Robert Blackburn (educationalist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Blackburn was an Irish
educator. He was an early pioneer of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and was instrumental in establishing the first United World College (UWC) in the early 1960s.
, Ireland
, Robert Blackburn attended St. Columba's College, Rathfarnham and, in 1946, Trinity College
, Dublin, where took a first-class degree in History
with gold medal and was captain of the rugby XV. As a student, Blackburn was an active member of the United Nations Association
, where he met his future wife, Esther Archer.
Blackburn started his teaching career at Downside School
in Stratton-on-the-Fosse
, Somerset
, moving to Merchant Taylors' School
near Northwood, Middlesex
, in 1954. During this time, he supplemented involvement in the United Nations Association and the Council for Education in World Citizenship with work in refugee camps.
In 1962, he was appointed Deputy Headmaster and Director of Studies of United World College of the Atlantic, South Wales
, which was the first United World College. The college took sixth formers from all over the world, mixing the children of South American millionaires with Maoist Chinese
children secured with the help of the Foreign Office.
He was appointed UWC International Secretary in 1968, working with the then president, Lord Mountbatten of Burma
. Together they visited many countries, particularly those with Commonwealth links
, to establish committees which were to lead to the development of three UWC colleges in Blackburn's time. Using his contacts, Blackburn also organised charity concerts with line-ups including Frank Sinatra
, Bob Hope
and Leonard Bernstein
. In 1978 Blackburn became Deputy Director General of the IBO, taking on particular responsibility for Africa
and the Middle East
.
Robert Blackburn was one of the speakers at the World Goodwill seminar in London in 1988, where he set out his belief that:
executive Kari Blackburn
. After the death of his first wife, Blackburn married Nina Little in 1980. In 1990, he died aged 62 while on holiday in Sand
, Norway
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
educator. He was an early pioneer of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) and was instrumental in establishing the first United World College (UWC) in the early 1960s.
Life and work
Born in SligoSligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, Robert Blackburn attended St. Columba's College, Rathfarnham and, in 1946, Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, Dublin, where took a first-class degree in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
with gold medal and was captain of the rugby XV. As a student, Blackburn was an active member of the United Nations Association
United Nations Association
The United Nations Associations are non-governmental organizations that exist in various countries to enhance the relationship between the people of a member state and the United Nations, raise public awareness of the UN and its work, promote the general goals of the UN and act as an advisory body...
, where he met his future wife, Esther Archer.
Blackburn started his teaching career at Downside School
Downside School
Downside School is a co-educational Catholic independent school for children aged 11 to 18, located in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, between Norton Radstock and Shepton Mallet in Somerset, south west England. It is attached to Downside Abbey...
in Stratton-on-the-Fosse
Stratton-on-the-Fosse
Stratton-on-the-Fosse is a village and civil parish located on the edge of the Mendip Hills, south-west of Westfield, north-east of Shepton Mallet, and from Frome, in Somerset, England. It has a population 1,045, and has a rural agricultural landscape, although it was part of the once-thriving...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, moving to Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
near Northwood, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, in 1954. During this time, he supplemented involvement in the United Nations Association and the Council for Education in World Citizenship with work in refugee camps.
In 1962, he was appointed Deputy Headmaster and Director of Studies of United World College of the Atlantic, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, which was the first United World College. The college took sixth formers from all over the world, mixing the children of South American millionaires with Maoist Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
children secured with the help of the Foreign Office.
He was appointed UWC International Secretary in 1968, working with the then president, Lord Mountbatten of Burma
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
. Together they visited many countries, particularly those with Commonwealth links
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, to establish committees which were to lead to the development of three UWC colleges in Blackburn's time. Using his contacts, Blackburn also organised charity concerts with line-ups including Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
and Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
. In 1978 Blackburn became Deputy Director General of the IBO, taking on particular responsibility for Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Robert Blackburn was one of the speakers at the World Goodwill seminar in London in 1988, where he set out his belief that:
Personal life
Robert Blackburn married Esther Archer in 1952. They had two daughters together, including future BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
executive Kari Blackburn
Kari Blackburn
Kari Boto née Blackburn was a BBC reporter and senior executive who specialised in Africa.-Personal life:Blackburn was born in Somerset on 30 March 1954to Irish educationist Robert Blackburnand Esther Archer....
. After the death of his first wife, Blackburn married Nina Little in 1980. In 1990, he died aged 62 while on holiday in Sand
Sand, Rogaland
Sand is a village and former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway.The municipality was created by a split from Jelsa in 1859. At that time Sand had 1,600 inhabitants....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.