Scattered Thoughts

The last week has been one of those weeks where I've had 30 different projects all vying for my attention and I've had to go between teaching and a meeting or project the entire week. So if that's what my life has been like, I decided that's what the blog will be like.

So, you're going to be subjected to the flotsam and jetsam of my mind (scary, huh?).

First, the joy of the last week or so. I've been working with a lot of very young students (aged 3-6) and they never cease to amaze me with their literal thinking. I had one young girl handing something in so I said "thank you kindly." She looked at me with big blue eyes and informed me "my name's not kindly." After I finished laughing, I explained to her what I meant.

I had another class where I was talking about Sir Alexander Galt and everything he had done. And then I said he had a museum named after him and asked the class if anyone knew of a museum named after Sir Alexander Galt. Silence in the classroom. So I tried a different tactic. I asked, "well, where are you right now?" The answer? "In a chair."

I've also been doing considerable in-depth research for my exhibit on Lethbridge 1906 to 1913. I know the big picture but there's a few small, persistent questions I still haven't answered. Such as when precisely did different people acquire the right to vote in municipal elections. For example, when did women get the right to vote? Knowing the kind of week I've been having, I should have known it wouldn't be a straightforward answer.

The 1st woman to vote in Lethbridge was in the 1890s -- a widow who was considered head of household. In the 1913 act of incorporation, men and women could both vote but ONLY if they met particular and detailed requirements about owning property. So now the question becomes how many women met those requirements? I suspect the McLeay sisters, entrepreneurs who owned a business and building downtown could vote. But how many others?

Then in 1918 the Province of Alberta said it was going to change the Charters of all cities in Alberta to give women the right to vote.

And I'm working on reformatting some brochures one of our volunteers translated into Arabic. I'm just working on making certain the brochure fits properly on the page and then we'll have the Short History of Lethbridge brochure available in Arabic and Chinese.

And I had the fun opportunity this past week to go to Nord-Bridge Seniors and do a presentation on Lethbridge history. It was a great crowd and, as always, I loved sharing little known stories about Lethbridge's past. Unfortunately for me, I can't include those stats in my school stats so I'm still hoping to find a way to get 300 or so more students by the end of the year so I can reach my magic 10,000 students in one calendar year mark.

Seriously, anyone want me to come talk to an assembly before the end of the year? If not, I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with 9600 students (projected) for this year.