| Hester How | |
| Birth Date: | 29 January 1849 |
| Birth Name: | Esther Frances How |
| Birth Place: | Ireland |
| Death Place: | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Burial Place: | St. James Cemetery |
| Other Names: | Hessie How |
| Known For: | Public education for troubled youth in Ontario, juvenile court system |
| Occupation: | Educator |
| Nationality: | Canadian |
Esther Frances How (January 29, 1848 – September 22, 1915), better known as Hester How, was a teacher who helped turn around delinquent boys in 19th-century Toronto.[1]
How was born in Ireland in 1848 to Thomas Ferguson How and Catherine J. How and immigrated to Canada West in 1849.[1] How graduated from Toronto Normal School and began her teaching career in 1871.[1]
It was in 1879 when How was hired under the direction of Toronto Mayor William Holmes Howland and public school inspector James L. Hughes to help establish a school for troubled youth.[2] This helped establish her as an advocate for troubled youth. It also helped steer youth away from trouble, away from being handled in the adult court system, and toward a juvenile justice system.[3]
The school she taught at was renamed after her in 1912, and she retired from teaching a year later.[1]
How died in Toronto in 1915, and was buried in St. James Cemetery.[1]
Beside Hester How Public School (former Elizabeth Street Public School now demolished and located in what is the east entrance of Hospital for Sick Children), a day care centre at Toronto City Hall (opened 1990) is named after her.