Information AboutThornton Hall |
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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 Secondary School Honours Graduation Diploma (SSHGD)), and post secondary study were increased immeasurably. 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 genius, 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. As well, exposure to computer technology was available as early as the late 1970s and early 1980s for students who were able to accommodate it in their schedule. 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." Ahead of its time, Thornton was anything but exclusive being open to choosing students from all walks of life for admission to the school. In the spirit of equal opportunity for education, 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. 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 A unique creation of Mackey and Greig's personalities in time, Thornton Hall is unparalelled but continues to be a personal and professional inspiration to alumni and a working model for several new schools in the Toronto area such as The Abelard School {Link without Title} , founded by a group of former Thornton Hall teachers. There have been other schools which continue the style of education, such as The Dragon Academy. NOTORIETY From time to time, Toronto newspapers and tabloid-style publications have made mention of Thornton Hall. Peter C. Newman noted Thornton Hall in his book The Canadian Establishment (1975) and Katherine Govier used her daughter's experiences as a student at Thornton as inspiration for her novel The Truth Teller (2000). NOTABLE ALUMNI Lord Conrad Moffat Black , Baron Black of Crossharbour, publishing magnate and subject of a criminal probe early in the 21st Century was, as a student, expelled from 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 new fraud charges while threatening extradition. EXTERNAL LINKS
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