The public school system in New Brunswick did not fully develop until 1872 when The Common Schools Act of 1871 was enacted by the New Brunswick government. Through this bill, education became available to all children across the province and was supported through taxation and public funds.
At first, schools were mostly one room buildings where all students up to grade 8 attended together taught by one teacher. The buildings generally had a wood stove in the middle of the room for heating, outhouses, and a woodshed. The Province was divided into School Districts generally with one school per district. Consolidation of schools began in the 1940s though students continued going to the one or two room school houses for many more years. High schools were separate institutes and far fewer in number than the elementary schools. Most students did not get that far in their education in the early years.
Links to further information
- The Provincial Archives of New Brunswick early education in the province
- A Century of Educational Progress in New Brunswick from 1800 to 1900 by John Wood
- History of Education in New Brunswick
Here is a list of many of the schools in the area. If any are missing, please provide information to harveyhistoricalassociation@gmail.com.
Here is a list of elementary one and two room schoolhouses.
- Brockway School
- Coburn Frog Lake School
- Harvey Station two room School
- Lake George School on Route 635
- Lake George School on Route 636
- Magundy School
- Manners Sutton “Swamp” School
- Middle School District School
- Prince William School
- Smithfield School
- South Tweedside School
- Tweedside School
- Wilmot School
- York Mills School
In 1965 (?) elementary schools in the Manners Sutton area were consolidated into a new elementary school located at its present location on Route 3.
- Harvey Elementary School
High School attendance in those days was difficult since there were no high schools in the area. Students in the Manners Sutton area wishing to attend high school had to travel to McAdam or Fredericton. In 1946, the first regional high school was built in Harvey Station, where the Cenotaph now stands.
- Harvey High School (Original)
- Harvey High School (1980)