Ontario. Auxiliary Education Branch

• Auxiliary Education Branch

• Ontario. Auxiliary Classes Branch

• Ontario. Auxiliary Education Services Division

The Auxiliary Classes Branch was established when the Auxiliary Class Act of 1914 created the position of Inspector of Auxiliary Classes, reporting through the Chief Inspector of Public and Separate Schools (renamed Superintendent of Elementary Education in 1943). In 1947, the Branch became autonomous and its name was changed to Auxiliary Education, although the title of Inspector of Auxiliary Classes remained.

Beginning in 1953 the Auxiliary Education Branch reported through the Auxiliary, Guidance and Statistical Services Branch (renamed Special Services Branch in 1956). In 1954, with the merging of legislation into the Schools Administration Act (3 Eliz. II, c. 56), the responsibility for inspection of Auxiliary Classes was transferred to local authorities and inspectors, and the title of Inspector of Auxiliary Classes was changed to Director, Auxiliary Education Branch. The Branch was renamed Auxiliary Education Services Division in 1956 and ceased to exist effective January 7, 1965.

The Auxiliary Education Services Division became the Special Education Services Section of the Supervision Division, Program Branch; however, many of its functions were assumed by the new Special Schools and Services Branch. The new Schools for Retarded Children Division of the Special Schools and Services Branch became responsible for education programs in day schools for retarded children, and provided consultative services to teachers, principals and local inspectors of retarded children's schools.

Auxiliary classes were established under the Auxiliary Class Act of 1914 (4 Geo. V, c. 49) in order "...to help abnormal pupils by placing them in a separate classroom under a specially trained teacher, and with a course of study and school equipment adapted to their special needs." (Report of the Minister of Education, 1920). This act applied to both learning disabled and "gifted" pupils. In 1915, a Summer School was held for the training of Auxiliary Class teachers, and another in 1919. Until 1954, the Auxiliary Classes Branch (renamed Auxiliary Education Branch in 1947) was responsible for inspecting and reporting on the activities of auxiliary classes, and for providing support to auxiliary education teachers and programs.

In 1954 elementary and secondary school inspectors assumed responsibility for the organization and inspection of auxiliary classes in their inspectorates. From 1954 to 1964, the Auxiliary Education Branch was responsible for the inspection of schools for gifted and mentally retarded students under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education, providing advisory and consultant services to public and separate schools relating to physically or mentally handicapped students, imparting to teachers through summer courses the skills and techniques necessary to deal with such children, and recommending grants for the education of mentally handicapped children.

Auxiliary Class Act of 1914 (4 Geo. V, c. 49)

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Education Inventory

Archivist(s):
Dale