South Peace Historical Society

    • Home
    • About / Contact Us
    • About Dorthea Horton
    • About This Collection
    • Bibliography
    • Brief History of the Peace
    • Credits
    • South Peace Historical Society Archives (External Link)
  • Table of Contents

    • Part 1: First Nations of the Peace River Region
    • Part 2: The Fur Trade Era
    • Part 3: Transportation and Communication
    • Part 4: Old Timers and the Price of Land
    • Part 5: Dawson Creek: The Story of the Community
    • Part 6: Mysteries, Adventures and Indian Legends
    • Part 7: Arts, Crafts and Recreation
    • Part 8: Agriculture
    • Part 9: Church Histories
    • Part 10: Schools
    • Part 11: Health Care
    • Part 12: Industries and Enterprises
    • Part 13: Policing the Peace
    • Part 14: Pouce Coupe, Rolla, and Other South Peace Communities
    • Part 15: Chetwynd and the Fort St. John Area
    • Part 16: The Alberta Peace
    • Part 17: Natural History of the Peace River Region
    • Part 18: Interviews with Old Timers
    • Part 19: Remembering Our Veterans

  •  

10-001: Dr. William W. Plenderleith

In 1933 – 1934 Dr. Plenderleith was inspector of schools for the Peace River District and, in subsequent years, organized the Peace area into single consolidated districts.

Plenderleith, in a document prepared for the Department, explained what he found in the Peace River area. He wrote that when he was appointed to the Peace River inspectorate in 1933 the area had 63 schools for 1,200 pupils.

“The schools themselves were of the crudest possible structure – usually built of logs consisting of four bare walls . . . no ventilation except doors and windows, and no heating arrangements except an unjacketed stove.” He went on to describe crude outdoor lavatory facilities, scarcity of equipment — especially library books — and lack of playground equipment.

On the basis of Plenderleith’s recommendations, the first four larger units of schools were put into operation in 1934.

10-002: School Board Members, 1946 to 1972, School District No. 59 (Peace River South) »

© 2023 South Peace Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.