Schooling through
the years

It may surprise many to know how long a system – and then systems – of formal education have existed in what is now Quebec (read more on Early schooling through the years ), despite the privations and hardships that early colonists faced.  Schools developed at different times, at different paces, and in different ways in the various regions of Lower Canada depending upon the nature of settlement in the area and whether education was regarded by families as secondary to helping out on the farmstead, because it was a hard struggle to merely survive life.

John Macnider bought the Seigneury of Mitis in 1807 from a sheriff’s sale in Quebec City and he commenced to colonize his Seigneury. There were a handful of people living in the area prior to 1818, when he began attracting, by providing passage and the means to set up homesteads, to more people, many from the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland. By 1823, 40 families had been settled in the Seigneury.

On March 14, 1829, the Government of Lower Canada put in place an Act for the Encouragement of Elementary Education to benefit all classes of the Majesty’s Subjects in this Province and to promote the Establishment of Elementary Schools in Parishes, Seigneuries and Townships. At this time there was no distinction being made between Protestant and Roman Catholics.  Metis, being distant and isolated, was to wait a few more years before its first school master would appear.

The first information that we read of education in Metis are from the Macnider records, which show that on 20 août 1830, an act was written up; Dépôt d’un Acte d’élection pour les écoles de Metis, par Alexis Revard, Hugh Macnider, devant le notaire Pierre Gauvreau (Credit Macnider papers G. Bosse collection)

In general, the first institution established in rural society in Lower Canada was the church, followed by the school, then by the community hall (used primarily for local Saturday-night dances). All three were interlinked: the church framed the religious and moral bases of behavior, the school transmitted them, and the community hall provided a venue for their practice in formal and informal social settings.

But in the case of Metis and its distance, school seems to be the first institution in the community. On 30 Janvier 1831, Macnider papers show an Acte d’élection des syndics pour former un syndic à l’école de Metis devant le notaire Pierre Gauvreau, and on 24 February 1832, Substance of the School Bill. (Credit Macnider papers G. Bosse collection)

There was no minister or church in the early years, but Mr. Macnider – being a member of the Kirk of Scotland in Quebec City (where he lived most of time) – threw his influence on the side of the church he followed and eventually a Mr. James T. Paul, student of theology (Lay Minister), got a piece of land on 23 August, 1831 and settled at Leggatt’s Point. He taught school during the week, presiding over the religious services on the Sundays.  (Taken from Recollections of the late Seigneur of Metis, John H. Ferguson, Old times in Metis and the Macnider papers, G. Bosse collection)

Reverend Clugston, a presbyterian minister centered in Quebec City, made many trips to outlying areas, and in August 1839 he came to Metis.  He wrote; “I preached in the school house on the Sabbath to nearly one hundred people. The school house was filled. All the settlers were not present and very few of the children.” (Remember All the Way, the History of Chalmers-Wesley United Church, Quebec City by George W. Crawford)

Reverend Clugston found that Mr. Paul was now living in Rimouski and had taken charge of a general store owned by a Quebec lumbering company. The Reverend Clugston writes; “He (Mr. Paul) regrets having been compelled to leave Metis and seems to have had pleasure in his labors there. I doubt not that he would return provided sufficient encouragement was held out. The people in Metis are much scattered and Mr. Paul told me that some particular seasons of the years when children at a distance could not well attend school or in cases where parents manifested indifference to their children’s attendance at School he itinerated—that is he went from settlement-to-settlement teaching in each for a week more or less as circumstances seemed to require.”   (From the book Les Écossais-The Pioneer Scots of Lower Canada, 1763-1855, by Lucille H. Campey)

The Department of Education was created by an Act in 1841, by the Government of Lower Canada and brought with it new reforms. The district councils would serve as district boards of education that would decide on courses of study, license teachers, decide on school rules and regulations, and a levying of school taxes, which met with much resistance. The reforms in 1846 were again met with more opposition, petitions were signed, and there was widespread refusal to pay taxes. Various amendments that attempted to appease the opposition failed, including the suspension of property tax in 1845, which resulted in the closure of several schools in many regions. This was reversed again in the following year, and taxes were levied on all families with school-aged children, whether they attended school or not.

In 1844, we know that a Reverend Mr. Cairns came to Metis and preached in the old school house. But whether there was a teacher or not at this time we do not know.

The Macnider papers show a Donation of piece of land by John Macnider for a new school at Metis, 06 February 1845. (Credit Macnider papers G. Bosse collection)

In the Macnider Papers on 5 February 1846 record a Donation by William Macnider to the school commissioners of Metis, William Turriff, Hugh Macnider, Peter Francis Leggatt, Dougald Smith and Donald MacGougon, a lot of ground in the 1^st range 60’ in front by 48’ in depth, before Notary John Heath.  (Credit Macnider papers G. Bosse collection)

Did you know …? In March of 1847, 32 children between the ages of 5 years to 16 years attended school and in 1849 this had risen to 79 children who attended school.

Now we are not sure who taught school in Metis between the years of 1840 to 1852 as many of the Macnider papers were burnt in a Manse fire in 1854. But in the first records of the life of Dugald Blue Sr., by Agnes C. Blue, she writes: “In the early days the teacher was an old Scotsman who had a faculty of going to sleep while hearing lessons during school hours.”  *Note: Dugald Blue was born December 18, 1820, North Knapdale, Argyll Scotland and died in Metis on May 29, 1914.

Did you know… ?  The Education Act of 1846 was passed and it’s upon this Act that all subsequent legislation concerning education has been based, as can still be discerned in our present education law today.

In the 1850s and 1860s, the Government intent was to establish a common school system that included both Protestant and Catholic schools. School inspectors, although discussed extensively in the many acts, were not established in Lower Canada until 1852, and it was a measure to be helpful in improving schools. A report by Louis-Victor Sicotte revealed that there was illiteracy of half of the school commissioners. In 1858, reports based on the information received by the Superintendent of Education for Lower Canada summarized the obstacles to be overcome before the schools could be materially improved in order to assist teachers and the public to understand the meaning of education better. The Council of Education was formed on December 17, 1859 to work together with the Superintendent of Schools for Lower Canada. There meetings, held on November 12 and 13, 1861, were important ones because many textbooks were authorized, a Board of examiners was founded and a programmed of studies was framed.

In 1853, Reverend MacAlister a Scotsman, arrived in Metis and received a piece of land at Leggatt’s Point consisting of 5 arpents in front by 29 arpents in depth on 3 December, 1853, Notary Pierre Gauvreau. (Credit Macnider papers G. Bosse collection) A chapel was built, which also became the schoolhouse during the week. In the first records of the life of Dugald Blue Sr., by Agnes C. Blue, she writes; “Miss Julie Ritchie MacAlister was a teacher, her father was a pastor of the little manse, who christened all their children in infancy and was stationed there a number of years. All children were also required to learn their “shorter catechism”. It was the obligation of parents to bring them up in the Presbyterian faith.”

The ideas of education accorded well with the aspirations of many pioneers who had emigrated to Lower Canada to seek a better life. Initially, communities hired almost anyone who was willing to teach. By the mid-1800s, however, the governments had begun to express more interest in public education and to provide more financial support.  At the same time, various superintendents of education were fighting to establish schools for the training of teachers and a certification system that would ensure minimum teacher qualifications.

As we read in the first records of the life of Dugald Blue Sr., Agnes C. Blue writes; “The next teacher was Mary Seton, whose scholars were taller than she was, and few of them were as old as she was. She was 20 when she took the school – having had her diploma at the age of 18.” Dugald Blue Sr. also remembered that a Sophia Seton, a younger sister to Mary, taught school and that his mother also taught school for a while, but he cannot remember the names of who else taught school.

During the next half century, most surrounding communities around the Metis Seigneury built one-room schoolhouses in which students were taught the basics. In the Blue’s history, Neil Blue (brother to Dugald Blue) donated land and a schoolhouse around this time. A report of the Superintendent of Education for Lower Canada for the year 1857, page 159, reads:

“Metis- The municipality of Metis, under the presents limits, is divided into three sections. A single teacher has been appointed to teach alternately for a week, in each Section. The municipality is too extensive for a single section, and the School Corporation adopted this course, which is not free from serious inconvenience. To obviate this as far as possible, the children have been permitted to follow the teacher to the different sections. During the summer the three sections are united in one.  A school house is being built on the spot where the school house was held during the latter part of the year. There is a second school-house in one of the other sections, but it is in a state of utter neglect.

The allotment for Metis, from the Government grant, is only L8 2s. 6d. The amount raised by assessment was £20 10s. 10 1/2d., besides the minimum of monthly fees. These different sums united are scarcely sufficient to support one school.  As this school was not in operation at the time of my fall and spring visits, I can merely state that the parents seemed satisfied with it. The teacher holds a model school diploma: Duration of school year, 8 months. Average attendance at School, 42. Proportion on the total of population, 1 to 7. Cost of instruction for each pupil attending school, 17s. 6d.

Another report of the Superintendent of Education for Lower Canada for 1864, page 27, reads:

“Metis- This municipality has had three schools in operation during six months and a half, and two only during the remainder of the school year. These schools are attended by 64 pupils, with an average of 44 only. One of these schools is very well kept; another is but passable; and the third has produced no good result. This municipality, being remote from the center where the services of English Protestant teachers are to be secured, and being too poor to pay an adequate salary, the people are compelled to employ teachers without diplomas. I regret to state that education makes little progress in this municipality, and that all or nearly all the parents exhibit a painful degree of indifference. The corporation, nevertheless, are animated with good spirit, and are making laudable efforts to bring about a better state of things. The organization of the schools is tolerably good, and the accounts are kept by a competent person.”

The Canadian Constitution of 1867 made education the responsibility of the provinces. In Quebec, the provincial government allowed the Catholic Church and the minority Protestant Church to run the schools. Quebec set up its first Ministry of Public instruction in 1868, but abolished it in 1875 under pressure from the Catholic Church.  From that point on, education was entrusted to the authority of Department of Public Instruction, made up of a Catholic committee and a Protestant committee. This situation remained unchanged until 1964 with the state setting up a public education system.

In 1878, a book in a Seaside Series, The Chronicles of the St. Lawrence, written by J.M. Lemoine, was published. He makes mention of Metis, writing: “At Little Metis, a curious spectacle greets the eye – an entire settlement of Scotchmen, imported from the Land of Cakes some fifty years ago, by the Seigneur of Metis, the late Mr. MacNider, numbering about 100 families. They have pushed their settlement to the Fifth Concession, and seem to prosper. I was surprised to find they could support two churches of the Protestant faith, a Presbyterian and a Methodist church. The children looked well clad, rosy and contented. I asked one wee lassie where she was bound for. “To see my mither, ayount the hills,” she civilly replied, with charming simplicity. They speak Gaelic, ‘tis said, in the settlement.”

This account of the little girl speaking broken English in 1878 reminds us that in Metis most families were from Scotland, and Gaelic was the dominant language spoken at the time. It is only when the children went to school that they learnt to speak, read and write in English.

Did you know… ? Gaelic was still spoken in some of the homes on the Scotch second (the second concession, so-called because of the many Scottish settlers) up until the early 1960s, almost a century after the story of the wee young lassie.

It seems that some schooling was taught in private homes in Metis. According to correspondence from P.F. Leggat to Reverend Fenwick on 25th Jan’y 1886, a Mr. MacKay was keeping school in Alex McDonald’s old house for the benefit of the children on the beach (Leggatt’s) Road. In another letter written 20th Feb’y 1886 from P. F. Leggat to Reverend Fenwick, he wrote that Mr. MacKay is keeping school in the Manse. (Credit Anson McKim)

On Jan. 19th 1889, Mrs. D. Blue writes to Reverend Fenwick that a Miss Nicols from Montreal teaches school. She also writes: “I don’t think the place has improved any.” (Credit Anson McKim)

Receiving the newspaper was very important to the Metis people in the early years. The newspaper reflected the needs of the people and kept the readers informed on current events, domestic affairs, current foreign news, politics, and social activities.

The Montreal Daily Witness newspaper wrote an article on 4 June 1890:

“School Examinations at Metis

The examination of the Protestant school at Leggatt’s Point, Metis, was held on the 23rd of May. The school room had been tastefully decorated by the senior boys, and a number of the parents and other friends were present. The proceedings comprised a review of the ordinary branches, English, reading, geography, arithmetic, singing, etc.…. In all of which the children manifested creditable diligence and a good account of progress. The sample of writing and of map drawing were also good. The teacher, Miss Jane Parker, received well deserved worlds of appreciation. This school, which was organized last summer on its present footing by the Reverend John McCartier, is assisted by Lady Stephen. It also during last winter received kind help from friends in Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec. It is now on a basis that promised to be permanent and is a great book (SIC) to the neighborhood. The examinations of the other Protestant schools at Metis are now over, and all have been highly creditable.” (Credit Mr. A. Reford)

From the 1910s to the 1930s, education for children was considered a priority by parents. Education emphasized work skills during this new age of mass production. But there were concerns on the lack of resources, experienced teachers, taxes, and costs during this time also.

In reaction to concerns surrounding WW2, school health research proposed compulsory high school courses on marriage, health and parenthood. Vocational education was introduced to provide skills to young people.

Did you know… ? Up until the 20^th century, secondary schools were called academies.  The name high school was a Scottish term that gained prominence and is still used today.

The Compulsory Education Act, enacted in 1943, resulted in a much greater opportunity for many pupils. The remission of school fees and the provision of free textbooks added to the enrolment of children in all grades.

Did you know… ?  School in Quebec only became mandatory in 1943.  Before this point, whether or not children got an education depended on their gender, the wealth of their parents, where they lived (rural or in town), and religion.

Dawn MacDonald wrote an email to Metis Beach School on January 23, 2016, entitled “Memories from 1956“.  She writes:

“I was sorting through old photos and I came across some from Metis and it brought back memories. This note is probably more that you ever wanted to know but Metis Beach was a very special place for me.

My Dad worked for Canadian Comstock, in Metis he worked in Mont Joli supplying the DEW line with supplies, we were always packing up and moving on to new construction jobs. We lived in Metis Beach for 1 1/2 years, and then we packed up in November of 1956 and moved to Kitimat B.C. [Note:  The DEW in DEW line stands for Distant Early Warning [a U.S.-Canadian network of radar stations to detect incoming Soviet bombers]

During my time in Metis, I remember we walked to school, no matter how cold or how hard it was snowing, we were not wimps. I always tell my kids I walked 2 miles, but it was probably less than that, the school would be freezing cold, there was a potbellied stove at the front of the classroom, the boys would bring in wood from the woodpile outside, and eventually the classroom would warm up. Many times, I would come home with scorched clothes because I would stand too close to the stove. We never went home for lunch, our teacher Miss MacLellan, would heat up Campbell’s vegetable soup on top of the stove so we would have something to eat. We didn’t have a gym, so when the weather was warmed up, we would go outside to exercise class, our teacher would go through the exercises and we would copy her. We had a Halloween party at the Town Hall I was dressed as salt and my brother as pepper; it was a very big event. The school would put on a Christmas concert for all the families at the Town Hall which was held on Xmas eve. That year we sang Alice Blue Gown, our mothers made our gowns out of blue satin, ordered from the Eaton’s catalog. I was the tallest in the class and I remember being measured because we were going to walk through an archway.

On the week-ends we went to the rink to watch the hockey game. The Metis changing clubhouse had another one of those potbellied stoves that kept us warm. There were four towns in the hockey league, I had many friends that were on the Metis Beach team, we traveled to the 3 towns, all French towns, they would scream in French and we would scream in English. My Dad who was pretty strict and didn’t like me going to the out-of-town games, so I had to take a big Army walkie talkie and keep in contact with him.

I was just 14 when we moved to Metis and there were a lot of firsts for me, there was my first job-working at the snack bar in Campbell’s grocery store, my first boyfriend, my first high heels (red), I heard my first rock and roll song (Rock around the Clock), my first Elvis song (Heartbreak Hotel), my first birthday party, and I also learned to dance.

So, you see Metis was a very special place for me. Dawn”

Closures of the small one-room school houses were a reality in the territory of Metis with the decline of children as family sizes shrank and it was hard to justify keeping all the school houses open. It was decided to consolidate and bus the children to the Metis Beach School with the advantage that all the children’s needs in the territory would be met.

Did you know… ?  Metis Beach School is the only English school that operates in the Lower St. Lawrence region, serving many municipalities today.

The education system was constantly evolving and the early 1960s to the 1990s became a period of unprecedented expansion in education.  A major reform in the 1960s transformed Quebec.  Called the Quiet Revolution, a period of rapid social change without the turmoil that sometimes accompanies eras of drastic transformation. The long-established emphasis of the Catholic Church on religion and the humanities in the francophone schools was restructured, and extra funding was given by the federal and provincial government towards education for a new curriculum.

In the Metis area, school went up to grade nine; for higher education you had to go to Quebec City, Stanstead in the Eastern Townships or Montreal.  It wasn’t until 1974 that the Government gave Metis Beach School permission to teach up to grade eleven and in 1976, the school had its first graduate, Catherine Lapierre.  She had a big graduation ceremony with all students and townspeople attending this historic celebration.

In 1977, the Charter of the French Language, or Bill 101, was passed. This bill strengthened the role and protections of the French language in Quebec, in terms of education, immigrants, and Francophones into French schools.

In 1997, the Metis Beach two-room school house had a further two-room extension added on. It provided a new science lab and an additional classroom for the ever-increasing enrollment of children. In 1999, when the Eastern Shores School Board planned to move the Metis Beach School secondary students to New Carlisle (300 kilometers away from Métis-sur-Mer), the families and the community contested this idea and won that argument.

The children who graduate from Metis Beach School leave with fond memories after spending 11 years with an extended family, knowing the names of all the teachers and students in all the classes, and where the older students play the role of a brother/sister to the younger ones.  In 2006 Tanja Andersson was in secondary five and she wrote an article on this subject for the Heritage Lower St. Lawrence newsletter:

“The school has been my second home, all of us are very close to our teachers, and it is not only myself who has called a teacher “Mummy” or “Dad” more than once over the years. There is even closeness between elementary and secondary students. How many secondary five students in other schools can say that they know their fellow students, in the entire school, by name?”

Did you know… ?  That many students over the years have represented Metis Beach School in school competitions around the Gaspe coast and two students put Metis Beach School on the map. Kiki Andersson in 2007 with her award-winning “Speaking Canadian” speech and Nicholas Belanger in 2019 was a winner at the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec.

By the twenty first century, Metis Beach School enrollment continued to expand, when most other schools had a decline in students. Metis Beach School had 46 students in 2008; by 2012 the number of students had risen to 61, and by 2014 there were close to 70 students enrolled.

On August 12, 13, and 14, 2005 there was a Metis Beach School Reunion ” Return to Metis”, where former classmates, from all years came together to reminisce about their school days and for others to bring each other up to date on what happened to each of them since they went their separate ways.