Department Approves New Shawville High School: Following the opening of the new school at Quyon, Wednesday afternoon a complimentary dinner was tendered Dr. C. P. Percival, director of Quebec Protestant Board of Education at Pine Lodge, Bristol in the evening. At this it was announced that the plans for a new school at Shawville for High School purposes, sent on to Quebec by the local Boards, had been approved by the Department of Education. It was emphasized, however, that these plans had to be finally accepted by the Minister of Education at Quebec; and that considerable study by Quebec and Pontiac Boards was needed before specifications could be issued and contracts made.

Dr. A. F. Foks, and others pointed out the deep need of further co-operative school accommodation and High School facilities for the county. Due to the number coming to Shawville from all parts of the county, the school which is fitted to accommodate 300 has a school enrolment of 450. The school class rooms are over-crowded, a nearby hall has been requisitioned as a class room, and a country school moved in and set up in the school yard. The local school board has worked hard on arrangements to receive all; but it was pointed out by several speakers that the only true solution was a new school.

Raymond Johnston told how the Government had strongly supported the Quyon school and had given two-thirds of its cost to help the people of the district. He said this was no precedent as that which Shawville School might receive; but both Mr. Johnston and Dr. Percival assured the meeting that they would do everything in their power to support the movement for a new school, and urged those present to: “be away from indecision and provide the type of educational facilities that this progressive community needs.” 

“Cost of proper education is far better than having to spend more money later on juvenile delinquency” he urged. “Those who have built the Quyon school and those who support a new school for Shawville are building memorials that future generations will value.”

Make Quyon “Red School” A Museum, Says Tolhurst: A suggestion that the school building replaced by the new $100,000 Onslow Intermediate School be kept as a museum was made by John Tolhurst, principal of Shawville High School, at the opening last Wednesday at Quyon of the new building.

Mr. Tolhurst said, “The Bible says, ‘Thou shalt not covet,’ but I am sure Shawville’s turn will come next. Any time anybody says the little red schoolhouse was good enough for me and it was good enough for my children who are living down here and show me the old school.”

Dr. W. P. Percival, director of Protestant education for Quebec, said he had made a surprise visit to Quyon and “I was so disgusted at seeing the ‘museum’ I didn’t go back.”

“It has taken many years to improve school facilities,” he added. Dr. Percival said, “The teachers of the various school boards had to make up their minds and also the many secretary-treasurers. It is a very good school indeed and I hope it will attract a large number of people to Quyon.”

Dr. Percival urged parents to help the children acquire a sense of pride of ownership in the new school.