EDUCATION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, 14 June 1859, Page 2

EDUCATION.

Session 1. 3S T o. 2. """""""^ • ■ 'it An Act to repeal the Act Session 2, No. 6, and the Education Amendment Act, Session 4, No. 3, Province of Wellington, and to encourage the Education of Youth within the Province of Hawke 1 s Bay.

Ty HEEE A S certain Acts were passed by the Superintendent and s Provmciial Council of Wellington, Session,?, ..Noi 6, intituled "An Act to promote the establishment of Common Schools in the Province of Wellington," and Session 4, No. 3, intituled "An Act to amend an Act of the second session of the Provincial Council, intituled 'An Act to promote the establishment of Common Schools in the Province of Wellington.' " And Whereas it is expedient that both the above recited Acts should be repealed, and that other provision should be made to encourage the Education of Youth within the Province of Hawke's Bay, — Be it therefore enacted by the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay as follows : — 1. From and after the passing of this Act and the notification of the Governor's assent thereto, the aboverecited Acts, so far as they relate to the Province of Hawke's Bay, shall be, and the same are hereby repealed. 2. That the Schools which may receive aid from the Provincial Government of Hawke's Bay under this Act, may be of two classes, or of either of them, viz : — Public or common Schools, and Private or Denominational Schools. 3. That whenever any of the inhabitants of a Town or Country district within the Province, shall be desirous of establishing a Common School, and shall subscribe together a sum of at least £4.0 towards the erection or repair of. a suitable building, for such purpose, it shall be lawful for the Government to contribute an amount equal to the subscriptions actually paid into the hands of the Provincial Treasurer on account of any such School, but not to exceed in any case £100 in the whole — for the period of three years from the first opening of such school, when it shall be lawful to continue to contribute in like manner, provided always that during every subsequent period of three years the total amounts to be paid in aid of repairs or alterations, to the Trustees or Managers of any such School, do not exceed the before mentioned sum of £100. 4. That before any Grant in aid of building or repairing any Common School-house, as above provided, shall be made, the land on which such schoolhouse or building is erected must be vested in Trustees or Managers to be chosen by the subscribers to the said school, and satisfactory provision must also be made in the Deed of Trust for carrying out the objects of such School in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and for due succession of such Trustees or Managers: Provided always that the Superintendent of the Province for the time being shall ex ofJicio be a Trustee of every such School and in case of death or removal from the Province of any of the Trustees or Managers as aforesaid, and those remaining do not in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Deed fill up the vacancies after three months' notice to do so shall have been given by the Superintendent in the Provincial Government Gazette, it shall be lawful for the Superintendent himself to fill up such vacancies from amongst the resident subscribers living in the District in which such School is situate, of which appointment due notice shall also be given in the Government Gazette. 5. That all common schools that have received, or are receiving, or may. receive any such Government aid shall be open to all children on equal terms. 6. That in all such common schools no religious instruction of any kind shall be given during the ordinary school hours from .nine to three, but that the master or mistress of such schools may give religious instruction either, before or T after school, hours, the, said religious instruction being such. as 'the majority of the Trustees or Managers of any School may think fit or .approve of. 7. That religious instruction at the, times before mentioned be given by the master or mistress of any common schools only to^tich children a^^ave

been registered by their parents or guardians in the' School register, as belonging to the religious body whose doctrines are taught oy the said master or mistress. 8. That should the master or mistress of any common, school attempt to teach a child . any doctrine or creed repugnant to that of the church or religious body that its parents or guardians have registered it as belonging to, without express permission in writing from such parents or guardians, Government aid as aforesaid and hereinafter in this Act provided shall immediately be withdrawn, and such Government aid shall be withheld so long as the said master or mistress so offending shall continue in charge of such school, — besides which he or she shall be liable, for each offence, to a fine of not less than £5 nor more than £20, to be recovered in a summary way : provided always that, in the term religious instruction, as used in this Act, the Scripture and other lessons contained in the books of the Irish National Schools, which have been approved of by the heads of all Christian denominations, and published by their authority, are not included. 9. That no Government aid or assistance shall be given towards the erection or repairing of any kind of denominational schools. 10. That Government aid be given to both Common and Denominational Schools for boys or girls in proportion to the number of Children between the ages of 5 and 14 years educated in them, at the rate of seven shillings per quarter : provided always that the weeldy charge to parents or guardians does not exceed two shillings a head per Aveek. 11. That every sum of money payable quarterly under this Act in aid of any school shall be calculated at a certain quarterly rate per head upon the daily average number of scholars who shall be educated therein, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, to the, satisfaction of the Superintendent during the period in respect of which such payment is, or shall be made. 12. That a register of the daily number of scholars shall be kept at every school so aided under this Act, in such form and shall be certified in such manner as the Superintendent shall from time to time appoint. 13. That it shall be lawful for the Superintendent from time to time to make such regulations respecting proof to be given of the daily average number of pupils educated at such school or schools as he shall think fit, and require all masters or mistresses or each or any of them, to make declarations as to the correctness of returns. 14. That every false return on the part of any master or mistress be punishable by a fine of not less than £5, or more than £20, recoverable in a summary way, and that Government aid shall be withheld, so long as the offender shall remain in charge of the school. 15. That all Schools receiving aid under this Act shall be open at all times to inspection by some person appointed by the Superintendent, who is hereby empowered from time to time to appoint and dismiss such Inspector or Inspectors, and to frame such regulations for his or their guidance as he may deem necessary. 16. That the duty of every such Inspector shall be to see that sufficient and satisfactory secular Education is given in every such School or Schools so receiving Government aid, particularly in Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. 17. That it ,shall be lawful for the Superintendent, with the advice, of the Executive Council, on the recommendation of any Inspector or Inspectors, ftp.. give a gratuity to any School-master ; pi* . Mistress in Country districts, in ad-! dition to. thei, aid before provided in such cases; as it may appear- from the small number of Children then resident within, the radius of tfiree miles from the School-house that he or she cannot be supported by the ordinary contribution or rate, such gratuity tojbe temp-

orary and in no case to exceed £50 per annum. , 18, That.it shall also be lawful for the^ Superintendent, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, to give a bonus not exceeding £50. to any School-master or Mistress for general efficiency of School after five years length of service. 19. That every School receiving Government aid as aforesaid, shall be bound to educate orphans or children of very poor parents, without extra rate beyond Government aid, on an order from the Inspector. 20. That all Schools which are, or may be aided in accordance with the foregoing Act, shall be so aided [from annual Grants to be made from time to time by the Provincial Council from the Provincial Kevenue, and also from the proceeds arising from the Lease or Sale of Edcational Land Reserves. 21. That the short title of this Act shall be the " Hawke's Bay Education Act."