St. Nicolas Institute was an early
example of continuing education promoted by an agency of the
church. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul supported the
institute’s provision of evening classes in basic skills to
youth who were already employed but wanted to improve their
position by improving their education. The following report
for 1888 was prepared for the Society by one of the teachers
of St. Nicholas Institute.
I beg to submit a brief report on the night school carried out
at the St. Nicholas Institute during the past winter.
The school opened on December 26th,
and continued for the ten ensuing weeks. The hours of teaching
were from 7 to 9 each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
evenings. The average attendance was about 30 and of this
number 20 were in the second class and the remainder in the
third. The subjects taught were reading, writing, arithmetic,
spelling, dictation, composition and letter writing, with
special attention to drafting of business forms, such as
accounts, receipts, etc.
The interest taken in the work by several members of the
various Conferences who visited from time to time had a very
beneficial effect.
As prizes had been promised in the early part of the term, the
sum of five pounds was subscribed for this purpose, and
divided among seven of the most deserving pupils. The general
interest manifested throughout the term was much more
satisfactory than in former years, and the progress much more
gratifying.
Oc 12, bulletin 33, 1888, p. 344
Society of
St. Vincent de Paul
Toronto Central Council
240 Church
Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 1Z2
Tel: 416-364-5577 Fax: 416-364-2055