1

One room schools in most rural communities offered school up to the Grade 8 level. If there was a demand, such as the example of the 'continuation school' in Schomberg, a qualified teacher was found who could provide some instruction at the high school level. However, most children wishing to attend high school had to leave their home and community and travel to the nearest town, in this case Newmarket and Aurora. Sometimes they would travel back and forth every day, or they might board in town and return on the weekends. The expense of traveling and board was not in the budget for every family and would be quite a hardship for some. These schools also charged fees to out of town students.
The lack of access to higher education and the demands of farming or family resulted in rural students attending high school in much smaller percentages than their urban contemporaries.

2

Horse and Cutter - solution for students in winter
circa 1935
King Township

Credits:
Tony Rolph

3

The roads could be impassable in the winter and were often not open for safe travel. On those very cold and snowy days sometimes a parent would hitch the horse to the sleigh to make the trip.

4

Snowshoes and skiis.
1820-1950
King Township

Credits:
Brenda See

5

5th concession (Jane St.). Typical winter snow-tunnel in the 1940's
1948
King Township

Credits:
Tony Rolph

6

Typical muddy spring road c1917
1917
King Township

Credits:
King Township Archives

7

Almost everyone walked to school and rural school sections were arranged to accommodate this expectation. Groups of children would walk together for companionship and to make the long walk seem less long.

8

Yonge Street and the railway, looking north in Richmond Hill
c1905
Richmond Hill

Credits:
City of Toronto Archives

9

Principal rail and road routes,
19th century
King Township

Credits:
Tony Rolph

10

Construction of the railway affected every community. Wealthy people and the municipalities invested heavily in these railway projects. The enterprises were awarded contracts to build the rail bed, stations, and to supply cord wood, etc. Hundreds of labourers provided the manpower, augmented by horse drawn ploughs, and by the occasional steam power excavator, to level the rail bed.

11

Schomberg and Aurora Railway - called the "Annie Rooney" c1902
1902
King Township

12

An example of a student using a bicycle for travel. Detail from photo, Eversley School 1896
1896
King Township

Credits:
King Township Archives

13

Cycling was so popular in the 1880s and 1890s that everyone wanted to ride a bicycle. Comfort and safety in bicycles was increasing and the cost was going down as manufacturing methods improved.
It was a practical investment for a young man as transportation, and gave him greater flexibility for leisure. Ladies too could now ride a much more versatile machine and still keep their legs covered with long skirts. The bicycle instituted "common-sense dressing" for women and increased their mobility considerably.

14

The First "Big Bus" for the Holland Marsh School
circa 1948
King Township

Credits:
King City Archives