Margaret McMillan

Margaret McMillan

Margaret McMillan (20 July 1860 - 27 March 1931) was a Christian Socialist (Simkin 1997) and member of the Fabian Society. Working in deprived districts, notably Bradford and Deptford, she agitated for reforms to improve the health of young children, wrote several books on nursery education and pioneered a play-centred approach that has only latterly found wide acceptance.[1]

She was interested in how children could learn in an outdoor environment. The Rachel McMillan College, named after Margaret's sister, was founded in 1930 and merged with Goldsmiths College in the 1970s, although student accommodation still exists in Creek Road, Deptford, bearing her name.

A memorial college to Margaret McMillan was opened in Bradford in 1952.[2]


Born in Westchester, New York in 1860, died in Harrow, London in 1931.

References

  1. ^ Margaret McMillan, Spartacus Eduducation, http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wmcmillan.htm, retrieved 2011-08-13 
  2. ^ Miriam Lord, History to Her Story, http://www.historytoherstory.org.uk/subject.php?id=86, retrieved 2011-08-13