Pupils hail pioneer Frances Mary Buss on Camden School for Girls ‘founder's day'
Frances Mary Buss wanted the education of women to match their brothers
Tuesday, 11th April 2023 — By Anna Lamche
Frances Mary Buss founded Camden School for Girls in 1871
“THE reason we are here today is because our predecessors never stopped campaigning, never gave up, never stopped using their voices, and never stopped fighting for gender equality.”
These were the words of Year 11 prefect Gloria Nzuli at Camden School for Girls’ Founder’s Day celebration last Friday.
Students and teachers came together with daffodils pinned to their clothes to celebrate the day the school was founded in 1871.
Gloria Nzuli, Biba McCrindle and Zahra Amin with a bust of Ms Buss
Music was played and speeches were given in honour of school founder Frances Mary Buss, “one of the leading architects of state education for girls”, Ms Nzuli said in her speech.
“She campaigned for the endowment of girls’ schools and for girls to be allowed to sit public exams, and she started this mission when she was only 23.”
Zahra Amin, the head prefect of sixth form, said: “I think what is truly inspiring about her fight for women is that in all her struggles and adversity, she was still able to find the determination and willpower to persevere, regardless of the possibility of failing.”
Buss “was adamant about providing education to poorer backgrounds. She understood the value of an education, and the privilege of having one,” Ms Amin said.
Student Biba McCrindle said: “Frances understood the value of female power. She saw women as capable, as intelligent, as interesting, and most of all, as human, deserving of every right to achieve greatness.”
Headteacher Kateryna Law said: “The story of courageous women at Camden begins with none other than Frances Mary Buss, born in 1827.”
When Ms Buss first began teaching, “women were meant to acquire ladylike accomplishments… learn to sing, play and instrument, understand how to converse in polite society, and ultimately secure a good marriage,” Ms Law said.
“Yet Frances Mary Buss wanted the education of women to match their brothers’.”
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