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21. THE HOME DISTRICT GRAMMAR SCHOOL
(OR “THE BLUE SCHOOL”)
The District Grammar School
Secondary schools were called grammar schools until 1871(1). The York District Grammar School began in 1807 under Reverend George O’Kill Stuart [site 17,18](2). Stuart taught 5 boys, for a fee, in the rectory. His calling however proved to be more as rector than as headmaster.

Unlike his predecessor, John Strachan [site 17, 18] was a born teacher. He began when he was 16 in his hometown of Carmyllie, Scotland(3). Strachan initially came to Canada in 1799 for a tutorship in Kingston, and as a result became an active supporter of the 1807 Act to establish a grammar school in each district of the province(4). When Strachan received his posting as rector in York, it was inevitable that the new grammar school would occupy some of his time.

In 1816 the Court of the Quarter Sessions [site 5] agreed to grant 400 pounds sterling to build a schoolhouse on the southwest corner of College Square(5). This six acre lot was bounded by Newgate (now Adelaide), Hospital (now Richmond), New (now Jarvis) and Church(6). The building had two storeys, the main floor for classes and the upstairs for public debates and lectures, which subsidized the painting of the school blue(7). Strachan taught 50 boys per year, all from leading families. The subjects were English, elocution, arithmetic, bookkeeping, mathematics, civil history, natural history (science), geography, Latin, Greek and religion(8).

Strachan had many critics. They saw his school as elitist, and too rooted in the Church of England(9). Admittedly, Strachan saw himself to be in the business of creating future leaders, and so he demanded a high level of education and instructed only those for whom leadership was possible.
In 1825 the “Blue School” became the Royal Grammar School(10). Then in 1830 it combined with Lieutenant-Governor Colborne’s Upper Canada College11.

Together they moved to the present site of Upper Canada College, then separated in 1834 over curriculum(12). The Grammar School (formerly the Blue School) returned to its original location, and remained there until 1864 when it moved to Dalhousie Street and admitted female students.
Notes
  1. Martyn, Original Toronto, p.57.
  2. Ibid.
  3. Robertson, I, p.115.
  4. Ibid., p.116.
  5. Martyn, Original Toronto, p.57.
  6. Ibid.
  7. Ibid.
  8. Firth, p.xlvii.
  9. Ibid., pp.xlvi-xlvii.
  10. Martyn, Original Toronto, p.58.
  11. Ibid.
  12. Ibid.


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