17. PRIMARY EDUCATION. Previous to 1867 there existed in Canada four prov I inces, practically ind ndent of each other. These were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Islan These provinces es pecially Ontario and Quebec, differed very greatly. Speaking the people in Quebec were of French origin and spoke the French language. They were nearly all Roman Catholics. In Ontario most of the people were of British descent. The English language was the ordinary medium of communication. The great majority were Protestants—Anglicans, Presbyterians and Methodists being most numerous. When in 1867 confederation was effected, education was entrusted to each of the provinces, the Federal government merely re taining the right to introduce remedial legisla tion when rights or privileges of minorities were interfered with. Naturally, the systems worked out in each of the provinces differed in essential details — the governing bodies, the form of administration, the programs of studies and methods of instruction, varying to suit local conceptions.
Since 1867, five other provinces have joined confederation — New Brunswick, British Co lumbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. These have in turn developed systems suited to their needs.
Education Generally speaking, pri mary education is free to all pupils of school age, that is, from 5 or6 years to 18 or 21. In one of the provinces a fee may be charged, but this is merely nominal. In kindergarten schools and secondary schools, the payment of fees as supplementary to state, municipal, and district aid is sometimes permitted.
Central Governing In every case the system is administered by a central author ity. In Prince Edward Island the board of education consists of the executive council, the principal of Prince of Wales College and Normal School, and the chief superintendent of education, the last-named officer being ap pointed by the lieutenant-governor in council. In New Brunswick the board of education con sists of the lieutenant-governor, the executive council, the chancellor of the provincial univer sity and the chief superintendent of education, who is appointed by the lieutenant-governor in council. In Nova Scotia the council of public
instruction consists of members of the executive council, of whom five shall form a quorum, and the chief officer is a superintendent of education appointed by the lieutenant-governor in council. He is assisted by an advisory board of seven members, appointed by governor-in-council or elected by the teachers. In Quebec the council of public instruction consists of (1) the Roman Catholic bishops of the province, (2) an equal number of Roman Catholic laymen, (3) an equal number of Protestants. The last two classes are appointed by the lieutenant-governor in council. This council of public instruction is divided into two committees known as the Roman Catholic and the Protestant committee, each being concerned with the administration of schools of its own kind. The two committees may have associated with them persons chosen or elected because of expert knowledge. The practical administration of schools is carried on through a superintendent of education, who is appointed by the lieutenant-governor in council, and through two secretaries, one for each sec tion of the council of public instruction. In Ontario the department of education 'consists of the executive council or a committee thereof, and the head of this department is known as the minister of education. Thee practical adminis tration is conducted by a superintendent of education who is assisted by chosen specialists and specially qualified school inspectors. In Mai.itoba the executive council forms the de partment of education. One of the members of the executive council is known as the minister of Under ent of education and a body of specially chosen workers assist in the work of administration. An advisory board consisting of members chosen by the government, the inspectors and the teachers of the province, has authority in such practical matters as the framing of a program of studies, the certification of teachers, the authorization of textbooks.