The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

November 2001 West Vancouver Historical Society Page 3 WEST VANCOUVER SCHOOL MEMORIES By: Tom Taylor Tom Taylor is a long-standing member of the board of directors of the Historical Society and a frequent contributor to these colums. It seems from the following article that the years 1943 and 1944, which saw many commanding events in other parts of the world, also saw changes in West Vancouver. The following extracts are from columns of various editions of the West Van News.. Long-time West Van residents will doubtless remember the following teachers, who retired from Pauline Johnson, West Van High and Hollybum Schools respectively. Mrs. Lovegrove, who wrote the columns, was the wife of Captain Lovegrove, editor and publisher of the West Van News, issued each Thursday. She wrote a one-page section each week on local goings-on, marriages, family moves, armed forces enlistments, and so on, was present at each of the ceremonies mentioned below, and wrote her accounts for the West Vancouver News on the dates noted. "October 7,1943 MISS DOROTHY JONES RETIRES Miss Dorothy Jones, one of the most cultured of West Vancouver's school teachers, has just retired, after long and faithful service. She taught for twenty-six years here, seven of these being spent successfully as head mistress of Dundarave School, wliich has since been closed. Latterly, she has been on the staff of Pauline Johnson School. Miss Jones was one of the highest qualified teachers in the schools here, and West Vancouver was very fortunate to have had the advantage of her knowledge and experience for so long a period. Her resignation will be greatly felt by all those who have the best interests of the young people of the municipahty at heart. She was very interested in folk dancing and revived the quaint old dances of the village green at the annual May Day celebrations. One of Miss Jones's first assignments was at a one-room school conducted in a private home in Caulfeild, starting in January, 1916." (Contd. from previous column) Mr, Mitchell, who was visibly moved, thanked the donors most sincerely for the gift and the spirit which had prompted it. While he was now inclined to wonder why he had resigned, he had done so because of certain criticisms made and the fact that a number of electors by their votes at the municipal election had showed that they were not altogether satisfied with his efforts. He wanted, however to stay on for one or two years as a teacher in order to assist with the work of rehabilitation. A number of Mr. Mitchell's friends were also present with the students, the latter of whom spent the remainder of the evening dancing." "June 22,1944 LUNCHEON TO HONOR PRINCIPAL DAVIDSON "June 15, 1944 PRESENTATION TO J. R. MITCHELL At an interesting ceremony Saturday night in Dundarave Hall a large group of High School students presented Principal J. R. Mitchell with a beautiful wrist watch in recognition of his personal popularity among tliem and the help he had given them in their studies. Ex-Reeve Sears, who acted as chairman, in a short address, referred to how much Mr. Mitchell had done along educational lines among the young in the Municipality, and along community lines. He also honored him as a business man, for his boundless energy, and as a good husband and father. He had been president of file B.C. Teachers' and Canadian Teachers' Federations. He then called on Miss Eileen Johnson to make file presentation, she also presenting Mrs. Mitchell with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. A luncheon was held at Hollybum School on Friday, June 16, in honor of Mr. Donald Davidson, retiring principal. It was in the nature of a re-union banquet when the present staff and other teachers who had formerly served under Mr. Davidson took this opportunity of showing their appreciation of a man whose high qualities have won him the respect and admiration of all those who have worked with him in the educational system of West Vancouver. The esteem in which Mr. Davidson is held, and the general regret at his retirement, were expressed by Mr. John Allan, vice-principal, when on behalf of those present, he asked Mr. Davidson to accept, as a token of their regard, an engraved onyx signet ring. In a brief reply, which he refused to call a Swan Song, Mr. Davidson thanked the company and referred to his many happy memories of West Vancouver. The luncheon broke up with the singing of Auld Lang Syne."