Student
Classes
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Scale
used in Science Class
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he
courses offered at the opening of the school included reading,
writing, arithmetic, "practical and rational", book
keeping, geography, grammar, rhetoric, history, natural history,
English, French, plain and ornamental needle and net work. Other
courses offered over the years included art, music, choir on radio,
commercial programme and religious studies.
The Commercial Class was started in 1892 by Sister Mary Matthew,
as a programme to teach young women the skills needed in the business
world. Sister Matthew had been a legal secretary and court reporter
before entering the novitiate. There were limited options for
employment for women, and aside from teaching and nursing, business
skills were a popular choice. The students learned shorthand,
typing, bookkeeping, office communication and other useful skills.
The reputation of the programme grew, and during the 1930s, a
number of the graduates were hired to work in the Provincial Legislature.
A diploma was presented at the end of the programme, as an indication
of the abilities of these young women. A newspaper article was
written about the first student in public works, when she passed
away in 1999:
First
woman in public works dies at 108
Agnes
Mary Finlayson, who started her career in the B.C. civil
service in 1908, was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery Thursday.
She died at Glengary Hospital Saturday at age 108. She was
probably Victorias oldest resident. Born in Newfoundland
in 1890, she came to Victoria as a young girl and was taught
by the sisters at St. Anns Academy and then graduated
from St. Anns Business College. In 1908, she became
the first woman to work in the department of public works
and rose through the service until her retirement in 1950
as secretary to the deputy minister of finance.
Times Colonist - Friday, April 9, 1999
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