GOLF FAMILY …
Special accommodation in Wilson School was arranged by Dr. C. A. Oulton, superintendent of public schools, to give the Golf children, who arrived from Greece last December, every opportunity to “catch up” on the English language. W. M. Holliston, former principal of Buena Vista School, through arrangements by Mr. Golf, took the Golf class.
From left to right: Margaret, George, Frank, Peter, and Bill Golf at their desks. Standing, Mr. Holliston.
Star Phoenix Staff Photo
The family of Gus Golf arrived in Saskatoon last December from Greece and the children enrolled in Victoria School. As the weeks went by it became evident that the language handicap could not be overcome adequately by regular public-school teaching. D. M. Hamilton, Victoria School principal, and the other teachers there gave them special lessons during spare minutes but under the crowded conditions at the school little time could be found for the extra attention needed. Mr. Hamilton reported the circumstances to Dr. C. A. Oulton, public school superintendent.
Doctor Oulton took the situation in hand and soon Margaret, George, Frank. Peter and Bill Golf were settled in a vacant classroom in Wilson School with a teacher just for themselves. The teacher was W. M. Holliston, former principal of Buena Vista School, his expenses being paid by Mr. Golf. The little class spent hours reading aloud, practicing English pronunciation, and studying English spelling and grammar. All the recent books on the teaching of the English language at the school board office were made available to Mr. Holliston for his students.
The study of the language was combined with the study of all the regular grade 8 work and in July when the special class wound up its own term, the four older students, Margaret, 21, George, 18, Frank, 17, and Peter, 15, were recommended to enter grade 9 in the fall. Billy, age 13, was recommended to start grade 5 work. Mr. Holliston was confident that his students would do him proud and convinced that once they mastered English they would be rapidly promoted in their classes.
Mr. Holliston’s faith in his pupils proved prophetic, for after a short trial in grade 9 at Nutana Collegiate Institute Frank and George were advanced to grade 10. The children had had excellent schooling in Greece before the Germans invaded that country, at which time their formal education was all but stopped. For years it was dangerous for them to speak even their native tongue, not to mention English, as German was the official language. Now they are finding the study of French and Latin as easy as their schoolmates; they have a common mathematical background, and they are learning about the Western hemisphere as in Greece they studied that part of the world. Picture shows, participation in school sports and in social events are making English more familiar each day.
The experiment of holding a special class for this Greek family was thought of by Doctor Oulton to be one which might prove useful in the future. If, as could happen, many European families immigrated here, the children, already schooled in the three R’s, could be placed quickly in grades according to their ability.
Mr. Golf came to Saskatoon in 1910 and was married here. After Margaret was born the family returned to Greece, although Mr. Golf continued his business life in this city. The youngest member of the family just started school last year and is keeping up with her classmates in Victoria. Venus, another daughter, has been in the hospital for a considerable time.
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, October 24, 1946, p. 7.