E. Vera Perlin and Molly P. Dingle

17. Cross Military Road and the little park and go down the stairs to Queen's Road. Turn left, stopping at #40, the family home of Vera Perlin.

E. Vera Perlin (1902-1974)

Vera Perlin dedicated much of her life to creating opportunities for children with developmental disabilities. She believed that parents had a tremendous influence on the lives and education of their children.

Vera Elizabeth Crosbie Perlin
Vera Elizabeth Crosbie Perlin, n.d.
Photo shows Perlin wearing the Order of Canada, which she was awarded in 1968.
Reproduced by permission of the Vera Perlin Society

In her work on the Advisory Board of the United Church Orphanage she encountered many children with developmental disabilities and became concerned that no provision was made for their education. In 1954 she established, with Molly Dingle, the first school for them in the basement of the United Church Orphanage. They gathered teaching methods from trips to Great Britain and later sent teachers there to develop their teaching practice.

The Perlin Family Home
The Perlin Family Home
40 Queen's Road
Photo by Duleepa Wijayawardhana, 1998.

Her efforts led to the addition of new classes in the city, as well as the formation of the Newfoundland Association for Community Living (now Inclusion Canada NL), which branched out across the province. She helped establish the first Home and School Association as well. In recognition of her work organizations granted her several awards, including the Newfoundland Woman of the Century from the National Jewish Council in 1967, Officer of the Order of Canada in 1968, and an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Memorial University in 1970.

Molly Priscova Dingle MBE (1892-1987)

Molly Dingle was educated in St. John's at the Presbyterian Hall School and Methodist College, graduating in 1908.

In 1908, at the age of 16, Molly Dingle began as a teacher's aide at Holloway School, then the Methodist College, and in 1914 went to Training College in Truro, Nova Scotia training as a kindergarten teacher. She re-joined the staff of Methodist College in 1915. When she retired in 1952, she was its principal.

Molly also trained and mentored new women teachers at summer schools, addressing curriculum and teaching methods and modeling good kindergarten approaches. Many teachers in Newfoundland knew her well.

In 1953, Vera Perlin approached her to begin planning a school for the intellectual disabled. She joined the staff of the first school opened in 1954 and operated from the United Church orphanage on Hamilton Avenue. She actively educated herself in methods and programmes for mentally disabled children. Molly taught at the Vera Perlin School until 1969, having devoted 60 years of her life to teaching.

She was awarded honorary membership into the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1949 for her contribution to children's education in Newfoundland. Years later, the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living honoured Molly for her immense contribution to the work of the organization.

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