The little country school house.
In the years of 1940's of our era, the little country school house regrouped some 11 to over 30 scholars from grade 1 to grade 6 (boys and girls) and that for only one teacher.
This one, engaged by the School Board of the area, was responsible of her school house and had to follow the program from Quebec Public Education Board. An inspector from that high direction was visiting the school house twice a year, at the beginning and at the end of the school year to check on the progress realised, evaluate the teacher and give out a $20.00 bursary to the most deserving teacher.
The school day was from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the morning and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and with a recreation time of 10 to 15 minutes, morning and afternoon. The day started with a prayer and at the beginning of the afternoon, the rosary was recited. We must say that in those days, the prayer and the religion occupied an important place in the school life.
The teacher in her class preparation, must foresee woks to occupy certain classes while she was busy reciting lessons, explaining problems or giving a dictation to other classes. And naturally see to keep a good disciplin in her school house. It was'nt an easy task. You really had to have the vocation, because it was a job of education, formation and instruction. The monthly salary was of $30.00.
The parish priest came once in a while to visit the school houses, teach Religion and give out pictures and booklets, He had to assist the end of the year exam as well, where the remittance prizes from the School Board Commission were given, which rewarded the school year work done. We must say that the shool houses of that time, built in wood, were not as confortable as the actual schools. The heating system consisted in a two briges wood store or other, installed in the centre of the classroom and which gave out a fairly intense heat but the basement not being heated (except on very rare occasions), the floor was cold specially at the beginning of the week after two days without heating.
The School Board Commission entrusted someone living near the school to start the fire early in the morning and then it was one of the older scholar that would keep the fire going during the day.
After school, some devoted scholars would offer, each their turn, to clean the blackboards, shake the brushes, empty the pail of water (we should say that there was no electricity and no running water at school so 2 scholars were going to neighbours at the recreation time to gather some water) clean up the classroom, etc...
Then the teacher found herself alone to do the correction of homeworks and preparation of the next day class. Her evenings were taken care of by those 2 tasks. Her week-ends were busy by the completion of that work and to organise the following week. Contacts with other teachers were very rare. So, she had to have an exemplary conduct because she was very observed and some mothers were giving her exemple to their young daughters. What a responsibility then !
It is interesting to know that at that time the scholars were going to school by their own ways, so by foot. Some had to walk a distance up to 2 miles night and day. Others would use a short cut through
pastures, woods and prairies, with their lunch box and book bag. Even then, we could feel a lot of motivation and desire to be educated and the ones that went to college or colvent didn’t take long to get the first place in their class.
Can we say though, that it was the good time ?... It was another era.
Gabrielle Laramée Lacasse
Teacher in St-Étienne de Bolton and neighbourhood from 1940 to 1948.
Source : Volume of the 125th anniversary of the Parish of Saint-Étienne- de-Bolton.
École du village Saint-Étienne