Egerton Ryerson (1803-1882)
An early editorial from the Christian Guardian, founded by Egerton Ryerson (1829)


"On the importance of education generally we may remark, it is as necessary as the light-it should be as common as water, and as free as air....Education among the people is the best security of a good government and constitutional liberty, it yields a steady unbending support to the former, and effectually protects the latter. An educated people are always a loyal people to good government; and the first object of a wise government should be the education of the people....Partial knowledge is better than total ignorance; and he who cannot get all he may wish, must take heed to acquire all he can. If total ignorance be a bad and dangerous thing, every degree of knowledge lessens both the evil and the danger."


A host of texts about Egerton Ryerson regarding his life and his politics of education, can be found HERE.