against decency and good fellowship. We had no
Christmas pageants but we did have singing, (Moth-
er’s Day we never heard 01‘).

The main contribution one made to the communi—
ty consisted of two things: 1. one welded together, so
to Speak, into a harmonious whole, children from
diverse cultures. Thus, at the Dumoulin, we had
English, Dutch, German, French, French Canadian
and Ukrainian children Speaking four different lan-
guages. Yet we had harmony, cooperation and mutu-
al respect, which is more than could be said of some
of their elders. 2. We had a moral atmosPhere; we
cultivated a spirituai awareness. We Opened and
closed school with the Lord’s prayer. In Spite of our
crude surroundings, there was a reverence that per-
vaded all we did. Really, we were happy together.

We made great use of memory. Thus, every
child, by the time they reached grade five, knew all
the multiplication tables from two through twelve.
We had daily competitions to see who could answer
any combination of the tables when given by the
teacher. We also learned by heart many beautiful
poems, etc. After all it is difficult to teach any sub-
ject, a bit more advanced, to an empty mind so to
speak. Strange, but in those days one never heard of
“Johnny can’t read.”

Note: Leonard Caners BA. , MA. , (French) U.
of Man, M.A. , (education psychology) U. of
Minn. , PhD. , (Modern languages) U. of Ottawa, is
now retired and living in San Diego, California.

 

The Red School.

strive:

FISHER BRANCH SCHOOL #1543
by Augustine Konopetcki >5:

In 1909 the first meeting of the Fisher Branch
School District was held at the residence of Mr. St.
Germaine. The purpose of the meeting was to elect
three trustees to form a Sohool board and to discuss
where a school would be built.

A school site was chosen which was the north
quarter of section 11, township 24, range 2 west,
which is presently owned by Roger Bernier and is
two and a half miles south-west of the village of
Fisher Branch.

School opened in the year 1910. The first school
was called Red School. After being in operation for
just over a year, Red School burned down in the
winter of 1911 (Dec.) The students and teacher were
transferred across the road to a farm occupied by
Adolph Bocek, which is the NE quarter of Section
10, township 24, range 2W.

At a meeting to discuss plans for building a new
school, it was decided to choose a site nearer the 3
location of the track which was in the process of
being built at the time. It would also be a more centrai
location as more people were now settled here. A
four-acre piece of land was purchased from William
Rudyk. This was the NW quarter of sec. 13 , township
24, range 2 W, and is still the present location of the
Fisher Branch Elementary School.

Money to build the school was borrowed by an
issue of debentures. The building contract was awarded

 

 

 

 

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