Ernest G. C. Graham's
Education 1792 - 1970
In Springfield, New Brunswick
In my
opinion the teacher was the boss of the school but after listening to a
conversation between Alice and Gramp as they discussed the problems
another district was having with finding a suitable first class
teacher, I had second thoughts on the matter. It seemed that a fellow
called County Superintendent had not given the proposed teacher a
very good recommendation.
Way back in 1837, the government of New Brunswick brought in a new Act
declaring that each county should have its own school board. The
appointment for Kings County consisted of, David B. Wetmore, Isaac
Perry, John T. Coffin, Rev. Elias Scovil and E. B. Smith as secretary.
From “Education 1792 - 1970 In
Springfield, New Brunswick” by Ernest G. C. Graham, I learned
the Board met on the third day of July 1837 in Kingston and let it be
known, they would be examining all applicants for certificates in
obtaining Teacher’s license. Applicants were to provide exceptional
certificates of character and morals, otherwise, no attention would be
paid to their application.
It seems many were turned down on account of spelling or their poor
school practises.
From June of 1837 until May of 1838, 24 names were approved with four
of them being women.
It would appear very little improvement was made in the educational
standards as many of the school masters had little more education than
the students.
In 1844 the government set up a commission of three men to look into
public schools, church schools and private schools.
The man responsible for Kings County was James Brown of Charlotte
County who kept a journal with reports on the schools, their teachers
and the people. In his publication Mr. Graham included some very
interesting information from this journal concerning the schools in
Springfield Parish.
For example: “On August 21, 1844,
James Brown started his third day in the parish of Springfield by
walking up the Stewarton Road which he said was criss-crossed by a
little brook, going by the Kirk and on to Sara B. MacDonald’s school,
District # 8. She was twenty years old and had been the teacher there
for the last five years. She would be only fifteen when she
started. The school hours were from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The school
was built on Mr. Caldwell’s land by the people. Four boys and four
girls were in attendance. The four family names registered were Young,
Colwell, MacDonald and Cromwell.”
The listing of the pupils who attended in 1844 Eliza Ann Scott’s school
at Hatfield’s Point, Alexander Machum’s School at White’s Corner and at
George Winncett’s School at Belleisle Creek provides names of students
that connect to several families of the area.
Education 1792 - 1970 In
Springfield, New Brunswick by Ernest G. C. Graham provides not
only information on the schools in that parish but of the Government’s
involvement in education throughout the province, including the many
issues that were raised and changes that took place in the way schools
were built, furnished, organized and operated during the years.
This very informative book was published a few years ago and is
available for viewing at several research institutions. It can be
purchased from the Kings County Museum, 27 Centennial Road Unit 3,
Hampton, NB, Canada, E5N 6N3. Telephone (506) 832-6009. E-mail
kingscm@nbnet.nb.ca.
**
Query 1503
Hamm:
Clarence James Hamm and his father James William Hamm owned and
operated a Grocery Store and Meat business at 198 Rockland Road in
Saint John north end in the 1940's. I am seeking stories,
pictures, or articles such as grocery slips or other paperwork.
SYLVIA HAMM
52 Needle St., Sussex Corner
NB, Canada, E4E 2Z3
E-mail hammtree@nb.sympatico.ca
Query 1504
Alward
- Keith: Calvin Freese Alward, born 17 Oct 1850 at
Havelock, Kings County, New Brunswick married Mina Elizabeth Keith.
They lived in Butternut Ridge, Havelock before moving to California USA
around the 1920s. Any information on his parents, grandparents, etc.
would be appreciated. Has anyone done research on this Alward family
line?
PATRICIA ALWARD
1716 Alpine Meadows Ln. #2001
Prescott, Arizona
86303, USA
E-mail PSALWARD@cableone.net
