them up, although they are little more than half as extensive as those required by the State Superintendent of Schools in New York. Of course, it requires some labour to collect and compile information on any subject, and new forms have, doubtless, in some instances, embarassed parties not accustomed to fill up such reports.

The first results of the new forms of local reports and of the operations of the School Act, during the last year, which have come under my notice were stated by Mr. D'Everardo, to the Municipal Council of the Niagara District This statement is a model report of the kind; and the facts, which it contains, furnish an appropriate reply to the objections, which have been made to our present System of Schools. It appears from Mr. D'Evarardo's statistics, that, while there has been rather a decrease of children of school age in the Niagara District, there has been an increase of ten per cent, over the preceding year, in the time during which the schools have been kept open, and of eighteen per centum, in the attendance of children at the Schools. It is also worthy of remark, that there has not been a single complaint or appeal to the Education Office from the Niagara District, during the past year. The Council took great pains, on the New Act coming into operation, in organizing the School Sections, and selected a judicious and able Superintendent to carry it out. The difference in the operations of the system in the Niagara and some other Districts cannot arise from a difference in the law and instructions and forms, but must be owing to a difference in the indulgence of party feeling, in the knowledge and attention of Councillors in School matters, in the intelligence and public spirit of local School Officers and people.* We believe, that the annual reports for 1847, from other Districts will furnish results equally satisfactory with those stated by the Niagara District Superintendent. In the small District of Talbot, there was an increase of six per centum, in the School attendance of children for 1847 over 1846, and an increase of sixty per centum in the amount of school Rate Bill. The amount of Rate Bill paid in 1846, (independent of the Legislative Grant and District Council assessment,) was £556.8.5; in 1847, £892 18. 2; increase of Rate Bill in favour of 1847, £336 . 9 . 9.

In the Johnstown District, there is a decrease of twelve per centum in the number of Schools, (many sections having been enlarged ;) but an increase of thirteen per centum, in the school attendance of children, and of forty-two per centum, in the amount of school-Rate Bills. The amount of Rate-Bills in this District for 1846, (independent of the Legislative Grant and District Council Assessment,) was £1,520. 11. 3; for 1847, £2,141. 10.8; increase in favour of 1847, £620. 19. 44. The Rate-Bills and school attendance of children being voluntary in each section, indicate the real feeling of the people. In the Brock District, we perceive that the average salaries of Teachers for 1847, was from £50 to £80, and in the Wellington District. the Superintendent states the increase of children in attendance at the school in 1847 over that of 1846, to be upwards of one thousand.

Such are some of the gross results of the operations of the present School law of 1847, during the first year of its existence, with all the disadvantages of its newness and in the face of an opposition which has done all in its power, in different parts of the Province to make the law work as badly as possible, in the hope of getting it abolished. But, as all parties in the Legislature agreed in the passing of the law; so it is clear, the majority of all parties in the Country have acted in the same noble spirit in carrying it, into effect; and these unexpectedly early results must be grateful to the feelings of every true patriot.

*See examples of this spirit of hostility to the School Act of 1846, in Chapter XIII and XIX of the Seventh Volume of this History, as also in divisions III and IV of this Chapter.

CHAPTER V.

EDUCATIONAL PROCEEDINGS OF VARIOUS MUNICIPAL COUNCILS.

I.

EDUCATIONAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOME DISTRICT MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The following is a copy of the Report of the Standing Committee of the Home District Council on matters suggested in the Circular of the Chief Superintendent of Education of the 14th of January, 1848, addressed to the Warden and referred to the Education Committee for report thereon; also on the proposal to support the Schools by an assessment tax on property :

The standing Committee on Education have had under their serious consideration, the various matters alluded to in the Circular Letter of the Chief Superintendent of Common Schools.*

The inconvenience, embarrassment and trouble arising from alterations in the boundaries of School Sections, taking effect at any other period than the commencement of a year is so manifest, that your Committee have felt it necessary to draft a By-Law for its prevention, Your Committee also recommend. that, for the future, in ordering assessments for the erection of School Houses, the locality of the School House proposed to be erected should be designated in the By-law, authorizing such assessment.

OBJECTION TO AN ASSESSMENT UPON PROPERTY BY SCHOOL TRUSTEES.

The most important question, however, in the opinion of your Committee is, that which arises from the plan proposed in the Chief Superintendent's Circular, above alluded to, of supporting Common School Education according to a rate upon property,--that is by empowering the Trustees to levy a Rate on the assessable property of all residents in their School Sections, instead of confining the charge (by Rate Bill) to the Parents, or Guardians, of the children in attendance at the Schools. The amount of money raised by School Rate Bill in 1845 and 1846, as appears by the Chief Superintendent's Common School Report for that year, was £5,366 2s. 6d.

Your Committee are not prepared to recommend the raising of so large a sum by general assessment; neither can the Council confer the power on Trustees, to enable them to levy by a rate on all the property in a School section, but the course your Committee deem advisable to pursue is, to declare the willingness of the Council, the assess the resident Inhabitants of any School Section for the payment of the Teacher's salary, etcetera, whenever an application for that purpose shall be made by the Trustees, stating, such to be the desire of a majority of the Inhabitants in the School Section.

II. EDUCATIONAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE GORE DISTRICT COUNCIL.

The Warden, in his Address to the Council in February, 1848, said:

I have received from the Chief Superintendent of Education, a Circular, dated 14th of January last, adverting to several subjects of great practical importance to Common Schools, to which I trust you will give candid and careful attention. . .

EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE GORE DISTRICT COMMITTEE OF EDUCATION.

Your Committee having received the Circular of the Chief Superintendent, beg leave to recommend that each Councillor give it a careful reading, and that the Warden should be authorized to order, at the expense of the District, a sufficient number of copies of the Journal of Education, to place a copy of the first number in the hands of the Trustees of each School Section in this District, with a view of allowing them to subscribe for the same, should they think proper.

A

History.

copy of this Circular is printed on pages 214-218 of the Seventh Volume of this Documentary

At the following Meeting of the Gore District Council, the Warden said :The District Superintendent of Common Schools, has furnished me with a statement of the Government Grant, for the support of Common Schools, for this year, (1848), amounting to £1,434, 13s. 4d., being £279, 6s. d. less than we received last year. I would just state, that the sum, raised under By-Law 201, for the support of these Schools for the year 1848, amounts to £2,382, 8 s. 6 d., being an excess of the Government appropriation of £847, 15s. 2d. It will be for you to consider, whether it would not be better, in levying taxes for this purpose, to confine ourselves, as nearly as possible, to the exact amount of the Provincial Grant."

This part of our duties is, indeed, sometimes very arduous and unpleasant, yet we must not shrink from the task. I am certain, that we, as a body, can confer no greater benefits upon our District, nor can we do more to increase its future prosperity, than by doing all in our respective spheres, to improve our Common Schools, and to promote Common School Education. I know much will rest with the people themselves, and sincerely hope, that the inhabitants of this, in other respects prosperous, District, will cheerfully co-operate in such a great work, and cordially unite with those, whose more immediate duty it is, to openly advocate and further the cause of Education

I desire to lay before you, a Circular, I have just received from the Chief Superintendent, on this subject."

REPORT OF THE GORE DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT TO THE COUNCIL.

As to the general state of the Schools and Education in the District of Gore, it is much the same as it was twelve months ago. Some Schools made a considerable advance last year, but others have rather fallen off. For these, however, as I formerly stated, I am not responsible, as unqualified Teachees were permitted to labour in them by other authority than mine. sorry to say that a want of unanimity among the people still exists in some School Sections, and wherever that prevails it produces the most baneful effects on education.

I am

And it not unfrequently happens that mere caprice with regard to a Teachers, or Trustees, will set those whose rule of action is their own feeling actively to work to run down the Teacher, or the School, without ever considering what a dreadful injury they are inflicting on the young. Of this, I had an instance last week. One of the best qualified Teachers in the District was to be condemned for not doing his duty while it was quite evident, from the advanced state of the scholors under his care, that the accusers were unjust and had made no effort to ascertain the truth.

In order to stir up and cherish a better state of feeling, and to infuse more correct ideas on the subject of education, I had determined to undertake a course of lecturing through the different Townships along with my School visitations, but owing to the state of the weather, it was impossible. I purpose still to engage in it, however, as soon as circumstances will permit. HAMILTON, February, 1848. P. THORNTON, District School Superintendent.

III. EDUCATIONAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEWCASTLE DISTRICT COUNCIL.

The Warden, in his Address to the Council, at the November Session, said :— I have received from the Clerk of the Council of the Bathurst District, a printed copy of a Petition presented by that Body to the Legislature, together with a Resolution of the Council, stating that with reference to the Circular letter from me, as Warden, the said Address expressed the views of that Council on the subject of the Common School System of Upper Canada. As it seems to be very generally acknowledged, that the present School Act requires to be considerably ammended and altered, and as the Provincial Parliament will probably meet before the next sitting of the Council, you may perhaps deem it advisable again to petition the Legislature on the subject, and to point out such defects as have been brought to our notice, in carrying out the provisions of the law as it now stands :

PETITION ON SCHOOL LAW AMENDMENT, FROM THE NEWCASTLE DISTRICT COUNCIL.

During the Sessions of the Newcastle District Council it was moved by Mr. Boucher, seconded by Mr. Morrow, that the following Councillors do compose the Special Committee to draw up a Petition of the Legislature on the subject of Common School Act, viz :-Messieurs Reid, Boulton and Morrow. (Carried.)

* A copy of this Circular is printed on pages 214-218 of the Seventh Volume of this History.

Subsequently Mr. Boucher from the Committee, brought in the form of a Petition to the Legislature, praying for certain amendments in the present School Act (of 1846); it was then read and adopted.

The following Report also of the Standing Committee on Schools, was adopted by the Council:

The printed Circular from the Reverend Doctor Ryerson, on the subject of ordering a number of copies of the Journal of Education was considered, and the Committee recommended to the consideration of the whole Council.

Your Committee, however, cannot recommend that the "Journal of Education" should be supplied to the different School Sections in this District, as suggested in the Circular Letter of of the Chief Superintendent of Education, dated the 28th of September last.

IV. EDUCATIONAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIAGARA DISTRICT COUNCIL.

The Education Committee of the Council reported as follows:-Your Committee have had under consideration the Circular of the Reverend Doctor Ryerson, Chief Superintendent of Schools, dated 28th September, 1848, in which he purposes to furnish this Council with copies of the "Journal of Education" for the Schools in the District at a specific rate.

With reference to this proposal, your Committee beg leave respectfully to state that in their opinion the performance of the onerous and important duties of School Trustees may be greatly facilitated by placing in their hands a work of the kind alluded to, so that a greater degree of uniformity in their action may be secured thereby, and that it will be not too great a return for the time and trouble which they are required to bestow upon the Schools under their charge without remuneration.

Your Committee, therefore, respectfully recommend that your honourable Council supply to each Board of School Trustees in the District for the year 1849, a copy of the "Journal of Education" for the year last named, and that the subscription price be paid out of the funds of the Niagara District, in conformity with the Resolution herewith submitted.

REPORT TO THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

The past year having been the first year of the operation of the existing School law, it is scarcely prudent to venture an opinion as to its practical working.

It may be remarked, however, that the foregoing statistics, compiled from the official reports of School Trustees, compare very favourably with the returns of 1846.

It will be seen that the increase in the number of the Public Schools of this District over the year 1846, was in the ratio of 1 per cent. ; the increase in the number of months taught by qualified teachers was scarcely 10 per cent., and the increase in the number of children attending said schools was 18 per cent., while at the same time the returns exhibit the remarkable fact of a decrease in the population of the school age in the District of 59.

I can not close this report without remarking that the several Boards of School Trustees have invariably given evidence of a strong desire to discharge their various and onerous duties with efficiency and that their Annual School Reports, though in a form entirely new to them, have, with few exceptions, been made up with accuracy, and forwarded with promptness.

Hoping that this brief Report may be found of some value to the Municipal Council, by enabling that body in future years to determine the comparative condition of the Public and Private Schools in the District and the progress of Education therein.

NIAGARA, February, 1848.

D. D'EVERARDO, District School Superintendent.

V. EDUCATIONAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE TORONTO CITY COUNCIL, 1848.

I have already, in Chapters XIII and XIV of the preceding Volume of this ́ History, referred to the strong conflict of opinion which existed among the various Municipal Councils in regard to the School Acts of 1846 and 1847. Some of the leading ones, such as the Home, Gore and Newcastle District Councils took active official steps and memorialised the Legislature in opposition to these Acts, while the Colborne, Niagara and Midland District Councils were quite as favourably This Circular will be found in pages 214-218 of the Seventh Volume of this Documentary History.

disposed to give these Acts a fair trial. The Colborne Municipal District, under the direction, as Warden, of the Father of Judge Benson of Port Hope, prepared and published a most able and elaborate defence of these School Acts.*

None, however, of the Municipal Councils which had taken part in opposition to the School Acts of the day went so far as to place obstacles in the way of their operation in their respective Districts. It was reserved, however, for the City of Toronto to prove an exception to this rule. For it took the most effective means, in 1848, of closing up the Schools of the City, by refusing to raise the funds necessary for their maintenance, as requested by the Board of School Trustees.

The peculiar circumstances, connected with this singular and unusual episode, were so fully reported at the time, that I have been enabled to transfer to the pages of this Documentary History copies of such explanatory official papers on the subject, as give sufficient details of this peculiar case.

There was only one other example of the refusal, for some years, of a Municipality-that of Richmond, in the County of Carleton,—to avail itself of the advantages of the School law, in providing, by its machinery, financial means for the education of the children of the locality.

The position taken by the Toronto City Council in 1848 was, that it was unjust to the ratepayers to compel them to pay taxes for the support of Schools, of which they did not avail themselves, and thus have to "pay for the education of other peoples' children." This view was also strongly endorsed by the Honourable Robert Spence and others. See pages 61-63 of this Volume.

This state of feeling was rife in Upper Canada for many years, and Trustees' Rate Bills, (or "School fees,") were not finally abolished by law until 1871. In 1850, the Legislature refused to fully assent to the principle of "Free Schools," but authorized the Ratepayers to dispense with fees, and to sanction, at their Annual Meetings, a rate upon property for such sums as the rural School Trustees might require for the maintenance of their Schools. This state of things continued, as I have stated, until 1871, when the Schools were made free by Statute. As to the City of Toronto case of 1848, the following are the official documents connected with it,-showing what were the circumstances which led to the closing of the City Schools during that year:

After the passage, in 1847,† of the Common School Act for Cities and Towns in Upper Canada, the Board of Trustees for the City of Toronto sent in to the Council of that City an Estimate for the sum of £2,009. 17. 7, required by the Board to maintain the Schools of the City, for the year 1848. The Estimate was as follows:

ESTIMATE OF THE CITY OF TORONTO BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES FOR 1848.

The following is an Estimate of the amount of money required by the Board of Trustees for the current year, (1848, ) for paying the Salaries of Teachers, and for other School purposes, as

* Printed on pages 116-118 of the Seventh Volume of this Documentary History.

+ This Act is printed on pages 26-28 of the same Seventh Volume.