VIII. Departmental Notices. 2195 Lemon, Kate. PROVINCIAL CERTIFICATES GRANTED BY THE 2198 O'Brien, Rebecca. CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION. 2199 Payne, Louisa. The Chief Superintendent of Education, on the recommen- 2201 Riddell, Mary. dation of the Masters of the Normal School, and under the authority of the following section of the Upper Canada Consolidated Common School Act, 22 Victoria, chap. 64, has granted to the undermentioned students of the Normal School, Provincial Certificates of Qualification as Common School Teachers in any part of Upper Canada: "107. The Chief Superintendent of Education, on the recommendation of the Teachers in the Normal School, may give to any Teacher of Common Schools a Certificate of Qualification, which shall be valid in any part of Upper Canada until revoked; but no such certificate shall be given to any person who has not been a student in the Normal School." The certificates are divided into classes, in harmony with the general programme, according to which all teachers in Upper Canada are required to be examined and classified, and are valid until revoked, or until the expiration of the time mentioned in the certificate. 2111 Jackson, Thomas [2027]*. 2112 McNaughten, Duncan [2034]. First Class-Grade C. 2113 Burrows, Frederick [1649]. Second Class-Grade A. 2123 Bredin, Wilson Watson [1779]. 2125 Goldsmith, Stephen [2043]. Second Class.-Grade B. 2129 Adams, Richard. 2130 Armstrong, Thos Clinton Little 2132 Gage, William James. 2134 Gray, Samuel [1961]. 2135 Huggins, John Routledge. Second Class.-Grade C. (Expire 22nd December, 1866.) 2139 Beattie, William. 2140 Bielby, William Wilson [813]. 2142 Davey, Peter Nicholas. FEMALES. First Class.-Grade A. 2153 Cameron, Annie Isabella [1811, 1887, 1974, 2067]. 2154 Elliot, Margaret [1901, 1975, 2069]. 2155 Gillen, Mary. First Class.-Grade B. 2156 Lanton, Emilie [2081]. 2157 Spotton, Charlotte Elizabeth [2074]. 2158 Sutherland, Annie Agnes [2010, 2075]. 2159 Sutherland, Jemima Helena [2019, 2076]. First Class.-Grade C. 2160 Ferguson, Margaret [2079]. 2161 Gemmell, Jessie [1996, 2080]. Second Class.-Grade A. 2162 Campbell, Mary [1812]. 2163 Hatton, Emma. 2164 Kessack, Margaret [2090]. 2165 Laing, Ellen. 2166 Robinson, Annie [1595]. Second Class.-Grade B. 2167 Baldwin, Louise [1830]. 2168 Bell, Sarah. 2169 Bentley, Kate [2085]. 2203 Russell, Mary Ann Agnes Blanche. 2203 Scarlett, Mary Elizabeth. 2204 Stalker, Mary. 2205 Tobias, Esther. EXPIRED CERTIFICATES. the nineteenth session, have been limited to one year from their respec- 1963 Johnson, Charles Richard. 1964 Jupp, William. 1959 Dunn, Robert. 2911 Obtained 1st Class C. [2070]. 2014 Obtained 2nd Class C [2103]. 2013 Henderson, Margaret Jane. 2016 Obtained 2nd Class C. [2196]. A certificate has no legal value after the date of its expiration. EDUCATION OFFICE, Toronto, January, 1866. 1866. JANUARY 2170 Black, Mary Elizabeth [2099]. APRIL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 JULY 1 2 3 4 FEBRUARY 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 AUGUST MARCH (31 days). 2 3 4 1 2172 Foster, Margaret Jane [2102]. (30 days). 2 3 4 5 6 7 8OCTOBER 130 beth. Second Class.-Grade C. Registrar. MONDAY. TUESDAY. WEDNESDAY. SATURDAY. FRIDAY. SUNDAY. 2 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6789101112 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31...... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 ..... 1 2 3 4 567891011 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 ...... Terms, Vacations, Daily Exercises, and Holidays in the Grammar Schools of Upper Canada. 1. There shall be four terms each year, to be designated the winter, spring, summer and autumn terms. The winter term shall begin the seventh of January, and end the Tuesday next before Easter; the spring term shall begin the Wednesday after Easter, and close the last Friday in June; the summer term shall begin the second Monday in August, and end the Friday next before the fifteenth of October; the autumn term shall begin the Monday following the close of the summer term, and shall end the twenty-second of December. 2. The exercises of the day shall not commence later than nine o'clock, a.m., and shall not exceed six hours in duration, exclusive of all the time allowed at noon for recreation, and of not more than ten minutes during each forenoon and each afternoon. Nevertheless, a less number of hours of daily teaching may be determined upon in any Grammar School, at the option of the Board of Trustees.1 S Every Saturday shall be a holiday; or, if preferred by the Board of Trustees and Head Master of any Grammar School, the afternoons of Wednesday and Saturday in each week shall be half holidays. 4. The public half yearly examinations required to be held in each grammar school. [by the eighth clause of the twenty-fifth section of the Upper Canada Consolidated Grammar School Act,] shall take place, the one immediately before the Christian holidays, and the other immediately before the summer vacation. APPOINTMENT OF GRAMMAR SCHOOL TRUSTEES. Some misapprehension of the meaning of the second section of the recent Grammar School Act having given rise to erroneous action on the part of Municipal Councils, it seems necessary to explain that the law does not state that the first meeting of the Newly Elected Council shall appoint the Grammar School Trustees. The "Corporations" of Towns and Vil lages, and the "Councils" of Counties and Cities, are the terms mentioned in the act; and as these corporations have a continuous existence, the law intends that the first meeting in January, whether of the old or new council, should appoint the Grammar School Trustees. The Board of Grammar School Trustees in cities may consist of eight members, but in towns and villages they cannot exceed six. STANDARD BRITISH PERIODICALS. 20 THE LONDON QUARTERLY REVIEW (Conservative.) THE EDINBURGH REVIEW (Whig.) 22 THE WESTMINSTER REVIEW (Radical.) 15 THE NORTH BRITISH REVIEW (Free-Church.) and BLACK WOOD'S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE (Tory.) 115 Total...... 127 Total....... N. B.-In Cities, Towns, and Villages, Common and Separate Schools have only three teaching days in August: and where the Common and Grammar Schools are united, the Grammar School terms and regulations apply to both. Hours of Daily Teaching, Holidays, and Vacations. 1. The hours of teaching each day shall not exceed six, exclusive of all the time allowed at noon for recreation. Nevertheless, a less number of hours for daily teaching may be determined upon in any school, at the option of the trustees. 2. Good Friday shall be a holiday, and every Saturday as directed by the statute. 3. There shall be two vacations in each year; the first, or summer vacation, shall continue for two weeks from the First Monday in August; the second, for eight days, at Christmas. NOTE-In cities, towns, and incorporated villages, the summer vacation shall continue four weeks, from the first Monday in August. (See also paragraph 4 of the Grammar School Terms, Vacations, &c.) 4. All agreements between trustees and teachers shall be subject to the foregoing regulations; and no teacher shall be deprived of any part of his salary on account of observing allowed holidays and vacations.2 It should be observed, that the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth sections of the Upper Canada Consolidated Grammar School Act, empower Boards of Trustees to prescribe any duties, or make regulations, in connection with their respective schools, which are not provided for by, or are not inconsistent with, the general regulations prescribed by the Council of Public Instruction, and approved of by the Governor General in Council. No deduction whatever can be lawfully made from any teacher's salary for any allowed holidays or vacations; or for the exemption of payment of rates by indigent persons, authorized by law. This regulation applies to union grammar and common schools, as the law provides for the union of common schools with grammar schoolsnot the union of the latter with the former. In all cases, therefore, in which common schools are united with the grammar schools, the union schools are subjected to the regulations which are here prescribed in respect to grammar schools. Terms for 1866, payable in U. S. currency. For any one of the Reviews ... CLUBS: $4.00 per annum. 7.00 10.00 12.00 4.00 7.00 44 10.00 13.00 15.00 A discount of twenty per cent. will be allowed to clubs of four or more to one address for $12.80. Four copies of the four Reviews and Blackwood, persons. Thus, four copies of Blackwood, or of one Review, will be sent for $48.00, and so on. POSTAGE. but Twenty four Cents a year for "Blackwood," and but Eight Cents a year When sent by mail, the Postage to any part of the United States will be for each of the Reviews. Subscribers in the British Provinces will have their Numbers free of the United States postage. Reduced Prices for Previous Years. Subscribers may obtain the Reprints immediately preceding 1866, as follows, viz:-Blackwood from September, 1864, to December, 1865, inclusive, at the rate of $2.50 a year. The North British from January, 1863, to December, 1865, inclusive; the Edinburgh and the Westminster from April, 1864, to December, 1865, inclusive, and the London Quarterly for the year 1865, at the rate of $1.50 a year for each or any Review. A few copies yet remain of all the Four Reviews for 1863 at $4.00 LEONARD SCOTT & CO., PUBLISHERS, a set, or $1.50 for any one. 38 Walker Street, N. Y. N. B.-These Periodicals can be ordered from Messrs. W. C. CHEWETT & Co., Toronto, at the old rates in Canada currency. L. S. & Co. also publish the "FARMER'S GUIDE," by HENRY STZPHENS, of Edinburgh, and the late J. P. NORTON, of Yale College. 2 vols. Royal Octavo, 1600 pages, and numerous Engravings. Price $7.00 for the two volumes-by Mail, post paid, $8.00. 4 Each Grammar and Common School Master and Teacher must give at least one week's notice to the Trustees; and, in addition, the Grammar School Master must communicate with the Educational Department, so that he may not be absent during the visits of the Inspector to his School. In order that no loss of apportionment may accrue to any school in consequence of the Master's absence under this regulation, a proportionate to commence with the January Number, and payment in advance must amount of average attendance will be credited to the school for the time in all cases accompany the order. Single numbers, 10 cents each. All communications to be addressed to J. GEORGE HODGINE, LL.E. so employed by the teacher; but under no circumstances can lost time be Education Office, Toronto. lawfully made up by teaching on any of the prescribed holidays or half holidays, nor will such time be reckoned by the Department. LOVELL AND GIBSON, PRINTERS, YONGE STREET, TORONTO, CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER: I. PROGRESS OF EDUCATION IN UPPER CANADA.... III. EDUCATION OF FARMERS.-(1) Necessity for Educated Farmers in IV. CORRESPONDENCE ON SUBJECTS OF INSTRUCTION.-(1) Remarks on PAGE 18 22 Canada. No. 2. From In 1816-now fifty years ago, and nine years after District 17 (Grammar) Schools were established-provision was first made by the legislature for the support and maintenance of Common Schools in Upper Canada: $24,000 per annum were voted for this purpose. Even this grant was, in 1820, reduced to the pittance of $10,000 per annum; and this small sum continued to be the entire parliamentary grant in aid of Common Schools 22 until 1833, when it was raised to treble that amount. 1833 until 1840, the grant fluctuated between $30,000 and 25 $35,000. No life, however, animated the system, and the people themselves evinced little interest in it, and contributed as 27 small a sum as possible for its support. In 1836, an effort was made to revivify the old system, and to endow it with an annual grant of $60,000; but the eventful crisis of 1837-8 so dwarfed every other question into insignificance except that of our very political existence as a British province, that nothing was done. V. PAPERS ON PRACTICAL EDUCATION.-(1) Admirable Suggestions for IX. PAPERS ON PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.-(1) Across the Red River and 28 29 31 32 PROGRESS OF EDUCATION IN UPPER CANADA. In connection with the County School Conventions, now being so successfully held by the Chief Superintendent throughout Upper Canada, it may not be uninteresting to take a brief glance at the progress which the school system has made since its first establishment in the Province. In 1840-1, the turning point was, however, reached; and the first United Legislature of Canada passed an Act in 1841, establishing a definite system of Common School education for the whole province, and endowing it with the then munificent sum of $200,000 per annum-the proportion of which, coming to Upper Canada, was only $80,000. In 1845, the proportion of the Upper Canada share was increased to $84,000. It remained at this sum until 1851, when it was again divided-giving Upper Canada $100,000. In 1853, and subsequently, it has been divided according to the ratio of population in Upper and Lower Canada. The great interest which has been displayed at these Educational Conventions is a gratifying proof of the vitality of the The School Act of 1841 first embodied the important princischool system, and shows how fully alive the people are to the ple of self-imposed taxation by the municipalities in aid of practical importance of the questions affecting the schools which Common Schools, as a condition of receiving a share of the have been brought before them. The discussions thus far have more than realized the expectations of the Department; while the ability and good feeling which has been generally displayed in the discussions afford a good guarantee that any change in the working of our school system will be considered on its own merits, apart from political or personal feeling. Legislative School Grant. In 1843, the School Law underwent some amendment in its details; and in the following year the Rev. Dr. Ryerson-present head of the Educational Department-was appointed by His Excellency the Governor General. Changes and various amendments were made in the law as it then stood, in 1843, 1846, 1847, and 1849. In 1850, however, The twenty-five years during which a system of public school a comprehensive School Act, was drafted by the Chief Supereducation has been in operation in Upper Canada, have been intendent. That Act (amended in 1853 and 1860) is still the marked by great and important changes-many of which have law of the land, and is the basis of our present school system. received the sanction of School Conventions in former years. These changes we propose briefly to review, so as to see what actual progress we have been making during the last quarter of a century. As an evidence of our educational growth during the last twenty-one years, it may be interesting to see from the following summary table the progress which the school system has made during that time : STATISTICS of Common Schools in Upper Canada, for a period of causing the tax for educational purposes to be upon the whole more twenty-one years, showing the Total Amounts under the follow-equable, less direct, and therefore less oppressive. "Commising sub-headings, for the years 1844, 1850, 1855, 1860, 1864, sioners," as they are called, are deputed from the board to visit each and 1865. To Sist DECEMBER. 1844. 1850. 1855. 1860. 1864. 1865, Population of Upper Canada between 5 and 16 Total Common Schools in operation... Total Common School pupils Total Salaries of Com 183,539 259,258 297,623 $73,589 424,565 mon School teachers... $206,856 $ 353,716 $ 680,108 $ 895,591 $ 996,956 $1,008,066 Total Common School 3,565 4,281 4,625 117,292 186,761 208,483 42,885 165,847 +4,813 211,655 $ 65,973 $ 177,052 $ 251,352 $ +285,716 II. Amendments to Upper Canada School Law. 1. THE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT'S CONVENTION. The Rev. Dr. Ryerson's speech at Brantford on Friday evening, the 19th ult., whilst it does honor to his own head and heart, has inspired all those who heard him with an enthusiasm in the cause of educa-gagement, to study the temper, the talents and the bias of his pupils. tion which will not be soon forgotten. Judging from this, his tour through Canada West must, it is obvious, be attended by many advantages in an educational, as well as a moral point of view. It will have the effect of rousing the dormant energies of an otherwise very active and very clever people, and of directing them into a channel vitally important to their best interests, and consequently to their lasting happiness. Among the other advantages arising from Dr. Ryerson's tour through Canada West, besides eliciting the opinions of the people, respecting the working of the school law, there will arise earnest and anxious discussions as to the best mode of dealing with questions intimately connected with the usefulness and efficacy of said law when applied to the growing emergencies that spring from a state of society rapidly tending to opulence and artificiality. These discussions will at length concentrate into two or three leading theories, which will be usefully applied either in framing a new school law, or in materially pruning from the present its deforming excrescences, or in adding to it prominent features which have been eminently successful when tried elsewhere. school. They make regular reports, and upon their recommendation changes, &c. are made. It would seem, however, that notwithstanding the beauty and regularity of the system, the permanency of teachers situations is not thereby secured, particularly in country districts. But this arises principally from the fact, that persons without any aptitude or regular training for the profession, engage +440,600 in teaching for a season or two, without any intention to follow it as a means of livelihood. This is not, however the case in the +4,350 towns. There, teachers are as permanently situated as they are +385,800 anywhere in the world. We believe, however, that if the system proposed by the Chief Superintendent were introduced into this Province, a great deal of positive good would ensue. There is no doubt but that it would render the position of the teacher more settled than it is at present, inasmuch as his salary, which now comes directly from the pockets of the farmers by so direct a taxation, that it may be called a species of partition, would in the event of the 212,423 above mentioned system being introduced, be paid by a township treasurer, through an order of the "Commissioner" upon him, somewhat like the order given by the Local Superintendent to teachers upon the functionary here. The farmers not directly feeling the tax, would be more content to keep the teacher, or at least could not get rid of him as easily as they do at present, should he by any means displease them through the irksome exercise of some of his unpleasant duties. The nomadic character of the great bulk of Canadian teachers would thus be somewhat checked by the introduction of this system and a corresponding boon to education would naturally follow by the schools being better conducted, by the impartment of sounder and more extensive instruction, the teacher being allowed time through the comparative permanency of his enNo fouler blot could exist in any system than that which mars the face of our much lauded school law; and it savors somewhat of fatuity to be eternally shouting loud paans in its favor as long as the law permits the teachers of Canada, like Bedouins of the desert, or like the Tartars of the central plateau of Asia to migrate from one locality to another at certain seasons of the year. This disgrace to the law, as well as to the country at large, may be easily prevented by means within the reach of even the present existing statute. Would it not be easy for the legislature to insist that none of the money granted for school purposes should reach that section in which the same teacher was not engaged for at least one year. Something like this is adopted in England, in practice at least. No teacher there would be granted the salary arising from his certificate of merit, unless he spent at least a year in the same school; but on the contrary, no aid would be granted to the school itself unless it was in a satisfactory state, and that the efficiency of the pupils were up to the standard marked out by the law, as the result of a year's instruction. This plan mutually renders it the interest of the teachThe Chief Superintendent, both in his circular and in his several er to remain in the same school for at least a year, while it places a Convention speeches, directs the attention of the country to two or pressure upon the local committee to have as little change as possible, three leading points of great importance, and worthy of deep and or they would be otherwise very probably deprived of the Govern serious consideration, before they should, even greatly modified, be ment aid from the Committee of Council on Education. The result ingrafted upon our present system of education. The fact is, would is that changes occur very seldom in the English schools. True, the it not be better to centralize, and therefore greatly extend our present certificated master holds a very respectable position. Virulence, school sections, by constituting the township Council the Board of spite and revenge can never reach him, provided he performs his School Trustees for the whole township, with power to appoint duty honestly and honorably. What a contrast between the Engvisitors for each school in the township? The second is, "Whether lish school law, with its almost complete machinery of inspectors, each municipal Council should not be invested with power to bring teachers, pupils, certificated teachers, &c., of which you scarcely to account or punish by fine or requiring to work on the roads, parents ever hear one word of praise, and our school law in Canada, belauded who do not send their children, between seven and fifteen years of as it is to the clouds. We are confident that Dr. Ryerson's plan age, to some school, at least four months in the year." The third is, would bring about one good result at least; and this result would that in consequence of the irregularity which the Chief Superin- more than counterbalance any evils of less importance that may foltendent states are to be found in connection with the County board low in its train. We have again reference to the comparatively of public instruction in their examination of candidates for certifi-permanent location of the teachers and for this object alone it is cates, he proposes to have a central board appointed for framing a worth an honest trial. The township board not being connected uniform set of questions for all the County Boards of Public Instruc- with any school section in particular, might render its influence over tion, and that these questions would be all sent to them against a the schools under its jurisdiction as complete and as perfect as poscertain day, upon which there would be a general examination sible, not through the instrumentality of visitors," as Dr. Ryerthroughout the Province of candidates seeking for County Board son suggests, but through a still more powerful influence, namely: certificates to empower them to teach, not within each County res- the appointment of an executive officer, somewhat similar in characpectively, but generally throughout the Province. ter to a sub-inspector, whose duty it would be to report to the township board all matters affecting the schools under its jurisdiction, to assist with advice, &c., the teachers engaged in said schools; to oring, or introducing new systems of education into each and all of the schools within said jurisdiction. It is obvious that the person known to be skilful, successful, and perfectly au-fait in his professo appointed should be a practical common school teacher, well it would come too expensive (we deny that it would) for one townsion. His whole time should be employed in the work, and where ship board to employ such a person, two could unite, and not more. 66 With regard to the first important point, as briefly stated above, the Chief Superintendent would, it seems, favor the idea there in culcated, namely: that the present school sections should be abolishganize new schools; to be constantly engaged in examining, teached, and the present township Council invested with the powers of a school board over all the schools in the township. The plan is adopted in several states in the Union. It is uniform in its working, This does not include maps, apparatus or books purchased elsewhere than at the Educational Depository. The County Council, to render the County inspectorial system per- 2. SCHOOL CONVENTIONS IN UPPER CANADA. to make all needful provisions and arrangements concerning habitual tenants, and children not attending school without any regular or lawful occupation, growing up in ignorance, between the ages of six and fifteen years: and also, all such ordinances and by-laws respecting such children as shall be deemed most conducive to their welfare and the good order of such city or town; and there shall be annexed to such ordinances suitable penalties, not exceeding for any one breach a fine of twenty dollars." And in order to carry out this provision, it is made the duty of the authorities to appoint annually three or more persons, who alone are authorized to make complaints for any violation of the law, and carry out the decisions of Justices of the Peace in cases of the imposition of penalties. And the Justices before whom an offender is brought are vested with authority, instead of imposing a fine upon the parent, "to order children proved before them to be growing up in truancy, and without the benefit of education provided for them by law, to be placed for such period of time as they may judge expedient, in such institution of instruction, or house of reformation, or other suitable situation, as may be assigned or provided for the purpose in each city or town" availing itself of the provisions of the Act. And this power has been taken advantage of by many of the municipalities, and incorporated into their municipal codes. In Boston, for instance, children whose parents are dead, or if living, neglect to send them to school, may be sent by the Court to the House of Reformation. In addition to this House of Reformation, there has been established under a recent Act, a State Reform School where children whose parents ignore their duty towards them are "instructed in piety and morality, and in such branches of useful knowledge as shall be adapted to their age and capacity," and from which they may be borne out to some trade. Analogous to these institutions are the House of Reformation for juvenile delinquents in New York, and the House of Refuge in Philadelphia. In both of these are excellent schools, where those who would otherwise grow up in crime, are instructed in such knowledge as should tend to make them useful citizens. But all these institutions imply that in cities at least some similar machinery is We believe that, as a matter of economy, it would be much cheaper necessary before a system of compulsory education can be enforced. to erect them than to permit the children of the vicious and depraved to grow up in ignorance and in association with crime. As we have said, the subject is one of immense importance in our school system; and we have no doubt that in the convention which is to be held to-day it will secure that consideration to which it is so fully entitled.-Hamilton Spectator. At the School Conventions Rev. Dr. Ryerson proposes doing away with the school sections altogether, and leaving the manage ment of matters with some Board having jurisdiction over a whole Township. As an argument in favor of this, he contends that it would do away with much of the petty quarreling and prejudice now prevalent. As far as this proposal is concerned, we must say that we most decidedly favor it, since it will be apt to secure one great boon, the permanency of a teacher's position. That unfortunate individual is now subject to the caprices and whims of every parent whose children are under his tuition. With the power 4. LOCAL SUPERINTENDENT'S AN IMPORTANT OFFICE. centralized, these whims will have to have more than a shadowy foundation before they can be exercised in such a way as to injure the teacher. Another advantage that would arise from this is that the salaries would be equalized, and more system established in the manner of payment.-Picton North American. and doubtless also the recurrence of the period of the year when The letter of the Hon. Billa Flint in a recent issue of the Review, county and township appointments to office are made, have prepared the public mind for a re-opening of the question as to the propriety or otherwise of appointing a Local Superintendent of Schools for the county, or one for each section of the county, instead of for the municipalities singly, as has heretofore been the rule. The idea is rapidly gaining ground that such a change would be highly beneficial, and the experience of neighboring counties who have adopted the plan of County Superintendents would seem to be in its favor.There are two leading causes to the growing dissatisfaction with the present system. The first is the difficulty, in many municipalities, of finding a suitable man, although aspirants for the office may be numerous; and the second is owing to the fact that the supervision of the schools of a single township is not enough to occupy more than a passing share of attention, and being only a secondary duty, to be attended to in the intervals of some leading and more engrossing pursuit, it can hardly be expected to be entered into with the zeal and pursued with the devotion which its importance requires. 3. COMPULSORY EDUCATION IN UPPER CANADA. We promised to-day to notice the methods adopted in some of the States of the neighboring republic, to secure the attendance, for at least a portion of every year, of all the children of the State. Mayhew, in his interesting work on popular education, gives a resume of these, and to it we are indebted for the facts which we to-day present to our readers. In some of the States of Europe the laws in this respect are exceedingly stringent. In Prussia, for instance, when a parent refuses without satisfactory excuse, to send his child to school, for the time required by law, he is called before the Court, tried, and if he refuses compliance, the child is taken from him and sent to school, and the parent to prison. This is probably the extreme limit to which the power of the State could go, and it is very doubtful if the spirit of the people of this country Two visits in the year to each school is the number which the would submit to a law of this kind. It is similar to the laws which law requires; and as usually only two schools, and in many cases but prevailed a couple of centuries ago in the New England colonies. one, can be visited, and the pupils examined, in a single day, inThe following curious passage occurs in the Massachusetts Colony volving probably many miles of travel, the sum of four dollars for Laws of 1642:-"Forasmuch as the good education of children is each school per year-the highest paid in this county-can by no "of singular behoof and benefit to any commonwealth, and whereas means be regarded as munificent remuneration, especially when it is "many parents and masters are indolent and negligent in their remembered that many additional days are spent in receiving and "duty in that kind, it is ordered that the selectmen of every town examining reports, apportioning moneys, and annually preparing in the several precincts and quarters, where they dwell, shall have from very inaccurate data a full report to the Educational Depart"a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors, to see, first, that ment; to say nothing of a lecture anticipated at least once a year in none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their fami- every school section, for all of which the aforementioned sum is "lies as not to teach by themselves or others, their children and presumed to be an adequate equivalent. Can it be wondered at that "apprentices so much learning as may enable them perfectly to read public duties thus brought into competition, and sometimes into "the English tongue, and knowledge of the capital laws, upon pen-collision, with private interests and a man's main pursuit in life, "alty of twenty shillings for each neglect therein." should under these circumstances be pushed into the shade, and in time come to be treated as secondary instead as of paramount importance? According to the statutes of Massachusetts of 1850, each of the several cities and towns in that State is "authorised and empowered |