I went to school in Saskatchewan too. I walked just over a mile to school in Grade 1 by myself on a country road that was "snowed in" for about 3 months. Snowed in means no vehicles traveled on it - just snow, snow drifts and then again more snow. I walked every day, including those -40 days. Two older kids had a horse and sleigh but they wouldn't let little kids ride with them so they were long gone as I walked that mile.I can recall walking to school when it was -40 in Saskatchewan and we loved it.
I also walked to school while living in Saskatchewan.I can recall walking to school when it was -40 in Saskatchewan and we loved it.
I had almost exactly the same experience as your mother:My mother lived in very rural South Dakota. Their farm was three miles from town and one room school house. No buses. The school had a barn with stalls around back. She rode her Souix indian pony. I grew up in Chicago. Walked to school just like Ralphie, Randy, Flick and the gang.
South Dakota school bus circa 1928
View attachment 156602
courtesy Gilorease Museum
I also walked to school every day when living in Saskatchewan (Grades 4 through 7).I also walked to school while living in Saskatchewan.
My most fondest memory was one day I decided to sport a new hairstyle in grade 8 - to impress a certain female.
I obviously couldn't wear a hat/touque (that would have ruined my hair), so I endured the chilly -50C windchill for the whole duration.
By the time I got to school my hair certainly didn't move (thanks to all the gel), but that stunt also earned me my first migrane headache.
...oh and that certain female didn't notice.
I completed Grade 1 in that one room school as well as parts of Grade 2 and 3. Later in life I won a number of scholarships and have 3 degrees (one awarded with distinction, one with great distinction) as well as 2 professional designations (in engineering and medicine). Starting school there doesn't seem to have done me any harm.
One of the advantages of having 8 grades in the same room was you got to see what the higher grades were doing. It didn't look so hard.I don't see why it would cause harm, if anything you learn to work independently
What town are you closest to? I lived in Kamloops for a few years.I live in central BC Canada.
Walked 1.8 kms every morning to the bus stop, uphill.
Which was good, because it meant that the 1.8 km walk home after school was downhill.
But I quit school 2 months into grade 9, at age 14, and got a full time job anyway.