Martha M. Simpson

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Martha Margaret Mildred Simpson (pen name, Innesfail; 3 May 1865 – 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.

Biography[edit]

Martha 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.[2]

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".[3]

In 1912, the New South Wales government sent Simpson to Europe to learn about the Montessori Method of education from Dr. Montessori herself.[4] These principles were practiced at the demonstration school.[5] In 1914, Simpson published her "Report on the Montessori Methods of Education".[6] Simpson became the first female Inspector of Infant Schools for New South Wales in 1917.[7] Simpson became responsible for the kindergarten section of Blackfriars Demonstration School, part of the Sydney Teachers' College.[1] Her early students included Amy Rowntree and she would carry the kindergarten message on to Tasmania.[8]

In 1920, Simpson travelled to the US to further study education methods,[9] and returned with ideas on improving the health of students. These ideas were implemented at Blackfriars, including nutritious lunches and a milk allowance.[10]

Simpson retired from education in 1930 and the following year unsuccessfully stood for election for the New South Wales district of Annandale.[11]

Simpson was a poet, and her works include "To an old grammar",[12] which was published in An Anthology of Australian Verse,[13][circular reference] and "Friendship's Tribute", which was published under the pen name "Innesfail".[11]

Simpson died in 1948.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c 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 11 February 2017.
  2. ^ 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 31 March 2017.
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ Simpson, M., & New South Wales. Department of Education. (1914). REPORT ON THE MONTESSORI METHODS OF EDUCATION. SYDNEY : W. A. GULLICK, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, 1914.
  7. ^ "FOR WOMEN". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 28, 798. 23 April 1930. p. 7. Retrieved 11 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ Rodwell, Grant, "Amy Rowntree (1885–1962)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 30 April 2024
  9. ^ "FOR WOMEN". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 28, 798. 23 April 1930. p. 7. Retrieved 12 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "INFANT EDUCATION". The Mercury. Vol. CXXXIII, no. 19, 747. Tasmania. 20 November 1930. p. 10. Retrieved 12 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "FORGOTTEN GEMS". The Mirror. No. 24. Sydney. 8 December 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 11 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ Poem Hunter https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-an-old-grammar/, accessed online 31 March 2017.
  14. ^ NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 8919/1948. Accessed on 11 February 2017.

External links[edit]

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