The Year of Miss Agnes

One of the first objects Fred associates with Miss Agnes is her world map. Maps are a symbol of the knowledge the students gain from Miss Agnes. At the beginning of the book, Fred cannot find England on the map; she slowly adds to her knowledge, expanding her understanding of the world's possibilities. Similarly, other students become fascinated by different maps, including the map of Alaska, delighted that they can situate themselves within a larger context. For this reason, the students find it particularly upsetting when Miss Agnes starts to take down the world map at the end of the year, and it is a sign of Miss Agnes's generosity that she chooses to leave it in the schoolhouse for them. Maps also support the theme of learning from other cultures and aid Miss Agnes in framing the children’s stories and village in a larger context. 

Fish play an important role in the life of the community, as children both help their families catch and prepare fish and then eat them as a staple of their diet. Because fish permeate many aspects of the culture, the previous teacher's disgust at the smell of fish particularly disturbs them.