Ryerson Memorial Volume Prepared on the occasion of the unveiling of the Ryerson statute in the grounds of the Education department on the Queen's birthday, 1889 — Context and Discussion

Preliminary Remarks 1

Appeal for Funds for the Erection of the Statue 3

The Financial Results of the Appeal Made--Particulars of the Statue 5

Programme of Arrangements for Unveiling the Statue 5

Inscription on the Statue Pedestal 6

Record of Rev. Dr. Ryerson's Services 7

Report of Ceremony of Unveiling the Statue (from _The Globe_) 8

Address of the Hon. G. W. Ross, Minister of Education 9

The Statue Unveiled by Sir Alexander Campbell, Lieutenant-Governor 11

Report of the unveiling by _The Empire_ and _The Mail_ 13

Comments of the Press on the Unveiling of the Statue 15

THE ADDRESSES DELIVERED AT THE UNVEILING OF THE STATUE, VIZ.:

1. By Mr. Robert McQueen, President of the Teachers' Association of Ontario 17

2. By Alderman McMillan, Acting Mayor of Toronto 19

3. By Hon. Senator Macdonald, representing the University of Toronto 20

4. By Rev. Dr. Burwash, representing the University of Victoria College 22

5. By Sandford Fleming, LL.D., C.M.G., representing the University of Queen's College 23

6. By Rev. Professor Clark, M.A., representing the University of Trinity College 24

7. By Professor T. H. Rand, D.C.L., representing McMaster University 25

EDUCATION IN ONTARIO, PAST AND PRESENT--AN HISTORICAL RETROSPECT, BY J. GEORGE HODGINS, M.A., LL.D., VIZ.:

Significance of the Event of the Day 27

The Ontario System of Education--Its Influence Abroad 27

Comprehensive Character of the Ontario Educational System 28

Character and System of Education Abroad, and Lessons Therefrom 29

Educational Lessons to be Learned Outside of Ontario 29

Three Educational Periods in the History of Ontario 30

Colonial Chapter in the History of American Education 30

The Nine British Colonial Universities in the Thirteen Colonies 32

The United Empire Loyalist Period in Upper Canada 36

Governor Simcoe's Educational Views in 1795 37

Early Beginnings of Education in Upper Canada, 1785-1805 37

State of Education in Upper Canada, 1795-1799 38

First Official Educational Movements in Upper Canada, 1797, 1798 38

Educational Pioneers in Upper Canada 39

Early Efforts to Establish Common Schools, 1816-1820 40

State of Education in Upper Canada, 1784-1819 41

Fitful Educational Progress from 1822 to 1829 41

State of Education in Upper Canada, 1827-1829 42

Rev. Dr. Strachan's Course of Study in Grammar Schools, 1829 43

Rev. Dr. Strachan's System of School Management 44

Rev. Dr. Strachan's Career as a Teacher 45

Mr. Joseph Hume's Essay on Education, edited by Mr. W. L. MacKenzie 46

Vicissitudes of Education in Upper Canada, 1830-1839 46

Educational Efforts in the House of Assembly, by Mr. M. Burwell, 1831-1836 47

Efforts at Educational Legislation, by Dr. Charles Duncombe, 1831-1836 48

Continued Educational Efforts of Mr. Burwell in the House of Assembly 50

Early Opinions on the Necessity for Manual or Industrial Education in our Schools 51

Later Opinions (on the same subject) 51

Further Educational Efforts in the House of Assembly, 1835, 1836 52

Analysis of Dr. Charles Duncombe's Report on Education, 1836 53

Summary of, and Reflection on, these Educational Efforts from 1830 to 1839 54

Extracts from Official Reports on Education in Upper Canada in 1838 55

Influences by American Teachers and School Books Deprecated 55

Extracts from Report of an Education Commission in 1839 57

Educational Opinions of Prominent Public Men in 1839 58

Separate Educational Forces Shaping Themselves in Upper Canada 59

Noted Educational Leaders--Dr. Strachan and Dr. Ryerson 59

The Educational Efforts of the U. E. Loyalists and the Ruling Party 60

An Educational Glance Backwards 60

Provision for Higher Education in Upper Canada by the Imperial Government 62

Rev. Dr. Strachan as an Educator 62

Rev. Dr. Strachan's Reasons for Establishing a University in Upper Canada 64

Rev. Dr. Strachan, the Founder of Two Universities in Toronto 65

The University of Toronto 66

The University of Victoria College 66

The Queen's College University 69

The University of Trinity College 70

The R. C. University College at Ottawa 70

The Western University, London 70

The McMaster University 71

Upper Canada College--Albert College--Woodstock College--The School of Practical Science, and various colleges and schools, etc. 71

Rev. Dr. Ryerson's advocacy of Popular Rights, 1827-1841 72

Educational Legislation in the United Parliament of 1841 and 1843 72

Origin of the annual grant of $200,000 for Common Schools in 1841 73

Educational efforts of Rev. Dr. Ryerson up to this time 74

First appointment of a Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada, 1842 74

Appointment of Rev. Dr. Ryerson as Superintendent of Education, 1844 75

Rev. Dr. Ryerson's Report on a System of Public Instruction for Upper Canada 75

Chief features of Dr. Ryerson's first report and School Bill, 1846 77

Objections to Dr. Ryerson's School Bill of 1846, answered. 77

First and Second Councils of Public Instruction, 1846 and 1850. 78

Religious Instruction in the Common Schools, 1846. 79

State of Common School Education in Upper Canada, 1845. 80

School Houses and School Teachers in 1845-1850. 81

Combined opposition to the projected system of Education. 82

Educational Proceedings of District Councils in 1847, 1848. 83

Estimate of Lord Elgin's character by Hon. W. H. Draper. 84

Invaluable assistance given to Dr. Ryerson by Lord Elgin. 85

Proceedings of the First Council of Public Instruction. The Normal School. 86

Laying the corner stone of the New Normal School Buildings, 1851. 87

The County Model Schools of 1843-1850. 88

Fundamental Principles of Dr. Ryerson's Scheme of Education. 90

Can Upper Canada Emulate the State of New York in Educational Matters? 90

Establishment of the Educational Depository and its Results. 92

Abstract of Depository Schedule Presented to the Legislature in 1877. 92

Dr. Ryerson a Commissioner on King's College, New Brunswick, in 1854. 93

Chronological Sketch of Dr. Ryerson's Educational Work, 1855, etc. 94

Bishop Fraser's Estimate of the Upper Canada System of Education in 1863. 95

Character of the Important School Legislation of 1871. 97

Review of the School Legislation of 1871. 98

Objections to Improve our School System Answered. 98

Necessity for the Change in the School Law of Ontario in 1871. 100

Hon. Adam Crooks on the School Inspection Legislation of 1871. 101

Inspector Harcourt's opinion of the effect of the School Act of 1871. 101

Inspector McKee, of the County of Simcoe, on the School Act of 1871. 101

A SPECIAL CHAPTER ON THE STATE OF EDUCATION IN THE OLDEN TIME IN UPPER CANADA. 103

Hon. J. Sandfield Macdonald's School Days--His Reminiscences of them. 103

Hon. Charles Clarke on Education in the County of Wellington under Dr. Ryerson's Administration. 104

Early School Legislation in 1841, 1843 and 1846. 104

Inferior Qualification of Teachers and Varied Methods of Teaching. 105

Dr. Ryerson's Test of the Intelligence of a School Section. 105

The Character of the School-House, also a Test. 106

School Condition of the County of Wellington in 1847. 106

Great Educational Advance made by the Province of Ontario since 1847. 107

Great Advance also in the Standard of Teaching Ability. 108

Rev. W. H. Landon on the State of Education in Upper Canada in 1847-1849. 109

The Old Log School-House and its Belongings. 110

The Pioneer Teacher and the Trials of "Boarding-Round". 111

The Old School House (Poetry). 113

Mr. Canniff Haight on the Schools Fifty Years Ago. 113

A School Teacher's Personal Experience in 1865. 114

Mr. James Cumming's Reminiscences of Education in Hamilton in 1847-1852. 116

Education in the County of Simcoe, 1852-1872. 117

PERSONAL CHAPTER RELATING TO THE REV. DR. RYERSON 119

His Early Life, as Sketched by Himself 119

Rev. Dr. Ryerson as a Teacher 121

The Rev. Dr. Ryerson and His Native County of Norfolk 122

Closing Official Acts and Utterances of Dr. Ryerson 124

Reasons for Dr. Ryerson's Retirement as Chief Superintendent of Education 125

Dr. Ryerson's Letter of Resignation in 1868 and Reply to it 126

Dr. Ryerson's Letter of Resignation in 1872 and Reply to it 128

A FEW WORDS PERSONAL TO THE WRITER OF THIS RETROSPECT 130

THE RYERSON MEMORIAL VOLUME.

The Rev. Dr. Ryerson's death occurred on the 19th of February, 1882. Early in the next month the following circular was issued:--

A preliminary meeting of trustees, inspectors and teachers connected with Public, Separate and High Schools--past and present--will be held in the theatre, or public hall, of the Education Department, on Tuesday afternoon, the 14th instant, at 4.30, to consider the proposal to erect a monument or other tribute of love and esteem to the memory of the late revered founder of the educational system of Ontario.

J. GEORGE HODGINS, Toronto, March, 1882. Convener.

The following account of the meeting appeared in _The Mail_ newspaper of the 15th March:--

A meeting of those connected with educational matters was held in the theatre of the Normal School yesterday afternoon, to consider the proposal to erect a monument or other token of esteem to the memory of the late Dr. Ryerson.

There were present, Drs. Hodgins, Davies, Carlyle, Tassie; Inspectors Hughes, McKinnon, McBrien, Little, Fotheringham; Messrs. James Bain, G. McMurrich, and Crombie, Public School trustees, Toronto; Thomas Kirkland, M.A., Normal School; Mrs. Riches, Misses E. A. Scarlett, M. L. Williams, Boulton and Tomlinson; Messrs. McAllister, Doan, Lewis, Spence, McCausland, Martin, Clarke, Coyne, Parker, Cassidy, Campbell, teachers of Toronto city schools. Dr. Hodgins was appointed chairman, and Mr. James L. Hughes secretary.

Letters expressing regret at inability to attend were read from Mr. G. W. Ross, M.P., Inspectors Scarlett, Bigg and Platt, and Mr. W. J. Gage. Also a letter from the Minister of Education, to the effect that every inspector and teacher was at full liberty to take such action as he might think proper in connection with so laudable an object as the erection of a memorial to the late superintendent.

Dr. Hodgins related the circumstances which had led to the calling of a meeting, and said that the object was to unite all persons in any way connected with schools in a tribute of affection to the late chief, even the children might contribute a mite. There was some difference of opinion as to whether the tribute should take the form of a monument in the cemetery, or a statue in the Normal School grounds. He mentioned Dr. Ormiston as having taken a very strong interest in the matter.

On motion of Mr. McAllister, seconded by Mr. McMurchy, a resolution expressing the approval, by the meeting, of the proposal to erect a memorial was unanimously adopted.

Mr. Hughes suggested that a central committee of organization be appointed, and that local associations be formed in every county.

Messrs. Fotheringham, McMurchy, George McMurrich, McAllister and Brother Odo, were appointed to nominate the central committee. Their report was presented to the meeting, and adopted with some amendments.

In the discussion which took place, the general opinion was that the memorial should take the form of a statue of the late Chief Superintendent, to be erected in the Normal School grounds, Mr. Bain being one of those who strongly urged this view.

Mr. Inspector Fotheringham thought that the amount of the contribution should be limited so as to make it general, and suggested one dollar for each teacher and trustee, and ten cents for each child, corporate bodies being left to their own discretion.

The chairman having called for suggestions as to the formation of local committees, Mr. Little, Inspector for Halton, thought that the inspector for each county should appoint the teachers and trustees of each school to open a subscription list.

Mr. McBrien, Inspector for Ontario County, suggested that the inspectors should send a postcard to every teacher in the county, requesting him to convene a meeting in his section.

Mr. McKinnon, Inspector for Peel, was in favor of Mr. Little's plan.

There was also considerable discussion as to whether others besides those directly connected with the schools should be asked to contribute. It was urged on the one hand that the tribute would come more fittingly from those more peculiarly interested in education, and on the other that it should be made national in its character, especially as a large majority of the people had been educated, and their characters formed under the school system of which Dr. Ryerson was the founder.

These questions were left for future consideration, and, after a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting adjourned.

As the result of that meeting the following circular was issued by the secretary on the 15th March:--

At a preliminary meeting of trustees, inspectors and teachers connected with Public, Separate and High Schools, held in the public hall of the Education Department on the 14th instant, the following gentlemen were appointed members of a central committee to carry out the resolution unanimously agreed to by the meeting, viz.: to collect funds with which to erect a monument or other tribute of love and esteem to the memory of the late revered founder of the educational system of Ontario, viz.:--

Dr. _Hodgins_, chairman; Rev. Principal _Davies_; Principal McCabe; Rev. Dr. Ormiston, of New York; President Wilson and Prof. G. P. Young, Toronto University; Archbishop Lynch; Rev. Provost Body, Trinity College; Rev. Principal _Caven_, Knox College; Rev. President Castle, Toronto Baptist College; Rev. Father Vincent, Superior, St. Michael's College; Rev. President Nelles, Victoria University; Very Rev. Principal Grant, Queen's University; _A. McMurchy_, M.A., President of Ontario Teachers' Association; Very Rev. Dean Grassett, Chairman of Collegiate Institute Board; Edward Galley, Esq., Chairman, Public School Board; Vicar-General Rooney, Chairman, Separate School Board; Dr. McLellan, Inspector, High Schools; Mr. White, Inspector, Separate Schools for Ontario; Rev. Brother Tobias, city Inspector of Separate Schools; J. S. Carson, Esq., Chairman of inspectors' section Ontario Teachers' Association; R. Lewis, Esq., chairman of Public School section; D. C. McHenry, M.A., chairman of High School section; also the Public School Inspectors throughout the Province as _ex officio_ members, (Messrs. _D. Fotheringham_ and _J. R. Miller_). Mr. _James L. Hughes_ was appointed secretary of the committee, and Mr. _Walter S. Lee_, treasurer.[2]

[2] James Carlyle, Esq., M.D., Master in the Normal School, was subsequently appointed joint secretary with Mr. Hughes. Both rendered most valuable service in promoting the object in view.--J. G. H.

As some gentlemen here named declined, and others ceased to act, the committee was finally reduced to nineteen members, including the chairman, secretaries, treasurer and the new appointments. Only those whose names are printed in italics were members of the committee at the time the statue was unveiled in 1889--seven years after their appointment. The following were the members of the committee at the time of the unveiling, viz.:--

Rev. Principal Caven, D.D., Rev. Dr. Potts, Hon. G. W. Ross, Minister, Rev. H. W. Davies, D.D., Hon. Senator Macdonald, Principal Kirkland, M.A., Rev. W. H. Withrow, D.D., Principal Dickson, M.A., Rev. Hugh Johnston, D.D., Rector McMurchy, M.A., Mr. G. H. Robinson, M.A., ex head master Collegiate Institute; Mr. David Fotheringham, Inspector of North York; Mr. R. Doan, Mr. S. McAllister, public school teacher, Toronto, and Mr. J. R. Miller, ex-inspector. Chairman, J. George Hodgins, LL.D.; joint secretaries, Mr. James L. Hughes and James Carlyle, M.D.; treasurer, Mr. Walter S. Lee. The artist-sculptor was Mr. Hamilton McCarthy, R.C.A., and the contractor for pedestal, Mr. F. B. Gullett, monumental sculptor.

APPEAL FOR FUNDS FOR ERECTION OF THE STATUE.

At a subsequent meeting of the committee, Rev. Dr. Ormiston and Dr. Hodgins were requested to draw up an appeal soliciting aid for the proposed memorial. Dr. Ormiston did so as follows:--

_Appeal to Trustees, Inspectors, Teachers and Pupils--past and present--connected with Public, Separate[3] and High Schools, and to the other friends of Education in the Province of Ontario; from the General Committee appointed at Toronto on the 14th March, 1882, for the collection of funds with which to erect a Monument, or other Tribute of Esteem and Admiration to the memory of the late Rev. Dr. Ryerson, founder of the Educational System of Ontario:_

[3] Having asked Archbishop Lynch to commend this and subsequent appeals to the teachers of the Separate Schools, he replied as follows:--

"ST. MICHAEL'S PALACE, Toronto, December 12, 1882.

"MY DEAR DR. HODGINS,--I do not like to assume a prominent part in writing to the teachers of the Separate Schools outside of my own diocese, or to set an example which I fear would be criticized. However, I send you my subscription ($10) towards the erection of the statue to the late lamented Dr. Ryerson.

"I am, yours very sincerely, "+JOHN JOSEPH LYNCH, "Archbishop of Toronto.

"J. GEORGE HODGINS, ESQ., LL.D., Chairman, etc."

(The Very Reverend Vicar-General Rooney also sent $10, as his subscription to the fund).

I also wrote to the Rev. Father Stafford, of Lindsay, on the subject. In his reply, dated March 9th, 1882, he said:--

"You ask my opinion as to whether the erection of a monument to the late Dr. Ryerson will receive support from the Separate Schools?

"Not much from Separate Schools as such, nor much from Separate School supporters. The recollection of the old controversy with the bishops of our Church, is still fresh in the memories of many.

"I think some of the Separate School teachers will subscribe--perhaps many of them.

"Personally, I must give my mite. I always found Dr. Ryerson, as you are aware, very kind with me, and very attentive to any suggestions I had to offer, and very just in all his dealings with me.

"I admired his ability and his love and enthusiasm for his work. No one knows better than you my admiration for that man. My idea is that the monument ought to be something very respectable--say, got up something like the one to Grattan, or Moore, or Burke, near Trinity College, Dublin; and it ought to be erected in the Normal School grounds.

"I wished to send a word of sympathy to Dr. Ryerson's family, but I did not know where to address them. Will you kindly say a word for me to the proper person?

"Yours faithfully, "M. STAFFORD, Pr.

"DR. HODGINS, "Toronto."

"Although still young our Province has already been called to mourn the removal of not a few of her gifted sons, who have severally adorned the different walks of public life. In weight of character, wealth of manhood, and width of human sympathy, the late Chief Superintendent of Education, stood amongst the foremost and mightiest of them all.

Egerton Ryerson was a man of rare diversity of gifts, of remarkable energy, and of abundant mental resources. It would have been easy for him to have excelled in any one sphere of human greatness, but it was his to stand high in several. He was a many-sided man; richly endowed in various ways. He was a laborious farmer--a zealous student--a successful teacher--an eminent preacher--a prominent ecclesiastic--an influential editor--a forcible writer--a sagacious counsellor--a most efficient principal and professor--but he was chiefly noted as a great public educationist.

For a third of a century he was the head and inspiring genius of our school system, establishing, moulding, adapting, controlling it; and this, the main work of his life, will endure and command in the future, as it has in the past, the admiration of all, both at home and abroad. During all these years he was the teacher's true friend, and the ardent well-wisher of the young. His sympathies--tender and true--as helpful as they were healthy, went out to every earnest worker, whether in acquiring or imparting knowledge. The enquiring left his presence directed; the downcast, cheered; the doubtful, confirmed.

Unselfish, generous, disinterested, he devoted himself wholly to his work. How often did his lip quiver and his eye fill when he addressed the gatherings of teachers and pupils, upon whom he looked not only with the eye of a patriot, but of a parent,--"Ye are my children all."

We can never forget him; we profoundly mourn our loss; we fondly cherish his memory. Affection, gratitude, a sense of what is due to so eminent a man, impel us to perpetuate that memory in some suitable way, which will render such a noble life an inspiring example to young men now and in the coming days.

In obedience then, to one of the purest and loftiest instincts of our nature, let us unite in paying a common tribute of admiration and regard to the memory of him to whom we all sustained a common relationship, and to whom we also, without distinction as to nationality, political preferences, or religious belief, can pay sincere homage, as the founder of our present excellent and comprehensive system of education.

In honoring him we do honor to our common country, and recognize our obligation to pay fitting homage to the great men of our Dominion, whose names, with his, are inscribed high upon the roll of Canada's famous sons."

At intervals, during the years 1882-1886, circulars were issued by the committee to inspectors, trustees and masters of High, Public and Separate Schools, urging the collection of the necessary funds to erect the proposed memorial. In order to aid in this work, 7,500 copies of a biographical sketch of Dr. Ryerson and his educational work, prepared by the chairman, was sent to the inspectors for distribution. The chairman also made the following suggestions to inspectors (with a view to facilitate the collections from pupils), which was generally acted upon, viz.:--

"Permit me to suggest a simple way of securing a response from each school: You might request the teacher to give notice that, on the following week, he would devote _five minutes_ at noon of each day to taking down a list of contributions (from a cent upwards) to the fund.

"In this way the pupils--and everyone in the locality, through the children--would have an opportunity of contributing his or her mite to the erection of a statue to one of Canada's most honored sons."

The final circular issued by the committee was as follows:--