256 .T. G. BOUEINOT 



The school teachers, as a class, are very poorly paid iu this island compared with those 

 ill the western province of Ontario. The highest salary paid in the superior grades is 

 $370 (in Cape Breton county) and the lowest $193, but there is relatively little disparity 

 between male and female teachers. The women's salaries in the higher schools range from 

 $318 to $193 a year, and the men's from $370 to $258. In the lower grade of schools the 

 salaries range for men from $212 to $122, and for women from $231 to $116 — those of the 

 latter being on the average in these classes higher than those of the men.' The teachers 

 in the academies, graded schools and larger sections are regarded as very com- 

 petent ; but in many of the smaller rural parts they are very inferior, and this is a fact 

 easily explained by the very low salaries that are offered. In some places there is said to 

 be a curious battle going on between the Gaelic teacher and his English pupils who find 

 more amusement than profit from their instruction in a hybrid tongue. Nepotism prevails 

 in Cape Breton, as it does elsewhere in official circles, and the rviral trustee finds it very 

 convenient to foist off a poor relation on his district. In all the country sections, school 

 matters are administered by a board of three trustees, but in the incorporated towns the 

 municipal council appoint three of their number to act on a school board, and the govern- 

 ment select two other persons on the nomination of course of the local political manager 

 — a fact showing the tenacity with which Nova Scotian politicians cling to patronage, 

 however humble. All the people, irrespective of sects, contribute to the support of the 

 public schools, and a separate school system has practically no recognition in Nova Scotia. 

 In the larger towns there are convents for the education of girls, but these are supported 

 by the voluntary contributions of the Roman Catholics, and have no connection with the 

 public schools of the island. The academies and schools generally are supported by pro- 

 vincial grants and by local taxes. On the whole, the people of Cape Breton have a system 

 of schools which fairly well represents their material and intellectual development. As 

 the island increases in wealth and the people feel more ambitious impulses, education iu 

 the rural sections will become of a higher order, and the teacher in his salary and qualifi- 

 cations will illustrate the intelligence and enterprise of the community where he pursues 

 his laborious and responsible occupation. 



It is interesting to the people of Cape Breton to learn that at an early period of their 

 history an intelligent English officer wished to give their island a higher position in the 

 o-overnment of British America. Colonel Morse, of the Royal Engineers, in 1784, made a tour 

 of Nova Scotia under the orders of Sir Guy Carleton, commander-in-chief of his majesty's 

 forces in North America, and stated in his "Observations" on the defences and security 

 of the province that he was " strongly impressed with the idea of uniting these provinces 

 I Nova Scotia and New Brunswick] with Canada, to the advantage of both countries, and 

 that by establishing the same laws, inducing a constant intercourse and mutual interest, 

 a o-reat country may yet be raised up in America,, to facilitate which it may be found 

 proper to establish a seat of general government and protection," and for this end it 

 occurred to him that " the island of Cape Breton is very favourably situated." It is a 



' One gentleman to whom I am indebted for information on tliis point says that " miserably small as tlie 

 salaries of the lower class teachers are (especially in Inverness where they are nearly three-fifths of the whole) they 

 are, so far as the contribution of the section goes, in some few cases, I believe paid in the way of board, the 

 teachers being passed along from one house to the other." Thi.s shows the primitive state of things in certain 

 parts of Cape Breton. 



