Some of the readers may recall seeing an article entitled, “A Vanishing Species” published last year in papers throughout Manitoba. In that article I briefly outlined the history of the permit teachers in Manitoba. I also shared with readers a number of experiences of permit teachers throughout the province.
This year, instead of relating a number of permit teachers’ experiences, I would like to highlight the contributions of one Permit Teacher, the late Peter Maendel, whom I consider a “Pioneer in the Field of Hutterite Education”
Peter’s life began as a member of the Hutterian Faith on the Rosedale Colony, northeast of Elie, Manitoba. After his marriage to Sarah Wurtz of the James Valley Colony, he and his new bride settled into the newly founded New Rosedale Colony. Their marriage was blessed with three sons and nine daughters.
During the latter months of the Second World War, Peter bussed to Port Arthur, Ontario along with fellow Hutterites to work in the shipyards as conscientious objectors corresponding to their Pacifist views and his faith.
After returning to New Rosedale, he was elected the position of Hog Barn Manager, a new job involving a lot of learning about animal husbandry, which he enjoyed and thoroughly understood ... and probably served him well in dealing with his rambunctious Teachers College colleagues some years later.
During the winter months, Arnold Peters the Mennonite Teacher in New Rosedale School offered the men of the colony evening classes in Math, Science and English. Peter was an enthusiastic participant.
In 1955, the New Rosedale Brotherhood elected Peter to the vocation of teacher, an historic first for Manitoba /Canadian Hutterites. In order to prepare for this new and pioneering responsibility Peter registered at the Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute in Winnipeg, a decision based on the common Anabaptist Faith background of both Mennonites and Hutterites. He studied during the summer months as well and he managed to complete Grades 9-12 in just two and one half years. During the 1959-60 school year Peter taught as a Permit Teacher from September to Christmas at the New Rosedale Colony School and then from January to the end of June at the new daughter colony – Fairholme, located southwest of Portage La Prairie.
In 1960, Peter enrolled at the Manitoba Teachers College in Tuxedo where I was a fellow student. Peter was already in his mid-thirties and the rest of us were just a bunch of young rambunctious fellows in our late teens and early twenties, full of “spice and vinegar”. Peter resided in “Fraser Hut”, the same hut as I, and during that year we considered it the “elite’ hut. Because of Peter’s modest personality and his deep religious faith he probably would not have agreed with my assessment. Peter fit in very well with us despite our ignorant, youthful exuberance, served as a “leavening agent” and mentor to many of us including a spiritual mentor ... and thus began a lifelong friendship with many of his colleagues at Teachers College. My late wife, Lorraine, and I cultivated an ongoing friendship with Peter and we got to know and appreciate Peter’s family and really enjoyed our frequent visits to the Fairholme Colony.
After Teachers College and teaching for one year, Peter enrolled at the Gimli Summer School Camp in July and August of 1962 and earned his Permanent Teaching Certificate; an historic first for the
Hutterite Community. For twenty-five years he taught Grades 4-8 in the two-room Fairholme Colony Elementary School.
After Fairholme established Windy Bay Colony near Pilot Mound, Peter was elected as Fairholme’s minister on October 28, 1979 and ordained in 1989; and served and led with skill, dedication and enthusiasm.
Following the example set by Peter, two of his daughters, Anna and Dora Maendel were awarded Bachelor of Education Degrees from the University of Manitoba in 1985. During the decades of 1994-2004, nearly a hundred other Manitoba Hutterites have gone on to obtain Bachelor of Education Degrees from Brandon University. In 2013 the first group of four Hutterite women graduated from Brandon University as Registered Nurses: three of Peter’s granddaughters and one great niece. Peter was indeed a “Pioneer” in the field of Hutterite education.
Anna and Dora have both graciously accepted an invitation to be our guest speakers at this year’s Dr. Louisa Loeb 13th Annual Reunion of the Permit Teachers of Manitoba to be held on July 13, 2017, where they will give a presentation of their father’s life in the field of education.
Our theme again for this year is, “Students and Teachers Together Again” and you are once again encouraged to bring a former student or students whom you taught on permit to the gathering.
For more information about this reunion, please contact our registrar, Edith Alexiuk at 294-256-6484.
Submitted by Ed Arndt (a former permit teacher) of Virden, Manitoba on behalf of the Dr. Louisa Loeb 13th Annual Reunion of Permit Teachers of Manitoba.
