Alfred Fitzpatrick
Encyclopedia
Alfred Fitzpatrick was born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia
in 1862. He attended Pictou Academy
. He founded Frontier College
in 1899, the oldest adult education institution in Canada.
in 1899 with and his colleagues at Queen's University
in Kingston, Ontario
. Fitzpatrick developed the idea of the Labourer-Teacher who work alongside the labourers during the day and teaches them in the evenings.
In 1920, Reverend Alfred Fitzpatrick said, "Whenever and wherever people shall have occasion to congregate, then and there shall be the time, place and means of their education." The College's purpose was to teach frontiersmen how to read. He promoted education as a right for all. He challenged Canadian universities to recognize the balance of intellectual, spiritual and physical qualities every individual embodies, no matter their station in life. Alfred Fitzpatrick wrote books which argued for literacy and explained why new immigrants should receive language and cultural training. He objected to the conditions imposed on a transient, peripheral working class. He challenged Canadians, its universities and its government and businesses to take education and literacy to labourers, remote communities, ex-convicts, people with learning disabilities, and street people.
After World War II, the Frontier College began working with teens, children, and families in urban centers. It established literacy programs to promote reading among the young, in remote communities, ex-convicts, people with learning disabilities, and street people.
Frontier College continues to this day helping to combat illiteracy in Canada
with program of basic literacy, secondary and university education. The organization, which celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 1999, was founded on the principle of "literacy for all".
"Whereas in 1899 Pictou County native, Alfred Fitzpatrick, overcame discouragement from government and business to establish the Canadian Reading Camps Association; and
Whereas under Alfred Fitzpatrick's leadership, this organization grew into what is today known as Frontier College, Canada's oldest adult education institution; and Whereas in its century of operation, Frontier College has helped educate countless thousands of Canadians in railway camps, lumber woods, city streets and Aboriginal communities; Therefore be it resolved that members of this House recognize the contribution made to education and adult literacy by Alfred Fitzpatrick - one of the great Canadians born and raised in Nova Scotia."
Pictou County, Nova Scotia
Pictou County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It was established in 1835, and was formerly a part of Halifax County from 1759 to 1835. It had a population of 46,513 people in 2006, which represents a decline of 6.3 percent from 1991. It is the sixth most populous county in Nova...
in 1862. He attended Pictou Academy
Pictou Academy
Pictou Academy , founded in 1816 by the late Dr. Thomas McCulloch, is a secondary school in Pictou, Nova Scotia. Prior to the twentieth century, it was a liberal nonsectarian college, a grammar school, an academy and then a secondary school. Pictou Academy's current principal is James Ryan. The...
. He founded Frontier College
Frontier College
Frontier College is a Canadian literacy organization established in 1899 by Alfred Fitzpatrick. Founded as the Reading Camp Association, Frontier College aims to combat illiteracy in Canada by providing non-formal education to those that seek assistance with their learning and have been overlooked...
in 1899, the oldest adult education institution in Canada.
Career
In 1899, Reverend Fitzpatrick began teaching labourers from lumber, mining, and railway camps out of a log cabin in Nairn, Ontario although he had no staff, some parish assistance, and little money. He founded the Frontier CollegeFrontier College
Frontier College is a Canadian literacy organization established in 1899 by Alfred Fitzpatrick. Founded as the Reading Camp Association, Frontier College aims to combat illiteracy in Canada by providing non-formal education to those that seek assistance with their learning and have been overlooked...
in 1899 with and his colleagues at Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. Fitzpatrick developed the idea of the Labourer-Teacher who work alongside the labourers during the day and teaches them in the evenings.
In 1920, Reverend Alfred Fitzpatrick said, "Whenever and wherever people shall have occasion to congregate, then and there shall be the time, place and means of their education." The College's purpose was to teach frontiersmen how to read. He promoted education as a right for all. He challenged Canadian universities to recognize the balance of intellectual, spiritual and physical qualities every individual embodies, no matter their station in life. Alfred Fitzpatrick wrote books which argued for literacy and explained why new immigrants should receive language and cultural training. He objected to the conditions imposed on a transient, peripheral working class. He challenged Canadians, its universities and its government and businesses to take education and literacy to labourers, remote communities, ex-convicts, people with learning disabilities, and street people.
After World War II, the Frontier College began working with teens, children, and families in urban centers. It established literacy programs to promote reading among the young, in remote communities, ex-convicts, people with learning disabilities, and street people.
Frontier College continues to this day helping to combat illiteracy in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with program of basic literacy, secondary and university education. The organization, which celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 1999, was founded on the principle of "literacy for all".
Books
- Alfred Fitzpatrick, The Handbook for New Canadians to help new immigrants understand the culture and traditions of Canada
- Alfred Fitzpatrick, The University in Overalls: a Plea for Part-Time Study (Thompson Educational Publishing, English, 1920 reprinted in 1999)
Honours
- Hon John HammJohn HammJohn Frederick Hamm, is a Canadian physician and politician and was the 25th Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada.Hamm, a graduate of the University of King's College and Dalhousie University, was a family doctor in his hometown of Stellarton, Nova Scotia, and the president of the Nova Scotia Medical...
, the Premier of Nova Scotia moved the adoption of the following resolution:
"Whereas in 1899 Pictou County native, Alfred Fitzpatrick, overcame discouragement from government and business to establish the Canadian Reading Camps Association; and
Whereas under Alfred Fitzpatrick's leadership, this organization grew into what is today known as Frontier College, Canada's oldest adult education institution; and Whereas in its century of operation, Frontier College has helped educate countless thousands of Canadians in railway camps, lumber woods, city streets and Aboriginal communities; Therefore be it resolved that members of this House recognize the contribution made to education and adult literacy by Alfred Fitzpatrick - one of the great Canadians born and raised in Nova Scotia."
- UNESCO recognized the Frontier College's work internationally by awarding it the 1977 Literacy Prize for its "meritorious work in the field of adult education."
Memorial
The Fitzpatrick Award, which honours the contribution to the cause of literacy by a group, organization, corporation, agency or family was named after Alfred Fitzpatrick.Histories
- James H. Morrison, From Alfred Fitzpatrick: Founder of Frontier College Four East Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-920427-45-6
- Alfred Fitzpatrick, The University in Overalls: A Plea for Part-Time Study Thompson Educational Publishing, English, 1920 reprinted in 1999
External links
- http://www.frontiercollege.ca/English/learn/alfred_fitzpatrick.html
- http://www.nald.ca/info/awards/national/frontier.htm