1

To provide for their children's education, homesteaders provided a structure which was typically a one room facility in the centre of the school district.

2

Rothwell School
2003
Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada

3

Beginnings
2003
Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada

4

Prairie Trail
14 April 2003
Melfort district, Saskatchewan, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


5

The prairie was a place with space! With their limited means of travel, pioneers wanted their schools close.

6

Growing Families
1956
Melfort View School
TEXT ATTACHMENT


7

Increasing family numbers put more pressure on homesteaders to establish schools.

8

School Age Children
1919
Lund School, Saskatchewan
TEXT ATTACHMENT


9

Ratepayers took polls to determine how many school age children were in the area. If sufficient numbers showed then a formal presentation could be made to the Department of Education to ask that a school district be formed.

10

Petition For The Formation Of A Public School District
1908
Fairy Glen School District, Saskatchewan
TEXT ATTACHMENT


11

A formal application had to be tendered that followed a strict script for procedure. Representatives of the resident ratepayers had to sign the declaration and include a map of the proposed district.

12

Proposed District
1915
Teddington district, Saskatchewan
TEXT ATTACHMENT


13

The map was necessary so that Department of Education officials could check to see that the pattern of districts included all the people with school age children. Often, some negotiation was necessary to ensure this.

14

The Debenture
5 May 1904
Yankton School, Saskatchewan
TEXT ATTACHMENT