A fascinating book written by a real-life ‘Mary Poppins’ when she opened the world famous Norland College in Bath has been found – after 125 YEARS.
The notebook was penned by Emily Ward in 1892 as a ‘spoonful of advise’ to the new starters at Norland College.
Norland went on to become an elite training school for nannies hired by the wealthy, royalty and oligarchs. She created the school for nursery nurses in distinctive uniforms to be employed by wealthy families to take some of the pressure off mothers.
Emily kept a note book which doubled as a diary and training manual which laid out her vision for the academy and what is expected of all students. The notebook, which has been seen for a century, has now been found in a dusty box in an attic at the college’s current HQ in Bath, Somerset.
Stating her ambitions for the training college, Ms Ward wrote: “To supply the public with ladies as trained nurses for young children.
“To form a new occupation for young women whose circumstances do not enable them to undergo the long course of professional training essential to a successful educational career.”
According to the book the school ”to the mother means freedom from some of the most wearying anxiety that comes with the care of children, more leisure for her own recreation; pleasure in the company of an educated equal and the help which comes in working hand-in-hand with another bent on the same object.
“To the nurse it means a home where the ordinary domestic virtues of no special market value are appreciated – a position of confidence and trust, a healthful life, and above all, the sense that the character of a future generation is to a certain extent, in her hands.”
Current principal of Norland College, Dr Janet Rose, said: “Before that time, the role of the children’s nurse or nanny was a last resort job, if you had exhausted all other options.”
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