J.C. Adams: 1923 – 1926
He followed Mr. Althouse as principal of the high school. During this time it was found necessary to build an addition on the school. There were misgivings when it was found that twice the accommodation of the old eight room high school would be needed to properly take care of the collegiate pupils. The Board of Education insisted that the school was a necessity and they seemed the appropriation from the city council to proceed with the work.
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Mr. Althouse followed Mr. Dolan [as principal in the [Oshawa] High School]. During the time he was here great impetus was given to athletic activities. Rugby was the favourite and has continued to be ever since. He excelled as an organizer and teacher. After he left the school in 1923 he became principal of the University of Toronto schools. After several years he was appointed Superintendent of Education for the province of Ontario.
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Mothers interested in home economics (Mrs. H.A. Twilley and different members of the Home and School Club) started classes in sewing at King Street School after 4 p.m. It was for the girls who wished to take it up. Those mothers were anxious to see Home Economics as a subject on the curriculum in much the same way Industrial Arts was started for boys. Mr. Bruce McRoberts,[1] one of the teachers, began classes after 4 p.m. in King Street School. The boys made easily constructed articles with saws, hammers and a few nails – “jackknife carpentry” as one might say. It was also taken up in Centre Street School around the same time. In September 1936, the Board of Education set up a committee to study those projects.
In September 1937, King Street and South Simcoe Street schools set up classes in Grades VII and VIII for instruction in Home Economics and Manual Training (since called Industrial Arts). These were carried on in the classrooms. Miss Etta Holmes was principal of King Street School, at the time, and she aided in the work. In September 1940, the classes were extended to include all eight schools and in 1941, Mrs. Maimie (Archer) Cole and Mr. John Bently were appointed itinerant teachers, visiting the schools.
In September 1942, Home Economics and Industrial Arts Centres were built in Centre Street School with the above teachers assigned there for Grade VIII only. Centre Street school was a bee hive of activity at that time. Children from all the schools in the city came there for instruction. Classes were held part of the day, once a week, for each school.
The sewing machines in use, first of all, for the girls were the treadle ones. These machines were gradually replaced by those that are run by electricity. At first it was a special award of merit for a pupil to be allowed to use the one and only electric machine in the room. In 1942, Miss Eleanor Cronk of South Simcoe Street School was appointed as teacher of sewing and visited the Grade VII classes all over the city.
Finally the boys’ Industrial Arts room in Centre Street School was completely mechanized. In September 1945, Home Economics and Industrial Arts Centres were established in South Simcoe School. In 1948, individual classes were stopped and pupils traveled to one of the shops.
In September 1945, home instruction for children, physically unable to attend classes, was set up at no cost to the taxpayer. Grants from the Department of Education and the Rotary Club covered the cost.
[1] Later killed overseas during World War II.
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Visual Aids
In September 1945, the board of Education purchased one projector and it was taken from school to school to show films.
Library Visits
In September 1946, specified classes in junior grades visited the Public Library on schedule.
Safety Patrols
In September 1955, the first safety patrol was at Ritson Road School on the recommendation of the newly formed Oshawa Safety Council.
The Truant Officer in 1922 was Mr. P.H. Punshon[1] and in 1927 it was Mr. A.L.W. Smith. At last after all those years of discussion truant officers were appointed, at last.
[1] His salary was $100 per year. D. Ross. P. 147
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Physical, Health and Safety Education
Before the year 1929, physical training was taught in a room or in a whole school if the teacher had the space or the time to teach it. Many of them did teach it in the early years.
In September 1929, Mr. E.G. Nichol was employed as teacher of calisthenics. This class was dropped in 1932 because of the depression.
In September 1946, Mr. T.W. Cotie was appointed Vice Principal of Centre Street School with duties half-time as itinerant teacher of Physical Education. In 1947, he was appointed Supervisor of Physical Education. He is still carrying on with that work. In 1952, Mr. J.B. Henderson was appointed Physical Education Supervisor
Religious Instruction
In the year 1943 in September, the ministerial Association began their classes in grade VI and VII, one half-hour period each week.
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Arts and Crafts
Art was taught by Miss Maude Squires, first in 1919. She was an itinerant teacher until she retired in 1925. No teacher has replaced her. Interest is kept alive through an annual prize which she left in her will on her death in 1936. The arts and crafts supervisor in the year 1947 was Miss F. Hart. She conducted classes in the different schools.
Opportunity Classes
These classes were started first in Centre Street School in 1930 with Mr. Robertson as teacher, followed by Miss Rose Capel. In September 1944 a second class was conducted in Simcoe Street South School with Miss F. McLeod as teacher. It was transferred to Albert Street in 1949.
In September 1949, Miss Madeline Kelly was appointed speech correction teacher, to be followed in 1950 as Primary Supervisor in charge of primary reading as well as the speech training.
In September 1966, the first class for the neurologically impaired [was established] in a total of fourteen Opportunity classes in the city which included Primary, Junior, Senior and intermediate.
Miss Rose Capel’s class was moved to Albert Street School in 1942 to make room for Home Economics in Centre Street School. She remained in Albert Street until the time of her retirement. With the closing of Albert Street School in 1967, that class was sent back to Centre Street.
These classes are entirely financed by the Board of Education.
Filed under Schools, Subjects, Teachers and Administrators
The building of separate schools was at a standstill during the depression as was the case in the Protestant schools. In the spring of 1937, it was realized that there were many Catholic pupils in the south end of the city, and possibly a school should be built there. Father Morrow explored the possibilities of a site for such a school and finally the property of Frederick Cowan on Simcoe Street South was purchased. This is now Holy Cross School which was officially opened in 1954. The Cowan home was altered at the time to accommodate the students. The property has undergone many changes since then, owing to increases in attendance. The following alterations have been made: eight rooms were built on the back of the residence, next the residence itself was taken down and eight rooms were built on the same site. Recently several classrooms have been added to bring the school to its present proportions. One major factor in the growth of Holy Cross School is the settling of immigrants from Poland and the Ukraine in the south end of the city.
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