Throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries there had been a number of attempts to establish an organized education system in Upper Canada (now Ontario), but with limited success.

The first formal recognition of the need for public education occurred in 1807 with the passage of the District Public School Act which provided for the establishment of a Public (Grammar) School in each of the eight Districts that existed in Upper Canada.

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An Act to establish public schools in each and every district of this province, S.U.C., 1807 (47 Geo. III), c. 6.
From: The Statutes of the Province of Upper Canada together with such British statutes, ordinances of Quebec,
and proclamations as relate to the said Province. Kingston, U.C.: F. M. Hill, 1831.
Reference Code: Microfilm B 92, reel 1
Archives of Ontario Library Collection
[Click here to read a transcript of the act]

The Government allocated the annual grant for each school and appointed the trustees, but the schools operated more or less independently. By the mid 1840s there were some 2500 elementary schools in operation but the control of the central Education Office was inefficient and lacked direction.

In October of 1844, Sir Charles Metcalfe, the head of administrative affairs in the province, appointed Rev. Dr. Egerton Ryerson to the position of Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada, the highest position in the Department of Public Instruction for Upper Canada.

Ryerson would become the architect of sweeping changes that brought dramatic improvements to the educational system of Upper Canada. His improvements included higher, universal standards, more consistency between schools and regions, and the introduction of a broader range of subjects being taught.

Working closely with Ryerson throughout his tenure as Chief Superintendent was Dr. John George Hodgins who held a number of influential positions in education during a career that spanned more than 60 years.

When Ryerson retired in 1876, Adam Crooks was appointed to replace him. At that time, the position was changed from Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada to Minister of Education which meant that educational matters would be dealt with directly by the legislature rather than through the Provincial Secretary.

Follow the links to the right to learn more about the impact these men have had on education in Ontario.

Laying the Groundwork | A Centre for Learning | Public School Boards | Schoolhouses
Raising the Standards | Curriculum | Fostering Patriotism and Good Citizenship
Education for Life | From Blackboard to Web | Sources and Resources | Ministries and Ministers

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