Margaret Macdowall
Margaret Macdowall, a well known and leading figure among pioneer teachers of the mentally defective, was born on July 20th, 1862, at Thornton Dale (her father was Vicar of Rillington in 1864). She had a very delicate girlhood which seriously interfered with her education, but in spite of that she lived to be nearly 68. When special opportunities came, her doctor (attending her for a very severe attack of pneumonia) forbade the examination which would have given her the certificates she so ardently desired. But she did very well without! Before this disaster she had realised her vocation. She had been living in a family where an imbecile child called out her affec- tionate interest. She became conscious that she could help him and Dr. Shuttleworth who was consulted, saw that her gifts for doing so were excep- tional. When it became necessary for the boy to be placed as a private patient in the Royal Albert Institution at Lancaster, Margaret accompanied him for a time. Here was laid the foundation of her knowledge of the mentally afflicted, based on practical experience under a sympathetic doctor and daily contact with every variety of type. Just at this period (1895) Dr Shuttleworth introduced her to Bertha James who was looking about for girls suitable for training in the private school she was hoping to start for the mentally defective. To make a long story short, the ” Little School ” was opened at Ealing (after a period of preparation at West Kensington) and Margaret was installed as Head Mistress, with others to help her. Till old age forbade travelling, Dr. Shuttleworth was ever the kindest and best of advisers. After a time the School was placed entirely in her hands, and when she left Ealing, it opened out into a larger and wider life at Avonhurst, Burgess Hill, in Sussex. It was to Avonhurst that public authorities often sent ambitious teachers or students to study Miss Macdowall’s methods. Nothing was withheld from them. All points were discussed and her original apparatus was freely lent. Old students can recall her emphatic and infectious zeal as she held forth? sometimes with indignation if the girls were careless or if ” The Cause ” was in any way slighted or deserted?but in most cases with success.
Often asked to lecture publicly she invariably declined but at last was persuaded to write the book ” Simple Beginnings,” which quickly ran through two editions and which is about to be republished as a Memorial with portraits and prefaces. It is so vividly characteristic that it gives a true impression of herself which her friends at once will recognise and value.
She lived through a period of great changes. When the School began there were hardly half a dozen English Medical specialists who were also educationalists and the world in general, if it thought at all, believed that nothing could be done for low types of defective except ensure comfort and kindness ” out of the way.” And it was Margaret’s genius and almost magic understanding of the mentally defective child that did much to stir up public indifference into intelligent action on their behalf.
She was one with many others who have worked indefatigably from the end of last century for the welfare of defectives.
After several severe illnesses from which, though only partially recovered, she valiantly ” began again,” the end came rather unexpectedly. She died at her post on March 9th, 1930, and was buried in St. Andrew’s Churchyard, Burgess Hill. Her ” Children ” dropped flowers on the coffin already hidden by beautiful wreaths: no painful memories will mar recollection of their farewell to the friend they loved so much and who loved them. May she rest in peace. B.J.
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