THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Copyright and use of this thesis This thesis must be used in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Reproduction of material protected by copyright may be an infringement of copyright and copyright owners may be entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. Section 51 (2) of the Copyright Act permits an authorized officer of a university library or archives to provide a copy (by communication or otherwise) of an unpublished thesis kept in the library or archives, to a person who satisfies the authorized officer that he or she requires the reproduction for the purposes of research or study. The Copyright Act grants the creator of a work a number of moral rights, specifically the right of attribution, the right against false attribution and the right of integrity. You may infringe the author’s moral rights if you: - fail to acknowledge the author of this thesis if you quote sections from the work - attribute this thesis to another author -subject this thesis to derogatory treatment which may prejudice the author’s reputation For further information contact the University’s Copyright Service. sydney.edu.au/copyright "THE CONTRIBUTION OF DR JOHN DUNMORE LANG TOWARDS EDUCATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES« 1825-1878 By Kenneth J,Harman# Submitted to the Education Department, Sydney University, as a partial requirement for the degree of Master of Education. January,1961. w aw nidii JOHN DUNMORE LANG M.A..D.D.--- (From an engraving by H.S.Sadd in the Mitchell Library.) -Contents- A. Introduction, (i) The Man John Dunmore Lang - early background; brief summary of his social and political work* (ii) His interest in education - the low moral tone of the colony* B*PART 1 - THE AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE. Chapter 1* (a) Lang's reaction to the establishment of the Church and School Corporation; his Caledonian Academy, 1826 - its Scottish character-broad curriculum, Protestant nature, the training of missionaries. Financial crisis and failure* (b) The more elaborate plan for the '"Darling Institution" - Governor Darling refuses assistance. (c) Lang’s connection with the establishment of the Sydney College; -his desertion of the project - visits England to seek aid for the establishment of an institution of his own. Chapter 2.(p*24.) The Foundation of the Australian College. Lang obtains a loan of £1500 from Lord Goderich for the foundation of the Australian College; Lang's principles of staff selection - the college library and scientific apparatus; Lang violently attacks the Church and School Corporation - serious repercussions. Lang attacked by the friends of the Sydney College. Loss of public support; financial difficulties and Parliamentary censure. Chapter 3. The History of the Australian College 1852-41.(p.50) A. The First Period 1851-1855. The evening lectures of McGarvie and Carmichael; shortage of staff - Carmichael left alone to conduct the affairs of the college; Lang's differences with Carmichael and the latter's gift to education. B. The Second Period 1855-41*The period of Mackenzie, Aitken and Wylde; revolutionary teaching techniques at the college; Judge Burton's iavourable comments on the instruction at the college; The ’’’pastoral’" activities of the staff bring the college into disrepute. Chapter 4. The Inquiry of the Legislative Council into the Affairs of the College, 1841» (p.74) The withdrawal of public support from the college; Lang asks for Government assistance and a Council Committee of Inquiry is set up; the views of Lang and his teachers on higher education. The exposition of Lang’s irregular financial transactions and threatening disaster; Lang finally defeats the action brought against him by the government. Chapter 5« The Revival and Failure of the Australian College,1841 to 1854* (p.89) Partial operation to 1846 - Lang visits England to revive the college; the period of Ridley, Goethe and Quaife. Why the Australian College failed.. PART 11. Lang and the Attempts to Establish a National System of Education made by Governors Gipps and Bourke. Chapter 1. Background. Goderich's liberal, national view of education; Bourke's opposition to the Anglican monopoly under the Church and School Corporation and his support of Stanley's Irish National System. Chapter 2. Lang's Opposition to Bourke's Proposals. Lang attacks the Irish National System through his newspaper, "’The Colonist"', 1835 and 1836. Lang's philosophy of education- the place of religious instruction in moral training -Carmichael again- Lang's suggestion of state aid to all religious groups. He supports the Australian School Society movement. The part played by'"The Colonist'" in the defeat of Bourke’s proposals. Chapter 3» The Lowe Committee. Lang visits Dublin in 1837 and changes his views on the Irish National System ; the reasons for his change of attitude; his opposition to the expensive and inefficient Denominational System. Lang initiates agitation in Parliament for general education; the Lowe Committee and Lang's influence. PART 111, THE SYDNEY UNIVERSITY AND ST ANDREW * S COLLEGE. Chapter 1. The Foundation of Sydney University« (p.137). First suggestions of a university; the influence of the Australian College and the Scottish Universities. Lang supports the establishment of Sydney University but opposes Wentworth. Lang favours the examples set by the University of London and the American Universities. His ambitions for the Australian College. Chapter 2. St Andrew*s College, (p.155) The Affiliated Colleges Act, 1854 and Lang’s fight to establish a Presbyterian College affiliated with the Sydney University. The divided state of the Presbyterian Church a hampering factor until 1865« The ppposition of the other Presbyterian groups to Lang’s Synod of New South Wales. Lang uses his position in Parliament to establish St Andrew's College after much opposition from his church bretheren. Finally denied the position of Principal• CONCLUSION, (p.173) Lang's great importance in seeing the value of education in raising the moral standards of the colony, and keeping the importance of education before the public eye. His belief in high teaching standards and his valuable work in introducing men of outstanding ability to teach in New South Wales. The beneficial impetus given to education in New South Wales by the Scottish influence.Lang as a pio^er of University education; the limitations of his achievement resulting from his overbearing personality. **************** BIBLIOGRAPHY - p.177 List of Illustrations» 1. John Dunmore Lang M.A.,D.D. opposite p.l 2. Prospectus of the "Caledonian Academy" p.8 3. Prospectus of the proposed '"Darling Institution'" p.15. 4. List of a few of the books purchased by Lang and Carmichael in England for the opening of the Australian College, p.31. 5. Mrs John Dunmore Lang.(With a note on the family history) p.32. 6. Henry Carmichael accepts an appointment to the Australian College. p.58. 7. Australian College Fees Account, 1836. p.65. 8. The Australian College. p.74. 9. Receipt from Rev T. Aitken to Lang for £200 -"a bonus for leaving the institution....after(having) fairly ruined it". p.85. 10. Moral Philosophy Exercise set by Rev. Barzillai Quaife at the Australian College, 1850. p.92. 11. Sir Richard Bourke p.105. 12.Sir George Gipps - Supporter of National Education. p.128. 13. Robert Lowe. p.128 14* William Charles Wentworth -Founder of Sydney University. p*142 15.St Andrew's College p.155 16. Lang the Fighter. (Cartoon) p.176. ************ PREFACE I wish to thank the many friends who have assisted me in producing this work. I am deeply indebted to the staff of the Mitchell Library for their courtesy and assistance over the past two years. I wish to thank especially Mr Frank Meaney who assisted with the photography, Mr David MacMillan for the use of the Sydney University Archives and the Right Reverend Monsignor J.J.McGovern P.P. for the use of his books and other material. INTRODUCTION. A. THE MAN - JOHN DUNMORE LANG. John Dunmore Lang was born in Greenock, near Glasgow, on August 25, 1799. He was the eldest child of Mary (nee Dunmore) and Wil­ liam Lang who was connected with the building trade. (1) After William Lang’s retirement from business in Greenock, in 1807, the family moved to a farm near Largs and John was immediate­ ly sent to Largs Parish School where he commenced the study of Greek and Latin, ,fin addition to the usual branches of an English Education” , with a view to entering the ministry. In 1811, at the very early age of twelve years, John entered the University of Glasgow where he studied Arts for four years and then Theology for a similar period. Of the eight years at the university then pre­ scribed for the ministry of the Church of Scotland, the first four included courses in "the learned languages, logic, mental philios- ophy and mathematics." The remaining four years were spent in the study of "theology, church history and the oriental tongues". Lang tells us that most of the theology students had the opportunity of attending classes other than those prescribed by the church. Lang himself regularly attended classes for modern languages, anatomy and natural history. During his first eight years at the university, Lang displayed considerable merit in his studies, collecting nine class prizes (especially in the latter years). Because he anticipated leaving 1. Unless otherwise specified, the material dealing with Lang’s early career is taken from Vol. 2L of the Lang Papers in the Mitchell Library. In this volume is to be found Lang’s unfinished "Reminiscences of My Life and Times", 1877, some in printed form and some in Lang’s very shaky handwriting. 11. Scotland for "some foreign part", he decided to take his M.A.