South Peace Historical Society

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  • 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

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10-007: Dr. J.F.K. English, Inspector of Schools

I was in the Peace River as Inspector of Schools from August 1939 until August 1943. The Peace River was my first inspectorate. At that time there were about 55 schools — 1,500 pupils and some 75 teachers. With the exception of Dawson Creek, Rolla and Fort St. John, all of these schools were under an Official Trustee. This was, of course, the Inspector of Schools who was also known as the Director of Education. The Official Trustee was responsible for the staffing of the schools, janitors, repairs and maintenance, and all the functions that usually fall to School Trustees.

Later in my term of office, Dawson Creek, Rolla and Fort St. John came under the Official Trustee. When I left the whole area was administered by the Director of Education, and this was the case up until about 1945 when the larger administrative units in British Columbia were established and school boards as we know them today came into being. My office was located in the new Government building at Pouce Coupe. About the time I came to the Peace River a Sudeten community was founded by the C.P.R. colonization branch, and I became responsible for the education of the children of our Sudeten citizens.

My experience in the Peace River was very challenging and interesting. The Alaska Highway was started and completed during the four years I was there and this created some problems because of costs. However, we managed quite well and since that time some fine schools have been built in Dawson Creek and at other points in the Peace River.

« 10-006: The Struggle to Get Schools

10-008: Beginning of Schools in the Peace River District »

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