Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-07-31
LETTER FROM MONTREAL.
Correspondence of the Alexandria GAZETTE
MONTREAL, July 2G, 1856.

MONTREAL, July &c, 1856.
One of my most pleasant visits was to
Montreal College, the Commercial, Scientif.
ic and Industrial School, which is at the
head of the Catholic division of the public
school system here. Unfortunately, Mr.. U.
E.. Archamhault, the principal, who is also
Superintendent of Schools, was out at the
turn, but the accomplished accountant, Mr.
O. p. Jacques, very courteously showed me
through the building and gave me all the
the information | desired concerning the
school system. In the province of Quebec
most of the people are Catholics, and even in
this city they are as three to one TO all other
denominations combined. Almost every.
body desires religious instruction in the
public schools, so the following arrange
ment has been made: Owners of real estate
are taxed twenty cents on the 500 for the
support of the schools, and the assessment
is made by two assessors. one Catholic,
the other o Protestant. These make out
four lists On the first is placed all proper
ty belonging TO Catholics; Oh the second,
all belonging to Protestants; on the third,
all belonging 10 companies, to persons who
are of neither religion, jointly to persons of
both religions, to those who ask in writing
to have their property placed on this list,
and to commercial houses which have not
stated that their property is to be placed on
the first or second lists; and on the fourth,
all property exempt from taxation. Israel.
ties, of whom there are very few here, can
have their property assessed on the
first, second, or third as they please.
All the money collected on the first list is
given to the Catholic, and all on the second
to the Protestant school commissioners; that
derived from the third being divided be.
tween them in proportion to their respective
constituencies. There are six commission
ers for each set of schools, three appointed
by the Provincial government and three by
the city. They serve three years, two re-
firing each year, and are fned from five TO
ten dollars for refusing to serve when ap.
pointed, but are exempt from appointment,
if they wish. for four years after their term
of service. 1t seems to be the custom to ap-
point two clergymen and tour laymen.
Teachers must have certificates either from
Normal School, or from the Board of Ex-
aminers of the district in which they teach,
and are appointed by the commissioners.
They must give two months notice of resig-
nation and must have the same notice Of
contemplated dismissal. Incapacity, negli-
gence, insubordination, bad conduct, or i'm
morality, are the only causes for dismissal.
The Protestant commissioners have a"mana-
gern and visitor" for their schools the
Catholics local superintendent elevated
by themselves This officer has powers
somewhat greater than those of our city
superintendent, for with the principals of
schools, he prescribes the course of studies,
text books, forms of registers, &C., subject
to the approval of the commissioners, and
may suspend teachers until the board can
act upon their cases. He cannot, however,
speak at q meeting of the commissioners
unless invited to do so by some member of
being in writing. The schools are not abso-
lutoly free, fee varying from twenty. Eve
cents month for primary schools to four
dollars month for the examiners
being collected from those who can
pay, and parents have choice of any
school in the city, there being no
districts.
Corporal punishment can bs inflicted by
principals only, and teachers must "abstain
from all offensive remarks or illusions with
respect to the school authorities, their fell
low teachers, the pupils, or their parents"
They must, also, "abstain from intimidating
the pupils either by word or gesture, en-
deavoring rather to inspire them with con-
fidence, and to encourage their efforts"
They must never leave their pupils alone,
"ether in class, study or recitation" keep
in during recess, allow pupils to 60 out for
a drink, or allow two out of the room at the
same time. They are allowed to punish by
private reprimand, by keeping in or depri-
val of recess, by public reprimand, by stand
ing pupils up not more than half an hour at
a time, bat not on the desks or Seats" by
requiring the committal of not less than
two, nor more than twenty lines, or by send.
ing to the principal. They may not whip
"nor even touch s. pupil" and they must be
in the yard and supervise them during re-
cess. and they must ''accustom their pupils
to calmness and moderation by being calm
and moderate themselves"
Pupils are under much the same regula-
tons as ours, but suspect the rules are
better carried out; at least children here
seem more polite and less boisterous than
with US. In the cemetery, few days ago,
boy wished to. know the time OF day; In
stead of yelling, as many of our boys of his
class would have done, "Say, mister, what
o'clock is it 2n he came up to my friend,
took of his hat, and asked as politely as the
finest gentleman could have done. This
politeness is not, however, imagine, en-
tirely the product of the schools, but is se
cured by better home discipline, for Can
adian working man I met on the boat com
ing here, himself the father of grown men,
told me, in speaking of his aged father, that
whenever he went to see him he kuelt to
receive his blessing, just as the great Eng
lish Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, used to
do, when he passed through the court room
of his father, who was Judge of an inferior