Reflections of an Old Geometry and Incidentally the History of the Kamloops High School

By Marion Wyllie — Excerpt from the 1916 Kamloops High School Yearbook

YES, here I lie, and here I expect to lie until some learned person comes along in search of Book I of Euclid's Geometry. Even then he might not deign to look at me, for, alas! I am minus several pages, which have been ruthlessly torn from me by various pupils. I am scratched and scarred, for I am old, aye old, even as the hills, for was I not used twelve years ago? Many names are written on my foremost pages and some brainless, pupils have scribbled verses on me such as:

"Ashes to ashes,
Dust to dust,
If French won't kill us,
Geometry must."

Would you care to hear the story of my life and incidentally the history of the Kamloops High School? If so, I shall be delighted to tell you, for now practically all my pleasure lies in reminiscences. My introduction to the Kamloops High School was in 1904. I well remember the difficulty my owner experienced in tracking down this seat of learning, for like many other important institutions, it had a very humble birth place. So humble, indeed that one could scarcely find it. However if one wandered through endless, lanes and alleys and c1imhed a long flight of outside stairs., one would eventually find oneself above a livery stable, in a room, the walls of which were decorated in vivid tints of red and green. The air was fresh, and I was rejoicing in the system of ventilation, when I discovered that nearly all the windows were broken It never occurred to me that this was the Kamloops High School and I was mournfully wondering how I, a self-respecting Geometry, could ever face my fellow Latins, Frenches and all the other school books, after having been carried away by a boy who played hookey, when a bell rang and the pupils filed in. A school trustee introduced Mr. A. Perry, M. A. principal and staff combined, to us and thus was higher education introduced into the Inland Capital.

For two years Mr. Perry drilled the wisdom of my pages into a number of pupils, but in 1906 resigned and Mr. F. F. Smith, B.A., came to take his place. It was with great interest that I watched him scan the room and I imagined I could see despair written on his countenance. This was soon replaced by determination, however, as his eyes fell on the pupils, who if given a proper chance, might some day become famous. Mr. Smith was fortunate enough in being assisted by Mr. R. F. Logan, B.A.

The K. H. S. had, at this time, outgrown its inadequate quarters and in 1907 I assumed a higher station. I was carried by my owner to the third floor of the new Public School, and here I remained for three years, having been sold by one pupil to another. I was becoming rather dilapidated but still remained whole. Each morning I was carried up those endless stairs, my owner sniffing disdainfully at the Pub1ic School infant, and I, of course, following his example and scarcely deigning to look at unimportant Spelling Books and Arithmetics which I could see peeping at me from the school bags of the children of the lower grades, for did I not belong to the High School? Ah me! if I cou1d on1y live those happy days again.

In 1910 Mr. Smith. whom I had learned to respect greatly had trouble with his eyes, and was compelled to resign. Mr. A. F. Mathews, M.A. assumed the principalship, still assisted by Mr. Logan. My own condition was not the best, as I was gradually going to pieces, but stil1 pupils handed me down from one to another.

For the next two years I lived an uneventful life and then one morning found myself in unfamiliar surroundings, which I decoded was the old Methodist church, as there was an air of sanctity about it. Mr. Logan resigned about this time and, J. W. McNab, B.A., became assistant to Mr. Mathews. I was feeling very proud as one industrious pupil had had me rebound and I presented a respectable appearance. It was here I listened to the first debate and I am sure that any casual observer or interested rate-payer, who drops in now on Friday afternoons, can see what progress has been made.

Then in 1913 with great pomp and ceremony the present High School was opened. I was not there, but I heard all about it from a small Union Jack that was put in the cupboard with me a few days later. Dr. Young, the Minister of Education, was present, as were many Kamloops citizens.

The Public School pupils marched to see the place they would some day occupy singing "O Canada," faithfully, if not tunefully, all the way. My informant told me that a banquet was given for Dr. Young and refreshments were served to the people present. At this time the teachers were Mr. Mathews, Mr. T. R. Hall, B.A., and Mr. J. Wattie, M.A., and they labored faithfully to teach the young idea how to shoot.

In 1944, Mr. Wattie resigned and Miss E. W. McQueen, B.A., took his place. The school won a prize in Physical Drill. Sports were introduced and the first High School paper was issued.

In August 1915, I came back to school after the summer holidays. Geometrys being scarce, I was again used by a member of the Preliminary Class. Miss McQueen had resigned and she was missed a great deal until the scholars found her plan ably filled by Miss E. R. A. Davies. M.A.

It was about this time that an extremely sad calamity befell me. One Friday afternoon I was taken into the Matriculation Class where a debate was being held. I listened in amazement to the stream of eloquence that poured from the speakers' lips. It would have amazed Socrates! I had hardly recovered when I was picked up and carried into the library where my owner returned a book. I was then hastily carried outside and dropped in one corner of the Tennis Courts. My owner became so interested in the game that he eventually went off and left me. And alas! it rained all through the night. In the morning I was found wet and discolored. "Well,' said my owner, "that's the end of that old Geometry. I intended to buy a new one anyway.

So he carried me home and put me on the shelf where I now spend my time thinking with satisfaction of the progress, of Higher Education in Kamloops and the, part I played in it.

The History of the K. H. S.

By A. Beryl McPherson — Excerpt from The Kayaitchess 1925

As it was in medieval Europe so it was with Kamloops, for once there was no K.H.S. and therefore ignorance was prevalent. However as time passed a period of comparative enlightenment came. Thus we find that in the year 1904 A.D. the High School was established and Mr. A. Perry, M.A., assumed the duties of teacher. It was well to note here that many great institutions have had an obscure origin, for we learn that the K. H. S. was originally situated over a livery stable. Conditions improved and when the Stuart Wood school was built the room on the third floor was set apart for the K. H. S. This was an especially notable advancement in our history, for then, as never before, the K. H. S. was given a high place in the city of Kamloops.

Remarkable it is that in our history there have been no revolutions. Bolshevism, nonetheless has always been rampant, and many beardless Reds have plotted destruction to the rulers. These latter have always been singularly unmoved by such imminent danger, their whole concern always having been to educate the people, and to dispel the ignorance that the revolutionaries displayed.

In 1906 Mr. F. F. Smith became principal, upon the abdication of our former chief, Mr. Perry. Then also there came a Lord High Chancellor in the person of Assistant Principal R. F. Logan, B.A. In 1910 Mr. Smith retired and a new regime began under Mr. A. F. Matthews, who is still connected with school work in this district.

About this time a wave of Protestantism swept the K. H. S. and new quarters were found in the old Methodist Church. It would be a mistake nevertheless to call this change a reformation, since in the nature of things reform is impossible to High School students, being as they are, so nearly perfect. This is one fact which our history emphasizes, and this is always recognized by teachers of experience.

On the resignation of Mr. Logan, our present head, Mr. J. W. McNab, first came to this school. Later, when Mr. Matthews left us, Mr. T. R. Hall became the Grand Visor of our institution and afterwards the supervisor of all schools in Kamloops. There are those yet among us who remember Mr. Hall and the directness of his methods. When in 1922 Mr. Hall was appointed an inspector of schools, Mr. McNab assumed the duties of Supervisor of Schools in Kamloops, and it is under his rule that we are now prospering. We have occupied the present building since 1913.

A Rip Van Winkle would be surprised if he came back this year for he would find, instead of the humble one-room school a thoroughly modern institution having a staff of seven, a Senior Matriculation, a Commercial Department, two literary societies, a school orchestra, organized football and basketball teams, a school paper, and presenting a successful annual entertainment. The K. H. S. has become a veritable mill of learning from which students of high standing are sent forth.

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1928

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