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.