Mahone Bay Old School_A Life and Times_Bob Sayer

Pity the teachers in the younger age groups, especially primary/one [49 students] and
VI and VII [45 students]!
Hirtle identified ‘approximately 12 students who are definitely retarded [not
politically incorrect term in those days] or behind the group as a whole,’ And at that
time there were not the special needs staff of the present era. Students with learning
problems had a tough time and usually dropped out.
His TABLE IX shows repeats and failures
Emmigration from the Town
‘I will use my own High School as an example....Out of approximately 26 students in
Grade XI and XII[1943], there are only about one third remaining at home.’
Physical Training and Sports
‘There is practically no physical training program or community centre for
young people to benefit from. There are no coaches in the town to train them. ……….
What is needed in the school in particular...is a physical education
program...to give those really interested in sport as well as all others the training
necessary for competition and solid body building.
What chance do the present students of Mahone Bay to develop along the
line of athletics?...comparatively small...there is a need for facilities and adequate
coaching. In such sports as hockey, basketball, track and field etc. Mahone Bay youth
do not have an equal opportunity that the youth of other towns have.’
Books and Library
‘ The lack of good books is a grave handicap to any community, especially
the school...I believe that the library facilities are below a reasonable standard in
the school. An effort should be made through donations and purchase to bolster the
present library collection.’
• He wrote, ‘Grades XI1 and X11 are the only grades.....where the standard of the
school can be graded with other schools in the province...It appears to be on the weak
side....Out of the 17 pupils in grade XI, there were 7 failures, or over 41%, and 2
partials.[p41-2].
• Attendance was good, with the school average % monthly attendance being better
than the average provincial figure of 91.7% Bill Hirtle made some useful general
observations.
Home and School
‘The Home and School Association, established some five years ago, has
done much to improve the school and relations between the home and school. The
organization has been responsible for securing...a piano, loud speaker system, hot
lunches a success.’
The idea of vocational training, dear to the hearts of H.V. Corkum, his school
Board and their immediate successors, made no progress in the 1950 and ‘60s. It was
not until the mid 1970s that home economics and industrial arts were established-thanks
to the leadership and initiative of Home and School.
School Sports in the 1950s: Except Badminton, a
Decline and Fall
Bill Hirtle’s fears about the future school sports were realized.
• There was no physical education specialist and there were no passionately
dedicated coaches on staff. But Bobby Mader put the energy and organization into
badminton.
• The team sports that had been so popular: hockey, basketball and softball,
spluttered and died as school sports.
• Even the old, beloved, tennis court beside the school became a car park and
was not replaced.
• The old Methodist Church Hall sometimes referred to as the Scout Hall or
the old United Hall, on the corner of Maple and Fairmont [where house no. 75
is now] which had housed sporting [badminton and basketball] and social events
[school dances and parties] was in disrepair and pulled down. The next photo shows it
decorated for a 1940s school Valentine’s Dance. Notice the comfy chairs, lighting and
coffee table for the chaperones.
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