1

Beyond the books and lessons, tests and reports, students enjoyed the social aspect of school 100 years ago as much as they do today.
Student activity was at a high point during recess. The chance to escape the confine of a desk and classroom was looked forward to with anticipation. Mostly the play was outdoors on the school grounds, perhaps for the sake of the teacher as well as the students. Walter Rolling was known to participate in baseball games with his students and sometimes extended the break to allow time for a game to finish.

2

Walter Rolling and Students
1932
King Township

Credits:
King Township Museum

3

Some students were lucky to have the support of their teacher to pursue extra-curricular activities. In this photo from 1932, 2 students pose with their teacher and an award presented for Oratory (or public speaking) Skills.

4

Students and teacher (Miss Courtney) of Kinghorn School receiving a provincial award
1958
King Township

Credits:
King Township Archives

5

King City students playing hockey on the Humber River
circa 1940
King Township

Credits:
King Township Archives

6

Schoolyard games were seasonal and adjusted to the changing weather with sledding and skating in the winter and baseball and tag in the warmer months.

7

Kinghorn girls basketball team
1924
King Township

Credits:
King Township Archives

8

Members of girls basketball team 1924
King Township

Credits:
King Township Archives

9

Nobleton baseball team 1928
1928
King Township

Credits:
King Township Archives

10

In her book 'Yesterday for Today and Tomorrow' Alice Ferguson again gives her opinion on school activities.
"Our school yards are usually of an acre in size. This gives abundant room for decoration and for play. A large part of the school yard is set apart for games, running games, football, baseball or cricket; a smaller corner for quoits, also a croquet lawn with a set of croquet bats. There should be a school garden, also a flower border. For the young children there should be provided at least one swing, also a teeter. Trees are a necessity so that around the site should be planted shade trees, with a hedge if possible on the west."

11

Linton School children collecting milkweed for the war effort
1944
King Township

Credits:
King Township Archives

12

Some activities went beyond play and study and involved work that was part of a National effort. Children in King Township began collecting milkweed for life preservers during World War II. Two bags of pods contained floss for one life jacket.

13

Students on Arbor Day
1950
King Township

Credits:
King Township Museum

14

Arbor Day started in Nebraska in 1872 and the specific purpose was to encourage the planting of trees. The movement rapidly spread to other states and into Canada and showed a child/school focus by the turn of the century. At Kinghorn SS#23 maple trees were planted one Arbor Day under the direction of Walter Rolling.