An Act Respecting Common Schools.

[15^th May, 1865]

Whereas, it is expedient that Provisions should be made for the Establishment, Maintenance and Management of Common Schools, in the Colony of Vancouver Island and its Dependencies: be it therefore enacted by the Governor on Her Majesty's Behalf, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Legislative Council and Assembly of Vancouver Island, as follows:
Governor to appoint General Board of Education.	1. It shall be lawful for the Governor from Time to Time to appoint not less than Nine Persons, who shall constitute a General Board of Education, Three of whom shall form a Quorum.
General Board shall be a Body Corporate.	2. The General Board of Education shall be a Body Corporate with all the general Powers of Law affecting
General Board to meet once a Month and to Report in regard to Schools.	3. The General Board of Education shall meet at least Once a Month, and shall Report to the Governor as to the State and Condition of Common Schools, and other Particulars relating thereto at such Times and in such Manner and Form as the Governor shall from Time to Time in that behalf direct.
Governor may appoint Superintendent of Schools.	4. It shall be lawful for the Governor to appoint a Superintendent of Education for the said Colony, at a Salary of Fifteen Hundred Dollars per Annum, who shall ex officio be Secretary of the said Board, and record the Proceedings thereof.
Superintendent to continue in Office for One Year. Salary.	5. The Superintendent shall, unless he resigns or is removed from Office for neglect of Duty, improper Conduct or Incompetency, continue in Office for One Year from the Date of his Appointment, and shall be entitled Annually to not more than Fifteen Hundred Dollars, without any Additional Allowances for Travelling Expenses or other Charges.
General Board may establish School Districts, and prescribe Course of Education.	6. It shall be lawful for the said Board from Time to Time with the Approval of the Governor to establish as many School Districts in the said Colony as they shall deem expedient, and to prescribe such Course of Education and Discipline, and to select and Prescribe for Use in each District School, such Books as they may think best, and to authorize the Purchase and Distribution thereof.
Governor to appoint School Teachers.	7. It shall be lawful for the Governor from Time to Time to appoint such Persons as he shall think fit to be Teachers of Common Schools.
Governor may appoint a Local Board of Education in any School District.	8. It shall be lawful for the Governor from Time to Time to appoint a Local Board of Education, of not less than Three Persons in any School District if he shall think it expedient so to do.
Local Board to visit and Report on state of Schools.	9. Such last named Board shall have Power and Authority to Visit and report on the State of the Schools within its District for the Information and Guidance of the General Board of Education.
Local Boards subject to control of General Board.	10. The General Mode of transacting Business by such Local Board of Education, and the Nature of the Reports to be furnished shall be subject to the Order and Direction of the General Board of Education.
Duties of Teachers subject to control of General Board.	11. The Duties of all Teachers of Common Schools shall be subject to the Order and Direction of the General Board of Education.
Superintendent to Visit and Report in regard to Schools.	12. It shall be the Duty of the Superintendent of Education to visit Common Schools and Report thereon, by the Order and according to the Instructions of the General Board of Education.
Schools to be conducted upon Non Sectarian Principles.	13. All Schools established under the Provisions of this Act shall be conducted strictly upon Non Sectarian Principles. Books inculcating the highest Morality shall be selected for the Use of such Schools, and all Books of a Religious Character, teaching Denominational Dogmas shall be strictly excluded therefrom.
Clergy may visit Schools and impart Religious Instruction.	14. It shall be lawful for the Clergy of every Denomination at stated Intervals to be fixed by the General Board of Education to visit such Schools and impart in a separate Room Religious Instruction to the Children of their respective Persuasions.
Schools open to Children of Persons of all Denominations. Power of Expulsion.	15. Every Common School shall be open to the Children of Persons of all Denominations; the Power of Expulsion in Cases of gross Misconduct shall be at the Discretion of the Board of Education, or in the Absence of such Local Board at the Discretion of the Teacher.
Short Title.	16. This Act may be cited for all Purposes as "The Common School Act, 1865."

Passed the Legislative Assembly the 5^th day of May, 1865. R.W. TORRENS Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
Passed the Legislative Council the 12^th day of May, 1865. E.J. NESBITT, Clerk of the Legislative Council.
I assent to this Act in the Name and on Behalf of Her Majesty, this 15^th day of May, 1865. A.E. KENNEDY, Governor.