Martha Margaret Mildred Simpson (pen name, Innisfail; 3 May 1865 – 7 June 1948) was an Irish-born Australian educational theorist and poet. She was responsible for pioneering new education methods in Australia, including promoting kindergarten education, supervised playgrounds and hospital schools.
Martha M. Simpson | |
|---|---|
 from her 1914 report | |
| Born | Martha Margaret Mildred Simpson 3 May 1865 Omagh, Tyrone, Ireland |
| Died | 7 June 1948 (aged 83) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Irish Australian |
| Occupation | educationalist |
| Known for | advocate for Montessoti education |
Biography
editMartha Margaret Mildred Simpson was born 3 May 1865 in County Tyrone, Ireland.[1]
She taught at New South Wales schools, including Wyee, Carrow Brook, Tea Tree, Tea Gardens, Woerden and Tamworth.[1]
Simpson became the first Lecturer in kindergarten studies at the Sydney Teachers' College in 1908.[1] In the following year, Simpson published a work entitled "Work in the kindergarten : an Australian programme, based on the life and customs of the Australian Black".[2]
In 1912, the New South Wales government sent Simpson to Europe to learn about the Montessori Method of education from Dr. Montessori herself.[3] These principles were practiced at the demonstration school.[4] In 1914, Simpson published her "Report on the Montessori Methods of Education".[5] Simpson became the first female Inspector of Infant Schools for New South Wales in 1917.[6] Simpson was also responsible for the kindergarten section of Blackfriars Demonstration School, part of the Sydney Teachers' College.[1] Her early students included Amy Rowntree, who would carry the kindergarten message on to Tasmania.[7]
In 1920, Simpson travelled to the US to further study education methods,[6] and returned with ideas on improving the health of students. These ideas were implemented at Blackfriars, including nutritious lunches and a milk allowance.[8]
Simpson retired from education in 1930 and the following year unsuccessfully stood for election for the New South Wales district of Annandale.[9]
Simpson was a poet, and her works include "To an old grammar",[10][11] which was published in An Anthology of Australian Verse,[12] and "Friendship's Tribute", which was published under the pen name "Innisfail".[9]
Simpson died in Sydney on 7 June 1948.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Bruce Mitchell, 'Simpson, Martha Margaret Mildred (1865–1948)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1988, accessed online 1 May 2024.
- ^ Simpson, M. M. (Martha Margaret); Sydney Teachers College. Education Society (1909), Work in the kindergarten : an Australian programme, based on the life and customs of the Australian Black, Teachers' College, retrieved 12 February 2017
- ^ "TEACHING IN MANY LANDS". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 23, 591. 20 August 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 11 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "OUR WOMEN WORKERS". The Daily Herald. Vol. 5, no. 1450. Adelaide. 14 November 1914. p. 11. Retrieved 12 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Simpson, M., & New South Wales. Department of Education. (1914). REPORT ON THE MONTESSORI METHODS OF EDUCATION. SYDNEY : W. A. GULLICK, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, 1914.
- ^ a b "FOR WOMEN". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 28, 798. 23 April 1930. p. 7. Retrieved 11 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Rodwell, Grant, "Amy Rowntree (1885–1962)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 30 April 2024
- ^ "INFANT EDUCATION". The Mercury. Vol. CXXXIII, no. 19, 747. Tasmania. 20 November 1930. p. 10. Retrieved 12 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "WOMAN CANDIDATE CONTESTS ANNANDALE BY-ELECTION, N.S.W." The Southern Cross. Vol. XLII, no. 2144. South Australia. 24 April 1931. p. 15. Retrieved 11 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "FORGOTTEN GEMS". The Mirror. No. 24. Sydney. 8 December 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 11 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Simpson, Martha M. (1 January 2004). "To An Old Grammar Poem by Martha M Simpson". Poem Hunter. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "To An Old Grammar". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
External links
edit- Simpson, Martha (1865–1948) at The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia