Our First Schoolmaster and Schoolmistress

Schooling in British Columbia: Pre-Confederation Our first schoolmaster and schoolmistress

s the Hudson Bay Company’s a salary of £100 a year for his While Reverend Staines received Aoperations in Fort Victoria services as a chaplain; supporters mixed reviews from his employers flourished, the need for a teacher of the school paid him an addi- and pupils; Mrs. Staines was for the children of the officials tional £340 a year. thought of as invaluable. Differ- grew. In early 1848, the company The school—and the Staines’ ences of opinion arose between received a recommendation residence—was located within the reverend and his employer; initially for a position in Fort the fort and above a building his services were dispensed with Vancouver. HBC immediately known as Bachelors Hall. The hall in 1854. Staines made to return to wrote to the Reverend Robert was the site of most of the fort’s England, but his ship foundered at John Staines, who was at the revelries and the centre of much sea and he died. Mrs. Staines did time teaching in France. Staines of Victoria’s early social life. The return to England at a later date. replied in March, setting out his school’s 17 children were known and his wife’s qualifications for the to pour water through cracks and appointment: holes in the floor that fell onto the “I could take the Classics, Math- men below, perhaps to quiet them ematics, and every branch of during rowdy get-togethers. the usual routine of an English education, including drawing if required…. Mrs. Staines is perfectly qualified to take every department in the usual course of a gentle- “The Staines woman’s education, including was thought of music and French….” as invaluable.” Both he and his wife considered “religious instruction in accordance with the doctrines of the Church of England as an indispensable part of a sound education.” For more The Staines arrived in Fort Victoria information visit on March 17, 1849. He received bcssa.org Image B-01369 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives. Schooling in British Columbia: Pre-Confederation BCSSA Historical Timeline

B.C.’s First Nations practice The Hudson’s Bay Vancouver Island informal learning by doing Captain Cook sails into Company (HBC) builds a becomes a British colony for millennia prior to B.C.’s waters and claims fort at the southern tip of and its first school opens contact with Europeans. the land for Great Britain. Vancouver Island. in Fort Victoria. Pre-colonization 1778 1842 1849

Reverend Edward Craigflower School is built HBC employs a second The colony’s first governor, Cridge is recruited near the Gorge waterway schoolmaster for the James Douglas, makes 14 to replace outside Fort Victoria for the children of employees land purchases from the Reverend Staines. children of farm employees. in Nanaimo. island’s Indigenous people. 1854 1854-55 1853 1850

The Fraser River gold rush Victoria’s colonial The mainland attracts 30,000+ people to government assumes colony at New The Colonial the newly founded colony of responsibility for schooling Westminster opens Legislature passes the British Columbia. on Vancouver Island. its first school. first Free School Act. 1858 1859 1862 1865

The colony of Vancouver Island Canada becomes merges with the mainland a nation. colony of British Columbia. Inspiring, developing bcssa.org & supporting senior 1867 1866 leadership in public education for over 100 years. Schooling in British Columbia: Pre-Confederation The oral tradition of learning

B.C.’s Indigenous people have The oral tradition is a highly has been used as legal evidence used the oral tradition to pass developed teaching tool. People in court cases concerning title to down stories, histories, lessons, often learn best and remember land rights. Regarding Aboriginal and other knowledge for millennia. well information that is conveyed title in northwestern B.C., one These teachings allowed First orally rather than through writing. Elder famously asked government Nations to know their history and Having someone demonstrate a officials, “If this is your land, where to keep their cultures and iden- process and explain it can be a are your stories?” tities alive. The oral tradition is a more effective way to learn. vital part of Indigenous societies Passing on information orally and connects generations in a remains a significant part of shared understanding. Indigenous people’s traditional The oral tradition goes beyond values and beliefs and oral history storytelling and incorporates other elements such as singing, dancing and drumming. Most stories are told as practical lessons and knowledge passed “The oral tradition goes down from Elders also transmits beyond storytelling guidance regarding a group’s and incorporates other social, moral, and ethical expectations. Plots often reflect elements such as singing, real occurrences and merge dancing and drumming.” supernatural characters and circumstances. Similarities between stories handed down by different First Nations indicate that the oral tradition was used For more to mark significant environmental information visit events like earthquakes and floods. bcssa.org Schooling in British Columbia: Pre-Confederation BCSSA Historical Timeline

ount Waddington—it’s the between 1862-64, a venture that no longer had any authority. He Mhighest mountain in B.C. and left him close to bankrupt. resigned in 1867. was named for Alfred Waddington, Waddington was the successful Waddington turned his attention the first colonial superintendent applicant for the post of super- to campaigning for a transconti- of schools for the colony of intendent of education for the nental railway to be built along Vancouver Island. colony in 1865. His responsibilities the same route as his earlier Bute Waddington was born in London included hiring teachers for the Inlet gold rush route. He was in in 1801 and joined the thousands Central School, maintaining Ottawa lobbying for this when he of others who journeyed to that building, and establishing a died of smallpox in 1872. Victoria in 1858 during the Fraser school in Nanaimo for the children River gold rush. It wasn’t gold of miners. When Vancouver Island that lured Waddington so much was annexed into the colony of as encouraging settlement in the British Colony in 1866, the Board colony. He has the distinction of of Education on which he served writing the first non-government book that was ever published there: Fraser Mines Vindicated. He was elected to the House of “Waddington was the Assembly in 1860, campaigning on a platform of religious equality, successful candidate for women’s rights, and small govern- the post of superinten- ment. He only lasted a year in dent of education for the House but remained active in the colony in 1865.” politics. Waddington helped draft the charter for the City of Victoria in 1862 but declined to be nomi- nated as its first mayor. He tried For more unsuccessfully to build a wagon information visit road to the Cariboo gold fields bcssa.org

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B.C.’s 1872 School Act assumed He embraced the position’s open, Central Boarding School in that only a strong central authority challenges and during his tenure Cache Creek, was mired in scandal could provide the vision and control the public school system expanded and the ensuing controversy led necessary for a provincial school and improved. Common schools to Jessop’s downfall. He resigned system in such a vast province. increased from 14 to 45; the number in 1878 and his influence declined John Jessop, whose aspirations of teachers tripled. He standard- significantly. Jessop’s request for to become an educational leader ized teaching so that each school a pension for his many years of stretched back many years before followed the same curriculum and service was under consideration he was appointed as our first established a textbook depository; when he collapsed from a heart provincial superintendent in 1872, professional development was attack and died in 1901. served as that authority. The encouraged and, in 1876, B.C.’s position earned him an annual first high school opened. salary of $2,000, which was one of Jessop advocated for provincial the best paid roles in the provincial boarding schools in sparsely popu- civil service. lated areas. The only one to ever For most of his six years as superintendent, Jessop was the entire Education Office. The budget in 1872 was $23,435—six per cent of the provincial government’s expen- “Jessop’s greatest ditures. Jessop’s greatest challenge challenge was managing was managing the system of schools the system of schools spread across our province and he spread across our travelled by foot, horseback, buggy, stagecoach, steamer, and canoe province...” to inspect every school. In his first tour in 1873, he travelled 2,400 kilometres. Jessop also responded personally to a huge volume of For more correspondence, as he also took information visit care of all administrative matters. bcssa.org Image G-00297 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives. Schooling in British Columbia: 1867-1899 BCSSA Historical Timeline

The provincial government Superintendent Jessop Canada becomes British Columbia assumes responsibility for departs on his first school a nation. joins Confederation. supporting public schooling. inspection tour. 1867 1871 1872 1873

Indigenous children are removed Victoria High School is The first brick school in the from their homes and families the first high school in province—Victoria Central—is built, and sent to residential schools. the West. replacing an earlier log structure. 1880 1876 1875

Colin Campbell McKenzie David Wilson is Agnes Deans Cameron becomes our second appointed as the first becomes the first female superintendent of education. inspector of schools. high school teacher in B.C. 1883 1887 1890

Alexander Robinson James Baker is our becomes provincial province’s first minister superintendent of schools. of education. Inspiring, developing bcssa.org & supporting senior 1899 1892 leadership in public education for over 100 years. Schooling in British Columbia: 1867-1899 Residential schools in B.C.

he residential school system Mission ran from 1890 to 1981. In the reached in 2005 that led to the Twas created by the federal 1950s, it housed approximately 300 establishment of the Truth and government in the 1880s to children from the Shuswap area. Reconciliation Commission. The indoctrinate and assimilate Indig- Parents were not allowed to visit Government of Canada released enous children; it was a form of and students could return home an official apology for the residential cultural genocide. There were at for only one month of the year. school system in 2005. least 22 such schools in B.C. that By the 1980s, Canadian churches Intergenerational healing has begun were managed by church groups. began issuing apologies for partici- but the effects of the residential Attendance was mandatory: pating in the system, but it was not school system will continue to be children were taken forcibly from until 1996 that the last residential felt for many years to come. their homes and their families. The school in our country closed. In consequences were enormous, 1998 the federal government issued severely damaging, and long-lasting. a statement of reconciliation. Many Children in residential schools were former students participated in a not allowed to speak their own class action suit and demanded languages, were taught that their compensation. A settlement was cultures were inferior, and that they were worthless. The students were often abused physically, emotion- ally, sexually, psychologically, and “The consequences spiritually. The schools provided an inferior education with a focus on were enormous, training pupils for manual labour. severely damaging, The last residential school to operate and long-lasting.” in B.C. was on Meares Island near Tofino. The Christie (Kakawis) school opened in 1900 and did For more not close until 1983. An average of 44 students attended each information visit year. In Williams Lake, St. Joseph’s bcssa.org

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e has been called British resolute in his opposition to any He lost his seat during the 1882 HColumbia’s Father of Confed- kind of religious teaching within federal election and retired to eration. Amor de Cosmos is also a publicly supported education Victoria. At the age of 70 in 1895, remembered as our province’s system. he was declared insane and he second premier as well as the less than two years later. A true eccentric with a flamboyant founder of The Daily British Colonist personality and strong opinions, (the forerunner of the Victoria de Cosmos was also known to Times-Colonist). Throughout his have a volatile temperament. life, de Cosmos used his political He followed up his provincial and journalist voice to advocate political career with two terms for many causes, one of which as a member of parliament. was free public education. Born William Alexander Smith in 1825, he changed his name in 1854 “to what I love most ... Love of order, beauty, the world, the “Throughout his life, universe.” De Cosmos took on de Cosmos used his the province’s top leadership spot political and journalist in 1872 when then Premier John voice to advocate for many Foster McCreight resigned on causes, one of which was a motion of non-confidence. De free public education.” Cosmos’s government continued the policy begun by McCreight of implementing a system of free, non-sectarian public schooling— something that de Cosmos had For more been calling for long before B.C. information visit joined Confederation. He was bcssa.org

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gnes Deans Cameron was were accused of allowing overland. She followed that with Aborn for a life of adventure. students to use rulers in a free- an extensive speaking tour and She qualified as a teacher at hand drawing exercise. Cameron wrote numerous articles about age 16, graduating from Victoria was dismissed by the school her adventures. Then a celebrity, High School’s inaugural class in board and a Royal Commission Cameron returned to Victoria in 1876. Her first public teaching of Inquiry investigated the matter. 1911, earning good coverage in post was a one-room school in The commission found against her the press. In May of the following Comox, followed quickly by a and her teaching career was over. year, she died of pneumonia move to Vancouver. By 1883 she at age 48. Cameron took up writing and, in had returned to Victoria where the summer of 1906, travelled she rose through the ranks at the 10,000 miles down the Mackenzie Girls’ School to the Boys’ School River to become the first Caucasian and then on to Victoria High woman to reach the Arctic Ocean School as its first female teacher. In 1894, when Cameron became principal of South Park School, she was the first woman to hold an administrative office in a co-ed “Cameron enjoyed a reputa- school in Victoria. tion as an excellent teacher Cameron enjoyed a reputation as and she was also recognized an excellent teacher and she was for her support of the also recognized for her support suffragette and pay equity of the suffragette and pay equity movements.education.” movements. She argued that education should be liberal, rather than designed to train students for jobs. Her strong ideals put her in conflict with educational For more authorities several times and, in information visit 1905, she and an art teacher bcssa.org Image A-01143 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives. Schooling in British Columbia: 1867-1899 BCSSA Historical Timeline

hen Alexander Robinson Over his career as superintendent, Robinson disregarded his ideas. Wwas appointed as B.C.’s he wrote more than 120,000 He was told to leave his office fourth provincial superintendent letters. Under such a centralized by the following day and was of schools in 1899, he was at the system, every request for informa- granted an allowance of $140 a helm of a golden era in public tion or permission was run past month and three months pay in schooling. For 20 years his impact “The Chief.” A school inspector lieu of notice. Robinson returned was felt far and wide as the once said of his boss, “Ministers to teaching—briefly as principal at province’s population increased of Education came and went but Victoria High School and later as significantly and led to the need Robinson was the Department of an English and Classics teacher for more schools. Education. There was never any in Oak Bay. doubt about that.” He came to the position via a teaching career that included Robinson’s reign came to an end being the principal of Vancouver in 1919; he was dismissed by the High School. His chief rival for minister of education who felt the job was the principal of New Westminster High School—a man with supposedly superior qualifications. Despite a public “He had tremendous outcry, the government stood by influence and power its choice and Robinson ruled with over teachers and school an iron fist for 20 years. He had trustees, and served eight tremendous influence and power premiers and 16 ministers over teachers and school trustees, of education.” and served eight premiers and 16 ministers of education. During his six-day work week, Robinson would typically write For more 20 to 30 letters a day; at times he information visit signed nearly 100 letters a day. bcssa.org

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S.J. Willis was a powerful figure the “new education.” At the time, one group of 14 districts became in B.C.’s schools; he was able to it was one of the most thorough the Central Peace region. govern the province’s educational and influential examinations of a Willis retired in 1946. He left a affairs with little political oversight. Canadian educational system. system where the provincial He began his administrative career The first serious consolidation government’s influence was in 1908 when he was appointed of rural school territories in B.C. beginning to wane… a ruling as the principal of Victoria High also happened under Willis’ class that was to come increas- School, described as “the jewel in purview. Small school districts ingly under siege. the Empire’s educational crown.” had often been criticized for their In 1919, he became the provin- inefficiencies. In the 1930s, the cial superintendent of schools, school inspector for the Peace effectively trading places with his Region originally recommended predecessor, Alexander Robin- 39 districts be amalgamated into son. Willis was later called on to four administrative units. In 1934, investigate the administration of the school under Robinson’s leadership, which ultimately led to a request for the latter’s resignation in 1921. “...he was appointed as the principal of Victoria Willis was in charge when the High School, described as government called for a commission of inquiry into the provincial “the jewel in the Empire’s school system and J.H. Putman educational crown.” and G.W. Weir’s Survey of the School System was presented to him in 1925. This report introduced progressive ideas about For more schooling and was widely known information visit to teachers and administrators as bcssa.org

Image I-51579 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives. Schooling in British Columbia: 1900-1914 BCSSA Historical Timeline

The Vancouver Provincial Normal Calls are expressed about the need to School is established. amalgamate rural school districts. 1901 1903

S.J. Willis is appointed as principal of Victoria The British Columbia High School. He is later a superintendent School Trustees and deputy minister of education. Association is formed. 1908 1905

Margaret Strong is appointed as a J.B. DeLong begins principal in New Westminster: she later his long career as a becomes our first female school inspector. school inspector. 1911 1913

The First World War breaks out in Europe. Inspiring, developing bcssa.org & supporting senior 1914 leadership in public education for over 100 years. Schooling in British Columbia: 1900-1914 Our first—and only—female school inspector

argaret Strong was an provincial inspector to whom she continued her career in education. Mexceptional woman: bright was accountable. She resigned She earned respect and recogni- and gifted. Her career choice following a dispute over the tion for her social and educational of teaching was not unusual for placement and advancement research and worked with the the time and, in 1911, she came of pupils in the district’s various League of Nations as well as the west and immediately assumed schools and classrooms. Rockefeller Foundation. the position as principal of New Of her resignation, Strong was Westminster’s Girls School (with quoted in the British Columbian an enrollment of 354 girls and 133 as saying, “I could throw my hat up boys). More than 50 staff taught with joy at the way I am leaving in the city at that time; Strong was the city schools.” She returned to one of only three with a university her home province of Ontario and education. In 1912, the Royal City’s school trustees requested their own senior school officer separate “She held the post from the provincial appointee until 1915 and was the and Strong became the city’s first municipal inspector a year later. only woman to have such She was, in effect, Canada’s first a senior leadership role female school superintendent. in our province’s school She held the post until 1915 and system until the 1970s.” was the only woman to have such a senior leadership role in our province’s school system until the 1970s. For more Early on in her role as an inspector, information visit Strong came into conflict with the bcssa.org

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The Vancouver Provincial Normal Calls are expressed about the need to School is established. amalgamate rural school districts. 1901 1903

S.J. Willis is appointed as principal of Victoria The British Columbia High School. He is later a superintendent School Trustees and deputy minister of education. Association is formed. 1908 1905

Margaret Strong is appointed as a J.B. DeLong begins principal in New Westminster: she later his long career as a becomes our first female school inspector. school inspector. 1911 1913

The First World War breaks out in Europe. Inspiring, developing bcssa.org & supporting senior 1914 leadership in public education for over 100 years. Schooling in British Columbia: 1914-1939 Introducing progressive ideas about schooling

B.C.’s most influential study more progressive: more American “[School] may turn out scholars. of provincial schooling in the in style and practice. The report It may produce successful men twentieth century was released in also introduced the idea of large- of business. It may educate for 1925. Authored by J. H. Putman, scale intelligence tests. culture. It may enable its graduates the senior inspector of schools to make a better living. These and Weir went on to become minister in Ottawa, and UBC professor other things it may do, but the real of education in 1933. He was likely of education George Weir, the test of its accomplishments is the the first provincial cabinet minister Survey of the School System kind of citizen it produces.” to comprehend the role education reviewed the education system has in shaping a government’s of the time and made several larger social agenda. In a 1946 recommendations for improve- issue of British Columbia Schools, ment. Most of its progressive Weir wrote: ideas came from the United States and were eventually adopted. The report was widely known to teachers and administrators as the “new education.” “In the post-survey The 556-page document was world, education and the commissioned by the provincial method of instruction education minister and superin- became more progressive: tendent in 1924. It emphasized more American in style that the role of the school system and practice.” is to produce good citizens. Prior to the report, our province’s curriculum and instruction was largely influenced by British stan- dards: a classical education. In the For more post-survey world, education and information visit the method of instruction became bcssa.org

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Several schools are turned into temporary The First World War The Victoria Provincial hospitals during the influenza pandemic breaks out in Europe. Normal School opens. known as the Spanish flu. 1914 1915 1918

B.C.’s Education Office is J.H. Putman and G.W. Weir’s The British Columbia recognized as a “depart- survey of provincial schools Teachers’ Federation is ment” of government. is published. founded. 1920 1925 1919

Lottie Bowron is The Wall Street Crash signals appointed as a women’s the beginning of the 10-year There are 830 school welfare officer. Great Depression. districts in B.C. 1928 1929 1932

The start H.B. King is appointed technical advisor of World to the minister of education. In 1939 he War II. is appointed chief inspector of schools. Inspiring, developing bcssa.org & supporting senior 1939 1935 leadership in public education for over 100 years.

Image D-00526 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives. Schooling in British Columbia: 1914-1939 Supporting school mistresses in rural schools

y the 1920s, many young territory ever assigned to a teachers and the conditions of Bwomen were teaching in single inspector in all of Canada. rural schools in the 1930s. These B.C.’s schools. In rural areas, Bowron’s role was also unique chronicle the challenges for school these women were often isolated in that it was the only time the mistresses made worse by the and vulnerable. Following a public provincial government intervened Great Depression. She visited outcry to improve the safety of directly in the personal lives of hundreds of women, wrote many female teachers, Lottie Bowron its teachers to protect them from of them encouraging letters,and was appointed as the province’s the local school boards that often sent small gifts of art supplies rural teachers’ welfare officer employed them. or books. in 1928. Bowron provided many reports Bowron was the former personal about the living conditions of secretary to Premier Richard McBride. Her newly created position was equivalent to a provincial school inspector; she was the first and only woman “She visited hundreds of to hold such a rank since the women, wrote many of creation of the Education Office in 1872. She was also the first and them encouraging letters, only non-educator to become a and often sent small gifts of provincial inspector. art supplies or books.” Unlike her colleagues who were responsible for supervising a specific geographical area, Bowron was accountable for For more the care of all women teachers information visit in rural schools throughout B.C. Hers was the largest educational bcssa.org

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Lottie Bowron is The Wall Street Crash signals appointed as a women’s the beginning of the 10-year There are 830 school welfare officer. Great Depression. districts in B.C. 1928 1929 1932

ith our province’s vast ated into four administrative units; administrative efficiencies as Wgeography and the many one group of 14 districts became well as greater equality between rural communities that developed the Central Peace region. schools. Two of the conse- in isolation, the number of British quences were the rise of more The post-war boom period ushered Columbian school districts grew powerful school boards and in a period of growth for B.C.’s to over 800 by the 1940s. Calls influential trustee associations schools. Immigration and the baby for consolidation were raised as that demanded greater control boom created a need for more early as the late 1800s and rural over their districts’ schools. schools and led to a severe teacher schools especially were criticized shortage. In the midst of these for their inefficient operations. and other factors, the province’s Local communities went to great 800-plus school districts were lengths to keep their schools combined into 89 larger districts open, even when attendance in the 1946-47 school year. This dipped well below the minimum move was designed to create number of pupils required. Inequities between rural and urban schools also became more pronounced. “Calls for consolidation Demands to amalgamate rural were raised as early districts continued to be expressed as the late 1800s and intermittently in the early 1900s and were taken seriously by rural schools especially J. H. Putman and George Weir were criticized for their in their influential school survey inefficient operations.” published in 1925. However, the first consolidation of rural school territories in B.C. did not happen until 1934. The school inspector For more for the Peace Region recom- information visit mended 39 districts be amalgam- bcssa.org Image I-22644 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives. Schooling in British Columbia: 1939-1972 BCSSA Historical Timeline

B.C.’s 800+ school The start Japanese-Canadian The Second districts are consoli- First Nations in B.C. of World families in B.C. are moved World War dated into 89 larger receive the right to vote War II. to internment camps. ends. districts. in provincial elections. 1939 1942 1945 1946-47 1949

The British Columbia Royal The position of school inspector is The Soviet Union Commission on Education is released. replaced by government- launches the Residential schools begin to close. appointed district superintendents. Sputnik satellite. 1960 1958 1957

An article in The B.C. Frank Levirs is made Frances Fleming becomes the first Teacher calls for provisions superintendent of female administrator in a Vancouver for maternity leave. education. secondary school. 1963 1965 1969

The provincial education The BCTF uses its budget equals the entire resources to help provincial budget of nine bcssa.org elect the NDP. years earlier. Inspiring, developing 1972 & supporting senior 1970-71 leadership in public education for over 100 years. Schooling in British Columbia: 1939-1972 Moving mountains and changing history: Frank Calder

As a young child, Frank Calder’s person to be elected to any legisla- decision that bears his name: destiny was foretold. He was ture in Canada as well as the first Calder vs. Attorney General of presented to a gathering of Elders appointed as a minister. Calder was British Columbia. The case, which discussing the “immovable moun- an MLA for 26 years. was argued by Thomas Berger, tain”: Nisga’a land claims. There, established for the first time that Shortly after being elected, Calder the story is told, Chief Nagwa’un Aboriginal title exists in modern started working towards re-open- famously stated, “This boy is going Canadian law. The decision had ing land claim discussions and to learn the laws of the k’amksiiwaa, national and international ramifi- establishing treaties. In addition the white people. And when he cations and served as the basis of to serving as an MLA, he was the comes home, he’s going to move B.C.’s Nisga’a Treaty—our province’s first president of the Nisga’a Tribal the mountain.” first modern treaty. Council that was formed in 1955. Calder was sent away to the Calder held that position for 20 years. Coqualeetza Residential School in Calder is most famous for the 1973 Sardis when he was seven years Supreme Court of Canada old, returning to the Nass Valley every summer to fish with his father or work in the cannery. He went on to become the first status Indian to “This boy is going to study at Chilliwack High School and learn the laws of the broke through another glass ceiling as the first status Indian to attend k’amksiiwaa, the white UBC. He graduated from theologi- people. And when he cal college in 1946 but decided not comes home, he’s going to pursue a religious calling. to move the mountain.” He chose, instead, politics. In 1949—the same year that Indige- nous people in B.C. received the For more right to vote in provincial elections information visit —Calder was elected to the legislature. He was the first Indigenous bcssa.org

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hile women have been part the board did not want married being a student herself, Fleming Wof our province’s education women on staff. She resigned. was appointed vice principal at system since its beginning, they Fleming’s family relocated often, Magee Secondary, thus becoming have also faced many more following her husband’s career. Vancouver’s first female high barriers than their male counter- When they returned to Burnaby school administrator. She went on parts. Frances Fleming was a in 1948, she was a long-term to become a school superinten- trailblazer whose career included substitute in Vancouver and dent in Quesnel; her pioneering many firsts for women including was offered a one-year contract work earned her the Order of the first female administrator in a to teach special education. For British Columbia and a UBC Vancouver secondary school and the next six years, she received Alumni Award of Distinction. our first female provincial school excellent reports in May, was fired superintendent. in June, and rehired in August. Fleming gradated from Vancou- This workaround was necessary ver Normal School in 1932 but given the policy against hiring was unable to find work in her married women. field—at the time there were 750 After several years that alter- out-of-work teachers in B.C. She nated between teaching and was a mother of three living in Stave Falls in 1944 when the local school board offered her a position. Despite receiving excellent “Frances Fleming reviews, Fleming was given a was a trailblazer letter of dismissal because “the whose career boys would be back from war and included many taking over their own jobs.” firsts for women...” She was later invited to start a special class at Kingsway West in Burnaby. Fleming again received For more a glowing report but, when she information visit inquired about tenure, was told bcssa.org Schooling in British Columbia: 1939-1972 BCSSA Historical Timeline

The provincial education The BCTF uses its budget equals the entire resources to help provincial budget of nine bcssa.org elect the NDP. years earlier. Inspiring, developing 1972 & supporting senior 1970-71 leadership in public education for over 100 years. Schooling in British Columbia: 1972-2010 Superintendents become local school district employees

he 1972 provincial election leaders of their choice. School appoint a local superintendent of Tsaw the BC Teachers Federa- superintendents began leaving schools. It ushered in a turbulent tion use its resources to help elect the provincial civil service to period of adjustment. Over the the NDP, with former teacher and become employees of local next decade, close to half of the school board trustee Eileen Dailly districts. Financial compensation province’s 129 school superinten- appointed the minister of educa- was a deciding factor for many; dents left their positions for other tion. It was a defining moment however, there was less security jobs in education in and and marked a division between at the local level. outside B.C. the 100-year-old tradition of By 1980, the School Act Regula- centralized control and a new, tions were amended to permit all devolved style of governing. The school boards with enrollment consequences were enormous for of more than 250 students to teachers, administrators, students, and parents.

The roots of decentralization began with the amalgamation of school districts in the 1940s. “It was a defining moment That led to more powerful school and marked a division boards and trustees who wanted between the 100-year-old more control over their schools. tradition of centralized The social activism of the 1960s control and a new, devolved compounded the desire for individual rights and freedoms. style of governing. ” The time was ripe to transfer responsibility to a more local level of authority.

In 1974 the government granted For more seven of the province’s 75 school information visit districts permission to hire school bcssa.org

Image I-32450 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives. Inspiring, developing & supporting senior Schooling in British Columbia: 1972-2010 leadership in public education for over 100 years. BCSSA Historical Timeline bcssa.org

The BCTF uses The government grants seven The Nisga’a The provincial The special program branch of the its resources to of the province’s 75 school School government develops Ministry of Education is reorganized help elect the districts permission to hire District is a learning assessment to facilitate disabled children being NDP. school leaders of their choice. created. program. integrated into schools. 1972 1974 1975 1977 1978

A Royal Commission on Education Minister Jack The School Act Regulations are amended Education produces its Heinrich establishes a Provincial to permit all school boards with enrollment report: A Legacy provincial school review exams are of more than 250 students to appoint a for Learners. committee. re-introduced. local superintendent of schools. 1988 1985 1984 1980

The government A First Nations Education Action Plan envi- launches an ambitious The last of the provin- The Year 2000 sions the development and implementation school reform initiative: cially employed district program is of sustainable education systems under the the Year 2000 program. superintendents retires. cancelled. full control and jurisdiction of First Nations. 1989 1994 1995 2005

The Assembly of First The B.C. Ministry of Education, the Vancouver School The Assembly of First Nations Nations launches a Board, UBC, the Musqueam Nation, the Métis Nation, calls on the federal government national call to action Coast Salish Nations, and the Urban Aboriginal People to address the First Nations’ on education. sign the Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement. education crisis. 2010 2009 2006 Schooling in British Columbia: 1939-1972 The creation of the Nisga’a School District

On the heels of the Supreme The Nisga’a School Board has committed to improving the Court of Canada’s Calder Deci- four Nisga’a members (each education system for learners sion in 1973 that established representing a Nisga’a village) of all ages. Aboriginal title, Indigenous and one non-Nisga’a member. Huxwdii adigwil yukwhl siwilaak- peoples in B.C. began seeking The Nisga’a Lisims Government sim’: learning is a way of life. greater control over many works with the school district to aspects of their lives including foster and protect the Nisga’a education. The first step towards language and culture and is this was the creation of the Nisga’a School District in the Nass Valley on January 1, 1975.

Today the region’s publicly “The Nisga’a School funded schools include three District is unique in that elementary and one elementary all students are from the and secondary school in Kincolith, Nisga’a Nation and share Greenville, Gitwinksilkw, and the same language Aiyansh. The Nisga’a School and culture. ” District is unique in that all students are from the Nisga’a Nation and share the same language and culture. Students learn to become fluent Nisga’a speakers and focus on reflecting For more the welcoming nature of the information visit Nisga’a people and culture. bcssa.org Inspiring, developing & supporting senior Schooling in British Columbia: 1972-2010 leadership in public education for over 100 years. BCSSA Historical Timeline bcssa.org