Chapter I: Preface

The object of this volume is to give a succinct idea of the nature and history of our Ontario School Legislation. This legislation is so bound up with the name of Egerton Ryerson that to give its history is to relate the work of his life.

It would be useless to attempt to show how our school legislation developed under Responsible Government without some understanding of its history previous to the time of Ryerson. I have, therefore, devoted three chapters to a brief account of education in Upper Canada previous to 1844.

No attempt has been made to give the history of our schools since Ryerson's retirement, partly because no radical changes have been made, and partly because it would involve criticism of statesmen and teachers who are still actively engaged in work. Nor has any attempt been made to trace the history of University education after 1845. To do so would require a complete volume. But, as University education prior to 1844 was so closely connected with Common and Grammar Schools, it seemed necessary, up to a certain point, to trace the course of all three together.

The introductory chapter on the biography of Ryerson is only indirectly connected with the other chapters, and may be omitted by the reader who has no interest in the man himself.

It is hoped that this volume may encourage teachers in service and teachers in training to acquire a fuller knowledge of their own educational institutions.

THE AUTHOR.

OTTAWA, July 1st, 1912.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Biographical 7

II. Education in Upper Canada from 1783 to 1844 33

III. Education in Upper Canada from 1783 to 1844--
(_Continued_) 58

IV. Education in Upper Canada from 1783 to 1844--
(_Continued_) 83

V. Ryerson's First Report on a System of Elementary
Instruction 110

VI. Ryerson's School Bill of 1846 123

VII. The Ryerson Bill of 1850 144

VIII. Ryerson and Separate Schools 173

IX. Ryerson and Grammar Schools 204

X. Ryerson and the Training of Teachers 232

XI. Ryerson School Bill of 1871 257

XII. Conclusion 264

Bibliography 269

Egerton Ryerson and Education in Upper Canada