James desk is nearly at the centre and surrounded by filing cabinets. A conference room and side office, that is usually used by teaching assistant Gay Kelly, who is on bereavement leave this week, a coffee-maker, fridge and washroom, complete the classroom. I will never die. Students trickle in around 9 a.m. In respect for Archie and his family, school was closed for one day while students attended the funeral.
Schoolwork is self-directed.
Students, many of whom have a variety of learning challenges, study English, Math, Socials Studies and other basics while they work to attain their high school equivalency. Some people have quite severe learning disabilities. Many students attend school even though as adults they ride the school bus because they don t have vehicles. There s a high degree of commitment. When he s not at school, James, who has a background in surveying and spent 18 years working as an archeologist before he went back to school and earned his teaching degree in 1992, is working on his master s degree in archeology.