Chapleau High School Grade Nine students chose between Latin or typing in 1961 as plans made for 'dazzling new building perched on a hill'

When Chapleau High School held its graduation exercises in the Town hall in 1961, secondary school education was 39 years old in the community, and planning had just begun for the new school on the hill.

In an article for the 75th anniversary of CHS in 1997, George Evans, wrote that in 1961 the school was still located in the building beside St. John's Anglican Church, "but plans were afoot, and five years later, it would move to a dazzling new building perched on a hill..."

George recalled the  school  as it was in 1961 as he began his teaching career in September of that year. 

"There were five regular classrooms, each equipped with a row of desks bolted to the floor, a large teacher's desk and blackboards. 

"In addition , there were two labs, one of which had large working desks supplied with water and gas. Another room was equipped with typewriters.

"In 1961 the teachers' room on the second floor had been turned into a small classroom. In the basement of the building were the cool but fragrant latrines and a gymnasium with a 10-foot ceiling.

"The school's equipment included a record player, a movie projector, a duplicating machine that used methyl alcohol, and a library of about 500 geriatric books hidden in a narrow closet on the second floor.

George added that a student entering Grade Nine had to make one choice: Latin or typing. The rest of the timetable was filled with English, mathematics, science, history, geography, French and physical education. 

Effectively, the student had no subject choices to make until Grade 13, and in order to advance to the next grade, he or she had to pass all subjects or repeat the whole grade.

As an aside, when I entered Grade Nine in 1955, and had to make the choice, I took Latin and never learned to type, even though I have typed something almost every day of my working (and retired) life. I still use my own hunt and peck, two finger method. I don't even think it was me who made the Latin/typing choice. I seem to recall that someone told me I would be going to university and have no need for typing as a secretary would do it all for me.

That actually worked when I was editor of the student newspaper at university for two years. I had a secretary, but when I arrived at The Daily Press in Timmins to start my newspaper career, I quickly adapted to a life as hunt and peck typist.

Back to CHS and the 1961 graduation exercises.

Held in the Town Hall auditorium a feature of the evening was 'Chapleau High Entertains' provided by the French Club under the direction of teacher Yvon Charbonneau. The club sang The Marseillaise, while Charles Tremblay recited two of Verlaine's poems, 'Chanson d'Automne' and 'L'Heure Exquise' and Alvina Beaudry sang 'Au Claire de Lune'.

Robert Lemieux received the Austin McClellan Award while the Allan Austin Memorial Award went to Frank Bucciarelli.

Ian Clegg won the Grade 11 award while Shirley Petrunka won the Grade 10.

Receiving Secondary School Graduation diplomas were were J.J. Edwin Beynon, Frank Broomhead, Frank Bucciarelli, James Cockburn, Robert J. Fortin, Marguerite Joyce, Ruth Ann Madigan, Gordon McKnight, Wayne Midkiff, Bruce Poynter, Lawrence Pullen, Charles Purich and Helmut Fischer.

In his comments, Luther P. Emerson, the newly arrived principal said, "With your help we can make Chapleau High School a cheerful and happy place..."

So many changes have occurred in the 51 years since George wrote about the plans for "the dazzling new building." Whenever we attended and/or taught at CHS we can share memories as we celebrate the 90th anniversary reunion.

 Let me conclude by remembering the great contribution that Margaret Rose (Payette) Fortin and the late Alex Babin who co-chaired the 60th and 75th anniversary celebrations made. Both were graduates of the school and returned to teach at CHS. In 1961, Alex received his Intermediate Certificate at the graduation exercises for successfully completing Grade 10.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Main photo from left: Frances Corston, Marguerite Levesque, Masrgaret Rose Payette, Alex Babin, Kathleen Broomhead

STAFF OF CHS
Teaching staff of ESCHS in 1981-82 at time of 60th anniversary. From left front D. Laughland, M.R. Fortin, E. Jardine, S. Devine, D. MacLean. Back J.B. Walsh, S. Kujtan, C. Knowles, G. Cameron, L. Schneider, W. Guest, A. Dubois, T. Collins, G. Lalonde, MJM. Absent G. Evans, R. Dell.