Thornton Hall

Thornton Hall (also known as Thornton) was a Canadian private school that operated from 1949 to 1997. It was located at 241 Poplar Plains Road, in the Toronto neighborhood known as Forest Hill.

Early history

The school occupied the basement and first two stories of rooms of a converted single family home. In later years, a two-room art studio, flagged amphitheatre, fencing terrace and arched gates completed the built forms sited on the lot.

Founded by former Cantab College resident master, Stuart E. Mackey, Thornton offered a contemporary Canadian curriculum to senior high school students but distinguished itself from many schools by maintaining a very low teacher to student ratio of 1:4. As was the case at Cantab College, individual attention was available to all students. Young scholars with a record of weak academic performance, history of absenteeism, learning barriers and/or behavioral problems were tutored to the extent that the odds of graduation with a Senior Matriculation (later known as a Grade 13 Diploma or an Ontario Academic Credit Secondary School Honours Graduation Diploma (SSHGD)), and post secondary study were increased greatly.

With Mackey's devotion to teaching, his gentle and often comedic delivery and with he and his enthusiastic staff having met a market demand, Thornton quickly became known to some as a "cram school" but for others with a record of accomplishment prior to or immediately after admission, as a place of academic excellence and steady academic advancement and opportunity.

After several years of operation, Thornton Hall was significantly influenced by Mackey's second wife, Thornton's new teaching Vice-Principal Miss Angela Greig, who fortified Thornton's curriculum with her intelligence, conviction and delivery of the humanities including the international study of Ancient and Modern History, Languages (including Latin, Sanskrit, English, French, German, Italian and Russian), Literature, Mythology, Philosophy, Fine Arts and Performing Arts.

Curriculum and teaching method

By the early 1980s, Thornton offered a course of study from grades 7 to 13. Students were expected to arrive at school in uniform, with supplies and on time. Failure to comply often resulted in disciplinary measures such as denied entry. With a code of conduct that was intolerant of anything that threatened the learning environment or Thornton's humanistic approach, expulsion of a very troubled student or member of the teaching staff was a difficult consideration that was made from time to time. While some classes (such as math, science and languages) were structured by grade, others (such as literature, history, art portfolio or drama) were open to students at all grades. In such open classes, students were exposed to the lessons of their teacher with additional teaching and reinforcement coming to an individual from fellow classmates of both greater and lesser abilities. A compressed schedule of weekly classes afforded students one weekday afternoon free from structured classes for personal study, tutorials or field trips. After school programs, such as Life Drawing, were available to both students and parents. Ahead of other schools, both public and private, special programs such as "double time in French" were designed for students as immersion and for a better understanding of the literature and culture of France. Exposure to computer technology was available as early as the late 1970s and early 1980s. Evaluations were made by grade and communicated to parents in hand written reports by-mail on a bi-weekly basis with examinations occurring mid-term and end-of-term along a three-term course of yearly study.

During its years of operation, Thornton offered a unique educational experience and provided students with the opportunity of "intellectual excellence as a reason for going to school." Thornton was anything but exclusive being open to choosing students from all walks of life for admission to the school. Administrative measures and alternate arrangements were often put in place by Mackey and Greig to allow students without the financial means to pay tuition to gain admission to the school for the duration of their study.

Branding

Thornton Hall's script and dragon branding were derived from the medieval illuminated manuscript known as "The Book of Kells". School uniforms included cresting and embroidery with these works as well as images and/or crests of the mythical creature known as the unicorn.

Closing

With the retirement of both Mackey and Greig to private life in Toronto, Thornton Hall closed in 1997. Their property was sold and the structures soon demolished for development.

Legacy

Since its closing, Thornton Hall has been a working model for some new schools in Toronto though they fail to carry the influence of Mackey and Greig's personalities.

Several teachers who formerly taught at Thorton Hall went on to found the Abelard School.

References

From time to time, Toronto newspapers and tabloid-style publications made mention of Thornton Hall. Peter C. Newman noted Thornton Hall in his book "The Canadian Establishment" (1975).

Katherine Govier used her daughter's experiences as a student at Thornton as material for her novel "The Truth Teller" (2000).

Based on true events, the CTV television dramatization "Shades of Black" (directed by Alex Chapple, 2006) made a scripted reference to Thornton Hall.

Notable Alumnus

Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, publishing magnate and subject of a criminal probe early in the 21st Century was once a student at Thornton Hall. In November 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that a federal grand jury in Chicago, Illinois indicted Black (the former chairman of Hollinger International) and three others with 11 fraud charges (including fraud, racketeering and obstruction of justice) while threatening extradition. On Friday the 13 th of July 2007, mass media outlets noted that a jury delivered its verdict finding Conrad Black guilty of 4 out of 13 charges, including one charge of obstruction of justice and three counts of mail fraud, and acquitted him of the outstanding 9 charges. In December 2007, "The National Post" noted that a subsequent ruling ordered Black to surrender to authorities on March 6, 2008 for a 6 1/2 year sentence in a U.S. federal prision. A bail application, appeal, counter suits and various civil suits are thought to be possibilities.

Alternate Sources

The William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections at McMaster University Libraries

Peter C. Newman fonds. Fourth accrual.

Establishment Man: A Portrait of Power (1982)This accrual includes correspondence, “back-up” (research) material, sound recordings and transcripts of interviews, manuscript and proofs.

Box 132 F.7 Greig, Angela, April 29, 1980, 15 pp. transcript, audio cassette 54

Box 117 Mackey, Stuart, ALs, from, May 7, 1980

External links

* [http://members.aol.com/luminousrabbit/thorntonhall.html Unofficial website.] A tribute to Thornton by a former student and her contributors.
* [http://wikimapia.org/9671/ Map.] An aerial view of Thornton Hall and neighborhood.