A COUNTRY SCHOOL As a young girl, I attended St. Mary's Convent in Souris , and later taught in the convent for two years, followed by one year in the public school. Each semester, I had thirty-nine pupils, and taught two grades in the one room. The schools were equipped with furnaces, having radiators in each classroom. The hardwood floors were varnished, and were immaculately clean. The students did not have a second pair of footwear, but instead, wore rubbers over their shoes, which they removed at the front entrance. The children's, as well as the teacher's desks, were in fine condition. A large green blotter covered the top of the teacher's desk to repel dust and dirt. The room was very inviting, with bright colors decorating the walls. Large florescent lights kept the room bright and very attractive. The students had access to Encyclopedias and story books for all ages. They weren't new, but were in excellent condition. Two large blackboards covered the front and side walls. Paints and construction paper were provided for art. There was a music teacher available once a week for a singing class. Running water was accessible in the school, although the students still had to use chemical toilets. In 1957, I married and moved to Bear River where I continued to teach in different schools, but now in a rural setting. My first day in a rural school wasn't exactly as I had anticipated. The pot-bellied stove in the center of the room caught my eye as soon as I entered the room. The unpainted floor wasn't very pleasing either. The walls, although painted, seemed dark, since there were no electric lights. There were two buckets and a basin at the back of the room, and the water pump was located out in the school yard. Some schools didn't even have water; so, the students had to go to a neighbour's for water. The walls of these schools had no decorations, 84