April 5, 1938
DEFENDS HIS ACTION
Editor, Evening Telegram.
Dear Sir, – Please allow me space in your paper to pass a few remarks re the dole in this area.
Early this year there were several families in this settlement badly in need of relief and could not obtain any dole order from the relieving officer. One family in particular were depending on friends for a week, to get food.
I thought it my duty to take up their case, so I notified the department at St. John’s, and these families were relieved.
Recently I hear through the school board member, that several people from other settlements have criticized my action, and say that there are many who now receive dole would not have received it had I not written that letter. They further say that I may lose my school.
In replying may I say that I was looking out for the people of my own community; but of course all the people of Hodge’s Cove are not receiving dole, by a big jug full. There are many who are independent, and to such gentlemen I take off my hat. To those people receiving dole I also take off my hat, because they are men who worked hard at the fisheries, but could not get enough to help them through the winter.
I told the department that people who did not receive dole and were in need must be given consideration – that dole should be abolished as soon as possible, and work given our people. If there are people receiving dole who are not in need, it’s not my funeral. I’m not relieving officer, but I guess the gentleman in charge knows his work fairly well.
As for my school, this is a different cast. Out of nine years’ teaching six have been spent in Random Mission, and do you not think my work satisfactory? Apart from school hours, my time is my own and I shall use my spare moments to the best advantage. I shall help my people if I feel like it. I think it a duty.
What are teachers being trained for – to become idle or to become leaders of the people? On September 22nd past, through a column of The Evening Telegram I called on all local teachers of Random to come out and help pave the way for better conditions of living for our people.
Not one responded!
It is useless to speak or pattern after conditions of the fifteenth century. We must train our people to meet the problems of today.
So gentlemen, in future if you have anything to say about my actions, come to me and say it – not to a member of the school board. I, and I alone, am responsible for anything that I may say.
Thank you, Mr. Editor, I am,
Yours truly,
SAM C. DROVER,
Teacher, Hodge’s Cove,
March 29th, 1938.
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May 7, 1938
The Telegram Forum
The Evening Telegram, while providing a means of venting matters of public import, accepts no responsibility for correspondents’ opinions.
Education Week Programme at Hodge’s Cove
Editor Evening Telegram,
Dear Sir, – Education Week was observed here with keen interest both among the boys and girls of school age, and those older.
Our teachers, Miss Olga Moores of the U.C. School and Mr. Samuel Drover of the C. of E. School, have been busy with the children.
The result was, on Tuesday night, May 3rd, a very pleasant entertainment was held. The hall was decorated with the colours red, white and blue with posters telling us this is Education Week, 1938.
The programme opened with the “Ode to Newfoundland”, then with suitable songs, recitations and musical selections on the Victrolia, the time passed quickly. The teachers gave demonstrations with pupils of different ages in subjects taught in our schools today. Judging from the exhibition in art, there is a promise of some future artists for Newfoundland.
One item was especially interesting. It showed the Junior Red Cross, with their caps and arm bands on their white dresses; they looked like so many nurses.
Mr. Drover gave an outline of the work done in school and asked the cooperation of the parents in keeping their children at school. He pointed out the disadvantages a child is at if he or she is one of a class who misses so many days a month he or she cannot possibly keep up with a child who attends regularly.
Miss Moores and Mr. Drover are both energetic teachers, and deserve much credit for the interest shown in their pupils both in school and out, and especially for the programme put on.
The enjoyable evening came to an end with the singing of the National Anthem – COR.
Hodge’s Cove, May 4th, 1938.
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Transcribed by Maria Drover, July 2023
These transcriptions may contain human errors. As always, confirm these as you would any other source materia