Of course, some of these districts would require more aid than others, and it might be found in some districts that local resources were altogether adequate to meet the case. In every instance there should be corresponding local effort. I feel that the obligation rests upon the Legislature to remove this obstacle, to the operation of the law, in every place where it exists. The sum of $40,000, placed at the disposal of the Board of Education, could be so applied to this object, during the coming year, as to secure comfortable School houses in every poor district in the Province. From $80,000 to $100,000 worth of permanent School property would thus be at once created in the poor districts, and Schools made not only possible but altogether practicable to their residents. The amount of grant named seems large, but it appears to me that no object, at present, has paramount claims over this, on the public domain. It must not be expected that a system of free education can be universally established in New Brunswick in a day, while in every other country in which it exists, sharp struggles, grand sacrifices, and prolonged efforts have been required to secure its complete establishment. But there is every ground for saying that we are on the right road, and making good progress. The facts given in this Report demonstrate that the education of the Province has advanced during the past two years as never before. If the present system yields such results in spite of the obstacles inseparable from its introduction, what may reasonably be expected of it by and bye! This, at least that it will bring to all the people of New Brunswick educational advantages inferior to those of no country on this continent. And we cannot afford to take any lower position. In the words of His Excellency the Earl of Dufferin, in his address to the Board of School Trustees and the public of Saint John," Education is not only the foundation of that material wealth which is yearly being accumulated, and for whose acquisition this country affords such magnificent opportunities, but it is also the chief means through which a nation engenders those virtues and qualities, and maintains that high tone of thought and feeling, which, far better than any material prosperity or any accumulation of wealth, can guarantee the greatness and power of any community. But if these observations are true everywhere, they may be urged with tenfold force in Canada. For, gentlemen, we have the satisfaction of remembering that all these children whom we now see before us are the citizens of a Free State, that they breathe an atmosphere where none is permitted to assume superiority over another, unless that superiority is justified and can be maintained by the virtues and qualities in him who asserts it." I have the honour to be Your Honor's most obedient servant, Education Office, Fredericton. THEODORE H. RAND. Table I. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: PRELIMINARY. FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH APRIL 1873. [This Table includes the Common, Superior, and Grammar Schools. ] SUMMER TERM, CLOSED 31ST OCTOBER 1872. A 2 PRELIMINARRY TABLE-SUMMER AND WINTER TERMS. WINTER TERM, CLOSED 30тп APRIL 1873. Several Schools and 666 pupils, included in the above Statistics of the Winter Term, are not included in some of the subsequent Tables, in consequence of the late receipt of the Trustees' Return. 1873 Table II. COMMON SCHOOLS: ATTENDANCE OF PUPILS: SUMMER TERM '72. Albert, 2079 1 in 5.13 11 1890 178 1282 997 103,893 1013 911 48 72 43.81 Carleton, ...... Charlotte,.. 3437 1 in 5.80 64 3031 342 1647 1790 176,728 1726 1550 50.20 45.09 4068 1 in 6.36 55 3693 320 2008 2060 220,603 2141 1935 52.63 47.56 Number daily present on an average for the full Term. Number daily present on an average during time in Session per 100 on Regis ter. average for full time 01 Term per 100 on the Re Number daily present on an gister. COUNTIES. Number of Pupils at School this Term. Proportion of population in attendance at the Schools this Term. Number under 5 years of age. Table II.-CONTINUED: WINTER TERM '72-3, 52.49 42.64 3817 1 in 5.22 21 3115 681 2028 1789 202,215 2014 1685.12 53.74 44.15 4844 1 in 5.34 31 4020 793 2720 2124 267,004.5 2840 2225.5 58 63 45 94 average for the full Term. Number daily present on an Number daily present on an average during time in Session per 100 on Regis ter. Number daily present on an average for full time of Term per 100 on the Re-] gister. |