The school had only been open for five years. The average age in my classroom was 15 . These kids did not start school until they were about ten years old. They had done well in five years. They spoke English very well. In fact, I'm surprised how well they spoke as they started school knowing very little English. They did well in reading. However, when I took over they were doing gr. 4 -6 work. The materials were all southern urban based. This did not have much meaning for these kids. Now that iIlook back at it, these kids should have been working at a much higher level. The education system seems to pigeon hole kids and keep them there.
Most evenings I went back to the school to do preparations. I usually had lots of kids who dropped in for a few minutes. They also taught me many things. They told me who their wives were. There were arranged marriages. They told me about all the different spirits there were and that these spirits were real. That really bends your mind.
These kids were not keen about going to school. They couldn't see any direct benefit to an education. They were used to very irregular hours. For example, they had no set bedtime or mealtime. Kids with little sleep or no breakfast don't do well. A breakfast program had been started before I came. so the kids came for breakfast. It was a way to get them to school. We also had a wash and tooth brushing routine. Then we started school. In spite of this it was difficult to get kids to attend regularly.Their parents found it difficult to support school.
Looking back these kids got a smattering of education and lost their independence by not learning to hunt and live off the land.
The local administrator job was most interesting and I was able to see some progress. After school every day I had a one hour time when people could come and see me. I had a soapstone carving project supervised by the government. The government gave me $2000.00 per month to by soapstone carvings so most days several people were there to sell carvings. I also gave out social assistance. Nobody was on a set monthly allowance. They came when they needed something. Usually they asked for ten to twenty dollars. Most of the time I gave them ten gallons of gas to go hunting.
We also had some community social events such as dances and Christmas celebrations. Baked beans and buns for a Christmas celebration! It was much appreciated.
Alcohol was a problem. They made their own with raisins. There were times when I was called that somebody was fighting. I did not go down to break up the fight as probably both fighters would turn on me. I never saw evidence of damage from these fights.
I had one employee who looked after the mechanical things. We had a diesel generator to produce electricity. In fact there were two generators for safety.
Ernie was my man and what a character. Ernie was a rural French Canadian. He joined the army and purposely chose an English division as he wanted to learn English. He did not know one word of English. One funny story. The troops were lined up and they asked for a volunteer. Ernie said yes in a loud voice. They wanted someone to type and Ernie had never seen a typewriter before!
I found that I was very busy with this routine. It was interesting but the load was too heavy.
Very interesting observations. It's good to hear details straight from someone who was there. It does sound like you must have been busy.
ReplyDeleteI have to emphasize that this was 1967-69 a long time ago.
DeleteYou really did have a very interesting job - or jobs should I say.
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing was very interesting. I wish I had had more time.
DeleteOH MY GOSH! What an incredible job you had. I can just imagine how fabulous you were and I already know how much you cared. Sometimes it's hard to know what's the right thing.
ReplyDeleteIt was enjoyable but challenging.
DeleteThat was quite a job you had there, interesting to read about.
ReplyDeleteMost people would say no thanks.
DeleteEnjoyable post Red and interesting to read about your life. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThings got interesting from time to time.
DeleteYou were definitely busy. How different it would be today, making me realize that it doesn't take all that long for major change to occur. thanks for the glimpse into past educational practices. :-)
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess if you live long enough you see lots of change.
DeleteWhat an interesting experience. I bet you could put together a terrific book with these memories.
ReplyDeleteI've often thought of a book but it ain't gonna happen.
DeleteWow! I had a student in my classroom, c. 2000. His family was down from northern Ontario for treaty hearings. His teachers comments in his report cards were less than standard English. It was difficult. He lauded us with tales of field trips going caribou hunting!
ReplyDeleteEnglish is a challenge when the first language is something else.
DeleteIt definitely sounds like it was a lot of work, and it seems we're still trying to catch up with northern realities when all too often we proceed from a southern Canadian perspective.
ReplyDeleteWell, thee was no television so I had lots of time.
DeleteAlmost like entering a new world, quite an adjustment.
ReplyDeleteIt was an adjustment for me as well as the inuit.
DeleteI can't imagine teaching all day and then being responsible for two more jobs. Classroom teaching is more than a full time job already! It must have been interesting to learn about the culture first hand but it sounds like there were some difficulties as well. I want to read more!
ReplyDeleteAs I said in a previous comment there wasn't any TV so I had time. In the 60's there was less red tape to jump through so in some ways it was easier.
DeleteIt sounds like quite an adventure for you.
ReplyDeleteAdventure is right. Very little was familiar.
Delete"Looking back these kids got a smattering of education and lost their independence by not learning to hunt and live off the land."....I guess that they were placed at the very bottom of Canada's educational heap instead of being masters of their challenging environment. It is a story that has been repeated in many other parts of the world.
ReplyDeleteIt was called colonialism!
DeleteTeaching is so much more than teaching, isn't it!
ReplyDeleteYou've opened up very big topic. Today teachers are confined. I liked to have a "free hand."
Deletemaybe you will expand on that idea sometime
DeleteInteresting to read about other cultures.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting Red, sounds very busy to me. A time when teachers really were teachers. Sure is a different world today......READING, WRITING, N ARITHMETIC.....,skills most do not have at college level. You were one of the good ones.
ReplyDelete