This study deals with the private schools of English Canada with a special emphasis on Upper Canada and later Ontario. Its approach is
macrosociological: it covers three hundred years of schooling in Canada
and compares private schools in Canada with school systems in one hundred and fifty-three societies. Various sociological models are used during the course of the study and at the conclusion the private schooling
principle is connected to general sociological theory.
Chapter One discusses the relationship between mass schooling
and modernizaticn. Drawing on the ideas of Durkheim and Weber a developmental model of the rise of state schooling is presented. It is suggested that in modern societies private schools result from the strains
of social differentiation; this yields two kinds of private schools:
schools of privilege and schools of protest.
Chapter Two includes an international survey of private schools;
this helps to place the private schools of Canada in a comparative
perspective. The survey revealed that communist and communist-inc.lined
societies have abolished private schools. In non--communist societies
the amount of private schooling is variable and shows no clear relationship
to the degree of industrialization. From the comparative data a
typology of scliool systems is developed. Further analysis shows that
private schooling in English Canada is relatively small; only Norway and
Sweden among modern industrial non-communist societies have smaller private school enrolments. Chapter Three covers the first four stages of the developmental model in an account of the rise of state schooling in the ten school systems of Canada. In a more detailed treatment of Upper Canada (later
Ontario) it was possible to explore a conflict model of educational change
presented by Scotford-Archer and Vaughan (1968). The conflict model was
found to be inappropridte for the Canadian experience. The account of
schooling in Newfoundland also indicated that the developmental model
also required further modifications. Changes in the patterns of private
schooling in nineteenth-century Ontario were discussed.
Chapter Four deals with the two types of private schools. The
schools of privilege are examined from a national point of view since
they play an important role in the formation of the English Canadian
elite. The Social characteristics of private elite schools are presented
in a national survey of private school enrolment. In discussing the second type of school, the schools of protest, the study confines itself
to the contemporary private schools of Ontario. The private schools run by the Roman Catholics, Reformed Church members, Mennonites and secular groups are described. Chapter Five turns to the problem of the contribution of schools tothe economy. Since state schooling seems not to be a necessary feature of industrialization a diffusionist account of the spread of state schooling is given. Private schooling is discussed in connection with two important sociological approaches: normative functionalism and conflict theory. An account of private schooling and the formation of communities shows the limitations of both these theories. Modern critics of state schooling are mentioned, included in some of their proposals is the suggesstion that more private schools should be opened.
Finally there is a concluding section with suggestions for further
research in the area. A lengthy appendix is attached which provides
technical information, data and further comment on problems raised in
the text; this appendix is intended for future researchers in the field. / This study deals with the private schools of English Canada with a special emphasis on Upper Canada and later Ontario. Its approach is
macrosociological: it covers three hundred years of schooling in Canada
and compares private schools in Canada with school systems in one hundred and fifty-three societies. Various sociological models are used during the course of the study and at the conclusion the private schooling
principle is connected to general sociological theory.
Chapter One discusses the relationship between mass schooling
and modernizaticn. Drawing on the ideas of Durkheim and Weber a developmental model of the rise of state schooling is presented. It is suggested that in modern societies private schools result from the strains
of social differentiation; this yields two kinds of private schools:
schools of privilege and schools of protest.
Chapter Two includes an international survey of private schools;
this helps to place the private schools of Canada in a comparative
perspective. The survey revealed that communist and communist-inc.lined
societies have abolished private schools. In non--communist societies
the amount of private schooling is variable and shows no clear relationship
to the degree of industrialization. From the comparative data a
typology of scliool systems is developed. Further analysis shows that
private schooling in English Canada is relatively small; only Norway and
Sweden among modern industrial non-communist societies have smaller private school enrolments. Chapter Three covers the first four stages of the developmental model in an account of the rise of state schooling in the ten school systems of Canada. In a more detailed treatment of Upper Canada (later
Ontario) it was possible to explore a conflict model of educational change
presented by Scotford-Archer and Vaughan (1968). The conflict model was
found to be inappropridte for the Canadian experience. The account of
schooling in Newfoundland also indicated that the developmental model
also required further modifications. Changes in the patterns of private
schooling in nineteenth-century Ontario were discussed.
Chapter Four deals with the two types of private schools. The
schools of privilege are examined from a national point of view since
they play an important role in the formation of the English Canadian
elite. The Social characteristics of private elite schools are presented
in a national survey of private school enrolment. In discussing the second type of school, the schools of protest, the study confines itself
to the contemporary private schools of Ontario. The private schools run by the Roman Catholics, Reformed Church members, Mennonites and secular groups are described. Chapter Five turns to the problem of the contribution of schools tothe economy. Since state schooling seems not to be a necessary feature of industrialization a diffusionist account of the spread of state schooling is given. Private schooling is discussed in connection with two important sociological approaches: normative functionalism and conflict theory. An account of private schooling and the formation of communities shows the limitations of both these theories. Modern critics of state schooling are mentioned, included in some of their proposals is the suggesstion that more private schools should be opened.
Finally there is a concluding section with suggestions for further
research in the area. A lengthy appendix is attached which provides
technical information, data and further comment on problems raised in
the text; this appendix is intended for future researchers in the field. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/5354 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Podmore, Christopher Jophn |
| Contributors | Synge, J., Sociology |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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