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Bond Head Public School. Teacher was Miss Taylor. Back of photo reads, "Mrs. Kathleen Watt, 1580 Bathurst St. Apt. 23, Toronto." Kathleen Smith Watt is in the back row. Annie Smith Tomlin is the fifth person from the left in the second row.

S.S. #5, Bond Head School, 1934. Teacher was Edna Ball.
Back Row, left to right: Elmer Barker, Unknown, ? Copeland, Edna Ball (teacher), Unknown, Lorne Barker.
Middle Row: Bill Murray, Al Harvey, Dorothy Copeland, Paddy Clarington, Eileen Dixon, Dewitt Bentley, Unknown, Art Webb.
Front Row: Herb Barker, Jack Breedon, Lorna Dixon, Kathleen Clarington, Jim Bentley, Jean Bannerman, Freddy Switzer.

The first S.S. #6 School was moved to the Church farm where it functioned as a barn until it was obtained by the Chambers family and moved to Bond Head where it was restored and today is used as a carpentry shop operated by the family.

S. S. # 12, Coulson's Hill, 1953.
Back Row (l-r): Paul Kneeshaw, Don Wood, Jack Hambly, (Teacher) Miss. Lois Menery, Doug Devall, Ron Kneeshaw, Larry Edney.
Front Row: Beverly Kneeshaw, Mary Lou Kneeshaw, Jean Sturgeon, David Hambly, Bob Devall, Bob Hambly, James Kneeshaw, Laurie Wood.

S.S. #7 School

Iva Jeffery and Marion English in front of S.S. #3 in West Gwillimbury.

The old Hollows schoolhouse on the Middletown Sideroad of West Gwillimbury. In 1863, this school was built by John Garbutt on his lot (Con. 12, lot 11) so his children would not need to walk as far. The school burned down in 1888 and a new, brick one was erected very soon after by William Bingham (pictured here), with William Tindall as the first teacher, later minister in the Methodist church. The new school opened September 29, 1888 with celebration and games. Like many around it, this school was closed and sold in 1960, though the building later became the Hollow Community Centre. The renovated school house is currently the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Skitteral. The mature maple trees on the property were planted by the students in the photo.

S.S. #14

Retiring After 31 Years Brings Her Mixed Emotions
By John Slykhuis

After 31 years of teaching about 1,000 pupils at Bradford Public School, Barbara Stewart is retiring at the end of this school year. It's a thought that brings a mixture of emotions for her. One one hand is the anticipation of doing the things she has been dreaming of for years: travelling extensively in winter and relaxing at her cottage in Minden in summer. On the other hand: "I'm going to miss the children," she admits, "And the staff too. I have many good friends here." Her last class, she says, is particularly special. "I'm really enjoying this last class. This is one of the nicest classes I've ever taught." This Grade 3 class, like the one she started with in 1941, is small and close, almost like a family. She had 13 children to teach in a small one room schoolhouse in Markham Township that first year, and they represented all eight grades. Five years later, she started at the old Bradford Public School, and she has been here ever since. There are so many memories here for Miss Stewart that it is difficult for her to pick out any one, but one does stand out in her mind. Several years ago, the Lions Club of Bradford brought over a crippled girl from India, Vanita Khubchandi, to have an operation at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto. While here, she attended Miss Stewart's Grade 7 class. "She came every morning in an ambulance on a stretcher. She had to lie flat on her back all the time...The children really took to her." Then the day arrived for her operation. "The biggest thrill was the day she walked back into the classroom. Oh, the children were so excited. They had a party for her." Miss Stewart still hears from her occasionally and reports that she is walking well and has just finished high school. There are other memories too: walking through snow bank in the early years only to find out when she arrives that the school was closed; teaching her favorite subject, music; and taking the girls' choir to Newmarket where it won first prize. She taught a huge 45-pupil Grade 4-5 class a few years ago ("that was the most challenging and the most rewarding"), and watched the growth of children just arrived from other countries ("It was most rewarding to see them learn the language and go on to do well"). And what about the modern school system? "Well, I approve of the new standard of reporting the progress of a child. But I would far sooner talk to the parents. It's better than any report card. You find out so much more about the child." She adds however, "I believe in marking. I don't see how you can teach without it." Home for Miss Stewart is Markham, where she spends every weekend with her family, and until recently she was the organist at the Markham Presbyterian Church. "I retired as the organist last June. I guess you could say I'm tearing up all my roots...no, routines. I'm tearing up all my old routines." Although she is leaving Bradford for good at the end of this school year, Miss Stewart has reassured her friends that she will be coming back often to visit.

Newton Robinson Public School between 1906-1912.
This school possibly began in the 1830s when it was Latimer's Corners, though the structure in the photograph was from 1875 on land purchased from James Downey. It joined with SS #12 of Tecumseth. There was only one teacher by 1920 because of low enrollment. The school was replaced in 1923, though by 1959 students were transferred to the nearby Fisher's Corners School. The Hon. Earl Rowe bought the school (two small buildings at this time) in 1960 and turned it into residence.