In Memoriam: Sybil Shack

The Manitoba Associations for Rights and Liberties notes, with sadness, the passing of its Honourary President Sybil Shack. Miss Shack won national recognition as an educator, writer and broadcaster. She was active in the promotion of human rights all her life.

Miss Shack was born in Winnipeg . She graduated from St. John's High School at the age of 14 and received the Isbister Scholarship to attend the University of Manitoba. After graduation she attended Normal School and qualified as a teacher and the beginning of the depression. While teaching in Winnipeg, Miss Shack attended the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and received her Bachelor of Education and Masters of Education. She was appointed as a Principal in 1947 and served at various Winnipeg schools until her retirement in 1976.

In University Miss Shack developed an interest in writing which continued throughout her life. She worked as a writer and editor for many educational and general interest publications. For thirty years she was a script writer and broadcaster for the Manitoba Department of Education and the CBC. She also wrote textbooks on spelling and language arts.

Throughout her career Sybil Shack was committed to promoting the welfare of teachers and pupils.

She advocated the abolition of departmental exams and extension of scholarships and bursaries.

In the nineteen forties she worked to end the salary differentials between men and women teachers.

Miss Shack never confined her interests to the school system. She firmly believes that good teachers must be active in the world outside the classroom. The boards and committees she has served on are too numerous to list. M.A.R.L is fortunate that she has devoted so much of her time to its activities.

Sybil Shack M.A.R.L. very soon after it was formed. She was a member of the Board of Directors, a Vice-President and Co-Convenor of the Legislative Review Committee. She made a number of presentations to the Law Amendments Committee including a major brief on the revised Human Rights Code. In the spring of 1994, M.A.R.L. appointed Miss Shack as its honourary president.