The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 42
I.—Amendments in the Law
I.— Amendments in the Law.
1. It is now the duty of the Minister to apportion annually, on or before the first of May in each year, the Legislative Grant in aid of Public and Separate Schools according to the returns for the last preceding year of the whole population of Ontario, which the Clerks of the respective Counties, Cities and Towns separated are now required to furnish to the Minister on or before the first day of April in each year. This duty is, therefore, to be performed immediately by the Several Clerks, using as the basis of their returns for the population of each County, City or Town separated the Assessment Rolls for the last year.
2. School Corporations purchasing authorized prize or library books, maps or apparatus from booksellers or others, are entitled to an equal amount from the Depository stock or half in cash, as they may desire. Normal School Students can obtain from the Depository, at cost price, text and library books, maps and apparatus; Teachers' Associations, works on education, and Public Institutions receiving Provincial aid, library, prize and text books, maps and apparatus.
3. The Franchise in the case of all Public Schools has been extended so as to include income voters who have paid a school tax, while all formerly qualified continue to be so.
4. The mode of electing the Trustees of School Boards in Cities, Towns, Villages and Townships, has been clearly provided for, as will be seen from the Act itself; while in the case of Rural School Sections the old mode has not been changed except as to the day of the Annual Meeting, which will in future be on the last Wednesday in December in each year, or if a holiday, on the day following.
5. The duties of Municipal Councils in organized Townships apply to every organized Township in the Province; but with respect to unorganized Townships and Municipalities composed of more than one Township, but without County organization, the law is now clear, owing to the amendment in section 10 of the new Act, which provides that the Municipal Councils in such case can form portions of the Townships into School Sections or a School Board as they see fit.
6. It is important to know that the powers of Trustees of rural school sections to levy or collect upon their own authority public school rates has ceased, excepting as to pending proceedings, which may be prosecuted until the rates are collected; and henceforth the machinery for the collection of all school rates as well as other rates is the same, the basis for the requisition of the School Trustees being the Assessment Roll, and the collections being through the Municipal Collector and other Municipal officials.
7. Any surplus school money (not derived from the Municipalities' Fund, or the Municipal Loan Fund surplus) may be apportioned amongst school sections according to the average attendance of pupils at each school.
8. The amount payable from the County Rate for Teachers' salaries can either be paid by the County Treasurer under the direction of the County Inspector to any teacher direct, or transmitted to the respective sub-Treasurers.
9. It is made clear that all pupils, children of non-residents, are liable to pay a school fee, not exceeding twenty-five cents for each month.
10. In arbitrations for taking school sites all interests, including those of Owners, Mortgagees, Tenants and others, can be dealt with.
12. The Public School Board of any City is empowered to constitute one or more of the Public Schools in such City a Model School for the preliminary training of Public School Teachers, subject to the Regulations of the Department.
(1.) | The Municipal Council may, by a two-thirds vote, refuse to raise the amount demanded. |
(2.) | In case of refusal the School Board may require the question to be submitted to the Municipal electors qualified to vote on By-laws for creating debts, and on the assent of a majority of the electors being obtained the Municipal Council must pass the By-law. |
15. In case of the Rural School Sections, Trustees cannot borrow or raise any money for expenditure on capital account unless the proposition has been first approved of at a general meeting of the qualified school electors.
16. The above provisions do not apply to cases where School Boards have, before the passing of this Act (the 11th March, 1879); resolved upon or entered upon any such expenditure under their former powers.
17. Debentures for the loan of money for School purposes may be for a term not exceeding twenty years; and may be repayable by instalments of principal as provided by the Municipal Act.
18. The Board of Examiners for the admission of pupils to the High School is now confined to the Public School Inspector and the Head Master of the High School, the expenses being equally borne by both School Boards, after deducting any fees therefor to be prescribed by the Regulations of the Department under which candidates, being non-residents of the County (or City or Town separated), will be required to pay a moderate fee; as also unsuccessful candidates.
19. As to High Schools, the thirtieth section has been made more clear, so as to carry out what was intended. The Board of Education, while one corporation, is yet to act in Public School matters and High School matters respectively, as if invested with all the powers of Public and High School Boards respectively.
20. In case of a tie in any quorum of a Public. Separate or High School Board on any question the Chairman has an additional vote to his own.