Elfrida Rathbone
Encyclopedia
Elfrida Rathbone was an English
educationist. She was the cousin of Eleanor Rathbone
.
Elfrida Rathbone was convinced that all children were capable of learning. In 1916 she began to teach in a special school in the King's Cross area of London, for children who were not thought to be capable of learning. She worked with another cousin, Lillian Gregg, who had set up a special kindergarten for young children considered to be 'uneducable' & 'mentally defective'. Her aim was to demonstrate that these children could learn and progress if given appropriate teaching. Already, in the early 1900's Lillian
Gregg was challenging the damaging effect of judgmental attitudes implicit in 'labelling' people. She adopted a young child with a learning difficulty whom she taught to read and write and function normally, but both she and the child died in the influenza epidemic of 1918.
Elfrida continued their work and, eventually the kindergarten came to include an occupational centre for children excluded from schools, and a centre with crèche facilities for women with mental and physical disabilities. She always upheld the right of children to be educated at school.
Her work eventually led to the formation of the Rathbone Society in 1969, now incorporated into the Rathbone
charity.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
educationist. She was the cousin of Eleanor Rathbone
Eleanor Rathbone
Eleanor Florence Rathbone was an independent British Member of Parliament and long-term campaigner for women's rights. She was a member of the noted Rathbone family of Liverpool.-Life:...
.
Elfrida Rathbone was convinced that all children were capable of learning. In 1916 she began to teach in a special school in the King's Cross area of London, for children who were not thought to be capable of learning. She worked with another cousin, Lillian Gregg, who had set up a special kindergarten for young children considered to be 'uneducable' & 'mentally defective'. Her aim was to demonstrate that these children could learn and progress if given appropriate teaching. Already, in the early 1900's Lillian
Gregg was challenging the damaging effect of judgmental attitudes implicit in 'labelling' people. She adopted a young child with a learning difficulty whom she taught to read and write and function normally, but both she and the child died in the influenza epidemic of 1918.
Elfrida continued their work and, eventually the kindergarten came to include an occupational centre for children excluded from schools, and a centre with crèche facilities for women with mental and physical disabilities. She always upheld the right of children to be educated at school.
Her work eventually led to the formation of the Rathbone Society in 1969, now incorporated into the Rathbone
Rathbone (charity)
Rathbone is a charitable organization in the United Kingdom. It educates and trains children, young people and adults in its own training centres and residential projects.Rathbone was created out of The Rathbone Society, founded by Elfrida Rathbone...
charity.