Forster Secondary School

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• While I understand and appreciate the comments about General Byng, it should also be noted that John L. Forster served as Principal of the school for thirty-two years (1922-1954.) In these times when Principals are routinely transferred after four or five years, this is quite an accomplishment - certainly deserving of "naming recognition." - David Garlick, Principal, Forster Secondary School 2008 - ?

  To Carol Anne - The pool is still a pool - not a lunch room.

  P.S. Excellent write up, by the way.

• I just briefly heard on Am 800 yesterday that the board wants to remove Forster, WD Lowe, Prince Edward and a few others from the Heritage Building list. I hope they don't plan on removing these historic schools from existance ?

  Anyone have any idea's as to what their intentions are ?

• I have been researching the old 'Schools and Teachers of Ontario' Blue Books, and I have come up with a partial resume for John L. Forster, starting in 1921.

  Principal - General Brock School - 1921 to 1923.
  Principal - General Byng School - 1923 to 1931.
  Principal - Sandwich Continuation School - 1926 to 1929.
  Principal - Sandwich High School - 1929 to 1937.
  Principal - Windsor Sandwich Collegiate Institute - 1937 to 1938.
  Principal - Sandwich Collegiate Institute - 1938 to 1953.
  Principal - John L. Forster Collegiate Institute - 1953 to 1954.

  To my understanding, the Continuation School was the forerunner of the High School, and the High School was then transformed into the Collegiate Institute. Does anyone out there know what the difference was between the three? Were they just administrative titles?

  He must have been quite a person, especially to think that he ran the public school and the high school at the same time, from 1926 to 1931. He also ran the school for one year after it was named after him. That is something that you don't see too often. The Blue Books showed that as of 1953, he had 27 years experience in secondary schools and 14 years in elementary schools. That is an impressive record.

  My mom attended Sandwich from 1947 to 1951, and she told me that back then, the Commercial students used to help out with the office work and paperwork etc, because there were no vice principals, and perhaps only one secretary. The principals and teachers not only taught, but they had to handle all of the administrative work in running the school. Most of my aunts and uncles also attended the school while he was principal, and all of them had nothing but respect for Mr. Forster.

  To Andrew - The name change at W. D. Lowe took place in March 1947. Mr. Lowe died in June 1945. Thanks for running a great website.

• David, thanks for the info. From what I've read outside of the first entry for Gen. Brock school, the others are all the same building, the current Forster. The name changes in 1937/1938, likely reflects administrative changes following the amalgamation of Sandwich into Windsor. At one point the school served as both a grade school and high school at the same time.

• http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Public+school+board+wants+schools+heritage+list/3035766/story.html

• Thanks for the link Rich. We had it mentioned at the last heritage committee meeting. However the letter came in the day before so it didn't make it to the agenda. We will discuss it at the next meeting. However, I think it's a case of making a mountain out of a molehill.

  The board wants the schools off, I would not vote to remove them, and I doubt anyone on the committee would either.

  As it stand all being listed does, is trigger a 60 day freeze when a demolition permit is requested. The school board wants the buildings off the list, so that if they should decide to demolish any of them, they don't want to have to have it reviewed.

  Much like churches, schools are a part of the history of our community, and their value to the area is greater than the current owners maybe realize.

• Andrew you guys HAVE to stop this! all those schools.....what a shame. why can't they just do the same as with John Campbell? hollow it out and build in the envelope.

• Interesting article. I attended SCI from 1947 - 1950. Some of the great teachers included Mr. Pew who was also involved in the sports program. I was fortunate to be on the track team, a drummer in the bugle band and although I was only twelve in grade nine, I did get along with all of my peers. J.L.Forster was hated by 90% of the students. He was constantly angry and "shuffled" down the hall intimidating anyone who dared get in his path. Miss Weller taught Latin. She too was looked apon as an ogre by those who were unfortunate enough to take her class. High school years are memorable years that will always be remembered. Many ex SCI grads went on to greater heights thanks to some of the teachers who assisted in molding our lives but, the truth can not be altered and although the school eventually bore his name, J.L. Forster was a bully who misused his authority.

• Wish someone would scan their old Spartalogues and upload them onto the Internet. Maybe Dave Garlick could initiate such a project, using the back copies in the school archives/library -which is where mine from the early '50s repose. I understand many priceless old records were destroyed in a fire at the school and copies of items like the yearbook now exist only in private hands. Putting them online would be a way of preserving them for future generations.

• I was at Forster 1954-1959 but I only remember Mr Steadman (Windy). I lost my year books in a flood so would really appreciate them being online. It is fun to look on Classmates.com to see how we all have changed.