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Daily Mail 30/3/1940
News comes to Ash Village
COUNTRY AND CITY TEACHERS CLASH
Woman Sacked After 27 Years.
By Daily Mail Woman Reporter
The village of Ash, Kent, is so small that for many years it
was almost forgotten by the rest of the world.
But the coming of the war, of 30 evacuee children,
and of three London school teachers marked the end of peace and
quiet for it’s 500 inhabitants.
Now the village is divided into two camps – one
led by the vicar and two school managers, the other by Miss
Alice Wright.
Stormy parish meetings have followed one another in
quick succession. For Miss Wright, who has been headmistress of
the village school for 27 years, has been dismissed.
No. 1 IN THE VILLAGE
Miss Wright is 61. It is not compulsory for her to resign
until she is 65. In Ash, moreover, she is much more than just
the school teacher. She is the most important person in the
village.
When I called yesterday at her tiny cottage
adjoining the school I found a woman with Eton-cropped grey hair
and blue eyes twinkling through horn-rimmed spectacles. She was
energetically packing up some of the old school books.
"If a bomb had dropped, I couldn’t have been
more surprised," she said, "than I was when they asked
me to resign last December."
Naturally I refused. I feel as fit as I’ve ever
felt, and I don’t see why I should stop work before I have to.
"I’ve sent thousands of children out fully
equipped for the world, and many are doing extraordinarily well,
I had a higher percentage of scholarships than any school in the
surrounding villages."
After Miss Wright’s refusal, it was decided to
dismiss her.
200 NAMES
The opposing side were reticent. I found the white haired
rector, Mr. Hennel, discussing the matter with one of the school
managers, Mr. Simmons.
"We could tell you our side of the
question," said Mr. Simmonds, "but I prefer to say
that the committee is of opinion that it’s time there was a
change in the school. |
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"We are naturally very grateful for all the
years of hard work Miss Wright has given."
Mrs. Seath, who was lived in the village for some
years, said: "Miss Wright has slaved for the village and
thought of nothing but the good of the children. She even built a
hall for them, and put in cooking stoves, so that they could learn
domestic science.
"The hall cost her £200, and she’s not
received a penny from the committee."
From various people I gathered that there is likely
to be a school strike unless Miss Wright is reinstated. So far no
successor has been appointed, though the summer term starts next
week.
"As you see," Miss Wright said to me,
"I’m packing up in readiness to leave. But in any case I
shan’t leave the village for several months."
"The children I’ve taught always come back to
see me, and tell me how they are getting on. I should miss that.
They seem like my own children, many of them.
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