Dr. Rand, who has long been one of the foremost educationists in the Maritime Provinces, was born at the seaport town of Cornwallis, situated on an arm of the Basin of Minas, King's County, Nova Scotia, in the year 1835. His life has been passed in educational pursuits, and affords but few incidents for biographical purposes. His boyhood and early youth were spent in attending the common schools, whence he passed to the Horton Collegiate Academy. After spending some time as a student at the last-named seat of learning he became a teacher there. He also entered the University of Acadia College, where he graduated in the honours course in 1860. During the same year he was appointed to the Chair of English and Classics in the Provincial Normal School at Truro, where he distinguished himself by his enthusiastic devotion to his work, and by his intelligence, aptitude and zeal in developing the best methods of instruction. In 1863 he received his Master's degree from the University of Acadia College. His Doctor's degree is honorary, and was conferred upon him by the same institution in 1874.
Upon the passing of the Educational Act of 1864, the subject of this sketch was selected by the Government of the day for the position of Provincial Superintendent of Education. Upon him accordingly devolved the task of putting the new law into operation. The Act of 1864 was one of the most important measures, bearing on the moral and material interests of the Province, that was ever introduced there. "It struck at the very root of most of the evils which tend to depress the intellectual energies and moral status of the people. It introduced the genial light of knowledge into the dark recesses of ignorance, opened the minds of thousands of little ones—the fathers and mothers of coming generations—to a perception of the true and the beautiful, and placed Nova Scotia in the front rank of countries renowned for common school educational advantages."[9] Previous to the time when it came into operation the school system of the Province was pitiably inefficient. Its inefficiency was startlingly demonstrated by the census of 1861, from which it appeared that more than one-fourth of the entire population of the Province were unable to read. Of 83,000 children between the ages of five and fifteen, there were 36,000 who were unable to read. A large majority of the children in the Province did not attend school, and did not receive any educational training whatever. Teachers were poorly paid and inefficient. The schoolhouses were frequently unhealthy, and were almost always uncomfortable and unsightly. To Dr.—now Sir Charles—Tupper, belongs in great measure the credit of having brought about a more satisfactory state of things. It was by his Ministry that the Educational Act of 1864 was passed, and he himself, though well aware that he seriously risked his popularity by promoting it—for it introduced direct taxation—repeatedly declared that even if it should cost him place and power he would regard its introduction as the crowning act of his public life. After some negotiation between himself and Messrs. Archibald and Annand, the leading members of the Opposition, it was agreed that party differences should for the nonce be laid aside, and that the Education Act should become law.
Theodore H. Rand, signed as Theodore H. Rand
Such was the state of affairs at the time when Mr. Rand was appointed to the office of Superintendent of Education. For some time his task was no light one, for the law was unpopular among the masses, who abhorred the idea of direct taxation. He applied himself to his duties with great energy, and travelled the Province from end to end, disputing, arguing, and finally convincing. He found, however, that some clauses of the Act were impracticable, and others unnecessary. He prepared a measure which formed the basis of the amended Act of 1865. His energy and vigour carried all before them, and he soon had the satisfaction of seeing opposition disappear. A Journal of Education was established, a new and uniform series of school books was introduced, and commodious schoolhouses were erected. A system of examination and of grading was introduced by Mr. Rand, and his plan was so well thought of that its main features have been adopted in other Provinces of the Dominion.
He continued to fill the position of Superintendent of Education in Nova Scotia during five and a half busy years. In 1870 he was removed from office "apparently for political reasons, and under circumstances which created a great deal of dissatisfaction at the time amongst the friends of education in the Province." After his retirement he proceeded to Great Britain, chiefly with a view to acquiring additional knowledge on educational matters, and to familiarizing himself by observation with the practical working of the English school system. During his absence he visited many important schools in England, Scotland and Ireland, and had conferences with some of the leading educationists of the realm.
In 1871 the New Brunswick Legislature passed an Act, to come into operation on the 1st of January, 1872, introducing the Free School system into that Province. The provisions of this Act were very similar to those of the Nova Scotia measure, and Mr. Rand's success in introducing the system into the adjoining Province had been such that it was deemed desirable to secure his services in New Brunswick. In September, 1871, three months before the Act came into force, he was offered the position of Chief Superintendent of Education for New Brunswick by the Government of the day. He accepted, and entered upon his duties with his accustomed energy. He has ever since filled the position, and persons who are entitled to speak with authority aver that he has done for education in New Brunswick all, and more than all, that he had previously accomplished for education in Nova Scotia. He now enjoys the distinction of having brought into operation in two Provinces an enduring and efficient system of public education.
He is President of the Educational Institute of New Brunswick, and a member of the Senate of the Provincial University. The Baptist Convention of the Maritime Provinces (of which, in 1875-6, he was President) elected him in 1877 one of the Governors of the University of Acadia College. His time is entirely devoted to his educational duties, and he has reason for self-gratulation at the satisfactory results which have attended his efforts in the two Provinces which have been the scene of his labours.