THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 581 



schools was introduced, which was attended with results that were most en- 

 couraging. This was the Grant-in-aid System. Under it communities that 

 originated schools by local effort were aided by the public funds, on condition 

 that the schools established would be non-sectarian; that they would be con- 

 ducted on lines laid clown by the Board of Education, and subject to the 

 examination of the public inspector. This extended Ihe benefits of education to 

 a number of settlements, that might otherwise have continued without schools, 

 and served to promote a more intelligent appreciation of the advantages of 

 education. 



A serious drawback to the progress of the schools lay in the low estimate 

 of their value, on the part of their patrons. Many seemed indifferent to the 

 opportunity afforded their children. The attendance was consequently poor. 

 Some of the school rooms were reported to be a half to two-thirds empty. The 

 schools, to be sure, could not accommodate all children of school age in the 

 Colony, but there was room for more than were in attendance. The enervating 

 climate, the natural indolence of many of those who were to be served, and 

 the desire of many parents to have their children occupied in remunerative 

 employments; these things militated against the success of the schools. The 

 inspector, noting these conditions, repeatedly recommended the passage of a 

 compulsory education law. After twenty years of such recommendation, the 

 legislature at last gave attention to this apathetic indifference to educational 

 advantages, and enacted a law requiring attendance at the schools on the part of 

 all children between the ages of six and twelve. At first this applied only to 

 the island of New Providence. But its salutary results there influenced the 

 legislature to extend its provisions to certain settlements in the Out-islands. 

 Increased attendance and an increased number of school days resulted. There 

 were numerous instances of the application of the penalties for disregard or 

 neglect of the law in the districts to which it applied. In 1889, this law was 

 made applicable to every school district in the Bahamas. This regulation was 

 not, however, without evil results. Parents were more careful to send child- 

 ren that came within the age limit of the law, but on the other hand, they took 

 them from the schools as soon as they passed that limit. The attendance of 

 those over twelve years of age was very irregular. In 1897, the age limit was 

 raised to fourteen years with a corresponding increase in favorable results. 



The payment of fees for attendance at the public schools was retained 

 until 1886. In 1885 the inspector recommended the abolition of them. 

 They had been difficult to collect throughout the history of the schools. The 



