The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-08

3. An act respecting consolidated
schools.
4. An act respecting the school at
tendance of adolescents,
The amendments to the school laws
provide for new features which have
been found necessary to advance the
welfare of the pupils attending the
schools OF the Province. ARRANGEMENTS
have been made for medical and dental
inspection in tho public and separate
schools. The results thus far accom-
plished by the doctors and nurses en-
trusted with this work have amply
demonstrated the wisdom Of the course
adopted.
The act respecting compulsory school
attendance provides that every child In
Tho Province OF ontario between 3 and
IA years of age shall attend school Tor
the full term during which the school
OF the section or municipality In which
he resides Is open each year. unless ex-
cused for reasons which may be deemed
sufficient for his non-attendance.
The act respecting consolidated
schools provides that agreements may
be entered into for the consolidation OF
school sections composed OF portions or
townships and Incorporated villages OF
for the consolidation OF any of these
with any OF the others. These agree
ments shall be approved by the rate pay
ers in each section, and OF any village
or union school section or provisional
school section as set forth IN the act
In the act respecting the school
attendance of adolescents new ground
has been broken. After a careful sur
yey OF the whole question l concluded
that It was in the best interests OF the
youth Of the Province TO extend the
period of compulsory education. l felt
that tho need for the most complete
possible service from every Individual
was at this time more urgent than ever
md that there was a growing necessity
for continuing the education OF the
youth in order to get full value Tor
the money spent on his elementary
training Space does not permit OF an
exhaustive analysis OF this act. SUI
fee 1t to say that two plans have
been adopted by different countries for
tho extension OF the period OF compul-
sorry education OF the youth beyond IA
years OF age:
% To provide for compulsory full
time education beyond the period of IL
years of age.
CD To provide for part time educa-
ton.
The aim OF this act Is to combine
the essential features of these two plans
in "a far as they are applicable TO On
ario under present conditions.
To Keep Up High standard.
Never In the history OF the Province
has the demand for advancement along
educational lines been so persistent.
Realizing that In the main those de-
nands were Just, determined TO meet
the growing requirements by provid-
ing an adequate means whereby the
youth of our country would be able TO
obtain the educational training which
would best prepare him for the par
ticular vocation to which he might as
pire.
The Province OF Ontario has a his
toric system OF education. 1t was a
| pioneer in educational organization and
extended the benefits OF free elementary
teaching to every child in the CON-
munity. 1t Is Ontario's ambition TO keep
| her traditional position OF primacy In
all sane educational advance. The
achievements of Canadian soldiers
half OF whom came from this province
bear witness to the high standard OF
intelligence among the youth of our
land. Our aim IL to keep this standard
| hlgh-to train up a generation strong
in body, disciplined in mind. skilled In
| hand. honest and reverent in soul
worthy citizens of this fair land.
Education" as Mr.. II. A. L. Fisher
has we'll said, "is the eternal debt which
maturity owes to youth" We are seek.
ing to pay this debt as generously a.
we can. For who can estimate the ca.
pacity and influence OF a nation OF thor.
oughly well educated. well disciplined
men and women?