Schools of the High Country

Formation Of Rural School Districts

The first requisite was the selection of a school committee. Their
initial duty was to apply to the Deputy Minister of Education for the
forms and instructions relative to the formation of the new district.
The district then received all this official material plus a map
showing the boundaries of the schools already existing in the
vicinity of the proposed new district. The instructions had to be
followed carefully. The petition could not be trifled with as it
carried legal status. A declaration had to be signed by a member
of the local committee and declared before a commissioner of oaths,
a notary public, or a justice of the peace and accompanied the
request. A map of the proposed district with the sections numbered
and townships and ranges clearly marked also accompanied the
request. The committee was also required to suggest four or five
names from which the department would choose a name and attach
a number. The number seemed to have been issued much the
same as car licences are now.

In due time the Department notified the committee that the limits of
the proposed district had been approved and that notices calling
the first school meeting could now be displayed in prominent places,
at least fourteen days before the date of the meeting. Each
notice had to state the time, place and a recording of the land
in the proposed district.

The first meeting was to be called at 1:00 P.M. sharp. The potential
ratepayers present elected from among themselves a chairman
and a secretary. The chairman then signed a declaration. It
was necessary for each resident ratepayer to sign the declaration.
The chairman and secretary both were required to witness each
signature.

Once all signatures were made the chairman announced that the
polls would be open for one hour for each certified individual to
place his vote in favor of, or opposed to, the formation of the
district. At the end of the hour the chairman declared the polls
closed and announced the results. If the vote was in favor of
the formation of a school district the chairman then opened the
meeting for the nomination of candidates to serve as trustees.
The board was to consist of three trustees. After the nominations
were in, voting took place, if there were more than three
nominations. At the end of the voting the chairman announced the
results. One of the elected members became chairman and one
could act as secretary-treasurer or one could be appointed.

After this was all over the chairman sent the results to the
Commissioner of Education. After a thorough study of all the
forms sent in was made, and the Commissioner was satisfied
that all proceedings had been properly followed, the
trustees received the much anticipated letter from the
Minister of Education indicating that the district had been
officially promulgated.

Then the real work began, deciding on the location of the
school, means of financing the district, and a plan for the
school house from among the plans sent them by the
Department. (The previous information was taken from
The Little White Schoolhouse by John C. Charyk).

It is assumed that districts in this area followed the procedures
outlined by the government.

A small area of land, usually about four acres, was procured
and fenced in for a school yard. The school building was
constructed, and usually had a row of windows on the left
hand side, with perhaps one window on the right, and the
blackboard at the front. Since many children rode horse back,
or drove in a buggy or cart, it was necessary to build a barn
where the children's horses could be tied during the day.
Outdoor toilets, each with a small board enclosure were
placed some distance from the school. Some school districts
dug or drilled a well in the yard, but in many districts water
was carried from a neighbor's well, or from a nearby spring,
and was stored in a covered earthenware crock which had
a push button tap at the bottom.

Each district elected its own board of trustees, worked out its
own budget, and hired its own teachers. Instruction for grades
one to nine, and sometimes grade ten was provided. These
one roomed schools were centres of social activity where school
fairs, Christmas concerts, inter school ball games, church services,
general meetings, and dances brought people from different
districts together.

One of the highlights of the year for each rural district was the
annual Christmas concert complete with Christmas tree and treats.
The treats were usually supplied by a local organization in
each cornmunity. The Christmas tree decorations included
sparkling tinsel, bright ornaments, and sometimes even
lighted candles, or sparklers. Teachers helped children
rehearse songs, recitations, and plays. A wire was strung
across the front of the school and curtains were put up in
front of a makeshift stage. Excitement was high when the
evening came. Everyone turned out to enjoy the entertaining
program in which every student had a part. Pre-schoolers too
sometimes had little recitations or songs. Santa Claus never
failed to appear in time to hand out the treats and gifts from the
tree. Usually the desks and seats were pushed back and a
lively dance followed. When the children grew tired they went
to sleep on coats on the desk tops - or behind the piano.

Return to Miscellaneous Histories