Nanaimo School District, 1872

Excerpt from the First Annual Report on the Public Schools in the Province of British Columbia (1872), written by Superintendent of Education John Jessop in July 1872.

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NANAIMO SCHOOL DISTRICT.—Formed 30^th July, 1870. Boundaries:—"All that piece of land included within a circle having a radius of three miles from the Court House."

A school was established, however, as before stated, in 1855. Teacher, Mr. C. N. Young, is certificated by the Board. Appointed June 7^th; salary, $75 per month. A lady teacher, Miss Mahood*, has recently been appointed to take charge of the girls’ department; salary, $60 per month. Her duties will begin as soon as the new school house about to be erected can be made ready for pupils. [*Since transferred to Girls' Department, Victoria, as Assistant.]

Visited school on 2^nd July. School commenced with 10 pupils. Kept dropping in till 26 arrived. Eleven boys and fifteen girls. Children somewhat disorderly, and but little attention paid to teacher. Discipline and arrangement of studies very deficient. Reading and spelling not creditable. For want of books a large class, not far enough advanced for Third Reader, were reading in the Fifth. Writing, particularly girls’, not at all good. Arithmetic behind what it ought to be. Geography and Grammar unsatisfactory. School-room of the worst possible description. But little accommodation for writing. Seats too high, and consequently uncomfortable. Number of children of school age in and about Nanaimo, as nearly as can be ascertained, 175.