E—l2.

REPORT UPON STMT. EDUCATION.

General Principles. To estimate the due importance of these provisions, it must l)c remembered that— («) Some cantons—such as Tessin, i'or instance—are inhabited almost wholly by Roman Catholics; 1 (b) In others—such as Vaud—the Protestants largely predominate ;" (c) In the total of all the cantons, the Roman Catholics form a very large proportion of the population ; and (d) In the case of all the cantons education is supported primarily and mainly 3 by direct local taxation 4 —taxation which, by reason oi' its directness and localness, is felt, and not merely talked of vaguely. The subsidiary cantonal regulations relating to religious exercises in public schools in a canton such as Tessin naturally differ very widely from those in such a one as Vaud ;■' but in the cases of primary and secondary schools the teaching of religion has the first place, as a rule, on the programme. 0 Primary education is only gratuitous during the compulsory period, and the regulating of the period being one of the powers left to the cantons — («) Differs according to localities; and (/;) Again, in localities, is not the same all the year round -^ because — (a) Field industry interferes somewhat in summer, 8 and (b) Although probably sometimes in certain places the weather affects attendance in winter, yet there is then far more time available, and availed of, for study. The average compulsory age period, however, is, so far as years arc to be reckoned, from the age of six and a quarter to that of nearly fourteen and a half. 9 (a) There arc over 90 per cent, of the children on the registers in average daily attendance ; 10 (6) Enforcement by proceedings at law has seldom to be resorted to; 11 (c) The excuses legitimately available for absences differ according to the regulations of the several cantons (of which the P>crnesc school laws 1- are a fair example) ; and (d) It is competent for parents to claim exemption for children from compulsory attendance by either sending their children to a private school, or by retaining them at home for private tuition. 13 In such latter case, however, they must submit to the annual examination in the school of the commune in which they live, whilst private schools are—■ (a) Under inspection by the cantonal Inspectors, 14 and (b) Are subjected to annual public examination by the official authorities. In either case, if the result of any examination be unsatisfactory, the children have to be sent to a public school.

Gratuitous feature.

Compulsory feature.

1 According to census of 1880, 130,017 Roman Catholics; whilst there were only 358 Protestants, and 402 of other religions ; see Stat., p. 8. 2 In 1880, Protestants, 219,427; Roman Catholics, 18,170; other religionists, 1,133; see Stat., p. 8. For further notice of Valid, see evidence of Mr. M. Arnold before R.E.C., 5430. 2 For component parts of school income, see— (a) Stat., for instance, Zurich, p. 30; Berne, p. 42 and seq. ; and Lucerne, p. s(">. (b) 1.E.C., vol. 13, p. 189. (c) B.L. rep., pp. 120-122. (d) School law of Canton Aargau, for instance, Arts. 88 and 89, B.L. rep., p. 512. (c) Loi sur les ecoles primaires publiques du Canton de Berne, 11 mai, 1870, Arts 18-35. 4 For explanation of system of taxation, see R.C., vol. 1, pp. 291 and 292, and other references as above. 5 For all the cantons, see Stat., pp. 13-28, and note Mr. M. Arnold's (May, 1886) report, p. 8. 6 See, for instance— la) Loi 11 mai, 1870, Art. 1, and (fc) Loi 26 juin, 1856, avec modification du 2 septembre, 18G7, sur les ecoles secondaires du Canton de Berne, Art. 11. But see note 9on p. 40. ' See also— (a) B.L. rep., p. 128, and (6) 1.E.C., vol. 13, p. 189. 8 See also Mr. M. Arnold's evidence before R.E.C., espec. 5545 and 5584.

9 But for laws and regs. in force in each canton see— (a) Stat., pp. 23-28. (b) B.L. rep., pp. 127 and 188. (c) Mr. M. Arnold's (May, 188G) report, p. 7, and hia evidence before R.E.C., espec. 5121 and 5543. Note also— («) 1.E.C., vol. 13, p. 189; (b) 11.C, vol. 1, p. 19, relating to Ziirich ; and (c) Loi 11 mai, 1870, Berne, Art. 8; and id) Aargau, B.L. rep., p. 507. "> See also— (a) 1.E.G., vol. 13, p. 180. (6) R.C., vol. 1, p. 290, re Ziirich. (c) Mr. jr. Arnold's (May, 188G) report, pp. 22 and 23, and his evidence before R.E.C., espec. 5213, 5540 and seq. Berne does not supply a good illustration ; sec rapport du Canton de Berne (hereafter termed B. rep.). Compare statistics with figures in N.Z. rep., p. ii. 1885. 11 See also B.L. rep., p. 119, and Mr, M. Arnold's evidence before R.E.C., espee. 5365. But note B. rep. 12 See (a) Arts. 7-10, .and (b) Stat., pp. 41-55. Note also Stat., pp. 28-40 and SG-230, for laws of other cantons. And see Mr. M. Arnold's evidence before E.E.C., espec. 5545, 5554 and seq. 13 See Mr. M. Arnold's evidence before R.E.C., 516C and seq. u See for instance, Art. 57, loi 11 mai, 1870, Berne.

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