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EDUCATION BILL.

HEREAS, the promotion of the Education of the youth of this Province is indispensible to the domestic and social happiness, to the commercial prosperity and national greatness, and to the peace, welfare, and good government of the same: and whereas the common school system of this Province has not produced the benefits so much desired by the thinking portion of its inhabitants: and wherefore it is expedient to alter, amend, and reduce to one act the several provisions of the same.

Be it &c.-That from and after the 1st day of January 1837, there shall be granted to His Majesty annually out of the rates and duties now raised, levied and collected, or hereafter to be raised, levied and collected, to and for the public uses of this Province, and in the hands of the Receiver General unappropriated, for the use of common schools in this Province, the sum of fifteen thousand pounds.

Preamble.

And be it &c.-That whenever the permanently Superinten available public school fund of this Province, arising dent, when & from any source whatever, shall amount to ten thou-how to be ap pointed. sand pounds per annum, it shall and may be iawful for the Governor, &c. to appoint under the seal of this Province, a superintendent of common schools, whose duty it shall be among other things to prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislature, containing:

1. A statement of the condition of the common schools of the province. 2. Estimates and accounts of expenditures of the school monies. 3 Plans for the improvement and management of the common school fund, and for the better organization of the common schools:-and 4. All such matters relating to his office, and to the common schools, as he shall doom expedient to communicate.

His duties.

ment.

Apportion- And be it, &c.-That in every year, immediately ment and ratio following a year in which a census of the population of apportionof this Province shall have been taken, the Superintendent shall apportion the school monies to be annually distributed amongst the several districts of this Province, and the share of each district amongst its respective towns and cities, in the following manner: the one moiety thereof shall be apportioned among the several towns and cities of the Province, according to the ratio of the unmber of children over five and under sixteen years of age, as compared with the population of the whole Province according to the last preceding census, and the other moiety among the several townships in proportion to the amount of school mouies raised in the several townships in this Province, except as is hereinafter provided.

Increase of

school monies,

oned.

And be it, &c.-That if an increase of the school how apporti monies to be dis ributed, shall take place in any other year than the one immediately following a census, the Superintendent shall apportion such increase amongst the several districts, cities, & towns, according to the ratio of the apportionment then in force.

Proceedings when census defective.

And be it, &c.-That when the census or returns, upon which an apportionment is to be made, shall be so far defective, in respect to any district, city, or town, as to render it impracticable for the Superintendeut to ascertain the share of school monies, which ought then to be apportioned to such district, city, or town, he shall ascertain by the best evidence in his power, the facts upon which the ratio of such apportionment shall depend, and shall make the apportionment accordingly.

Amd be it &c.-That whenever, in consequence of Proceeding the division of a town or the erection of a new town when town altered, &c. in any district, the apportioument then in force, shall become unjust, as between two or more towns of such district, the Superintendent shall make a new apportionment of the school monies next to be distributed amongst such towns, ascertaining by the best evidence in his power, the facts upon which the ratio of apportionment as to such towns shall depend.

And be it, &c.-That the superintendent shall Certificate certify each apportionment made by him to the Goand notice of vernor, and shall give immediate notice thereof to apportionment the clerk of the peace of each district interested therein, stating the amount of monies apportioued to his district and to each town and city therein, and the time when the same will be payable to the commissioners of such town or to the chamberlain of the city of Toronto.

And be it, &c.-That the superintendent shall pre- Regulations pare suitable forms and regulations for making all respecting reports, and conducting all necessary proceedings forms, &e. under this Act, and shall cause the same, with such instructions as he shall deem necessary and proper, for the better organization and government of common schools, to be transmitted to the officers required to execute the provisions of this Act throughout the Province.

how paid.

And be it, &c.-That all monies reasonably expen- Expenses ded by him in the execution of his duties, shall upon due proof, be allowed to him by the Governor, and be paid out of the Treasury.

Distribution of the common

And be it, &c.—That the sum annually to be distributed for the encouragement of common schools, shall be paid on the first day of February, in every school fund. year, on the Warrant of the Governor, to the TreaWheu paid. surers of the several districts, and the Chamberlain of the city of Toronto.

Treasurer to apply for and

And be it, &c.-That the Treasurer of each district, and the Chamberlain of the city of Toronto, shall apply for and receive the school monies ap-receive. portioned to their respective districts as soon as the same become payable.

notice.

And be it, &c.-That each Treasurer receiving To give such monies, shall give notice in writing, to some one or more of the commissioners of common schools of each town or city in his district, of the amount apportioned to such town or city, and shall hold the same subject to the order of such commissioners.

And be it. &c.-That in case the commissioners Monies reof any such cuy or town, shall not apply for and re- maining, how ceive such monies, or in case there are no comm'sdisposed of. sioners appointed in the same, before the next receipt of monies apportioned to the district; the monies so remaining with the Treasurer sha!! be retained by him, and be added to the monies next received by him for distribution from the Superintendent of common schools, and be distributed therewith and In the same proportion.

Clark of the

And be it, &c.-That whenever the clerk of the peace of any district, shall receive from the super- Peace. intendent of common schools, notice of the apportionment of monies to be distributed in the district, he shall file the same in his office, and transmit a certified copy thereof to the district treasurer, and also to the clerk of each township, to be by him laid before the school commissioners of such township; which sum so apportioned, together with the sum raised in that township by the vote of its qualified voters at their last preceding annual township meeting, shall be apportioned by the said township commissioners among the several school districts of the