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has awakened to a sense of the value of Education, and has given to it a larger share of her attention than she gave before. In England, the "Revised Code" prescribed the principles on which the State assists Education, but there is an immense number of Schools which do not and will not have anything to do with the State. The English System is Denominational, and springs from and takes its initiative from Denominational zeal and local contributions. The Irish System is well known. In Scotland, changes are perhaps impending; the Revised Code is not yet applied there in all its features, as in England. In Massachusetts, America, in 1636--that is 16 years after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers from the Mayflower-Harvard College was founded, and in 1642 enactments were framed for General Education in the Colony-the fundamental principles being that it should be "compulsory." The System remains much the same now. The Massachusetts Board was founded in 1837. The Schools are supported by local taxation. No child under ten years of age can be employed in any Manufacturing Establishment, and no child between ten and fourteen shall be employed, unless he has been at School at least six months in the year preceding that of Euch employment, and no child under fourteen years shall be employed in a Manufacturing Establishment more than eight hours in a day. The System in Connecticut was matured in 1701, when a Tax for Education in each Township was established. In 1795, the "State School Fund" was founded for "Common Schools" by devoting to them the proceeds of a portion of Public Lands ceded to the State in Ohio. In 1855 the following amendment to the Constitution of Connecticut was adopted, and it ought to be emblazoned on the walls of our chief public buildings in London, Manchester, Liverpool, and elsewhere: "Every person shall be able to read any article of the Constitution or any Section of the Statutes of this State before being admitted as an Elector." One wonders how much a law would operate in England. Suppose we were to prohibit children from going to work before ten years of age absolutely; and further, that we should provide that no ne should vote at elections, or in Parish Vestries, unless he could read; and further, that no Parent should receive out-door relief unless his children, up to a certain age, were sent to School, the Guardians paying the School Fees. Might not these provisions, added to the strong inducements which the nature of almost all employments, except Agriculture, at the present day, carries with it to acquire the elements of learning, lead to some sensible improvement in the attendance at Schools, and clear the streets to a great extent of those "waifs and strays" whose time is spent in selling cigar lights, or tumbling for half-pence?

CHAPTER V.

PROPOSED RETIREMENT OF THE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION IN FAVOUR OF A MINISTER OF EDUCATION, 1868, 1869.

I. LETTER FROM DOCTOR RYERSON TO THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARY.

I have the honour to submit to the favourable consideration of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council what, some three weeks ago, I submitted to individual Members of the Government, namely, that.

"The Department of Public Instruction shall be under the management of a Member of the Executive Council, to be designated 'Minister of Public Instruction,' who shall be ex officio a Member of the Toronto University and of the Council of Public Instruction, and who, in addition to the powers and functions vested in the Chief Superintendent of Education, shall have the oversight of all Educational Institutions, which are, or may be aided by public Endowments, or Legislative Grant, to inspect and

examine, from time to time, personally or through any Person appointed by him, into the character and working of such Institutions, and, by him shall all public moneys be paid in support, or in aid of such Institutions, and to him they shall report at such times, and in such manner, as he shall direct."

With a view of giving effect to the foregoing recommendation, I hereby resign into the hands of His Excellency my Office of Chief Superintendent of Education,-an Office which I have filled for upwards of twenty-four years, during which I have employed my best years and utmost efforts to devise and develop our present System of Public Instruction, and have been favoured with the cordial support of successive Governments and Parliaments, and with the liberal co-operation of the people of Upper Canada at large. I shall not dwell upon the developments, or characteristics of that System; but I feel thankful that they are such as have received the highest approval both at home and abroad.

Our System of Public Instruction has acquired such large dimensions, and the net-work of its operations so pervades every Municipality of the land, and is so interwoven with our Municipal and Judicial Systems of Government, that, I think, its administration should now be vested in a responsible Minister of the Crown, with a Seat in Parliament, and that I should not stand in the way of the application to our varied educational interests of that ministerial responsibility which is sound in principle and wise in policy. During the past year, I have presented a Report on School Systems in other Countries, with a view of improving our own; and the Legislative Assembly has appointed a Select Committee for the same purpose. I have, therefore, thought that this was the proper time to suggest the modification and extension of the Department of Public Instruction.

In regard to myself, as to both the past and the future, I beg to make the following statement:

While, in addition to the duties imposed upon me by Law; as Chief Superintendent of Education, I have voluntarily established a system of providing the Municipal and School Authorities with Libraries, Text Books and every description of School Furniture, and School Apparatus,-devising and developing their domestic manufacture. I have thus saved the Country very many thousands of dollars in the prices, as well as quality of the Books, Maps, etcetera. I can truly say that I have not derived one farthing's advantage from any of these arrangements beyond the consciousness of having conferred material, intellectual and social benefits upon the Country. When I accepted office, I made no stipulation as to Salary, which was subsequently fixed by Statute not to exceed that of the Superintendent of Education for Lower Canada, and to bear the same proportion to his Salary as the share of Upper Canada to the population division of the Legislative School Grant bore to the share of Lower Canada. My Salary has, therefore, been regulated by Act of Parliament, and not by the favour of any Govern

ment.

But in regard to the future, I stipulate, or solicit, nothing. In view of my labours during the last twenty-four years and upwards, my age of nearly sixty-six years, and my voluntary retirement from my position, I believe the Country and the Legislature of the Country, will do what is just and honourable, and I ask no more. I am still willing to do what I can to advance the chief work of my life; and if it is thought I may be useful in connection with the Council of Public Instruction, I will be happy to do what I can in that capacity, as also (released from the cares and duties of office), to contribute to the School and other literature of the Country, and to aid, if desired, the proposed Minister of Public Instruction, with my counsel, my experience may enable me to give.

As to the time and manner of giving effect to the foregoing suggestions in regard to the Department, or my own resignation, I defer entirely to the convenience of the Government and the judgment of the Governor-in-Council.

TORONTO, 7th December, 1868.

EGERTON RYERSON.

MEMORANDUM BY THE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION ON A RETIRING ALLOWANCE.

What I may be allowed annually in consideration of my labours of upwards of twenty-four years in devising and developing our present System of Education, of my voluntarily relinquishing emolument, power and rank of my office, and in consideration of what I may get do I leave to the justice and generosity of the Government and Legislature.

What I should have to do in connection with the Council of Public Instruction is as follows:

1. To prepare a revision of the Regulations in regard to the Common and Grammar School and Public Libraries.

2. To prepare the Programme of the Courses of Study for all the Public Schools, including not only the classification of Studies, but the time to be daily, or weekly, devoted to each, a work which has not yet been done in this Country, although of great importance, and done in the best educating Countries in Europe, and a work requiring much consultation.

3. To examine and submit all the Text Books for the Schools, and for Public Libraries and Prizes. It took upwards of two years of all the time I could command, to examine the first selection of Books for the Public Libraries, (nearly 4,000 works). New Books are constantly being published, and it is important that the good and suitable ones should be, from time to time, added to the selection, while bad and useless ones should be carefully excluded.

In addition, I propose to prepare for the consideration and approval of the Council Text Books, not provided for, on the following subjects:

1. Elements of Civil Government and Political Economy, as suited to the Institutions of our Country, and adapted to youth and the Schools. This is provided for in the United States, and is strongly recommended for the Schools in England.

2. Elements of Agriculture, or what every Farmer's Son should know respecting the Soil he cultivates, the Flowers, Vegetables and Grains he grows and the Animals he raises.

3. Moral Relations and Duties.

4. Natural Science as adapted to the Productions, Manufactures and Mechanics, of Machinery, of the Country. Great stress is laid on this by the English Educational Commissioners.

On these subjects we have no suitable Books, and on some of them no Books at all. I may not be able to write perfect, or the best, Books on these subjects, but I may be able to point out the way and lay the foundation for others to build upon and improve.

It will also be necessary to prepare as soon as possible an Historical and Descriptive Catalogue of the Objects of Art in the Museum,—a work of some three, or four, hundred pages.

It is my wish to prosecute and complete a Constitutional History of Upper Canada, preceded by an account, or History, of the United Empire Loyalists, and the first Settlers in Canada.

The work which I have thus sketched will occupy some years,-perhaps all of working life that remains to me, and it is all connected with the progress and institutions of the Country.

TORONTO, 7th December, 1868.

EGERTON RYERSON.

II. LETTER IN REPLY, DECLINING TO ACCEPT DOCTOR RYERSON'S RESIGNATION.

In acknowledging your Letter of the 7th of December last, placing your resignation of the Office of Chief Superintendent of Education in the hands of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, and suggesting that the Department of Public Instruction should be placed under the more direct management of the Government through a

Minister, to be designated "The Minister of Public Instruction," holding a place on the Executive Council, and a Seat in the Legislative Assembly, thus bringing the Education Department, in common with all the other branches of the Government within the control of the people, through the responsible Advisers of the Crown, I am directed by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor to thank you for the valuable suggestions contained in your Letter, and to request that you will continue to discharge those important duties which you have performed for a quarter of a century with so much credit to yourself and benefit to the people of this Province, until His Excellency's Advisers shall have more fully considered your suggestions and matured a Measure for placing your Department under the direct supervision of a Member of the Executive Council.

The services that you have rendered to your Country and your now advanced age fully warrant your asking to be relieved from the further discharge of your arduous duties, but knowing your vigour of mind, and energy of character, His Excellency ventures to hope that compliance with the request now made will not prove too great a tax upon your energies, or interfere seriously with any other plans you may have formed for the employment of the remaining years of a life devoted to the moral and intellectual improvement of your fellowmen.

TORONTO, 30th January, 1869.

M. C. CAMERON, Secretary.

REPLY TO THE FOREGOING LETTER BY DOCTOR RYERSON.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of this date, conveying the most kind expression of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor in regard to myself and my past humble services, and the request that I would continue in my present Office until His Excellency's Advisers should be able to mature a Measure to give effect to the recommendations in my Letters of the 7th December last, respecting the direct responsibility of the Education Department to Parliament, and the creation of the Office of Minister of Public Instruction to be filled by a responsible Minister of the Crown, having a Seat in Parliament.

The more than kind reference to myself on the part of His Excellency has deeply affected me, and for which I desire to express my most heartfelt thanks.

I beg to assure you, for the satisfaction of His Excellency, that I will subordinate every inclination and contemplated engagement to the great work of the Education Department and the System of Public Instruction, as long as I have strength and may be desired by the constituted Authorities to do so.

I have found that the apprehensions first expressed by the Honourable M. C. Cameron, as Chairman of the Education Committee of the Legislative Assembly during the late Session, that, connecting the Department of Public Instruction with the Political Ministry of the day might draw the System of Public Instruction into the arena of Party Politics, and thus impede its progress, is largely shared by thoughtful men, and that my recommendation had been coldly received generally, and strongly objected to in many quarters.

Under these circumstances, I have been led to review the whole question and aided by the experience which the recent Session of the Legislature has afforded, I would respectfully suggest that, until a better System can be devised, a Committee of say seven, or nine, Members of the Legislative Assembly, (to be presided over by the Provincial Secretary,) be elected by ballot, (or, if not by ballot, by the mutual agreement of the Leaders of both parties in the House,) at the commencement of each Session, to examine into the working, and report upon all matters relating to the Education Department and its administration, as well upon any Measures which might be

suggested for the promotion of Public Instruction. The Provincial Secretary, being ex officio Chairman of such Committee, would be able to bring before it anything that had required the interposition, or had been brought before the Government during the year, and meriting the attention of the Committee. The Committee being chosen by ballot, or by mutual agreement on both sides of the House, would preclude the character of party in its mode of appointment, and give weight and influence to its recommendations. In this way the Education Department, necessarily so identified with matters affecting popular progress and enlightenment would, in its whole administration, be more directly responsible to Parliament and, through it, to the People, than any other Public Department is now, and that without being identified, or connected with any political party; and on the occasion of vacancy in the Administration of the Department, a selection and appointment could be made, free from the exigencies of party, or of party elections, upon the simple and sole ground of qualifications for the Office, and with a view of promoting the interests of Public Education, irrespective of sect, or party.

But, under any circumstances, I will endeavour to do my duty to the best of my ability, as desired by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor.

TORONTO, January 30th, 1869.

EGERTON RYERSON.

CHAPTER VI.

COUNTY SCHOOL CONVENTIONS AND THEIR PROCEEDINGS IN

1869.

CIRCULAR FROM THE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION TO MUNICIPAL COUNCILLORS, LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS, VISITORS, TRUSTEES, TEACHERS, AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF GRAMMAR AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ONTARIO.

I propose, in the course of the next two months, Providence permitting, tɔ make my fifth and last Visit to each County, or Union of Counties, in Upper Canada, in order to hold a County School Convention of all School Officers and other friends of Education who may think proper to attend, in order to confer on the subjects of the Common and Grammar School Amendment Bills which have been recommended by a large Committee of the Legislative Assembly, but the further consideration of which has been deferred until the next Session of Parliament. I cannot hope to be able to address any County Convention further than may be necessary to explain the objects and provisions of the School Bills referred to.

2. In order to afford the best opportunity possible for attendance by persons at a distance, each Convention will be held in the day-time, with two, or three, necessary exceptions. The Meeting of each Convention will take place, (unless otherwise stated,) at one in the afternoon and the proceedings will commence precisely at half-past one, whether few, or many, be present. In two, or three, instances, the Meetings of Conventions will take place at other hours of the day, arising from the impossibility, (on account of distances, or railroad arrangements,) of holding them at the usual hour, without giving more time to a County than is practicable, in connection with the accomplishment of the Tour during the period of Winter Roads convenient for travelling by inhabitants of Counties.

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