Herald's history series:

Part 4 of Series: Audio-Visual Aids

"Buenos dias, senor," a seventh grade pupil greeted a visitor at Canada School last week. The student is in the only elementary school in Jackson County where Spanish is being taught.

Mrs. Gertie W. Moss, principal, who teaches the seventh and eighth grades at Canada School, explained that the Spanish class sessions are limited to 15-minute periods daily.

"We use audio-visual materials," she said. "Records and films are played and shown of Spanish words and phrases. The pupils then repeat what they hear and see in pictures."

Nearly a third of the class said that Spanish "is the most interesting thing in school." One boy explained his reason: "I might want to go to Mexico some day, and I'll be able to speak the language."

Another said Spanish is a favorite "because of the way we learn it." And here seems to be a key that is unlocking more than just casual interest in today's classrooms.

Proof of the fact comes when several other pupils said arithmetic is their favorite because "we have teams and see how much we have learned since last time." One who prefers science said he likes "to know how things are done."

One of Canada School's biggest problems is not really a school problem. It is adequate roads. Of the 118 pupils enrolled, 100 are transported over unpaved roads - and most of them unimproved. And some of the pupils have to travel 18 miles over the roads.

It is an admitted hardship and obstacle for perfect school attendance, particularly in bad weather. But Mrs. Moss related an inspiring example of where children in one family walk two and a half miles to meet their school bus and then ride 17 miles to school. (One in the family presently is in high school, in the 11th grade.)

The special project for the year in the school is the library. This is being carried out under Mrs. Emily Crawford's supervision as a part of evaluating for accreditation. Canada School received a $282 library allotment this year.

"We have some priceless reference books in the library," said Mrs. Moss, explaining that classification and cataloguing of the volumes is under way. "Some editions date back to the 1800s."

The books have been donated from many sources. Some have been rubber stamped from "Cullowhee Normal and Industrial School." Others came from the old East LaPorte, Wolf Creek and Tuckasegee schools.

It seems that about everybody likes to give Canada School books. And in doing so, a valuable collection has resulted.

The library, incidentally, serves the community during summer months. When Fontana Regional Library discards old books, they are given to Canada School. "We check them out to students in the various areas served by the school, and the students in turn check them out to their neighbors. The books are returned to the school when classes begin in the fall," said Mrs. Moss.

The school library is also utilized for audio visual purposes. The school spent $28 on films and film strips this year.

And evidence of expenditure of NDEA funds is seen in the classrooms, with $368 in NDEA money spent this term.

The Canada School lunchroom sanitation rating is 92 per cent. There is no dining area and the pupils carry their trays to their classrooms from the lunchroom. And the building is well-kept, with a general sanitation rating of 92 per cent. Restrooms are centrally located. A spacious auditorium serves various activities at the school.

Mrs. Emily Crawford teaches first grade, with an enrollment of 29 pupils. Mrs. Irene S. Rogers teaches the second, third and part of the fourth grade, having an enrollment of 33. Mrs. Iva Jane Mull teaches the fourth, fifth and sixth grades with an enrollment of 34. Mrs. Moss teaches the seventh and eighth grades, with an enrollment of 23, and also relieves another teacher by teaching science and social studies in the fourth grade.

In connection with class work, one of the classes has a special project of rooting Petunias, preparing (growing) the flowers for Mother's Day. The blossoming flowers are growing in make-shift "terrariums." Each individual member of the class has his own terrarium and flower.

When a visitor was presented the beautiful pink flower last week, he thanked the pupils in his most fluent Spanish: "Gracias."

Editor's note:This is the weekly installment of a review of our back issues as The Sylva Herald and Ruralite celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2001. Canada School closed in 1982 when students were consolidated with Camp Lab School (now Cullowhee Valley). Local school officials gave the former school property to county commissioners last year.

Back to Archive: 10/04/01.