ee

i 3)

OOLONIAL PARLIAMENT.

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ww#AnY OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE

HaUSE OF ASSEMBLY Tuvrspay, May 2. Mr. Tlowlan presented a petition Suenstine Calaghen and others, Mer- wots. and other inhabithants of Cascu mpec, geevinc ier af amendment in tie Snail ; vt Act

‘ion My. Howlan, in presenting the above ntition, explained that petitioners rayed oe a6 amendment to the law ry lating es the reeorery of Small Debts, by providing, aces of appeal, that the Respondent as the appellant should be required to ve securitveiur the costs of the appx oe rs gileced that cases frequently occurred

where parties having unfounded clams went

+» lut®y anticipating that, rathei than incur custs of defence the defendant would appramize such chiims, If characters of vat cle were c om pelled to give security, + wre would be less litigation im the (vurts, le, therefore, ! yped the prayer ol u @ peti- » would receive the carelul considcration the Llouee Ordered, that suid petition he referred to Committee of the whole Liouse to-morrow.

Mtr. Rameny pretented a petition from iwers inh -bitants of Lot 10 and LI, praying foe the establishment of a new Post Vitce ; the prayer of W hich could not be entertained ait bad not Leen forwarded to the (uvern yaent, aceor {ur gy tw Statute.

jion. Attorney General presented to the }iguse several petitions, all praying for the pdablishment of Small Debt Courts, as fol- ws :—

Petition of M. Rowe and other inhabi- tants of Montague Bridge.

Patrick Doyle, and others, of South-west Settlements, Townshipe Nos. 26 and 27.

homes Caine, and other inhabitants of (Georgetown Road, Baldwin's Road, Sp rrow's iiewd, and the Barrens, King’s County.

Ordered, that said petitions be relerred to a Committee of thé whole Hoase to-morrow.

Tien. Leader of the Government presented to the house the Detailed Public Accounts ter the pasi year.

Ordered, that the mid Aeeounts be re-

ferred to the Special Com ittee eppointed to |

xamine the same, and report thereon.

the House went into Committee to take into

ynsideration the expediency of amending the law relating to Education. Mr. George s:nelair in the chair.

}on. Leader of the Government presented tg the Llowse several petitions from School Peachers, eettitig forth numerous gricvanecs vith which they are oppressed under the existing Education Law, and pray og the attention of the Liouse te the defects of the wiid law, and for a remedy of suc! griev- ances *

» Ordered, that said petitions be referred to the Committee of the whole Louse on the espediency of amending the Education Law.

Hon. Attorney General, in sabmit:ing the Resolations, widressed the Committee, re- viewing the principa? clauses tn the School vet whi -f had Hot given general satic faction.

Owing to the Tatencas of the present session, | it was Rot Tntended to enter fally into the | whole question. Tlie reperl of that clause

a the Act touching the payment ofa portion of the ex!ary of Teacliers by the people, was Joudly called fur, as contemplated by the Tesolution now before the Committee, The

ted sum thus provided was about 424.000, which would, on the payment of the whole of the Teacher's salaries from the ‘Mreagrry, be taken from the general revenue. ‘That change, howerer, could not very materi- ally effect the resoureés of the Colony for at leaet the first year. It was considered jast and proper tha® young mén, who liad just received license to teach, should be engaged in the business for some time before being placed on a level with old Teachers. A re- duetion of £5 a year for the first three years in the ealary of young Teachers, which with the fact that 5 months of the present Snaneial year would expire before the Bill would be ja operation, would leave the total additional eum that would he pard from the revenue at the end of this fifancial year £2,800, as the resalt of the change about to be introduced, ‘There would, in all probability, be less money expended for military purposes thie year then last. A revision oi Selool Dis- tricts, in some cases, would lessen the number vf Sehools, without endangering the ¢‘iciency of the Act. Ife believed that the country world sustain the change without injury to the Revenue; but if not, they would, in hia opinion, prefer an additional tax, rather he continue subject to the present mode of taxing themselves for the payment of Teach- ers. Asn méaiber of the Board fr matiy years, and in the couree of his profe: sion, he row tanny diicultics aris ng Irom the system at collecting a portion of the salary of Teach ete hy Qubseription. The most effieient and patiafactory method was that of pa: ing the whol: salary from the Treasury.

“Ton. J 4ader of the Covernmént— Net only the late but previous Governments had made alterations in the Free School Aec:, all of which tailed to give satisfaction. He believed the object of the amendment eompe!ling the

eople to contribute towards the payment of

Teachers” salaries, was to relieve the revenue; hat after the people had enjoyed the ad an- tages of Free Schools, it was a difficu!: matter to attempt any change in the system. Ile

tlien reviewed the general workin» of the |

Free School system, showing tie ¢:sadvan-

tages to Teachers, and the difficulties « X} eri- enced by Trusters, as the result of the amendment now about to be abolished. He commended the principle of paying Veachers exclusively from the Treasury, as the best,

get practical, and satisfactury thut could |

be adopted. Mr. Brecken would not sdmit that the

principle upon which the amendme tsought |

to berepenled was based, was wrung, sithough it had not worked satisfactory. if more wtringent means were adopted for the collec- tion of the amount necessary to be paid by the people, and the allowance from the Treasury withheld until ample proof of its collection was given, different resuli@ might have followed.

lion. Mr. Henderson eoncurted with the remark made by the hon. leader of the Gov- ernment, to the effect that it was bard to get the people to contribute towards the salary of the Teacher, after having it p eviously paid im full from the Treasury. [is own espericnes, &s a Trastee, afforded bia ample preof of the correctness ef that remork.

Mr Ifowatt said he would sepport the Hesolution under consideration ; the amend- nent in question bad proved a great failure. He alluded to an address of a late member +f that [louse to his constituents,’ previous ts the last general eleetion, if which it was tarde to appear shat the amendment, which had given such goneralidissatisfaction, would not have heen adup by the late Govern- meat had it not been for the supp et given ts that measure by him (Mr. Howatt) and the Lion. Mr. Laird. Such, however, was not the fact.

Mr. Reilly — Tont portion of Teachers salaries anpposed to be contributed by the ne , b# velieved was seldom paid. The ‘ewernment allowance wae all the ‘‘eache-s generally received. Ile favoured the prin- «ple of placing young teachers in a wh -rdi- wate position for a few years; it was Lut ri_bt tiat those who spent a yrent rtion of their hives in the profession should receive some extra compensativg- Toe general jestion jresente | many points deservin: ¢ nsidera- tion. The Pree S hobleystem inth : Colony wassupecior to any that obtained in the otber ‘ olonie-,and oar Youngs mén compare | fayor- «Vy io point.of nt and att:inments vith these of the sister Proviaces, ond even in the Great Repablic they occupied positions of equality. +4 os ‘

Lun, Mr. Dune “ rpreting whiel a

v

ry} ASN yi.

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Charlottetown, May 13, 1867.

| sary. He would favor any measure calculat-

ed to perfect the School Act, and to encourage parents to educate their children.

Mr. P. Sinclair said that Schoo! Teachers, Road Commissioners, and country officials generally were poorly paid, he would not say that the same temark would apply to officials in Charlottetown. He would be glad if the saleries of Teachers could be raised bat: it appeared that the present stite of the Re- venue would not warrant any very material ehange, beyond that contemplated by the Resolutions before the Committee. The clause compelling Teachers tu attest on oath to their quarterly returns, was too stringent and should be repealed.

Hon. Leader of the Opposition wel remem - hered when in the year 1852, as a member ot

the House of Assembly, he was appointed |

one of the special Committee who agreed to the Reporton which the Pree Education Aet was first founded, and trom that day tt!) the

present be never regretted the support he |

then gire on that question to the lion. Mr.

Coles ae Leader of the Government of that |

dey. Whatever differences »! opinion might exist on other questions on the floor af that tiouse, all should meet as patriota on the all important question of Education. lle spoke of the advantages of education to all classes, and alluded to several emineft persons in the pesent day, who had acquired distinguisk-

ed positions because of their learning, more |

than from any birth right inheritance. When

the Education Act was aliered in 1862, the | ’ then Government had no mtentiea to cripple

the system, but on the contrary to make it more effective hy getting the people to con- tribute towards the payment of Teachers salaries, and thus lead them to attend more

| closely to, the educational interests of their | children. It appeared however that Teach- ers and parents thought differently, and henee

the expediency of cancelling the amendment. lion Mr. Davies said he was picased to see that ‘hose who supported the obnoxious

| amendment, now about to be cancelled, had | seen the evil of their ways. The principle

of paving the Teachers direct from the Trea- sury was preferable to the difficult and im-

} practicable mode of collecting a portion from

the people, and paying the balance out of

the Kevenae of the Colony. The Pree School

system as at first enacter, extended the privi- leges of free Sehools to all classes irrespective

: a | of rank or condition. On motion of the Mon. Attorney General, |

AFTERNOON SESSION,

Tlouse »» Committee on the expediency of amending the law relating to Edueation.

Mr. Bell spoke of the ineonvenience to Teachers, arising from their having to attcst on oath to the average attendance at Schvols. Much indifference was manifested by many of the people, especially in Back Settlements, touching the attendance of their children at Sehoo', hence the necessity of adopting, as far as practicable, a cvercive system, in order to secure a more regular attendance at | Sehools. Ile eommented on the great bene- fits arising from the Free School system, and said he was not disposed to find fault with the late Goverpment for the amendment relative to the raising a portion of the salaries of Teachers by subseriptivn, as the principle of direct taxation was, by some, contended to be the most equitable. The machinery for the collecting of Small Debts was very complicated, and having to refer to that process for the securing of a portion of Teachers’ pay wax indeed very disagreeable and vexatious. ile would favor a different system for the inspection of Sebools than that which now obtained. The establishment of subordinate Boards of Edneation im each of the three Counties of the Island) whose duties it should be to inspect the Schools, and report on all matters relating to Educa- tion in their respective sections of the coun- try to a central Board at Charlottetown, would prove effective. Lie also alluded to the hardship of compelling Trustees to at- tend together befure a Magistrate for the pur of certifying to Teachers’ papers.

lion. Mr. Laird—On the principle that the state is bound to educate the people, the attendance at Schools should be compul- sory. If a Government be compelled to pay for Education, parents should, ow the same principle be compelled to send their children to School. That was a question @ith which, in his opinion, the Government, sooner or later, would have to grapple. He then en- larged on the necessity of educating all classes, irrespective of rank or condition. The application of machinery for lessening manual labor, in relation to agricultaral.and mechanieal parsuits, was becoming universal, hence the necessity of educating the laboring classes, that, by well regulated and cultiva- ted minds, they might be able properly to aptly and appreciate those inventions and improvements caleulated to improve their condition. Promotion by merit alone was the true principle, and the road. to fame should be free to all. The gilts of nature were not confined to the sons of those inhigh rank. ‘The child of the poor man frequently rose by his own merits to places of position and honor, to which, without edueation, be could never attain.

Mr. Cameron regretted that the lateness of the present Session would. net permit ofa more general. revision of the School Act. There were several very objectiontble clauses in that Act which should be repealed. | Compelling ‘Teachers to certify, on oath, to the correctness of their Journals, and also subjecting chem to |tes consequent upon the non-sttendance of sehulars, were matters which dewanded serious consider- | ation. Female Teachers should be. paid | in more equal proportion to Male Teachers

than they bad been. Their attendance at ' the Normal School, and the braaches which | they were required to teach were the same. | The provisions of the law ehould theretore be more cqually divided ; but as it was not | eontemplated at present to-enter fully into | the question, he would but express the great pleasure it gave him to support the Resolu tion under consideration. bavyng for its ob- | jeet the raising of Teachers from that de- grading position in which they had been placed by the unjust and deservedly unpopu- lar omendment ot the Jate Government.

llon. Mr. Henderson said that the principle acted wpon in regard to Peachers attesting on oath te the correctness of their journals, also applied to Road Overseers and other salaried | officers of the Government. It would be well | to dispense with that system if the morality | of the community would justify sueh a step. Bot if correctly informed, and that too from | the records of the Board of Education, repre- sentations bad been made to the Government that the law was evaded in regard to school attendance. Hence the adoption of that principle in the School Act. The principal ohject, relative to the amendment, for rais- ing a portion of the Teachers’ Salary by sul- scription, Was to secure, if 5 oasible, the more direct interest of parents in the education of their children, as well as the selief cf the Revenue, a large proportion of which had been spent in education lie was, however, prepared to admit that the amendment in question was unpopular, and he was prepared t) give his support to the Kesolution before the Committee. lion. Mr Colesagain explained the difference between ‘the Free School System of this Is- land and the System which obtained in the Province: of Nova a an a ap were bet partia! y Government, a parents had to pew tac in proportion to the number of their children attending school. Under the Free School System of this Cqlony, as at first i een stele solution conte ’ iid aga phiced, paid the whole of the Teachers’ éai- aries from the ‘Preasury, thereby enabling to send abi his children, regard-

the penal re ie ge ay ped i pa

be the best that

ers were but very madequately paid for their services. Although he was free te admit that ithe principle of raising a portion of the Salaries of Teachers from the people had not given general satisfaction, yet he would con- tend thatit was sound. Any boon conferred upon a community or an individual, without | personal efforts or cost, was seldom, if ever, | duly appreciated, The fact that the bencfits of a Free System of Edueation were not prized by the people, was evinced by the non- lattendance of children at schools, The im- mediate and no doubt unpleasant connection | which was necessarily caused between Teach- ers, and unwilling rate payers, under the | working pf the amendment now sought to be abolished, was no doubt injurious to the in- | terests of Education. He then ecommente i upon the advantages ot Edueation to all, in every walk of life, who, at the close of the | labors of the day, could enjoy that recreation, ‘during leisure hours, which wes imparted to the mind by learning Dr. Jenkins—To impart toe the youth of the Colony a sound practical education, and thereby prepare them to lay hold of the dif- ferent pursuits of life, was the bounden duty jof the Government, That higher object of moral and religious vulture, calculated te make communities virtuous and honorable, also required careful consideration, It the | Report which he held in his hand, ot the | Visitor of the Eastern Section of the country, | was to ferm a standard, the state of Educa- | tion must be ata very lowebb, That docu-

}ment was slovenly executed, and what the | author termed a Tabular Synopsis of Statis- | tics, was carelessly prepared; the spelling } was bad, and the writing not legible. Tle | money spent to procure such Reports as thas | might be appropriated to better purposes, ; ir. Prowse was glad to find that the Gov- ernment had at last laid hold of the question (of Education, which th y should have done | more fully than appeared from the Resolu- | tions subipitted. The want of interest teken |in sebools, under the Free System, was so great that it was with difliculty meetings for the appointment of Trustees, could be | raised. That apathy and carelessness induced | him to believe that the amcudmest, waking |it compulsory on the part of the people to ontritute a portion of the Teacher's salary, would be productive of goud results. It ap- peared, however, that to some extent, that experiment had proved a failure. Attesting to the correctness of School Journal on the part of Teachers, was, in his opinion, very | proper, but he considered that rendering it | imperative on Trustees to meet in presence of each other before a Magistrate, was un called for. Non-attendance at schools, in many cases, Was Owing to want of proper clothing aad other necessaries, and the prin- ciple of adopting a compulsory system would — to be approached with great caution. r. MeNeil] said that the amount required ander the present Act, to be subseribed by the people, was, in many cases, made up by few. liad not the law, when the Free Schao} system was first mtroduced, provided for the payment of the wh le of the teachers’ salary the case might be different ; but after that, the people felt it a greater hardship than ever to have to contribute towards the teach- ers’ pay. Many, especially in winter, are | not able to send their children to school. He would not therefore support a compulsory system.

Mr. Arsneaux—Teachers, holding licenses alike, was deserving of the same salary. Young men, just from the Normal Sehool, having obtained Jiecnse as Teachers from the Board of Education, were entitled to the same pay, and as competent to perform their duties as many old Teachers.

lion. Mr. Laird would suffer no wrong impression to go abroad relative to his re- marks on the question of Compulsory bduca- tion. That matter required to be earefully approached. The cireamstances of those who. might be unable to send their children to school would, doubtless, be considered.

lion. Mr. Calibeck read from Statistics of Canadian Sehools of Canada ‘in 1859, and said that, in comparing the salaries of teach- ers in that country at that time with those of the teaehers of this Iskind, he found they differed but very little. J+ was the duty of the State to educate the A large portion of the people could only afford toun- part to their children the ordinary branches of a sound and practical English education. It was, therefore, the more necessary to give them every facility for the acquirement of that inestiioable blessing. The meehanie and agriculouralist require a practical education, in erder to enable them to take their places and contend fur their rights in the various walks and pursuits of life. The parent who edueates-his child enters on bim that which is more enduring than geld or silver An eminent statesman said that, work upon mar- ble would perish; upon brass, time. would office; temples reared would erumble into dust; but.werk upon immertal mind weull engrave that which would brig)ten to all eternity.

lion. Mr. Ilowlam. read extracts from a report of Sehools in the State of Massachu- setis, United Statea, showing the method pursucd.in that country Le recommended the gradation system, and said, that tour Jidlerent classes would be preferable to two dassea, ‘Lhat would give Teachers of, high attainments advantages denied them under ur present system. It would also oper up a tnore general employment for Female teach - era. He then proceeded to explain the pria- ciples by which the system called the Model system of Education in the States was. con- ducted—as et. fort» ip the report befare him —and to which be directed the attertiun of }hon. Members. He contended for the prin- ciple of reward by merit, showing that sume Leachers were better qualified for the pro- fessign than others, and should be rewarded proportivnately. ‘Tbexe were those. »bo made teaching a business for life, others only used it as stepping stone to lead them to other employments. The question of Educa- tion. was of the greatest importance, and demanded the best attention of every lyver of his country.

Lhe ( baimwan then reported that the Com- mittee had come to three Resolutions. The same were then read from the (lerk’s Table and ure to the following effect, viz:

lst. ‘Jbat the salaries of the Teachers be paid im full out of the Treasury on the basis of the Salaries allowed by 26 Victoria, cap. 5, instead of partly by the Treasury and partly by the pecple. Teachers of each ¢laes, until they bave taught fur three yeare, shall receive Five pounds a year lees Salary than those who have teught fur upwards of that tine.

21. Tbat the paymen’ in full from the Treasury shall coumence from the end of the now current qrarcter of this engagement.

3d. That the average attendance of Schol- are shall be ealeulated at the end of each balf year, instead of at the end of each quar- ter, as now required under the said Act.

The said Resvlutions were severally agreed to, and a Committee appointed to prepare and present a bill in eecordanc? therewith. | Ordered that the Lon. Attorney General, | Hon, Mr. Calibeck and Hon. Mr. Davies be the said Committee. '

Mr. Prowse. asked if she Government in- tended to make provision for a wharf for the landing of a Steamer at Murray Harbor. Hon. Coser of the Government that he feared. owing to the large sum that such a work would require, the question could hardly be entertaiued this Session.

Hon. Mr. Kelly, Chairman of the Com- mittee to whom were referred petitions ak tog for the establishment of new Post Offices, presented to the House the report of said Committeo, which report was - w be caminitted to a Commnitien of the whule House on Saturday next.

Perpay, May 3,

Heuey it Gepsitien of Sngels. Were “Hi "General presented a bill to

omc eine Laon d-and:read, and ordered to be. read &