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My
first school in Manitoba was on the open prairie. It was an oblong frame
building some 18 by 20 feet [5m by 6m]. It was setup on blocks only
and had no banking to keep the wind from sweeping under it. Outside
was covered with plain siding and inside was just plain lath and plaster.
The heating plant was a big box stove that would take a full length
stick of cordwood. It could be heated until red hot, but though near
the centre of the wide aisle between two rows of desks, the big room
could never be evenly heated. I had agreed to teach in this school for
40 dollars per month 480 dollars per year. I arrived in January 1893.
I found that board and lodging cost me 14 dollars per month, leaving
26 dollars for other expenses and savings to pay college expenses next
year. The secretary of the school board went with me the first morning
and I found that I was supposed to make fire at eight o'clock and see
that the children swept and dusted the school room each day.
In
fine weather this was not a great hardship but at 30 or 40 below zero
it was no picnic to walk a mile [1.6 km] then build a fire in a temperature
as cold as it was outside walking about with overcoat and cap on to
keep warm until the pupils arrived just before nine o'clock There were
no storm windows or doors and the pupils could not sit near the walls.
We had two long benches. We could adjust the heat by moving the benches.
The windows rattled in the wind. |