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Old School Desk
In the early days of the School, each grade was assigned a classroom, and students stayed in that classroom throughout the day, while the teachers rotated to different classes. Desks were arranged in rows, and the teacher’s desk was at the front on a slightly raised platform. This photo is from the late 1920s. It is interesting to note that in the original school building, each room had its own small stove that burned wood and coal. Boys had the job of lighting the fire each morning – and thawing the ink bottles!
Until the mid-1950s, the boys were divided into “Forms” by age. Although there were a few boys as young as seven years old, Form I was the lowest, roughly equivalent to Grade 4; Form VII was at the upper end, equivalent to Grade 13, which was optional. In between Form I and Form VII the Forms were not labelled as expected, and included Forms II, III, Remove A, Remove B, Form IV, Lower V, Upper V, and Form VI. By 1955, the more familiar grade designations were used.
The early curriculum was quite basic: English, Math, Latin, French, History, and Music were taught by just two teachers, Headmaster, C.W. Lonsdale, and his sister, Mabel Lonsdale. Gradually, more teachers were hired and the curriculum was expanded. By the 1920s the curriculum included Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Art. Today students have many choices in each department, including 25 Advanced Placement courses, which can lead to university credit.
Teaching methods have changed over the years, shifting from an emphasis on teacher-centred, rote memorization of facts to a more student-centred broader understanding of a subject area. Teaching tools have also changed, with chalk boards replaced by white boards; overhead projectors replaced by computers that project; pen and paper supplemented with various digital tools. Assessment practices, too, have shifted away from numbers and letters in Grades 8 and 9 to a proficiency scale. Even the desk – a staple of the traditional classroom – has become redundant in some learning environments. With experiential learning becoming more popular, learning spaces sometimes extend beyond the traditional classroom, leaving desks and other immovable features of that space behind.
The saying about “change being the only constant” certainly does apply to the world of education!
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
The early curriculum was quite basic: English, Math, Latin, French, History, and Music were taught by just two teachers, Headmaster, C.W. Lonsdale, and his sister, Mabel Lonsdale. Gradually, more teachers were hired and the curriculum was expanded. By the 1920s the curriculum included Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Art. Today students have many choices in each department, including 25 Advanced Placement courses, which can lead to university credit.
Teaching methods have changed over the years, shifting from an emphasis on teacher-centred, rote memorization of facts to a more student-centred broader understanding of a subject area. Teaching tools have also changed, with chalk boards replaced by white boards; overhead projectors replaced by computers that project; pen and paper supplemented with various digital tools. Assessment practices, too, have shifted away from numbers and letters in Grades 8 and 9 to a proficiency scale. Even the desk – a staple of the traditional classroom – has become redundant in some learning environments. With experiential learning becoming more popular, learning spaces sometimes extend beyond the traditional classroom, leaving desks and other immovable features of that space behind.
The saying about “change being the only constant” certainly does apply to the world of education!
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
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Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
