JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.

TORONTO, MARCH, 1851.

PROGRESS OF THE ARRANGEMENT FOR PROCURING BOOKS FOR LIBRARIES, &c.-As some anxiety is felt by many persons for the early establishment of school libraries in several parts of the province, we are happy to be able to state that the arrangements now being made by the Chief Superintendent of Schools in Europe, for a con tinuous supply of cheap and excellent books, are very nearly completed; and that, as soon as practicable, the necessary directions and information on the subject will be furnished through the Journal of Education.

From recent letters received from the Rev. Dr. RYERSON, in London, we select the following extracts relating to the objects of his mission:

"I have nearly succeeded in completing the arrangements with Her Majesty's Privy Council Committee on Education to obtain books, maps, &c., for Canada, upon the same terms as those upon which the committee have arranged with the publishers to supply the schools aided by the parliamentary grant. To effect this arrangement the Secretary of the Privy Council Committee has had to write to every publisher, from whose list of books selections are made, to obtain his consent. All the publishers have given their consent, and the formularies of the arrangement will be completed very shortlyafter which I intend to visit the educational institutions of Ireland and Scotland.

"I send you the printed paper containing the list of books, maps, &c., recommended by the Privy Council Committee, with the prices annexed, at which I can obtain them-also the printed forms of my future orders for them, with the conditions imposed by the committee in fulfilling them.

"From the list transmitted, you will see that the most valuable part of the books mentioned are published in Dublin and Edinburgh. The list embraces all the maps, as well as the best school books, &c., that are published in England and Scotland-including those of the Irish National Board. I intend to bring with me a copy of each of the publications in this list as specimens for the Department.

"I think that on my way home I shall have to select books from the lists furnished by the American publishers [application in writing having failed to accomplish the specific objects desired by the Chief Superintendent in the selection of specimens of suitable books for the libraries ;] and arrange with them individually as to terms, &c., the same as I have done in London.

"Upon my return I will try and prepare for the Journal of Education a series of articles on the system of public instruction in France for which I have procured ample materials in Paris. I hope to turn my present visit greatly to account in promoting education and general knowledge in Canada.

"I am more and more impressed with the immense facilities we possess in Upper Canada, and with the vastness of the field, together with what may be accomplished by prudence and exertion. The more I see of other countries, the more I love and confide in my own."

EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENTS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.-The free school law is now undergoing a warm discussion in the New York Legislature. An effort is being made to make the schools free, by raising a general state tax of $800,000, which, with the school fund of $300,000, would make one million one hundred thousand dollars available for teachers' salaries throughout the state!

The school committee of the assembly have reported two school bills-one by Mr. Benedict, embodying the views of the majority of the committee, and one by Mr. Burroughs, representing the opinions of the minority. The following is the synopsis of each :Majority Bill.-1. The common schools of the state shall be free, &c.

2. Proposes to raise $800,000 by a state tax. Distributes onefourth of money raised by such tax, and one fourth of all other moneys (including $300,000, to be received from school fund,)

appropriated for school purposes, equally among all the districts of

the state.

3. The remaining three-fourths to be distributed rateably, according to the number of children between the ages of 5 and 16 years. No district to receive any portion of the above funds unless a school has been kept open in such district for eight months, by a duly qualified teacher.

4. The balance, if any be required for the payment of teachers' wages, is to be raised by a poll tax of such an amount as will make up such balance, to be levied by the trustees of the district upon each resident of the district, entitled to vote at the school district meetings.

5. Proposes that all laws inconsistent with this Act be repealed. 6. The poll tax will vary from 30 to 90 cents, only, as estimated by the majority of the committee.

Minority Bill.-1st. A state tax of $800,000.

2nd. That this money shall be distributed to the districts in accordance with the number of children; one-fourth, however, to be paid to districts, irrespective of pɔpulation.

3rd. Appropriates $24 to each part of a district.

4th. That the first appropriations go to the school districts which had made their returns in 1849-which were in a sound condition at that time.

5th. Any balance of money which may be required, shall be raised by rate bills,-the trustees to exempt indigent persons. 6th. Restores all the former power exercised by the State Superintendent.

7th. Provides that all moueys to be expended under this law shall go to pay teachers' wages.

We hope to be able in the next number of the Journal to give some of the valuable report of the committee, upon presenting the foregoing bills. Part of the Superintendent's Report, and Governor HUNT'S message for 1850-1, will be found on page 46.

A state convention of the friends of free schools was held at Utica on the 26th ult. The resolutions adopted endorsed the principle that the property of the state should educate the children of the state; protested against the abandonment of the free school principle because the assessment laws are defective; approved of the tax and mode of distribution proposed by the Assembly; of keeping the schools open eight months in the year, and of raising what might be required for teachers' wages in a district in the same manner as its contingent expenses.

MISAPPLICATION OF THE SCHOOL FUND ON THE PART OF TRUSTEES.-A local superintendent writes: "In my intercourse with school sections in my own and neighbouring townships, I have discovered that trustees have been in the habit of entering into collusion with their teacher to obtain a part of the school fund. The trustees give the teacher an order for the amount due their section, when at the same time the teacher only claims a part of it, consequently the surplus comes into the hands of the trustees. I detected this in one instance in time to prevent it, and retained the overplus in the treasurer's hands until the teacher had earned it; but in another instance I paid the teacher the amount of his order before I discovered the dishonesty of the trustees to get between £6 and £7 of a fund, to which they had no right, into their hands. Perhaps it might be well to give the necessary instructions through the Journal of Education, in order that myself and brother superintendents may know how to act."

REMARKS: We beg to thank our Rev. correspondent for directing our attention to this design on the part of trustees to contravene the express provisions of the 40th and 45th sections of the School Act -which were intended to prevent the application of the school fund to any other purpose than the payment of teachers' salaries.

Whenever local superintendents detect any collusion, such as is referred to above, before the money is paid, we would advise them to act as our correspondent has done : if, however, the money be paid before the fraud be discovered, the local superintendent might apply to the Chief Superintendent for authority to retain a sum equal to the overplus paid to a teacher out of the next payment to the school section

concerned; or else take effectual steps for the enforcement of the 13th or 43rd sections of the School Act against the trustees themselves or their secretary-treasurer. Local superintendents should in all cases endeavour to ascertain from the teacher, or otherwise, whether the amount claimed in the order of the trustees is legally and bona fide due to the teacher himself for his professional services.

PRESENT HIGHLY FAVOURED POSITION OF THE BRITISH SOLDIERS, AS REGARDS EDUCATION.-With reference to an interesting communication on this subject, which appeared in our columns a short time ago, we have much pleasure in directing the attention of our readers to the following extract, from a late English paper, on the great educational benefits derived from the limited enlistment system :

"The limited enlistment bill is a vast improvement on the old system, which was generally for life; for now a young man may enter the service at 18, and be dismissed at 28, a perfectly educated

man.

This phrase is no hyperbole, for education in the army is not confined at present, as it was of yore, to the mere rudiments, sufficient to render the possessor of them capable of writing out the orders of paying a company-but embraces a well-grounded knowledge of history and geography and a competent acquirement, not only of arithmetic and mathematics, but of geometry, algebra, mensuration, and fortification, so that, on returning to "civil life," the soldier is not compelled to fall back on the little mechanical knowledge which, peradventure, he owned before he exchanged the cobbler's awl, or the tailor's needle, for the musket and bayonet, but may earn an honourable existence by teaching those sciences which he has acquired in his military capacity. The difficulty which the SCHOOLMASTERS of regiments now have, is, not the task of employment in teaching, but positive overwork, the consequence of the avidity with which the men who have joined the battalion attend the classes. The barrack library-successful rival of the barrack can teen-towards the support of which the soldier now cheerfully pays his penny per month, convincingly proves that the desire for education has taken root in the British service; and we trust the time is not far distant when the reproach will be removed from our army of being, in point of intellectual cultivation, so far behind the armies of France and Prussia."

EXTRACTS FROM LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS' REPORTS-1850. -As intimated in our last number, we give the following extracts from the Annual School Reports of the undermentioned local superintendents-and from other official documents received at the Education Office during the past month. The extracts relate chiefly to the gradual extension of the principle of free and universal education to numerous school sections in the several townships of Upper Canada:

Rev. James Baird, Township of Hope: "Several of the sections have resolved that the teacher's salary shall be raised by a tax on property, and that the schools shall be free. I am pleased with this; it is just what should be. I desire with all my heart that every school section in Upper Canada would resolve on the same."

Rev. W. J. Macdowell, Mountain: "I may state that the trustees of many sections have taxed the division for the full amount of the teacher's salary; and it seems to work so well, that, in my opinion, all the other schools will be free next year. We are getting better books than heretofore; and, on the whole, education is evidently on the advance."

Mr. A. Fletcher, Darlington: "In accordance with the Act, a meeting of the inhabitants of school section No. 18 was held, and the free system unanimously adopted; since which, the number of scholars has so increased that one teacher is not capable of managing them; nor is the school room large enough; the trustees therefore deem it necessary to provide another school-probably a female one."

Rev. Daniel Clark, Kenyon, &c.: "It is probable that what has occurred with respect to an important public question; the provisions of the recent excellent school Act; and the change that is taking place in public sentiment will greatly improve the class of teachers employed. There seems to be a growing desire to procure suitable teachers, and to institute free schools, which will be a very

great public benefit, extending the privileges of a sound education to the poorest."

Simon Newcomb, Esq., Bayham: "The people of Bayham have manifested more interest in the schools this year than heretofore. In proof of this, I may mention that sections 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 16, 17, and part 3, have decided in favour of free schools;-these sections contain 712 children of school age. Indeed, nothing but a want of well-qualified teachers can now stop the progress of education in this township. This improvement in our school affairs, resulting from the diffusion of knowledge on educational subjects, has been chiefly effected by the circulation of your excellent periodical-the Journal of Education."

Rev. Samuel Armour, Cavan: "I now commence to visit the schools, and in each, on my first visit, to deliver a public lecture, and to endeavour to have a regular series of books introduced into each school. I am fully persuaded that the present is the best school law that has been made, and will effect much good if properly carried out in all its parts."

Andrew Cunningham, Esq., West Gwilliambury: "The section in which I live, as well as the adjacent section of Bond Head, have been made free schools this year;-the consequence of which is, that, instead of an average of 25 or 30 pupils, there is now an average of 50 or 60 !"

Rev. Wm. Ormiston, A. B., Clarke: "The general character of the common schools in this township is rapidly improving. New and improved modes of teaching are being introduced into nearly all of them. A higher appreciation of the importance of common schools-a deeper sense of the necessity of having good ones, and a more enlarged spirit of liberality in supporting them, characterize the people-while a spirit of generous emulation, and, in some cases, of lofty enthusiasm, distinguishes the teacher: the efforts of which are already apparent in the increasing number, neatness, and progress of the pupils. I deeply regret, however, that there seems to be no little misapprehension, and much unfounded prejudice on the subject of free schools. Some sections, however, support the school entirely, either by a general tax, or by voluntary subscription. The principle is gaining ground, and must ultimately succeed. In less than ten years I believe it will be a maxim of world-wide notoriety: that a thorough common school education is the Canadian's birthright."

Thomas J. Graffe, Esq., Wolford: "There were during the year 1850, five free schools in Wolford. Under the old system, in 1849, the average attendance of these schools was 150; but, in 1850, under the free school system, it has been 202-being an advance of 52 in favour of free schools."

Rev. John Armour, Sarnia, &c.: "You will perceive there is one school section in Plympton, and another in Warwick, that have, at their annual meeting, determined on trying the free school system. This is a beginning here, and I think this principle will be adopted speedily in all the schools."

Jacob Howell, Esq., Sophiasburgh: "I am wel! convinced that the provisions of the present school Act will give increased life and vigour to the schools."

Rev. John McMorine, Ramsay: "The township Council at its meeting on the 3rd February last, voted £12 10s. for school libraries to be divided among the sections along with any sum which they may receive out of the £3,000 provincial annual grant. Four or five of the sections have decided to have free schools, and the rest wil!, I think, soon follow the example. The new law has not yet had a fair trial, but I believe it will work well."

Robert Hamilton, Esq., Longuiel, &c.: "Four out of the five schools in operation in Longuiel have unanimously adopted the free school system."

D. W. Freeman, Esq., Windham: "When I first brought the subject of free schools before the inhabitants of this township, at an annual town meeting, they were almost unanimous in expressing their indignation at what they considered would be a monstrous injustice. At present there are strong advocates for that system in every school section, and several of our best schools are now progressing under it."

Charles Scarlett, Esq., Dawn: "The free school system is almost unanimously approved of in this township, and will be adopted without doubt for the future."

James J. Macdonald, Esq., Portland, &c.: "I have much pleasure in informing you that six out of the eight schools in operation have adopted the free school system."

Thomas Higginson, Esq., West Hawkesbury, Sc. "In the schools under my charge this year, the several branches of study are taught in a more enlightened manner; the text-books are more uniform; and parents and trustees are willing to pay a higher salary for the better class of teachers; the free school system is becoming more and more general; nearly half the schools being sustained upon that plan."

Samuel Graham, Esq., Kitley: "I am happy to state that in this township education is engaging a considerable share of public attention, and that in eight sections the free school system has been adopted; and also in various sections the necessary arrangements for more commodious school houses are being made."

Rev. Isaac B. Aylesworth, Camden East: “A number of sections have, this year, adopted the free school system; others have it in contemplation."

Philip Hodgkinson, Esq., Malahide: "The new school Act gives better satisfaction than any other, and the schools are better organized now than last year."

Edwin Mallory, Esq., Fredricksburgh: "The school Act of 1849 having been found so complicated and imperative, several of the schools were closed, and the people became almost indifferent to education; but I am happy to add that the new school law has given a fresh impetus to the people of this locality, and some of the sections have already availed themselves of the noble provision made therein for establishing free schools."

J. A. Murdock, Esq., Drummond, &c.: "I am happy to state that the question of free schools has deeply engaged the attention of the public in this quarter. Last year a few school sections made the experiment of raising the rate bill by taxation, and the result which followed the bringing out the children to school, and the facility afforded the trustees in settling with their teacher, has been the means of inducing a great many school sections to adopt this mode of making up the teachers' salaries for 1851."

Rev. R. Wallace, West Oxford: "I find an increasing interest in the subject of free schools, and I am aware that it is the intention of some gentlemen to endeavour to introduce the free school system generally throughout the County of Oxford. We have some free schools already in operation. In one case, however, a difference of opinion exists as to whether persons above 18 and under 21 years of age should attend free. Have the kindness to state the law and the views of your office on the subject in the Journal of Education. [The law requires trustees to permit all residents in their school "section between the ages of 5 and 21 years to attend the school, so long as their conduct shall be agreeable to the rules of such school," and so long as the free school or other rate shall be paid by them or on their behalf. Ed. J. of Ed.] I am happy to be able fully to approve of the general features of the present school Act. I have by me several of its predecessors, and, it is, in my opinion, a decided improvement upon them."

Dr. John Finlayson, Nichol, &c.: "The subject of free schools has been pressed upon the attention of the trustees and others of this township in the superintendent's annual lecture. In the contiguous township of Woolwich, there is one free school in operation."

John Walton, Esq., Peel, &c.: "I am happy to report that two of our sections have free schools, and it appears to me that their example will soon be followed by many others."

Rev. Wm. Hay, Burford: "I have great pleasure in stating that the system of free schools is rapidly gaining ground in this township. The great advantages attending free schools are becoming every day more apparent, in the increase of attendance, the comfortable and well-furnished school house, and in the little trouble connected with the system when compared with others."

Thomas Vauston, Esq., Escott: "The present school Act I find is decidedly better than any other heretofore, and will calculated to give education to a certain class who had been heretofore deprived of it on account of poverty or limited circumstances: I mean in the privilege or choice of free schools, which increase beyond the most sanguine expectations. I find where they are established the school houses are filling up."

Hugh R. McGillis, Esq., Cornwall: "The frequent changes in the school Act did not tend to benefit the establishment of good schools in many parts up to this year; but now the people begin to understand the law better. It cannot be surpassed if properly acted upon. I cannot but admire the skill and talent that have been displayed in framing the new school Act. I was myself a trustee from 1843 up to last year, and it actually did bid me defiance to have a good school established upon anything like a permanent footing until the new Act passed. I undertook the office of superintendent with no other view than to reconcile parties formerly at variance, and I have the satisfaction to state that I succeeded far beyond my sanguine expectations."

ON SOME OF THE COLLATERAL ADVANTAGES WHICH MAY BE DERIVED FROM A WELL-ORGANIZED SYSTEM OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

[COMMUNICATED.]

The special object of school instruction is to prepare individuals for the duties of after life. The annual sums devoted to this purpose, by those nations whose general progress is at all commensurate with that of the age, forms a very important item of expenditure. In Upper Canada, the disbursements last year, on account of education, could not have been less than eight hundred thousand dollars, or at the rate of about one dollar for each inhabitant. If we suppose, that throughout the United States and British America, the annual outlay for the same purpose averages one dollar per head, we shall have a sum total of twenty-three million dollars expended in 1850, on account of education alone. It is highly probable that this sum does not represent the actual outlay, it is nevertheless sufficiently indicative of the importance attached to education, and of the great care which should be devoted to all disbursments for that purpose, in order that the greatest amount of available good may be derived from them. The public at large take little interest in the method and subjects of instruction, which obtain in private schools and colleges, as long as they are not directly opposed to morality and good government. With state or public schools, the case is widely different. The public have a direct interest in what they assist so materially in establishing and maintaining. Every man wishes to get a dollar's worth for the dollar he expends. In past days of obsolete legislation, it was not the custom for men holding official stations, to give to the world the details of the expenditure of the moneys committed to their charge. Now, however, every man that is taxed thinks he has a right to know how the general funds to which he contributes are expended; and he also demands as a right, that all disbursments of public money shall be made in such a manner, as will most conduce to the good of society. The collateral advantages which may be made to flow from a well-organized system of public instruction, are many in number, and of vast importance to the country in which such a system obtains. As yet, these collateral advantages have been greatly neglected, even when a general system of school organization and government have been established for years. The State of New York set the example of forming her numerous academies into an association for the advancement of science and general knowledge, as early as the year 1825. She has greatly extended and improved her system since 1849, as will be shown in the sequel. In 1847, Germany, and especially Prussia, re-modelled an organization of the same character, which had been in existence for many years. France and Ireland have not as yet taken advantage of their extensive machinery for the acquirement of additional knowledge; and England has no system of public instruction on which she can engraft a simple, popular, and yet highly advantageous scheme, for advancing certain departments of science, which require simultaneous observations to be carried on over a wide extent of country. We propose now to give a brief description of these adjuncts to a system of public instruction, for the purpose of promoting scientific enquiry, and making positive advances in knowledge. We shall take for our illustration the method adopted and the results attained in the State of New York. It will be sufficient for our present purpose to remark, that a large number of academies and colleges scattered over the whole of the State, are subject, either voluntarily, or by the act of their incorporation, to the visitation of the regents of the university. When any academy places itself under the visitation of the regents, it becomes intitled to a distributive share of certain moneys granted to academics for special purposes. A

very prominent object with the regents, is the collection of a great variety of scientific information, which would otherwise be lost to the world, or not be obtained without an extraordinary expenditure of time and capital. The number of academies, grammar schools, and colleges, which now report to the regents, is upwards of one hundred and fifty. They are distributed throughout the state; and in their annual report, besides indicating their financial condition, many of them forward the results of simultaneous observations in the various departments of meteorology, together with occasional descriptions of the botanical, zoological, physical, and geological characters of that part of the country in which they happen to be situnted. In order that the observations thus made might have a scientific value, the regents, in 1825, issued a printed set of instructions for the general guidance of the observers. On receiving the annual report of each academy, the mass of observations are reduced and tabulated by competent persons, and printed by order of the regents in their annual report to the legislature. The result of this simple and inexpensive plan has been the collection and arrangement of a vast multitude of interesting facts and observations of great value to science, which could not otherwise have been obtained. Among these additions to knowledge thus received and recorded, we mention the following as indicative of their nature and value : 1st. The annual and monthly means of temperature at each academy.

2nd. The direction of the wind, and the number of clear and cloudy days.

3rd. The early frosts in autumn and the last frosts in spring. 4th. The monthly and annual falls of rain and snow.

5th. The general progress of vegetation-as the blossoming of fruit trees, the commencement of hay, wheat, &c., harvests--the ripening of fruit, &c.

6th. The appearance of birds of passage, reptiles, insects, &c. 7th. Atmospheric phenomens, such as auroras, haloes, zodiacal light, meteors, &c.

8th. Opening and closing of rivers, lakes, canals, &c.

9th. Progress and direction of storms. 10th. Appearance of rust, mildew, &c.

11th. Appearance of peculiar insects, destructive to vegetation, as caterpillars, locusts, grubs, &c.

12th. Local peculiarities in climate, temperature of wells, lakes and springs.

13th. Appearance of epidemic and endemic diseases. 14th. Scientific communications on various subjects.

It will be seen from the perusal of the foregoing list, that a large amount of valuable information can be obtained at a trifling expense. For the last twenty-five years, the regents of the university have been giving to the public the trustworthy observations made at the academy's (about 40 in number) reporting to them. This system has been approved and lauded by the most eminent scientific men of the day; "they are often quoted with high commendation in Europe" (Memorial from the American Agricultural Association to the Regents of the University of the State of New York). In 1837, the legislature of the State of Pennsylvania appropriated four thousand dollars for the advancement of meteorology; out of this sum various instruments were purchased for each county in the state.

We shall conclude with an extract from the fourth annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institute, for the year 1849, which will serve to show what is now being done for the cause of science, and how far colleges, academies and grammar schools may be instrumental in swelling positive additions to knowledge.

"In order to extend the usefulness of this (meteorological) system, the regents of the university have lately resolved to reorganize the whole, and to supply the observers with accurate and well compared instruments........ They have adopted the same system and instruments as those of the Smithsonian Institute, (an institution we propose to describe in the next number), and have agreed to co-operate fully with us in the observation of the general and particular phenomena of meteorology."

The instruments now proposed to be distributed to the academies and other stations, are:

A standard thermometer; two self-registering thermometers; a wet bulb thermometer; a barometer; a rain and snow guage; a wind vane.

[OFFICIAL.]

Circular to the Clerk of each County or Union of Counties in U. C. EDUCATION OFFICE, Toronto, 4th March, 1851.

SIR, I have the honour to state, that the Local Superintendents for the Townships named in the annexed list have omitted to transmit to this Office their Annual Report for 1850, as required by the 10th clause of the 31st section of the school Act.

These local school officers having received their appointment from the Council of which you are Clerk, I have deemed it more appropriate to call their attention to the omission through you.

It is of the utmost importance that the annual school returns for 1850 should reach this office previously to making the apportionment of the Legislative school grant to the several incorporated villages, townships, towns, cities and counties in Upper Canada for the current year; as this department can have no other means of ascertaining how far the general terms prescribed by the Legislature, as a condition of receiving a portion of the school fund, have been complied with on the part of the school authorities of each school section in Upper Canada.

It is also from these annual reports, in connexion with the certified abstract of the County auditors' Report (so far as it relates to the school moneys of the county) that this department can judge to what extent the positive enactments contained in the following clauses and sections of the school law have been observed and acted upon by the Municipal Council of each county throughout Upper Canada, during the past year :-

XXVII. And be it enacted, that it shall be the duty of the Municipal Council of each County:

Fourthly. To see that sufficient security be given by all officers of such Council to whom school moneys shall be entrusted; to see that no deduction be made from the school fund by the county Treasurer or sub-trea surer, for the receipt and payment of School moneys; to appoint, if it shall judge expedient, one or more sub-treasurers of school moneys, for one or more townships of such county: Provided always, that each such sub-treasurer shall be subject to the same responsibilities and obligations in respect to the accounting for school moneys and the payment of lawful orders for such moneys. giver by any local superintendent within the parts of the county for which he is appointed sub-treasurer, as are imposed by this Act upon each county treasurer, in respect to the paying and accounting for School moneys.

XL. And be it enacted, That the sum of money apportioned annually by the Chief Superintendent of Schools to each county, township, city, town or village, and at least an equal sum raised annually by local assessment, shall constitute the common school fund of such county, township, city, town, or village, and shall be expended for no other purpose than that of paying the salaries of qualified teachers of common schools: Provided always, that no county, city, town or village, shall be entitled to a share of the Legislative school grant without raising by assessment, a sum at least equal (clear of all charges for collection) to the share of the said school grant apportioned to it and provided also, that should the municipal corporation of any county, city, town or village, raise in any one year a less sum than that apportioned to it out of the legislative school grant, the Chief Superintendent of Schools shall deduct a sum equal to the deficiency, from the apportionment to such county, city, town or village, in the following year.

XLV. And be it enacted, That no part of the salaries of the Chief or local Superintendents of Schools, nor of any other persons employed, or expenses incurred, in the execution of this Act, shall be paid out of the common school fund, which shall, wholly and without diminution, be expended in the payment of teachers' salaries as herein before provided.

The following clauses of the 27th section of the School Act refer to the duty of each county Clerk, in transmitting certain items of important information to this office. As several of those officers have omitted to transmit the information required, I fear the clauses referred to have escaped their notice.

XXVII. And be it enacted, That it shall be the duty of each Municipal Council of each County:

Fifthly. To appoint annually, or oftener, Auditors, whose duty it shall be to audit the accounts of the county Treasurer and other officers to whom school moneys shall have been intrusted, and report to such Council; and the county Clerk shall transmit to the Chief Superintendent of Schools, on or before the first day of March in each year, a certified copy of the abstract of such report, and also give any explanations relating thereto, as far as he is able, which may be required by the Chief Superintendent.-Thirdly And provided also, that the county Clerk shall forthwith notify the Chief Superintendent of Schools of the appointment and Post Office] address of each such local superintendent, and of the county Treasurer: and shall likewise furnish him with a copy of all proceedings of such Council, relating to school assessments and other educational matters.

*

Educational Intelligence.

64

CANADA.

Items.-The contracts for the erection of the buildings for the new Normal and Model Schools and Educational Department of Upper Canada, and also for "Trinity College, Church University," have just been given out. Ground on both sites has been "broken," and the buildings will proceed rapidly to completion.-A meeting, "one of the most important," says the Watchman, "that was ever held in Port Hope, regarding education, was recently held in that town for the purpose of rendering the system in operation more effective. Several resolutions were passed one advocating the "establishment of one school, having departments properly classified, and teachers sufficient to furnish education for all the children in the town.". -An active teachers' institute has been established in one of the school circuits of the county of Essex; the Rev. F. Mack, director. [See vol. iii, J. of Ed., p. 53).—A meeting has been held in Perth, for the purpose of taking steps to unite the Common Schools with the Grammar School of that town.-A correspondent of the Hamilton Spectator remarks that in the counties of Huron and Perth, the subject of education receives much attention from the new settlers. The persons arrested as being the ringleaders of the school riots at Three Rivers, have been tried and found guilty.The Examiner says, that several of the law students in Toronto have abandoned the profession, and betaken themselves to mercantile pursuits.--The Dumfries Teachers' Association, at a recent meeting, says a local paper, "agreed to petition the municipal councils of Dumfries, Paris, and Galt, for money to purchase prizes, to be awarded at a public examination of all the schools, at some central place, to the best scholars attending any school within these and the adjoining municipalities. This would be the beginning of a great educational world's fair in this quarter, and the idea deserves especial favour."--The following "notice" has just been issued: Arrangements having now been made to open "Trinity College-Church University"-for the business of instruction, on the first of October next; information is hereby given, to all whom it may concern, that Grammar Schools in any part of Upper Canada, will be received into union with the College, upon application to the Council." [The conditions are omitted).At a recent meeting of the Teachers' Institute, county of Welland, the President delivered an "appropriate address, advocating the propriety of such an association, explaining the principles upon which it is to be conducted; and likewise beautifully pourtraying the great benefit it will prove both to the instructor and pupil."—————— An effort is being made to erect a new and superior grammar school-house at Picton.

Progress of Education in the township of Walsingham.—An intelligent trustee writes as follows to the Long Point Advocate:-At the commencement of last year, the number of sections was eleven. During the present year five new sections have been formed in portions of the township where no public means of instruction previously existed. The teachers now employed are well qualified; only one of the third class, three of the first, the rest second class teachers. The schools are now well organized: the average salary paid to male teachers is £5 10s. per month. In eight of the schools now in operation, all of the common branches are thoroughly taught. Geometry is taught in two, and algebra in four, together with other branches; and many lads and young men, as well as girls and young ladies, are distinguishing themselves in the above branches. It is highly gratifying to observe the interest felt at present in the education of the youth of our township; and our worthy local superintendent, who has proved himself to be a warm friend of education, announced the intention of holding a school convention in March, when the scholars of all the schools, together with the teachers, trustees, and other friends of education, will be respectfully solicited to attend. The several schools will undergo an examination, and scholars will be allowed to compete with each other for prizes. The scholars for competition will be classified according to their ages. The prizes will extend to first, second and third best in each branch, and will consist of well selected books, the means to obtain which are being raised by subscription.

Permanent School Fund.-Mr. Sheriff Conger, of Peterboro', has lately propounded a scheme for the disposal of the public lands. He says, "The plan I have to suggest, is-that the Government should dispose of all waste, or unsold lands of the Crown, to the several County Councils, where such lands may lie, at a nominal price of say 6d. or 1s. per acre: payment for the same to be made by the Councils in debentures bearing interest, and redeemable in 30 years. The fund so created to be applied towards the establishment of a permanent "Common School" fund. The conditions of the sale to the Counties to be-that these lands shall be by them re-sold, at a low price, varying from 2s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. per acre, according to value,-and on time if the purchasers require it, to actual settlers

only. The entire proceeds of such sales, after providing for the payment of the interest upon the purchase, and any incidental expenses to be anticipated by debentures, and laid out in making roads thereto. The advantages of the scheme are, I conceive :-1st. The making of good roads throughout the most remote parts of your several counties. 2ndly. The immediate and consequent settlement of the same, and--3rdly. The creation of a permanent common school fund; three items of vital importance to the people of this Province, and if attainable, as I contend they are, and that too. without creating one shilling of additional tax, would be productive of incalculable good. Without roads and suitable means of communication, no country can very speedily be settled; and without schools, no people are likely to become intelligent, great or prosperous.

The Horrors of a Free Education.-It is astonishing how some men hold out against the certain advance of the age in every kind of improvement. The Hamilton (Canada) Spectator has met with the rarest specimen of this class of obstinate holdfasts that we have yet heard of. He claims to be a Westminster farmer ;” is mortally--we fear-grieved with that indefatigable promoter of free education in the Canadas, the Rev. Dr. Ryerson, and thus depicts the horrible results of free education upon the children of poor men :-" Educating their childer is a reddy way to increace drunkenness and idleness, they will turn about and say, o we are master of you we make you pay for our childer and we Can Crowse about," a proceeding, which, he savs, is "Robbing peter to pay poal is an in Justice and is Built upon a sandy foundation it Cannot stand, and if it is permitted to go on and it Comes to a faal great will be the faal of it."-He concludes a somewhat long communication by requesting the editor to insert it in a Conspicous place in his wide serQulated paper."-When that man dies, his friends should open a negotiation with Barnum, for the sale of his literary effects.-[New York Commercial Advertiser.

The Diffusion of General Knowledge.-A correspondent of the Norfolk Messenger remarks :-"Again, if we look at education, an interesting subject presents itself to the mind. What exertions are now made for the cause of education, and indeed there should be; for the next generation will require additional learning than that with which we are blessed with at present. Some complain of the expense of education, and rather than spend a few dollars in educating their children, they will spend it in dress, in luxury, and in vice. We should consider that 'tis education that forms the common mind,' and let us rather sacrifice needless self-indulgence than neglect the education of our children. The time is not far distant when the mechanic, the farmer, and the labourer will have an education, and when the lawyer and all the various professions will not be able to impose the mysteries of technicality to such a lamentable extent. Law will be plain and easy to be understood, medicine will lose its bewildering, heart-aching, mysterious, high-sounding, and unnecessary names, and when purity, love, fidelity, and industry, will be esteemed and practiced by all classes in society."

Commission of Inquiry, Toronto University.-The following “circular" has been issued by the Commission of Visitation of the Toronto University" Sir,-Her Majesty's Commissioners for the University of Toronto, being charged with the duty of reporting upon the various subjects specified in an Ao passed in the twelfth year of Her Majesty's reign, chap. 82, are desirous of availing themselves of the information of those, whose experience and position, as well as acquaintance with the wants and wishes of the people of the Province generally, entitle their opinion to public confidence. Although the Commissioners are anxious to have the benefit of your advice, communicated in such a manner as may seem to yourself best calculated to do justice to your views, they will feel particularly obliged by being favoured with your opinion on the following points, which have already engaged their anxious attention:--1. The expediency of reducing the amount of fee at present charged. 2. The expediency of limiting the compulsory attendance of students upon the university lectures to two terms in each year, instead of being extended, as at present, to three terms. In this way, compulsory residence at the seat of university would be reduced to six months (say from November to May) in each year, while the attention of the absent, to the subjects of the third term, might be secured by requiring them to undergo an examination ? 3. Whether, under the present system, or in the event of your concurring in the changes suggested in the last query, the course for the degree of B.A. should be extended to four years, or should be limited, as at present, to three years? 4. The expediency of re-arranging the course of instruction at present pursued; of altering the principles upon which degrees are conconferred, and rendering them real tests of merit of so regulating the studies of the university, as to render them at some period of the course, more directly subservient to the future pursuits of the students? 5. The best means of rendering the scholarships, authorized by the above Act, available for the purposes contemplated: the regulations which you would suggest as to the mode of clection; the period during which they should be