CHAPTER V. PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO. January 8th, 1873. His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor having entered the House of Assembly, and taken his seat on the Throne, was pleased to open the Session by the usual Speech, in which he said:. : I recommend to your careful consideration, measures which will be laid before you for the improvement of our Educational Institutions; by providing additional means for obtaining a sufficient number of competent trained Teachers; giving increased efficiency to the Council of Public Instruction; and making various amendments, which experience has shown to be desirable, in our School Laws. Bills for the Consolidation of the Public and High School Laws; a Bill for regulating the Technological College, for which the Legislature has already made provision; and a Bill for giving to the Graduates of the Provincial University a direct influence in its management, are other Educational Measures, to which your attention will be called. Measures for the management of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, and of the Asylum for the Blind, will be submitted for your consideration. No provision has hitherto been made in this Province for the training of idiot and imbecile children,a class which, I regret to learn, is numerous enough to require on the part of the Legislature the same attention which has already been usefully given to other afflicted classes of the population. Experience in other Countries having shown that, by proper means, the condition of these children may be greatly ameliorated, I commend their case to your humane consideration. January 10th, 1873. The Honourable Attorney-General Mowat, from the Select Committee, reported an Address in response to the Lieutenant-Governor, which was read as follows: We will give our careful consideration to the measures which are to be laid before us for the improvement of our Educational Institutions; by providing additional means for obtaining a sufficient number of competent trained Teachers; giving increased efficiency to the Council of Public Instruction: and making various amendments which experience has shown to be desirable in our School Laws. We will carefully consider the Bills for the consolidation of the Public and High School Laws: the Bill for regulating the Technological College, for which the Legislature has already made provision; and the Bill for giving to the Graduates of the Provincial University a direct influence in its management, and the other Educational Measures, to which Your Excellency informs us that our attention is to be called. We will give our best attention to the measures for the management of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, and of the Asylum for the Blind, which are to be submitted for our consideration; we thank Your Excellency for reminding us that no provision has hitherto been made in this Province for the training of idiot and imbecile children,a class which, we regret to learn from Your Excellency, is numerous enough to require on the part of the Legislature the same attention which has already been usefully given to other afflicted classes of the population; we are pleased to be reminded that experience in other Countries has shown that, by proper means, the condition of these children may be greatly ameliorated; and we will give to their case our humane consideration. January 13th, 1873. On motion of Mr. Charles Clarke, (Wellington), seconded by Mr. W. Barber, Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Excellency the LieutenantGovernor, praying His Excellency to cause to be laid before this House, a Return of the number of children attending the Public and High Schools of Ontario, from 30th June, 1871, to 30th June, 1872; and of those attending Private Schools, in so far as the same can be ascertained from the Annual School Returns; and of the number of children of School age in Ontario, as reported in the Annual Returns of 1871. On motion of the Honourable E. B. Wood, (Brant), seconded by Mr. K. Graham.— Ordered, That the Chief Superintendent of Education do, with all convenient dispatch, lay before this House a Return stating concisely : (1) The date of the establishment of the Normal and Model School in this Province. (2) The total outlay on Capital Account in respect of the said Schools, including the purchase of Lands and every expenditure strictly chargeable to Capital Account. (3) The annual outlay since the establishing of the said Schools, including staff of Teachers, superintendence, maintenance and every expenditure not charged to Capital Account. (4) The names of the Persons in each year, with their places of residence, who have received instruction at the Normal School, with the view of fitting themselves for teaching in this Province, and the average number of them who have made and are still making teaching their profession, and how many of such Teachers are now teaching in the Province, and in what Counties they are now teaching. (5) The average cost to the Country, including interest at six per cent. on the said Capital Outlay for the training of each Teacher, who has made teaching in this Province a permanent occupation. The Honourable T. B. Pardee, presented to the House, by command of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor : The Annual Report of the Normal, Model, High and Public Schools of Ontario, for the year 1871, by the Chief Superintendent of Education. January 14th, 1873. The following Petition was received and read: Of Mr. W. H. Austin and others, of Trenton, praying for certain amendments to the School Act. The following Bill was introduced, and read the first time:-Bill, (No. 17), intituled:-"An Act respecting the University of Toronto."-The Honourable Adam Crooks, Provincial Treasurer. Ordered, That the Bill be read the Second time on Friday next. The House having gone into a Committee of Supply the following Supplementary Estimate of the amounts required to meet the Educational expenditure of the Province from the first day of January, 1873, until the Estimates for the year 1873 are finally passed, was submitted:: Of the January 15th, 1873. The following Petitions were received and read: Council of Public Instruction, relative to the constitution and working thereof; of Mr. A. D. McDonald and others, of Elora, praying for certain amendments to the School Act. January 17th, 1873. The following Petitions were received and read:-Of the County Council of Oxford, relative to the establishment of a Normal School in that County; of the School Board of Vienna; also, of the School Board of Omemee; also, of the School Board of Oakwood; also, of the School Board of Pakenham; also, of the School Board of Farmersville; also, of Mr. W. R. Bigg and others, of Brockville; also, of the School Board of Lanark; also, of the School Board of Drummondville, severally praying for certain amendments to the School Act; of Mr. T. P. Groat and others, of London, relative to the establishment of a Normal School in the City of London; of Mr. J. Brine, and other Public School Teachers of Welland, praying that the Superannuation Section in the School Act of 1871 may not be repealed. The following Bill was introduced and then read the First time:-Bill, (No. 31), intituled:"An Act to provide for the establishment of a Training School for Idiotic and Imbecile Children."-The Honourable T. B. Pardee. Ordered, That the Bill be read the Second time on Monday next. January 20th, 1873. On motion of the Honourable E. B. Wood, (Brant), seconded by Mr. K. Graham, Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Excellency the LieutenantGovernor, praying His Excellency to cause to be laid before this House, a Statement of all items of Expenditure up to the present, connected with the establishment of an Agricultural College, to be founded on the manual labour system, and Model Farm connected therewith; also, copies of all Reports and Correspondence in respect of the same, and the Site, or location, thereof; also, copies of all Memorandums, Minutes, or Orders-in-Council, in respect of the same, including a Statement of the recommendation which His Excellency's Government has decided to make to this House in respect of the said College and Model Farm, and the location thereof. The Honourable T. B. Pardee, presented to the House, by command of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor : A Return to an Address to His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, praying His Excellency to cause to be laid before the House, a Statement of the number of children attending the Public and High Schools of Ontario from the Thirtieth of June, 1871, to the Thirtieth of June, 1872, and of those attending Private Schools, in so far as the same can be ascertained from the Annual School Returns, and of the number of children of School age in Ontario, as reported in the Annual Returns of 1871. January 21st, 1873. The following Petition was received and read:-Of the School Board of the Village of Scotland; also, of the School Board of the Village of Mount Pleasant; also, of the School Board of the Village of Manilla; also, of the School Board of the Village of Uxbridge; also, two Petitions of the School Board of Fergus; also, of the School Board of Port Rowan; also, of the School Board of Milton; also, of the Village Council of Elora, severally praying for certain amendments to the School Act. The following Bill was introduced, and read the First time:-Bill, (No. 32), intituled:-"An Act to establish a School of Practical Science."-The Honourable Adam Crooks, Attorney-General. Ordered, That the Bill be read the Second time on Friday next. The Order of the Day for the Second reading of Bill, (No. 17), respecting the University of Toronto, having been read, The Honourable Adam Crooks moved, seconded by the Honourable AttorneyGeneral Mowat, That the Bill be read the Second time. And objection having been taken by Mr. J. C. Rykert to the Second reading of the Bill, as it necessitates an expenditure of public money, to which expenditure the approval of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor was necessary. Mr. Speaker, having been referred to, decided, That, with reference to Clause 51, no burden is thereby imposed, or sought to be imposed on the Consolidated Revenue of the Province; and with reference to Clause 52, the amount of Salary to be granted is left a blank; therefore, the Bill is in order. The Motion, having been then put, was carried, and the Bill was read the Second time. It was then referred to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next. January 22nd, 1873. The following Petition was received and read:-Of the School Board of Stirling, praying that an Act may pass to enable Mr. Charles Magee to sell certain Lands, the property of the late Mr. Nicholas Sparks. January 23rd, 1873. The following Petitions were received and read:-Of the School Board of Berlin; also, of the School Board of Streetsville, severally praying for certain amendments to the School Act; of Mr. Walter Bell and others, of Brockville, respecting the establishment of a Normal School in Brockville. The following Bill was introduced, and read the First time:-Bill, (No. 61), intituled:"An Act respecting Institutions for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, and the Blind, in the Province of Ontario." The Honourable T. B. Pardee. Ordered, That the Bill be read the Second time on Monday next. On motion of Mr. S. C. Wood, (Victoria), seconded by Mr. P. Patterson, it was,— Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Excellency the LieutenantGovernor, praying His Excellency to cause to be laid before this House, copies of all Correspondence between any Member of the Executive Council of this Province and the Council of Public Instruction, the Chief Superintendent of Education, or other Member of the Council, since the passing of the Act, 35 Victoria, Chapter 30, making temporary provision as to the Regulations of the Council of Public Instruction, and since the date of the last Return from the Education Department. On motion of Mr. S. C. Wood, (Victoria), seconded by Mr. P. Patterson, it was,Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Excellency the LieutenantGovernor, praying His Excellency to cause to be laid before this House, a copy of,— 1. The Regulations of the Council of Public Instruction, and other Instructions relating to the admission of Pupils to the High Schools, or Collegiate Institutes. 2. A copy of the Order-in-Council suspending or disallowing these Regulations, and a copy of any instructions issued by the Government to Boards of Trustees on this subject. 3. The number of Pupils admitted to each High School and Collegiate Institute since the suspension of these Regulations, the names of the Schools and Institutes, and of the Examiners, and the subjects on which the Candidates were examined, the extent of the examination in these subjects, and the number of marks obtained by these Pupils. 4. Copies of any Reports to the Education Department, or to the Government, in regard to the examinations and admissions from Inspectors. Trustees, or other parties, and copies of any Correspondence, or Reports, throwing light upon the operation of the School Law since the date of the suspension of the Regulations on the subject. The following Petition was received and read: Of the Township Council of Caradoc, respecting the establishment of a Normal School in the City of London. The following Bill was introduced and read the First time:-Bill, (Number 64), intituled:"An Act to consolidate the Public School Law of Ontario."-The Honourable Attorney-General Mowat. Ordered, That the Bill be read the Second time on Tuesday next. The House resolved itself into a Committee to consider Bill, (Number 17), respecting the University of Toronto, and made the following amendments: Page 1, line 20, after "affiliated," insert "or hereafter to be affiliated." Page 1, line 24, strike out "annually," insert "biennially." Page 2, line 16, fill blank with "eighth." Page 2, line 17, fill blank with "May." Page 4, line 28, strike out "as and." Page 4, line 43, after "Statute," insert "of Senate." Page 6, line 46, after "Statute," insert "of Senate." Page 7, line 1, after "if," insert "at." Page 7, line 5, fill blank with "twenty-two." Page 7, line 17, after "Surgery," insert "and Civil Engineer, Mining Engineer and Mechanical Engineer." Page 8, line 34, strike out "in connection," insert "affiliated." Page 9, line 35, fill blank with "Two thousand four hundred dollars." Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair, and Mr. Thomas Hodgins reported, That the Committee had directed him to report the Bill, with certain amendments. Ordered, That the Report be now received. The Amendments, having been read the Second time, were agreed to. January 27th, 1873. The following Petitions were received and read:-Of Brother Ephrem Gagnon and others, of Toronto, praying that an Act may pass to incorporate the Brothers of the Christian Schools of Ontario; of the Right Reverend the Bishop of London, and others; also, of the Township Council of Dorchester; also, of the Township Council of London, relative to the erection of a Normal School in London; of the School Board of Weland; also, of the School Board of Vankleek Hill; also, of the School Board of L'Orignal; also, of the County Council of Middlesex; also, of the School Board of Newburgh; also, of Mr. John McFadzean, and others, of McKillopp, severally praying for certain amendments to the School Act. On motion of Mr. S. McCall, seconded by Mr. J. Clarke, (Norfolk), and,— Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Excellency the LieutenantGovernor, praying that he will cause to be laid before this House, a Return, stating the number of Scholars attending the Normal School, for the purpose of qualifying as School Teachers for the years 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872 respectively; also, the largest number of Pupils the present Normal School is capable of accommodating throughout a Session thereof. On motion of Mr. S. Cook, seconded by Mr. A. Farewell,— Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to His Excellency the LieutenantGovernor, praying His Excellency to cause to be laid before this House, a Return of the number of First, Second and Third Class Certificates granted to School Teachers. during the year Eighteen hundred and seventy-two; also, the number of Persons who have made application for Certificates and have been unable to obtain them during the same year. January 28th, 1873. The following Petitions were received and read:-Of the Reverend P. Bertrand, and others, of Plantagenet; also, of Mr. Dennis Bryan, and others, of Plantagenet, severally praying for the erection of a Normal School in Ottawa; of the Township Council of Howick, praying for certain amendments to the School Act; of the Township Council of Ekfrid, praying for the erection of a Normal School in London. On motion of the Honourable Adam Crooks, seconded by the Honourable R. W. Scott, and, Resolved, That this House will, on Friday next, resolve itself into a Committee to consider the following Resolution: That, in order to establish a School of Practical Science with a Museum of Mineralogy and Apparatus and Appliances requisite for practical instruction in Mining, Engineering, and the Mechanical and Manufacturing Arts, it is expedient that provision be made by the Legislature therefor, and that a sufficient sum for the purpose be appropriated by this House out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of this Province, and that such sum do appear when the Estimates for the current year are laid before this House. The Order of the Day for the Third reading of Bill (Number 17), respecting the University of Toronto, having been read, it was, Ordered, That the Order be discharged, and that the Bill be referred forthwith to a Committee of the whole House, with an instruction to amend the same. The House accordingly resolved itself into the Committee, and made the following amendments to the Bill: : Page 1, line 22, after "University," insert "and a Representative, for the time being elected by the High School Masters of Ontario, as hereinafter provided." Page 4, after Section 20, insert (a) The Registrar of the University shall, at least one month before the Eighth day of May in each year, obtain from the Education Office. the names of the Head Master of each of the High Schools, and shall make a list of such names, and shall, thereupon, send a copy of such list to each of the said High School Masters, and request them to elect from amongst the names on such list a Representative to the Senate of the University, who shall hold office for the term of two years, the first term beginning on the Eighth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three; and all the provisions of this Act, with respect to the election of a Chancellor, or Member of the Senate, and as to filling vacancies and otherwise, shall be applicable to such Representative." Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair; and Mr. Thomas Hodgins reported, That the Committee had amended the Bill as directed by the House. The amendments, having been read the Second time, were agreed to. Mr. H. S. McDonald then moved, seconded by Mr. A. W. Lauder, That the Bill be not now read the Second time, but that it be referred forthwith to a Committee of the |
