CHAPTER III SCHOOLS

The traditional trio of Home, School and Church have always been most important in any community. The early settlers established homes and were committed to their church. Very early in each district they were concerned about establishing a school. In this chapter we have been very comprehensive and have included all the schools in the area. In 1965, some of the schools came together to form St. Ann's Consolidated School. For other districts, some of the children, at various times, attend— ed St. Ann's School and these have been included in this chapter.

The schools that formed St. Ann's Consolidated were: St. Ignatius, St. Ann's, St. Mary's, St. Patrick's, Millvale, and Toronto Road.

The following schools have also been included either because of being in the area or because some students from these districts attended St. Ann's Consolidated School: Cavendish, Hope River, New Glasgow, Stanley Bridge and Mayfield.

EARLY RECORDS

School records of Island schools did not exist until 1838. It was in that year the government saw the need to have records kept. Annual School Visitation Reports were initiated.

In his book, Cavendish Its History Its People (1973), Harold H. Simpson states:

"In 1814 the first school in Cavendish came into being. Prior to 1825, the teacher for this school was engaged by the parents. It was not until 1825 that an act was passed by the legislature to authorize payment of small grants of public money to aid in the erection of school buildings and in payment of teachers' salaries. In 1830 a colonial Board of Education of five members was established."

In the 1845 Report of the Board of Education to the House of Legislature, John McNeill, Inspector, made the following comments:

"The advantages of Education are not confined in this Colony to the English pupils alone, but are extending to the Acadian French and like— wise to the Indians. There are six Acadian schools receiving public aid."

Cavendish Road (St. Ingatius), Millvale Road (St. Mary's), and Toronto Road were three Acadian schools of the area which, in subse— quent years, were to receive this public aid.

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