Table Butte school derived its name from the large flat hill
about two miles from where the school was built in 1905.
The land was donated by R. A. Hopkins, about 8 miles N.W.
of Stavely across the road from Ross Scotts' now. At that
time, Mr. and Mrs. Dorr De Graff Iived there, when I started
school in fall of 1910. Miss Jen Nelson was my teacher then.

Miss Nelson was a short, small teacher. There were also big
boys who could only go to school in winter. I remember how
she reached up and pulled their ears to take them outside
when they misbehaved.

Teachers were paid the very renumerative salary of $50.00 a
month. We were given little books as a monthly prize for
good work and attendance.

I was told that the first teacher's name was a Mr. McDonald,
67 years old with long white whiskers. Chris Cochlan taught
there also, as did Mabel Richardson, Mr. Trainer, Frank
McKenna, Miss Eleanor Laurie, Miss Pearl Christie who
was also an elocutionist who helped me a great deal with
recitations. She also taught in Stavely the next year while
I was there. She was not my teacher. But she helped me
again for concerts. She later became Dr. Christie Dowling
in Calgary.Some pupils that I remember are, Cochlans, Hopkins,
Dulleas, Lyalls, Rushes, Florence and Harold Johnson who
stayed with their sister, Charlie Orr for a time. A. E. Rodgers
family, John Rodgers later, Nunhan Stanfords for a time, Millers,
Schlossers, later, Ed McCraes, No Fumalds. Ida Fumald didn't
go to school then but was always on hand for our concerts,
as she pIayed piano and helped the teacher.

The inspector always popped in unannounced. He would ask
questions as he stood with his back to the stove to warm his
hands, etc. We didn't always give correct answers which
must have embarrassed our teacher.

Our teacher would sometimes have as many as 30 pupils
from Grade I to Vlll.

The school was the social centre for the community. We had
church there on Sundays. A Catholic lady played for all the
services. We had many debates, when Mr. Pestell debated.
Mr. James Lyall sang Scotch songs. Always Christmas concerts.
We practised for drills which had to be precision perfect.
There were box social and other dances. I remember the
"Old Maids Concert" which took in McChesney Blanche
(Caron) Campbell, Mable Richardson, Furnalds, Bessie Scott,
Mrs. Bystrom (a music Teacher).

As pupils, we walked to school before we had a pony. There
would be two who would come early to build the fire, carry
out ashes and carry pails of water from Mr. DeGraffs place.
We swept the floor after school.

One little incident I remember - a mother brought her little boy
to school on his first day, when she turned around to go home
he crawled out under the seat, but when he got home, his Dad
brought him back and he stayed that time.

Some of us went to Stavely to the red brick school where Mr.
Henry Costain was principal, also a Miss McCrostie taught us
as well.

We had to write Grade Eight Departmental Exams.

This little piece was copied from "Calgary Paper" in April
pf 1902 which is as follows:" The examinations which
children have to undergo under our present school systems
seem to be devised simply to aid the teacher as to the
classes in which the children should be placed. They are a
high strain upon pupils, and preparation for them is often
hurtful in the extreme!

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