864 REPORT— 1901. 



smd Roman Catholic Churches, hut these make up less than twelve per cent, of 

 the whole. 



Between the years of five and fourteen education is compulsory, hut exemption 

 may be obtained in whole or in part on passing certain examinations. 



In Scotland the line of division between primary and secondary schools is not 

 nearly so clear as in England. 'Public School' means in Scotland any school, 

 whether primary or secondary, that is under the management of a School Board. 

 By the Education (Scotland) Act, 1872, eleven schools were scheduled ae Higher 

 Class Public Schools. There are now thirty such schools, all of them placed entirely 

 under the control of School Boards ' with a view to promote the higher education 

 of the country.' The fundamental difference between these and all the other 

 public schools of Scotland is that the Higher Glass Schools are debarred from 

 earning the annual parliamentary grant. All the other public schools are usually 

 referred to as ' grant-earning.' Voluntary schools are also grant-earning, since 

 they receive all the grants of the ordinary public schools, with the addition of an 

 annual grant of three shillings per pupil in average attendance. 



The Higher Class Public Schools are supported by contributions from the 

 municipal authorities of the district, according to ancient custom, by certain 

 endowments varying with each case, by fees, and by the rates. If need be, the 

 School Board may charge all the expenses of a Higher Class School on the rates, 

 except the salaries of teachers. The Board has great freedom in dealing with the 

 Higher Class Schools. It determines the qualihcations to be demanded from the 

 teachers, and has the power of causing candidates for the post of teacher to be 

 examined. This power is rarely, if ever, exercised. The qualification demanded is 

 usually the possession of a University degree. These schools are examined 

 annually. 



The grant-earning schools are subject to many more restrictions. Only duly 

 certificated teachers can be employed, and certain rigid rules aljout registl-ation, 

 accommodation, time-tables, religious instruction, have to be attended to. The 

 annual grant depends upon the report made by an inspector representing the 

 Scotch Education Department. As to the subjects studied, however, there is ud 

 rigid line mailcing ofl'the grant-earning schools from the others. The tradition of 

 the Scotti.sli Parish School is that each school is fit to prepare a lad to go direct 

 from school to university, and in the north-east of Scotland — thanks to the Dick 

 and Milne Bequests — the tradition is justified to this day. Speaking broadly, 

 however, the grant-earning school contents itself with efficient elementary work. 

 The Merit Certificate represents the attainments aimed at in the elementary public 

 schools. To gain this certificate the pupil must give evidence of a thorough 

 grounding in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and must have a good working 

 knowledge of elementary English, nature knowledge, and the more practical 

 aspects of geographj', with some general acquaintance with British history. But 

 wherever there is the least desire for higher education, arrangements are made 

 to carry the pupil beyond the Merit Certificate stage. This may be done in either 

 of two ways : (1) An Advanced Department may be formed, in which pupils who 

 have gained the Merit Certificate may be taught, in classes of not more than forty, 

 the subjects of English, geograpby, history, arithmetic, and as a rule drawing; 

 and in addition such of the following subjects as are found suitable under the cir- 

 cumstances: languages, mathematics, science. (2) A Higher Grade Department 

 may be established, or a whole school in a district may be set apart as a Higher 

 Grade School. In these schools or departments there must he a duly qualified 

 teacher for every thirty or fewer pupils on the roll, and there must be a well- 

 defined course of instruction approved by the Department, and extending over not 

 less than three years. The education in such schools may be predominantly 

 scientific or predominant! }' commercial, or they may give a course specially adapted 

 for girls, or for any special class of pupils. Considerable latitude is permitted in 

 proposing courses of study, even classical suhjects being permitted as a subordmate 

 part of a course that otherwise satisfies the department. But stringent conditions 

 are laid down to prevent scrappiiiess. 



As matters stand, Advanced Departments and Higher Grade Schools are meant 



