- munities. If Ronum Catho'ics or Protestants are to shave in the moral and poi' leal advantages wh;(jh arise from the promotion of intelligence and vii Ui' Is; Bf cititj' ity means of unsectarian public schools, they are required, In jm''.ce, to pay for such advantages in common with their fellow citizens g<3n''*ait^i'. If e'iiher Proteettiutsor Roman Catholics desire to super-add 85 other schools to In'loctrinato their youtli with their o^n peculiar reh'giou'i opinions, c^i^naon justice iinJ propriety demand that it should be done by their own agencies, and entirely at their own cost. Tlis principle is falpe Avhich makes any secular Government become a tax-gatherer for churches; and it bears unjustly and grievously upon those who conscien- tiously repudiate the interference of Government in providing for the teaching of sectarian dogmas, or for the support of religious communities." *' Your Committee are fully convinced that justice to society — to every religious persuasion — can never be fully enjoyed but upon the invulnerable ground so highly eulogized by the present Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York — namely, that Civil Government has no moral rirjht to legislate upon the subject of religion. That eminent ecclesiastic, referring to "the rights of conscience in other countries being often secured by affirmative laws, thu- refers to the superior security afforded in the United States by " a Constitutional negation of all power to legislate on so sacred a subject." His words are — " lu other countries- they are secured by some positive statute — here they are safer, under a constitutional provision for- bidding any such statute to be ever enacted. In other countries toleration was granted by the civil authority — here the great men who framed the constitution saw, with keen and delicate perception, that the right to tolerate implied the equal right to refuse toleration ; and on behalf of the United States, as a civil government, they denied all right to legislate in the premises, one way or the other; " Congress shall make no law on the subject of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The vital principle involved in this interesting quotation from the lecture of the Archbishop is the only ri_;htful and efficient guarantee for the protec "on of the rights of conscience. Let civil rulers cease from legislating upor. 'bo subject of religion and all will be safe. Religion wants no such aid ; '' nil flourish the better without it ; and it will live when governments Wi . 'iie." "The Separate School Act, in the opinion of your Committee, violfvt':' the principle, inasmuch as it makes provision for the cf'tabliahment of Soctririp,r. schools whore no reasonable cause exists for t.hei; stablishment, thiii '?, in cases whore no rights are violated nor offence committed against the religious opinions or prejudices of the applicants. The end would havu been better attained by a legislative negation of all power to introduce sectarian religious teaching into any of our Public Schools." " While your Committee cannot too strongly repudiate the princ'jile recognized by the present School Act, of giving a Legislative sanction to Separate Schools without any just cause for their existence (as in Lower Canada,) they would seek most earnestly, but by other and better meanij, to guard the rights of every class in the community. Your Committee fear, that to continue to carry out the principle th."*: the State should provide means to inculcate Sectarian Religious dogmat- in our Public Schools, will result, not only in the various Boards of Trustees being required, accord- ing to the plainest principles of political juslice, to meet the demand of iS, iH m : I ;^f It ' I ^f ! ■; 86 other religions bodies for the establishment of Denominatioual Schools , but ])erhaps, even in the entire destruction of our Educational system," All which is respectfully submitted. (Signed,) J. Lesslie, Chairman. Toronto, Jany, 1S52. In 1856, when Mr. Bowes' Bill to ^rant further privi- leges to the II. C. Separate Schools was before Parliament, the Board presented the following petition to both branches of the Legislature, not merely against that particular measure, but also against the principle of Separate Schools altogether. To the Jlonorablc the Legislat'tve Asscmbli/, in Provincial Parliament Aasembled. The Petition of the Board of Trustees of the Public Common Schools of the City of Toronto, Humbly Sheweth, — That your Petitioners, in comraou with their fellow citizens generally, are deeply impressed with the importance and necessity of general Edu- cation, 13 one of the best safe-guards of society, and one of the best means of promouug its freedom, happiness and p jsperity. That this conviction has been increased by experience of the success which has attended out* present admirable system of Public Instruction, — and anything, therefore, which may tend to impede its operation, lessen its efiiciency, or lead to its destruction, must be regarded in the light of a social evil, or as a national calamity, Tliat differences naturally exist among the intelligent and sincere of all dcnorainsitions, as to that which constitutes a good education, none can deny; but as in almost every thing connected with the institutions of civilized society simil:.'' differences of judgment will be found to prevail, it becomes neces!?ary .''or tho general welfare that in all things which do not directly pertaii: v • the C-)U!^htened convictions of individual conscience, the judg- ment of the innioijty should bear rule or govern. The admission is gene- rally uiaJe that nry i^ -i-.tem of public instruction, to accomplish the great purpose of its i.'s.'f if. , I 88 beBidea the moral and political considerations to which they have referred in support of a uniform system of public Instruction, and against denomi- national Schools supported by public funds, they have expended within the last four or five years upwards of £16,000, provided by School assessment on the City, in the erection of a number of handsome and commodious School Houses, each of them capable of accommodating from 400 to 600 pupils, and have incurred further heavy expenses in supplying them with all the requisites calculated to aseist in giving a good education. While at the same time the City is taxed some £5000 annually to maintain these our Public Schools free of charge to the pupils attending them, being open to all who may desire to avail themselves of the advantages thus provided for ^em. Your Petitioners cannot, therefore, be indifferent to the danger and loss to which the inhaoitauts of this City in common with all others, are ex- posed by the extension of Separate Schools through Legislative immuni- ties and supprt. And they therefore most earnestly desire that your Honorablo House, while sedulously guarding the rights of conscience and protecting every individual and denomination in the exercise of religi- ous convictions, should abolish all Legislative or public support for Sepa- rate Schools, and leave them as they should be left, to the entire and volun- tary support and control of those who desire them. For and on behalf of the Board of School Trustees, City of Toronto. (Signed,) J. G. BEARD. Toronto, 8th March, 1856. Cliairman. In the course of the year 1858, the question of Sepa- rate Si-*hools was again brought up on the memorial of the Lord Bishop of Toronto, and the Clergy and Churchwardens of the Anglican Churches of this City, applying to have the Parochial Schools in connection with the Church of England in this city, recognized and supported as City Schools. This application was made to the Board of Trustees in consequence of the Chief Superintendent, Dr. Ryerson, having given it as his opinion that the Legislature, in authorizing Boards of Trustees to determine what " kind and de- scription of Schools should be established^^ within their jurisdiction, had left it in the power of the Ratepayers, through their representatives at the Trustee Board, to recognize and maintain if they thought proper, the de- nominational Schools in question. It is not necessary to publish the applications and accompanying documents, 89 but it is certainly worthy of notice that if the Board of School Trustees for this City had the power to grant or to refuse establishing Church of England Separate Schools, it is difficult to understand why the same power in regard to Roman Catholic Separate Schools should not also be vested in the same authority, instead of having been made the subject of special Legislation. The Board gave care- ful attention to this memorial, it was pointedly referred to the Committee on School Management for consideration, who reported upon it, and their report was adopted by the Board, in substance as follows, viz. : — " Your Committee are of opinion that a memorial emanating from such a source is worthy of the most respectful considera- tion. But, referring to the fact that when this Board was elected this most important measure had not yet been proposed to the con- sideration of the Ratepayers — and that were the prayer of the memorial now granted it would be impossible to give practical ef- fect to the change during the current year — your Committee recommend that the receipt of the memorial be respectfully ac- knowledged, but that no decision thereon be now adopted ; And they further recommend that said memorial be submitted to the early consideration of the Board of next year, 30 that effect may be given to the opinion of the Chief Superintendent, who says, * that the law leaves it entirely with the rate-paying electors to deter- mine (through their representatives), what hind and description of Schools they will have, and how they will support them.' " COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE. The question of a compulsory attendance, on something like the same principle as that enforced in the New En- gland States, would seem to be gradually finding favour in Canada, as regards Cities and Towns. The same Com- mittee, to whose able representations reference has al- ready been made, brought the matter under the notice of the Board of Trustees in 1857 in the following terms : ^ Il 90 iU % 'f, mm m .i»^"> I^effl' ■'.■u! « As there is a class of young persons, who in spite of parental • authority and school discipline, are habitual absentees and truants, who are ever to be found on the public streets, corrupting others and being corrupted, fitting themselves for becoming inmates of our Jails and renetentiaries,^the Committee, looking at the im- mense benefits which have attended the enactment of Truant Laws in other places, cannot but think that a similar law, judiciously framed and wisely administered, would produce similar results in Toronto. They, therefore, recommend the Board to call the at- tention of Municipalities, and of Parliament to this matter. They would not encourage compulsory measures while there was any hope from moral suasion ; but experience has amply shown that in the case of those referred to, nothing hut the arm of the Law can save them, and protect society from the evih of ignorance, and its attendant — crime." The opinions thus expressed by the Committee were adopted by the Board, but no further action on the matter was taken. The present seems an opportune time for pressing the question on the serious attention of the Legis- lature ; and the following explanation of the effect of the Truant Law, as at work in Massachusetts and elsewhere, may assist in directing legislation in a right direction. This Act, which is enforced with the best results in many of the Cities and Towns in the New England States, embodies the following principal considerations viz. : — ; " The territorial limits of the City are divided into suitable dis- tricts, and a ' Truant Officer,' so called, is appointed for each dis- trict. He is required to spend his whole time during school-hours m traversing streets, lanes, alleys and other places, in search of absentees from school. These are of several different classes. One class is composed of the children whose parents have recently moved into the City, and who being more or less indifferent to the education of their children, have neglected to find places for them at school. "Whenever the Truant Officer finds any of these chil- dren idle in the streets of his district^ he makes such inquiries of them as may be necessary to ascertain their condition. If he deems it expedient he accompanies them to their places of residence, and 1^1 by conversing with their parents in kind and respectful terms, he generally succeeds in pursuading them to send their children to school, without any f. 4V^ /^ '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 4^ ^ \ S? A \ rv US"^"^ % '1*^ 33 WeST MAIN STRIET WfBSTER.N.Y. 14SS0 (716) 872-4S03 u.. Z 92 the experiment assuredly ought to be tried, at least to some extent, for it seems to be pretty clear that a voluntary attendance falls short of accomplishing the reqairemenls of the Free School principle. w I OFFICERS OF THE BOARD. Under the provisions of the School Act, the Board of Trustees are empowered to appoint a Local Superintend- ent and a Secretary. As already mentioned, the two offices were united in one person (Mr. G. A. Barber) except in 1852-53, when Mr. J. B. Boyle was Superin- tendent and Visitorial Teacher. In 1858, the offices were again separated, the Revd. James Porter having as- sumed the duties of Local Superintendent on the 1st July, Mr. Barber remaining as Secretary. The salary attached to the respective situations, is, for the Superin- tendent, jfl200 per annum, and for the Secretary $600 per annum, \;ith office accommodation for both parties. The duties of the Local Superintendent are thus de- fined, as relating to cities and towns, by the school Act, viz : " To visit the schools according to the regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees," — and, "at the time of each such visit to examine into the state and condi- tion of the school, as respects the progress of the pupils ; the order and discipline observed in the school ; the sys- tem of instruction pursued; the mode of keeping the school registers ; the average attendance of pupils ; and the character and condition of the building and premises." Also, " To deliver in each school section, at least once a year, a public lecture on some siibjr ci connected with the objects, principles, and means of practical education." Also, " To do all in his power to persuade and animate Parents, Trustees, and Teachers to improve the cha- racter and efficiency of the Common Schools, and secure the universal and sound education of the young." Also, 93 (C To see that all the schools are managed and conducted according to law." Also^ " To attend the meetings of the County Board of Public Instruction." And also, " To prepare and transmit to the Chief Superintendent, on or before the 1st March, an Annual Report, comprising all the particulars relating to the schools under his superin- tendence." In addition, however, to the duties so im- posed upon this officer by express statute, the Board of Trustees are empowered to determine what other duties shall be performed by the Local Superintendent, — and at the time the two offices were about to be separated, in 1858, the Board of Trustees for this city established the following principles, as defining what was further required by the Board from the Local Superintendent, under the new arrangement about to take effect, viz : " The duties of the Superintendent (as such) are chiefly, if not solely, connected with the business of teaching. The Board may fairly expect from that officer practical guidance on questions of general school policy, such as attendance of pupils ; organization of classes ; the subjects to be taught, and their distribution ; rewards and punishment ; the selection and dismissal of teachers, and other matters of the like character. But beyond this, it will be espe- cially the duty of the Local Superintendent to give detailed prac- tical effect within the schools, to the policy adopted, aid the directions issued by the Board — to visit the schools continuously ; to test the progress made in them by the pupils, and thereby to test the qualifications and fitness of the teachers ; to stimulate both to energy ; to promote punctuality and order in the services ; to en- sure full discipline of government; and correct without delay whatever may appear to merit condemnation, or to be possible of improvement." And subsequently the Board adopted the following resolutions, as more particularly defining the duties of the Local Superintendent and the Secretary, respectively, viz : .-t 94 ,'«• ' 1^ OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. '* To attend all meetings of the Board, and of the Standing Committees on School Management, as well as any other Com- mittee to which he may be summoned. *• To take charge of the government of the schools, and to direct and control the business of teaching. " To visit the schools continuously, and administer their govcm- mens in every practical detail, instituting and enforcing such regu- lations as may b3 necessary to their efficiency. " To have regard to the heating, ventilation, and cleanliness of the school buildings ; to control the supply of school necessaries and requisites, issuing requisitions to the [Secretary for the pur- chase and supply thereof. *' To require from the Head Teacher, and to make also him- self, monthly returns of the attendance of teachers and pupils, and such other matters as may be desirable for record. *• To make an Annual Report and submit the same to the Board at such time as the Board may appoint, in each year, recording the position of the schools in regard to statistics, cost, system of teaching, examinations, and such other matters as may be usefully discussed and recorded. " And generally to give effect to the directions of the Board and Standing Committees, and assist them in promoting the estab- lished system of the schools to the most fruitful result of which it is capable." OF THE SECRETARY. *' To give such attendance at an office provided b^ the Foard as may suffice for the transactions of the duties appertaining to his appointment. " To attend ail meetings of the Board, and of the several Standing Committees ; and to take and record minutes of the pro- ceedings of such meetings. " To conduct all correspondence not specially within the depart- ment, or arising directly out of the duties of the Local Superin- tendent. ** To receive and submit all documents for the Board, or the Standing Committees j to take charge of all reports, correspond- 95 ence, applications for office, acco ants, and other documents, and to file the same. " To make returns of all salaries ; to make out all orders for payment ; and to keep full accounts of all expenditure. ** To promulgate all orders of the Board, and of the Committees, and generally to act under the authority of the Board and its Chairman, and of the Committees and their Chairmen ; and, ?'■> far ai relates to the routine of his department, in concurrence with the Local Superintendent." Mr. Barber's connection with the City Schools, as Local Superintendent, having ceased on the 30th June, 1858, at which date the Rev. Mr. Porter assumed the charge of the School, it is only due to Mr. Barber's long services, to put upon public record the condition of the City Schools at the time that gentleman resigned the charge of them into the hands of his successor, as af- firmed by Mr. Porter himself in the following report :— To the Trustees of the Public Schools of the City of Toronto : *' Report, by the Superintendent elect, on the general aspect of the City Schools, being the result of observations during a succes- sion ft introductory visits made during the month of June. " The undersigned could not be otherwise than highly gratified with the general appearance and convenience of the several School Houses, which leave so little to be desired or imagined. " The arrangement of the pupils in the several schools into three divisions, viz. : primary, intermediate, and senior, is, in the opinion of the undersigned, the most judicious that can be adopted. -- The matter of instruction in the City Schools appears to be well adapted as the means of educating the minds of the pupils, to the extent which the general duration of their attendance at the school allows them to attain. *• The method of instruction, which no mere professional train- ing can, or should, render perfectly uniform, while, for the most part, obviously respectable and efficient, is, in not a few instances, exceedingly good, and decidedly superior. It would be invidious to mention, as the undersigned feels that he might, particular I ■4 96 teachers, whose work is their best praise j and, in observing whom, admiration of the individual altogether excludes the insignificant question, " where did this teacher acquire his, or her, self-evident skill ?" The truth perhaps is, that a teacher, emphatically worthy of the name, is, like a poet, " 6orw, not made.'^ " The discipline of the schools affords, in the judgment of the undersigned, but slight occasion for other than commendatory remarks. There is about some individuals a moral power which, whether they have to deal with mere animals, with children, or with men, is felt as a wholesome, though not a galling restraint. Some, again, have not the faculty of government, and however well informp ' i' in some respects apt to teach, require the countenance and the co-operation of others for the maintenance of order, and the enforcement of needful regulations. " The undersigned cannot conclude this brief and necessarily but general report, without expressing his deep and very pleasant sense of the extreme courtesy and kindness of the retiring Super- intendent, Mr. Barber, who has afforded him every possible facility for acquainting himself with whatever relates to the City Public School — schools which, it is but bare justice to aflSrm, provide for the people of this flourishing city all needful means and oppor- tunities for the intellectual and moral education and discipline of their children, in order to their becoming useful and ornamental members of society. Nor could such a state of things have been brought about, but as the 'ftsult of long-continued, liberal, and enlightened agencies, of no ordinary kind ; among which it sureJy becomes the ixdersigned to specify the ripe experience, natural and acquired ability, precision, despatch, and, above all, the fervent enthusiasm, of the retiring Superintendent, Mr. Barber. From that gentleman the undersigned receives the charge of the Public Schools of this City, influenced, he trusts, by the earnest desire and purpose that, so far as he can possibly prevent it, they shall take no harm. " Respectfully submitted. (Signed,) « JAMES PORTER, *' Local Superintendent, « Toronto, 1st July, 1858." 97 '" EVENING SCHOOLS. The first movement in favour of an Evening School in this City — for the benefit of those young men who, being occupied in industrial pursuits all day, could only study after working hours were over — Ihe same to be estab- lished and maintained as an integral part of the Com- mon School System of this City, was initiated in October, 1855. This early experiment was tried during the six winter monihs forming the Session of 1855-56, name- ly, from the middle of October, 1855, to the middle of April, 1856. At the outset the attendance was very numerous, not less than 260 young men, varying in age from fifteen to one-and-twenty, having entered their names as pupils, in October: but it soon appeared that quite half of these were actuated more by curiosity than any desire for mental improvement — for the average atten- dance for the following month of x^ovember was only 91, and during the rest of the year it averaged 56, except in April, when it became reduced to 26. Not discouraged, however, by this partial want of suc- cess in their benevolent attempts to improve the social con- dition of the labouring classes by means of instruction, the Board decided to renew the experiment ; the Evening School was reorganized, and again put into actual oper- ation for the Winter Session of 1856-'57 — and this time with much better success ; for the average attendance for October, November, and December, was somewhat more than one hundred, that for January, February and March, was as much as 75, while that even for April reached 50. Considering these results as fully justifying the con- tinuance of Evening School instruction as now a settled fact, the Session of 1857-58, was entered upon in a hopeful spirit ; and the studies commenced in October, 1857, with an average attendance of not less than 157. — For the mouths of October, November and December, the 1 ^8 average attendance was 130, that for January 101, for February 74, and March 45, in which month the Evening School closed for the Session. The average attendance for the Session of '55-'56 was 61— that for '56-'57 was 86— and that for 1867-'5G was 105. The Teachers durincr the first Session wert Messrs. Mulligan, Thompson, (Head Master John street School,) and Lewis, (Head Master George street School) — for the second Session Messrs. Thompson and Irving, (Assistant Master Louisa street School) — and for the third Messrs. Thompson, Lewis, and Hunter (Head Master Louisa street School.) For the winter portion of the fourih Session 1858, 1859, the attendance was as follows, viz. : EEGISTERED. DAILY AVERAGE. October 109 76 - November 151 82 December 114 73 And the Teachers for this Session were Messrs. Thomp- son and James Anderson (Assistant Master of Phoebe street School.) The mode of instruction in the Evening School ivas necessarily individual ; for, owing to the imperfect edu- C"j tion of most of the pupils, it was found to be hardly pos- sible to establish any mode of classification that would work well as regards the greater number of them. The studies pursued embraced regular instruction in reading and spelling, writing, dictation, geography (chiefly from the large maps,) so much of natural philosophy as treats of the mechanical powers, English Grammar as far as syntactical parsing, and Arithmetic as far as vulgar and decimal fractions. But besides these ordinary branches of useful education, 32 pupils (in 1858) received instruc- tion in book-keeping both by single and double entry ; S5J were taught mensuration of surfaces ; 14 learnt Al- gebra as far as Equations ; and 23 studied Geometry as far as the Second Book of Euclid. The expense of maintaining the Evening Schools, for 1858, was altogether ^465 32 ; namely — Salaries : 3 Teachers, Session January to March inclusive, 8240 ; and 2 Teachers, Ses- sion from Oct. to Dec. inclusive, J125 JJ365 00 Allowance to the Care-taker for extra services in attending the School 30 00 Gas, for two quarters 60 32 Pens, ink, and miscellaneous expenses 10 00 $465 32 This would show the cost per pupil to hjave been, in round numbers, $4, on the basis of an *' average attend- ance" of 121, and $6 on the basis of a " daily average" of 76. But the cost of rent and fuel are not included in this calculation ; because, as the Evening School was carried on in the same rooms of the Victoria Street Building as -v^ere used for the Day School, the expense of rent and fuel stands charged in the General School and therefore is not worth separating. SCHOOL VISITORS. Under the provisions of the School Act, (section 33 of 13 and 14 Vict. chap. 48) '*all Clergymen recognized by law of whatever denomination. Judges, Members of the Legislature, Magistrates, Members of County Councils, and Aldennen," are expressly appointed to be School Visitors. And section 34 enacts that such visitors should, so far as practicable, visit all the Common or Public Schools in their respective localities, and especially to attend the school examinations ; to enquire on such occa- sions into the progress of the pupils and the state and management of the school : and to give such advice to the teachers and pupils, and all others present, as they m\ !'"' L 100 may deem advisable, and thereby promote the good of the schools, and the diffusion of useful knowledge. Eut it is to be sincerely regretted that the advantages expected to be derived from the introduction of this ele- ment into our school system, have been but very partially realized ; for, except at the semi-annual examinations, when it has been customary for the teacher to invite Clergymen, Magistrates, and other influential persons to attend tiie same, a visit from them on any other occasion, is seldom or ever made to the schools. And it is further to be regretted that the parents of the children also take but little interest in the matter, for the records of the schools show, that unless on examination days the visits of pa- rents are " few and far between." The same Committee (whose views upon school attendance have been quoted elsewhere), in view of this deficiency, " express a hope that Clergymen of the different religious denominations, Judges, Magistrates, and persons occupying positions of influence in the community, would recognize and give eflect to the visitorial privileges conferred upon them by the Legislature ;" and " that parents generally, who are the parties most directly interested in the schools, would give more encourpgement than they have done to the exertions of the Board of Trustees, to extend the blessings of a sound practical education to the childicn of the city, and by visiting the schools, countenancing the teacher, and encouraging the pypils, stimulate popular education, and thus be the assisting means of securing a larger and more regular attendance." SCHOOL LIBRARIES. " ' The Board of Trustees anxious to excite as large an interest as possible among the community at large in re- gard to the City Schools ; and desirous to afford to the puoils attending the Schools every reasonable inducement 101 to appreciate the advantages to be derived from them, decided in 1857 to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of establishing a library or libraries in each of the six large schools — the books to be lent to the pupils, under proper regulations, to be read at home. The in- struction given in our Schools taught children to read, but in order to render the mere abstract power to read, of some practical service in improving the mind and directing the feelings in a right direction, it became a necessity that suitable books, combining instruction with amusement should be provided, so that the knowing how to read might not be a useless acquirement, but made the means of teaching the young mind how to think and how to act. As it appeared that reading material could not very well be provided for the pupils by their parents, the Board felt called upon to interpose and supply what was required. Having conducted the youthful mind so far as how to ready it was obvious that the Board was called upon to go a step further and place in the hands of our pupils, what they should read, so as to make reading the key to knowledge and reflection. Under the regulations of the Educational Department, one hundred per cent, is added to whatever amount the Board might appropriate for this purpose, and thus by these means a large number of volumes could be purchased for a comparatively small outlay. The Board accordingly included in the School estimates for 1857 the sum of £250 on account of School Libraries, and of this amount £67 10s. was expended for 12 suitable Bookcases ; £17 10s. for material to cover and preserve the books ; and £l50 was remitted to the Educational Department, which amount therefore entitled the Board to £300 worth of Library Books. At first only £200 worth was selected, be- cause the supply of books, at that time in stock, was not extensive enough to enable a selection to be made for the whole amount. For this sum of £200 about 1600 volumes were obtained, and these were distributed to the six schools m in 102 in a ratio as nearly bp possible proportionate to the number of pupils. The libraries so formed were, in the first in- stance, common to both departments ; but this mode having been found inconvenient, and the expediency of having separate libraries for each department, and a different kind of books for the girls' schools having been adm'tted, the Board, in 1858, granted a further sum of fifty pounds, equal to one hundred pounds in bookn, to complete the necessary arrangements. This addition made the whole value of the library books to be £400, namely, £200 disbursed in money and £200 added by the department. Each of the six schools has now two libraries, one for the boys' and the other for the girls' department. The whole number of volumes in the boys' department is 1594, and in the girls' department 1243, making a total of 2837 volumes. And for the purpose ot more directly connecting the privileges of these libra- ries with regularity of attendance and good conduct, as well as to provide for the proper care of the books, the Board has established the following regulations, viz. : AS REGARDS THE LIBRARIES. 1 -;,»■■- 1 1. The principal teacher shall be responsible for the safety and preservation of all books provided for the library of his or her department. 2. It shall be the duty of the principal teacher of each depart- ment to keep a catalogue of the books in the libraries, and to open a registry of the books loaned. - ^ ^ 3. No pupil who does not combine exact regularity and punctu- ality of attendance with good conduct, shall be allowed the privi- leges of the school library ; and generally the deprivation of those privileges may be awarded, as a punishment, at the discretion of teachers. 4. The paivnt or guardian of any pupil shall be responsible for all losa or damage occurring to books whilst in his ot Ler possession, and such loss or damage shall further be punished by deprivation of library privileges. \ :JC.>Uv7i«>»A4VJv» .*' 103 5. No books shall be issued on any pretence whatever, to any person not being either an officer of the Board of Trustees, or a teacher, or a pupil in tho scliool to which the library is attached. 6. Tlie principal teachers may periodically suggest to the Su- perintendent such books as in their opinion it may be expedient to add to the libraries. 7. The principal teachers may appoint the time, out of school hours, most convenient for issuing books to the pupils of their departments ; and, consistently with these instructions, may, gene- rally, manage the libraries at their discretion, under the sanction of the Superintendent. 4 ; V ■- , OPENING THE SCHOOLS WITH PRAYER. Towards the close of 1854, the Local Superintendent, Mr. Barber, reported to the Board on this subject as fol- lows, viz. : — ** I find that it has not been the practice to open and close the daily labours of our City Schools, either with prayer or by even reading a portion of the Scriptures. I feel some diffidence in approaching this subject ; but although our public schools are not denominational^ I hope it is not therefore desired that they should be considered irreligious. As regards secular instruction, the City Schools are common to all ; and in like manner, on the ground of our common Christianity y might the children attending the schools begin the day by uniting, in a sim- ple prayer, asking God's blessing on their studies ; and, at the close of the school, join in returning thanks to the Almighty, for his protection of them during the day." Ill acting upon this report, the Board at first proposed to invite the Clergymen of the several Protestant denomina- tions to meet a Committee of the Board to discuss the subject ; but as many of the members thought, owing to the diversity of sentiment likely to prevail among so many ministers, that no practical good would result from such a conference, the consideration of the question was refer- i u «*l IS * . 104 red to the Free Schools Committee. After some debate thereupon, the Board finally resolved that the City Schools should be opened in the morning, by reading selected passages from the historical portion of the Old Testament, together with the Lord's Prayer ; and be closed in the afternoon, by reading portions of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, together with the Lord s Prayer. This recognition of the daily use of the Bible and of Prayer in the City Schools, has continued from that time (1854) to the present, and the practice of thus opening and closing the City Schools with Sc ipture i^eading a^id Prayer, now forms one of the Standing Regulations. ti^ '4 M fe- i' ^ w \ [^ mw.. •b.t DEAF AND DUMB SCHOOLS. »i; In the course of 1858, application was made to the Bottid by the Rev, Dr. McCaul, as Chairman of a public meeting held in the St. Lawrence Hall, for the establish- jnent of a School for Deaf and Dumb children. Previously to this, however, the Board had granted to a Mr. McGann the use of one of the unoccupied rooms in the Phoebe Street School House, wherein to receive a class of Deaf and Dumb pupils. The communication from Dr. McCaul was attentively considered by the Board, and the conclu- sion arrived at was, that while the Board was fully sensi- ble of the importance and excellence of the object sought by the parties who constituted the public meeting referred to, yet the r^resent Board could not recommend any im- mediate potion in the matter, inasmuch as no provision had bcon made for such an expenditure in the School estimates for the year (1858) ; and, that if any such p/ovision were expedient as regards 1859, the question properly belonged to the incoming Board, who would be best able to deal with it, when preparing the estimates for the year*s expenses. - 105 PENALTY FOR DISTURBING A PUBLIC SCHOQJU, The Legislature has taken especial care to protect the Common Schools of the ^and from annoyance or moles- tation. Of so much consequence has it been thought, for the exercises of the schools to go on without interruption or disquiet, that in the Supplementary School Act of 1853, clause the 19lh, enacts : " That if any person shall wilfully disturb, interrupt, or disquiet any Common or other I'ub- lic School, by rude or indecent behaviour ; or by making a noise either within the place where such school is kept or held, or so near as to disturb the order or exercises of such school, that person shall, on conviction before a Justice of the Peace, be fined a sum of money not exceed- ing Five Pounds ($20,) and in default of payment may be imprisoned for any time not exceeding thirty days !'^ And so stringent is the force of this protective lejiislation, that it has been decided that rude behaviour, or improper language, on the part of a parent to the Teacher, in the presence of the scholars, would bring the offending party within the penalty of the law. =, ,. m THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE CITY SCHOOLS. Having submitted to the public, in the preceding pages, a comprehensive view of the past history of our City Schools, as well as a brief description of the principles on which they are established, and the system under which they are conducted, we now proceed to explain the actual condition of the Schools for the past year, 1858, as regards all the prominent matters relating to the same. In the first place, then, the following abstract of the general School attendance at all the Schools, for 1858, H ,|! "I ■J rir i' will exhibit the leading features most likely to interest the public. To have ^iven thefee figates separately, and in detail, for each School, was hardly necessary ; but in the subsequent statistical stafennents regarding each School separately, the registered and daily attendance are given for each division of every School, and this particular information, combined with the general Ab' stract, embodies all that iB important : ABSTEACT OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE THE TEAR 1858. FOE , Compiled from il-e Statements embodied in this Eeport, and from the respective School itegiiiCers. The number of days the Schools were in actual operation, was 226. The number of Schools was 8 ; namely, 6 large central Schools, each having separate Male and Female Departments^ with sub-divisions ; and 2 stiialler, or auxiliary, Schools, of niixed boys and girls. "The number of Teachers forming the regular staff ena- pfoyed in the Schools, for 1858, was 36; namely, 6 Head Masters, 2 Male Assistants, 4 Head Mistresses, 7 Senior Female Assistants, 6 Junior Female Assistants (Male Depart- ment), 7 Junior Female Assistants (Female Department), 3 Monitor Teachers, and 1 Occasional Teacher. The whole number of Scholars whose names were entered on the respective School Eegisters, from the 1st of January to the 31st of December, and who attended the Schools some time or other during the year 1858, amounted to 4,742 j^ namely, boys 2,481, girls 2,261. Of these 4,742 scholars, 640 attended less than 20 days j 867 attended between 20 and 50 daysj 1,208 attended be- tween 50 and 100 days j 819 attended between 100 and 150 dalys ; 697 attended between 150 and 200 days ; and 411 attended 200 days and Upwards to 226, the whole numbeir of school- days in the year. ^e total number of 4,742 'scholars hating been, to a gre^r orless ^tent, in attenddn6o at the Sdbools durh^ the yeas,. 107 it next appears that the average registered attendance (i.e. the average number attending School, more or less, during each month) amounted to 2,622 ; namely, boys 1,374, girls 1,248 : and that the average daily attendance {i.e. the numbers that were actually present each school-day during the year, added together and divided by the 22G school-days) amounted to 1,987; namely, boys 1,070, girls 917: so that the average number of daily absences during the year was 635 ; namely, boys 301, girls 334 — equal in both cases to a per centage of about one-fourth of the whole number : but in addition to this, the average daily number of half-day absences during the year amounted to 142. The greatest attendance during the year, that is, the greatest number present in the Schools at any time during the year, was 2,444, namely, boys 1,320, girls 1,124 : and the least at- tendance, calculated on the same basis, was 683, caused by intensely cold, or extremely wet, weather. The late attendance cannot be stated in so reliable a shape as it ought to be, owing to the rule of " late scholars " having been differently construed in different Schools ; but as nearly as it can be ascertained, it amounted to a daily average of 308 late scholars. ' . !' Of the average registered attendance per month, namely, 2,622, the junior classes numbered 1,130, namely, boys 569, girls, 561 : the second, or intermediate classes, 804, namely, boys 421, girls 383: and the third, or senior classes, 688, namely, boys 401, girls 287. Taking the whole expenses of the Schools, for the year 1858, in round numbers, at $25,000, the cost of educating each child, on the basis of " average registered attendance," was $9 60 ; and on the basis of " daily average," was $12 58. 1 m m\ i p if' Toronto, January, 1859. M /■ v:){^ For the sake of comparison, the reader is referred to the Abstract, compiled on the same principles and of the same nature, for 1857, in the Appendix, No. 2. ' Utf! ' t ■aki'i «• 108 ^' SCHOOL STATISTICS, 1858. "* For the purpose of enabling the public to know thoroughly all that relates to the internal management of the City Schools, the accompanying Statistical Returns, which exhibit in detail the teachers' names, &c., the number of scholars, and the studies pursued, have been compiled from the School Registers, namely : THE WESTERN AUXILIARY SCHOOL. WARD OF ST. PATRICK. Teacher, Mrs. O'Flaherly — date of original appointment, 1855. — Certificate, First Class A, County Board — salary $.S20. Average registered attendance, 1858 (mixed boys and girls) 110 Average daily attendance 80 In reading and spelling, 14 pupils were in the elemen- tary class, as far as the 1st Book ; 29 in the 2nd ; 25 in the 3rd ; IC in the 4th • and 6 in the 5th Book. In Grammar 22 were as far as Etymology, and 21 in Syntax. In Arithmetic 25 were in the simple rules, and 21 as far as Practice and Interest. In Writing, 20 were in large hand and 22 in small hand ; and the whole 42 were taught the Geography of the World, of North America, of Canada, and of Europe, from the large maps. /' ; • ' TRINITY STREET SCHOOL. WARD OF ST. LAWRENCE. Teacher, Mrs. Henderson — original appointment 1851; County Board Certificate, First Class A — also trained at the Edinburgh Normal School — salary #320 per annum. 109 I Monitor Teacher, Miss Elizabeth Agnew — original ap- pointment, 1868. — Provincial Normal School certificate (1856), second class C (491)— salary $170. Average registered attendance for 1868 (mixed boy .«» and girls) 137 Average daily attendance 91 Of the whole number in reading and spelling (137), 20 pupils were in the alphabet, 10 in words, and 15 in easy sentences; 15 in the 1st Book, 30 in the 2nd, 20 in the Sequel, and 27 in the 3rd Book. In writing 20 wrote letters on the slate, 22 wrote words in large text, and 22 small hand, on paper. In Arithmetic 75 learnt Tables, and 42 the simple rules from the Calculator and Black Board ; 10 were in the Compound Ruleo, and 2 in Proportion. In English Grammar 17 were in the definitions, 12 in Etymology, and 14 in Syntax and parsing simple sentences ; in Geo- graphy 76 studied the map of the world, and 62 the maps of Europe, America, and Canada. 35 learned the Ele- ments of English History, 30 wrote words and short sen- tences from dictation — and all were orally taught from the object lessons. THE PARK SCHOOL. WARD OF ST. DAVID. Male Department^ 2 Divisions, 3 Teachers. 2nd or Senior Division. — Head-master, Mr. William Anderson. — Certificate C. B., 1st Class A. — Original appointment, 1857.— Salary $700. Average registered attendance, 1858 67 Average daily attendance, *' 63 In reading and spelling 30 were in the 3rd book ; 24 in the fourth, and 13 in the 6th book. In writing, 27 were in large hand, and 40 wrote small hand from copy lines, m no and transcribed from books. In Arithmetic, 20 were in the compound rules, 11 in Reduction, 12 in Proportion, and 24 in the higher rules. In Grammar, 30 were in Etymology, 20 in Syntax, and 17 parsed entences. In Geography the whole 67 studied the maps of Europe, Asia, America, and Canada. The whole 67 learnt the elements of English History. In Mathematics, 7 were in Algebra as far as Equations, 4 in the 1st book, 2 in the 2nd, 3 in the Srd, and 4 in the 4th book of Euclid. t 1st or Junior Division. — Female Assistant Teacher, Miss Julia Robinson (Class Room.) — Original Appoint- ment, 1854.— -Certificate P. N. S. (1854), First Class (154) —Salary, $280. Female Monitor Teacher, Miss Jemima Armstrong (Gallery). — Original Appointment, 1858.— Certificate P. N. S. (1857), Second Class C, (669).— Salary $170. Average registered attendance, 1858 121 Average daily attendance, " 91 » In reading and spelling, 25 were in the alphabet and words, 20 in sentences, S2 in the first, 30 in the second, and 14 in the third book. 30 wrote letters and words in large hand on the slate and paper ; 30 learned Arithmetic, from tables to Simple Division ; 30 were taught Geogra- phy from the map of ti;e world, and occasional lessons were given to all from Object Lessons. N.B. — Miss Robinson and Miss Armstrong teach alternately the higher and lower class of the Junior Division. Female Department ^ 2 Divisions ^ 2 Teachers. 2nd or Senior Division. — Senior Assistant (acting as Head Mistress) in charge, Miss M. A. Cuyler. — Original Appointment, 1857. — Certificate C. B., First Class.— Salary $320. Average registered attendance, 1858 66 ' Average daily attendance " 46 '- Ill > 1 1 > In reading and spelling, 30 were in the third, 19 in the fourth, and 17 in the fifth book ; 30 wrote large hand, and 36 small hand. In Arithmetic, 33 were in the simply iule8, 9 in compound rules, 6 in reduction, 7 in Propor- tion, and 12 beyond Proportion. In English Grammar, 21 were in Etymology, 13 in Syntax, and 32 in syntactical parsing. All learned Geography from the maps of Europe? Asia, America, and Canada. 32 studied the elements of English History, and all learned needle work. Ist or Junior Division (Gallery.) — Junior Assistant, Miss Susan Hamilton. — Original Appointment, 1858. — Cer- tificate P. N. S. (1856), Second Class, A (399).— Salary $240. Average registered attendance, 1858 80 Average daily attendance " 60 In reading and spelling, 30 learned the alphabet, words, and sentences from tablet lessons ; 20 were in the first, 20 in tlie second, and 10 in the sequel book. All learned Arithmetic as far as Tables, Addition, and Subtraction, from the Calculator or Black Board ; and all learned the Geography of the World from the large maps. ^ VICTORIA STREET SCHOOL. WARD OF ST. JAMES. Male Department, 3 Divisions, 3 Teachers, 3rd or Senior Division. — Head-master, Mr. William Spotton. — Original Appointment, 1856. — Certificate C. B., First Class A.— Salary, $700. •^' baa ; . Vverage registered attendance, 1 858 69 Average daily attendance, " 52 In reading and spelling, 35 were in the third, 20 in the fourth, and 14 in the fif(h book. All wrote large and small hand, and transcribed on paper select passages from 112 books. In Arithmetic, 25 were in compound rules, 14 in Reduction, and 30 in Proportion. All learned Geogra- phy from the maps of Europe, Asia, America, and Canada, and from Sulli\'an's Geography. In English Grammar, 51 were in Etymology, and 18 in Syntax. 5 learned English History, 5 Book-keeping, 3 Algebra, and 6 Euclid. 2nd or Intermediate Division. — Female Assistant, Miss Elizabeth Kennedy.— Orriginal Appointment, 1855. — Certificate P. N. S., (1855) Second Class (3dO).— Salary, $280. Average registered attendance, 1858 ». 76 • i Average daily attendance " 58 In reading and spelling, 26 were in the second, and 50 in the third book. 56 wrote large and 20 small hand on paper. In Arithmetic, 66 were in the simple, and 10 in the compound rules. In Geography, 30 learned the definitions and 46 studied the maps of the World, Europe, America, and Canada. 25 learned English Grammar as far as Etymology. 25 the elements of English History, and all were instructed from Object Lessons. 1st or Junior Division (Gallery.) — Female Assistant, Miss Charlotte M. Churchill. — Original Appointment, 1857, Certificate P. N. S. (1856), First Class B (364.)— Salnrv, 8240. ..,.98 ....76 < Average registered attendance, 1858. . V Average daily attendance, " . In reading and spelling, 58 were taught the alphabet, words and sentences, in the first book, from tablet lessons, and 40 were in the second book. 15 wrote letters and words on the slate. 40 learned tables and Simple Addi- tion and Subtraction. All were taught Geography from the map of the world, and all were taught from the Object Lessons. 113 Female Department, 2 Divisions, 2 Teachers. '' 2nd or Senior Division. — Head-mistress, Miss Georgiana Rouna.— Original Appointment, 1856.--Certificiite C. B., First Class A, (and trained in London T. S., Eng- land.) — Salaryj $400. ' c Average registered attendance, 1858 70 * Average daily attendance, " 56 In reading and spelling, 30 were in the third, 25 in the fourth, and 15 in the fifth book. 20 wrote large, and 50 j»mall hand. In Arithmetic, 14 were in the simple, 25 in the compound rules, 16 in Reduction, and 15 in Practice and Interest. In Geography, 30 were taught from the maps of Europe, Asia, America, and Canada* and 40 used Sullivan's Geography. In English Gram- mar, 15 were in Etymology, and 16 in Syntax. 40 studied the elements of English and Canadian History. 40 prac- tised linear drawing ; all learned needle-work, and all practised vocal music. 1st or Junior Division. — Junior Assistant, Miss Margaret Wilkes. — Original Appointment, 1857. — Certificate P. N. S., (1857) Second Class A (568).— Salary $240- Average registered attendance, 1858 112 Average daily attendance, " 81 In reading and spelling, 58 learned the alphabet, words, and sentences in the first book from tablet lessons, 33 were in the second, and 21 in the third book. 54 wrote letters and words on the slate. 62 learned tables and the first three simple rules in Arithmetic from the Calculator and Black Board. Ail received simultaneous instruction in Geography from the map of the world, and all were taught orally from Object Lessons. ,j m » 114 i\ I LOUISA STREET SCHOOL. WARD O*- 9AUKT JOHN. ' Male Department, 3 Divisions, 3 Teachers* 3rd orSenior Division. — Head-master, M .liam Hun- ter. — Original Appoinlmenty 1852. — Ceruticate C. B., First Class A.— Salary $700. Average registered attendance, 1858 56 Average daily attendance, ** 41 In Reading and Spelling, 34 were in the fourth, ^nd 22 in the fifth bo»)k and Sullivan's Class Book. All wrote large and small hand and transcribed from books. In Arithmetic, 37 were in compound rules, '2 in Proportion, Interest, and Fractions, and 7 in Extraction of Roots, &c. ; 8 studied Mensuration of Surfaces as far as Triangles ; 3 were in the simple rules of Algebra, and 5 in Equa- tions ; 4 were in the first, and 2 in the second Book of Euclid. In English Grammar, 36 studied the Detinitions, Etymology and Syntax, and 22 analysed and parsed sen- tences in the class book. All learned General History from the fourth and fifth books, and the elements of English and Canadian History. 34 learned Geography from the maps of Europe, Asia, America, and Canada, and 22 used Sullivan's Geography. All were taught so much of Natural Philosophy as relates to the mechanical powers from Johnston's maps. All practised linear and object drawing on the slate and on paper, and all prac« tised vocal music. Second or intermediate Division. — Male Assistant, Mr. John Irving. — Original Appointment, 1856. — Certificate C, B., Second Class.— Salary $520. Average Registered attendance, 1858 94 ^ Average daily attendance, ** 88 In reading and spelling, the whole number read in the third book ; 63 wrote large and 31 small hand. In Arith- 115 metic, 48 were in the simple, and 46 in the compound rules and Reduction. In Geography, 44 studied the maps of the world and of Can.ida, and 50 learnt the definitions and other knowledge from Sullivan's Geography. In English Grammar, 41 learnt the parts of speech, and 6S Etymology. 32 wrote dictation of simple sentences on the slate ; 84 drew on the slate and 10 on paper. All were taught from object lessons, and all practised vocal music. 1st or Junior Division (Gallery). — Female Assistant, Mrs. Elizabeth Mitoliell. — Original Appointment, 1855. — Certificate C. B., Second Class, (trained in England in the Infant School System, by Wilderspin.) — Salary $320. Average registered attendance, 1858 112 Average daily attendance, " 97 In reading and spelling, 26 learned the alphal^et and words, and 15 sentences in the first book, 46 read to the middle of the second book, and 25 all through the same. In Arithmetic, 61 learnt numeration and the multiplica- tion table, 46 simple Addition and Subtraction, and 25 simple Multiplication and Division ; 25 wrote on the slate ; 71 learnt the Geography of the World and of Ca- nada, from large maps, and all were taught orally from object lessons. Female Department^ 3 Divisions^ 3 Teachers. 3rd or Senior Division. — Head mistress, Miss S. B. Quinn. — Original Appointment, lPd5. — Certificate, P. N. S., . (1854.)— First Class, (232)-~Salary, $400. Average registered attendance, 1858 63 Average daily attendance, " 44 In reading and spelling 29 were in the fourth, and 24 in the fifth hook, and Sullivan's Class Book. All wrote iarge and small hand, and transcribed passages, in prose ^1 I t| I 116 m and verse, from select authors. In Arithmetic, 8 were in compound rules, 10 in Proportion, II in Fractions, 24 in Interest, and 6 learnt Algebra. The whole 63 were taught syntactical and analytical parsing of sentences from the class book. 29 learnt the Geography of the world from large map, and 24 were exercised on the Maps of Europe, Great Britain, America, Canada, and the States ; 29 studied Edward's Elements of English History, and 24 English History from notes ; and 24 learnt Natural Philosophy from Parker's First Lessons. All were practised in Dictation. 37 practised linear drawing on the slate, and 16 linear and object drawing on paper. All learnt needle-work, and all were practised in vocal music. 2nd or Intermediate Division. — Senior Assistant, Miss Mary A. Kennedy. — Original Appointment, 1853. — Certificate, C. B., First Class, (but attended N. School for U. C, 1850, 51.)— Salary $320. Average registered attendance, 1858 93 Average daily attendance, " 74 The whole 93 learnt reading and spelling from the third book, 48 wrote large text, and 45 small hand copies. 40 learnt Numeration, Addition, and Tables, 37 Simple Sub- traction, Multiplication and Division. 73 studied the definitions in English Grammar, the same number General History from notes, 61 the definitions of Geography, and 32 were exercised on the maps of the World, Europe, and America, 73 drew on the slate, all learnt needle-work, all were taught from object lessons, and all were prac- tised in vocal music. 1st or Junior Division (Gallery.) — Junior Assistant, Miss Mary Henderson. — Original Appointment, 1856.— Cer- • tificate. Second Class, C. B.— Salary, $240. Average registered attendance, 1858 143 Average daily attendance, , " 106 117 In reading and spelling, 23 were in the Alphabet, 27 in Words, and 9 Sentences from tablet lessons, 42 com- mence-l the second book, 48 had gone as far as the middle of ir, and 24 were in the sequel. Nearly all learnt to form letters on the slate, 60 learnt Tables and Addition, 40 Subtraction and Multiplicption, and 43 Muliiplication and Division. 42 commenced needle-work ; all were taught from object lessons ; all commenced to draw on the slate ; and all were practised in vocal music. JOHN STREET SCHOOL. WARD OF ST. GEORGE. Male Department, 2 Divisions^ 2 Teachers. Srd or Senior Division. — Head-master, Mr. John Thomp- son. — Original Appointment, 1852. — Certificate, C. B., First Class A (trained at Leeds T. S , England.) — Salary, $700. Average registered attendance, 1858 75 Average daily attendance, ** 66 In reading and spelling, 35 were in the fourth and 40 in the fifth book. In English Grammar, 20 were in con- jugation of Verbs, 30 in Etymology and parsing, and 25 in Syntax and Analytical parsing. 10 wrote large and 35 small hand from copies, and 30 transcribed passages from books. In Arithmetic, 40 learnt Reduction, Propor- tion, Practice and Interest, 35 Fractions and Roots, 14 Mensuration of surfaces and solids, 11 Algebra to Equa- tions, and 13 the first four books of Euclid. The Geo- graphy of Europe, Asia, America, Canada, and Great Britain taught to all from the large maps and by lecture. All learnt Natural History in the same manner from ob- ject lessons, and Natural Philosophy from Johnston's sheets. 35 drew on the slate, 20 linear on paper, 20 ob- jects on paper, and all practised vocal musicc ns 11 ,'•, I,''''' * I .ind or Intermediate Division. — Female Assistant, Miss M. A. Ferris. — Original Appointment, 1857. — Certifi- cate, Second Class, C. B. j(trained at Homerton T. S., England.)— Salary $280. ; Average registered attendance, 1858 47 • Average daily attendance, ** 73 In reading and spelling, 15 were in the second book, 9 in the sequel, and 23 in the third book. 20 wrote letters, 12 words in large text. 37 learned the first four simple rules of Arithmetic, and 26 the compound rules. In English Grammar 20 learnt the parts of Speech, and 20 conjugation of Verbs. Geography of the World, and America to the whole from large maps. Natural HistOay from the object lessons ; and vocal music, were taught to the whole number Juvenile Division (Boys and Girls.) — Female Assistant, IVIiss Jane Mowatt. — Original Appointment, 1855. — Certificate, Second Class (257), P. N. S., 1854 — Salary $280. Average registered attendance, 1 858 84 Average daily attendance, " 62 Of these, 20 were in the alphabet, 32 in the first book, and 32 in the second book. All learnt Tables and Sim- ple Addition and Subtraction ; all were saught the Geo- graphy of the World, from maps ; and Natural History, from object lessons. N.B. — For the first three months of 1858, the Male Department was ar* PBng«d in tliree Divisions, viz. : First or Junior, Mies Ferris ; Second or intermediate, Mr. T. Baxter ; nud the Third or Senior, Mr. Thompson, but for the remainder of the year, the arrangement as above stated was in operation. Female Department, 1 Division^ 1 Teacher. . . . Senior Assistant in charge, Miss Fanny Gordons- Original Appointment, 1857. — Certificate, First ClasS) A (361), P. N. S,, 1€66.— Salary $320. IW Average registered attendance, 1858....... 68 "»^ Average daily attendance, " 63 Of the 63, 18 read and spelt in the sequel, 20 m the third, 17 in the fourth, and 13 in the fifth book ; 12 wrote on the slaie, 20 words in large text, 26 small-hand from copies, and 20 transcribed from books. Ii English Grammar 3.^ learnt the definitions and simple parsing, and 17 Syntax and analytical parsing. In Arithmetic 38 were in the simple rules, 20 compound rules, 10 in Pro- portion and Fractions ; 30 wrote from dictation ; 38 drew on the slate, and 25 on paper. General History was taught to the whole number by oral instruction from the fifth book. All learnt the Geography of the World, Ame- rica, Europe, and Canada, from the large maps. All learnt Natural History from object lessons j and all prac- tised needle work and vocal music. i " PHCEBE STREET SCHOOL. •WARD OV ST. PATRICK. JMfl/c Department, 3 Divisions^ 3 Teachers, Third or Senior Division. — Head Master, Mr. Samuel Coyne. — Original appointment, 1850. — Certificate, C.B., First Class A.— Salary ^700. Average registered attendance, 1858 67 Average daily attendance *' 58 In reading and spelling 22 were in the third, 27 in the fourth, 18 in the fifth book and Sullivan's Class Book. All wrote large and small hand alternately from copies. All wrote passages dictated from books, and commenced the elements of English composition. In Arithmetic , 10 were in simple, 9 in compound rules, 6 in Reduction, 1 1 in Proportion, 10 in Practice, 10 in Interest, 6 in Frac- tions and Roots ; 6 learnt Book*keeping, 5 Algebra to Equations, '2 learned Mensuration of surfaces, and 4 the 120 first and second books of Euclid. In English Grammar, 24 learnt Etymology and parsing, and 43 Syntax and parsing. Ail learned the Geography of Europe, Great Britain, America, and Canada, from the large maps, the fifth reading book, and Morse's Geography. 24 learnt Eflwards* Summary of English History, as far as Henry IV., and 43 as far as William III. 18 learnt Natural Phi- losophy from Johnston's sheets, and 16 the elements of Phonography. Second or Intermediate Division — Male Assistant, Mr. James Anderson. — Original appointment, 1858. — Ccr tificate, County Board, First Class A (also trained at Edinburgh T. S., Scotland.)— Salary $520. Average registered attendance 1858 5l Average daily attendance, ** 38 In reading and spelling, 33 were in the second and 18 in the Third Book — 10 wrote small words, 30 large text, and 1 1 small hand — in Arithmetic 36 were in the simple rules as far as multiplication, and 15 in the compound rules — all were taught the Geography of the World,of America, and of Canada, from the large maps : all learnt English Grammar as far as Etymology and parsing words ; all learnt General History, and English History as far as the Norman Conquest, by oral instruction ; and all were prac- tised with the object lessons. 1st or Junior Division (Gallery.) — Monitor Teacher, Miss Mary A. Churchill. — Original appointment, 1858. — Certificate, Frst Class C (523), P. N. S., 1857.— ■ Salary $170. Average registered attendance, 1858 72 Average daily attendance *' 52 In reading and spelling, 12 were in the alphabet and 21 in words and sentences of First Book, 27 in the first part of the Second Book, and 10 in the latter part ; 15 leurnt to 121 make letters on the slate ; all learned the elements of Greo- graphy by oral instruction from map of the world, and all learned arithmetical tables, addition, and subtraction, on the calculator. Female Department^ 2 Divisions^ 3 Teachers. 3rd or Senior Division. — Head Mistress, Mrs. M. E. Lauder. — Original appointment, 1857. — Certificate, First Class (7), P. N. S., 1853.— Salary, $400. N.B. — Mrs. Corbett was Head Mistress until Easter, when, owing to impaired health, her resignation was, with much regret, accepted, and Mrs. Lauder became her successor. :x^ Average registered attendance, 1858 67 Average daily attendance, " 46 In reading and spelling, 23 were in the third, 24 in the fourth Book, and 20 in Sullivan's Class Book ; the whole 6' -vrote large and small hand and transcribed from books ; 23 were in the simple, 13 in the compound rules 12 in Reduction, 9 in Proportion, 10 in Practice ; 32 received oral instruction in the Geography of N. America, Europe, British Isles, and Canada, from the large Maps, and 35 studied from Morse's Geography and Atlas ; in English Grammar, 29 received oral instruction in the elements, and 38 learnt syntax and parsing ; 29 learnt General History, and 38 History of England, as far a'^ the House of Stuart; Familiar objects were explained by lecture, and the whole practised needlework. , Isl or Jxinior Division. — Higher Class, Junior Assistant, Miss Elizabeth Barker. — Original appointment, 1857. — Certificate, 3rd Class, CountyBoard. — Salary, ^240. Average registered attendance, 1858 ...... 59 Average daily attendance, " 43 In reading and spelling, 36 were in the Second Book, and 23 in the Sequel ; 40 wrote large text, and 19 small hand ; the whole 59 learned tables and the simple rules, 122 from calculator and blackboard ; the whole were simtil- taneously taught the Greography of the World, N. America and Canada, from the large maps ; the whole were tauglit, by the same method, the definitions and parts of speech ; all were exercised from object lessons, and all learned needle- work. Lower, or Gallery Class. — Junior Assistant, Miss Eliza- beth McMurray. — Original Appointment, 1857. — Certi- ficate, Second Class, A (563) P. N. School, 1857.— Salary |240. Average registered attendance, 1858 72 Average daily attendance, " ^. ..... 47 In reading and spelling, 22 were in the alphabet and words of two letters, 10 in words of two syllables and easy sentences, 10 in the second book to page 12, 10 to page 64, and 20 to page 105 ; 30 learnt to form letters, 20 short words, and 20 commenced linear drawing, all on the slate ; all learnt numeration and multiplication table, 25 addition and subtraction, and 16 si tuple multiplication; and d\ received oral instruction on the maps of the world and America. GEORGE STREET SCHOOL. WARD OF ST. DAVID. M(de Department^ 2 Divisions^ 3 Teachers. 3rd or Senior Division.— Head-master, Mr. Richard Lewis. — Original appointment, 1855. — Certificate, First Class A, County Board (also trained at Liverpool T. S., England.)— Salary 6700. Average registered attendance, 1858 67 Average daily attendance " 65 In reading and spelling, 86 Were in the fourth book and 82 in Sullivan's Class Book ; in English Grammar, 85 learnt the definitions and simple parsing, 32 syntax and 128 a analysis of sentences, and 82 wrote prose and poetry from dictation ; 47 practised composition of sentences and simple narratives, and 22 made abstracts of reading lessons and other subjects ; 37 wrote large text, 40 small hand and transcribing from books ; in Arithmetic, 14 were in the simple and 25 in the compound rules, 15 in proportion, 13 in fractions, 12 in book-keeping, 6 in mensuration of sur- faces ; 6 in Algebra, 12 in the first and 3 in the second book of Euclid ; the whole 67 learnt the general Geogra- phy of Europe, Asia, America, British Isles, and Canada, by oral instruction from large maps ; all learnt the ele- ments of English History, and 32 studied general History. 3 learnt the elements of Natural Philosophy from John- ston's sheets ; 20 learnt linear and object drawing ; all were taught object lessons, and 30 were .taught singing. 1st or Junior Division. — Higher Class, Female Assistant, Miss M. J. Keown. — Original appointment, 1855. — Cer- tificate, First Class A, County Board ; was also trained three Sessions, 1850-51, at the Normal School, U. C.~ Salary $280. Average registered attendance, 1858 63 Average daily attendance " 49 In reading and spelling, 13 were in the 2nd, and 50 in the 3rd book ; all learnt the definitions in English Gram- mar and simple parsing; all learnt the definitions in Geography, and were exercisrd on the Maps of America, Canada, and the Britsh Isles ; all were orally taught the elements of History, and Natural History from object lessons ; 53 wrote large text on paper, and 10 on slates ; all were taught the simple rules on the black-board, linear drawing on slates, and vocal music. Lower Class. — Female Assistant, Miss Amanda Richards. — Original appointment, 1857. — Certificate, Second Class A (566), P. N. School, 1857.— Salary $280. N.B.— Miss Kerown and Misa Riohardji teach alternately the higher and lower dass of the Junior DiviBioo. I 124i •«, Average registered attendance, 1858 90 Average daily attendance, " 61 Of these, 20 learnt the alphabet, and 70 read the 1st book from tablet lessons ; all were taught orally the de- finitions in Geography from maps ; all were exercised on the object lessons ; all were taught Tables, and addi- tion and subtraction by the u^e of the calculator ; and all practised vocal music. • Female Department, 3 Divisions, 3 Teachers, 3rd, or Senior Division. — Head Mistress, Miss Charlotte Smyth. — Original appointment, 1854. — Certificate, First Class A, County Board. — Salary, $400. Average registered attendance, 1858 61 Average daily ^ 48 In reading and spelling, 24 were in the 4th book, and 37 in Sullivan's Class Book. The whole 61 wrote small hand and transcribed from books. In arithmetic, 10 were in the simple and 8 in the compound rules, 14 in propor- tion, 16 in fractions, and 13 In interest. In English gram- mar, 37 learnt definitions and simple parsing, 24 syntax and analysis of sentences, 45 composed sentences and easy narratives, and 16 made abstracts of reading lessons and other subjects. All learned general geography from the maps of Europe, Asia, America, British Isles and Canada. All learned the History of England (Pinnock's Goldsmith's) and 37 general history from notes. All were practised in dictation of prose and poetry. 8 learned drawing. All learned needle-work, and all practised vocal music. 2nd, or Intermediate Division. — Senior Assistant, Miss Martha Hoig. — Original appointment, 1865. — Certificate, Second Class (45) P. N. School, 1853.— Salary,$320. Average registered attendance, 1858 61 Average daily do 48 125 it d In reading and spelling, 21 were in the Sequel, and 40 in the 3rd book. 41 wrote large text, and 2C small hand. In arithmetic, all went through the simple rules as far as division. In English grammar, 30 learnt the definitions, and to parse simple sentences. All learned geography from the maps of the World, America, and Canada. All were taught from Object Lessons. All learned-needle work, and all practised singing. 1st, or Junior Division, (Gallery). — Junior Assistant, Miss M. Philips. — Original appointment, 1857. — Certificate, Third Class County Board. — Salary, $240. Average registered attendance, 1858 63 Average daily do 48 In reading and spelling, 10 learnt the alphabet, 16 words and sentences of the 1st book from tablet lessons, and 37 read in the 2nd book ; 53 learnt the first definitions and the geography of the world, from large map, by simul- taneous teaching ; 37 learnt numeration and multiplication table, and simple addition and subtraction from calculator and black board ; all were taught orally from object lessons, and all were practised in vocal mnsic. 126 APPENDIX. The accompanying documents, which have been re- ferred to in the body of the Report, are considered worth re-producing in full, at the end of the same. The first Return was prepared in answer to a resolu- tion adopted by the Board, and shews at one view the attendance of Pupils, the number of Teachers, the total cost of the Schools, and the cost per Child, from the commencement of the Common School System in Toronto, up to the end of 1858. No. 1.-C0MPARATIVB STATEMENT OF THE CITY SCHOOLS, UNDER SPECIFIC HEADINGS, FROM 1844 to 1858, BOTH INCLUSIVE : i I all d) gS d ^ ■ t rt ■4 ^ a ^§ «-a^ *. 9 ® Sa 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1867 1858 18500 1194 12 100 19706 1108 12 n 20565 1212 15 81 21784 *•# 1265 18 97 23503 1431 13 110 24126 •• 1325 13 102 25766 ,. 1259 15 91 30763 1843 1366 16 85 35000 40000 1872 1346 16 84 1888 1402 20 70 41500 1971 1459 21 69 42500 2066 1570 31 50 43250 2318 1747 32 55 45000 2480 1863 36 62 47500 2 522 1987 36 55 4i\ mos, 12 " 12 « 12 •• iyear iyear 12 mos. 12 " 12 " 12 " 12 " 12 " 12 " 12 " 12 « £ 1377 1921 2011 1871 917 917 1998 2406 2358 3216 4176 5218 5642 6054 6599 ? c. 6 80 5 40 7 00 8 50 10 00 10 00 10 00 9 69 $ c. 5 00 7 00 6 dO 600 5 50 5 03 6 30 7 20 7 40 9 00 11 40 13 00 12 80 13 00 12 50 N.B. — From 1844 to 1850 inclusive, the distinction between the " registered " and " daily " attendance was not sufficiently observed to enable the same to be re- corded. The figures under the head of ** City Population" are, in many instances, approximations based upon the or- dinary ratio of increase, inasmuch as a reliable census of the City Population had not been taken every year. *•■ l- e e n n !R i8 127 For the same reason, the School Population of the City cannot be accurately determined ; but, according to the usual proportion between young persons and adults, it may be estimated at 10,000 for 1858. From 1844 to 1847, the Schools were carried on under the rate-bill system ; in 1848 and 1849, they were alto- gether free, but open only for six months in each year ; in 1840, the rate-bill was again resorted to ; and from that time to the present, the Schools have been, and are still, free to all. No. 2.— ABSTRACT OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. In its general features for 1867. The number of days the Schools were in actual operation was The number of Teachers regularly employed throughout the year was 36. The number of Schools was eight, namely, six large Schools, each having a separate Male and Female Department, subdivided into junior, intermediate, and senior classes ; and two smaller Schools of mixed Boys and Girls. The whole number of Scholars whose names were entered on the School registers, and who were some time or other at School during the year was 4f,54.3, viz., 2,3 10 Boys, and 2,233 Girls ; and of these 4,543 Scholars, 699 were present less than 20 days ; 978 between 20 and 50 days ; 1,132 between 50 and 100 ; 749 be- tween 100 and 150 ; 634 between 150 and 200 ; and 233 be- tween 200 and 223 days. The average attendance, per month, on the register, L e., those who were at School more or less each month, was 2,480, viK., 1,315 Boys, and 1,165 Girls. Of these 2,480 there were present at School (not reckoning half day absences), every school-day during each month on an average, 571, viz., 361 Boys, and 210 Girls. 128 The average daily attendance for the whole year was 1,863, Tiz., 1,023 Boys, and 840 Girls. The average daily absences (not reckoning half-days), for the )ear was G17, namely, 292 Boys, equal to 20 per cent. ; and 325 Girls, equal to 30 per cent. The greatest attendance, i, e., the highest number present in each School, at any time during the year, was 2,332, viz., 1,273 Boys, and 105 Girls. The least attendance calculated on the same principle, was on the 7th and 8th January, and the 18th December, on account of cold weather, 753, viz., Boys, 421, Girls, 332, as the average of said three days ; and 699, viz., Boys, 386, Girls 313 on the 13th July. Of the daily average attendance, viz., 1,863, there were every day, on an average, during the year, 483 late scholars^ y'iz. in the morning, 284, viz., Boys, 20 i, Girls, 184, equal to 18 per cent ; and in the afternoon, 199, viz., Boys 92, Girls, 117, equal to 11, percent. Of the daily average attendance, viz., 1,863, there were, on an average, every day of the School year, 241 half -day absencesy viz., Boys, 111, Girls, 130, equal to 12^ per cent. On the average registered attendance per month, namely, 2,480, the first division of junior classes numbered 1,208; the second di- vision, or intermediate classes, numbered 73 1 ; and the senior di- vision, which comprised the more advanced pupils, numbered 541 j of the 1,208 there were 627 Boys, and 681 Girls ; of the 731 there were 414 Boys, and 317 Girls ; and of the 541 there were 274 Boys, and 267 Girls. Taking the cost of each scholar, on the basis of the average registered attendance, (2,480), at $10, the junior pupils would then eacli cost $8 ; the intermediate ones $10 ; and the seniors $12 in round numbers. But taking the cost according to the daily average at $13, the juniors would then cost each $10 ; the intermediates $13 j and the seniors $16 in round numbers. G. A. BARBER, Toronto, 1858. Local Superintendent* 129 No. 3.— ANNUAL STATEMENT Of Receipts and Expenditure, for Common School purposes, within the City of Toronto, for the School year 1868. Published by the Board of School Trustees, as required by Law. Income for 1858* Balance over from IBS'? |6117 92 Legislative appropriation 4400 00 Municipal assessment, estimated to produce, nett 28672 00 Total Assets $39189 92 I Expenditure in 1858. Paid sundry accounts incurred, and due, ou account of 1857, viz: Repairs,