206

Sites and Buildings.

On approval by the Central Board of the plans, estimates, and specifications submitted to it by the District Council, a sum not exceeding one half of the cost of erecting and furnishing the school will be granted by the Central Board in money, books, school apparatus, or material, provided that the amount of aid so granted do not exceed £200.

The buildings, however, must be erected on freehold land conveyed to trustees, and held by them on such conditions as will allow of their executing a declaration of trust to the Central Board.

The one-half of the sum granted for the erection of the building is paid over by the Central Board to these trustees as soon as the District Council have certified that the moiety of the cost has been raised locally and expended on the building.

The remaining half will be paid when it is certified to the Central Board by the District Council that the building is completed according to specification.

The conditions on which grants for buildings are made are—

(a.) That the intended schoolroom contain an area of at least six hundred superficial feet.

(b.) That the walls be at least twelve feet in height.

(c.) That provision be made in the specification for suitable desks and fittings.

(d.) That the proposed new school be not situated nearer to any other district school than three miles in ordinary cases, but in thinly populated districts to be at a greater distance.

(e.) That the site be vested as above-mentioned in trustees, on such a declaration of trust as will allow of their executing a conveyance to the Central Board.

Teachers.

Teachers in order to receive a grant must be licensed by the Board, and their licence only applies to a specified locality, and lapses as soon as the teacher removes from it.

All licences expire on the 30th June, in each year, and in order to entitle the licensee to a continuance of his remuneration, must be renewed previous to that day for the following year.

The salaries of teachers paid by the Board, range from the minimum of £40 per annum, to the maximum of £100 per annum, exclusive of school fees.

Newly licensed teachers are called “probationers,” and receive the minimum salary of £40 per annum. After passing an examination as to their educational attainments, and the practical results of their teaching, this salary may be raised in proportion to the increase in the number of scholars, and the general efficiency of the school.

The teachers receive the whole of the school fees.

No teacher is allowed to hold any office, the duties of which may in any way interfere with the time to be allotted to the teaching in the school.

Teachers may not take any prominent part in political contests or party movements, nor do any act which has a tendency to identify the school with any particular denomination, party, or section in their respective localities.

Normal School.

The Act provides for the establishment of a Normal School for the training of male and female teachers, but attendance at it is not made a condition of a licence.

The students in the Normal school must be at least fourteen years of age, and must, before admission, have acquired some proficiency in reading, writing, and arithmetic.

The course of instruction includes grammar, logic, elocution, geography, history, geometry, mechanics, mathematics, natural philosophy, drawing, and music.

A grant is made by the Act of a sum not exceeding two thousand pounds for the first expenses, after which the institution is intended to be self-supporting.

School Fees.

The school fees for instruction in those branches which are considered to form the basis of an English education are fixed by the teacher, but may not exceed thirteen shillings per quarter, four shillings per month, or one shilling per week.

These branches consist of reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, and history.

Teachers are, however, at liberty to make an extra charge for instruction in any other than the above-named subjects.

They may also receive a higher fee for the ordinary instruction, where voluntarily paid by the parents or guardians of any children.

Religious Instruction.

Portions of the Old and New Testament (either the authorised or Douay version) are to be read daily during school hours by such scholars as can read fluently and intelligently, or, if none such be present, by the teacher, care being taken to maintain the reverence due to the Sacred Volume.

The Scriptures must not be used as a substitute for other books in teaching children to read.

No denominational catechism may be taught in the schools. Children whose parents request it are allowed to be absent during the Scripture reading.

Funds.

A scheme for raising funds for the erection of schools on redeemable bonds forms part of the Act of South Australia; it would, however, appear that the prescribed time for taking action in the matter has been allowed to elapse, and that assistance is granted to schools out of the ordinary revenue of the colony.

It may be well, however, to mention the chief features of the plan.

The Board to be entitled to issue bonds bearing six per cent. interest to the aggregate amount of £10,000 for sums varying from ten pounds to one thousand.