The Model School was built at the corner of Pine and North Streets in 1867, enlarged in 1883. It was used for the training of teachers from 1877 till 1906. In 1916 the Central School was built behind the Model School, by that time called the Union School, which was then torn down. David Goggin was Principal of Port Hope High School and the Model School.


The buildings, from left to right above - Model School, St John's Anglican Church and St John's Parish Hall

from The Guide  Saturday February 18, 1854
UNION SCHOOL
The remarks which appeared in this Journal concerning the policy of erecting a building for the purpose of a 'Union School' have, as we expected, met with some opposition on the part of the must ardent supporters of this undertaking.

We have been denounced in no measured terms as firmly opposed to the education of the people, and everything which is intolerant and illiberal, has been attributed to us; because we had the audacity, the presumption to think differently from the Board of Trustees of Port Hope, and even dared to express those thoughts in print. We are always willing to have our expressed opinions truthfully criticised, but we despise, we treat with utter contempt, the opponent who will represent us as uttering sentiments which are incompatible with our avowed principles and oft repeated expressions.

We never, as we have been made to say, asserted that we were opposed to Union Schools; on the other hand, we have signified our approval of them; but what we have opposed, and which we will oppose with all our might, is the precepitancy of the Trustees, in deciding on so important a matter, in the present and prospective state of the financial affairs of the Town, without in some manner obtaining the voice of the people. This is what we deem reprehensible, and we fear that if the Trustees do not pause in their rash proceedings, their own disvaluation will be the inevitable result.

Our renders will probably recollect that about a year ago, the County Council brought forward a certain By-Law for the construction of roads within the Counties, but which By-Law we, considering it illegal, opposed and thwarted in every manner we were able, and expressed our opinion that it would be defeated at the polls: from the very same quarter which we now receive the bitterest abuse concerning the Union School, we were then stigmatised as an opponent of improvement, as being a century behind the age, and it was hinted in no obscure manner that we were libelling the good sense of the people.

But mark the result: when the By-Law was brought to the polls it was defeated by an overwhelming majority. We remind the public of this circumstance, that they may rightly appreciate the abuse, which we have been the subject of. The opponents of the Union School in this town are divided into two sections: one is wholly against having this School at any time or in any manner; the other is in favour of it, but believes that the time has not yet arrived when the town can afford a sufficient sum of money to erect a building suitable for the purpose, and employ a competent staff of teachers. To this latter class we belong, and with the former, we can to a certain extent, sympathise.

That the town is laying out a large amount of money in the Railroad, Harbour, etc., is no argument in favour of having this building: it is presumed in time that these undertakings will pay for themselves, but on the other hand the Union School will be a dead letter— money sunk—no rent, no returns from it.

Want of space prevents us from entering any further on the subject this week, and in the meantime we respectfully invite discussion on the subject.


from Announcement 1902
The last Annual Report of the Minister of Education reveals the fact that, in point of attendance, the Port Hope Model School ranks second to but one County Model School in the province, that being the London School.

Mr Wood, with remarkable success, has filled the position of principal for seventeen years and Mr Black, who assumes the duties of principal this term, possesses qualifications in experience and professional training that places his success beyond question.

Neither pains nor expense is being spared to ensure the maintenance of the high standard of efficiency and popularity already attained by the Port Hope Model School.

A feature of the very first importance to teachers-in-training who contemplate teaching in rural schools, is the Ungraded Department in connection with the Port Hope Model School, which will afford unrivalled facilities in practice teaching and in the observation of ungraded school methods.

Fifteen graded departments in the Port Hope Public Schools are also available for Model School purposes.

The School Board begs to announce that negotiations are progressing satisfactorily, looking to the early establishment of a Manual Training and Domestic Science Department, in which the Model School students will be given opportunities of observing methods.

Special facilities will be extended to trustees seeking properly qualified teachers among the students of Port Hope Model School, and every possible assistance will be given its graduates in securing suitable appointments.

When two students room together, board and lodgings may be had at from $2.50 a week upwards. Students rooming alone pay about $3.00. Mr Black will gladly render any desired assistance in finding home-like boarding-houses for the teachers-in-training.

The Model School term opens September 2nd, and closes December 15th. Applications for admission should, if possible, be placed in the hands of either Inspector Tilley, Bowmanville, Inspector Odell, Cobourg, or to Mr Black, Port Hope, not later than the twenty-fifth of August. For further information apply to Albert Odell, Esq, Inspector Public Schools, County Northumberland, Cobourg; W E Tilley, MA, PhD, Inspector Public Schools, County Durham, Bowmanville; or to Mr Black.

from The Canadian Encyclopedia
David James Goggin is generally regarded as the founder of the centralised, fully professional school systems of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Goggin generated controversy during his term as superintendent of education in the North-West Territories (1893-1902) when he set out, with the full support of the government, to make the schools the principal engine for assimilating the immigrant population to the dominant British Ontarian Protestant norm.
By requiring that only English be used in the classroom, and by emphasizing training in citizenship rather than intellectual development, he hoped to advance national unity by imposing cultural uniformity and a sense of social responsibility upon his students. Some francophone Catholics objected; and the North-West Schools Question of 1905 resulted from their abortive attempt to overturn his system.

from rootsweb
David James Goggin, Superintendent of Education in the North West Territories (1893-1902), with the full support of the Government, is to make the schools the principle engine for assimilating the population into the dominant British Ontarian (Orange Order) of Protestantism. He required English only be taught, emphasizing the training in citizenship rather than the intellectual development of children. This religious focus would dominate the school system well into the 1960's, with only the French Catholics objecting at this time. They didn't object to the lack of intellectual development or the slave conditions of the inmates, but to the Protestant religious education.

from The Evening Guide  Tuesday January 29, 1929
FORMER PRINCIPAL HONOURED IN WEST—DR D J GOGGIN, PIONEER OF WESTERN NORMAL SCHOOL MOVEMENT
Dr D J Goggin, at one time principal of the Port Hope Public School, now of Toronto, has been a centre of interest in the Anniversary Celebration to Northern Light Masonic Lodge in Winnipeg. Dr Goggin is known, respected and loved by Port Hopers in many parts of the world, as pupils of his in the local schools are to be found everywhere.

Dr D J Goggin of Toronto, leading pioneer educationistof the west, arrived in Winnipeg to take part in the 50th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Northern Light Masonic Lodge, which took place during the week.

He was greeted opon his arrival by brother Masons, many of whom were former pupils. A famous figure for more than twenty years of the early life in Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, where he was successfully principal of the Normal school and superintendent of education. Dr Goggin, at eighty years of age, looked no older than some of the men who had gone to school to him forty years ago. Asked if the journey from Toronto had tired him he smiled at the question and shook his head.

"Not as much as my first trip out here did," he said. "Now its nothing but a comfortable, lazy day on a good train. When I came out in '84 you had to go around by way of Chicago and St Paul, and the trains were not what they are today, particularly the sleeping cars."

Dr Goggin recalled his first arrival in Winnipeg, where he had been summoned from Port Hope to help to lay the foundations of the public school system, and told of the probems and difficulties he had to contend with.

"When I arrived in Winnipeg in '84," he said, "I brought the Normal school in my bag with me, and there it had to remain for some years. In the winter time it was possible to set it up in rooms lent by the board of education, but in the summer I had to put it back in the bag and take it around the country. In those days the teachers couldn't come to the Normal school, so like Mohammed, the Normal school had to go to the teachers.

"The organization of the public school system was in embryo. There were few regulations and few set qualifications. In the outlying parts of the province, much closer then than now in point of distance, and infinitely farther away in point of convenience, schools were springing up. It was my duty to go to these scattered communities, satisfy myself that the teachers had the qualifications necessary to teach a class of six or seven small children, and spread the propaganda of schools among the people.

"Travel in the Spring and fall was difficult, and I could tell some stories about the kind of stopping houses I ran into," he went on. "A forty or fifty mile journey across country in a lurching buckboard was no uncommon thing in going to some isolated settlement where the people were crying out for a school.

"Besides the educational work, and because of it, I also became a kind of amateur matrimonial bureau," Dr Goggin said. "You see, we were desperately in need of teachers, and, by offering attractive salaries we induced young women from Ontario and Nova Scotia to come out to us; but they never remained teachers long. In a year or two some young farmer won them for the home.

"But they were great days. The settlers were starving for advantages for their children, and we all realized that a great country was in the making. Life was not as primitive as peope are apt to think of it now, and there was good fellowship wherever one went."

After nine years in Manitoba, where his work was highly successful, Dr Goggin left to become superintendent of education in the Northwest Territories, where many of his experiences were repeated. His task completed he returned in 1902 to Ontario, where he became engaged in editorial work.

Throughout the west he is regarded with the utmost affection by hundreds of men and women who remember him as a great teacher.

"Nothing gives me greater pleasure" he said, "than to have one of my old students come and speak to me and recall just when and where it was we knew each other. Wherever I go I find some of them, and here in Winnipeg, of course, there are scores of them."

As a past grand master of Manitoba he was the guest of honour of the Northern Light Lodge. He delivered an address before the brethren and he also spoke at a public function. A number of old students planned a round of entertainment for him before he returns.

c1896 Unnamed Model School students with , who was succeeded as Principal by , who was soon followed by the last Principal of the Port Hope Model/Union School
cursor over or tap Mr Wood's face, near the centre of the picture


1906 The last class at the Port Hope Model/Union School, Alexander Jordan, Principal

from The Port Hope Times October 30, 1879. 
POIKRY—BY A POIK
Sometimes we get sent us for publication, gentle effusions on 'spring.' We like 'em,—we sit up nights thinking pleasant things about the authors, and about what nice places we would like to send 'em to. But spring, with its ephemeral beauty, its silvery moon, and zephyr breezes, is gone, and we don't get any more of these sweet reminiscences of our own youthful days, when we, too, thought ourself a 'poik.' It is therefore refreshing to receive poetical effusions on other subjects, and the author of the following very graceful tribute to the teachers of the Model School, and remembrances of pleasant days now passed and gone, must accept our grateful thanks for it. We would like to be able to give him a hundred dollars a column for such excellent additions to our news, but as our venture is a trial one, and we are under great expense, we must accept it as it is tendered to us, free, and return the author our sincere thanks for this, and other favours he may consider us worthy of.
It rhymeth thusly:—

THE MODEL SCHOOL
Some eight short weeks have passed and gone,
Since Port Hope Model School commenced;
Since our fourteen students and one,
Assembled there with thoughts condensed.

The first that there our hearts did greet,
Was Mister Goggin good and true;
For whose teaching and counsel sweet,
Our gratitude is ever due.

At first 'twas rather wearisome,
To watch the Model teachers teach,
And trace 'midst everlasting [N. P.] hum,
A mode that should perfection reach.

The teachers all have courteous been,
And kindly bid us take their place;
Although of course we seemed quite green,
And altogether void of grace.

But by guidance from our master,
Who laboured with untiring zeal,
Our ability grew faster,
With training of the young to deal.

And, oh! it was just fit to kill
To hear the pupils laugh and say,—
"Here comes models! Here comes models,
Where are you going to teach to-day?"

But now has closed the Model School,
And on to duty we must go;
To guide the young by virtue's rule,
And seeds of education sow.

So now farewell to Port Hope town,
Farewell to teachers every one,
We're going to wear the teacher's gown,
And take the place of others gone.

—MODELITE.