Can the student come back to teach the teacher?

My nu'nd wandered: can the child teach the parent?

I spoke of liking students

To the point of loving them,

As the beginning of discipline.

It was something I had learned from her.

As I now recall, I had little else to say.

When she left with the crowd

Her dark eyes darted to me

And a quiet smile played in the shadows of her lips. (35)

There are also teaches from the area who returned to teach its future generations. Arthur MacNeil of St. Peters attended St. Peters North School, and came back to teach the students there from 1952— 1957. Anna Rattray who attended the St. Peters North school recalled that “When Arthur was there, we always had Christmas Concerts. It was held in the Holy Name Hall and it was always well received by the parents and community.” (36) Arthur also taught in the Fortune Road School from 1945— 1946 and the Forest Hill School from 1950—1955.

FUN TIMES:

Old fashioned children’s Christmas entertainment, St. Peters Schoolroom. Monday January 7"), 4 to 7:30 p.m. Fun, frolic, noise, and good cheer for all. First there will be games of the olden time such as musical chairs. blindman’s bluff, tug-of-war, etc., for which prizes will be given. Jack Horner will sell plums from his Christmas pie at 3c each. Simple Simon will catch fish in his mother’s pail at So each. Mother Goose will sell new laid eggs of home-made candy at 50 each. After tea there will be charades and dialogues, comic songs and recitations by the leading talent of the city. Punch and Judy will perform their domestic tragedy. Santa Claus will make his celebrated dog “Rowano” perform many wonderful tricks- Admission 10c; 5 o'clock tea 10c. Children of St. Peters Sunday School

free. (37)

This newspaper clipping from The Examiner in January of 1907 relays the fun of the Christmas concerts that were so eagerly anticipated by the school children every year. For many, the best memories of school revolve around the “Fun Times" they had; the Christmas concerts, picnics, and school fairs are the three events most readily recalled.

Recitations, dialogues and plays, singing, and treats often provided by the Women’s Institutes were the highlights of the annual Christmas concerts. Parents and other members of the community were faithful in their attendance and no doubt enjoyed watching their children perform. The tradition of the annual Christmas Concert is one thing that has been carried on from the one—room school into the Consolidated schools, both

at the elementary and high school level.

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