MARSHFIELD SCHOOL

In Times Past

Records indicate that one of the earliest schools built on PEI was located at the south end of the Suffolk Road and was referred to as the school at St. Peter ’5 Road.

1838 - St. Peters Road School was included in the annual report to the Island Legislature. The teacher was Robert Robertson and the school was reported to be among the six best schools on the Island by John McNeil, Visitor of District Schools for PEI. Enrollment was 45. Robert Robertson remained as teacher until 1860 and from all reports was an exceptional teacher. He lived in the area of the old Baptist Church. Robert Robertson died in 1873 at age 76 and is buried in the Five Mile House Burying Ground in Marshfield. He was a proud native of Dunkeld, Scotland who made a great contribution to early education in Marshfield.

Marshfield School before it was moved

northward across the St. Peters Rd.

1860-1865 - Teachers listed were Robert McEwen and James MacLeod.

1862 — The school was first reported as Marshfield School. A regulation was made at this time in history that the school was to be placed in the center of the district. Hence, a school was built near the Haythome property adjacent to the St. Peter’s Road. Edward C. and Robert P. Haythome, who

established “Marshfield Farm”, took a great interest in the settlement so the ratepayers named the school in honour of them. Robert erected a “splendid” fence around the school property and painted it in “first class style” to show his appreciation.

1865-1873 — Robert Robertson returned to complete his extended teaching career.

1873-1890 - Teachers listed were: Charlotte Swan, J.A. Cameron, Charles Henry, E. Amos, C.H. (Caleb) Schurman, Nettie MacPhail, and John Balderson.

Until this time, the school year began on July lst, with several weeks holidays in spring and fall for seeding and gathering crops. In 1890, the Chief Superintendant of Education, J .A. Nicholson, proclaimed to the Legislative Assembly that “this Island is the only place in the Dominion of Canada and indeed in the civilized world with such a ridiculous policy.”

His theory being that attendance was low and learning very “poorly” during the heat of the summer. It is not known if he was successful in having this policy changed at that time. 1891— 1900 — Teachers: Robert R. Morson, Lemual F. Robertson, J. Herbert Morson, Alice Beers, Katie Morson. School report: En- rollment 46, average attendance 30. “The work being done here is very satisfactory. Teachers and pupils are working with zeal, which is a sure harbinger of success. The classrooms are very well furnished with desks, blackboards and maps.” Pupil enrollment during the late 1800’s was high, but average attendance was much lower, and resulted in a penalty for non-attendance, which in some cases equalled the tax assessment (lxé year $3.54). Property values for major farms in the 1890-1920 period was $2,000 - $3,000 range.

Courtesy of Doris Wood