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Provincial Archives of British Columbia audio interviews, 1974-1992 Private schools--British Columbia
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Robert Knight interview

CALL NUMBER: T4044:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1983-02-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Discusses: family background; father's work as school inspector in India; Anglo-Indian upbringing in Calcutta and England; memories of prep school and schooldays at Oundle; recollections of Oundle School headmaster, F.W. Sanderson and assessment of Sanderson's international reputation as educator; studies at Cambridge University; decision to settle on Vancouver Island; chicken ranching at Errington; interlude as harvester on prairies, 1926; teaching experiences at Shawnigan Lake Boys' School (SLS), 1927-29; impressions of SLS founder, C.W. Lonsdale. TRACK 2: Discusses: recollections of SLS and Lonsdale (cont'd); reasons for continuing studies at Victoria College and UBC, 1931-33; anecdotes and reminiscences of Walter Gage, G.G. Sedgewick, Gordon Shrum, Freddy Wood, and other contrasts between UBC and Cambridge; decision to open private school at Qualicum Beach, 1935; early difficulties attendant upon building and locating school; philosophy and educational ideals of Qualicum College (QC) inspired by Oundle and Sanderson. Assistance received from brother, G.H. Knight, and A.D. Muskett, Victoria schoolmaster, in establishing QC. CALL NUMBER: T4044:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1983-02-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Discusses: philosophy of Qualicum College (cont'd); first students and characteristics, family background of other students; attitudes of local community towards QC; recruiting campaigns to increase enrollment; curriculum of QC and daily routine; importance of organized games in school life; importance of discipline on boys and folly of modern permissive views of education; description of specially-made birch cane used in QC. TRACK 2: Discusses: origins and significance of school traditions, uniforms, school motto, song, prefectorial system, etc; value of school cadet corps; humorous; recollections of staff members and student pranks; contacts with Fairbridge Farm School, Duncan, and relations between QC and other private schools in B.C.; relationship with provincial Department of Education; hopes for science labs and other school facilities; reasons for closing school in 1970; reflections on career as scholar, sportsman and educationalist. (End of interview)