GIRLS' EDUCATION

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 86, 8 October 1935, Page 15

GIRLS' EDUCATION

"THE OLD. SCHOOL TIE"

Half a century ago. when three sisters embarked on the enterprise of starting a private school in Brighton, no-one could have guessed that they were laying the foundations of the first and greatest English public school for girls. Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, attended the golden jubilee celebrations of the famous Roedean School, the school which comes nearest to the ideals and traditions of the great English public schools for boys, states "The Queen" recently.

In 1885 the Misses Penelope, Dorothy, and Millicent Lawrence had a vision of girls' education that was far in advance of their time. They aimed at training their pupils to take their j places in a world where women should enjoy equal rights with men, both in work and play. They scandalised the residents of Brighton by hiring a field where girls could play, cricket, hockey, and lacrosse.

Nevertheless, in spite of much criticism from reactionaries, they received such support from progressive-minded parents that by 1898 the school had outgrown its quarters in Brighton, and a large school was erected on the present site above the cliffs of Rottingdean.

In the course of the fifty years of its life Roedean has made its influence felt throughout the. Empire. "Old girls" have carried the traditions of! 'the school all over the world Among] the thousand guests at the jubilee celebrations were many women famous in public 'life who were formerly Roedean pupils. They have worthily upheld the ideals which the founders had in mind when they started their venture fifty years ago.