As a response to la guerre des éteignoirs – a period of popular unrest following the adoption of the School Law of 1846 – the State created the position of school inspector which lasted from1851 to 1964, or until the establishment of the Quebec Ministry of Education. The role of these school inspectors named by the Department of Public Instruction was, among other things, to explain the law to the citizens, visit the schools, verify the school records and accounting ledgers, evaluate the teaching staff, promote pedagogical methods and classify the schools. A visit by the inspector, like that of the commissioner or the pastor, was an important event in a school year and was prepared for very carefully.

1883年セントバーナード学校が開校し、1894年セントフランシス・ザヴィエ大学の姉妹校になりました。後にマウント・セントバーナード・カレッジと改名された同校は、北米で初めて、女子に後期中等教育を行うカトリック校でした。3年後、フローレンス・マクドナルド、メアリ―・Ｅ・ビセット、リリアン・マクドナルド、そしてマーガレット・マクドゥーガルの４人の若い女性に文学士号が授与されました。

Many social and religious student associations were organized at the end of the 19th century. Les Enfants de Marie or the Children of Mary, an association started in France, enabled young women to experience community life in their school environment. They became involved, organized meetings, performed good deeds and learned how to live more deeply the presence of God.

Religious feast days, anniversary celebrations, distributions of academic awards, conferences, official visits were all occasions to organize evenings of theatrical performances or concerts prepared by the students. The convents’ study halls were often the only places in the town or village where social and cultural events took place. The day after an evening at the convent in Sorel in 1898, an article in the local paper stated: “Sorel society was invited Wednesday evening to a truly regal musical and artistic event at the convent of the Congregation. The students of this school imposed upon themselves a very demanding task in order to offer the audience such a rich programme. Their efforts, however, were crowned with success. A large and select audience filled the hall. Among them were members of the clergy of the city and of the neighbouring parishes, the mayor and the city’s most notable citizens. The ladies made up more than half of the audience.”