SCHOOL

VISITORS’

R E PO RT.

“

on this topic, with the view of establishing harmony, by assiniilating on the principle ofequality, the course and terms of instruction, and to obviate the dis- crepancy and disparity, Members of the Board agreed that the Summar vacation, this Season, would befour weeks, from the Stli July to the 8th of August. I informed the Teachers of this provisional order, which included the Normal School.

Miss Davis asked permission to close her School a week earlier, but promised to observe the limits prescribed, in respect to tliefour weeks.

The other Teachers complied with the order, ex- cept Mr. R. McNeill, who closed his on the 6th instant. He does not teach on Saturdays, consider-

ing himself entitled to eXemption granted to the Grammar and the Normal Schools.

Some of the other schools are open on alternate Saturdays.

Mr. \Vebster says that the terms of the Normal:

School have been defined by a previous order oftlie' Board.

Miss McKinnon does not teach on Saturdays.

It is desirable that this irregularity would be im-. mediater rectified, to avoid confusion and con- troversy.

All of which is respectfully submitted by

JOHN AR BUCKLE, School Visitor.

8th July, 1864.

l adequate

TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION; GENTLEMEN ;

I respectfully submit the accompanying docu- ments Comprising Sunin‘iarised Statistics of the School Districts in the Eastern Section, on a scale adapted to the general course on the Registers, With an appendix, giving a condensed Pi'eCis of ex- aminations.

I presume that reference in detail to the manner in which the Orders of the Board have been carried out with respect to the selection of Candidates for the Scholarships; the duration of the Midsummer Holidays in the City Districts; the Vacations on alternate Saturdays in all Districts; the establish- ment ofGrainmar Schools, by merging two Districts into one; the removal of old School-houses to new sites, together with other subjects, would be now unnecessary recapitulation of the Reports then sub- mitted.

I think that the progress of Education is, on the whole, Very satisfactory : the improvement in Spell- ing, Reading and \Vriting, is particularly gratify- ing; likewise in discipline and method.

As a class, the Teachers deserve praise for zeal and faithfulness; but there are a few who ought never to have been Sclioolmasters. Competent Teachers expect, and they are entitled to remuneration to their services ; and I regret to state that the late amendment of the Statute, has disheartened all of them. Few received, in reality, the subsidy to compensate for the reduction of their salaries from Government; and Trustees as well as Teachers are clamorous fora remedy, as the amend- ment failed in its practical workincr.

Old School-houses are disappearing before more commodious ones.

Several new Districts have been established, and aid has been granted by Government to localities that petitioned for such as the law provides.

In weak settlements, such as Stanhope, in this County; the Union Road, in King’s, and other places, to maintain “the average,” is difficult; how- ever, the irregular attendance is generally attribut- able to the negligence or indifference of parents.

I, am, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, _

JOIIN ARBUCKLE, School Visitor. 30th March, 1865.