PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

\ RINCE EDWARD ISLAND possesses an excellent edu- Tl cational system, which is under the control of a Board 1:: composed of the Chief Superintendent of Education, the

Principal of the Prince of Wales College and Normal School, and the Members of the Executive Council. There are three Inspectors, one for each County, and also an Inspector of French Schools. The Island is divided into school districts, and in each of these there are elected annually by the rate payers, three trustees who serve for a term of three years, one retiring every year. Schools are supported partly by government grants and partly by district assessments. The school age is between the years of 5 and 16. Attendance between 8 and 13 is compulsory, but it has never been enforced. The school system is free. Schools are divided into three classes, primary, advanced and high. In the country districts the school houses are rarely more than three miles apart, and in the majority of cases, there is but one teacher for each. There are, however, a number of graded schools.

Prior to 1852, when the Free School system was introduced, the schools were mainly supported by voluntary subscription and with such local assistance as could be had. Before that year, there existed some good private schools, and one Central Academy for the higher branches of knowledge, but there was no definite school system. Since 1877, the year in which the Public Schools’ Act was passed, many improvements have been introduced into the educational system.

The average salary paid first»class tnale teachers is $440, female teachers $332; second»class male teachers $254, female teachers $221; third—class male teachers $197, and female teachers $150.

Teachers are paid from the Provincial Treasury, but such salaries may be supplemented by local assessment. Those employed previous to 1896 are, after a service of five years, entitled to a small bonus.

The total number of teachers in 1898 was 581; of school districts 470; and of schools 468. The number of pupils was 21,852, and the average daily attendance was 13,377. The