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Performing Reforming and the Category of Age: Empire, Internationalism and Transnationalism in the Career of Reta Oldham, Headmistress

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Women Educators, Leaders and Activists

Abstract

This chapter explores ways in which empire, internationalism and transnationalism1 intersected with age in the career of Reta Oldham, Headmistress of Streatham Hill High School in London, England from 1898–1923.2 Oldham was born in Ireland, gained a BA and MA from the Royal University of Ireland, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Economic Society.3 As headmistress she introduced modern studies at Streatham Hill High School to prepare girls for entrance to the London School of Economics. During World War I she formed a committee of headmistresses to select women for clerical posts in government departments, for which she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1918. While Oldham pressed employment for girls and women and was a member of the ‘old’ feminist Six Point Group, she was a firm advocate of domestic training, and worked for the inclusion of Music, Art and Housecraft into the examination system.4

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Notes

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Authors
  1. Joyce Goodman
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  2. Zoe Milsom
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. La Trobe University, Australia

    Tanya Fitzgerald (Professor of Educational Leadership, Management and History) (Professor of Educational Leadership, Management and History)

  2. University of Toronto, Canada

    Elizabeth M. Smyth (Professor of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning and Vice Dean (Programs) (Professor of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning and Vice Dean (Programs)

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© 2014 Joyce Goodman and Zoe Milsom

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Goodman, J., Milsom, Z. (2014). Performing Reforming and the Category of Age: Empire, Internationalism and Transnationalism in the Career of Reta Oldham, Headmistress. In: Fitzgerald, T., Smyth, E.M. (eds) Women Educators, Leaders and Activists. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137303523_6

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