For me , going to high school was a complete surprise. Most rural kids in my generation dropped out of school. The main reason was a lack of transportation to get to highschool and another reason that kids were used as farm labor . It was a challenge for parents and students to make highschool happen.
For me, economics and technology were changing quickly and it allowed me to go to highschool. Our rural roads had improved and snow clearing machinery became available. This meant that a student could get to school and back home each day. I did have a place to stay in case a storm came up and roads were not passable.
So in September of 1954 I began high school. Each day I would drive 5 miles into town with another family to attend high school. Today 5 miles would be nothing. At that time it was a challenge. Today in that area children ride the bus for two hours to get to school. There are very few people living in the area.
So what was my high school? There were 26 students from gr 10 to 12 and one teacher. That's right. One teacher taught all the grades and all high school subjects. Sound possible? Well, it happened.
Prairie boy's gr. 10 photo.
So you remember that I was the only one in my class from Gr 3 to 9? Now there were ten of us in the gr 10 class. It was quite a change I was not that confident or sure of myself in that situation.
I also look back and see that I was not that well prepared for high school. Learning on your own meant that you missed many things. However, I guess I was prepared as well as the others.
Again in many situations we worked in groups on assignments.
The years from 14 to 17 mean that you are learning many other things outside of school. We spent more time with other teenagers. We spent time with other people who we didn't know. I learned that there were different ways to do things and different ideas and opinions. Being raised in a very small rural community meant that you were not exposed to many different ideas.
People helped me and I was able to overcome the things I was missing. Anybody remember how to factor trinomials? I remember somebody showing me this concept and I found out that it was very simple. This opened many doors in math for me.
I still worked for my Dad in the spring and fall . Teacher's comments on my report card always referred to the issue of me missing school. I improved as I went through gr 10 to 12. I became more confident and finished high school. Many students did not complete their high school even though they put in lots of effort. One teacher even, a very , very good one just wasn't enough so that many students could succeed.
I got to know the kids in highschool very well. I even got to ride a school bus for the last two years of highschool. We couldn't even think about school busses when I started high school.
So like many other things in my life high school wasn't planned but it happened and turned out to be successful.
Gr. 12 graduation. Prairie boy is in the back row first on the left.
In my high school I was fortunate that I only had to walk a few blocks to get there. Many of my classmates lived on farms and they boarded in a dormitory during the week and went home on weekends. There were others that made the trek every day from farm to school. I imagine that life was very difficult as they probably had farm chores in addition to their long rides back and forth and home work. You persevered and you got somewhere despite your challenges. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteFor kids at that time the life they lived wa normal to them . They didn't know any different.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteGreat photo from your high school days. It is a shame many students leave before finishing high school. I guess they needed confidence and guidance from the teachers. Take care and stay safe. Have a happy day!
Their days in the country schools is what did them in. That education system just didn't give them enough to go on.
DeleteWell, congratulations on having accomplished high school in such difficult circumstances. Many people today are not getting a good education, either. Technology has kept many ignorant about certain areas of learning. I enjoyed reading about your education, Red.
ReplyDeletewe didn't know anything else. To us it was normal.
DeleteI love seeing these photos of you from that era. I appreciate so much your sharing these stories of your early years and education.
ReplyDeleteThere are many more details but it's difficult to include everything in a blog.
DeleteCongratulations! It certainly wasn't easy but you made it through! That was a very good achievement! I have enjoyed your posts about your schooling. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteIt was a very different system but the only thing that would work under those conditions.
DeleteMy high school was in town, about fifteen or so kilometres away from home.
ReplyDeleteYes, but you're a young guy and they had busses.
DeleteI think that this kind of rural life explains how it shapes us.
ReplyDeleteYou have led a marvellous life!
Rural life shapes us but every other type of life shapes those who live it. How about aboriginals?
DeleteOne teacher for all subject and all grades in high school.
ReplyDeleteMind blown.
I'm not kidding you!
DeleteYour schooling stories are wonderful, Red. You met the challenges which I think today's kids wouldn't be as successful. Love the old photos, you are well dressed for the occasion. BTW, the B in boy is missing on your post title. Now for homework, you can place it in. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling me about the B. That's embarrassing. Yes, we looked at things as to how we could do them. But remember we also had a lot of fun.
DeleteI think it is fascinating that your prairie lifestyle was parallel to the lifestyle of fisher families and their children in Newfoundland. Your with the land, my familiy with the sea
ReplyDeleteEven though we don’t plan things sometimes, we need some drive and ability to succeed. You had it obviously.
I have often seen a comparison of prairie kids and Newfoundland kids. I had an 18 year old NFLD kid come north to run the Hudson bay post. He was an awesome kid. It was in the days when they bought fur.
DeleteLife experiences can form us well, too. You certainly seem to have absorbed much more than you single teacher could impart.
ReplyDeleteWell. remember , I got to sit in the library! I also liked reading magazines and newspapers.
DeleteI've thoroughly enjoyed reading the Prairie Boy Education series. The deep Alberta winters a total contrast to the temperate southern hemisphere I where I grew up. Secondary (high) school certainly opened new doors on the world, new people, ideas and experiences.
ReplyDeleteAlphie
Surprisingly we did see some new ideas. I was raised in Saskatchewan which is just the same as Alberta.
DeleteThe situation you were in had to make it challenging to complete high school but you did it! Congratulations! I have enjoyed your Prairie Boy stories of your education. Stories such as yours are an important part of the history of education and should be remembered.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurie. Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteThis series is so interesting! Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
ReplyDelete