170 THEISLAND ACADIANS

Be it resolved that the Convention agree that members make an effort to increase their knowledge of Acadian history in order to correct pupils and the numerous historical errors in schoolbooks, thus stimulating patriotism in every Acadian and imparting a greater love for the French language at home and in the community. (TR)'®

The clergy was well represented at these conventions and oc- cupied a place of honour. Members of the clergy took part in all the discussions and, more often than not, presided over the committees that were set up either to examine important issues or to petition the provincial Department of Education on behalf of the Association.

On the whole, Island teachers had every reason to be proud of their Association, the first of its kind organized by Acadians in the Maritime Provinces. It contributed greatly to the advancement of the French cause on the Island.

Father Désiré F. Léger from Saint-Paul-de-Kent (New Brunswick), attended the 1910 convention in order to see how the Association operated. The following year, he organized, in Saint-Louis-de-Kent, the first Acadian educational convention in New Brunswick'®. Num- bered amongst the important accomplishments of the Acadian Teachers’ Association are the creation of regional assemblies (1894), the founding of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Society (1919) and the organizing of French competitions (1930).

REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES

At the 1894 convention the participants felt it would be desirable for teachers to meet periodically to discuss matters relating to their profession. It was agreed, therefore, that meetings be organized for the teaching personnel at a regional level. With that end in view, the Acadian school districts were divided into four sections with one person in each section responsible for organizing the meetings and reporting to the annual convention. The number of organizers was later increased so that meetings could take place in all the Acadian parishes.

These meetings were called “regional assemblies” (TR). From the outset, parents were encouraged to attend the assemblies which thus took the form of parent-teacher meetings, the first of their kind in Prince Edward Island and perhaps in all of Canada.