Martha M. Simpson

Martha Margaret Mildred Simpson (pen name, Innisfail; 3 May 1865 – 7 June 1948) was an Irish-born Australian educational theorist and poet. She was responsible for pioneering new education methods in Australia, including promoting kindergarten education, supervised playgrounds and hospital schools.

Martha M. Simpson
from her 1914 report
Born	Martha Margaret Mildred Simpson (1865-05-03)3 May 1865 Omagh, Tyrone, Ireland
Died	7 June 1948(1948-06-07) (aged 83) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality	Irish Australian
Occupation	educationalist
Known for	advocate for Montessoti education

Biography

Martha Margaret Mildred Simpson was born 3 May 1865 in County Tyrone, Ireland.^[1]

She taught at New South Wales schools, including Wyee, Carrow Brook, Tea Tree, Tea Gardens, Woerden and Tamworth.^[1]

Simpson became the first Lecturer in kindergarten studies at the Sydney Teachers' College in 1908.^[1] In the following year, Simpson published a work entitled "Work in the kindergarten : an Australian programme, based on the life and customs of the Australian Black".^[2]

A didactic classroom - from Martha M. Simpson's 1914 report

In 1912, the New South Wales government sent Simpson to Europe to learn about the Montessori Method of education from Dr. Montessori herself.^[3] These principles were practiced at the demonstration school.^[4] In 1914, Simpson published her "Report on the Montessori Methods of Education".^[5] Simpson became the first female Inspector of Infant Schools for New South Wales in 1917.^[6] Simpson was also responsible for the kindergarten section of Blackfriars Demonstration School, part of the Sydney Teachers' College.^[1] Her early students included Amy Rowntree, who would carry the kindergarten message on to Tasmania.^[7]

In 1920, Simpson travelled to the US to further study education methods,^[6] and returned with ideas on improving the health of students. These ideas were implemented at Blackfriars, including nutritious lunches and a milk allowance.^[8]

Simpson retired from education in 1930 and the following year unsuccessfully stood for election for the New South Wales district of Annandale.^[9]

Simpson was a poet, and her works include "To an old grammar",^[10][11] which was published in An Anthology of Australian Verse,^[12] and "Friendship's Tribute", which was published under the pen name "Innisfail".^[9]

Simpson died in Sydney on 7 June 1948.^[1]

References

1. Bruce Mitchell, 'Simpson, Martha Margaret Mildred (1865–1948)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1988, accessed online 1 May 2024.
2. Simpson, M. M. (Martha Margaret); Sydney Teachers College. Education Society (1909), Work in the kindergarten : an Australian programme, based on the life and customs of the Australian Black, Teachers' College, retrieved 12 February 2017
3. "TEACHING IN MANY LANDS". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 23, 591. 20 August 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 11 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "OUR WOMEN WORKERS". The Daily Herald. Vol. 5, no. 1450. Adelaide. 14 November 1914. p. 11. Retrieved 12 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
5. Simpson, M., & New South Wales. Department of Education. (1914). REPORT ON THE MONTESSORI METHODS OF EDUCATION. SYDNEY : W. A. GULLICK, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, 1914.
6. "FOR WOMEN". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 28, 798. 23 April 1930. p. 7. Retrieved 11 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
7. Rodwell, Grant, "Amy Rowntree (1885–1962)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 30 April 2024
8. "INFANT EDUCATION". The Mercury. Vol. CXXXIII, no. 19, 747. Tasmania. 20 November 1930. p. 10. Retrieved 12 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "WOMAN CANDIDATE CONTESTS ANNANDALE BY-ELECTION, N.S.W." The Southern Cross. Vol. XLII, no. 2144. South Australia. 24 April 1931. p. 15. Retrieved 11 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "FORGOTTEN GEMS". The Mirror. No. 24. Sydney. 8 December 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 11 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
11. Simpson, Martha M. (1 January 2004). "To An Old Grammar Poem by Martha M Simpson". Poem Hunter. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
12. "To An Old Grammar". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

External links

• Simpson, Martha (1865–1948) at The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia