Theodore Harding Rand
Encyclopedia
Theodore Harding Rand was a Canadian educator and poet
.
Rand was born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia in 1835. A Baptist
, Rand attended Acadia College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia
, which had been founded by the Baptist community in 1838. Rand graduated from Acadia College in 1860.
Upon graduation, Rand became Professor
of Classics
at the Provincial Normal School
in Truro, Nova Scotia
. Working at a normal school
(which was charged with training future teacher
s), Rand soon developed an interest in education policy
. He became interested in the common school
movement and traveled to Great Britain
and the United States
to study the common school phenomenon. He began to advocate common schools for Nova Scotia
, and produced writings and lectures on the topic.
Rand's advocacy proved successful in 1864 when the government of Nova Scotia
, led by Conservative
Premier
Charles Tupper
passed legislation creating a common school system for Nova Scotia. Tupper appointed Rand as Nova Scotia's first Superintendent of Education, and in this capacity, Rand oversaw the creation of Nova Scotia's public education
system.
In 1871, the Province of New Brunswick
, under the leadership of Liberal-Conservative Premier
George E. King
, passed the Common Schools Act
which created a series of common schools in New Brunswick. Upon King's invitation, Rand became New Brunswick's first Superintendent of Education and oversaw the creation of public education in New Brunswick. Rand continued his own education during this time, receiving his D.C.L.
from Acadia College in 1874.
Rand left the world of public education in 1883 when he became Professor of History
and Didactics
at Acadia College. In 1885, he moved to Toronto
to take a position at the Toronto Baptist College (created in 1881 through funding provided by William McMaster
). In 1886, he moved to Woodstock, Ontario
to become college president of the Baptist Woodstock College. In 1890, the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec
voted to merge Toronto Baptist College and Woodstock College - the merged university was named McMaster University
in honour of William McMaster's financial support. Rand served as chancellor
of McMaster University from 1892 to 1895.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Rand was born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia in 1835. A Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, Rand attended Acadia College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Wolfville is a small town in the Annapolis Valley, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada, located about northwest of the provincial capital, Halifax. As of 2006, the population was 3,772....
, which had been founded by the Baptist community in 1838. Rand graduated from Acadia College in 1860.
Upon graduation, Rand became Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at the Provincial Normal School
Nova scotia teachers college
The Nova Scotia Teachers College is a former university that was located in the town of Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.Founded as the Provincial Normal School the college was established by an act of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, which received Royal Assent on March 31, 1854...
in Truro, Nova Scotia
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
. Working at a normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
(which was charged with training future teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s), Rand soon developed an interest in education policy
Education policy
Education policy refers to the collection of laws and rules that govern the operation of education systems.Education occurs in many forms for many purposes through many institutions. Examples include early childhood education, kindergarten through to 12th grade, two and four year colleges or...
. He became interested in the common school
Common school
A common school was a public school in the United States or Canada in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions....
movement and traveled to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to study the common school phenomenon. He began to advocate common schools for Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, and produced writings and lectures on the topic.
Rand's advocacy proved successful in 1864 when the government of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, led by Conservative
Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia
The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, registered under the Nova Scotia Elections Act as the "Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia", is a moderate right-of-centre political party in Nova Scotia, Canada....
Premier
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
Charles Tupper
Charles Tupper
Sir Charles Tupper, 1st Baronet, GCMG, CB, PC was a Canadian father of Confederation: as the Premier of Nova Scotia from 1864 to 1867, he led Nova Scotia into Confederation. He later went on to serve as the sixth Prime Minister of Canada, sworn in to office on May 1, 1896, seven days after...
passed legislation creating a common school system for Nova Scotia. Tupper appointed Rand as Nova Scotia's first Superintendent of Education, and in this capacity, Rand oversaw the creation of Nova Scotia's public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
system.
In 1871, the Province of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, under the leadership of Liberal-Conservative Premier
Premier of New Brunswick
The Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
George E. King
George E. King
George Edwin King was a New Brunswick lawyer, politician, jurist, and the second and fourth Premier of New Brunswick in the Canadian Confederation....
, passed the Common Schools Act
Common Schools Act of 1871
The Common Schools Act of 1871 was legislation of the Canadian Province of New Brunswick, passed by the 22nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, which replaced the Parish Schools Act of 1858. The legislation aimed to abolish church-run schooling in New Brunswick and replace it with a system of...
which created a series of common schools in New Brunswick. Upon King's invitation, Rand became New Brunswick's first Superintendent of Education and oversaw the creation of public education in New Brunswick. Rand continued his own education during this time, receiving his D.C.L.
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
from Acadia College in 1874.
Rand left the world of public education in 1883 when he became Professor of History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and Didactics
Didactics
A didactic method is a teaching method that follows a consistent scientific approach or educational style to engage the student’s mind.The didactic method of instruction is often contrasted with dialectics and the Socratic method; the term can also be used to refer to a specific didactic method,...
at Acadia College. In 1885, he moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to take a position at the Toronto Baptist College (created in 1881 through funding provided by William McMaster
William McMaster
William McMaster was a wholesaler, Senator and banker in the 19th century. A director of the Bank of Montreal from 1864–1867, he was a driving force behind the creation of the Canadian Bank of Commerce of which he served as the founding president from 1867 to his death in 1887.He served in the...
). In 1886, he moved to Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River...
to become college president of the Baptist Woodstock College. In 1890, the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec
Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec
Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec is the oldest union of Baptist churches in central Canada.In 1880 a "Baptist Union of Canada" was formed. Since the churches were located chiefly in the central provinces, the name was changed in 1888 to "Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec"...
voted to merge Toronto Baptist College and Woodstock College - the merged university was named McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in honour of William McMaster's financial support. Rand served as chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of McMaster University from 1892 to 1895.
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- 3 Rand sonnets: "Autumn", "The Willow at Grand-Pré", and "GlooscapGlooscapGlooscap is a mythical culture hero, and "transformer" of the Wabanaki peoples...
"
- Theodore H. Rand, At Minas BasinMinas BasinThe Minas Basin is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and a sub-basin of the Fundy Basin located in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is known for its extremely high tides.- Geography :- Boundary :...
: And Other Poem (1898) (Link)
- Theodore H. Rand, Song-waves (1900) (Link)
- Theodore H. Rand, ed., A Treasury of Canadian Verse: With Brief Biographical Notes (1900) (Link)