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Records with regard to teacher training and certification

  • GR-1471
  • Series
  • 1884-1949

The series consists of records pertaining to teacher training and certification. It includes minute books of the Board of Examiners (1884-1949), teachers certificate registers (1892-1947), student registers at provincial Normal schools (1901-1938), high school examination results (1924-1927), and minutes of the Dept. of Education Appointments Board (1937-1945).

Prior to 1901, teachers in British Columbia were drawn either from outside the province or (after 1876) from graduates of provincial high schools. All teachers required teaching certificates, which were awarded by the Superintendent of Education. Teachers from outside the province were required to sit an examination set by the Provincial Board of Examiners. Candidates were awarded different grades or classes of certificates, depending on the results of their exam. High school graduates qualified for certificates in a similar manner, depending on their scores on terminal examinations. Standards of certification changed frequently over the years, as did the questions which appeared on the "Public School Teachers' Examinations." Basically, though, several classes of certificates were available: Academic and First Class (awarded to university graduates and/or to candidates scoring over 70% on the exam); Second class (awarded to candidates scoring over 50% on examinations); and Third class (awarded to candidates scoring 30% and above on a series of exam questions). First class certificates were permanent, 2nd class were valid for 3 years, while 3rd class certificates were generally good for one year, with the possibility of renewal. "Temporary certificates," valid until the annual examinations were held in July, were also issued under certain circumstances.

In 1901, the province's first Normal School for teacher training was opened in Vancouver. (A second school, in Victoria, was opened in 1915.) Thereafter, graduation from the Normal School replaced the "Public School Teachers' Examinations" for those seeking Academic, First, and Second class certificates. Only Third class certificates valid for a limited period of time were still awarded on the basis of candidates' high school examinations.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Register of schools, school trustees and teachers

  • GR-0462
  • Series
  • 1917-1946

This series consists of 33 volumes of register of Schools, school trustees and teachers. Records include registers showing the location of rural and assisted schools (1 vol.), names of trustees of rural and assisted school districts, 1917-1946 (29 vols.) and names of teachers in provincial public schools, 1918-1921 (3 vols.).

Volume 1 is a register of rural and assisted schools, ca 1918-1946. The schools are listed alphabetically and the location of each school is described. For example: "JACKSON BAY - a post office on Lewis Channel - Topaz Harbour route of Union Steamship Company from Vancouver;"

Volumes 2-30 are registers showing the names of school trustees of rural and assisted schools. The registers are arranged by year, beginning in 1917/1918 (vol. 2) through 1945/1946 (vol.30). Each register is organized alphabetically by name of school.

Volumes 31-33 are entitled "Teachers' Index Books." These registers are arranged alphabetically by name of teacher. The registers also show where each teacher was posted and the teacher's residence or postal address.

The Teachers' Indexes for 1918-1920 (vols. 31 and 32) list teachers in all categories of public schools City, Rural Municipality, Rural and Assisted. The Index volume for 1920-1921, however, only shows teachers who taught in Graded City Schools and in Rural Municipality Schools; teachers at small country schools (i.e. rural and assisted schools) are not listed in Vol. 33.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Dept. of Education general files

  • GR-0451
  • Series
  • 1921, 1938-1939

The series consists of records created by the Dept. of Education in 1939. It includes correspondence, inward and outward, of all branches and formed the department's Central Registry. Records include correspondence re text books, curricula, appointments, and special education programs. School inspectors' reports and files re individual rural schools also included. The series also includes eight maps and plans and one photograph of the gymnasium of Brooks School at Powell River under construction.

Maps and plans transferred to the map collection, map accession M867053, registration numbers 22550C-22551C, 22552A-22553A

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Speeches on education

  • GR-0292
  • Series
  • 1967; 1969

The series consists of speeches given by S.N.F. Chant (Dean of Arts at the University of British Columbia between 1949 and 1964): On university freedom, 1967, and The future of higher education in British Columbia, 1969.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Clipping book related to BC schools

  • GR-0275
  • Series
  • 1953-1958

This series consists of a clippings book of articles related to schools in BC from 1953-1958.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Private and independent school statistics

  • GR-4073
  • Series
  • 1964-1979

This series consists of statistical information related to private and independent school enrollment and curriculum for the years 1964-1979. Some statistics were collected for the Dominion Bureau of Statistics and Statistics Canada. Information relates to student demographics, teachers, length of instructional time, and subjects offered.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Elementary School Agricultural Education correspondence and reports

  • GR-0173
  • Series
  • 1916-1929

The Elementary Agricultural Education Branch was established in 1915 to promote nature study and rural science in the public schools of British Columbia. The director of the branch was John Wesley Gibson (1874-1954) who, with a team of district supervisors, established one of the most successful school gardening programmes in the country. As well as developing school gardens, the branch was also involved with patriotic fund raising projects, home garden clubs and agricultural fairs.

The series consists of records created by the branch between 1916 and 1929. It includes correspondence and reports from District Supervisors of Agricultural Instruction, submitted to Superintendent of Elementary Agricultural Education, J.W. Gibson. Included with the correspondence are the supervisors' monthly reports, giving the names of schools inspected, comments on school projects and details of events pertaining to horticulture and agriculture. It also includes memoranda and letters from applicants seeking positions as instructors.

The correspondence was filed alphabetically under the names of the school district supervisors. During the period 1916 1929 the branch supervisors and districts were as follows:

During the period 1916-1929 the branch supervisors and districts were as follows:
W.J. Austin, Kelowna/Vernon
J.E. Britton, Armstrong/Kelowna
W.M. Fleming, Duncan and Cowichan
W.H. Grant, Salmon Arm
H.A. Hallwright, Victoria and Saanich
S.H. Hopkins, Courtenay-Comox
T.H. Jones, Armstrong and Enderby, Penticton
A.M. McDermott, New Westminster
J.B. Munro, Armstrong/Enderby
J.C. Ready, Chilliwack
V.B. Robinson, Vernon/Penticton/Summerland
J.M. Shales, Murrayville [Langley area]
E.L. Small, Cloverdale [Langley and Surrey]
G.V. Van Talisk, Penticton
F.J. Welland, Cloverdale

Researchers should also consult the branch reports which were published annually in the Public Schools Reports.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Elementary School Agricultural Education correspondence

  • GR-0171
  • Series
  • 1915-1929

The series consists of correspondence between the director of Elementary Agricultural Education (J.W. Gibson) and school boards throughout the province, created between 1915 and 1929. The correspondence is mainly concerned with gardens in local elementary schools and includes detailed reports on the types of gardens being cultivated at various schools. Some reports also include plans and drawings of gardens.

The files are arranged alphabetically by name of community and chronologically by year.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Department of Education contracts and other material

  • GR-0454
  • Series
  • 1923-1925; 1941

This series consists of Department of Education records. Records include contracts and bonds with text-book companies; and bequests, including a trust deed between Alumni Association of the University of British Columbia and Toronto General Trusts Corporation regarding Norah Elizabeth Coy and between Canadian Teachers' Federation and Mary Louise McLennan. Also includes a copy of Memories, 1923-1930 (Stratford, Ontario, 1941) by M.L. McLennan.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Provincial Educational Media Centre : school broadcasts

  • GR-3378
  • Series
  • 1940-1980, predominant 1950-1980

The series consists of radio programs produced by the Division of School Radio Broadcasts and its successor bodies, between 1940 and 1980.
The BC School Broadcasts were a series of educational radio programs designed to supplement existing school curriculum and were broadcast over the CBC's Pacific network. The majority of school broadcasts were organized and administered at the provincial level between the Department of Education and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The series went on the air in March 1938 as a twice-weekly program that later expanded to daily broadcasts. The BC School Broadcasts continued until 1980.

The series includes 38 episodes from 1940-1949 (mainly on audio disc), with the balance of the programs dating from 1950-1980. The series also contains the Education Department's one-page description sheets for each of the broadcast programs on audio reels from T4022. These sheets are in eight volumes and are arranged chronologically.

British Columbia. Provincial Educational Media Centre

Circulars and brochures pertaining to patriotic activities and special events

  • GR-0176
  • Series
  • 1930-1937; 1976

The series consists of circulars and brochures pertaining to patriotic activities and special events, created by the Dept. of Education, dating mainly from the 1930s. It includes "Instructions to Teachers Regarding the Use of the Flag on School Premises" (1930), "Suggestions for celebrating Good Will Day [18 May 1932] in B.C. schools," commemorative booklet and "Suggestions for Coronation Programmes for the Schools of B.C." (1937). This unit also includes brochures re: the Overseas Education, 1976.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Elementary School Agricultural Education reports

  • GR-0172
  • Series
  • 1915-1924

The series consists of records created by the Dept. of Education between 1915 and 1924. The records include teachers' "Reports on Instruction Given in Rural Science," submitted to J.W. Gibson, director of Elementary Agricultural Instruction. The reports show name of teacher, teacher's length of service at the school, qualifications in rural science, and previous experience with school gardening. The reports also contain information re: syllabuses, textbooks, equipment, etc., as well as monthly calendars of gardening activities of various schools.

The reports are filed alphabetically by teachers' names. Researchers should consult the Public Schools Reports for these years to determine the names of teachers at particular schools.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Department of Education executive records

  • GR-0152
  • Series
  • 1960-1963

This record series is composed of the 1960-1963 files of the then Minister of Education, the Hon. Leslie Peterson. The files contain his ministerial correspondence and briefs that he received as a member of the cabinet. The filing system is not consistent over the four years.

The files contain material on almost all types of education activity in the province including home economics, correspondence schools, curriculum, community programs, private schools, technical and vocational education, text books, tests, standards and measurements, religious education, teacher recruitment, the school attendance of Doukhobor children and other subjects. They also contain correspondence with the B.C. Parent Teacher Federation, the B.C. School Trustees Association, the B.C. Teacher's Federation, the Canadian Education Association, the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, Jericho Hill School for the deaf and blind and other interest groups and educational institutions.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Department of Education correspondence files

  • GR-0151
  • Series
  • 1962-1968

This record series was maintained by the Administrative Services Branch of the Department of Education and relates to almost every facet of the Department's work. It includes correspondence of the Minister and department staff with the public and associations such as the B.C. Parent Teacher Federation, B.C. School Trustee's Association, B.C. Teachers' Federation and Canadian Association for Adult Education as well as correspondence with educational institutions including private schools, colleges and universities.

There are also 12 architectural drawings of schools, removed and given map registration numbers 24231C - 24242C.

The results of school trustee elections in B.C., 1962-1966, are also included in this collection in box 30.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Department of Education reports, notes and ministerial speech material

  • GR-0149
  • Series
  • 1951-1969

The series consists of miscellaneous documents gathered together by the Dept. of Education library:
(1) Report, Frontier College - Promoting Citizenship Among Migratory Workers in British Columbia, 1951 (includes photographs)
(2) Receipts, by schools, for B.C. Centennial Commemorative Project, 1958
(3) Centennial Commission Provincial Survey Federal - Provincial Youth Travel Program, 1966
(4) "The History Makers," seventeen films presented to the Hon Leslie Peterson, Minister of Education by the National Film Board of Canada, 1966
(5) Malaspina College - Opening and notes re. background of name, 1969
(6) Speech materials for minister, 1954-1968.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Register of teachers' certificates and examinations

  • GR-0148
  • Series
  • 1880-1888

The series consists of a register of teachers' certificates and examinations from 1880 to 1888. It states the type of certificate granted, course taken and marks obtained. There is an index on the inside front cover.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Education Department Central Office notebooks

  • GR-0139
  • Series
  • 1917-1945

The series consists of notebooks maintained by senior clerks in the Education Department's Central Office, showing financial grants to schools (3 v. 1917-1944). The series also includes a notebook [probably kept by S.J. Willis, Superintendent of Education] containing memoranda re: school programmes, applications for employment, membership of curriculum revision committees, school inspectors, school buildings grants and education financing, 1931-1945. As well, this notebook contains typescripts by S.J. Willis on "Accredited High School," "Teacher Training (1934)," "School Finance" and "High School Curriculum & High School Correspondence Courses".

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Assistant Superintendent of Education correspondence

  • GR-0134
  • Series
  • 1965-1968

The series consists of correspondence files created by the Assistant Superintendent of Education between 1965 and 1968.
The files deal with a broad range of topics, including teachers' conferences, data processing, school inspectorates and staff meetings.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

School inspectors' reports

  • GR-0122
  • Series
  • 1918-1957

The series consists of School Inspectors' reports created by the Dept. of Education between 1918 and 1957. The reports are arranged alphabetically, by name of school or community, for the years 1918-1938; thereafter, reports are filed alphabetically by name of teacher.

Evaluations of a number of private schools are included, as well as assessments of manual training and domestic science programmes in various schools. These reports contain evaluations of individual teachers and assessments of education programmes in all types of schools throughout the province.

The report forms varied over the years, but in most instances they contain information on teachers' qualifications, teaching methods and classroom discipline, pupils' progress, and the availability and condition of teaching equipment. Early reports on provincial elementary schools also contain information on the size and condition of the school buildings and grounds.

As a rule, the inspectors' reports were arranged alphabetically, by name of school inspected, and filed chronologically under various categories. During the years 1918-1937, the main categories were "Elementary Schools," "High Schools and Superior Schools," and "Manual Training and Domestic Science."

There were, however, frequent exceptions and alterations to this filing system. For example, during the years 1929-1931 Vancouver schools (i.e. those administered by the Vancouver School Board) were filed separately from other municipal schools; during the years 1934-1938 the Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and the Blind was accorded a separate file. Between 1928 and 1937 files pertaining to certain "private schools" were also kept separately. "Private schools" in this instance included some independent schools such as Crofton House, Vancouver, several religious colleges, and a number of Indian residential schools.

In addition, rural elementary schools were listed separately from other provincial elementary schools during the years 1928-1937. The "Rural Schools" reports were prepared by Miss Lottie Bowron, Rural Teachers' Welfare Officer (Women's). Her reports often contain detailed accounts of the conditions faced by teachers in small, isolated communities.

The Department of Education adopted a new filing system in 1938. From that year until 1957, when this series ends, all public school inspectors' reports, irrespective of school categories, were filed alphabetically under the names of individual teachers.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Department of Education executive records

  • GR-1561
  • Series
  • 1972-1975

The series consists of Associate Deputy Minister A.E. Sole's subject files arranged alphabetically by file title. The records include correspondence and reports dealing with schools, colleges, teachers, curricula, libraries, and various other education-related topics.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Council of Public Instruction correspondence and other material

  • GR-0899
  • Series
  • 1954-1970

This series consists of correspondence, minutes, briefs, memoranda, etc., of the Council of Public Instruction. Most of the records in this unit date from the 1967-1970 period. Included are records relating to Indian schools, private schools, universities and colleges, curriculum development, vocational programmes, and the Dept. of Education's Instructional Media Committee. Also included are records of the department's Community Programmes Branch which, in April 1970, was transferred to the Department of Recreation and Conservation. The minister's and the superintendents correspondence, and the Accreditation and Legislation Committee files in this collection are restricted.

GR-0899 consists of correspondence, minutes, briefs, and memoranda of the Council. The outside dates for material in the collection are 1954-1970, but most of the files date from the period 1967-1969. The collection includes material relating to Indian schools, private schools, universities and colleges, the Provincial Board of Examiners, curriculum development, and the Department of Education Instructional Media Committee. Also included are records of the department's Community Programmes Branch (19641970), a branch which was transferred to the Department of Recreation and Conservation on 01 Apr 1970.

British Columbia. Council of Public Instruction

Photographs of B.C. schools

  • GR-2488
  • Series
  • 1944-1963

The series consists of 627 b&w photographs taken or acquired by the Dept. of Education between 1944 and 1963. The photographs are of schools across B.C. and are arranged by the school district number at the time, or name of community. The photographs were taken by the the Division of Visual Education as well as by commercial photographers, School Boards and construction companies. There is some accompanying material consisting of plans, correspondence and pamphlets noted in the file list.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Minister of Education presentation albums

  • GR-3271
  • Series
  • 1957, 1969-1971

The series consists of two presentation albums given to the Minister of Education on official occasions. The first album was presented to minister L.R. Peterson on May 17, 1957 on the occasion of the official opening of Prince George District senior and elementary schools. The album consists of black and white photographs of the new district schools and includes both interior and exterior views. The second album was presented to minister D.L. Brothers on June 4, 1971 on the occasion of the opening of the Clearview Elementary and Junior Secondary School. The album consists of black and white and colour photographs from 1969 to 1971, depicting various stages of construction of the school as well as interior views and student activities. Photographs of the official opening are also included.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Education Branch correspondence.

  • GR-1709
  • Series
  • 1871-1889

This series includes a suggested draft for the 1872 Public Schools Act by Thomas Nicholson (1871), correspondence regarding the school at Burton's Prairie (1882) and correspondence regarding a request for an additional teacher at New Westminster High School (1889).

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Speech by G.M. Weir to BCLA

  • GR-1716
  • Series
  • 1946

This series contains a typescript of speech given to the British Columbia Library Association convention by Minister of Education, Dr. G.M. Weir on 13 May 1946. Weir's speech, given in Nanaimo, provided a general review of the government's educational policies and priorities.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Frontier College report

  • GR-1715
  • Series
  • 1953-1954

This series contains a report on the work of Frontier College in British Columbia for 1953. Frontier College was a voluntary organization designed to promote citizenship and education among migratory workers in isolated camps and settlements. The College was founded in 1900 and incorporated in 1919. Instructors were recruited from Canadian universities to work as labourers-teachers in the summer months. Instructors usually worked as paid labourers by day and conducted classes in the evenings. The majority of the students were recently arrived immigrants. The report is illustrated with black and white photographs of railway labourers and workers at Kitimat and Kemano. Photographs and biographical sketches of instructors are also included.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Letterbook and other material of Provincial Normal School (Vancouver)

  • GR-1660
  • Series
  • 1908-1915

This series contains records from the Provincial Normal School (Vancouver). The records include a letterbook, consisting of correspondence from William Burns, principal, to Alexander Robinson, Superintendent of Education.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

School Inspectors reports and records

  • GR-0456
  • Series
  • 1916, 1940-1946

This series consists of district and municipal school inspectors' reports. Records include correspondence inward and outward primarily between inspectorate No. 2, and the Assistant Superintendent of Education (1916); and reports on teachers filed by inspectors' names (1940-1946).

Reports for 1916 were prepared for the Superintendent of Education, Alexander Robinson; reports for the period 1940-1946 were submitted to the Chief Inspector of Schools, Dr. H.B. King. Also included are reports from the Inspector of High Schools, the Inspector of Technical Education, and the Director of the Home Economics branch for the years 1941-1946. The reports for the 1940s deal with schools throughout the province and so provide a detailed record of the state of public education at that time.

Generally, the reports contain evaluations of school buildings, equipment and grounds, along with assessments of the organization and management of individual classes within the schools. The reports also included evaluations of the teachers working in the various schools.

The reports were originally filed under the names of the school inspectors, an arrangement which has been maintained here. However, to facilitate research on particular schools and communities, an effort has been made to identify the boundaries of the different school inspectorates.

Prior to 1946 and the advent of well-defined school districts, boundaries of the various inspectorates were sometimes imprecise; the inspectorates varied in size and did not always coincide with municipal, rural, or even regional areas. The inspector of schools in Agassiz, for example, also reported on schools at Alert Bay; similarly, the inspector responsible for Port Moody also looked after schools in Saanich and Powell River. Researchers are, accordingly, advised to use this collection with GR-01492 (Directories of School Inspectorates, 1937 - 1946).

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

Experience and Tenure Forms

  • GR-0463
  • Series
  • 1943-1945

This series consists of Department of Education experience and tenure forms for teachers. Forms referring to experience and tenure of teachers and qualifications from rural and municipal districts, 1943-1944, and from cities, 1944-1945. Files cover rural schools, city schools, Vancouver, and the Matsqui - Sumas - Abbotsford Educational Area.

British Columbia. Dept. of Education

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