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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 42

Chapter II. — Annual Grants

page 61

Chapter II.

Annual Grants.

Part I.
Elementary Schools
.

Section I.

Preliminary Conditions.

17. Before any grant is made to a school (Article 4), the Department must be satisfied that—
(a.)

The school is conducted as a public elementary school (Article 6); and no child is refused admission to the school on other than reasonable grounds.

(b.)

The school is not carried on under the management of any person or persons who derive emolument from it.

(c.)

The school premises are healthy, well lighted, warmed, drained, and ventilated, properly furnished, supplied with suitable offices, and contain in the principal schoolroom and class-rooms at least 80 cubical feet of internal space, and 8 square feet of area, for each child in average attendance.

(d.)

The principal teacher is certificated (Article 43), and is not allowed to undertake duties, not connected with the school, which occupy any part whatever of the school hours, or of the time appointed for the special instruction of pupil-teachers (Schedule II., 4).

Exception:—
  • The teachers of evening schools need not be certificated, if they are,—
    (1.)

    Pupil-teachers who satisfy the conditions of Article 60; or,

    (2.)

    Upwards of 18 years of age (Article 42), approved by the inspector, and employed in an evening school connected with a Public Elemeutary day school.

(e.)

Notice is immediately given to the Department of any changes in the school staff (Article 39) which occur in the course of the year. The first grant to a school is computed from the date at which (1) the appointment of a certificated teacher is notified to, and recognized by, the Department; or (2) the acting teacher passes the examination for a certificate (Article 44).

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(f.)

The girls in a day school are taught plain needlework* and cutting out as part of the ordinary course of instruction.

(g.)

All returns called for by the Department are duly made; the admission and daily attendance of the scholars carefully registered by, or under the supervision of, the teacher (Article 67); accounts of income and expenditure accurately kept by the managers, and duly audited; and all statistical returns and certificates of character (Articles 67, 77, and 80) may be accepted as trustworthy.

(h.)

Three persons have designated one of their number to sign the receipt for the grant on behalf of the school.

Exception:
  • The treasurer of a school board signs the receipt for grants to schools provided by the board.

18. The grant may be withheld, if, on the inspector's report, there appears to be any serious primâ facie objection. A second inspection, by another inspector, is made in every such instance, and if the grant be finally withheld, a special minute of the case is made and recorded.

* This includes darning, mending, marking, and knitting; but no fancy work of any kind may be done in school hours.

In the Isle of Man the accounts of every school will be audited and certified by the auditor of the Board of Education for the island.

Grants to Bay Schools.

19. The managers of a school which has met not less than 400 times, in the morning and afternoon, in the course of a year, as defined by Article 13, may claim at the end of such year—

A. The following sums per scholar, according to the average number in attendance throughout the year (Article 26):—
(1.)4s.

Exceptions:—

i.If a school is employed for the purpose of taking the poll at a Parliamentary election, under section 6 of the Ballot Act, 1872, the number of meetings during which the managers are deprived of the use of the school, solely in consequence of its being so employed, may, if necessary, be counted in making up,—
1.The 400 meetings of the school; or,
2.The 250 attendances of any scholar who was under instruction in the school the week before it was occupied for election purposes.
ii.If a school claiming annual grants for the first time has not been open for the whole year (Article 13); or, if a school has been closed during the year, under medical authority, on account of a local epidemic, a proportionate reduction is made from the number of meetings (400) and attendances (250) required by this Article.

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(2.)1s. if singing forms part of the ordinary course of instruction.
(3.)1s. if the inspector reports that the discipline and organization are satisfactory.

The inspector will bear in mind, in reporting on the organization and discipline, the results of any visits without notice (Article 12) made in the course of the school year; and will not interfere with any method of organization adopted in a training College under inspection if it is satisfactorily carried out in the school. To meet the requirements respecting discipline, the managers and teachers will be expected to satisfy the inspector that all reasonable care is taken, in the ordinary management of the school, to bring up the children in habits of punctuality, of good manners and language, of cleanliness and neatness, and also to impress upon the children the importance of cheerful obedience to duty, of consideration and respect for others, and of honour and truthfulness in word and act.

B. For every scholar, present on the day of examination (Article 11), who has attended (Article 23) not less than 250* morning or afternoon meetings of the school:—
1.If above four, and under seven, years of age at the end of the year (Article 13),—
(a.)8s. if the infants are taught as a class of a school, suitably to their age, and so as not to interfere with the instruction of the older children; or,
(b.)10s. if the infants are taught as a separate department, by a certificated teacher of their own, in a room properly constructed and furnished for their instruction.
2.If more than seven years of age, subject to examination (Articles 28, 29),—
(a.)3s. for each pass in reading, writing, or arithmetic; or,
(b.)4s. for each such pass in an infant school or department (Article 19 B. 1 b.).
3.After 31st March, 1878, no grant will be paid for any scholar who passes in only one of these three subjects (Article 29 b.).
4.The results of the examination of each scholar will be communicated to the managers.

* See note on previous page.

See Supplementary Rules 8 and 9 (Fifth Schedule).

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5.No scholar who has made the prescribed number of attendances may (without a reasonable excuse for absence on the day of the inspector's visit) be withheld from examination.

C. 1. The sum of 4s. per scholar, according to the average number of children, above 7 years of age, in attendance throughout the year (Article 26), if the classes from which the children are examined in Standards II.-VI., or in specific subjects (Article 21 b.), pass a creditable examination in any two of the following subjects, viz., grammar, history, elementary geography, and plain needlework.

2. The extent of the examination is indicated by the passages printed in italics in Article 28. Needlework must be taught according to a system previously approved by the inspector, who will judge it by specimens worked on the day of inspection, by girls, or classes, selected by him for the purpose; and he will pay regard to the special circumstances of half-time scholars under any Labour Act.

3. In districts where Welsh is spoken the intelligence of the children examined may be tested by requiring them to explain in Welsh the meaning of passages read.

4. No scholar who has made the prescribed number of attendances, or has, at the date of inspection, been for three months on the register may (without a reasonable excuse for absence on the day of the inspector's visit) be withheld from examination under this paragraph (C.); and one half of the children so examined must pass creditably.

5. The mode of examination (whether oral or on paper)* is left to the discretion of the inspector.

6. Only 2s. per head will be paid under this paragraph (C.1.), unless 10 per cent, of the scholars examined under Article 19 B. 2 (a.) are presented in Standard IV. and upwards.

D. The sum of 10l (or 15l.), subject to a favourable report from the inspector, if the population within two miles, by road, of the school is less than 300 (or 200) souls, and there is no other public elementary school, with sufficient accommodation for such population, within three miles of the school.

E. The sum of 40s. (or 60s.) in respect of each pupil-teacher.

* Examination on paper will, as a rule, be confined to scholars in Standard VI.

This proportion will be raised in 1878 (1st April) to 15, in 1879 to 20, in 1880 to 25, and in 1881 to 30 per cent.

page 65 required by Article 32 (c.), who satisfies fairly (or well) the conditions of Article 70 (e.).
20. 150 attendances are accepted in place of 250 (Article 19 B.), in the case of—
(a.)Scholars attending school under any half-time Act.
(b.)Scholars above 10,—
(1.)In respect of whom certificates have been granted in pursuance of the 74th section of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, or of any byelaws of a school board.
(2.)In districts where no byelaws are in force, certified by the managers to be beneficially employed at work when not at school.
(c.)Scholars who reside two miles, or upwards, from the school.
21. If the time table of the school, in use throughout the year, has provided for one or more specific subjects of secular instruction according to the table in Schedule IV.,—
a.A grant of 4s. per subject may be made for every day scholar, presented in Standards IV.-VI. (Article 28), who passes a satisfactory examination in not more than two of such subjects.
b.Any scholar who has previously passed in Standard VI. may, if qualified by attendance, be presented for examination in not more than three of such specific subjects.
c.No payment will be made under this Article if less than 75 per cent, of the passes attainable in the Standard Examination, by the scholars presented for examination (Article 28), has been obtained.
d.No grant may be claimed under this Article on account of any scholar who has been examined, in the same subject, within the preceding year, by the Department of Science and Art.*
e.The amount claimed under this Article is not taken into account in making a reduction under Article 32 (a.) 2.
f.After the 31st of March, 1877, every girl presented under this Article must take domestic economy (Schedule IV., Column 10) as a subject of examination.

* See Science Directory (September, 1875), Section LI. "No pupil in an elementary school, receiving aid from the Education Department, Whitehall, may be presented for examination by the Science and Art Department, in any subject of science, who has not passed Standard VI. of the New Code: nor who has been examined within the preceding six months in the same subject by Her Majesty's Inspectors."

page 66

Grants to Evening Schools (Articles 106-112).

22. The managers of a school which has met not less than 45 times in the evening, in the course of a year, as defined by Article 107, may claim (Articles 108 and 109),—
(a.)The sum of 4s. per scholar, according to the average number in attendance throughout the year (Article 26).
(b.)For every scholar who has, in the year, been under instruction, in secular subjects, for not less than 40 hours during evening meetings of the school, 7s. 6d., subject to examination (Article 28), viz., 2s. 6d. for passing in reading, 2s. 6d. for passing in writing, and 2s. 6d. for passing in arithmetic.

Calculation of Attendance.

23. Attendance at a morning or afternoon meeting may not be reckoned for any scholar who has been under instruction in secular subjects less than two hours,* if above, or one hour and a half if under, seven years of age; nor attendance at an evening meeting for any scholar who has been under similar instruction less than one hour.

24. Attendance of boys at military drill, under a competent instructor, or of girls at lessons in practical cookery, approved by the inspector, for not more than two hours a week, and 40 hours in the year, may, in a day school, be counted as school attendance.

25. Attendances may not be reckoned for any scholar in a day school under 3 or above 18, or, in an evening school, under 12 or above 21, years of age.

26. The average number in attendance for any period is found by adding together the attendances of all the scholars' for the same period, and dividing the sum by the number of times the school has met within the same period; the quotient is the average number in attendance.

27. In calculating the average number in attendance, the attendances of half-time scholars reckon for no more than those of other scholars.

* This may include an interval of 15 minutes for recreation during a meeting of 3 hours, or of 5 to 10 minutes in a shorter meeting,

Not including any time allowed for recreation.

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Standards of Examination.

28. Standard. I. Standard II. Standard III. Standard IV. Standard V. Standard VI. Reading.

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29. Scholars may not be presented a second time for examination—
(a.)Under a lower Standard; or,
(b.)Under the same Standard, unless they fail to pass in more than one subject in that Standard (Article 19 B. 3 and 4).

30. Suspended Articles.

31. Suspended Articles.

Reduction of Grant.

32. The amount which may be claimed by the managers under Articles 19, 21, and 22 is reduced,—
(a.)By its excess above,—
1.The income of the school from fees, rates,' and subscriptions; and
2.One-half* the expenditure (see Article 21e.) on the annual maintenance of the school,

in the year defined by Article 13.

(b.)By not less than one-tenth, nor more than one-half in the whole, upon the inspector's report, for faults of instruction, discipline, or registration, on the part of the teacher, or (after six months' notice) for failure on the part of the managers to remedy any such defect in the premises as seriously interferes with the efficiency of the school, or to provide proper furniture, books, maps, and other apparatus of elementary instruction. If the inspector at a visit without notice (Article 12), not less than six months after intimation has been given of the requirements of the Department, reports that they have not been carried into effect, a deduction may be made from the next grant to the school, (c.)—
(c.)
1.If a staff of pupil-teachers (Article 70) is not provided at the rate of one for every 40 (or fraction of 40) scholars in average attendance, after the first 60,—
  • A deduction, at the rate of 1l. for the year will be made on account of each of the first 20 scholars out

    * This reduction is not made in the case of the first grant paid to a school,

    This may include part of the salary of an organizing teacher, or of a teacher of drill, cooking, or any other special subject (Article 21), employed by the managers of several schools; but not expenditure on such items as school treats, clothing, money prizes, or any outlay on the premises beyond the cost of ordinary repairs.

    page 69 of every 40 for whom a pupil-teacher is required but not provided.*
2.A certificated (Article 43) assistant teacher, or an assistant fulfilling the conditions of Article 79, is equivalent to two pupil-teachers.
3.In mixed, girls, and infant schools a woman (not less than 18 years of age) who is employed during the whole day in the general instruction of the scholars, and in teaching sewing, is, if approved by the inspector, accepted as equivalent to a pupil-teacher.
(d.)By one-twelfth for each month of interval between the employment of two certificated teachers (Article 17d.). This reduction is not made if the interval does not exceed three months during which the school has been in charge of an uncertificated teacher.

33. If the excess of scholars has arisen from increased attendance of children since the last settlement of the school staff (Article 39), the amount claimed by the managers is not reduced under Article 32c.

* According to this rule,—

(1.)No pupil-teacher is required for the first 60 scholars.
(2.)One pupil-teacher is required for any number of scholars between 61 and 100, inclusive.
(3.)Two pupil-teachers are required for 101 to 140 scholars, and so on.

School Diary or Log-Booh.

34. In every school receiving annual grants, the managers must provide out of the school funds, besides the Code for the year, and registers of attendance (Article 17h),—
(a.)A diary or log-book.
(b.)A portfolio to contain official letters, which should be numbered (1, 2, 3, etc.) in the order of their receipt.

35. The diary or log-book must be stoutly bound and contain not less than 300 ruled pages.

36. The principal teacher must make at least once a week in the log-book an entry which will specify ordinary progress, visits of managers and other facts concerning the school or its teachers, such as the dates of withdrawals, commencements of duty, cautions, illness, etc., which may require to be referred to at a future time, or may otherwise deserve to be recorded.

37. No reflections or opinions of a general character are to be entered in the log-book.

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38. No entry once made in the log-book may be removed or altered otherwise than by a subsequent entry.

39. The summary of the inspector's report after his annual visit, or any visit made without notice, and any remarks made upon it by the Department, when communicated to the managers, must be immediately copied verbatim into the log-book, with the names and standing (certificated teacher of the—-class, or pupil-teacher of the—--year, or assistant teacher) of all teachers to be continued on, or added to, or withdrawn from, the school staff, according to the decision of the Department upon the inspector's report. The correspondent of the managers must sign this entry, which settles the school staff for the year.

40. The inspector will call for the log-book and portfolio at every visit, and will report whether they appear to have been properly kept. He will specially refer to the entry made pursuant to Article 39, and he will require to see entries accounting for any subsequent change in the school staff. He will also note in the log-book every visit paid without notice (Article 12), making an entry of such particulars as require the attention of the managers.