Marshfield School

Marshfield became part of Unit 3, comprising Charlottetown and surrounding area with a head office in Charlottetown and adminsitered by twelve trustees (half appointed by government and half elected). Wallace Wood served on the first Board of Trustees of Unit 3. At present time all trustees are elected and units have been reduced to two — the Western and the Eastern family of schools. Marshfield School was gradually phased out with the opening of a Junior High, grades 7-9 (Stonepark) in the late seventies and L.M. Montgomery Elementary School in 1983. James Miller now owns the former Marshfield School building.

Graduates of Prominence

The pioneers of Marshfield can be justly proud! The school system of this district has produced its share of individuals who have left their mark of honour on the community — from Rhodes Scholar, Senator, University Head, Member of Parliament, Diplomatic Leader, to our present Member of the Legislature and Provincial Minister of Health and Social Services; and many other skilled professionals such as Doctors, Nurses, Lawyers, Bank Manager, Teachers, Chartered Accountant, Artist, Business Entrepreneurs, and lets not forget the men and women who served in the two World Wars. Those who chose to remain in the community made significant contributions, some becoming leaders in Farm Organizations and producers of Provincial and National Champion livestock, and poultry.

School Visitors

The semi-annual visit of the School Inspector was looked upon by teacher and pupils with intrepidation and joy. Firstly, this person represented the Board of Education and assessed the work being done by the pupils and also evaluated the teacher’s work. On the other hand, the visit meant a break in the routine and after having written a quiz or questionnaire the pupils were given the remainder of the day off, while the Inspector met with the teacher. The Inspector reported to the Superintendent of Education, and local trustees also received a copy.

The other regular visitor to the school was the Red Cross Nurse (later called the Public Health Nurse). Her visit was not looked upon with any degree of pleasure, even though, the Visit

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was undoubtably of great value. The water was checked and the toilet facility inspected which did not cause any great discomfort to anyone, but when one was called forth and requested to “open wide” while teeth and tonsils were surveyed with a little wooden paddle (tongue depressor), it somehow made your toes curl. She went on to check each head for those dreaded nits which were a sign of worse things to come. The Visit usually concluded with a lesson in hygiene, and everyone breathed a sight of relief when no needles appeared out of her case. During the period of the outbreak of Infantile Paralysis (Polio), the Nurse was a welcome visitor, as not only school children but parents needed to be reminded of the grave danger of this disease. The discovery of the Salk vaccine provided a welcome relief from the years of living with the fear of falling victim to such a dreaded disability and, in many cases death.

WI Presence in the School

Even though, as previously noted, the ladies of the district were not directly involved in the admin- istration of the school, from its inception in 1913 the Marshfield Women’s Institute was a strong support for the teachers and played a major role in supplying much needed items such as a piano, library books, maps, and window blinds. These women became vocal advocates of the education system in many aspects of the daily life of the school.

The Music Program

Music was not a scheduled part of the school program until the late forties when the Women’s Institute provided a music teacher to come to the school for an hour each week. The first of whom were former members of the Royal Air Force of England, Royston Mugford and Frank Johnson, who had been stationed on the Island during World War II and returned to the Island as professional musicians. There were also such notables as Mr. and Mrs. Reoul Raymond, Mrs. Keith Boswall and Betty Gay (the former Betty Foster of this community). Other music teachers were Alex MacLean, Mary MacQuaid and Gail Carter. The students of Marshfield School won many awards at the Music Festival.