MISS NELLIE ROBINSON:  NATIONAL HEROINE 

If education has been one of the main tools by which Antiguans and Barbudans have uplifted themselves, achieving social and economic mobility in a harshly unequal colonial society and preparing themselves for the challenges of political independence, then Georgiana Ellen Robinson's outstanding role in making quality education accessible for the masses certainly elevates her to the rank of Heroine of the Nation.

Georgiana Ellen Robinson, affectionately known as "Nellie", was born on 7¹'¹ December, 1880, into George and Margaret Robinson's family of eight, and spent her early childhood living on Newgate Street in St John's.  In a move that would turn out to be very significant for her, Nellie was sent to the United States as a young child, where she remained for most of her childhood, receiving an education in the American school system. There she sought employment from the early age of 13 years as a child nurse, governess and household helper.

In October 1894, Nellie, then aged 14 years, returned to Antigua, and continued her education at the Coke College on East Street, St John's. When the Coke College closed in 1897, Nellie continued her studies in mathematics, music and French.

Sometime in 1898, Nellie, then aged only 18 years, began the enterprise that would develop into the prestigious TOR Memorial High School, an institution that would have far reaching effects on the social and cultural development of the country for the next century and beyond.

Ms Nellie Robinson began her career as an educator by teaching her siblings and the children of some family friends. Those early efforts were the beginning of the TOR Memorial High School, named after her brother, Thomas Oliver, who had died in his youth. They were also the beginning of an unforgettable and very precious teaching career that would span the next 57 years, ending only in 1955, when "Ms Rob", at 75 years would retire as Principal of the school because of failing health.

In analyzing the heroic nature of her work in education and culture, we may ask, what were the influences on the life of young Nellie that caused her to develop such a strong social conscience, such a burning desire to help better the lot of her fellow Antiguans and Barbudans? Certainly, her strong Christian faith and the effects on her sensibility of living in America in the late 1800's would have contributed to her becoming the champion of education and culture as the disciplines to uplift and ennoble Antiguan society. Nellie would have seen and experienced racism personally in the USA. She would have observed the discrimination and exclusion that were the lot of her fellow black people in that country. And she would have resolved to help her people prepare themselves so that we could claim the equality and the freedom that were our due.

Inevitably, given the backwardness and rigidity of colonial society, Miss Nellie Robinson had her conflicts with the administration of the day. Always, however, the moral Tightness of her position and the quiet forcefulness of her character carried the day.

For example, she lobbied against the official practice of that period whereby so-called illegitimate children should not be admitted to secondary school. Indeed it was her school that provided the first opportunities for such children to have equal access to secondary education. Her example would soon be followed by the other secondary schools, until equality of access to education for all children became the rule.

Furthermore, the daily curriculum at her school went beyond the usual subjects to inculcate in her students the values of obedience, honesty, decency, cleanliness, and other virtues. As the only co-educational secondary school at the time, it pioneered and demonstrated the possibilities for this kind of educational institution.

Miss Nellie Robinson shamed the official system by providing a scholarship for every fourth child in a family to attend her school, as well as children of domestic helpers. In such ways she showed up the inadequacies of the colonial system and pointed the way for change.

The system attempted to retaliate by persecuting Miss Rob. Her qualifications to be a secondary school teacher and those of her staff were questioned and her school's premises were inspected for alleged unsanitary conditions. Undaunted, she continued her struggle to have her school's secondary status officially recognized and to normalize relations between her important institution and the official education authorities.

The measure of her victory and the importance of her legacy are to be found in the very great number of Antiguans and Barbudans who benefited by attending her institution or were in other ways touched by her profound and ever so kindly character.

In addition to her towering stature in the field of education, the Antiguan society also fell the presence of Miss Nellie Robinson in other important areas. As her authority in the society became established, she was sought out by officialdom for various responsibilities. Thus during World War I she was the only black woman on the Mobilization Committee, rallying the local men to join the war effort. In this capacity she successfully lobbied for better living conditions for the recruits on the long sea voyage to Britain.

As a member of the Water Preservation Committee from 1912, she played an important role in the early efforts to expand of pipe-borne water in the country. She also led the first Arts and Cultural Committee in Antigua, in another pioneering effort, this time to establish that there was an indigenous basis for the proliferation of modern arts and

culture In a new Antigua. She herself participated in and directed a number of dramatic productions and musicals. She supported the development of Carnival in the 50's and encouraged her students to participate. She was also one of the pioneers of the Guides movement for girls and was an active committee member of the Guide Association.

The prominent property on High Street that housed her school for many years was purchased with funds raised through many creative initiatives, including school raffles, breakfast dances, and the like.

Her devotion to her school was surpassed only by her devotion to her church. A devout Anglican from childhood, she was a Sunday School teacher, and member of certain committees and bodies within the church. For relaxation, Ms Rob read widely in classical literature, practiced needlework or pursued gardening.

This outstanding lady was honoured twice by the British Monarchy: In 1935, King George V honoured her with a medal in commemoration of Their Majesties' Silver Jubilee, and in 1941 she was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire). In recognition of her outstanding contribution to education and culture in Antigua and Barbuda, the Professional Organization of Women in Antigua (POWA), in their citations of 2000, named Ms Nellie Robinson "Woman of the 20^th Century".

Miss Nellie Robinson died on 29^th April, 1972, at the grand old age of 92 years.

May her soul rest in peace.