Welcome to #heritageweek, which is sponsored by Heritage BC. The theme for 2024 is Layer By Layer - the peeling back of the many, many layers that are present in a community's history. We make use of a myriad of documents and stories from several sources in order to work our way through those layers and to find the many truths that come together to help us understand the history of the places in which we live.
These layers help us to follow the movements of individuals on their journeys through time and how our changing society impacted them all, from those whose people have inhabited this region for centuries to those who, through whatever sets of circumstances, came here as explorers and settlers. The timeline isn't always pretty and many times it is painful, but by working through the layers it is possible to recognize the lessons needed to be learned, and when we choose to listen to the echoes from the past, we can move towards a better future for all.
Today here is a look at excerpts from the 1894 Public School Report for BC, which carries information about the schools, the teachers and even some of the students - an important resource that can help corroborate other documents such as Voter's Lists and Census forms. Also included is the High School Entrance Exam. Education was certainly different way back then, and one had to be pretty serious about continuing on through the higher levels of schooling.
