OFFICIAL REGULATIONS IN REGARD TO THE SUPERANNUATION FUND.

4. The Regulations for the administration of the Superannuated Teachers' Fund, adopted by the Council of Public Instruction, are as follows:

(1) Teachers who became superannuated, or worn out, on or before the first day of January, 1854, and who produce the proofs required by law, of character and service as such, may share in this Fund according to the number of years they have respectively taught a Public School in Ontario by depositing with the Chief Superintendent of Education the preliminary subscriptions to the fund required by law.

(2) Every Teacher engaged in teaching since 1854, in order to be entitled, when he shall have become superannuated. or worn-out, to share in this Fund, must have contributed to it at the rate of five dollars per annum for each year, from the time when he began to teach up to the time of his first annual subscription of four dollars, (as required by the Statute), for each subsequent year during which he was engaged in teaching. No subscriptions, either for arrears, or otherwise, can be received from those who have ceased to teach [and in all cases the annual payment, unless made within the year for which it is due, will be at the rate of five dollars.*]

(3) No Teacher shall be eligible to receive a Pension from this Fund, who shall not have become disabled from further service, while teaching a Public School, or who shall not have been worn out in the work of a Public School Teacher.

(4) All applications must be accompanied with the requisite Certificate and proofs according to the prescribed forms and instructions. No Certificate in favour of an Applicant should be signed by any Teacher already admitted as a Pensioner on the Fund.

(5) In case the Fund shall at any time not be sufficient to pay the several claimants the highest sum permitted by law, the income shall be equitably divided among them, according to their respective periods of service.

(6) Communications and subscriptions in connection with this Fund, are to be sent to the Chief Superintendent of Education.

The School Law provided that "On the decease of any Teacher, his wife, her husband, or other legal Representative, shall be entitled to receive back the full amount paid into the Superannuation Fund by such Teacher, with interest at the rate of seven per centum, per annum."

"Any Teacher retiring from the profession shall be entitled to receive back from the Chief Superintendent one-half of any sums paid in by him or her to the Fund." (through the Public School Inspector, or otherwise.)

XV. TABLE P. -EDUCATIONAL SUMMARY FOR 1873.

This Table exhibits, in a single page, the number of Educational Institutions of every kind, as far as I have been able to obtain returns, the number of Students and Pupils attending them, and the amount expended in their support. The whole numter of these Institutions in 1873, was 5,124,-increase, 82; the whole number of Students and Pupils attending them was 480,679,-increase, 7,879; the total amount expended for all educational purposes was $3,258,125,-increase, $437,899; total amount available for educational purposes $3,633,550,-increase, $477,154.

XVI. TABLE Q.-GENERAL STATISTICAL ABSTRACT OF THE PROGRESS OF EDUCATION IN ONTARIO, FROM 1842 TO 1873, INCLUSIVE.

This most important Table is highly suggestive, it is only by comparing the number and character of Educational Institutions at different periods, the number of Students and Pupils attending them, and the sums of money provided and expended

*With respect to the arrears of subscription, it is to be observed that they can be paid at any time while the Teacher is still engaged in that capacity, not after he has ceased. No payment is required for any year during which the Teacher was not employed, or for any year prior to 1854, even if the Teacher was teaching before that time.

It is further to be remembered that payment of the arrears is not obligatory, but is to the interest of the Teacher, as the years (from 1854). for which there has been no subscription, will not be reckoned in making up the time of service for the pension.

In no case are subscriptions required except for the years of teaching, for which a pension will be earned.

for their support, that we can form a correct idea of the educational progress of a Country. The statistics for such comparisons should be kept constantly before the public mind to prevent erroneous and injurious impressions, and to animate to efforts of further and higher advancement.

Congratulations have often been expressed at the great improvements which have been made in all our institutions of education, in regard both to the subjects and methods of teaching, as in the accommodations and facilities of instruction; also in the number of our Educational Institutions, in attendance upon them; and in the provision for their support. But it is only by analyzing and comparing the statistics contained in Table Q, that a correct and full impression can be formed of what has been accomplished educationally in Ontario during the last twenty years. Take a few items, as example. In 1842, the number of Public Schools was only 1,721. In 1851, this had increased to 3,001; and in 1873, to 4,832; and the number of Pupils attending them from 168,159 in 1851, to 460,984 in 1873. The amount paid for the support of Public Schools has been increased from $468,644 in 1851, to $2,604,526 in 1873, (not including balances not paid at the date of the local reports,) including the amount paid for the purchase, erection, repairs of School Houses and for other purposes, of which there are no reports earlier than 1850, but which at that time amounted to only $56,756, and $77,336 in 1851, but which in 1873 amounted to $1,084,403, making the aggregate actually paid for Public School purposes in 1873, with the balances available and not paid out at the date of the local reports, $2,967,365. These facts will be more clearly seen from the following Table, in addition to which may be added the Normal and Model Schools, the system of uniform Text Books, Maps, Globes, Apparatus of domestic manufacture), Prize Books and Public Libraries:

Amount paid for erection, repairs of Schoolhouses, fuel and contingencies..

Balance brought forward each year...

56,756 77,336 264,183 273,305 314,827 320,353 379,672 24,016 16,893 164,498 189,861 189,121 220,738 197,147

Number of Public Schools reported
Amount paid for Public School
teachers' salaries....
Amount paid for erection, repairs
of School-houses, fuel and con-
tingencies....

441,891 449,730 489,380 611,819 835,770 1,084,409 Balance brought forward each year. 200,898 202,530 232,303 321,176 322,906 362,83 Total amount available each year.. $1,789,332 1,827,426 1,944,364 2,124,471 2,530,270 2,967,365

XVII. THE EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM.

This fourth branch of the Education Department is probably the most attractive, as it is both suggestive and instructive. The other three branches are: (1) The Department proper for the administration of the Laws relative to the Public and High Schools. (2) The Normal School for the training of skilled Teachers. (3) The Depository for the supply of Maps, Apparatus and Prize and Library Books.

Nothing is more important than that such an Establishment designed especially to be the Institution of the people at large, to provide for them Teachers, Apparatus, Libraries, and every possible agency of instruction-should, in all its parts and appendages, be such as the people can contemplate with respect and satisfaction, and visit with pleasure and profit. While the Schools have been established, and are so conducted as to leave nothing to be desired in regard to their character and efficiency, the accompanying agencies for the agreeable and substantial improvement of all classes of Students and Pupils, and for the useful entertainment of numerous Visitors from various parts of the Country, as well as many from abroad, have been rendered as attractive and complete as the limited means furnished would permit. Such are the objects of the Educational Museum.

The Educational Museum is founded after the example of what has been done by the Imperial Government as part of the System of Popular Education,-regarding the indirect, as scarcely secondary to the direct, means of forming the taste and character of the people.

PRINCIPAL CONTENTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM.

The Museum consists of a collection of School Apparatus for Public and High Schools, of Models of Agriculture and other Implements, of specimens of the Natural History of the Country, casts of antique and modern statues and busts, etcetera, selected from the principal Museums in Europe, including the Busts of several of the most celebrated characters in English and French History, also, copies of some of the works of the great Masters in Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, and especially of the Italian Schools of Painting. These objects of Art are labelled for the information of those who are not familiar with the originals, but a descriptive historical Catalogue of them is in course of preparation. In the evidence given before the Select Committee of the British House of Commons, it is justly stated that "the object of a National Gallery is to improve the public taste, and afford a more refined description of enjoyment to the mass of the people;" and the opinion is at the same time strongly expressed that as "people of taste going to Italy constantly bring home beautiful copies of beautiful originals," it is desirable, even in England, that those who have not the opportunity or means of travelling abroad, should be able to see, in the form of an accurate copy, some of the works of Raffaelle and other great Masters; an object no less desirable in Canada than in England. What has been thus far done in this branch of Public Instruction is in part the result of a small annual sum, which, by the liberality of the Legislature, has been placed at the disposal of the Chief Superintendent of Education, out of the Ontario Education Grants, for the purpose of improving School Architecture and appliances, and to promote Art, Science and Literature, by the means of Models, Objects and publications, collected in a Museum connected with the Department.

The more extensive Educational Museum at South Kensington, London, established at great expense by the Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council of Education, appears from successive Reports, to be exerting a very salutary influence, while the School of Art, connected with it is imparting instruction to hundreds in drawing, painting, modelling, etcetera.

A large portion of the contents of our Museum has been procured with a view to the School of Art, which has not yet been established, although the preparations for

it are completed. But the Museum has been found a valuable auxiliary to the Schools; the number of Visitors from all parts of the Country, as well as from abroad, has greatly increased during the year, though considerable before; many have repeated their visits again and again; and I believe the influence of the Museum quite corresponds with what is said of that of the Educational Museum of London.

The more recent additions to the Museum may be referred to under the following heads:

:

1.-ASSYRIAN AND EGYTIAN SCULPTURE. Of the exceedingly valuable collection of Sculptures with which Mr. Layard's explorations at Nineveh have enriched the British Museum, we have several of the most interesting casts authorized by the Museum. This selection includes, I. A colossal, human headed, winged Bull; II. A four winged Figure with Mace; III. Slabs representing (1) Sardanapalus I., with winged Human Figure and offerings, (2) the Eagle headed Deity (Nisroch) with mystic offerings, beside the sacred Tree, (3) an Attendant (Eunuch), with bow and arrows, etcetera, (4) Sardanapalus and Army besieging a City, (5) a royal Lion Hunt, (6) Sardanapalus II. at an altar pouring libation over dead lions, (7) Sardanapalus III., and his Queen feasting after the Lion Hunt, (8) a very striking slab representing a wounded Lioness, (9-11). Horses, Lions, male and female Figures; IV. Black Obelisk from the great Mound set up by Shalmaneser, (King of Assyria,) about 850 years B. C. I also procured V. Two most interesting Stones (recently added to the British Museum collection,) containing Records, in Cuneiform character, etcetera, of the Sale of Land, about 1120 B.C.; VI. Large Statue of Memnon; VII. Lid of large Sarcophagus; VIII. Side of an Obelisk from Temple of Thoth, (from Cairo); IX. Rosetta Stone, with inscription in honour of Ptolemy.

2.-CASTS OF GEMS, MEDALS, ETCETERA. (1) A beautiful set of (470) casts of the celebrated Poniatowski Gems. (A similar collection is in the Ashmolean Museum, at Oxford.) (2) A set of 170 Medals, illustrative of Roman History, the Emperors, etcetera; (3) a collection of medals of the Popes; (4) A set of the great Seals of England; (5) 38 Medals of the Kings of England; (6) 80 of the Kings, etcetera, France; (7) 24 of Roman Emperors, etcetera; (8) 250 modern celebrated men; (9) besides numerous casts of Medallions, Tazza, pieces of Armour, etcetera; (10) a beautiful collection of casts of Leaves, Fruit, etcetera; (11) about 60 Busts, life size, of noted modern characters, etcetera.

3.-IVORY CARVINGS, CHROMO-LITHOGRAPHS, PHOTOGRAPHS. From the collection of the Arundel Society, published in connection with the South Kensington Museum, have been procured, (1) a full set of 150 specimens Ivory Carvings, of various periods from the second to the sixteenth Century, in Fictile Ivory; (2) 60 Chromo-lithographs, beautifully coloured, illustrating Italian Art; (3) 573 photographs of National Portraits, illustrative of English History, including the Tudor period; (4) 400 miscellaneous photographs of Objects of Art, scenes, etcetera; (5) 170 Engravings of modern Sculpture.

4.-ELECTROTYPES OF ART TREASURES. Of the rich and beautiful collection of Elkington and Franchi's electrotypes of Art treasures in the South Kensington collection, we have only a small selection owing to the expense of the copies for sale.

5.-FOOD ANALYSIS. We were enabled to procure from the Authorities of the South Kensington Museum, a full set of the printed Labels of the numerous samples of Food Analysis exhibited in the Museum. We have specimens of the Analysis Boxes with glass covers, so as to enable us to form a similar collection, on a smaller scale. for our own Museum. This collection, when made, will form a most interesting and instructive study for the Farmer and food consumers.

6.-INDIA RUBBER MANUFACTURERS. Through the kindness of Messieurs Macintosh and Company. the India Rubber Manufacturers of Manchester, we obtained severa! interesting specimens of Rubber-work, illustrative of the various uses to which India Rubber is applied. Some of these specimens are highly artistic in design.

7.-NAVAL MODELS. Beautiful models of War and Merchant Ships, Yatchts, and Boats, including a line of Battle ship, Steam Ram, and Steam Vessels.

8. MISCELLANEOUS. Greek, Roman and English Coins, with a few curiosities and specimens of Natural History, etcetera. Samples of Esquimaux dress, etcetera.

Some striking photographs of objects and places in India, from the India Office in London, and Models from the National Life-Boat Association.

The South Kensington Museum is unrivalled in the beauty and extent of its internal fittings and arrangements, no less than in the extent and value of its collections of Objects of Art, and of industrial and practical value, as well as of articles of Vertu of great historical interest. It is itself the parent Institution of many of the admirable collections and local Museums and Schools of Art throughout the three Kingdoms. The travelling collections of Objects of Art which it sends to the local Exhibitions of those Schools of Art is most varied and interesting. This, it may well be said, is "Object Teaching" on a grand scale, and in a most attractive form, for the adult masses of England, Ireland and Scotland, and so it emphatically is. This is clearly the policy of the Educational Authorities in England at present, as it has been for years to some extent on the Continent of Europe. Looking over these large and attractive popular Museums, it is gratifying that we have thus far been enabled by the liberality of our own Legislature, to keep pace in a humble degree with the great efforts which are now being systematically made in England to popularize Science and Art. These efforts are not only designed to promote this object, but at the same time they tend to interest and instruct the masses not only by cultivating the taste. but by gratifying and delighting the eye by means of well appointed Educational Museums and popular Exhibitions.

XVIII.-REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF HIGH SCHOOLS.

In connection with recent discussions on the condition of our High Schools, I desire to direct special attention to the Report of the Inspectors of High Schools, which will be found in Chapter XXXI. The Report of the Inspectors J. A. McLellan, LL.D., J. M. Buchan, M.A., and S. Arthur Marling, M.A., this year is alike replete, with practical remarks and suggestions; it points out most forcibly the defects of many High Schools, and shows clearly, in the interests of higher English, as well as of sound Classical education, the necessity of a thorough reform in the present system, as contemplated by the principal provisions of the High School part of the Act which were adopted in 1871 by the Legislative Assembly.

XIX.-EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF INSPECTORS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

In all of the most important Reports both in Great Britain and the neighbouring States, a large space is devoted to extracts from local Reports, as illustrating the practical working of the School System, the inner and practical life of the people in their social relations and development, and their efforts, and even struggles, in the newer parts of the Country, to educate their children. I have, therefore, appended to this Report the many excellent remarks which I have received from the Inspectors on the condition and working of our Public Schools.

Character of these Reports. In reading over these Reports, one cannot fail to be struck with the comprehensive survey which the Inspectors take of the new ground which has been assigned to them as their educational field. Being many of them practical Teachers of considerable experience, who have risen in their profession, they have at once been able. with tact and discretion, to point out defects and to suggest means of remedying them. These Reports have, however, brought out into still stronger relief the following facts, to which I adverted in my last report,-and which still impede the progress of the Schools in many parts of the country: