World events almost prevented me from a high school education.
The depression and WW II caused some very tough economic times. I lived in a very rural area. Transportation in general was very poor. Up until 1952 we went to town with horses in the winter. We went at least once a week but sometimes less. We used horses because we didn't have a modern car and clearing roads of snow had not been developed to where it was efficient. A small high school was 5 1/2 miles away but it was impossible to attend.
So going through grade school I had no objective to attend high school. It wasn't possible. However, by my gr. 9 year things had started to change. The farmers were clearing snow off roads about once a week. If you were lucky you wouldn't get snow for two weeks or more.
So all of a sudden at the end of gr. 9 I saw myself attending high school. I carpooled with the neighbor boys. I had an arrangement with a family in town to stay at their place if we couldn't get home. Many times I didn't get to school as the roads were blocked.
The gr 10 kid!
However, economic conditions and transportation improved. We had a bus for GR. eleven and twelve.
Gr. 10 was a huge challenge. I was used to small school not that this school was large. There was one teacher for gr 10, 11 and 12. There were 26 students from gr ten to twelve.Taking gr nine by correspondence did not give me a good basics for high school. The teacher was good but he intimidated me. However, with some good help I completed gr. 10.
For gr eleven I had overcome my concerns about a different school. I had got to know all the other students and it was fun. The teacher had started a six man
touch football league and I was hooked. It was something that I could succeed at.
And surprise , surprise I completed gr 11 and entered gr. 12. We had a different teacher and he gave me lots of confidence. I liked him and he was easy to work with.
My Dad tried to encourage me to think about what I should do after high school. I wasn't giving Dad any answers. He suggested nursing? That would have been a big mistake. I would not make a decision. I didn't have much confidence in myself so waited until I got my marks and found out that I had completed high school and then I announced what I wanted to do. I had decided early in the spring to attend Teacher's college but I hadn't told anybody.
So high school was completed and I enjoyed the experience. High school was something that I had not thought possible and had only thought about being a farmer.
Eight of us were in the gr 12 class
This is somewhat surprising to read, as I had no idea the obstacles you had faced nor the fact you decided on your career only in your final year at high school. I would say you made a very good choice, Red. Good going!
ReplyDeleteI'm not great at planning ahead. My decision was actually made in May just before the end of the year.
DeleteTimes were tough in your generation in terms of being able to go to school or travelling to get to school. Your experience with good and bad teachers mirrors my own and I'm sure that of many others. It sure makes a big difference in how well a student does when you have a good and encouraging teacher. I'm glad you decided to become a teacher yourself and I have a feeling you were an excellent one.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I was a very good teacher and there were times when I was not good.
DeleteHello, only 8 student in grade 12? The class sizes today are so much larger. I like your Gr 10 photo. Great memories. Happy Monday, enjoy your day and the new week!
ReplyDeleteClass sizes are larger...much too large.
DeleteTo have a good teacher you trust and encourage a child is so important. Glad you had one.
ReplyDeleteIt does make a great difference
DeleteThat's so interesting. Why didn't you tell anyone you wanted to be a teacher??!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't want the attention or someone having the opportunity to make other suggestions.
DeleteWell, you sure had an unusual (at least to me) experience in school. You were, I think, an exceptional teacher, so it was obviously what you were meant to be. Nursing, not so much. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt was a completely different system that was the only way to deliver an education program in rural areas when transportation was limited.
DeleteThis is such a great look back at your early days. When I read about the teachers you had in high school, I see how you were inspired to go on to teach. What an effort it was to get to school, and what a spark it lit in you. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe teachers had a huge challenge.
DeleteAnd here my high school had over a thousand students in any given year!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'd prefer my own little school to the 1000 size.
DeleteFun to have such a small class. I nwas in a smaller school in earlier grades, with a few combined classrooms. I had 475 in my graduation class
ReplyDeleteMost of the high schools are that size now. I think many kids get lost in the large schools. My son-in-law teaches in a 4000 student high school.
DeleteModern students should realize how lucky they have it, with relatively easy access to a high school education! Are there still communities in rural Canada where kids have to travel or board to attend high school away from home?
ReplyDeleteIf there any of those schools left,I'm not aware of them. There are some very long bus rides...up to 1 1/2 hours.
DeleteSteve, there is a small island in our area where there is no school, so when there are school kids, they have to board on the mainland during the week and can go home by boat on the weekends during fine weather. In winter they board for months at a time and fly in and out of the island.
DeleteI backtracked to read the previous posts about your education, Red, and what a memory you have to recall such details and names. I could not do the same for my grade and high school classes. It was great to see the photos interspersed with the narrative. Thanks for sharing your school days thus far.
ReplyDeleteWhen you have a different teacher for each subject you don't remember teachers. I sat for a whole year with these guys.
DeleteIt's nice to know how school was back in your time and the challenges you faced. You did good, Red. Thanks so much for sharing these memories with us.
ReplyDeleteMany kids did not succeed in that system.
DeleteYour education was unusual even for those days. I went to rural schools but they were a bit larger than yours with a few more children. It's interesting to compare -- as we both ended up teachers!
ReplyDeleteWell, back in my day there weren't very many options for education after high school. Teaching and nursing were the most common.
DeleteYou were very mature looking for a Sophomore. I remember graduating from a very small class as well.
ReplyDeleteIt has advantages and disadvantages.
DeleteAnother interesting post but why did you include a photo of Ricky Valance in the middle of it?
ReplyDeleteHe's a very dreamy looking RickY!!!
DeleteSuch an interesting post. Times were very different. But it looks like you made some really good decisions about your life.
ReplyDeleteI was a bumbler. I did not make plans . Things just happened.
DeleteI am new to your blog. Where do you live or did you live when you were using horses to get through the snow? Sounds very interesting to me. I look forward to reading more of your blog posts.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Saskatchewan, Canada. The area was first settled in the early 1900's . The made very small roads. The depression came and they could not afford make good roads. After the war they started making better roads. In the early 50's they developed snow clearing equipment that worked. So up until the early 50's they went to town with horses and sleigh.
DeleteRed, Just read the last 3 posts. Very interesting. I think it’s too late for questions but I’ll ask anyway, maybe you’ll answer in a future post. In that October 22 post … 3rd picture … you and some other students returned for the unveiling of a sign to mark the location of the school. The sign says Hiawatha, 1906 – 1955. So now I wonder … is this where the name of your blog comes from? You did mention that some of your first memories were of the building. Was this Hiawatha, Ontario? Thanks for giving us all the history!
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right that this is where my blog name comes from. This was in Saskatchewan in the Lanigan area. The building was actually built in 1908 and closed in 1955.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Red and I bet you were a really good teacher! :)
ReplyDelete