Email to Dr. Pine
Dear Dr Pine, I am writing with concern over the numerous errors in your chapter “Now That We Know” in Indigenous Toronto, also in your Toronto Star debate, but I am using quotations and page numbers from the book. Some errors probably stem from your failure to differentiate between what an individual (civil servant or college professor) can do, and what an elected person (prime minister, MP, MPP, municipal councillor) can do, and what requires the majority of an elected body (Parliament, provincial legislature, city or municipal council).
In places you state what Ryerson said or thought or did without giving any source. All but one of the sources you give had no page number. The one with a page number had nothing on that page related to your accusation. In your accusations on segregated schooling and the exclusion of girls from higher education you never cite what Ryerson said or wrote. On your “transphobic” point, you do not quote Ryerson himself—where and when did he say the words you quote? Herewith some further specifics:
Education for white children only: You state that Ryerson “advocated free compulsory public day schools for white children only,” with no source. Note that your source Hardy (p 97) stated clearly that “Ryerson contended for the right of every child to a free education.” Where did Ryerson say he had a different vision from free day schools for white children for Indigenous? (your p.251). You cite nothing. When he was with the Mississaugas of the Credit the children attended the day school already in place. In his 1847 letter he described “industrial schools” for Indigenous pupils who wanted to learn farming, at the end of their schooling, which would begin at day schools living at home. Any source for your accusation?
As well, (p 251) you state: “I didn’t know he wrote a piece of legislation (note 2) that resulted in the ‘legal’ exclusion of Black children from public schools in Ontario and forcing them to attend segregated schools in communities across the province.” Ref: Edwin Austen Hardy, Centennial Stories. But you give no specific reference to Hardy and I could not find such a point.
Exclusion of girls in education: You jokingly quote Ryerson as saying Don’t do it.” You even have him opposing girls attending grammar schools, citing Hardy (no page number). In fact, Hardy has 21 references to Ryerson, all positive. On educating girls, he said that Ryerson, at a public meeting in 1864 “went on to plead for the higher education of girls, with provision of scholarships for them” (Hardy, p 50). But this was turned down.
Again, you state: “I didn’t know that he opposed the education of girls beyond the elementary level” (p 251, endnote 3), your only reference with a page number, to his 1847 Annual Report, but there is nothing on p. 6 about his opposing the education of girls beyond elementary schools. A letter Ryerson wrote that same year, 1847, to P. Jaffary ,is cited in Prentice’s School Promoters, which said “I am inclined to think you will succeed better by having two schools—male and female.” This is hardly exclusion but a practical matter of how to handle, at a time when boys and girls were routinely separated in schools (separate entrances, separate seating in classrooms, etc.)
Women had been permitted in Upper Canada Academy, in a separate Ladies Dept., when it was a secondary school. Women were not allowed at university then, anywhere in Canada or the UK. In 1884, the Ontario Legislature adopted a law to allow women in the University of Toronto.
Racially segregated schools (p. 251).Yes, Ryerson did write a piece of legislation that permitted segregated schools, which he abhorred for reasons of faith—that God is the creator of us all, so that there should be no title or rank or nation. Segregated schools already existed and Ryerson had no control over them; they came under local school trustees. The legislation he drafted limited them to where parents petitioned for them—they were not all over the province as you state. The 1850 law also provided equal funding for them. It is telling that the last one was closed only in 1965—his point about prejudice is well taken. If the law did not permit “coloured” schools, some children in Ontario would have had no schooling at all, What would you do in the circumstances?
Ryerson’s vision “would pave the way to the Canadian residential school system”: how? Name a source where Ryerson ever advocated residential schools. I have read the Parliamentary Debates on them and have never seen anyone quote Ryerson as a source. Name one if you can. His 1847 letter to Vardon advocated a very different approach, one not followed.
“British workhouses” the model? Hardly. Where did he say this? Ryerson’s model came from Hofwyl, a school he visited in Switzerland, a country with a good school system, in his view. Cite a source where workhouses were the model! His 1847 letter specifies a strong academic program, and aims at turning out “overseers of some the largest farms in Canada, nor will it be less gratifying to see them industrious and prosperous farmers on their own account.” Instruction “should include reading and the principles of the English language, arithmetic, elementary geometry, or knowledge of forms, geography and the elements of general history, natural history and agricultural chemistry, writing, drawing and vocal music, book-keeping (especially in reference to farmers’ accounts), religion and morals.” Hardly workhouse fare.
For the summer he named “agricultural employment of the pupils, including exercises in reading and vocal music, natural history of the plants, vegetables, trees, birds and animals of the country in the first place, together with its geography and history, book-keeping and farmers’ accounts. The pupils should be taught natural history by means of drawing as well as by oral instruction, and lessons from books in regard to the character and habits of birds and animals, and the growth, qualities and culture of plants, vegetables, etc.”
“This man was no friend to Indigenous people—he couldn’t see them. He couldn’t see their generosity and lack of greed.” How can you know what was in his heart? You ask “what kind of friend would force his own religion, education and language on his friends?” Yet when Ryerson arrived at the Credit in 1826 the Mississaugas had already converted to Christianity; he forced nothing on them. They had a school; he assisted by getting a new building for it, fund raising to pay for it. He learned Ojibwe and was named a “brother” by an Ojibwe chief and given an Ojibwe name. Their numbers had already been reduced enormously by war and disease; they wanted to adapt and survive, they wanted to learn farming as hunting and gathering were no longer viable. He helped them.
He urged Black taxpayers to sue for the right to attend segregated schools ‘for their own good.’” (254, enddn6): TVO programme with no source. McLaren, however, states that Prentice was wrong on Black parents wanting segregated schools (We had no desire to be set apart”).
On Sir John A. Macdonald, your statement (p 254) that Ryerson was a friend who…. Then state Macdonald’s views. Yes, Macdonald did advocate residential schools, and said things that make us cringe now, but on what basis were the two friends? I have read the available correspondence between them and would call it a cordial working relationship, with Macdonald Ryerson’s superior—and with NO mention of residential schools. Macdonald was elected MPP the same year, 1844, as Ryerson was appointed asst. superintendent of education, a civil servant under Macdonald and other elected people. Macdonald never quoted Ryerson in his advocacy of residential schools. Ryerson never used the term “residential school” anywhere in his writing. Please give a source if you have one.
I would appreciate prompt acknowledgement of this email, and a substantive reply when you can attend to it.
Sincerely, Lynn McDonald, CM, PhD, LLD (hon), professor emerita, FRHistS