Reminiscing: School Days

Teachers, principles, educational workers, and their families join Alex and Celia as they recount their school years memories, sharing casual stories, and looking at old newsletters, school photos and yearbooks.

Angela Lloyd opens the evening as a long running Trustee for Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, 26 years years in service as Trustee, as of 2020.

The attendees discuss the incredible amount of change from one room school house to the high school/ elementary school combo and the school on the hill, now the township office

Individuals chat about their experiences in one room school houses including stories from Nancy Martin who attended the SS#5 Donaldson school. She recounts eight grades in one classroom and the same teacher for most of those years. It was a time of sharing, one big family of kids, going on picnics at Baxter Creek and eating hotdogs.

Brenda Lunn (now McAdam) attended SS#12 Cedar Valley School and recalls the big red pencils and being left handed. One she and one other student were in the same grade.

Another attendee discusses going to school on Carmel line West of Bailieboro.

He shared memories of the caretaker, an icon, who would walk to school with his 22 and would put it in the corner of the classroom for the day.

He recalled that Mrs Hunter was his teacher, and one time he knew an answer to a particular question and was immediately promoted to grade 2.

He recalled how some boys would change the arms on the school clock to make school over an hour sooner.

He recalled how the one room school house gave older kids an opportunity for leadership in assisting the younger kids, and allowed younger kids to learn from the teachings intended for the older kids.

Reminiscences of angle parking on Main Street and how busy the sidewalks used to be with people visiting and talking. At times 30 people would be in the queue to get their hair cut and the barber shop would be open till the wee hours of the morning to accommodate everyone.

This synopsis covers the first 18 mins of this 1 hour and 6 minute recording. It’s genuinely an entertaining listen!