Schools giving Higher

Education.

Elementary schools.

Statistics.

Queen's
College.

sewing teachers, and 84 monitors. These with 2 students in training and 13 persons employed in Grant-in-aid schools made a total of 164.]

Since 1882 the number of schools has increased 87 per cent., the names on the registers 130 per cent., the average attendance 170 per cent., and the cost 69 per cent. The percentage of the population in the Board schools then was 68; it is now 127.

[*During the early eighties the schools were conducted on an average 180 days each per year; but during the five years ending with 1900 the average number of days for each school including all those in which time was lost owing to change of teachers, sickness, temporary disuse of buildings, or other unavoidable causes was 204. This increase of about 13 per cent. in the regularity with which the schools have been conducted may be attributed mainly to the amendment of the Bye-law 8, and to the prominence with which the subject has been constantly kept before the minds of the teachers. It has occurred wholly in the Outisland schools, those in New Providence having been conducted as regularly during the former as during the latter period.

The better example and influence of the teachers may be credited with a large proportion of the improvement in regularity on the part of the pupils which is indicated by an increase of 170 per cent. in the average attendance, with an increase of only 130 per cent. in the names on the rolls.]

III. CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS.

For higher education there are in New Providence a Diocesan Grammar School with eighteen pupils, and two separate girls' schools with eight and twenty-five pupils respectively. There is a similar school on one of the Outislands with nine pupils. These are all supported by fees.

For elementary education there are five schools in New Providence with a total of 516 names on the rolls, which are supported partly by the respective Parish Vestries, and partly by funds derived from "Bray's Associates," and the "Christian Faith Society." There are also twenty-three schools on the Outislands with a total of 1,114 names on the rolls, and 663 in average attendance, the teachers of which are generally the most suitable persons to be obtained in the respective localities. They receive grants of £10 per annum out of funds derived from the above-named societies, and whatever they can obtain from the parents.

The total numbers in Church of England schools are therefore :Higher schools, 60; Elementary schools, on the rolls 1,630; average attendance, 932.

IV. QUEEN'S COLLEGE AND YOUNG LADIES' HIGH SCHOOL, ST.
ANDREW'S HALL.

This institution was founded in 1871 under a different name.
It has always been under Methodist management, except during a

* From the Annual Report of the Bahamas Board of Education. 1901,

short time when Methodists and Presbyterians co-operated; but there has never been any denominational teaching, and its advantages are open to all on very moderate terms. The number of pupils is at present twenty-two.

There is also a Kindergarten department in connection with the above, with twenty-six pupils of both sexes. These are both supported by fees.

This was at first a department of Queen's College, but is now Young Ladies' under separate management. High School, The curriculum embraces the usual English subjects, including St. Andrew's mathematics, theory of music, drawing and domestic economy, Hall. together with Latin, French and German. A local centre has been formed in connection with the London College of Preceptors; and many of the pupils hold its certificates.

The school is self-supporting, except that the Commissioners of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church grant the use of the hall rentfree.

The number of pupils is at present thirty-one.

V. ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

These are under the direction of a Mission from New York. In 1889 an Academy for the higher education of girls was commenced in Nassau.

For elementary education there are two schools in Nassau, with a total of 376 names on the rolls, and one on an Outisland with thirty-four. No information is available as to the average attendance or state of instruction.

VI. PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

There are fourteen of these in New Providence with a total of 244 names on the rolls, and nine on the Outislands with a total of 166. The average attendance is not known. Most of them seem to be kept by needy persons whose qualifications are very meagre ; and while some of them are so located that whatever good is effected by them would not be attained by other means, others serve to a great extent as places of refuge from the effects of the Compulsory Clauses for selfish parents and idle children.

VII. PROPORTION OF POPULATION UNDER TUITION.

Taking the total number on the rolls of all the schools in the Colony as being in round numbers 9,800, and the population at the census of 1901 as being, also in round numbers, 53,800, the proportion of the population under tuition of some kind and to some extent is 18.2.

February, 1902.

G. COLE,

Inspector and General Superintendent of
Schools.

Preamble.

APPENDIX A.

"THE EDUCATION ACT, 1886,"

(49 VIC., CAP. 16.)

WITH SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS INCORPORATED.

[In the Act as here given subsequent amendments are substituted for parts which have been repealed, and interpolations are made, so as to give a consecutive and connected reading of the law as it now stands, and to avoid the necessity of referring to numerous enactments. Such substitutions and interpolations are distinguished by being enclosed in square brackets, and the particular Enactment is indicated on the margin.] See also the Education Act 1886 Amendment Act 1900, below.

Whereas the laws relating to Popular Education are shortly about to expire and it is expedient that the same should be consolidated and amended; May it, therefore, please the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, that it may be enacted, and be it enacted by His Excellency Henry Arthur Blake, Esquire, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Bahama Islands, the Legislative Council and Assembly of the said Islands, and it is hereby enacted and ordained by the authority of the same as follows:[I. The Educational Department of the Colony shall be under the control of a Board which shall be styled "The Board of Education" and which (1 Ed. 7, cap. shall consist of His Excellency the Governor and twelve members eight of whom shall be selected from among the members of the Legislature and of those so selected at least five shall be members of the House of Assembly.] [II. His Excellency the Governor shall be styled President of the Board.]

Education
Board

6).

President (52 Victoria, сар. 19).

of members

Appointment [III. The Members of the Board shall be annually appointed and all vacancies in the Board filled up as they may from time to time occur, by (32 Victoria, His Excellency the Governor.]

cap. 19). Chairman (52 Victoria, cap. 19). Power and

authority of

Chairman

(52 Victoria, сар. 19).

[IV. The Governor shall appoint one of such members to act as Chairman of the Board who shall take the chair at all meetings of the Board in the absence of the Governor.]

[V. Such Chairman shall have the power and authority exercised by the Chairman of any of the Public Boards of the Colony in the general superintendence and control of all matters connected with the Educational Department of the Colony, in directing the payment of the monies of the said Board and otherwise as may be deemed necessary by him.]

[VI. Five of the members of the Board shall form a quorum and the Governor shall preside at all of its meetings at which he shall be present. In his absence, and in the absence of the Chairman, the senior member of the Board in the order of appointment shall take the chair.]

VII. The Board, subject to the provisions of this Act, may make, alter, or repeal bye-laws for the organization, discipline and management of the Department of Education and of the officers thereof, and for fixing the salaries and prescribing the qualifications and attainments and for the appointment of teachers and assistant teachers, and for determining the manner, condition and rules of their admission to and their removal from service in the said department, for fixing the periods of vacation and holidays and for prescribing the subjects to be taught and the books and materials to be used in all Government schools, and generally for carrying this Act into execution consistently with the true intent thereof, in all matters whatsoever, whether of the same nature as those herein before specified or not; such bye-laws, when approved by the Governor in Council, shall be published in the official newspapers and thereupon shall have the effect of law.

VIII. The present office bearers in the Educational Department shall Vested rights continue to hold their respective offices and to perform their respective of present duties as if appointed under this Act, subject in all respects to the control officers. of the said Board, and of His Excellency the Governor as heretofore.

IX. All appointments to any office or place in the said Department shall Appointvest in His Excellency the Governor on the recommendation of the Board. ments. Salary of X. The present Inspector of Schools shall during his tenure of office Inspector receive from the Public Treasury of these Islands the sum of [£250] a year. (52 Victoria,

cap. 27).

XI. Upon any vacancy occurring in the office of Inspector of Schools Vacancy in a trained teacher at the Borough Road School under the jurisdiction of the office of the British and Foreign School Society in England shall be appointed Inspector. at a salary of £250 a year, to be paid out of the Public Treasury of these

Islands.

XII. It shall be the duty of the Inspector of Schools to visit and inspect Duties of Inevery school in the Educational Department once at least in every year spector. and he shall also perform such other duties in the said Department as may be prescribed and appointed by the said Board.

XIII. The Board shall determine from time to time the travelling allow Travelling alance to be made to the Inspector for visiting the various Public Schools lowance to on the Out-Islands of the Colony. Inspector.

cap. 15).

[XIV. It shall be lawful for the Governor on the recommendation of Appointment the Board of Education to appoint from time to time teachers for the of teachers schools under the jurisdiction of the Board, and the Board shall have (55 Victoria. power after the appointment of any such teacher by the Governor to place such teacher in charge of any school under its jurisdiction, and to transfer or remove him or her from time to time from such school to any other school under the control of the said Board.]

XV. All complaints or charges of whatsoever nature made against any Complaints teacher shall be investigated by the Board which upon arriving at a deci- or charges how dealt sion shall submit the papers and evidence in the case together with the with. decision arrived at to His Excellency the Governor with a recommendation that such teacher be dismissed if in the opinion of the Board the offence justifies such a punishment.

XVI. The proceedings of the said Board shall be open to public inspection Publicity of in such way as the Board may regulate. proceedings.

XVII. That the Holy Bible and such other religious and secular works Books used. as the said Board may direct shall be the only books or lessons, as the case may be, permitted to be read in any of the schools as aforesaid; and that no catechism or sectarian work on the subject of religion shall be permitted to be used in any public school.

XVIII. From and after the passing of this Act it shall not be lawful School fees for any teacher or other person to demand or receive any school fees because abolished. of the attendance of children at the Public Schools of the Colony and all such fees hitherto payable are hereby abolished.

XIX. It shall be the duty of the Board as soon as practicable after the Reimbursepassing of this Act to make provision for the reimbursement to the teachers ment to of all losses sustained by them because of the abolition of the said fees. Teachers.

XX. All ministers of religion, all members of Council and of the Legis- Visitors. lature, and all persons nominated for the purpose by the Governor, shall be visitors of the said schools, and are respectively empowered to correspond with the said Board and communicate any suggestions or complaints to the said Board direct.

XXI. It shall be lawful to organise Local School Committees in any School Comdistrict where a Public School may be established, such Local Committees mittees. to consist of not more than five members, the majority of whom shall be appointed annually by the Governor, and the minority of whom shall be elected by the parents or guardians of the children attending the Public School in such district.

Transfer of

buildings.

No jurisdic tion over private schools.

Annual
Report.

Officers ineligible for other appointments.

Officers in

eligible for Assembly.

Board to make byelaws for the compulsory attendance of children at

school

(60 Victoria, cap. 27).

Exemption

from attend

ance

(60 Victoria, cap 27).

Reasonable excuses.

Enforcement of bye-laws

(51 Victoria, cap. 17).

(I.) The division of the Colony into School Districts, the method of conducting the election of elective members of Local School Committees, and the powers of supervision to be exercised within their respective districts by such Local Committees, to be prescribed by bye-law to be framed from time to time by the Board.

XXII. All buildings, books, stores, and other materials which, for the time being, are vested in the present Education Board, shall, during the continuance of this Act, vest in the Education Board appointed under the authority hereof.

XXIII. Nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to authorize the Board of Education established hereunder to interfere with any schools which have been or may be supported by means of voluntary subscription, or of funds derived from any Parliamentary or specific colonial grant except such interference is rendered necessary by the provisions relating to the compulsory attendance of children at school.

XXIV. The Board of Education shall in the month of January in each and every year, prepare and submit to the Governor in Council a report upon the progress and condition of popular education during the previous year, and such report shall be laid before the Legislature as soon as practicable thereafter.

XXV. It shall not be lawful for the Governor to appoint to any other office of profit or emolument the persons who may now or hereafter hold the office of Inspector of Schools or teacher to the Boys' Central School in the Island of New Providence.

XXVI. No officer appointed, or who shall hold office under this Act, shall be eligible to be elected or to serve as a member of the House of Assembly.

XXVII. The Board of Education may from time to time make Bye-laws for all or any of the following purposes:

(I.) Requiring the parents of children of such age not less than six years nor more than [thirteen] years as may be fixed by the bye-laws, to cause such children (unless there is some reasonable excuse) to attend school.

(II.) Determining the time at which children are so to attend school, provided that no such bye-law shall prevent the withdrawal of any child from any religious observance or instruction in religious subjects, or shall require any child to attend school on any day exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which his parents belong.

(III.) Imposing penalties for breach of any bye-law.

(IV.) Revoking or altering any bye-law previously made. XXVIII. Any bye-law under the previous section requiring a child between ten and [thirteen] years of age to attend school shall provide for the total or partial exemption of such child from the obligation to attend school, if the Inspector of Schools certifies that such child has reached a standard of education specified in such bye-law.

XXIX. Any of the following reasons shall be a reasonable excuse, namely:

(I.) That the child is under efficient instruction in some other manner. (II.) That the child has been prevented from attending school by sickness or any unavoidable cause.

(III.) That there is no Public School open which the child can attend within such distance, not exceeding one mile and a half, measured according to the nearest road from the residence of such child as the bye-laws may prescribe.

XXX. Any proceeding under this Act to enforce any bye-law may be taken, and any penalty for the breach of any bye-law may be recovered in a summary manner before the [Stipendiary and Circuit] Magistrate or Resident or Assistant Resident Justice [or a Justice of the Peace]; but