Shortly after Ryerson
accepted the position of Chief Superintendent he appointed
Dr. John George Hodgins as the Chief Clerk for
the Department of Public Instruction. Born in Ireland,
Hodgins (1821-1912) had come to Canada in 1833 and been educated
at Upper Canada Academy. He worked closely with Ryerson to build
the foundations of the education system, advising him on major
issues and assisting with the wording of legislation.
In 1855 Hodgins was appointed Deputy Head of the Department
of Public Instruction and later (in 1890) was appointed
the Librarian and Historiographer to
the Department. During his 60 plus years with the Department,
Hodgins wrote voluminously on the topic of Ontario's educational
history and school architecture, including the publication pictured
here. |
Click
to see a larger image (189K)
Portrait of John George Hodgins, LL.B., LL.D, 1851
Théophile Hamel (1817-1870)
oil on canvas mounted on board
Gift of G.W.P. Hodgins, 1944
Government of Ontario Art Collection, 622701 |
Click
to see a larger image (292K)
Hodgins, J. George. Hints and Suggestions on School Architecture and Hygiene with plans and illustrations.
Toronto: Printed for the Education Dept., 1885
Reference Code: Microfilm B 109
Archives of Ontario Library Collection |
Click
to see a larger image (289K)
Hodgins, J. George. Hints and Suggestions on School Architecture and Hygiene with plans and illustrations.
Toronto: Printed for the Education Dept., 1885, pp. 48-49
Reference Code: Microfilm B 109
Archives of Ontario Library Collection |
 |
Hodgins took his role
as historiographer very seriously and went to great lengths documenting
the early history of education in Ontario. In 1896, he made an
appeal to teachers across the province to send him accounts of
their teaching experiences and school histories. These accounts,
along with other research material gathered by Hodgins, were compiled
in a 28 volume series titled Documentary History of
Education in Upper Canada from the passing of the Constitutional
act of 1791 to the close of Rev. Dr. Ryerson's administration
of the Education Department in 1876. Many of the
original accounts and school histories are found in RG
2-87, Department of Education local school histories and teaching
experiences files.
In the letter below, a Mr. J. Clarke details to Hodgins the construction
and teaching conditions of S.S. No. 6, Monck Township (Muskoka
District) in 1876. He also describes the establishment and construction
of the first school in S.S. No. 3, Macaulay Township and its suspicious
demise some years later. |
|
Letter from J. Clarke to Dr. John
Hodgins, April 13, 1896
Department of Education local school histories and teaching
experiences files
Reference Code: RG 2-87-0-13, microfilm reel MS 914
Archives of 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
Previous
| Home | Next |
