John Haden Badley facts for kids
John Haden Badley (born 1865 – died 1967) was an English writer, teacher, and the person who started Bedales School. This school is known for being one of the first boarding schools in England where both boys and girls studied together (called coeducation) starting in 1893.
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John Badley's Early Life and Ideas
John Haden Badley was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, England. His father was Dr. James Payton Badley. John's grandfather, also named John Badley, was a well-known surgeon.
When John was young, he saw a lot of poverty in the Midlands. This experience helped him think about what education should not be like. At age fifteen, he went to Rugby, a famous boarding school.
Cambridge University Days
Later, Badley studied at Trinity College Cambridge. He loved music and theatre there. He once described King's Chapel as having "something near perfection" in its beauty and trained voices. He even had tea with the famous writer Oscar Wilde and talked about English poets.
At Cambridge, Badley became a socialist, meaning he believed in ideas about fairness and community for everyone. He was inspired by the artist William Morris. He also supported the women's movement for equal rights, which was not common for men at that time.
Starting a New Kind of School
A big influence on Badley was Cecil Reddie, who started Abbotsholme School. Reddie's school was seen as a "modern" or "progressive" school. After finishing university in 1887, Badley heard about Reddie's plans. He visited Abbotsholme and was very interested.
Badley became one of the first teachers at Abbotsholme. However, he soon wanted to start his own school. Reddie became very strict, and Badley wanted to get married, which Reddie did not allow. So, Badley decided to leave.
In 1892, he married Amy Garrett. Amy was a strong partner and helped make Bedales special. In January 1893, with help from Oswald Powell, they opened Bedales School in a rented house. Badley believed a school should be like a family, where everyone works together instead of just competing. He felt that learning to be useful to society was as important as developing as an individual.
How Bedales School Began
Many of Badley's first ideas for Bedales came from Cecil Reddie's school.
A Different Way to Learn
- The lessons focused on English subjects, not just old classical languages.
- The curriculum was wide, including science, art, music, French, and German.
- Students had chances to do plays and hobbies.
- Religion was taught in a way that respected all beliefs.
- Students were not just taught to pass exams, and there were no prizes.
- Lessons were only in the mornings.
Unlike traditional schools that focused a lot on sports, Bedales spent much time on manual work. Students worked in fields and gardens. They also learned practical skills like tailoring, boot making, and cooking.
Badley also tried new ideas in the 1920s, like the Dalton Plan. This plan allowed students to work on assignments at their own pace. He felt he learned a lot from other famous educators like Montessori, Pestalozzi, Fröbel, and Dewey.
Coeducation: Boys and Girls Learning Together
In 1898, five years after Bedales started, Badley's wife Amy pushed for a big change. Amy was a strong supporter of women's rights. She convinced him to try something new: Bedales became a fully coeducational boarding school, meaning boys and girls lived and learned together. This was a very unusual idea for the time.
In May 1899, Badley started building a new school complex in Steep, Hampshire. This is where Bedales School is still located today.
Leading the School
John Badley was a leader who taught by example. He was strict but fair. He did not smoke or drink. Students and staff respected him greatly. If he walked into a classroom, everyone became quiet. If there was a piece of paper on the floor, he would just point to it, and the nearest student would quickly pick it up.
Badley created a school that was always changing and improving. He set the main ideas for the school, but he also allowed it to grow and develop. Even though everyone called him "Chief," he did not control everything like some headmasters.
After 42 years as headmaster, Badley retired at the age of seventy. He moved to Cholesbury, near Tring. His son and daughter-in-law lived nearby on their farm.
John Badley's Legacy
John Badley wrote several books during his life. Some of his books include After the War (1917) and Bedales: A Pioneer School (1923). His autobiography, Memories and Reflections, was published in 1955.
His most important works were A Bible for Modern Readers (1961) and The Bible As Seen Today (1965). These two books together were over 1000 pages long.
After his wife Amy passed away, Badley moved back to live on the school grounds. He died there on March 6, 1967, at a very old age. His ideas and the school he founded continue to influence education today.
