Part I.—Department of Education.

Expenses of administering department to be appropriated by General Assembly.

Subject to any such appropriation, regulations may be made prescribing the times and manner at and in which such moneys shall be paid or applied.

Part IV.—Public Schools and Management Thereof.

(1) Course of Instruction in Public Schools.

"School age" defined.

83. No child above school age shall be admitted at any public school without the special leave of the Committee, unless such school is a district high school.

"School age" means any age between the years of five and fifteen, reckoned in each case from the last preceding birthday.

Public Schools to be conducted in accordance with regulations.

84. Every public school shall be conducted in accordance with the following regulations (a copy of which regulations shall be conspicuously put up in every school), namely :—

Course of Instruction in Public Schools.

(1.)	The subjects of Instruction shall be as follows :— Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, English Grammar and page 56 Composition, Geography, History, Elementary Science and Drawing, Object Lessons, Vocal Music, and (in the case of girls) Sewing and Needlework, and the Principles of Domestic Economy. But no child shall be compelled to be present at the teaching of History whose parents or guardians object thereto.
(2.)	The school shall be kept open five days in each week for at least four hours, two of which in the forenoon and two in the afternoon shall be consecutive, and the teaching shall be entirely of a secular character.
(3.)	The school buildings may be used on days and at hours other than those used for public school purposes, upon such terms as the Committee may from time to time prescribe.
(4.)	The class books used in the school shall be such only as shall be approved by the Governor in Council.
(5.)	The school shall be open at all times to the visits of an Inspector.
(6.)	No fees shall be payable at any public school except as hereinbefore provided in the case of district high schools.

(2) Compulsory Education, Exemptions.

Every Child above seven, nor more than thirteen, to attend School.

89. Subject to the provisions of this Act, the parent or guardian of every child not less than seven, nor more than thirteen, years of age shall, in case such child lives within a school district, send such child to school for at least one-half of the period in each year during which the school is usually open.

Exemptions.

90. The parent or guardian of any child may apply for and receive a certificate from the Committee in the school district in which such child resides exempting such child from attendance in whole or in part at school, upon satisfying the Committee of the existence of any one of the following grounds, namely :—

(1.)	That the child is under efficient or regular instruction otherwise, or is attending some private school or some educational institution not supported by grants from the Board, and which school or institution provides for instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic on weekdays.
(2.)	That the child is prevented from attending school by sickness, danger of infection, temporary or permanent infirmity, or other unavoidable cause.
(3.)	That the road between the child's residence and the school is not sufficiently passable for such child.
(4.)	That one of the Inspectors or the master of any public school has, by writing under his hand, certified that page 57 such child has reached a standard of education prescribed by any regulations under this Act.

And every such certificate of exemption shall state the ground of exemption, and shall be in force for a period of one year or for a shorter period, as may be named in such certificate; and during the period named in such certificate the holder thereof shall be freed from the operation of the provisions of this Act in respect of the child named therein : Provided always that any parent dissatisfied with the decision of a Committee in refusing to grant an exemption certificate may appeal to the Board against such decision, and the Board may overrule or confirm such decision.

In case Child does not attend School, notice may be given.

91. In case any Committee ascertains that any child between the ages of seven and thirteen years, and resident within the distance of two miles from a public school within its district, does not attend school, the clerk, or any member of such Committee, may give the parent or guardian of such child notice in writing, in the form or to the effect in the Third Schedule hereto, calling upon such parent or guardian to send such child to school.

Proceedings to compel attendance.

92. If the parent or guardian of any child, between the ages of seven and thirteen, resident within two miles from a public school, not holding a certificate of exemption as aforesaid in respect of such child, refuses or neglects to send such child to a public school after having been called upon in manner aforesaid to do so, the parent or guardian of such child may be summoned before any two Justices of the Peace, who may order such parent or guardian to send such child to a public school.

(3) Penalties in Certain Cases.

Penalty for non-compliance with order of Justices.

93. In case any parent or guardian, after having been ordered as aforesaid by any two Justices of the Peace to send any child to a public school, neglects to obey such order, or having obeyed the same for a time, without sufficient cause ceases to do so, such parent or guardian shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding forty shillings, and the same proceedings may be taken week by week in the case of failure by such parent to comply with the order aforesaid.