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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.

Bradford High School, Form 1. Back Row, from left to right: Helen Clark, Marjorie Seim, May Parks, Zelda Fox, Mabel Andrews, Miss Bertha Collins (Teacher), Anne Watt, Mamie Catania, Donna Archer, Constance Ward, Ruth Cerswell. Third Row: Miss Anna O'Neil (Teacher), Gwen Ward, Grace Brown, Kathleen Wilsone, Audrey Courtney, Mr. E.J. Keenan (Principal), Evelyn Thorpe, Mary Loblaw, Wilma Slack, Bertha Berry, Miss Marion George (Teacher). Second Row: Aubrey Belfry, Elgin Connell, Don Wilson, Victor Cummings, Bruno Cavallo, James Darling, Allan Gould, Keith Kilkenny. Front Row: Harold Knibbe, Earl Gray, Bryon Loblaw, Gordon Ogilvie, Errol Godwin, Charles Nesbitt.

Bradford High School Front Row: Herb. Taylor, Mac Wilson, Keith Faris, Beverly Hartman, Ron Sutherland. Second Row: Jessie Melbourne, Marg. Gowland, Jim Worfolk, Clarence Cook, Homer Henbest, George Hartman, John Clubine. Third Row: Miss O'Neil, Audrey Bales, Blossom Dales, Amelia Hambly, Dorothy Faris, Principal E.J. Keenan, Ruby Belfry, Janet Pringle, Alma West, Dorothy Stone, Connie Bateman, Miss George. Fourth Row: Ruth Roberts, Dorothy Reeves, Irene Archibald, Gladwyn Burton, Kathryn Hambly, Miss Bertha Collins, Marjory Wilson, Amy Archer, Mae Madill, Valerie White, Zella Gardener.

Photograph students in Form I standing on the steps outside of Bradford High School on November 5, 1919.

Teachers (L-R): Mr. Charles W. Harrison, Miss E. Henry, Miss Jessie Curry

First Row (L-R): Cedric Hipwell, Norman Plant, Lyland Sturgeon, Emmerson Spence, Russel Bowles, Max Morris

Second Row (L-R): Vivian Bowles, Alberta Stoddart, Elizabeth Evans, Laura Kneeshaw, Pearl Metcalfe, Kathleen MacLean

Third Row (L-R): Kathleen Collings, Ruby Metcalfe, Dorothy Bell, Joyce Miller, Constance Nolan

Fourth Row (L-R): Kenneth Cummings, Charlie Brown, Howard Bowser (also written as Bowsher), Jim Webb

Photograph of Pinkerton Schoolhouse students. Exact date of photograph unknown.

"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. On 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. 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."

Photograph of Bradford High School students in Room 4 & 5, 1927. The back of the photograph lists names of students and is signed by students in the photo.

Fourth Row (L-R): Aleta Gould, Eileen Haldane-Wilson, Gladys Sheldon, Margaret Neilly, Florence Clark, Bertha Collins, Grace Kingsley, Marion Kneeshaw, Lyall Hartman, Gladys Moriarty, Emily McDonald
Third Row (L-R): Anna O'Neil, Ida Day, Rae Green, Nella McLean, Peg Davey, E. J. Keenan, Aileen Nolan, Marion Evans, Margaret Keenan, Julia Norfolk, Marion George

Second Row (L-R): Brock Evans, Keith Armstrong, Ellis Pringle, Norman Collings, Oliver Gould

First Row (L-R): Aubrey Stewart, Willard Stewart, Oliver Connell, Joe Miller, Billy Willson, Bert Culbert

"Miss Barbara Stewart, former Bradford public school teacher, has been awarded the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal. Miss Stewart, who retired last year after 36 years of teaching, said from her Markham home Friday, "I don't know how I got it or who recommended me. It came by registered mail last month and it was a complete surprise." She joins Bradford lawyer Charles Evans as a recipient of the medal, awarded to persons who have made outstanding contributions to the community. She said she had just returned from a trip to Germany, and would soon go back to Bradford public school for a day to tell the students about her trip. As for retirement, "I'm just loving every bit of it.""