5. A Public Elementary School is one (1) In which the teaching reaches, fairly, the given Standards. (2) Which is always open to inspection by a Government officer appointed for the purpose. (3) Which is aided by grants of money annually voted by Parliament. (4) Which is open to every child, without distinction of creed.* • Every public elementary school shall be conducted in accordance with the following regulations (a copy of which regulations shall be conspicuously put up in every such school); namely, “(1.) It shall not be required, as a condition of any child being admitted into or continuing in the school, that he shall attend or abstain from attending any Sunday-school or any place of religious worship, or that he shall attend any religious observance or any instruction in religious subjects in the school or elsewhere, from which observance or instruction he may be withdrawn by his parent, or that he shall, if withdrawn by his parent, attend the school on any day exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which his parent belongs : "(2.) The time or times during which any religious observance is practised, or instruction in religious subjects is given at any meeting of the school shall be either at the beginning or at the end, or at the beginning and the end of such meeting, and shall be inserted in a time-table to be approved by the Education Department, and to be kept permanently and conspicuously affixed in every schoolroom; and any scholar may be withdrawn by his parent from such observance or instruction without forfeiting any of the other benefits of the school: "(3.) The school shall be open at all times to the inspection of any of Iler Majesty's inspectors, so, however, that it shall be no part of the duties of such inspector to inquire into any instruction in religious subjects given at such school, or to examine any scholar therein in religious knowledge, or in any religious subject or book. (Education Act, 1870, Sect. 7.) 6. Most of the older Public Elementary Schools are popularly known as National, British, Wesleyan, Catholic, &c., according to their former or present connection with religious or educational Societies.* The more modern schools are mostly connected with local School-boards, and partly supported by local rates. 7. In all these schools, the requirements, laws, organization, and arrangements are similar, differing only in details, and in the characteristics impressed upon them by local circumstances. 8. Every such school is under the care of a teacher, recognized as efficient by the Education Committee of the Privy Council. The head-teacher is assisted, according to the number of scholars, by one or more— (a) Monitors. (b) Pupil-Teachers. (c) Certificated Assistant-Teachers. 9. A MONITOR is usually one of the elder children of the school, selected by the head-teacher and approved by the Board of Managers and the Government Inspector. The Monitor assists in the work of the school, under the direction of the higher teachers, but may not be kept at such work for more than three hours per day. In return, he receives a small weekly stipend (arranged by the school-managers) and special instruction either during or after school-hours. He must have completed his twelfth year before the engagement begins. 10. The office is often a step to the position next above it * Whatever connection may now exist between the school and any such body, the "Conscience Clause" (Foot-note to Sec. 5) must be duly respected. L (that of Pupil-teacher), and the experience and training may be of great value to the would-be public teacher. But it is not a necessity for the attainment of that position. 11. Any person desirous of placing a boy or girl as Monitor should apply to the head teacher of the school wherein the engagement is desired. 12. PUPIL-TEACHERS are boys or girls engaged to serve in a school under the direction of a certificated teacher (either chief or assistant) and receiving special instruction out of schoolhours, as well as a small, gradually-rising salary. They must be at least fourteen years old at the time of commencing the "apprenticeship" (as it is usually called), and also pass a preliminary examination in elementary knowledge. 13. The length of the apprenticeship may vary from two to four years, according to the age of the Pupil-Teacher, his ability to pass the prescribed examinations, and the wish of the parties to the engagement. But the engagement may be ended at any time by six months' notice on either side, if a reason can be given satisfactory to the Committee of Council on Education. 14. Whatever the length of the engagement, it must be so arranged that the Pupil-Teacher shall be not less than eighteen years of age on its completion. 15. A candidate may enter at once on the office of PupilTeacher of the second or third year's standing, by passing the examination prescribed for the preceding year; provided that his age meets the requirement of the above rule (sec. 14). |