NEW ANN AN SCHOOL

As far as I can understand there was a temporary school for the first settlers, it could have been a log building.

In 1840 “New Annan Mills School” was established in Lot 19. Mills

was probably added to New Annan on account of being across the road from the mill.

In those days there was only one Visitor (now known as Inspector) for all Prince Edward Island. So he didn’t get around very often. The following is a report from the first Visitor:

On the roll call were fifty scholars. The average attendance was good; they had a scanty supply of books, the improvement that has taken place in the general state of the school since the commencement, reflects credit upon the industry of the teacher when it is taken into account that the children of many families attend in rotation and sometimes sev- eral attend together at one and the same time, to make up the lost; although in many places from the condition of the settlers this practice cannot be avoided, nothing tends more to retard the school and is a con- tinual drawback upon the efficiency of the teacher.

The greater proportion of the children have entered as beginners; the mere primary and elementary books of reading are used; no progress worthy of notice has yet been made in arithmetic and reading.

John MacNeill, Visitor Visited again in 1843.

The teacher Donald Bethune has been stationed here but a few weeks; the school is attended by thirty-five children, not much advanced.

A new commodious school house has been erected in 1840 which re- flects much credit on the settlement; the teacher is attentive to the morals of his scholars and seems anxious for their improvement.

John MacNeill, Visitor

In 1849 the report of the school visitor Mr. John Arbuckle. New An- nan has fifty-two pupils; he commented as follows:

Combined with the deficiency in suitable books and the variety of those in use, retarded the progress of the children and embarrassed the teachers.

During the examinations I noticed evident proofs that the teacher had endeavoured to discharge his duties with praiseworthy perseverance and fidelity. 1851 school house in New Annan vacant. 1855 it was men- tioned as very poor no understanding of the lessons read, teacher not named.

1856, teacher Mary J. Delaney, change of teacher since last visit, order very good and arrangements creditable.

1863, teacher Lewis McMillan, pupils 14 boys, 24 girls, work satis- factory; 1871, Finlay Campbell was the teacher, number of pupils enrolled 63; 1874, teacher was Alexander MacKinnon with forty-eight pupils; 1875, teacher Sarah Nelson, school house comfortable, tidy and clean, new maps and blackboards needed. From now on improvement great.

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