Wellington Independent WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1871.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3255, 19 July 1871, Page 2

Wellington Independent WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1871.

It is well at times to note other colonies are doing with regard to subjects in which our own is interested. Wo may thus " take a leaf out of their book," and perchance acquire a lesson from their experience. We have before us a new education act, which was passed during the present year by the Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario. Previously to the passing of the Imperial Act constituting the dominion of Canada, the province of Ontario comprised that extensive district of country in North America known as Upper Canada. I3y that act the powers possessed by the several provinces in the dominion are very similar to those conferred by the Constitution Act on the several provinces of 2J"ew Zealand. Though, however, the Legislature of the province of Ontario is very similar to that of this province, the education act it has just passed is a much more comprehensive measure than ours. For many years Upper Canada has had the advantages to be obtained from the establishment of good municipal institutions, and has reaped the benefits of a good educational system. But this has not preveuted the Legislature from trying to improve the latter, while it rather extends than abridges those local powers which were exercised by every chy, town, township, country, and " incorporated village" into which the province had long been divided. The two most important features in the present act are that education is made free and also compulsory. Nothing new, at this time, can be said about education. It is not so long since it was seriously maintained that it was one of those privileges which belonged of right exclusively to the rich. More recently it was urged, with still greater force, that it was a subject with which the state ought not to meddle. At the present day it appears to be pretty generally admitted that it is the duty of the Government, when their natural guardians neglect it, to provide, either by general or local taxation, for the education of the young. But though nothing new can be said, either for or against state interference with the question, new methods and machinery are being constantly devised for carrying education into effect. Witness this act before us, intituled " An Act to Improve the Common and Grammar Schools of the Province of Ontario." Under the law previously in force, the common schools, in the settled districts, were seldom so much as two miles apart, while the child of the poorest laborer, who distinguished himself as a successful competitor for a free scholarship iv a common school had the advantage of attending one of the country grammar schools. Here, again, ho had opened to him another free scholorship in the highest educational institutions of the country, if his merits entitled him to that distinction. Thus an education ladder was provided by the Legislature, by which the child of the humblest inhabitant might ascend to the highest point of scholastic eminence, and become qualified to fill, with credit to himself and advantage to his fellow-colonists, the highest offices in the Government of his native country. The new law does not interfere with these admirable arrangements ; but it provides even a better education in the common schools than that which before obtained, and makes no charge, as formerly, for admission. It guards against undue influence and favoritism in examinations for the free scholarship; founds Training Colleges for teachers ; establishes for them a superannuation fund, and increase s the number and efficiency of the high schools, which appear to have been already established in every town, village and district, The initiatory clause enacts, that all common schools, hereafter to be known as public schools, shall be free schools, for which a rate shall be levied on all rateable property within the school division or municipality, in all cities, towns, villages, and townships ; power being given to the public school boards, in those places respectively, to collect from the parents or guardians of the children attending those schools, if they should consider it advisable to do so, a sum not exceeding lOd per month per pupil, to defray the cost of text books, stationery, &o. This is the whole amount that can be demanded from each pupil, These school boards, which arc incorporations, arc charged with the duty of providing adequate accommodation for all the children who present themselves for instruction ; and every child between seven and twelve years of age, both inclusive, has the right to attend the school, or be otherwise educated during four months of that portion of the year which constitutes the Canadian summer. If parents fail to compel the attendance of their children at school, between the ages named, they are subjected to a penalty for each child so absenting himself of five dollars for the first offence, and double that penalty for each subsequent offence. Exception, however, is made in favor of parents where it is proved to the satisfaction of the trustees of the school which the child should attend that he or she is refractory, or that the presence of the pupils would be injurious to the other children attending. In the latter case the undesirable boy or girl is to be sent, when possible, to an industrial school where restraint and punishment may

be resorted to if necessary. This compulsory attendance at school, which is described in the act ns a right conferred upon the children of the province, does not apply to children of Roman Catholic parents who are exempted from attending the public school. It is also provided that the penalties above mentioned may be remitted, if the defendant proves to the satisfaction of the magistrate that the non-attendance of the child, or children, has arisen from the extreme poverty, the ill health, or the remoteness of the house of the parents of the children. Inspectors are to be appointed who are to pass an examination before being eligible for appointment. Each city and county is to have a paid board of examiners who are to have power to license teachers, while provision is made for the training of teachers, and the selection of text books. It is well that it should be known that the instruction in these public schools is not to be confined to the usual branches of an English education ; but that it is to embrace also the elements of natural history, of agricultural chemistiy, of mechanics, and of agriculture : the act thus contemplating a practical education to fit the youth of the province for those industries in which they may in after life be engaged. But if the pupil distinguishes himself at one of these public schools, and is desirous of receiving a higher education, he can, on passing the necessary examination, obtain free admission to one of the high schools. These are to be sustained by funds supplied by a special graut, and by funds supplied by the Municipal Council of tho city or county. When a superior degree of success has been obtained by any high school the Lieut Governor may confer upon it the title of " Collegiate Institution ;" a distinction entitling it to an extra grant of £700 per annum from the " Superior Education Fund." It will thus be seen that inducements are held out not only to pupils, but to teachers and schools to attain excellence, by encouraging in each a generous spirit of competition, emulation and rivalry, by means of valuable prizes open to each and all, and under such arrangements that will effectually preclude favoritism, and insure that the awards are made to the most meritorious. Such aro some of the principal provisions of the Ontario Education Act. While it insists on every child in tho province receiving elementary instruction, it holds out inducements, which exist in few other countries, for the children to attain excellence. The facilities afforded for the acquisition of a superior education even in the public schools, are, it will be conceded, amongst the most important provisions of the act. Though, therefore, as we observed, nothing new can be said in favor of education, new methods, it will be seen, can be adopted for its promotion, while tho events of every day furnish new illustrations of its advantages. The result of the late war between Prussia and France sets forth some of these advantages in quite a new light, and doubtless the people of Ontario are aware that if they are to keep pace with their neighbors on the other side of the lakes they must necessarily provide, and carry into effect, a good and comprehensive scheme of education for their children. Of course, we do not contend that such an act should be reproduced here, but many of its leading principles are worthy of a place in any Colonial Education measure that may be brought forward. The Government have, we understand, drafted a bill in which all the general difficulties of the question aro boldly grappled with, while none of tho special difficulties necessarily arising from the manner in which New Zealand has been colonised, have been shirked. The Premier, who will take charge of the bill, has his work before him, and if he is as successful in providing a good education for the youth of the colony as he was last session in simplifying and cheapening tho transfer of land, his name will be handed down in connection with two of the very greatest social reforms.