Bertha Maude Reynolds
Bertha Maude Reynolds (September 1, 1907 in Beeton, Ontario.[1]-October 30, 1978 in Oakville, Ontario[2]) was a Canadian educator and education administrator who worked closely with children from newcomer families and those who were economically disadvantaged[3].
Life[edit]
Born to George Edward Reynolds and Ellenor Whitter, Reynolds grew up in Beeton, Ontario, in Simcoe County.[1]. She received her high school education at Barrie Collegiate Institute.[3] In 1925 she graduated from the Toronto Normal School, but furthered her education by taking special classes at the University of Toronto and Columbia University.[3] After her graduation, Reynolds began working as a teacher at Adam Beck School, before moving into administration as principal's assistant at Davisville and John Fraser Schools[3]. She also spent a year exchange teaching for a school in Vancouver. [3]
In 1944, a time where very few Toronto principals were women,[3] Reynolds became principal at the Hester How School where she worked until 1947[3]. Hester How School was located on the site of what is now the Hospital for Sick Children[4] and at the time was one of the most culturally diverse, as well as socially disadvantaged, schools in Toronto[5] with students from over 20 nationalities attending[4]. In her time at Hester How, with funding provided by the Board of Education, Reynolds organized a community centre. [3] Not only was her centre a model for many others that followed, but it provided showers that children could use if they didn't have one at home - a service that was revolutionary at the time.[3] The school was lacking male teachers during the war and post-war periods, so Reynolds took it upon herself to coach the boys' hockey, football, and baseball teams.[3] Reynolds looked back on her short time at Hester How School as her most satisfying teaching experience.[3]
In 1947, after leaving Hester How School, Reynolds was appointed Chief of the Attendance Department of the Board of Education of Toronto and became coordinator of the Child Guidance Clinic when it was established in 1948[3]. In this role Reynolds worked on programmes including home education for students in grades 8 through 13 who were pregnant[6] and ensuring that students for whom English was not a first language still had access to information on education[7].
Reynolds was involved in a number of organizations including being convener of the social welfare committee of the Provincial Council of Women, governor of District 17 of the Pilot Club International[3], and in 1959 was elected President of the International Association of Pupil Personnel Workers[8]
Besides her teaching and social work, Reynolds had a significant background in music. She qualified for an associateship with the Royal Conservatory of Music as a Solo Performer and a Music Teacher.[3]
Reynolds died at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital on October 30, 1978 is buried at Beeton Trinity Cemetery[2].
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada Births, 1858-1913 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Obituaries". The Globe and Mail. November 1, 1978.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 "A gallery of women". Globe and Mail. April 30, 1959.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Ex-Pupils, Teachers Recall Former Days". The Globe and Mail. June 2, 1964.
- ↑ Education, Toronto Board of. "Hester How Public School". www.virtualmuseum.ca. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
- ↑ "Plan helps pregnant students continue education". The Globe and Mail. May 19, 1966.
- ↑ Russell, George (December 10, 1970). "Barrier of 43 languages hurdled by staff on Board of Education". The Globe and Mail.
- ↑ "Educators Vote Toronto Woman New Presidene". The Globe and Mail. October 22, 1959.
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