CHAPTER II PUBLIC BUILDINGS

SCHOOL HOUSES

The earliest reference found to a school in Bonshaw is in the School Inspector's report dated February 1 853 in which it stated that Bonshaw never had a school previously and that the school had been open but a few weeks. It also noted that it had no teacher!

In 1855 the school had 68 students and it was reported that "progress since the opening is very creditable". The School Inspector's report for the year 1858 gave a good picture of the Bonshaw school. The register showed 50 students, 28 boys and 22 girls, although only 19 were present on the day of the visit, December 10th! Subjects taught were reading [30 students], writing [24], arithmetic [25], grammar [7], geography [8], dictation [3]. The school house was described as very comfortable and pretty well furnished, but the desks were inconveniently high. The students were noted as of good demeanour and of a very pleasing character.

The 1864 report added a bit more information. The books used were Gray's and Thompson's Arithmetic, Irish National Arithmetic, Lennies Grammar, Stewart's Geography, and Carpenter's Spelling. The school did not have the new teaching aid, a blackboard. The school also had a controversy. A disagreement had arisen between the Trustees and the inhabitants as to the continuance of the teacher. Some wished to procure a male teacher. The School Inspector noted

he saw no fault with the present teacher. Those wishing a male teacher got their wish as by 1867 Miss McNeill had been replaced by Mr. MacLeod.

The School Inspector's reports as noted in the Journal of the P.E.I. House of Assembly has produced the following list of teachers from 1855 to 1942 (those between 1942 and 1983 are based

on recollection of former teachers and students and we believe, unforttmately, there may be a few errors (14)).

Teachers at Bonshaw School

Allan Stewart 185 5 - 185 8 Robertson McFadyen 1891 - 1892 Neil McKenzie 1858 - ? James McNeil 1892 - 1895 Miss Euphmia McNeil 1860 - 1864 Lizzie McRae 1895 - 1896 Donald MacLeod 1865 - 1868 Annie Moore 1896 - 1899 Charles Darrach 1869 - 1869 John McNevin 1899 - 1902 Ewen Amos 1870 - 1874 M. Caroline Neill 1902

Katie Currie 1878 Malcolm McKenzie 1902 - 1903 William D MacKenzie 1878 - 1879 James A. Green 1903 - 1905 Ewen S. MacLeod 1879 - 1880 Annie Wright 1905 - 1906 Isabel McKinnon 1880 Winnie E. McKenzie 1906 - 1909 James McNeil 1881 - 1882 W. D. McNeill 1910 -1910 Walter J McLean 1882 Katie McNeil 1910 - 191 1 Victor Coffin 1883 Bertha Trainer 191 1 - 1913 Archibald McKinnon 1 883 - 1884 Annie Gardener 1913 - 1914 Lucy B. Palmer 1884 - 1885 Flora M. Cameron 1914 - 1915 Colin McPhail 1885 - 1 886 Donald Lamont 1915

Annie McNevin 1886 - 1888 Bertha M. Webster 1915 - 1916 Georgina Morrison 1888 - 1890 Mary E. Smith 1916 - 1917 John McLean 1890 - 1891 Carrie M. Carson 1917 - 1918

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