Common School Act Research Paper

The nineteenth century educational system in Canada saw some commendable improvements from what had been the educational norm. Some of the education Acts that were introduced within this period helped to lay the foundation for common schooling in nineteenth century Canada and beyond. The school promoters deliberately attempted to make school accessible to all because of its long-term positive socioeconomic, political, and religious implications for the country.
Undisputedly, the school reformers proclaimed that one of the objectives of reform was for students to have access to common schools, regardless of religion, social class, sex, and skin colour. However, the Education Act of 1807 failed to adhere to the above stipulation as it only included children of the Anglican faith as beneficiaries of the Act. The Act of 1807, which was the first of its kind, allowed for government grants to be used in funding education in order to motivate students to attend school and also to motivate their parents to release them to attend school. Unfortunately, this Act, which favoured the founding of schools of Anglican character, also
This criticism inspired a response from John Strachan whose influence led to the enlargement of the grammar school system and, consequently, resulted in the enactment of the Common School Act of 1816. This act introduced the first legislative provision for elementary schools. The 1816 Act did not abolish the Education Act, but did propose common schools for all children. Therefore, it was the 1816 Act that first articulated one of the proclaimed objectives of school reformers, that students would have access to common schools, regardless of religion, social class, sex, and skin colour. Following this Act, it was expected that all children of school age would have equal access to schooling in