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H
A L
«
() N SO M E IM) 1 X TS
is; thk
HIS'JH)RV & iniOSl^ECTl^S
111-
PROTESTANT EDUCATION
IN
Low^Eii oa:nad.v
A LECTURE, Di:LTVERED T5V PRIXCIPAL DAWSON, BEFORE THE
ASROCIATFOX OF TEACHERS 1\ COXNECTIOX WITH
THE ^RCUJ. NORMAL SCHOOL, DEC. ]y(j4.
M N T R E A T- •
I'UINl'F.D i:V I I' HI'.CKIVr. :«, 'IHI'.A'I' St. .IAMKS srHl'.l'.'l'.
ISu-l.
PREFATORY NOTE.
The writer oC tlic following lecture de!>ircs it to be understood that
his object has been merely to introduce the great questions of which
it treats, to the attention of those who may not previously have con-
sidered theiu. In attempting to compress even the elements of the
subject within the limits of a lecture, it has proved necessary to omit
many important topics, and merely to mention others which might
profitably have been treated in detail, and illustrated by document-
ary and other evidence-
The lecture is published by request of the largo and respectable
audience before which it was delivered.
HISTOEY k^\) PROSPECTS OF rROTESTiVNT EriJ
CATION m LOWER. CANADA.
li ih n;itur;!l lli.U- a iccturrr •lim.ill scK'. I ii i<>j;n wiili win. Ii hi own
thou^^hts liavc been mucli (k(, upicd, ;nu\ wlii'h iiiiiy ;it ili'' •~;'iii'' time
be suppoaMl likely tu interest Iti.s autlieiuc. I'm- ll;is riii-uti l jmmI-- um
apokv'.y for invitin'r yo;ir ;iU»'iiti.»n \>> a -subicet wln' h ;-e.:ius lo
iiic ol' ^p^:eial inipurtaiuc in ilir pn-' rii .risi:-, au'l 'ii wlii' b
all ul" us arc ill t-onio (Icirrec iuteve.ited. In 'Iniiiy. ;-", I .^hall fir.>t
briefly ;-Iseteli tiie l.'adiij'r ieature- in tlie liist.ny oi' [Jriti.Ii ( dueatinn
til Jjowrr CaiKiib'i, and tlien rcfei' to ibc measures wliirb ii> prr.-eni
pobitiuii horiii:- t'i ibinaii'l. I \vi:-li ii lo be- (li>tinAlly uii'lfi-.-tood
iliat ill Ireatiiiv oi' tl\i:< i^ubjctt 1 do iiot:^pe;i!v in any oflkial t.apaeily,
or as tlic rcpre.ientHtive of any body of men . Init ;^iiiiply a.- the expo-
nent of iiiy own views in r^Jatinn to a eaiiM' on whieh T lia\e ;>pcnl
nine oi'tbe Ije-l year;-; orniy lile, .-ir.d wbieb I have learned t(» r";:ard
;i:-; ol' tlie utmost iiti[iorl;uu!' to ihr welfare, not ol' Lower (';inada
5)!. rely. but<»f I'lltisb Aineiir;!. Th(5 liisloricid iacts whicU I slijill
--t lie liavi'. Ix'cn doriwd in pari troin ducunients ;nid publir-ation-^ ol
\hi) Itoyal rn-!ituli"n ;!nd in p:irl iVoni tin- Ibport- of tlir l^rpart
inenf of lldueiit'"!!,
'fhr iiist innvcuiLiii t-n Iiriiaii" of pul'lii: oducititm in liMWcr
Canada, allri' ilic rMni|iie,-l, appears to liaAc. I'een niado by Lord
JDori lK';-irr, dov.Tn.T of (^ncfet, in I TS7. lie appointed a eoniinit-
tce oi' rouncil i>' loll.'ei, inlurnial i^n on ibr .^ubjoet of ('duration, and
to report on ' ib^ b;si )iitidc o^' rcini'dyin;.^ the defe-ots, an estimate
ci' tb.e expen>('. and by wbal moans it may lie dcfrayrd." 'f bo com
mittee seem to Irivc onuri'd iisto tlio >ulijei:t with eanic-tni's- and
i:eal. I'^roni fiio an-wors li» <pu:,->lion> whieh tliey prepared, it appears
that tiic provision li^r liie education of the Freneh population consiotcd
o\' tlie Sondnarii'S of ("inelu'c and 3lontreal. certain eonvents, and
some, Canaiiian ma.>(ers wlio laimiit I'cadini;' and writinij:; and tbe
IJoman t'allnilic IJishoj) o[" Qnobei:. in answer to a, (pustion on the
-uliji'et, .-'laii'd ill it mi tiio avei'ai:(^ liioi'c wcr»' in 'mcIi paii.-ii ^J.^)
III' ijii person,-., principally women, w!io eonld read and wi'ile. Of
[•ai li'-'i i'Mue.iti'ai we iind a( (liis time <';i!v the u'a'nti"n of schools
4
^'
^
1S^
^
:il Qnchfi'. 'rincc IImci^; •mil ■M*iiitr(':il. :i|i|i:irrii(ly inl rccciviii;; ;ii)\'
])roviii(i;il :iiil.
The l!n||i;iii ( ';itll(ilic -"cliiiiiK ;it llil^ |it'rio(l scrlil to li;iVt' i»(>','U SUji-
portid liv their futlitwiiii'iit- .■iinl 1)V l'»'<'>. 'I'll'' J{<'iu;iii CJiitliolie l'I?li(i]i
(if (^iii'licc. ill ;i liiiii;' :iii(l cjaliorate aiiswiT t(i tlic tii((tiii'ic's (-(' tin-
coniiiiitlrc. olijccl- to iKiiidciioiiiiiiatidiial ('(liicMdim, claims liir liiiii-
KL'ir and iMiadjiitiir a " (listiiiiinisht'd >ta1 ion '" in any colic '_:iat(' iiisti-
liiti.' wliicli nTiLilit 111' p>ta]>li-lu'(l. and st'ciii'^ to think thr only nica
sure vr(|iii red to lie thr restitution to the llonian Catholic Church ol"
t!i(! Jesuits' estates I'ov educationa' ^scs. Tt is stated in the article
oil I'Mucatimi ill liOWtT Canada, in Lovell's Alnianacdx i'oi' l.'^(I^.
that the eoa<ljutor Hisho]) sit'ipoi ted l!ie sidieiiie of tlu' (Io\ernnieiit ;
liut I have not sc 'ii hi> aiewrr to the (|ii( stioiis jiroposodt
The coiiiiiiittee. ]l0^veVl'^•. had a|>]»aveiitly been studyiiii:' t lie eilnca-
tioiial laws already in existence in the Xe\v ]']u^laiul States : and
uccordliiLily, in im :d>le vejioit, vtH'oiiiiiicnd a scho;)l systeui and a
university. They say : —
'• It. is exjKulieiit without delay to cveet I'avisli or Mlhiue Free
Sehools in every district of the Provhu-o, under the reLiulation o!'
the Maiiist riles ol' tlie district in the Quarter Sessions ol'the peace."
'•It is also expedient that ea<-h District liave a i''ree Sdiool in the
eentral or County Town ol' the District. "
'•'It is ex]»edient to erect a 'Jolletiiate Institute Ibi- culrivatiiisi,' the
liheral arts and seienoes usually taudit in the Eurc)i)ean Universities,
Tlieoloi:y e\ee])ted,ou account of the inixtuve ol' tin; two coniinunion.s,
whose; joint uiil is desivahle in so Car as they auree, and who imjzht to
be left to find a separate provision fv^r ilie eandidates for the uiiuiHtry
(yf their respeeti\e churches."'
L (juote this because; it shows thtit, from the very lir.st, the Hnulish
colonists desired to erect a public schoe.i] and university .system, as dis-
tinguished from the purely sectariau ami eeclesiasticul methods advo-
cated by th(> religious leaders of the French inhabitants. It Is alsoap
parent that the committee of Council had cuiu3eived the idea of a public
i\u<)vj,wrated unseetaria". body, to manage a homogeneous system inclu-
ding the three graders of Collegiate, High School and Comnutu School
Education, and to hold for this purpose grants of public land and
private benefactions. They siiow also a strong de-ire to uieet the
views of the ivomaii Catholic clergy, by avoiding "M interference
IV II I; J !iviv
i»oi'll ,';;u|i-
t'S«d' tllf
fov hi III
!:it(' insti
nlv iiH';i
MlUl'ch nf
lu! firtlclc
i'liiiii'iil :
lie ('(lnc;i
ites : :iml
Hi ;iinl ;i
aji'C Vivv
ii1;itiiin i>!'
e pe;ict\
)ol ill till'
atiiig tilt'
ivorsitic-!,
iiuuninnSj
oiiulit, to
• uiiuiislry
e Eniilisli
2m, as dis-
loils advo-
I> also a])
)f a pul)lie
teiu inch!-
lOU K";flKH)l
latul and
lueet the
terfcrence
with their acinuiaricti 01 .'choolb', ur the rcliu;iou« cdutation of t!i>ir
people, and by permittiiiv; tliciii to eduoat« their own p''Oplr iu ;"'paiaif
scliool:'.
Had this wirto Hcheiut; boon carried into ellecL iuiu'edialely .ml /^(/I'cf-t^C'fyfc^
with vi;j,or. the whole I'uture hi-toryol' L(j\vrr Ciiuada iiii-ht \\\\\^ U^J^/w C^t ■
been very dillereut, nut only educationally buL jHilitirally , ami a ; real ^^^^^^j_
impulse Would have been uiveii to (he indu>tiiai pr(i":n'>,s nl th'
people. Unhappily it was ullowr I lu Viiiiain inujierative. and Catnida // >
ac(|uired repre;enl.-tive instit utions b'-tbiv it iiad a svsleni ••Cedu. ;! ^'^^ ^^M I'-mu
Won.
riie m \i edut;itii'ii,ii iiiuveuienl iii Lowei- t'aaad,! \\a al- > I5nu>li
in its (ifii:!!!. Ii t;uii-i-.(('d of a petition signed [irlHcii'ally hy th<-
British iiilialatauls lit' (,)iiel'rc and it-; vicinity, iirc-fiitcil I'l l!i(|ii'>!
l*ai'IiaiH<'iiL nl' CuKida in IT'.'-'. It- prin'.i[ial Mlijcrt \\ :> i(Mil»!;iiii ;i
;:ranl of I he Jesuits' estates '"or ediie;iii(-!i;d j>iir[>n-M'>. The AsseiiiMv
viiteil an adilivss <iii the -ubjee' , Ijut no aii.-wer .-eeiii> tu li;i\-e been
ebtaiiied until ISl'i. when llie l.ieufen;iiit( Invenuir cdiniiiunit lii d lo
the .\,^,-.eridily iii- .M;;je ty's iii-irueiiiMis in the foliowin.:- tei-uis;--
'•\\ ith '.red; s;ilis!';!cli(in I have tu iiit'onn you that Ilis Maje.-ty.lio/u
Jji,^ iraernal reL:;ird IWr the weil';ire ;iud prii:-pei'ity di' his snliiecis in
tiii- ( 'iiiiiiiy, has been uraciuii-iy pleased (n 'j^wv direeliiais ii>r the es-
lablishiiiu' lit' a enaijuieal iiuinbei- el' Ki-ee Seliiiiil< t".)i' 1 he iii^irucUuii
"I' their children in the Iji'si ruuiiiienfs di" usel'ni iearniii'j' and iiilhi
I'ai'.'.lisJ! ti.ii-iie. iiiid aNiia^ ix-tasien may r(-ijuire. i'or I'lUUKlalioe,.- nl'a
laoic enlarued ami eiiiiipi-eiie;isi\(' nature; and Jfis .Majesty h;.'.- been
I'lnilur ple;i,-ed in .-;;;,rily h's Ibtyjl inlentiuii that a suitable )a-Mpor
tioii ni' the lanii- ni' iiie ('I'dwn shuiild beset iijiart and the revenues
theveol' apniied. m -an-h pu:'|iiise<."'
L'lie residt \\;i- the passiiiL ni' the aet estaiilishiii:^' '" The Jloyal in
>titutioii li)!' the .\d\ aiiiiaiieat ni lieaiMiinir ;' the tirst L'feat step in the
advaiieeiiuail ni' Ivliua'in'i in i^nwer ( 'aaada, 'nid mie. whieli Umtmb
it !ias been iripjiled bv a l•nl^^iilll^u^; and iiei'si^tent o|, position, has
prndtlced lmk.I le-^ults. as II led io the t'niiiidaiinii ^A' lite .Mctiill
riiivei>iiy ;nid e!" tin' ili-'li Hrhnd!- ni' ( iii-her ;!iid 3!e,utreal. as well
as dl' --evef.-d ntl'ei' iii;]i(»r*:nit .-eboni-:.
Thr !Iuy;.t hiMitiifinii wa- nm urLianiy.e.i initil 1S1>. Tin' grants of
l.ind ).rniiLised {<■■ it \,('ie not L:i\eii : ;'aid .-uppni'teil only Ity slender
le.,.i>.ial've grants, :ind re-arded vilh i'';dnii-.v bv the l''i'cnidi ecclesi-
C^lUiU^.
/I
6
jislif.il |i,ii I \ , ;iimI (inly coMlv Mi|i))ortLMl liy liic Mii'^lisli pr>)ml;itinii.
iN rniif'tiiiii ;it lcii';tli lii'c:iiiii' )i'-l I'ictrd to tlir iii;iii;i'.:viiii'iii oj' lliu
fiiiliUllirii! dl' J;iliic,-. .Mc( Jill.
Ill I S2 ! Ilh' li(''..i:-l;itu!'e Iii":;iii .•! x'l'ies uj' cillicliii.iits li_v wliirli
Sfllnlils \V( I'i' t's|;iMisli('(!, il'riS|»(.'ct Ivi' nl" lilt' liiiyal I ll>til lltinii, .ill'l
witlnml any a(Ici|ii:iti' |ii'(i\I>i(>ii (dr llii'ir sy^tciiialic ovcr.siu^Iit. 'riic
act III' l^'_'l ;iHllMiri/.('il l'';iliri(jUi' SiIhmiIs in tin' llninan ('aljmlic
jriri>Iic>. I;i !>:.".) and rulluwiii'j vcars, \ariimsa.'ts urrc jiasM'd.
aiitjiori/.in.;' till' a]ii)itintiii('iil III' si'IhkiI Iriistci's, a|>]iiiiiilin'.j, nicinln'rs
(if )iai'liaini'iil and hIIhts to Kc visihirs. and ;4iviiii;' uraiits lui' .--(diodl
ImiMiiii'S and tlic siniiinrt ol' h atdicr.--. i 'iidcr those ads sums c-
liniafcd a( L'lM.O'lO aiinuallv, ni- nrarl'v niic-iirili nl' \]\r rt'vcnnt;
dl' llic cniinl IT. were dislrihiitrd t^i Scdinols, Aviilioiit socniriiii;' any jhm'-
iiianiiit sy-ti'in, and a})]»a!-(Mitly with little (Mliicational l)tMii>lit.
TlicM' cduratiunal t'Xpoini'.'iils cnliainaicd in 1 SIJ I and IS,')!"., in
t\vi» acts dl' the As-^einlily. Avhl<di had th.y mil heeii defcateil. Wdiild
lia\e ;.;i\cn an cnI ividi'dinai'v .-nid atidinnldii-; cihhmcIi'I' Id l!ic cdiiea
lion dC LdWer Caiiaila. ( )iie was ;ni act tn incdi'pdiMlc all i'i'(»\iii(d d
In-ti; Hiidiis dl' I'iducatidi!, with la!"j(! powers and ]ii'i\ ile'_;cs, and al
the same time appr'reiitiy Id (jlistruet the <;stab!ishi!ieiii dl" new in^^li
tulidjis. Tiiis Avas disallowed by the l>rilisli ( IdVLi'iiineiil. The
olhcu- was a :-cdiuol hiw", pr;icticu]ly making' cacii comity member n
sujieriiitendeiit of cdnciition in Ids own <'OMiity. This wa*^* tlirdwn
out by the Leiiislative Coniieil.
The;-e nioasiires indicate Ihe mutual distmstaiid a]itaQ'dnI>;n ol
the ditVevcut 'H'ftidiis of the |a'op1e. ])rcjiavatdry In the in'-nriM'ction dl'
1S37. mIiIcIi fdV th' lime sn;-.jic!i(h'd ail ihoiifdil mi t]ie -aibicct .il
edui'alldii.
I trusl I shall iiot raise the .'hades of any buried animo'u'tios by
quotiiiL'' tlie hi-t appeal tliat T can find at this period on behair ol'
llie British pojiulatioii, from an tuldress oi' the old Jjonislativo
Council in 183o, After recitini;' sonic of the facts already stated
thoy s:ay : — " That no furtliLa- steps had been taken to accomplish II i^;
Majesty's benevolent intentions; that the seniiuaries of edueatu)n
founded ori;.:lnally under tlK.-jjovernment of France, enjoyed extensive
and valuable endowments, and tliul lart'C appropriations of waste lands
for similar endownicnts had been sanctioned iu Upper Canada, Now
Bruns^wick and Nova Scotia, but that no provision had been made in
|iiil;itiiiii.
S wliitli
oil. ,'lll<l
It. Tllr
('.■Itlinlir
' |l|SM'(i.
lllCllllll'l"-'
I M' ,~r||( K i|
SiltllS ('-
[•('Vi'llMi'
.Iliy I PIT
ls;)i;. ill
1, AViiIlM
'' t'JiIci
voviiici il
% ;iii(l :il
I'W iiis'i
ll. Tl.r
iHMiibor a
•^ thiMwn
!'niils5n of
ffftidii (tf
lll/jcct lit'
beliair oi'
'.uislativc
y stated,
)liyh Hi.;
clucatioii
'Xtc>n,*ive
stc lands
da, New
made in
J
llif I'lov iiict! dl' lidWt'i' Canada .--iuic it Ij.t^anic an a|'i»ni(laL;f ul lie
IJiiti^li Crown, f'ov tlic pcrniani'nt mdowincnt citlicr of I'rcpar.it.iiA
Sinninai'it's or (if a University <»r Culli'in', to wliicli your Alaji'sfy'^
snitjccts n>in;4 the l-lii'ilisli toii'.;ii" could I'csort Inr th,' v lucation ol'
llii'iiisi'lvi's and tlicir cliiMirn in iln- IiIvIkt 'iranclic- of Icariiin.:.
'riici'c !•< soMii'tliiiii iMtiu'tic ill l!ii> l;ist apiioil of a liody wlio-c
power was so soon to lie cxt in/iiislu'd. iiiid wliicli, wliatrvcr its faults,
had a riulit to maintain that Miiuiishnifii should not. iii(a\'ly I'l'i'.iusc
tlit'ir lot happened to lie cast ill Lower Caiiad.i. he i'.\»dudeil frniii
that i'o_v:il hoiiiity whieh deseeiidi'd on other I'oloiiies.
liord (IK'iU'l,:: in his iii>truetions to tin- Coiiiini.-sioiiers of 18;»(5,
iirjivntly directed their attention to this sultje('t.;ind the Coiiiinissioners
tlu'inseives re])ort(!d in fa\or of a liberal and conipreluai'-ive sy-teni ;
hut ill the issue, while the deinaiiils of the S emin ary of .Montreal,
which Jiord Aberdeen had S() stroii'/ly ii-pudiated in his despatch
of d.inuary. IS.'b'i, were m'aiite il. llie I'rotestaiits did not olitiiii
an acre of the crown lands.
I'nder the union of the Caiiad.is, a u'W ;'e]iool liw. the ■.•erm ol
that still e.xistiiiL;'. was ]):is-;ed. Ai lir.-t ihere \va- hope, in tjiisas in f^' ^afil^viil.^
other respects, that the union of the Caiiad.is would pro\-e a real ('['//<' <^(/ (jC/i(/ju\
fusiiMi into one nationality ; but iheold disiiife;^ratin;^ forces aua in pre fr^, ^Ae/u &
vailed ; and as early as 184.") tlit; educational union was linally dissolv- i^attt^
ed by aet of parliament, and the I'ducatioaai interests of the Ib'itisli
jiojtulation of TiOwer Canada, were left at the (li>p(isal ol' the
Frencli majority, with only sucli eiiecks as jniuh! result from the in.
iluenee ot the Cpper Canadian im'inln'rs of tlu; Jjeizislature.
Still a f^reat impulse h:ul been ^iven ; and since IS II ;i school
system has been develeped, wbieli, if not perfect, is still hi'zhly ereili
Table, wlien we take into cotisideration its youth ami the ditlietdties
of diversity of race and creed v.'itii wliicli it Inis had to struii^le.
The appointiiKMit of a Supei'intendent of Education and thepraise-
wortby efforts of the present Superintendent and his predecessor, the
formaticm of u Council of Public Instruction, the labours of the
Inspectors of Schools, the introduction of assessment for tlu; support
of education, the establishment of Provincial Normal Schools, the
publication of Journals of Education, and a multitude of jiiinor
improvements, have given a new character to the elementary instnio-
I
' /{Xrf J/ /^^
t!"ii, wliilr til'.: ';ii»wtlMtl" ilii- iiisiitutiims (if Mijicrioi' iMluc;itiiiii Iimh
111. It lin'ii iMjiiil.
Ill i'('-;ir I to till' lli'iti.'^li ;m(l I'ruti'.staiit oilucitinii. it iii.iy. witli-
M'lt iiiiy iii\ iilioiis foiii|»ari.'<i)ii, In; alViniu'il that it lias iiiaiiitaincil itM
'■loiiiul, ami lliat IIk! Invc of ciliicatioii. and a drsirc [\w its |iriiiiu!
liiiii li;i\r Ifi'ii ' ti"i(lily ailvaticiii;.'.. ( )iu' riiivri'silics linvc a stain! ■
an! ornliuaiidii wiiicli may cliailriim' iM)iii|i,iri-i^n with any in Aiiici'ii-a .
ami lliat III Al<i;iti"i'al has, witli little ])r()viiicial aiil. altaiiicil ji unnvtli
wiiicii ill many rospoct.s places it tin; lirst in Mi'itish Anu'rii a. Our
sii|niiiii' ami I'liiiinnm s(;hools, lliimL;h IVmn causi's iiicidrnt to our
jiM.^ilion as a liiiiioriiv, tliry have not attaiihd to the (levelopmeiil
of the public seliools of rp))er l-'aliailu, have done even more than
those of tli:it eountry, in pi'opoi-tion to the jiuhlie support v.hieh tliey
have reeeived. We lri\e in the iiiaiii. sustained intael that i:rcal
pi im-iple oj imioii in non-sectarian schools, with which our [trodeces
s IIS lie.Lian in 17S7. and without which we should have sueenml'c il ;d_-
l'".:''tln'i' hei oiH- the d.endnant race ;iml ereeii . I>y steaiiy and per-
leveriiii: I'lloit, amid dillieulties and sacriliees unknown to the hiulily
(iidowed institutions of the majority here, and to luir nmre lortunute
(oiiiitrynien in Tpper Canada, v.e havi' siistaliKMl tlu! cause oj" liritisli
and I'rotestant educalion in Lower Canada, and have tlius done much
ti preserve and extend British influence in this country, its well as to
aid our countrymen oC French origin in their educational progress.
We now stand on the brink ol' a new revolution, and should he
prepared carefully to review the history of tlie l>;ist, and to profit liy
its lessons, bearint^ in mind our weakness as a minority,
and the extreme rapidity with which the most important clianjjrcs
arc carried into oftect in this country.
Under the new constitution jiroposcd for IJritish America, it ap«
p(uirs that ('ducation is to be left to tlic local legislatures ; but that the
riglits of the minorities are to remain as at the time of the consum-
mation of^tho federal union. Wc are further unofficially prom-
i led some measures of legislation, at leaHt to give us equal privi-
leges with the lloman Catholic minority of T'pper Canada.
To any one acquainted with the liistory ami present state of edu-
cation in Lower (janada, many questions at once suggest
themselves in connection with the prol)able working of such a system ;
and these are not easily answered, in as much as we cannot yet
have a solution of the main question, whet]!ir our British American
f
atldii li<i,«<
i;iy. witli-
1
it.'iiiK'*! its
il- I'l'iiiin;
^
<
I' ;i >t;iiiil
i
Aliu'i'icii ,
\
a urowtli
CI. Our
1 ii> (iiir
.*'ln|i|lirill
lunv lliiiii
hicli tlicy
ll.ll IMCll
prodcci's
^
uiiIhmI ;i!-
niid ]M'r-
ho liiulily
rortiiiiad
il'lJi-ilisli
one iiiucli
■;.
well as to
i.j
O^T(!SS.
sliould be
I' I ^
4
i
profit by
minority,
c'lianL^os
ica, it aj>
t that the
! consuiu-
lly prom-
iial privi-
e of edu-
SUJi'gOSt
! system ;
unot yet
\merican
fiMlcralioii is to be an cfTiciont p;ovornmont, nally uniiin? the
provinee.i which jtrtilbss to beloni: to it, or whfther, like some dther
ledcral iMiimis. It is to be a mere bubble! burstin:^' with the tiri^t
Im Mih ufpopular discnnteut, or a shadow itidieatin.; V»y its posilitiu the
pressure ul' the nwst powerful local influences. These ipiestion'^ at pre-
sent lill thr Diindu of all thinking' men in Canada witli anxiety; but
tlieyarriini (|iii',-.ti(Mis uhicli we can investigate here ; and Inrour
pn-sent purpose we m:iy lake it to;' -rantvid that the ledi-ral union
will be aeeoiiipli<lied. and that I'mfeslant education in Lower Ca
riada will bi- hit to the roiitroj of the local le-isjature. with some smt {,'j(j ^/T'C/.l^i'
ol' assurance that thi; privileges whi(di we may ha]>peii to Ii i\e at tin-
iiiiie oT llh' union will be continued to us. The (juestions thus left
— (juestions on which tiie ncn interesti'il in the ]iolitical affairs
of the ctnnitry, shouM be irlad to have the opinion cil' those
rn-aged in education — are: — 1st, What should those privilei;es nU i4J ulidwx/'
f'C ? and, Und, l>y what Li nar aiitet.'s sliouMjlux b e secu red ? 6 Xty{r(^t (^ fl'(^'\
In enteriuLr on the investigation of these points, there are sonu'
L;eneral consideration-; to which our attention should rn'>t br directed
( Inc oi' these is the [larallel supposed to e.\i>t betweiii the
rights and interests of llie Protestant minority in Jiower Canada, and
the lloman Catholic minoriiy in Cpper (Canada. ()n this stdiject I
think there is a ^rcat ami prevalent misconception. It is sup[iose(l
that what is jrood and snlliclent (or one ol' these minorities must
necessarily bo ^ood and suflicient I'or th<' other. In reality the
agr(.!enient betw<(cn the circuuistaiu-es ol' flu; two is limited to these
points : 1st, That both are minorities almost cipially important
as to numbers ; ami lind, That both are entitled to havi' their rij:hts
of conscience respected. l?ut as to the way in which these
rights are to be secured in the two cases, no parity can exist. The
minority in Jjower Canada contend for public and non-denominational
schools, the minority in Upper Canada for separate schools. The
majority in Lower Canada >upport a closely denominational and
ecclesiastical systein, the majority in Tipper (^anada su})port a pub-
lic and non-sectarian system. The minority in JiOwer Canada exist
in the presence of a system supported by a powerful and bii^hly or- iJ ^/ / } I
fflnized state church, and strengthened by differences of race, cus- |^/^j;/V^^^ '|
tonis, and ianiiuau;e. as well as of religion ; the minority of Tlppt-r Ca ^ fi/J/^ ^
Hilda are in presence (»i* a system which professes to alve them the
benelits of secular instruciitm. without inti^rferiuL,' ni any way with
\
1(1
tlioi" n'li,i;if>n di- l:in,<;un;^o. Tin; minority in Lower ('auacla. are
\\i'altliy, :mkI liable to have their taxes largely applied t(i seliool<a
whieh they disiippruve ; the niinnrji^ y in T 'ppcr Canada are in jitth '
(hMi'.^('r in tliis _res|je(;t, and at the most their taxes can he; applicil
only to tin; tea"hinu; ol' snl)ji'('ts which in a religious point of view arc
neutral and indillerent. In short, the majority in Tipper Canada and
the minority in Jjower Oanada agree in the principle of public sithools
("or the better conn)iunication of elementary instruction, the majority
in Lower Canada and the minority in Tipper Canada agree iii the
principle oi' separate 'Schools ; ar.d thus wliile politically the cases of
the two minorities maybe somewhat similar, educationally they arc
totally d "ereni . It has, however, been argued, in reference to the
1/ , / I ( , alleged sectarian charactcir of the schools of Lower Canada,
iflUj fli^r liUyr that— " separate schools are allowed on the ground of the con-
scientious views of those who do not find themselves at liberty to
ki(/W OO Hcnd their children to the scia*o1s of the majority, and to make
' -* " ' ' the two eases parallel, it is sufiicient to say that Catholics
are as much forbidden t(i send their children to wluit are
(tailed non-scctaria.u schools as to i*rotestant schools.'"-'- 'IMiis is,
no doubt, true, but then it is the uiajority in Lower (^ana-
ila aiul the minority in Tapper Canada wh^ object to the non-sec-
tarian schools ; and the conscientious convictions of the two minori-
ties, together with the educational principles, policy and re(juire-
ments resulting therefrom, are diametrically opposed to each other.
It is to be hoped that we shall hear no more comparisons of this kind,
at least from Protestants, and I trust that our countrymen in Tipper
Canada a!id the Lower Provinces will not be misled by them.
There is another point important to this discussion, which has not,
so far as T know, been publicly agitated in connection with i ^ subject,
and which I know leads to somewhat dangerous ground, but which,
as it is ncccssa'"v to explain our position, must be briefly noticed. I
refer to the fact that the lloman Catholic schools of Lower Canada
are objectionable to Protestants, on other than religious grounds.
The atmosphere of these schools is decidedly unfavorable to the
culture of the qualities which wo most esteem in an Englishman.
(Xj^ i^'SUiiCd ' There are other evils more tangible than this. I recently had my
J{t^i/i Ko^tl) attention directed to the advanced English reading book of the
^rvx^tui (.( ^7x/' Christian Brothers, used in many ol' the schools of Lower Canada,
it Cui/i'-^W (<-juj~Aj * Journal of Eilucaliijii for Lower Canada, October.
I'
Janadci urc
1 to schonlfi
arc in little
1)0 applied
of view arc
lanada and
i)li'' schools
le iiKijority
m*e(! ill tlu!
lie eases of
ly they arc
jnce to the
r Canada,
the con-
liberty to
I to make
Catholics
what are
This is,
rer Cana-
e n on-sec -
fo niinori-
re(juire-
leh other,
this kind,
ill l^])per
u.
I has not,
subject,
it which,
ticcd. T
Canada
grounds.
) to the
lishnian.
had my
: of the
Canada,
f
I
11
and was siirpriscil tn lind thai in it> historical and political
tont^, it is rather an American and Irish, than an En;_'lish
book, while, as mi!;ht ]\-a\v been cxpeclcd, In rcli'jlnn it is nar-
rowly Ibmian (';ithiilic. ■'■■ In il^ litcraiy extracts it scle('ts, even
I'roni l*rot(>stant authors, ))assa_u;es in lavdiivd!' tlic llomisli (Church.
[t avoids the history and lilorlous trailitiniH (ifiiur mother bind, ^nxi in-
• dndes fulsonn! eul'>uies of thr Ann an cimstitution ;inil it< heroes.
and rt!f(;rences to the p(;rsccutinns supposed to have ])iH'n sufiei*-
ed by th(' (Catholic Irish. Any s[iirit(^d buy takinu' bis inrorniatiim
from such readimr.must cimn! from schonl with a striiUi^- tinu(!or--;nr.:!o
phobia." Xi»w without sayin;^' a word aiiainst th(M'(insci"iitiiius cun
vietioiis of our lioniaii (^•^tholic brethren in tlie feacbinu' ])r(iies-i()n,
or e\en as to the incixpedioney of trainiiiu' boys to tlislike the nation
and ji'overnment under which tlu'v liv.\ \;o may at least be permitted
to say that we bavi' a decided av-rsion to this sort df train-
imi' lor our children, independently alto^i.tlier of religious consifb ra
lions. It is but fair to add that 1 have be(Mi informed that an expur
u'ated c'lition of (be book to which T have refevred is in pro.;i'e-s. It'-
defects liowever. are negative as much as oositive; ami I ba\(> rrW'v
red to it, merely as an instance of tli'j_mfluenc^s unfivo)'able t(j_tjje
he;'.lth y develo p ment of the British characteiL/ which (^xist in th(i
Schools of the Lower Canada majority, and v\'hich ('(institute a part
of the reasons which prevent us fi^tm nuitinu' with tlicm.
In the second place wo are tau'.ih( by the bisl(jry of Protestant edu-
cation in Lower Canada, not to rely too implicitly on every soi-l of
uuarantee that may bo oftere<l, 'flic broad u>.;is of the; liiitish Empire
and its constitution, mii^ht well soem a sntficicnt guarantee Ibi- tlie
rights and interests of En;j,lishnicn in ar.y colony; but experience has
not proved it to be so in Lower Canada. The influence of the
British Enijiiro did not prove sutliclent to secure the grants of land
promised to the Koyal Institution, or the permanent Educational
union of Upper and Lower f'anada, or a system of educati(.)n here
equally favorable to the interests of th.e l-'mpiri; Avilh the Irish 'lational
system. Fnlcss under the new federation the power of tin; rnipcrial
Government shall be morcstronyly and directly exercised in our affairs
than hitherto, we can expect nothing from it, except such stimulus as
may be afforded by the persona! influence of the able and educated
men who may represent Tier Majesty as Governors. The inilucncc
* Third Book d' Reailiiit; Lesion-, coitii)ik'd I'V ihc liroilior^ >j! the Clni-iian schools.
-^Sadlkr ^ Co., yt'.r i'orii, und Mmtreal. 1859.
to (ulky ^rut-
12
thus exerted in Jlivour of eclueation by our late Governor Ge
rovernor beiicral,
Sir EdmuiKl IL'ud, was very beneficial ; but it is questionable whether
the head of a conlederacy includin'-; local governments, will be able
to act s^o directly in educational aticdrs.
AL^aiu we are told tiuit there will be a j:re;it Protestant uud Enir-
lisli niajoriry in tlie Federal le^islatui'c, and that tlie general govern-
ment, will, by its veto, secure our rights. In looking ut our past his-
tory, we cannot find that Up})or Canada has in time past exercised
this kindl}' intluenee on our behalf under the old uniori, though it
was most directly its interest to do so , nor can we suppose that a re-
presentative government will ever be able to offend, on account of
. - a matter so trivial as edueation has always appeared to party politi-
( '/f'^^f{//l(^^Jj[^x./ ciiitis, tlie majority ol' one of tlie most powerful jirovinees. But
' ItO/^ZixMjlf^^^ A/<-c/^ ],, addition to all this, if we state the popidation of British America
. At/ iU<rX^^>^fi-^i-'^ 1,1 i-()und numbers at three millions and a half, one million and a half
^^.^'^C^i«^u^ .,1V [Ionian Oatliolies, all, if we may credit the good evidence
' ^ <^^/t <L ,il[.^.;„ly (juutedv ■■ forbiilden'' to send their children to n<'!i.sectarian
' ^11 - M-lio(ils, wiiile we know llr.t among the remaining two Diillions of l*ro-
'U/u/' *f(/u/ ^^^ ♦ .statits and other iioii-eatholics, there is no great unanimity in fa-
U"HfjKi^ 6jj x:\\\\' ol" a public school system. W hat guarantee can tve have that the
iMn^yi^pLiL^ ^^ uiiiuiiinous mlliion an d a half may not o\\ this point overcome
4^1, px^^TLA^^i-^ , 'i;c diviiK'd two millions , not in the case of liower Canada only, but
v^lX^^A^o C^ of the wlioli" fi^h^ration, iii so iar as local le<ris1ation will permit.
^.^«? ^^^^ <^-^^
C*^ 0^ i^^axAjx-C iinl la>lly we are told that a sdiool law will be passed before the
1-^^ ^I'li'-*" ^^^' ^'^^ t/Vmadas is dissolved, li.ving our position beyond the
possibility of its being disiurhed. It may well be asked — can this be
done? Legislation is u continually opera.ting and accumulating force,
that soon trimsformsitsclf into tliat'-jogie of facts," which sweeps away
all stationary guarantees. These are usually but stones thrown into
the bed of a rapid stream ; they may make a littlo connnotion and
splutter, but the stream juoves on. In edueation, every new insti-
tution established nr re(juired, evory slij^iit change of the school law.
howi'ver ajiiKirentiy innocuous, must have -reat and wid*- spread
ottccts i'<ir good or evil. Evoi in thn absence of all legislafioii, the
natural growth ol'the population nuist s ■ m (;ham;v th.i; po-iliun of ihr
schools; and unless legislation should always InM-arelnllv and d ndovls
guarded, so w^ to suit the minmdty. it will prove impossililc to n spect
such guai'antees. Past ex))erienc.' lias shown al-o that we have not
%
lor General,
-ble whether
will be able
it auJ EiiL'-
ural ^Dverii-
ur ?);ist his-
st exercised
i, though it
e that a re-
account of"
)arty politi-
inccs. But
!sh America
;i and a half
d evidence
'a.yectarian
uns of l*ro-
niity in t'a-
LVe that the
ovoruonio
I only, but
.11 permit.
before the
)eyond the
can this be
I ting force,
vceps II way
irown into
lotion and
new in.sti-
cliool law,
idr spread
latiiMi, the
iiM ot'lllc
I (< ni!t;i'l;,
III rcsjx'ct
!• have nut
13
sii much to feiir froni any open attnek, ;is from indirect ami insidious
intluoneos, in tlie tirst instiincc; ])erh!ips little undt-rstood by any on*'.
Let me not be misunderistood. f have no dt'sirc to insinuate that
the nuijority in Jjoucr Cnnada arc ])rep!ired to tn\it the minority with
injustice. I (udy menu to alhrui thiit the schools whieli they regard
as })pst suitiMl to them are not suited lo us, :uid thnt it \\)]1 be dill)
cult f(ir Ihcui, hov>"ever well disposed, to respc'ct our interests, witliout
the exercise of a selfdcninl which we c;in h.irdly e.xjiecl. In these
eireumstances thi\y must not blann; us if we ciirefully iui|uirc as to
our ])ositlon and prosi)ects,and endeavour to surround ourselves with
as many safeguards as possible, just as they in lik(> ninnner desin^ to
secure their peculiar views tmd institutions in entcriii'..': the projiose I
federation. Nor must it be supposed that in this matter v.e are sel-
fish, and careless of the interests of otliers. The^5ritish minority of
Lower Canada owe It as a sacred duty to their ancestors and to their
posterity, to the principles which they prol'ess, and even t(.» the popu-
lation amidst which they are placed, to preserve their education;iJ in-
stitutions intact ; and it must l)e evident to every thou-htful mind
that should the l»ritish interest in Lower Canada be reduced to in- ('' H^ mtj jrdCf
significance, and tliis province beconu; wholly uallic i/.'d and ronia_nI/ejL "^^ ^^iAjuL i^jx/.JA\
the federation will be a failure, and the people of Lower Canada 'CiUi^J
will be among the most serious sufferers amidst the throes of its dis-
solution.
Let us then, in view of these considerations, in(|uire as to the
provisions necessary for Protestant education in Lower Canada.
under the new circumstances into which it Is about to enter, and
more especially, to those deraandtMl by the Association recently form
cd in this city for the protection of Protestant education.-''
1. Tt is proposed that we shouhl demand a separate Protestant
Superintendent and Council of Public Instruction, the latter to repre-
sent, as fairly as may be, the leading Protestant denomination^. The
ground for this demand is not any dissatisfaction with the adminis-
tration of educational affairs by the present Supei'Intendent. On
the contrary, T Ijclicve it will be admitted that under his manage,
ment, education has made substantial advancies.and tln> defecls of the
existing system have bec.'u greatly moilitiod, cr Iiave brcn' at least
smoothed over in such a manner as to rob them ofmanyobnoxictus
• •'Siigi;i'stn)iis :iii(l cnusKicrHlic'iis iiresciiK'il 111 tlic fru.-iuls of l'riiti.":liiiii JUlucittinii, iu
Lower Caiiiulu." — Uontreat, Dec. iStil.
14-
fc.'iturej'. Hut tliir' cuxuinrttarice makes us all tuc more unoa^sy. Tlic
power \\<>s^ wielded \vitli t;ict and (irmncsy, and under thcgovernniciil
i)i' United Canada, may produce the most opposite effeet^;, under an
oiBcer of dillerent, cliaracter, and without the eheeliS and eaeoura;;e
menls afloi'ded by the exi^tim; union.
I conies-^ that under the present eon.stitution, 1 shouUl dtnibt
as to a division oi' the Department of Edueation. It wouhl eau-se
additional expen.se. it mi;^ht p roduce contentions between the
departiuent^ . The Superintendent of the minority might be a man
^V^ fcy/XAui^ of little inHuenee. and inferior in all re,fpccts to the man who could be
ij ^VL<*~'AXx.iu ;.;ecured lor the lar^^er ofllee. Without underrating the-c evils, I still
i^ mZyC<iAJ ^^'^^-^ think that, under the new constitution at least, we arc bound to dc-
/ y . / niand this ehange,as giving th" only security possible ior the unlettered
t %fi^ ^. , development of our Protestant schools. While linked in any way to
// ill/ // y system oi the majority, our system will be cramped m its develop
un, ja /• ^ . lucnt, it will lack unity, and it will be unable to watch eflectually the
interests oi the sinailer rrotestant (jommunities, a matter ot much
importance even to ilu; existence of these communities. It will also
want thit distinctiveness which alone can give it any share of the sym-
pathy of our eountr^nuen in other parts of British America, With
out a [separate Council the minority cannot form a united bod3^,
capable of discussing its own plans and of advocating its own interest;-,
and (uuises of complaint which the department cannot efteetually
rcdrcr^s will continually arise.
It may be said that minorities have no such rights anywhere, and
that the minoi'iiy in T'pper Cantula will claim similar privileges.
We can urge in reply, that if a cordon is to be urawn around the
French nationaliiy in ivower Canada, the Engliah within that pale
have a rigiit to a similar pioteetion, and that this is not a mere (ques-
tion of greater and less numbers, but of the maintenance of British
education In a province of the Britisii Empire.
2. ()ne of tlie most serious defects of our i .•■'Sent ,'<ehool law is
its imperfect protection of the rights v? the minority in the disposal
of their school taxes, and all parties seem agreed that some cluinge is
r((|uircil ill this matter. Whatever the amendiiieiiL of the details of
tiie law in this respect, w e should insist on tl'c recognitio n of the
i ll iiicipie that llie school t.iXv'S uf Protestant rate-payers siioiild not j
j xcrpt Ijy llii'ir e.^pr es s de.'^iie, be devoted [q the su[>[iort of Jlo!ii;i n
C atholic scho ols, anil tliat the taxes leviel on eommereial eoi'jinrations
Ml
t
I
^jlJ
\
mca^y. Tlic
igovcnimciil
ts, under an
rl eaeourji-c
louKl (],)uh(
i^ouM cau.ie
[ctvvceii tlic
^Iit bo a man
ho could be
evils, I sdll
utid to dc
unlettered
siriy way to
ts develop
otually the
i' of much
ft will also
'f the fcy ni-
:a. With
ited body,
illteR'St;^,
:;ireetually
'here, and
)rivilcges.
ound the
».lt ]t:ilc
ere (|ue.s-
Britirih
1 law is
.iis|)u.s:ii
ii.nim^ is
('Uiils oC
1 <»f' tlic
liiiLliiii,
u
■M
15
.•'hould be divided in ootnc e«juitable niannor, so as not t'* intorfc.n'
with the interest;:! oi' Protestant shareholders. This nii^ld be deter
)nined by unanimous conscntof such corporations, (»r otherwise tlic tax
might be divided aceordin;:; to population, or better still, aceordin-; In
the stock held by shai-el iolders of the respective c reeds.
3, There is .i miaiif'est inju'<tice In the dep(!ndence of Prottj^Lain
school districts on the ])oundarie- which may ho fixed for parishes or
municipalities. Without ascribin;,-; to the ruiijority in the llom:ni
Catholic districts any desire to do wrong, it is evident that they can-
not be expected to arrange their boundaries in such a manner as to
accommodate the minority , and the same evil may be experienced by
Roman Catholic schools in Protestant districts. There seems to be
no good reason why the districts for dissentient schools should not be
established without any reference to these boundnvies, and to suit the
convenl'mcc of the contributors to such schools. This privilege has al-
ready been granted to the separate schools of I ^pper Canada.
4. The amount of provincial aid grunted to education by l^arliament
will always be determined by the majority, but it should be recog-
nized as a rule that all such aids should be distributed between the
Protestant and Koman Catholic departments according to the popu-
lations they respectively represent. This may be regarded as in one
respect^unjust to the British population, as being on the whole the
largest contributors to the revenue ; but then it must be admitted
that it is the duty and interest, of the Avealthy to contribute tov.ard
the education of the poor, even if the education given should not be
in all respects such as they approve.
The general question of legislative aids to education must be lui't
open to discussion, and very extreme opinions have been maintained
in regard to it. In former times the practice seems to have been to
scatter money throughout the country without any proper safeguard
on its expenditure, or provision to stimulate contributions from tlie
people interested. More recently it has been maintained
that no such aids should bo given under any circumstances.
The truth lies between these extremes. In a country where there
arc few endowmenls ibr education, and where the people re([ulre to
be stimulated to aUend to it, much good may be di»ne by judicious
grants, especially in aid of the superior class of schools, and of those oi
the poorer districts. But such grants should always be made the
4W.
I:
1
IG
jueans ol' drawlnp,' I'orth the li))crality of the people, and improving' tliu
schools; and tlieret'ore the most strinLamt conditions shonld be exact-
ed as to the amount eontributiid liy the people, the nmnbor of pupils
ill attendance, the duration of the schools, and the character of the in-
struction jfiveii. These facts must bo ascertained not only ]>y returns
but by ret^ular and systematic inspection ; and these will not secure tlie
end in view, unless the employment of trained teuchers, and the reiiu-
lar registration of the school attendance, be insisted on. Tn
relation to some of these points, our present school law is still very
imperfect, and its working;' necessarily uives good ground to ob-
ject against the distribution of the grants.
Taking it Inr granted, however, that parliamentary aids to ednca-
tion will be given, and that measures will be taken to ensure their
just distribution, we should, I think, demand that the distinctive
principles of our two systems of education, should be acknowledged
by a preliminary division of such grants between the Protestant and
Roman Catholic schools, and that fair scope should thus be given
for a trial of their respective merits and defects.
5. On behalf of that portion of our population which is non-catho-
lic but not Protestant, I Avould say, that it might be lel't at liberty to
avail itself of the provisions cither of the Protestant or Catholic
school system at its option ; and it would be necessary, in order to
avoid difficulty, that its rights in the matter should be recognized.
There is another class of persons also, not numerous, but having
2/di'<-dirfM'^(Mj^c**4^t[\M\\ rights of conscience, whose wants should be provided
i(jUiA<J (hii- 1<J^'* ^ ^^^'^^ ^^ French, German, and other Protestants not speaking
'k/A^/^tKJLt — English, and to isolated english-speaking Protestants and Cath olics
; ^-UuajdJtAJt<<M. in French districts . While the utmost care should be taken not unduly
' /IjASfU {HajLml"^ to exempt any one from the school tax, the greatest possible faci -
y iUtkfifjfj t/ /J'^^*^*' s^io^^l^ be given to such persons to contribute to and use such
• /T^^ schools as they may select, and also to combine with other small
commimities in supporting itinerating teachers, or to husband their
rates with the view of sustaining a schoo' in alternate years or in
short portions of the year. It is the more necessary to mention such
cases, because in a separation of the school systen^s, they might be
neglected, o r dUTorcnces might arise in relation to tlip ni.
G. There are some classes of institutions wliicli cannot be supported
altogether by local rates or public grants, and whose permanence
<rl
a]
h
17
.^liouid be gUarati'tectl to the Protestant population. T rofor to tlio
Jlnivor'.itiesand tlieir atnilntod Ct)!lo4t!-,ih« l'r<>viiu'i,ii Nonn.il School,
;ni(
1 (ho Acadcniios ;inJ JIIl'U scI)M)Is. I'dr ilu-o ;i '-ix''!.:! ; ■ .visir
shnuM he 1)1. I'll', in such .i iii;innor as tw prevent 1 hi. ir
Ml
Mri'Tlor-
enct; ^7i
th IL
aias ;.o
til
iowor
]'\
a8oritz;larJ!y coutcmplati-'d by the i>riti'?h <io.\ ru:n(;
•liuu; I
•j-r:t'.
t. ji
il !'
f.'i lill'.i
:i\i
land
a'iVcn
.1- tl
leirsuppoii, ov 5-[i'.'Ci:'J. l;\;! is
IP'Hl
1
n Y<
to
hor,i:; in,- i U.uunii.-:, Llio prim
lUL'H
1 t,
i.-iauon
does not apply. 1 h*'y are nor, bchool.< inr a locvJity, i<ui m .some
respect:: sorvo lor the wlioie Province, sinre the bcne;U> wlilch they
r»ive arc diiluscd thi>>:iv^houL the coiinLry, :n the pi-u\i>ioii df [las-
tori, oi toacli' li', and oL' proies-iouul men. ThMU-h llw, u-ul tiituatcd
xn
tac
the lai'
15 J t!
TO i;
ntio,.^ oi' populaliun. yet withinit ih^.iii tlie inha
bi-
.s.ii.ilh.
11.
■I .'111
senou,;
popu
m':c.in\eni!\iO<'
.1
Tl
till I,
A ii'taoti' >chi
di-t
I'a.-L- miulit su
Qor
h:i)' \:illii', IS ni
it li> be e.--tiiii;tled by the
.ulioii ihut ni;r. Miironml lln'iii.hnf. by thv piijiiN aelually receiving;
1 which they uive.
their bi^ntMn,-. ai
!ho .'l
laraetci' o
H' <'illi<Ml|iil
Th
^y
imui
ai-o
iriiii.tucni |.\
I tl
■ndov^cd. and not dependent on
the ilLietiatiiejr ivi-oun T- ^li' fuinnal •jrartt^ ; since in crder th.tit they may
d and able men, a.nd
be ..n
ic'ion
I. Il
.it.") uiu,-i '.^ulliev aiLnratl liiem K/arne
must penmuu'ntly retain the Si.'r\iee- (i!'sn(!i men
Ilith'Tt,
1 as e oniiiai
d
with the e
.11
'iie'.;es
in<
1
■aniMiai
diorils of
Upp.r <.\iV)ada, and v.ith the l;a'^'c endo^vmenls pve.servcd by the
liberality of the Britl'Ji Govcrnmonl to the o
Id F
'.en
■seminaries.
ID
ctitutioiiS of thi? da::? Cor
:ne
i>nti>li jiopulation ui l/iwer t,anaiia
C
ih
;'cen sLarvn
havr
mirhf have oea::
a.nd ohoul.l if ]'u--il'I
an
d l.n;
irivale bene
^faet
iun
me erthem
T
a' eii.ini.-i suou
d
!f.\V
Ul
e ue
ule
il ill .- omc permanent w
IN'
.It Ir-
ued
to be
hoped thai the m::jurity It.-elf v. ill ■-- •• th^^ ^•,i-donl ;;.-j uell a.s
the j;u--tiee of tli^ me;isuve, !i;;d tli.it- the people of I'pper
Caiivi.ia ^vill make il a point of conscience to (brain this guarantee ibr
tlic I'lvtei^tant ]wipu1iUion H' Loiver Canada before tlie Una' ^epara-
tW'U takes jilaee.
f! i- fuith.T !o be obv'ned, ihalas a.h'eauy .-Uit.d. the Covernniont
;,<••, n.uly owe.'^ to tliese hildier in.it itution-3 -.rrant '■!' ]\uA which, lont"
a-o promised, Lave not been reeelved. Th.J.so old ri-ht: ,?houh.l now
be rc.a;:r'cricd, and avc should not rest-contRr.l annl wc eau ubtaia
rrantr C''i-:-''::-^p'>nillllI,^-' tho.-e 'fiven in Upp.r C\:i:id:i, or to tho30 cu-
^i
oz^
i
i
18
joyed by tho Seminary of Montreal and that of Quebec with its ex-
tension in the Laval University. We have also a right to insist tliat
j-omc consideration should bo given to the probable increase of value of
tuch lands, had they been granted in 1801.
In an able article in the Journal of Education for Lower Canada,
it is argued, that under the present system the Protestants receive-
more than their share of the superior education fund. But admit-
ting the correctness of the figurco given, and admitting also that the
Superintendent iias acted in the matter with nil fairness, there would
remain tor consideration, in addition to the facts stated in that article,
the following questions, all more or less important to a correct un-
derstanding of the position of the Protcsiants.
(1.) The clali'i of the Protestant higher institutions to grants of
land, commensurate with those enjoyed by the great Roman Catholic-
Seminaries and their University.
(2.) How far the aids to such institutions should be ba.sed ot.'
population or number of pupils.
(3.) What institutions should be regarded as provincial and what
as local.
(4.) What classes of institutions have a right to share in the
superior education fund.
(5.) The grants given in former years for buildin^^s ; and the
progressive diminution of some of the grants in recent years.
(6.) The conditions attached to the aids given, in some cases.
(7.) The relative proportion of the aids given and the contributions
cf the supporters of the Schools.
(8,) The condition and management of the lands known as ilv
*' Jesuits* estates," and of the ! iperior education fund.
Some of these pomts we have already noticed, and it would occupy
too much of our time to enter into others, which would require state-
ments of figures and minute details. It is sufficient to say that they
have led some of those who have given attention to the subje'^it, t >
very different conclusions from those of the article referred to, with
regard to the effects of the present system, while they by no meana
remove the fears of a change for the worse under the new constitu-
tion.
f
19
7. There ia one subject affectiai* the interests of tlio higher Ediicatior,
which, not unnaturally, seems to have been overlooked by our politi-
ciana. I refer to the legal value attaciieil to University deirrees, asi
qualifying for the learned professions. Tliis, on the terms of tlr;
published Kgiv^einent, will be left to the local j.'ovornnu'nt<>. 8ucr n
coura i would lead to great evils . It would tend to the erection of ditlc* ■
cut standards m diflFerent Provinces, and to give to the degrees of ou-
Universities a ni(3rely local value. Thj degrees of all tlio evistiiii-,
Universities should bo degrees for all British America. The standariJ,
of professional education in the different provinces siiould as far a ;
possible be assiiuilated.,and raised sufficiently high to prevent the inter-
ference of uneducated practitioners ; and, if possible, to secure foi*
our degrees that recognitit. i in Groat Britnin which the separate
provinces have as yet been unable to obtain . In order to these ends the
general government should assume the supervision of this matter, or
should at least retain the power to revise all local legisla-
tion in regard to it. Perhaps the best method to secure the desired
result, Apould bo the appointment of an Kducational Council similar
to the M'idical Council in Great Britain, and to charge this body with
the oversight of all matters relating to professional education and the
value of degrees therein.
I have now stated what T conci'lve to be the most important points
which demand the attenlion of J'rotestant educationists in Lower Ca-
nada, in prospect of ourncv constitution. Others may oL^eur to other
thinkers, and some of those whir'i [ have mentioned may not seem
cfjually important to all. The details of the mo le in whieli these
guarantees may be best secure 1 belong to the politieiui. My present
object will have been attained if I have succeeded in stiumlating
thought on these momentous ([uestions, and in contributing somewhat
t,o a solution which, while not injurious to our countrymen who dif-
fer from us on education il (piestions, will secure and perpetuate the
existence of English and J*rotcstant education in Lower Canada.
• I would say finally, that in my ju lament, no p>iple was ever un
der greater necessity to make education, both hiiiin'r and elementary,a
prominent object of attention, than that of nritis'i Amerieo, in en-
tering on the new constitution proposed to us. On this, under God,
will depend our progress and prosperity, and the consideration we
ehall enjoy. While in our federation there will be discordant iuter-
f
i
L'O
w'.Ht?, races and cvcctls, and great local sciaratlon of its component parts,
tliore will be none of those PtronL: feelings of pftj.ular onfliu.-iasm
wliich tend so much to tlio f-trenutji and unity of nations. V\ ^ have
110 Georj:o Washhiuton or "Willian '"11, no stlrri:i^ meiiiorios of
irrcnt deeds done or sunbrinus endure .Ht-urc our national oxijit-
. Dco, and th e truly nation al fceHnL: wlpeli exists anion i u-, cenfri"? at
■ ) .^ inmiwuf i|),ivr ;it f'"'"^"!! ill'''' l^tli-, lll.Ui at OUaW:l.
lii]Milar inditVcrenee oil the one liand, and iiure dcclauiation on
jIic other, will not sujiply the want .^f those powers which slir tho
jieu'ts ev'Mi of rude nations. We nnist endeavour to fill their jJaee l»y
l)ic formation of an cnllditcned public opinion, and l<y the cultivatioa
of minds fitted to guide ;n'i'.:ht thr dcstinie;<of the couTjtr\. and to
ro.'on«-i!o its jarring interests without any fatal sj;eriti';o i.f trut;i>
:,!,^'l riulit.
i