Schools of Sunny Bank

Early Gaspesian families had a hard struggle to merely survive and life was filled with daily chores for young and old. Therefore, very few people had the opportunity to learn to read and write. However, the desire for education was strong, so in the early 1800's Gaspesians requested and received permission to build their first schools. One was constructed near the present St. Paul's Church, in Gaspe. During the next half century most surrounding communities built one-room school-houses in which students were taught the basics. A chosen few were able to continue beyond grade 6 and go to high school, which in the early days was only available in Quebec City. Even in the 1930's high school was reserved for the privileged few whose parents could afford to pay their room and board. Traveling to and from Gaspe, although only a ten minute drive today, was out of the question on a daily basis at that time.

Records show that as early as the 1820’s some children from York went "across the river," to attend a school under the jurisdiction of the Royal Institute for the Advancement of Learning, taught in Wakeham by John Eden. Some schooling was provided in private homes during the mid-1800’s, independent of the government educational system. Many children learned to read and write, and all learned the farming and lumbering skills necessary for survival.

Early in the 1860’s the York School Commission was formed. School was being taught in York Center around 1863 in the home of Benjamin Annett, the house presently owned by Francis Annett. Later, children were taught in an "old well-house" on the property of William Patterson, now owned by Harry Stewart. These schools were situated about two or three miles east of Sunny Bank.

Because of its size, York was divided into school house divisions number 1 and 2. In Sunny Bank school began about 1869, and was taught by Annabella Boyle in the home of Edmund Patterson. She taught there for 3 years until, in 1872, the first Sunny Bank school-house was constructed on the site of the apartment building presently owned by Gerard LaPierre. Miss Boyle continued to teach there until 1876.

The original one room school-house proved insufficient by 1908, when it was decided at a public meeting that the increased number of children in the division warranted changes. Because of the exploding population of the western portion of Sunny Bank, it was decided to construct a third school...

Horse Drawn "School Bus," driven by Mr. Henry Mullin
photo by Mrs. Edie Mullin

Our educational system has undergone many changes. At that time each room contained several classes and frequently had more than thirty students. Pupils learned to work together, with the older ones helping the younger ones. Books were scarce, and the avid readers covered the entire school library by grade four or five. Seldom were there enough textbooks to go around, and in the earlier years, slates were used for arithmetic and other drills. There were no computers, activity days, professional days, storm days, and certainly no year end trips. School went from nine to four, and those who weren’t interested in attending were simply sent home. As more money became available, scribblers and pencils came into common use, and notes were given by the teacher. Discipline was severe, with the strap being used freely to deter disruptive behavior. Games such as "prisoner's base" and "king's castle", dominated the school yard at recess and noon...

Gaspe High School

For complete text of the book:
"Sunny Bank, Our Ancestral Home"
CLICK HERE

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