of the usual resources on which the school has been dependent, or from other similar causes, in which "peculiar cases temporary aid may be sought to meet the annual expenses of existing schools:" the personal examination of the school by the Inspectors, to test the efficiency of the management, will be required in the majority of such applications; and they will find in another part of these instructions full information respecting the nature of the inquiries to be made in such cases, and tabular forms in which to collect the results of their inspection. The efficiency of the school management having been ascertained, the Inspector will inquire whether all other efforts to obtain resources for the support of the school have been exhausted, and whether there is a reasonable prospect that temporary aid from the Parliamentary grant would enable the promoters of the school to ensure its future permanent efficiency, without the necessity of renewing their application; such assistance being always regarded as an exception to general rules, and to be granted only in cases in which the strongest evidence of its necessity and utility is afforded.

SECONDLY.

In proceeding to inspect the method and matter of instruction, and the character of the discipline established in the several schools aided by the grants of this Committee, the Inspector will bear in mind that his visit will prove of much greater value to the school if he is accompanied by the committee, or chief promoters of the school, in his examination of the children; inasmuch as all permanent improvements must depend, for the most part, on the exertions of the committee or chief promoters of the school. He will therefore generally announce his visit to the [parochial clergyman, or] other minister of religion, connected with the school, or to the chairman or secretary of the school committee, and proceed to examine the school in their presence. He will abstain from any interference with the instruction, management, or discipline of the school, and will on all occasions carefully avoid any act which could tend to impair the authority of [the school committee or chief promoters of the school] over the teacher or over the children, or of the teacher himself over his scholars.

He will receive from them any communication which they may wish to make, and afford them such assistance and information as they may be desirous to obtain.

pre

Having inspected the state of the boundary fences, exercise ground, external walls, roof, &c., and ascertained whether the mises are in good repair, the other subjects of inquiry naturally arrange themselves under the following heads and subdivisions.

* [by the presbytery of the bounds]-(Scotland).

† [presbytery of the bounds, minister of the parish, in regard to all schools connected with the Church of Scotland, or to any]-(Scotland). [those under whose control the school is placed]—(Scotland).

The Committee of Council, in placing these subjects of inquiry in the hands of the Inspector, by no means expect he will find that the several objects of education adverted to in them are attained in every school. The inquiries relate to different methods of instruction, and to all the subjects of instruction taught under such methods; a comprehensive series of questions is on this account necessary. These questions, moreover, are not to be received as an indication, in any respect, of what the Committee of Council consider desirable, either as respects the method or the matter of instruction, but as a mode of collecting the facts of each case, and as a catalogue of methods pursued, and of things taught under certain varieties of elementary instruction, but which are not found united in any one school, because some of them are incompatible with each other.

Neither is the Inspector to receive those inquiries as an exposition of the extent to which, in the opinion of the Committee, intellectual instruction should proceed, but simply as an indication of the facts which he may have occasion to record.

Mechanical Arrangements.

1. As to form of buildings.

The dimensions of the room should be stated.
(A.) When all the classes are in one room.

(B.) When one or two class-rooms are provided for the sepa-
rate instruction of a part of the children; the rest
being taught generally in a common school-room.
(C.) When each class is instructed in a separate room, and
occasionally assembled in a common room.

2. As to the disposition of desks.

(A.) Whether on Dr. Bell's plan.

(B.) Whether on the Lancasterian plan.

(C.) Whether a separate range of desks on an inclined plane for each class, with a sufficient area for the arrangement of the class standing on the floor.

Means of Instruction.

1. Enumerate the books used in the several classes under the heads Reading, Arithmetic, Geography, History of England, Grammar, Etymology, Vocal Music, Linear Drawing, Land Surveying.

2. Describe the apparatus.

Organization and Discipline.

1. As to the arrangement of classes.

(A.) State whether each child is always under the instruction. of the same teacher.

(B.) Whether it is taught by a succession of teachers, each conveying instruction in some particular branch.

2. As respects monitorial or other discipline.

(A.) Number of teachers.

(B.) Number of monitors unpaid.

(C.) Number of pupil teachers, or of well-instructed monitors, who are paid (state the amount of the remuneration).

3. As respects rewards and punishments.

(A.) If distinction depends on intellectual proficiency.
(B.) On a mixed estimate of intellectual proficiency and
moral conduct.

(C.) On moral conduct only.

(D.) Whether corporal punishments are employed; their nature; and the offences to correct which they are

used. If they are employed, are they publicly inflicted?

(E.) What other punishments are used?

(F.) If any, what rewards?

As respects Method.

1. Whether the method of mutual instruction is strictly adhered to.

2. Whether the simultaneous method is more or less mingled with individual teaching.

If the simultaneous method be adopted, the Inspector will ascertain to what matter of instruction it is applied; as, for example, Reading, Grammar, Etymology, Arithmetic, Singing, Geography, History, &c.

These inquiries are all to be arranged in the Tabular Form, No. 1, so as to enable the Inspector to make the requisite memoranda, by a brief initial mark or note on the spot.

Supposing the school to be conducted on the system of mutual instruction, in order to determine the degree of efficiency with which the school regulations are carried into effect, the Inspector will ascertain,

1. The number of masters, assistant-masters, if any, and occasional masters.

2. The number of monitors, and the under-mentioned facts respecting each monitor.

If the school be conducted on the mixed method of instruction, the Inspector will ascertain the number of masters, assistantmasters, and occasional masters, and the number of pupil teachers employed in the school, and the following facts respecting each pupil teacher :

Age.

Period during which he has received instruction.

Attainments:

In Reading.-Can read imperfectly decently; with ease and accuracy; with ease and expression.

In Writing.-Cannot write; imperfectly; decently; with ease and skill.

In Arithmetic.-Acquainted with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division; or not, respectively; skilful in the foregoing; acquainted with compound rules; skilful in them; acquainted with higher rules; skilful in them; acquainted with exercises in mental arithmetic: skilful in them.

In Singing. Having by ear an acquaintance with psalmody and labour songs; acquainted with the elements of the notation of music; able to sing common psalm tunes and labour songs, from notes, at sight; able to sing chants, anthems, and more difficult sacred music, from notes.

In Drawing.-Able to draw simple rectilinear figures; able to draw and shade simple rectilinear figures; acquainted with linear drawing, as applied to some mechanical art, such as carpentering, house-building, land-surveying.

As to Physical Exercises.-Acquainted with the elementary movements; acquainted with the more complex combinations; capable of conducting a class under exercise.

Besides which an examination should, when necessary, be made into their comparative knowledge of

Geography,

Grammar,

History of England,
Etymology.

The Inspector should further inquire

The period during which each monitor has been so employed.

Whether he receives any reward or privilege.

The number of children committed to his charge, and

their average age.

The classes should be then successively examined, so as to enable a general report respecting the degree and efficiency of the instruction to be subjoined to a table containing an account of the routine of the school for each class; that is, an account of the successive exercises of each class during each hour of the day, and each day of the week; stating whether the class, at each hour, is under the instruction of the monitor, or pupil-teacher, or master.

The degree of attention paid to the moral training of the children, and the means which are adopted for this purpose, deserve the especial attention of the Inspector; he will particularly note to what extent the industrial instruction of females is carried; and whether the master has any opportunity of becoming a companion to the children in their hours of relaxation. The number of holidays in each week and year deserve to be noted.

*In the case of schools connected with the National Church,

*The paragraphs in Italics omitted in schools not connected with the Established Church.

the Inspectors will inquire, with special care, how far the doctrines and principles of the church are instilled into the minds of the children. The Inspectors will ascertain whether church accommodation of sufficient extent, and in a proper situation, is provided for them; whether their attendance is regular, and proper means taken to ensure their suitable behaviour during the service; whether inquiry is made afterwards by their teachers how far they have profited by the public ordinances of religion which they have been attending. The Inspectors will report also upon the daily practice of the school with reference to Divine worship: whether the duties of the day are begun and ended with prayer and psalmody; whether daily instruction is given in the Bible; whether the Catechism and the Liturgy are explained, with the terms most commonly in use throughout the authorised version of the Scriptures.

They will inquire likewise whether the children are taught private prayers to repeat at home; and whether the teachers keep up any intercourse with the parents, so that the authority of the latter may be combined with that of the former, in the moral training of the pupils. As an important part of moral discipline, the Inspectors will inform themselves as to the regularity of the children in attending school-in what way registered-and how enforced; as to manners and behaviour, whether orderly and decorous; as to obedience, whether prompt and cheerful, or reluctant, and limited to the time while they are, under the master's eye; and as to rewards and punishments, on what principles administered, and with what results. The Inspectors will satisfy themselves whether the progress of the children in religious knowledge is in proportion to the time they have been at school; whether their attainments are showy or substantial; and whether their replies are made intelligently or mechanically and by rote. The Inspectors will be careful to estimate the advancement of the junior as well as of the senior class, and the progress in each class of the lower as well as of the higher pupils. And in every particular case the Inspector will draw up a report, and transmit a duplicate of it through the Committee of Council on Education to the Archbishop of the

Province.

THIRDLY.

With regard to the third branch of the duties of the Inspectors, the Committee, whenever they determine such inquiries shall be made, will issue special instructions for the guidance of the Inspectors.

By order of the

Committee of Council on Education,

JAMES PHILLIPS Kay.