ROBERTS

Book Review

MargaretMcMiUan - Portrait ofa Pioneerby Elizabeth Bradburn

London (1989): Routledge - £35

Reviewed by Margaret Roberts

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Elizabeth Bradburn was familiar with theMansbridge biography entitled MargaretMcMillan: Prophet and Pioneer, published in1932, and with D'Arcy Cresswell's memoirMargaret McMillan, which appeared in 1948;also with G.A.N. Lowndes' compilation oftributes entitled Margaret McMillan, theChildren's Champion, completed in 1960. Sheherself published a short survey of the RachelMcMillan Nursery School and College in 1976but she wished to present a more ordered ac­count of the different events of MargaretMcMillan's life and became involved in "asearch for the driving force behind the prac­tical experiments" which enabled MargaretMcMillan to succeed "in translating moralindignation" at the deprivation and grindingpoverty of the poor "into effective action."

The result is a well-written, lucid,meticulously researched biography, revealingsympathetic identification with her subject,with an ability to recognize her faults and toappreciate the continuous support rendered byher sister Rachel and the many other activereforming spirits with whom she collaborated.

The book is organized into chronologi­cally related events depicting Margaret

McMillan's struggle to improve the health andeducation of the poorest children, first in Brad­ford and later in London, and to change at­titudes of the more fortunate towards the poorand destitute. The influence of the developingsocialist movement was a strong part of herinspiration, encouraging her to work for im­provement in the living/working conditions ofthe lowest paid and thereby improving thelives of their children. Her belief in educationwas part of her armoury and her skill andpower as a speaker enabled her to get her mes­sage across to both men and women in highplaces, though she was not always wellreceived by the authorities.

The biographical details are gatheredtogether, not only to focus on the developingsocial and political consciousness of the"pioneer," but to illuminate the growth of thesocialist movement in Britain in the latenineteenth and early twentieth centuries, andto consider its ideas and underlying theory re­lated to education.

Another dimension comes into the pic­ture in the chapter dealing with impressions ofMargaret McMillan as a person at differentperiods in her life. She was a leader, a social

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reformer and an educator. She comes acrossas one of the "mother-earth" figures of hertime, who through the creation of the RachelMcMillan College, designed to ensure thehanding on of the message, founded a traditionof lasting value. The danger of indoctrinationwas safeguarded by her belief in youngpeople's potential to think for themselves andto develop their skills in relation to newknowledge and understanding of youngchildren's developmental needs.

At the time of high infant mortality ratesand harsh attitudes of rejection toward those inpoverty, Margaret McMillan saw the basicneed for nutrition, health education and astimulating, caring environment. By her prac­tical example, she inspired the young womenwho came forward for training to devote them­selves to the children and "to nurture them asif they were their own." Elizabeth Bradburnwrites as one entirely sympathetic to her sub­ject, almost as a disciple and yet able to placeMargaret McMillan in her historical setting,identifying the influences and recreating herworld. She has produced an important biog­raphy and historical analysis of social/politicalfactors that became inextricably part of theBritish Nursery School tradition. This biog­raphy, though expensive, should find a placein every College, Polytechnic and UniversityLibrary because it is of interest to historians,educators and social researchers.

BRADBURN

ROBERTS

A Tribute to David Morris, MRCS, FRCP, DCH

Margaret Roberts

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Many long-standing OMEP-UK mem­bers noted with much sadness the obituarynotices for David Morris in March 1989. Wehad known of his illness and those who hadseen him since his retirement were concernedto see how frail he had become. But David didnot give up his devoted work for sick childrenand we in U.K. tried to keep him informed ofthe activities of OMEP. We had looked for­ward to his joining us at the London Congressin July.

David Morris was Chairman of the UKCommittee in the sixties, a member of theWorld Council and an elected member of thethen Working Committee. He also representedOMEP on the World Health Organisation(WHO) - a worthy representative. Hethoroughly enjoyed his work for OMEP, con­tinually pursuing his challenge to the educatorsto bridge the gap between health and educationin the best interests of the child. Gillian Bed­dington, a member for many years of OMEP­UK, and of the World Council at that time,remembers David at World Council Meetingsin Prague, which he knew well, in Venezuela,Bonn, Copenhagen and many times in Paris.Gill writes: ''David had a great zest for livingallied to a lively curiosity, a talent for mimicryand sense of the absurd. But underneath anapparent flippancy there was a brilliant brain, adedicated pediatrician - a warm and caringperson, tirelessly working for sick children andvigorously supportive of OMEP." He was a

pioneer in revolutionizing the care of childrenin Hospital particularly concerned that mothersshould spend time with their children - an ad­vocate of unrestricted visiting. Susan Harvey,Vice-chair of QMEP-UK at that time, tells ofhis inspirational support in the introduction ofHospital Play Leaders. He wrote an importantintroduction to the book Play in Hospitaledited by Susan Harvey and Ann Hales Took,published in 1972 by Faber and Faber. Heemphasized the importance of attempting tominimize the harmful effects of hospitalizationfor young children by "unrestricted" visiting,the facility of mothers and children to be inhospital together, the preparation of childrenfor coming into hospital by using toys andstories, the provision of play facilities and aPlayleader - above all a sympathetic and un­derstanding attitude.

David Morris enriched the lives ofchildren in hospital and he enriched OMEP byhis creative, dynamic personality. Thank youDavid.