five communities who passed the Provincial grade ten exams (PWC exams) during the 19405. As Table 10:5 shows 117 students passed those exams in the 1940s, compared with 85 in the 19305. However, the decline in students who pursued further education in the 19405 is surprising, in light of the grade eleven addition. Especially puzzling is the severe drop-off in those completing the first two years at Prince of Wales College. The difficult economic conditions of the early 19405, and the recruitment of young men for the war may however explain this decline. Although the numbers show a decline overall, if only the numbers of those who completed the third and fourth years of college, and full university, are considered it turns out that there was improvement from the 19305: thirteen graduates from col- lege and university in the 19405 compared with only three in the 19305. This improved number, however, falls far short of the twenty-one who graduated from universities during the 19205 (see Table 8:1). However, it was during this decade that the first female from the area graduted from univers— ity: Kathleen Keefe, Kinkora, graduated from St. Dunstan’s University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science.
Family of John Keefe and Angelina Monaghan
Front Row L. to R.: Gerald, Elmer, Leonard, Lorne, Mary, Marion and Angelina.
Back Row L. to R.: Maurice, Wilfred, Earl, Jack holding Kathleen,
John Sr., Edith and Leslie. (Courtesy of Keefe Family)
104
Table 10:5, Education Levels of Students in the Five Communities, 1930-49“
19305 19405 80 female 37 male
No. Students Passed 58 female
PWC Exams: 27 male
36 female 12 male
No. Students Obtained 36 female
Further Education 18 male
Institutions from which they graduated:
17 female 4 female
Prince of Wales College:
lst year:
10 male 1 male
9 female 6 female
2nd. year
5 male 3 male
3rd. year 4 female
4th year 2 male
PWC Commercial Certificates: 8 female
1 male 1 female; 5 males
St. Dunstan’s University:
Dalhousie University: 1 male ——
Other universities: 1 male 1 male
10 female 13 female
Nursing Schools:
As the war drew to an end the economic picture in P.E.I. took on a more positive outlook. By 1946 the ration— ing of food had been removed; the price ceilings on farm exports were lifted; and the prices for some products, especially potatoes and pork, increased. In 1940-41 the average farm price for potatoes was 42¢ per hundred lbs., in 1947-48 it was $1.77]5 These improvements are reflected in higher net farm incomes to P.E.I. farmers in 1948 and 1949, shown in Table 10:2. In addition, the federal govern— ment made more money available through social assistance