Historical Notes
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Communities
Sebastopol Township, 1859-2000, was a network of communities: Brudenell Clontarf Cormac Esmonde Foymount Lake Clear Newfoundout Vanbrugh Woermke The Opeongo Line Churches Methodist Sebastopol Baptist St. Ann's Catholic St. Clement's Anglican St. John's Lutheran |
Schools
SS#1 Heidemans SS#2 Vanbrugh SS#3 Woermke SS#4 Lake Clear SS#5 Clontarf Businesses Inns (Foymount and Plaunt's) Lodges (Foran's now called Opeongo Mountain Resort, and Whispering Pines Camp) National Defence Base (Foymount Radar Site) Sawmills (Ashick's, Graham's, Hass', Gorr's, Heideman's, Rosien's, Foran's, Kidd's, Welk's, Kunie's, Lambert's) Stores (Breen's Drefke's, Kitt's, Ryan's, Spinning Wheel lunch bar) Beekeeping (Alec Kruger, Herb Granzie) Threshing mills (Emil Drefke, Bob Johnston, Kaddatz's) |
A Sebastopol One Room School Experience
by D. Johnston, Nov. 22, 2006
Some things you never forget. Every year at this time it surprises me how memories of the past return to the one room school I can vividly remember the first year of teaching and the years that followed.
When I accepted the responsibility of teaching in September 1946, I had never attended a one room school. The grades included one to eight as well as a high school student. S.S. No. 1 Sebastopol was one of five schools in the district. Each school served the needs of a particular section of the township. It was customary for the teacher to board with one of the families close to the school. When I began teaching, school buses were not used in the area for transportation, so every school day you could see children walking to and from school.
Each teacher was expected to teach the curriculum set out by the Department of Education It came in the form of a slim gray manual. As a teacher and principal you were responsible for all activities of the pupils while at school. Organization was the key to make the school function successfully. As well as the children depending on the teacher, the children depended on each other. You were expected to demonstrate a commitment to school and community. Planning and carrying out the tasks was all consuming. Grade eight students were instructed for an entrance exam in order to enter high school. The exam covered a number of subjects. The exam had a different fomat each year and always proved to be a huge undertaking.
It was not all work and no play. A highlight of the year was a concert presented by the students for the entertainment of parents, relatives and friends.
The concert consisted of skits, plays, songs, recitations, monologues and music. One year a decision was made to hold a concert in the spring because road condition would then be favourable. A concert meant a lot of preparation including a part for every child in the school. Teachers bought concert booklets to provide ideas for performances. Practice was done during school hours and pupils showed enthusiasm as it meant a break from school routine and anticipation of the performance.
The plays were short and usually of a humorous nature. I remember several very well. "The Mail Order Hat" required ornate hats. Much time was spend making the hats that had to be exactly alike. The ending saw all participants on stage wearing the same hat much to the vexation of the lady who had bought the first hat. She was required to stomp and destroy her hat. The student who lost her hat was promised a new one intact after the performance. Another play involved having a live cat as a surprise at the end of the play. "Cat Pie". I was in a state of suspense most of the evening because someone was required to keep the cat quiet until the tricky timed ending. It was a success and became a memborable topic of conversation for some time.
One of the best monologues I ever saw was performed by a student in the upper grades. The theme was "Christmas Presents". She chose to wrap the presents on stage while continously wrapping and talking. She took gifts she had received the previous year and delegated them to her friends. No shopping for new gifts. Her comments had the audience laughing at her extravagant behaviour.
Another highlight in the school year was the arrival of the traveling library. This consisted of a huge wooden box full of reading books. These boxes were ordered from the Department off Education and kept for three months. Usually two or tree boxes were ordered throughout the year. The teacher was required to pay the return frieght. Students looked forward to these boxes because the school library consisted of not many books.
I think the country school seved its purpose well. A number of students did continue their education and went on to pursue careers in various areas as well as those who chose to become teachers.
Some things you never forget. Every year at this time it surprises me how memories of the past return to the one room school I can vividly remember the first year of teaching and the years that followed.
When I accepted the responsibility of teaching in September 1946, I had never attended a one room school. The grades included one to eight as well as a high school student. S.S. No. 1 Sebastopol was one of five schools in the district. Each school served the needs of a particular section of the township. It was customary for the teacher to board with one of the families close to the school. When I began teaching, school buses were not used in the area for transportation, so every school day you could see children walking to and from school.
Each teacher was expected to teach the curriculum set out by the Department of Education It came in the form of a slim gray manual. As a teacher and principal you were responsible for all activities of the pupils while at school. Organization was the key to make the school function successfully. As well as the children depending on the teacher, the children depended on each other. You were expected to demonstrate a commitment to school and community. Planning and carrying out the tasks was all consuming. Grade eight students were instructed for an entrance exam in order to enter high school. The exam covered a number of subjects. The exam had a different fomat each year and always proved to be a huge undertaking.
It was not all work and no play. A highlight of the year was a concert presented by the students for the entertainment of parents, relatives and friends.
The concert consisted of skits, plays, songs, recitations, monologues and music. One year a decision was made to hold a concert in the spring because road condition would then be favourable. A concert meant a lot of preparation including a part for every child in the school. Teachers bought concert booklets to provide ideas for performances. Practice was done during school hours and pupils showed enthusiasm as it meant a break from school routine and anticipation of the performance.
The plays were short and usually of a humorous nature. I remember several very well. "The Mail Order Hat" required ornate hats. Much time was spend making the hats that had to be exactly alike. The ending saw all participants on stage wearing the same hat much to the vexation of the lady who had bought the first hat. She was required to stomp and destroy her hat. The student who lost her hat was promised a new one intact after the performance. Another play involved having a live cat as a surprise at the end of the play. "Cat Pie". I was in a state of suspense most of the evening because someone was required to keep the cat quiet until the tricky timed ending. It was a success and became a memborable topic of conversation for some time.
One of the best monologues I ever saw was performed by a student in the upper grades. The theme was "Christmas Presents". She chose to wrap the presents on stage while continously wrapping and talking. She took gifts she had received the previous year and delegated them to her friends. No shopping for new gifts. Her comments had the audience laughing at her extravagant behaviour.
Another highlight in the school year was the arrival of the traveling library. This consisted of a huge wooden box full of reading books. These boxes were ordered from the Department off Education and kept for three months. Usually two or tree boxes were ordered throughout the year. The teacher was required to pay the return frieght. Students looked forward to these boxes because the school library consisted of not many books.
I think the country school seved its purpose well. A number of students did continue their education and went on to pursue careers in various areas as well as those who chose to become teachers.
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