Fort George Church of England Indian Residential School (IRS) was located northeast of Fort George at the mouth of the Grand Rivière on the north shore of Governor’s Island on the eastern shore of James Bay 200 miles north of Moosonee. The IRS operated from 1933 - 1975.
Other names identifying the residential school were Indian Residential School of the Church of England, Fort George; Anglican Indian Residential School Fort George; Anglican Indian Residential School, Fort George (Anglican Church of Canada); St. Philip School; Indian Residential School and Eskimo St. Philip; Indian Residential School and St. Phillip Anglican Day School; Student Residence St. Phillip (the official name of the residential part of the school from 1972); Fort-Ste-Foy Indian Residential School; and Fort George Home Complex (Anglican Church of Canada) (no dates identified).
The Government of Canada was responsible for funding, which was managed and operated by the Anglican Church (Bishop of the Arctic) from 1932 - 1936. From January 1st, 1936, the School Board of Indian and Eskimo Residential Schools of the Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada assumed administration (management and operation) of the school. The federal government took over administration of the school on April 1st, 1969, until it closed in June 1975.
No information is available on documents of agreements.
Information regarding which grades were taught at the IRS include; 1939-1966 The school is taught in Ontario’s curriculum. 1953-1955 There is kindergarten class every morning. 1958-1960 In 1960, all children are in the 1st to 3rd class. 1963 On September 1st, 1963, kindergarten is officially introduced. 1963 Grades 2 and 3 and kindergarten are in good condition. 1964 In the Quebec English curriculum for grades 1 to 3, only grade 3 could receive 20 minutes of French instruction per day. 1964-1965 In September 1964, schools replaced their Ontario curriculum with the Quebec curriculum. Kindergarten to grade 3 start taking Quebec courses in English studies; over the years, an additional class per year was changing to the Quebec curriculum. 1971-1973 High school is introduced into the school curriculum. Beginning in the fall of 1971, a secondary level is added each year, up to Secondary III, which is added in 1973. 1972 English is the language of instruction; French is taught as a secondary language in grades 5 to 7.
No information is available on student enrolment statistics at the IRS. 1958, in the 1958-59 school year, four students returned; 54 students were admitted for the first time. 1963 There were more students enrolled than expected for the 1963-64 school year. 1967 Thirteen children are absent from school for 160 days as they accompany their parents to the traplines.
Authorized student enrolment at the IRS; 1933-1937 Housing of 35 students based on the allocation per student by the Ministry. 1938-1947 The housing of 50 students is based on the allocation per student by the Ministry. 1947 The authorized student enrolment is 70 - 75. 1956-1957 The authorized student enrolment is 90. 1957 No new students were admitted to school during the 1957-58 school year. The enrolment for September 1st, 1957, is to be reduced to 52 children, although other documents suggest that the enrolment should not exceed 55. 1957-1958 The authorized student enrolment is 52 - 55. 1958 The authorized student enrolment is increased to 65 students. 1962 The authorized student enrolment for the school is 65 - 69 students. 1963 According to the principal, the authorized student enrolment for the school, is 160. 1964 The authorized student enrolment for the 1964-65 school year is 140. 1967 The authorized student enrolment of 154 students is exceeded.
Students ‘recruited’ from other reserves include; Paint Hill, Old Factory, Eastmain, Rupert House, Fort George, Nemaska, and Grande Baleine River.
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