Education Act 1877
| Education Act 1877 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| New Zealand Parliament | |
| Commenced | 1 January 1878 |
| Legislative history | |
| Passed | 29 November 1877 |
| Repealed by | |
| Education Acts Compilation Act 1904 | |
| Status: Repealed | |
The Education Act 1877 established twelve regional education boards in New Zealand after the provinces were abolished and the central government took control of education. The act established that education would be free, compulsory, and secular for non-Māori children aged five to thirteen, and optional for Māori children.
History
[edit]Education had previously been the responsibility of provincial governments. Through the Abolition of Provinces Act 1875, the provinces ceased to exist on 1 January 1877.[1] The Canterbury education system developed by William Rolleston was used as an exemplar for the Education Act 1877, and under Rolleston's guidance, Charles Bowen helped form the legislation.[2] The act passed into law on 29 November 1877[3] and came into operation on 1 January 1878.[4]
The Education Act 1877 was repealed through the Education Acts Compilation Act 1904, also known under its short title "The Education Act, 1904", and passed into law on 4 November 1904.[5]
Effects
[edit]The act established that education would be free, compulsory, and secular for Pākehā children aged five to thirteen. Māori children were also welcome to attend school,[6] but compulsory primary school education for Māori children did not become law until 1894.[3] 435 Māori and part-Māori children were attending public schools during 1880.[7] In 1882, the Minister of Education stated: "A perceptible increase in the numbers of Maori and half-caste children attending the public schools, especially the latter, is recorded. The increase would be still more noticeable, but for the unwillingness on the part of many parents of both races to allow their children to be taught in schools open to both races".[8]
Compulsory attendance did not happen in practice. There were various exemptions: if a child lived more than two miles distant from a school or the road to school was not passable for a child; if the child had a sickness or disability that prevented attendance at school, or if the child attended a private school or had reached the standard set at a public school.[9] In 1880, only a few years after the act was passed, officials calculated that average attendance during the year was 76.6%.[7] Especially in rural areas, children often helped with tasks at home rather than attend school.[3][10] Epidemics could also dramatically affect attendance: for example, in 1882 there were serious outbreaks of scarlet fever, measles and diphtheria in different parts of the country that caused drops in attendance at school.[8] Ongoing truancy problems led to the introduction of the School Attendance Act in 1894.[11][12] This act also made school attendance (at a public or native school) compulsory for Māori children.
Education boards
[edit]The act established a tiered administration system. At the top, the Department of Education established the curriculum and provided funding to twelve education boards (Auckland, Taranaki, Wanganui, Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, North and South Canterbury, Westland, Otago and Southland).[9] Each of the boards in turn funded school committees responsible for individual schools.[3]
| Name of board | Succeeded | Founded | Expelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland Education Board | 1877 | ||
| Hamilton Education Board | 1877 | ||
| Hawkes Bay Education Board | 1877 | ||
| Taranaki Education Board | 1877 | ||
| Wanganui Education Board | 1877 | ||
| Wellington Education Board | 1877 | ||
| Nelson Education Board | 1877 | ||
| Grey/Greymouth Education Board (aka West Coast/Westland Education Board) |
1877 | ||
| Southland Education Board | 1877 | ||
| Westland Education Board | 1877 | ||
| Canterbury Education Board | 1877 | ||
| Otago Education Board | 1877 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "New Zealand Provinces 1848–77". Rulers.org. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ Gardner, Jim. "Rolleston, William". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Education Act passed into law". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Education Act 1877 (41 Victoriae 1877 No 21)". Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Education Acts Compilation Act 1904 (4 EDW VII 1904 No 20)". Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Education Act 1877 (41 Victoriae 1877 No 21)". www.nzlii.org. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
10. Nothing in this Act shall be binding on any Maori; but any Maori shall be at liberty to send his children to a public school under this Act.
- ^ a b "Education. Fourth annual report of the Minister of Education". Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives. Session I, E01: 6. 25 June 1881.
- ^ a b "Annual Education Report". Lyttelton Times. 28 June 1882.
- ^ a b "Education Act 1877 (41 Victoriae 1877 No 21)". www.nzlii.org. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "Hawke's Bay Board of Education". Hawkes Bay Herald. 16 April 1884.
From the Makaretu Committee, pointing out that at the beginning of the quarter, owing to the late grass-seed harvest, the attendance was below the average [...] Recently the attendance at Hastings was largely reduced for the hop-picking.
- ^ "[untitled editorial]". New Zealand Herald. 25 October 1894.
- ^ "School Attendance Act 1894 (58 VICT 1894 No 26)". www.nzlii.org. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2025.