The sacking of a headmaster
In the passage below, Brian Merrikin Hill gives a brief account of the events that led to his departure from Wennington School, where he was headmaster between 1968 and 1973.
I'M WRITING from what is for you my new address: actually it is the second since I left Wennington. I don't know how far news percolates about the malicious activities that caused me to depart. I had reached the point of thinking that the kids, staff and I had achieved a loving, caring, very democratic community (also on the verge of a new curriculum scheme which was notable) when the Governors asked for my resignation! After some thought I gave it - but withdrew it when it produced a massive volume of protest (all the kids and over 95% of the parents). They at first refused to accept the withdrawal, then they announced that they had (at a meeting and in a circular), met delegations of parents & children and the Headmasters' Association, nearly agreed to a compromise - then announced that I hadn't withdrawn my resignation (as I legally couldn't) in a circular that made it appear that I'd resigned again. The lies and duplicity were fantastic! - worthy of your satiric pen. So in spite of all the pupils, 98% of the parents, and various other interested progressives, I departed. There's now a new headmaster - and, I gather, hell to pay in the school.
From a personal letter to Alan Ireland, dated February 20, 1974.
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