Not less than six hundred and fifty Indian youth have been educated at this Institution, and many of them have been enjoying these advantages during a period of two, three, four and some for five years. They are taken into the Institution, boarded, clothed and educated, under the most judicious and watchful care to promote their happiness, physical health, social habits, and general deportment, while the most untiring efforts are made to promote their moral and Religious interests and further the greatest care is taken to inculcate habits of industry and frugality, which are essential to the future prosperity and happiness of our Indians. With these they will become well to do, without them, they must remain poor.

The Farm is in a good state of productiveness; it contains about Two Hundred and Twentysix acres of rich land. All the departments of the Institution are in a state of creditable prosperity. We now supply the Institution with all the farm products required, and have from Six hundred to Eight Hundred dollars' worth to sell.

*

*

*

*

It is but proper to observe that in 1845 the late Reverend Peter Jones collected money in England and Scotland for the laudable purpose of educating the Indians. He raised in all about Seven Thousand, Five Hundred dollars, ($7,500).

From one of the latest published Reports we find that the cost of labour, salaries, farm implements, blacksmithing, clothing, shoemakers, and wages amount with the value of stock, etcetera, to Twenty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty-six dollars and eighty cents, ($27,256.80). towards which there was realized from sales of various kinds of work and the present value of stock, etcetera, Twenty One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-seven dollars and forty nine cents, ($21,887.49,) making the net expenditure Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty-nine dollars and forty nine cents, ($5,369.49) The Government makes a grant of Five Thousand and Thirty-five dollars, ($5,035,) toward the expenditure.

Muncey, or Mount Elgin Industrial Institution, like similar Institutions, is conducted in such a manner as harmonized with the views of the late Reverend Peter Jones. We take a few extracts from the Report of the Commissioners who were appointed to collect information relative to Indian affairs. In it, they say,

The Credit Indians live in a village, and some of them have to go a mile, or two, to their farms. Before their conversion, very few of them raised even Indian corn, but now, many of them grow wheat, oats, peas, Indian corn, potatoes and other vegetables; several cut hay and have small orchards.

The best mode of promoting Religious improvement they add is :

"To combine Manual Labour with Religious Instruction; to educate some of the Indian youths with a view to their becoming Missionaries and School Teachers, as it is a well known fact that the good already effected has been principally through the labour of native Missionaries."

'Considering that they are taught in a strange language, Indian children show as much aptitude as White children."

"The best mode of promoting the moral, intellectual and social improvement of the Indians, is the establishment of well-regulated Schools of Industry, and the congregating of the several scattered Tribes into three, or four, Settlements, which would be a great saving to the Government and to Missionary societies, at the same time, it would afford greater facilities for their instruction in everything calculated to advance their general improvement.

I know several Indians who have become pretty good Mechanics, with little, or no, instruction. At the Credit Mission, there are two or three Carpenters and a Shoemaker. At Muncey, we have one Blacksmith and some Carpenters and Tailors.

The condition of the Indian would soon improve if Schools of Industry were established among them. Agricultural societies should be formed in each Settlement, and rewards offered to such as might excel in any branch of farming.

The history of the Ojebway Indians, by the Reverend Peter Jones, contains much valuable information which I have not seen elsewhere.

Industrial Institutions are in course of erection-two, I think-in the North-west, under the care of the Methodist Church.

TORONTO, 1896.

EDWARD BARRASS.

CHAPTER XXII.

REMINISCENCES OF SUPERANNUATED SCHOOL TEACHERS, 1848-1851.

1848:- I commenced school teaching in this Country in the fall of 1848, in School Section Number four of the Township of Nepean. The School House, in which I taught was about 18x18 feet, cottage roofed, with no desks for the pupils. The seats were made of planks, propped up on blocks, or stones. The School Books were of so many different kinds that I can scarcely give a description of them, and, as a result, the pupils had to be taught separately instead of in classes. I taught this School for One Hundred and Fifty dollars per annum, and boarded for a week at a time with the different families of the neighbourhood.

After three years in this Section, Sections Numbers four and six were united, and I was engaged to teach in this United Section at a salary of One Hundred and Ninety-two dollars per year. The School House in Number Six, to which the School was transferred, was much better than the one in Number four, in which I had taught, being in size about 30x24 feet, and was fitted up with solid, though rough desks and benches. The Irish National School Books were then used, and I was able to classify the children in the School, which I had hitherto not been able to do. Walkingame's and the Irish National Arithmetics were used, and the English Grammars were Murray's and Lennie's. We had no Maps nor Blackboards, nor any other

apparatus in this School.

After a year here, I was engaged by School Section Number Eight at a salary of Two hundred dollars per annum, and I was thus able to pay sixty dollars a year for my board to a farmer with whom I lived. The School House in this Section was a new log building 24x34 feet, very well fitted up inside with desks and benches. The books used were the same as in Section 6, and the average attendance of pupils was about forty-five.

FALLOW FIELD, April, 1896.

PATRICK O'MEARA.

1848-The first Meeting of the Common School Trustees was held in the then Town of Bytown on the 20th of November, 1848. Mr. John Atkins was appointed Superintendent. The staff contained excellent teachers, but their services were not highly paid for. Teachers employed were Messieurs. Hagan, Maloney, O'Leary, Robinson, Mignault, Mrs. Sproule, Sisters Hagan, Conlin, Rivas, Misses Fraser, Burwash and Simpson. The School tax for that year amounted to £64 3s. 1d.; Government grant £68 6s. 8d.; total £132 9s. 9d. The Superintendent's salary was £15.

OTTAWA, January, 1889.

W. REA.

1848-I commenced teaching in Ontario in the winter of 1848-9. The first School Section in which I was engaged was situated along the Plains Road, East Flamboro', and extended from the Bridge at Burlington Heights to the Township of Nelson. The School House stood on a fifth, or a quarter of acre plct, the ground was well fenced, the School itself was built of Logs, weather boarded, and on a stone foundation. Within, were a large box stove, Teacher's desk and seat; a long desk with benches on each side of the room, with a space between for the classes, and a short desk facing the Teacher's on each side of the door. The School House was supposed to be sufficiently large to contain all the pupils who attended, which was never more than twenty-five at any one time.

The Trustees ascertained the number of children who would be sent to School, and the probable amount of fees which would be received, and this, with the expectation of a Legislative and County Council grant, enabled them to give the Teacher some idea of what his salary would be. . Teachers were required to make up for any time they might be absent from duty, on account of sickness, or any other cause.

Each pupil was supposed to contribute a certain proportion of firewood, and to take his turn in sweeping out the School Room and bringing in water. I found it necessary, in some cases, to take straw hats, stockings, mits, rails, or anything at all, of which I could make a disposal, in order to get my fees in that shape.

At that time the Teacher's choice was not confined to any particular set of School Books, provided none of them contained sentiments of disloyalty toward Great Britain. The Education Department, however, authorized certain Text-Books which were generally adopted. Amongst these were Kirkham's Grammar, Lennie's Grammar, Morse's Geography, the Irish National Series of Readers, Walkingame's Arithmetic, and Mavor's Spelling Book. The School was opened and closed with prayer, found in Mavor's Spelling Book, and the Testament was read.

Blackboards were not much used in the Common Schools of that time, nor was Drawing part of the programme of Studies. My use of one and introduction of the other, as part of the weekly routine, were looked upon by many as novelties, for which I received the approbation of most families.

Every other Saturday, a week at Christmas, a few days at Easter, and a fortnight about harvest time, were allowed for Holidays. The Teacher generally took his Holidays, when it suited the farmers of the School Section. Many of the Schools throughout the Province, at that time, were closed during the Summer months, and, when my engagement expired, the School was closed. I think I received Ninety-six dollars for my six months' salary, out of which I had to pay Two dollars a week for my board.

At the close of 1849, a School Trustee, living on the Lake Shore, Nelson, paid me a visit, and asked me to take the School in his Section. At that time, I had merely a Certificate from the Local Superintendent. (Mr. P. Thornton,) of East Flamboro', for the Plains School Section, but, on the ground that I had done well in that position, I was called upon to accept the Port Nelson School Section, The Reverend Thomas Greene. D.D., Rector of Wellington Square was, at that time, the Local Superintendent of the Township of Nelson, and he offered to allow me to teach the Port Nelson School until the first meeting of the Board of Examiners for the County of Halton, which was to take place at Palermo during the following Winter.

The School House in this Section was a frame building, weather boarded on the outside, and within the walls and ceiling were lathed and plastered. There was a blackboard in the School Room, but I have no recollection of any Maps being there, and the furniture was of the most primitive description.

The School population of the Section was quite large, but the attendance was very irregular, especially in Summer. The children of several Roman Catholics attended regularly, and were very well behaved; and I can honestly say that there was never any trouble between them and the children of their Protestant neighbours, who were of several denominations.

I think it was at a much later period than that of which I now write that the School Daily Registers and other School Forms were regularly issued by the Department of Education for distribution among the Teachers. Previous to this, all the information required by the Local Superintendents was supplied by the Teachers from forms of their own contrivance.

Bills for the amount of fees, in which also was stated the number of days each child had attended school were sent out with the children at fixed periods, and they usually brought back the money required.

Teachers not only made out their own Time Tables without reference to any particular standard or programme, but frequently insisted upon their pupils being supplied with a particula, set of Books, regardless of whether or not those already furnished the pupils by their parentsr were suitable for school purposes.

FERGUS, April, 1896.

RICHARD UNSWORTH.

1849. I taught school in Ireland; was trained in Dublin. After arriving in Canada, I taught School in Section number five of Pickering, near the Lake shore in a Log Building, without maps, or other fittings. I taught too in Section number nine of Pickering. It was also in a Log Building, without maps, or other fittings. I then came to the Township of Arthur, and have taught School for some time there, and, subsequently, in the Townships of Proton and Normanby.

RIVERSTON, May, 1896.

J. D. O'SULLIVAN.

1848-In 1848 and 1849 I was employed by the Bradford School Trustees for Fifty pounds a year, Halifax Currency; but fault was found by the people with the arrangement; and I only received, instead of that salary, One shilling and Three pence per Month for each pupil. Then I got a School two concessions north of Bradford where I remained until 1852, at a salary of Forty Five pounds a year. The Irish National School Books, and some maps were introduced into the School. The Reverend William Fraser of Bondhead was appointed local School Superintendent in 1845, and then Mr. Herbert Mortimer was appointed, -the latter of whom told me, on examining my School that it was the most proficient one in the Township. In 1848, or 1849, Mr. Henry A. Clifford was made County Superintendent, and, on examining the Bradford School, he said that I had the best scholars in the County.

PAINSWICK, April, 1896.

JAMES MURRAY.

1848. The first School in which I taught was a comfortable Log House. I received a First Class Certificate from the County School Inspector. My wages were Ten dollars per month, and I boarded at the Houses of the parents of the scholars, remaining a week in each House, per scholar, until I went through the whole Section, and commencing again where I left off. I remained about two years in that section. I attended the Normal School in Toronto under

Messieurs Robertson and Hind, receiving a First Class Certificate, Second grade. Maps and a Black-Board were the principal Apparatus of the School.

April, 1896.

ROBERT DICKSON.

1848:-I taught in School Section Number Eighteen Wilmot, for three years commencing in 1848. There were no Tables, Chairs or Maps. The term was six months long, and the salary was fifteen dollars a month. printed an alphabet myself, and got a black board. It was a German School with Text Books from the United States.

NEW GERMANY, June, 1896,

MATHEW WELPEISER.

1848-I commenced my career of wielding the rod, and teaching the young idea how to shoot in the Scotch Block, in the Township of Esquesing, in the County of Halton in the year 1848. Our School House was a Frame Building, not bad for a "summer residence ", but very uncomfortable in winter. My next location was at what was called Gordon's School House, about a mile from Acton. My salary was more and the comfort less. The following statement will give you a good idea of our School House: I numbered my pupils on their assembling in the forenoon; but during the teaching hours I missed two little fellows. I wondered at this, as the door had not been opened, and immediately made enquiry for the missing ones. Finally, a little girl held up her hand and said, "Master, please, Henry went out through the logs and pulled James by the legs, and took him away while you were hearing the Third Book." We had no Examination Papers, for Teachers, as our examinations were conducted orally. Due notice was given the Teachers of the County that the annual examination of Teachers was to be held in Palermo on a certain day, to which place we trudged in the early morning hours. ALEXANDER MCPHEE.

MARKSVILLE, St. Joseph's Island, 1896.

I

1837-1851-As I had not been teaching for many years, and, as I had not a copy of my Certificates, instead of answering your reasonable request, in 1896, I laid away your Circular, knowing that you would receive more interesting answers from older and abler hands in the profession. About the seventh of October, 1837, I went to the tenth Concession of the Township of Markham. A commodious new frame vacant School-House, stood on Mr. Ira White's Ground, very near the Side Road, on the Tenth and Eleventh Concessions. He and a Mr. Dodd,Trustees, called a School Meeting at once and engaged me to teach a term of six months. opened the School on the ninth day of October, 1837. The School was well attended by the neighbour's children. All the Parents used me in the kindest manner, and all the children, attending were attentive. This, my first teaching, was by authority from Archdeacon Strachan and his clerk, Mr. George Walton. The Books used, were the Bible, Mavor's Spelling Book, Daboll's Arithmetic, Natural History and others. In Spring of 1838, I opened a School in a Log House near the Beach of Lake Ontario, and the mouths of the Highland Creek and River Rouge. I think I was there only three months. The most of the neighbours are all long since dead. The scholars were big and little and all thirsted for knowledge, were kind with each other and so with me. From there, I moved up to a Frame House, close to the Kingston Road, one third of a mile east of the Highland Creek. near Messieurs Post and Knowles. These and others sent pupils. When I left, I moved to a Log School House, near where the Grand Trunk crosses the Kingston Road in Scarboro', about eleven miles East from Toronto. I went from this School, sometime in 1839, and taught in a Log School House near where the old Danforth Road crossed the Kennedy Scarboro Road, within one and one half mile of the Painted Post, and six miles from Toronto. The Books used were the same as in all the preceding Schools; and the fee Two dollars per scholar, payable quarterly, with a Government Grant in proportion to the attendance of pupils. I left here and went to Toronto, and there taught a Private School in Caroline Street. Books used were as before, with Practical Geometry. When in Toronto, the Trustees of Danforth Road School invited me back to teach their School. I went, I think, in 1843, and taught in the same Log School House to the middle of August 1845. About this time, the Townships were divided into regular School Sections and duly numbered from one up. Superintendents of Townships were appointed. I received a Certificate from the Reverend James George, Presbyterian Minister of Scarboro'. I received the Government Grant from Mr.

Billings, in the Court House, Toronto, when I and other Teachers received a present each of an English Reader. The next School, I taught, was in a New Frame, near where the Markham Road leaves the Kingston Road, near Mr. J. Gates' Inn, a little over ten miles East from Toronto, in Scarboro'. The Books allowed by the Reverend Doctor Ryerson were Lennie's Grammar, the National Readers, Maps and the History of Canada. I left number seven Scarboro', and taught in a Baptist Frame Church, in the Miller Settlement, on the Ninth Concession of the Township of Markham, I received a Certificate from the Reverend Ludwick Kribbs. All attending had been taught to sing beautifully, by the previous teacher, Mr. Taylor. Left here and taught in a Log School House at the Town Line, and between Pickering and Uxbridge, near Mr. Joseph Galloway's Inn, near the Brock Road and the Fourth Concession of Uxbridge. All

concerned were very kind and liberal. I left this in 1849 and went to the Frame School House, near the tenth Concession of Markham, where I first taught in 1837 and remained in this School for some time.

COLLINGWOOD, 19 July, 1899.

WILLIAM SKELTON.

1848-I arrived in Darlington the sixth of October, 1848, and, soon after, the Trustees of a School in the Ninth Concession of the Township engaged me to teach the remaining two months at Fourteen dollars a month. The School House was a comfortable, cottage-shaped Log Building, but without Tablets, Maps, or Apparatus of any kind. The School Books used were the National Series The next School I taught was in the Eighth Concession of said Township, East, at a salary of Two Hundred dollars per annum, which was considered a good salary then, for a country place. The Building was Log, with desks all round, and was supplied with Maps, Tablets and Apparatus. Morse's Geography, and the National Series of School Books were in use. Leaving this School, I moved to another which was better fitted up, the construction being a frame cottage-shaped Building in the village of Hampton, and containing all the necessary Maps, Blackboards, and Object Lessons with School Books as in the other School. SAMUEL MEGAW.

GODERICH, April, 1896.

1849:I commenced teaching at Bell's Corners, Williamsburg in the year 1849. At that time salaries were not attractive,-for, from Fifteen to Twenty dollars a month, was considered good wages. There was great competition among Teachers, in order to get employment. Some Teachers were not up to the standard in intellectual qualifications, and they would accept a salary at a sacrifice, while other Teachers, possessed of higher intelligence, were always assured of employment.

It was customary for unmarried Teachers to "board round," and I must say, that I always enjoyed it, as it was an excellent way of becoming familiar with the different families, and to study the surroundings of the children and their home influence.

The School Houses were built of Logs; and ventilation and hygiene were unknown elements. In the Villages, there were a few passably good School Houses; but, in the rural districts the old Log Houses served as anything but an attraction to the scholars of the Section. There is a marvellous development in the architectural surroundings of School Houses of the day. People are now imbued with a certain pride in having a fine School House. Doctor Ryerson planned the foundation; and his worthy successors have enlarged and adorned the superstructure which stands as a monument to his and their patriotism and ability. The "sods of the valley cover the earthly remains of Doctor Ryerson, but his memory, his patriotism, his virtue and magnaminity, are enshrined in the hearts of a grateful people.

I must also state that we should not forget the energy and work of Nature's nobleman, Doctor Hodgins, Doctor Ryerson and Doctor Hodgins were both instruments in elevating the School System of the Province in its early development and improvement.

The salaries of Teachers were usually raised by subscription, and Rate-Bills,-levied on parents to make up any deficiency. This mode was not at all satisfactory, and led to many vindictive discussions at the annual School meetings.

The old Grammar School of Iroquois was a great factor in the advancement of education in this County, and it and the Morrisburg Collegiate Institute are an honour to the Province. Both have now an able and efficient staff of Teachers who are devoted to their profession.

Doctor Ryerson early advocated Free Schools; and I attended a Public Meeting called by him in the Iroquois Grammar School. He made a clear, logical and forcible speech, advocating his theory; but, notwithstanding, he was confronted by an indignant opposition by those who did not wish to be taxed for educational purposes.

The old School Boards of Examiners were a permanent institution at that time. We had first class Teachers as Members of the Board and examinations of Teachers were very strict and hard. For a long time, the Reverend Mr. Dick, Principal of the Iroquois Grammar School, was Chairman of the Board, and, after him was the Reverend Mr. Harris, a Church of England clergyman. Both gentlemen were University graduates. I am familiar with the system of National Education in Ireland, and I think the Canadian System is preferable. The pensioning of the old Teachers was commendable from every point of view.

P. JORDAN.

CONNAUGHT, May, 1896.

*Due credit is given to the Iroquois Grammar School for the good which it did in the olden time here spoken on. See page 137 of the Fourth Volume of this History.