MEMORIES
(The following reminiscences were gathered from former pupils and teachers of the Mayne Island School.)
1 taught in the Mayne Island school as a substitute teacher for two months only, May and June of 1943. I was visiting my sister, Mrs. Norah Garrick, and my husband's parents, Mr. and Mrs, William Deacon, and was asked to teach the two months there. It was an old building— one classroom, and a cloak room, desks, a stove, a bucket for drinking water, and two outhouses. I remember the children, but not all of them by name. Kenneth Deacon was there, some Aitken children, and two little girls whose surname I believe was Worthington.
- Dorothy Deacon
I often think back about the teachers we had, especially old Col. Fawkes. He walked over three miles, even in the snow, to teach us art, and would read from the Bible a bit to us.
- Dick Foster
My great grandmother, Mrs. Annie Monk, who died in Portland, Ore., at age 97 years in 1940, taught school on Mayne Island some time in the 1882-1884 period.
In 1935 the Vancouver Sun had an article about Annie Monk celebrating her 92nd birthday, and had the following report: "A letter from a pupil whom she had taught 53 years ago, and who is himself 68, was one of the happiest incidents which the pioneer school teacher enjoyed on the 92nd anniversary of her birthday. The pupil was (James) Bennett, an oldtimer on Mayne Island, where Mrs. Honk taught school in 1883."
- Elden W. Kier
(great grandson of
Mayne Island's
first school teacher, Annie Monk)
I was a pupil at the Mayne Island school for two years, and was twelve years old when we came to Mayne Island from Crofton. My sister was thirteen and a half years old. We lived at Wathla, and of course knew the various people in the neighbourhood, and I remember the Nicholson children, and Joan, Peter and Harry Georgeson, also the Davids.
- Muriel Page
(Muriel Page, nee Cayzer, lived on Mayne Island ca. 1905)
When I was going to school way back in 1916, I met Wilbert Deacon at the forks of the road in pouring rain in a cotton shirt, no coat. He carried my books while I held the umbrella.
Snap the whip was popular. The anchor man, Gordon McDonald, would stop and swing the line; we small girls (Annie DeRousie and myself) on the end couldn't run fast enough so ended up head-over-heels in the fence corner!
Vera Green (nee Robson)
I attended the school between 1925 and 1927. One lunch hour a few of us were down at the well. In the fields a fair distance away was a bull, pawing the ground and mooing. We imitated him. He heard us and came running in our direction. The fact that he was wearing a blindfold didn't slow him down at all, We ran for the school. The bell had rung. We had just time to march in and close the door before his noisy arrival.
- Rosemary Holme (nee Coates)
I had such a good friend who really helped me if I had troubles and needed someone to talk to in my pal Phyllis Odberg. I often think of her and what it meant to have a good pal like she was at school. My favorite teacher was Ruby Thompson—so kind and understanding.
- Gertrude, Britton (nee Aitken)
I recall my happiest moments were getting out of school for recess and lunch, and square dancing in the old shed up on the hill. Roy Aitken played the mouth organ for all the old-time dances that we liked so much.
My worst was in 1921, having at the age of thirteen to go to New Westminster to write my grade eight exams. That one I shall never forget, and I still think of it often—had not been off the island before. I did pass, believe it ,or not. Sure had horseshoes somewhere, because as I recall I didn’t know if I was on foot or on horseback.
Kathleen Garrick
My fondest memories were during my first few years when Mrs. Goodyear was the teacher. Maybe it was because she was so motherly. Another memory was of Gordon McDonald protecting we small ones from all the other big boys.
- Jessie Copeland (nee Robson)
Phyllis Odberg and Gordon Robson would be sent to stand face in corner of the front school room for the mischief they had done. Each would sneak a peek at the other, then giggle.
Gordon Robson
It is 59 years since I took up my first teaching appointment at Mayne, as a graduate from the Vancouver Normal School. I have pleasant memories of my three years at Mayne, 1924-1927. There's one thing comes to mind of those early days because it made such an impression on me. I asked the School Board for foolscap, my mind on future tests. The answer I got was, "What's that?" Needless to say, I bought it myself—as well as a pencil sharpener. The children of their own accord repaid me for that to my surprise.
Enid R. Robson (nee Berry)
My fondest memories were the dances we used to have at recess and noon in the old building near the school.
We learned to waltz and square dance at an early age. My first day at school was scary till Lillian Bennett took me under her wing with, "Come here you scared little thing. I know how you feel." I always treasured her friendship till a few years ago when she passed away.
Annie DeRousie (nee Aitken)
Ruby Thompson chose some of the better writers to coach for the McLean's Writing Certificate. We stayed in after school for weeks, practicing joining f's and g's loops on"the line, and perfect o's. My fingers used to be so sore on the walk home. Yes, we got the certificates!
- Edith Higginbottom (nee Bennett)
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