the first teaching done on the islands was by a fisherman, john feltham, who was asked by william tiller to stay ashore rather than fish to teach his boys. feltham agreed to this, and sometime later, in 1829, he was appointed by the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts (s.p.g.), to be a teacher. in 1830 there were about 25 students, but this school was discontinued in 1834. the next record of school was by the teacher edward churnside bishop under the newfoundland school society from 1843 to 1883. in 1869 a new school house was built; and the last teacher to teach at swain's island was annie alice hall in 1901.