Continuation School and High School Defined

Before a detailed study of secondary education in Dryden can be initiated, the terms "Elementary School", "Continuation School", and "High School" must be clarified. The term "secondary education" as we use today, was unknown in the 19th century and during the early 20th century.

.In addition, if one reads educational literature written during the early part of the 20th century, one will encounter the terms "Junior Matriculation", "Senior Matriculation", "First and Second class certificates"

As it is defined today, Elementary education comprised of the first eight years of schooling (grades one through eight). Continuation school consisted of Grade 9 up to Grade 12. Only education that included Grade 13 was considered high school at the time.

At the turn of the 20th century, completion of elementary school was considered an accomplishment. In fact, it is recorded that a local girl was hired to teach as a temporary replacement after having passed her Grade VIII exams

From 1912 to 1935, when the school became a high school, continuation school was taught at the Van Horne building. Initially, continuation school subjects were taught on an informal basis by the elementary school teachers. No certificates were awarded to students. Eventually, Grades 9,10 and 11 (then known as forms 1,2 and 3) were taught and Junior Matriculation certificates were granted. Junior Matriculation was also called Second Class Certificates. To continue and receive the Senior Matriculation certificates (or First Class Certificates), one had to attend school in Rat Portage (Kenora) or one of the schools in the twin cities of Port Arthur and Fort William (Thunder Bay).

In a history of Dryden Continuation School, undertaken by Jason Rigbey in 1932, it is recorded that previous to 1923, students were able to obtain their "Second Class Certificates" or their "Junior Matriculation" by the end of their third year of Continuation School.

By 1938, students were obtaining their "Senior Matriculation", or their high school diploma. To obtain such a certificate, one had to complete forms 4 and 5 (Grades 12 and 13) and pass departmental exams implemented by the province of Ontario.

Completion of high school or continuation school was not considered important by many during the early part of the 20^th century. For the longest period of time education was compulsory up to age fourteen. Furthermore, the Great Depression had a profound effect on students' education. The economic hardships faced by many young people at the time forced them to leave school in search of employment.