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Teachers.

The appointment of teachers rests solely with the Commissioners, who, however, pay regard to recommendations made by local patrons, but no minister of religion, or person acting in public as a religious instructor, can be appointed or allowed to remain as a teacher.

Teachers must, in every case, pass a satisfactory examination in all the subjects taught in national schools. Although it is not incumbent on them to submit themselves to an examination in the higher branches of instruction, yet unless they do so they will be deprived of many advantages held out to more competent teachers.

Thus teachers are divided into two divisions.

1st. Those who only pass an examination in elementary subjects.

2nd. Those who have mastered the higher branches of instruction.

The elementary subjects are: Reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar and geography.

The higher branches of instruction are:

(a.) The art of Teaching, including the knowledge of the organization and discipline of schools, and the best methods of imparting instruction.

(b.) Literature, including a critical knowledge of the English language and literature; the classical languages or the modern languages, as French and German.

(c.) The exact sciences—Geometry, trigonometry, and mathematics generally.

(d.) The natural sciences—Zoology, botany, &c.

(e.) The experimental sciences—Chemistry, &c.

(f.) Art—Drawing and music.

The teachers are classified according to the results of an examination, and after an inspection of their schools (as a means of judging of their efficiency), into three classes, each subdivided into two sections. Their salaries from the Government grant are fixed as follows:

Class I., section A., salary £144 per annum.

Class I., ", B., ", £132 ",

Class II., ", A., ", £120 ",

Class II., ", B., ", £108 ",

Class III., ", A., ", £96 ",

Class III., ", B., ", £84 ",

Those teachers who do not submit themselves to an examination in the higher branches above mentioned, are placed in the lowest of these subdivisions.

The emoluments of teachers are derived from two sources:

1st. The salaries paid by the Board according to the above scale.

2nd. The school fees, a proportion of which are applied in augmentation of the payment from the Board.

Besides this, the teacher is entitled to a residence free of rent.

The above scale of remuneration is a joint salary for husband and wife. For single men and single women the salary is in each case diminished by £12 per annum.

Assistant Teachers.

Assistant teachers, male and female, are also divided into three classes again, subdivided into two sections with salaries, as follows:

Class I., section A., salary, (male) £84, (female) £72 per annum.

Class I., section B., salary, (male) £78, (female) £66 per annum.

Class II., section A., salary, (male) £72, (female) £60 per annum.

Class II., section B., salary, (male) £66, (female) £54 per annum.

Class III., section A., salary, (male) £60, (female) £48 per annum.

Class III., section B., salary, (male) £54, (female) £42 per annum.

The salaries of assistant teachers are likewise augmented by a proportionate share of the school fees.

Assistant teachers may be appointed to schools where the number of children in average daily attendance exceeds 70.

Fees.

The fees range from one penny to one shilling per week, as may be fixed by the local patrons.

Besides the ordinary fee, each child is required to pay one halfpenny a week towards the school-book fund, to be expended by the local patrons in the purchase of books to be used only in the school.

Religious Instruction.

The religious instruction given in the schools is of two kinds, general and special. The general religious instruction is given by the teacher to all the children whose parents do not object, and is of such a character that all Christians may receive it without offence. It is intended that special religious instruction should be given by clergymen or other approved religious teachers to the children of their respective persuasions, and every facility is given for this arrangement by setting apart a separate room for the purpose, and by fixing a certain hour in each day for the imparting of religious instruction by a special instructor to those children whose parents desire it; while of those who have no special instructor, all the children able to read, and whose parents do not object, are employed during this hour on Scripture lessons compiled for the general use of the national schools.

II.—Victoria.

Legislative Enactments.

The Act now in force in the colony of Victoria, passed in the year 1862, deals with two separate subjects. In the first place it alters the constitution of the governing body itself, by repealing the Act of 1859, and by substituting one uniform system of management for the previously existing double government by a National and Denominational Board.