Reference 20.
November 13th, 1924
The Deputy Minister
Department of Education - Ed
Sir (38977)
I received your letter of August 27th, re Mr. Stobart's request. We have held no Board Meeting since, until November 6th, when the following resolution was unanimously passed.
"That the Secretary writes a further letter to the Department emphasizing the importance of this transfer."
In your letter, Sir, you state that Mr. Stobart was asked, by you, to get the written views of the Rexboro District. But, of course, like every other Board, they are dead against the mutilation of their District, and will not write to you, unless you first write to them, requesting their views on this matter.
I may say that Mr. Stobart mentioned the matter to one of the Rexboro Trustees, and he quickly received a vulgar, lewd answer.(end of p. 128)
2) To Education Deputy Minister
In the early part of 1922 you treated us in a different way, when it came to taking away, from our small poor District NE9-54-4-5, and the South 1/2 of 10-54-4-5.
We received no communication from Loyngaard, McCusker and the C.P.R. No, Sir - you wrote to us, asking for our views on the matter. We implored you not to make our strugggling, small District still smaller and begged you not to take these Farms away from us, unless you gave us the equivalent.
But our beseechings were of no avail. These 3 Farms were torn from us, and we received no equivalent, although there are several unoccupied Farms (once belonging to Sylvan) in adjacent Districts, which are considerably nearer to our School than to the other Schools. When the Sylvan District had no School, it did not matter much. Now, it is a matter of "Life or Death" to us.(end of p. 129)
3) To Education Deputy Minister
May I remind you, Sir, of your letter to us, dated May 2nd, 1922, File No. 0-25228-22)?
"regarding transferring certain lands from the Wabamun to the Sylvan District. I beg to state that if it is found that certain of these lands would be better served by the School in the Sylvan District than by that in the Wabamun District, the Department is prepared to consider the question."
In this case it is Rexboro, not Wabamun. As to this case, Sir, I don't think it is possible for me to effectively add to what I said to you on July 28th.
I am not a Sylvan Taxpayer. I belong to Wabamun. But it appears to me, that by all that is fair and just and right the South half of 34-53-4-5 should be part of the Sylvan District. I am prepared to send you any further information you require.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
Sec.
(130)(ESSAY - PAGE 4)

Reference 22.
August 14th, 1922
The Deputy Minister
Department of Education - Ed
Sir
Our A1 Teacher leaves us August 31st for a better position. We have operated our School right through the vacation and shall close for the winter October 31st.
So, we want a Teacher for 2 months. Of course we cannot expect to get a fully qualified Teacher for that time. I have written to C.G. McLean who taught our School last Fall, and who finishes at Pemburton Hill Aug. 18th. But have had no answer at present. The daughter of one of our Trustees - H.A. Mudie - who has passed the 10th Grade and is training for a Teacher, is prepared and willing to teach our 6 young children for the 2 months if you will send a permit.
Of course she would board & lodge at home, which will mean much to us. No one will take them in their house. And a young girl cannot bach alone.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(94)(ESSAY - PAGE 4)

Reference 23.
August 30th, 1922
Dear Miss A.R. Miller
According to my promise on the phone, to-day, I now write. I received your letter last Monday afternoon, which surprised me. In my last letter I gave you unvarnished facts, as to the loneliness of our Teachers quarters - only fit for a young man; or a woman, with her mother for company.
I didn't think you would have the courage to face it, and expected you would refuse the position. I have seen our lady Trustee who asked me to phone you to-day. The other Trustees will be consulted. The question of your brother's prescence will have to be considered.
What is his age?
We only have one bed &c.- If of school age, and you teach him, then our Board must be paid the Ordinance 30 cents a day.- If he is quite young, what protection would he be, to you? (end of p.95)
The main trail to Lac Ste Anne runs close by.- All sorts of men go along it.
We have sheets & blankets for one bed. Eating utensils and table linen to be provided by the Teacher. Our late Teacher, Miss Walls, B.A. (whom the Wabamun Teacher lived with) was hurried off to Alexandra Hospital last Friday. She was a splendid Teacher, but delicate.-
If you decide to take some other School, please write me, at once. When my Board has come to a decision, I will write you again.
Your obedient servant
Thomas Street
P.S. You may show this letter to the Registrar (Mr. Spiers)
T.S.
(96)(ESSAY - PAGE 4)

Reference 24.
September 1922
The Deputy Minister
Department of Education - Edmonton
Sir
Our Trustees have requested me to write you, re the claim made by our late Teacher (Miss Walls) for full pay, during the seven (7) days she was away from Sylvan in Hospital. She went away, to Edmonton, August 24th and was in bed one day previous to that. This means $28.00 for nothing, which is a serious matter for our poor district. Our Trustees object to pay this $28.00 for several reasons. -
1st Ours is a particularly easy school which could not possibly have impaired her health. Six young children only. She herself once remarked to our Lady Trustee "It is just playing at School to teach Sylvan!"
2nd Miss Walls was sick 2 or 3 days before being taken away. The School was open, but the only pupil of any standing, a Grade V boy, taught the others.
(NOTE: The several lines following, marked by + at beginning and end, were lined through and presumably not in the final draft but are entered here for interest.)
+ 3rd One of the Trustees states that the Teacher entertained friends much during (end of p.98)(ESSAY - PAGE 4)
the hot weather, and was, generally, very late before retiring to bed. This Trustee was of the opinion that this way of living was the cause of the Teachers breakdown
4th; We are informed that as soon as the 7 days had elapsed, Miss Walls took on the Crossfield School. +
This case, Sir, has learnt us a lesson. In future Agreements I intend inserting a clause. -
"No pay during sickness, when the School is not operated."
The Teacher Agreement is printed all in favour of the Teacher and dead against the poor Taxpayer who has to find the money. Miss Walls salary was paid, in full, up to July 31st. For August, have paid her $50.00 on a/c.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(99)

Reference 25.
April 19th, 1923
To the Registrar
Department of Education - Ed
Sir (R.18102.23)
I received your letter March 28th. In it you say: - "In my opinion it would be wise for your Board to conserve their finances, and defer opening the School for three weeks."
Then on April 16th, to my surprise, you (through Mr. Derry) ring me up and proceed to rake me, because I have not secured a Teacher. Immediately I reached home after this phone talk I wrote up the conversation for my protection. Although I had not seen our Trustees for 2 or 3 weeks, strange to say, The Chairman called that night, of course, I showed him your letter and the phone conversation report. I have, never before, seen our Chairman so agitated and angry. In fact he was inclined to write out his resignation there and then. He knew the other Trustees would do the same. But then, I consider this would hurt rather than help our District for our male Trustees are splendid men - strong-minded and strong-willed. I am proud of them. I unhesitatingly say, Sir, that there is (end of p.115)
No Chairman in Alberta who has done so much, or sacrificed so much for the cause of Education as Mr. Allen. Their strong, indisputable point is: -"Our last Teacher was prepared to re-open our School last Friday, and she has done splendid service. It is our Building, paid for, it is our money, and they are our children. And yet the Department is trying to prevent us from engaging our own Teacher, who will be paid, not by the Department, but by us. This is autocrasy unbearable."
I am an old man - round 70. I lived 60 years in England. I have had to do with Education since 1872 - just after Right Hon. W.C. Fosters Education Bill became law. Although then a minor, I was put upon a large School Board of 7 in a 600 people village, because of my educational suitability.
Your present action puzzles me. What are these precious Normal School students to do with us, who have only half-breeds to educate? Let them take their chance in the open market like every other class, instead of being nursed and coddled and pampered and petted as you do them!! (end of p.116)
Our Chairman asked me to put our position before you at length, and to give you the naked unvarnished facts. - And, I proudly say, Sir, that if you, without the consent of my Board, send one of those supercilious, conceited, highly-trained Teachers here, and a Female, you must take both the responsibility and the consequences. -
I would not allow a daughter of mine to go and live there alone, if the salary was $2000.00 a year, and no decent Father, who cares for his child, would allow it. The Chairman quite agreed with my suggestion that you should run over in a Car, this week, and see what our poor district is like. Your views would, then, be different. If you could do this, and will phone me the day, calling here for me, I will go with you, any day but Wednesday.
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(117)(ESSAY - PAGE 4)

Reference 27.
Wabamun, Alberta
May 17th, 1919
C.O. Hicks Esqre MA
Sirs,
I received your letter of April 30th and immediately requested our Chairman to order a meeting of our Trustees -
They met today at my House, all were present and perfectly unanimous as to their actions -
The following is a copy of minutes -
"An important letter from the Department of Education per Mr. C.C. Hicks (Inspector of Schools) was read by the Secretary; re the proposed education of Children now in the District.
It was moved by James H. Halhead and carried - that the Secretary replies to the Department to the effect that the Sylvan District is now too small and poor to run a school; and that (end of p. 41)

2) the only two ways out of the difficulty are, either to have returned to District the Farms which were a few years ago taken away from the District; or to split the District and consolidate with Wabamun or Lac St Anne respectively.
Inclusion of NW 20-53-3-5 not recommended"
I may say, Sirs, that my Board would rather maintain Sylvan as a separate District if all those Farms are brought back including SW 24-53-4-5; on the which stands the Building (rented) formerly used as a School. We might possibly rent it again. As the District now stands running a School is an utter impossibility.
There are only 8 settlers altogether. They have to work elsewhere for a living - even have to get (end of p. 42)(ESSAY - PAGE 5)

3) money for their Taxes from outside. If the Taxes are much increased these 8 Settlers will be driven away -
Out of 45 quarter sections taxable 22 are owned by the Western Canada Land Co. from which they receive no income.
They have, honourably, met their School obligations up to now but, if we make their burden too heavy, we shall "Kill the goose which lays the golden egg."
Even now, it requires much pressure to get any money at all out of the remaining 23.
There are 9 children of school age at the present moment; living in our District, 4 of them just came in and they have upset all our plans. We had, previous to that, practically arranged to get the 5 children to Lac St Anne. (end of p. 43)

4) This last family coming in for the 3rd time, probably only for a time is a "bolt from the blue" for we know their past see-saw movements. Probably as soon as we have gone too far, to draw back, these shifting people will shift back to Edmonton. They have 9 children in family two over school age 3 young. The man still works at Edmonton as a mechanic. He dumps his Wife and big family down in that lonely wild spot for a time because a restless fit is on them and something doesn't suit at Edmonton. And their action means, Sirs that the other 7 poor hardworking settlers, and the Western Canada Land Co. have got to find $15 a year more from each quarter section. Impossible. My heart bleeds for them!! (end of p. 44)

5) And the most wicked thing about it all is -- This Mr._ ________ owes us 4 years taxes ($26.10) himself, and doesn't attempt to pay them. This Tax arrears business is becoming almost unbearable to me. Do send an Inspector, Sirs, to drive around the District! He would soon be able to tell the Deputy Minister more about the state & poverty & conditions of the Sylvan S.D. than I can tell him. - I undertook to do the work of this District in 1918 for $30 instead of $50, the usual salary. There were then no children. Although during 1919 I have had 3 times more work to do than during 1918 the Trustees can't even pay me the usual $50. No Funds!
Yours respectfully
Thomas Street
(45)