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The daily attendance at the Central School has seen a decline in its average numbers, dropping from 416 in 1879 to 393 in 1880. This decrease is doubtless due mainly to the increase in school fees from half a dollar to a dollar a month. This change also accounts for the fact that the school fees, which amounted to $2,636 in 1879, reached $3,968 in 1880, despite having a smaller number of scholars.
Sir Michael Hicks Beach was of the opinion that whilst it was proper to increase the school fees from fifty cents to a dollar, it might be desirable to increase them still further for those pupils whose parents could afford to pay at the rate charged in other schools. I concur in this view, but pending the report of the Commission now taking evidence respecting the Central School, I have not sanctioned any further increase in the school fee.
At the same time, it is clearly desirable not to maintain, for too long, a system by which Government aid, to the extent of $11,000 for a single school, is met by a contribution of only $4,000. As I have before now pointed out, it tends to check private enterprise in Education, and, in my opinion, has done harm.
I also take this opportunity of laying before Your Lordship the minutes of an independent examination held, at my request, at the Central School in January last. This was the first time that...