Barbara A. Martindale- For What It's Worth June 11, 2013
A question recently about J. L. Mitchener, obviously an important man to have the Cayuga public school named after him, brought some research to the forefront.
James L. Mitchener was a respected Haldimand inspector of schools for many years from 1918 until the early 1940s. He also taught high school at Caledonia during the time when the high school and public school were in the same building behind the Caledonia Presbyterian Church approximately 1907 and later. A school picture taken at the time shows Mr. Mitchener to be not much older than his pupils.
In 1918, when he assumed the role of Haldimand's inspector of schools, he succeeded Clark Moses, who from 1875 was inspector of schools. In fact, Richard Harcourt preceded Clark Moses, who in 1871 took on the job. Richard Harcourt from York, following in his father's footsteps, went on to pursue a political career becoming Ontario Minister of Education in the early 1900s.
The early 1900s was an era when rural school fairs were held in Haldimand County at different locations, on different days in September throughout the County. Dunnville's rural school fair, which also took in Canboro and Moulton in 1935, was held on Tuesday, September 17, according to the 11th annual Prize List. Parents were urged to let the boys and girls do the work for the school fair themselves, but were encouraged to bring a lunch basket and arrange to spend the day with the children. J.L. Mitchener, B.A. was listed as the public school inspector on the prize list flyer.
Public school inspector visits to schools were an anxious time during the school year. In 1980, Elsie McCurdy recalled a visit by J.L. Mitchener to her one room McGaw's School, now the Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum. She said, “As soon as he came to inspect us, we had to stand by our seats and sing: ‘How do you do, Mr. Mitchener, how do you do? Is there anything that we can do for you? We'll be with you to the end, and we'll do the best we can. How do you do, Mr. Mitchener, how do you do?’"
A teacher, Vera F. Harrap, had her memories of a visit by Mr. Mitchener, too. She said during her first term of teaching, she had promised a child that she would have to use the strap. Mr. Mitchener called on the school that afternoon and Miss Harrap asked him if he would do it. He said no. Miss Harrap fulfilled her promise in his presence, feeling embarrassed.
James L. Mitchener retired from his position in 1942 because of ill health and on April 9, 1943 he passed away. In 1957, a new Cayuga-North Cayuga Township School Area board, after securing an ideal site, built a ten-room school to be known as the J.L. Mitchener School, named for the former public school inspector of the County.
