Bishops High School Tobago

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History
Dr. Arthur Anstey, a former Anglican Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago had the wisdom and foresight to try establishing a school for higher learning in Tobago. His inspiration and burning desire to give Tobago youths an opportunity, coupled with the cooperation and activity of the Venerable Archdeacon Davies finally bore fruit. On 14th September 1925 Bishop's High School opened its doors to twenty-seven pupils under the Headship of Mr. R. S. Jordan, a young graduate of Codrington College, Barbados, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Five years later Mr. Jordan went to England, got his M.A., and also became a Member of the Royal Society of Teachers. The first school building Peru Cottage was situated on the spot, which now houses the Fairfield Complex. In the initial stages Dr. Anstey received valuable help not only from Archdeacon Davies, but also from the Honourable James A. Biggart, who was the first Tobago member of the Legislative Council in colonial times, from Mr. I. A. Hope, Mr. Kenneth Reid, Mr. Henry Meadon and Archdeacon Streetley. Largely through the efforts of Mr. Biggart, the school gained government recognition by the end of 1926, fifteen months after its inception. The school made rapid strides. In 1928 the first candidates were entered for the Junior Cambridge Examination and in 1929 for the Senior School Certificate Examination. The curriculum was soon extended to Higher Certificate Level, and in 1939 the late Victor Bruce (at one time Governor of the Central Bank) passed the Higher School Certificate Examination after six years at the school. By 1937 Peru Cottage could no longer house the increasing numbers and the school was moved to a new building on the hill at Sans Souci. On this same spot the Hall of Justice now stands. The zeal for expansion now had the Governing Body in its grip and this led to the acquisition of another property (Fairfield) adjoining Peru Cottage, in 1938. In 1938 Dr. Sylvan Bowles, a Tobagonian who had been practicing dentistry in New York for several years, started offering three (3) years scholarships to Bishops High School. These provided not only school fees, but also a grant for textbooks and stationery. Earliest recipients of these scholarships were 1938 Raymond Robinson and Lawrence Douglas, 1939, Pat Hovell 1941, Moulda Beache and Yvonne Jack. Mr. Jordan rendered sterling services to the school; because of his untiring energy the school achieved a high standard in scholarship and in the training of good citizens. Based on the results of the Cambridge School Certificate Examination, House Scholarships were won in 1942 by Raymond Robinson, in 1943 by Lawrence Douglas and in 1945 by Moulda Beache (now Archie). During Mr. Jordan's term of office the school was equipped with a Science Laboratory as well as Handicraft and Domestic Science Rooms. He was concerned with the all round development of his pupils. Cricket, Football, Netball, Table Tennis, Chess, Drama Group, Guide Troop, Scout Troop, Literary and Debating Society were all included in the extra-curricular activities. After setting high standards for his successors to maintain Mr. Jordan, fondly referred to as The Baron by his students, left Tobago in 1946 to take up an appointment in Grenada. 2ND PRINCIPAL The Reverent Ivor Jones B.A., also a graduate of Codrington College, Barbados served as Principal of Bishop's High School from 1946 to 1954. Reverend Jones proceeded to maintain the high standard set by his predecessor. It is not surprising that he too was concerned about all round development, for he was a cricketer (had represented Harrison College), a strong tennis player and an accomplished pianist. During his time first XI teams were entered for both cricket and football competitions with adult clubs and won cups and trophies on several occasions. In netball the girls entertained visiting teams from Trinidad and returned creditable performances. High athletic records were set, and of course the Choral Group grew stronger. By 1948 the number of pupils had become so great that the Lower Forms were housed in Fairfield, the old residence next to Peru Cottage. Staff had to move up and down hill between the main building and Fairfield; and when they had to teach in the Upper School after a period in Forms I and II it can well be left to the imagination to picture weary teachers struggling uphill, sometimes through a sudden shower of rain. They were really physically fit in those days. Many of these teachers had only the Cambridge Higher School Certificate and striving for qualification, burned the midnight oil after a hard day's work, as they prepared for the London External B.A. Examinations. By the time Bishop's High School celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1950 the influence of the institution in the lives of the people of Trinidad and Tobago was already being felt. And so the school moved on to its second quarter century full of hope and with a reputation to maintain. In 1952 Gwendolyn Gordon (now Washington) won a House Scholarship. The growth of the school population naturally magnified the individual differences in the abilities of the pupils and clearly showed the need for a broader curriculum in which these varying capabilities might be accommodated. But more subjects required more classrooms, more teachers and more money for equipment and staff salaries. Bishop's High School had its problems redoubled in that it was the first co-educational secondary school in Trinidad and Tobago; boys and girls needed separate amenities, a mixed staff, boys and girls games and so on. There was only one Science Laboratory, so the limited scope of study could not satisfy the needs of young Tobagonians whose appetites had been whetted by their initial successes. They still had to trek to Trinidad to satisfy their hunger for scientific or mathematical studies at Advanced Level. In addition to this there was tremendous pressure on the Governing Body to provide accommodation for the increasing number of applicants for school places. Ten acres of land were purchased at Mt. Marie and an arrangement made with the Government to finance the construction of a new school in exchange for the site at Sans Souci where it was planned to build a new Court House. At that time the Court House was in the Administration Building in Scarborough. But Rev. Jones was not here to see the completion of the school at Mt. Marie. Late in 1954, he returned to Barbados and Mr.Blackett, the then Vice Principal, was asked to act as Principal. Early in 1955 H.R.H. Princess Margaret during her visit to Tobago unveiled the Foundation Stone for the new school building at Mt. Marie. 3RD PRINCIPAL Mr. Dennis Beecham B.A., an Englishman was recommended by the then Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago and was appointed Principal in September 1955. That same year another House Scholarship was won by Diana Archer. The building at Mt. Marie was occupied in 1956 with Mr. Beecham as Principal, but he spent two years only in Tobago and returned to England in 1957. 4TH PRINCIPAL Mr. E.C.R. Blackett, M.A. (Durham) Certi. Education (London) who had already served as a member of staff since 1951 and as Vice Principal from 1953 was appointed Principal in 1957. For the next seventeen (17) years he was to steer the school through some difficult times; and his resourcefulness and dynamism were much called upon. Although the new school building was a vast improvement to the one at Sans Souci, it failed to provide all the basic infrastructure needed, and efforts were constantly made to improve the environment by fund-raising efforts. A period of construction started and resulted in the following additions - Physics Laboratory, Home Economics Room, Music Room, Canteen, 6th Form Class Room and New Staff Room. Money and staff were the perennial occupations of the administration, so careful budgeting and husbandry had to be the order of the day. Grants were received from Government to assist in paying the salaries of teachers, but the $12.00 fee, later $16.00, paid by the students each term, remained the main source of income until about 1962 when Government assumed responsibility for the payment of teachers salaries. As for the curriculum, West Indian History was substituted for English History, and Bishop's High School was the first Secondary School in the country to offer Agricultural Science as an examination subject. Obviously there was need for more teachers, and as these were not available locally, advertisements placed in England, Canada and the Caribbean brought in teachers who were not only expert in their subject areas, but who presented to the students a glimpse into different cultures, and helped broaden their appreciation and conception of the life outside Tobago. The long-range plan however was not to depend on imported staff, but to become self sufficient in this regard. Fortunately at this stage Dr. Sylvan Bowles, an outstanding benefactor of the school paid a visit to Tobago and met Mr. Blackett, and the two people settled down to serious conversation on a variety of things that affected the well being of the institution. The two scholarships which Dr. Bowles had been offering annually to Bishop's High School since 1938 were now replaced by a Government subvention, which paid an annual grant to the school in lieu of fees. Mr. Blackett suggested that Dr. Bowles should continue to provide scholarships but at University Level, since the school had a Sixth Form which it could be proud. Rawle Edwards had just won the Shell Scholarship in Biology on the basis of the Open Scholarship Examination of the University of the West Indies. Dr. Bowles embraced the suggestion and the first Bowles Scholarship at University Level was awarded to Miss Angela Walters (now Sosa) to study for a degree in French at University of the West Indies. She did this and went on to post-graduate studies in France and England. On her return she joined the staff. Dr Bowles at his death, left most of his vast wealth in trust to be used for University Scholarships with at least one scholarship annually awarded for a student of Bishop's High School. Students from all over the West Indies and a few from America benefit from these scholarships, which cover a wide range of careers. Over the years more and more members of staff have been past students and Bowles University Scholars. At Bishop's High School the approach to education continued to be holistic. The aim was to produce well-rounded people and not misfits; so much attention was given to learning occupations outside the formal classroom activity. The Cadet Platoon, later the Cadet Band, the Glee Club and Bishop's Singers all added to the life of the school; and the full-sized stage was amply utilized by the Drama Club and Bishop's Players. Wide and varied exposure in the competitive arena was part of a deliberate policy, the objective of which was to instill confidence in the pupils and help them become fully integrated personalities. Typical entries in the school's record book read as follows: 6th June 1960: At Athletic Meeting held in Trinidad, Girls Team - Velma Walters, Angela Walters, Gloria Walters and Jean Liverpool won the Governor's Cup. Congratulated personally by Premier Hon. Dr. Eric Williams who asked that a holiday be given for the occasion. 11th May, 1961: A.W.O. Julien Spencer accepted for training as Commissioned Officer in West Indies Regiment, leaves For Sandhurst Military College. 21st September 1962: Sydney Martineau took second place in Independence Youth Speaking Contest organized by the Trinidad Jaycees and held at Queens Hall. 28th May, 1968: No. 1 Platoon Cadet Unit won the Cadet Challenge Shield for Trinidad and Tobago. 16th June 1969: Bishop's High School won Championship in Junior Arts Festival. 1973: School Team won First Prize in the KNOW YOUR COUNTRY Contest sponsored by Trinidad and Tobago Television (T.T.T.). 17th April 1974: School Team won first prize of a Piano in KNOW YOUR COUNTRY Contest. In the words of the late Eric Roach (a Past Student) Bishop's High School elevated the sons and daughters of the peasant proprietors first into clerkships, later into the universities and professions, and thrust the island's strongest peasant conscience into the Trinidad administration. During his address on the Secondary School System to the Caribbean Union College in 1974 the late Dr. Eric Williams referred indirectly to Bishop's High School in these words: There is a Denominational School in Tobago whose pass average is higher than the overall national average, or the average for denominational schools. In addition to the high average there were outstanding individual performances as year after year students placed in the Top Ten for Trinidad and Tobago in the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examinations. In 1972 it was Dade Rodriguez, 1973 Elaine wing, 1974 Elizabeth Wong. In April 1974, after twenty-three years of devoted serve to Bishop's High School, Mr. Blackett left to take up an appointment as School Supervisor III in the Ministry of Education. It must have been gratifying to him to note the progress, which had been made over the years. In the same way that Bishop's High School was becoming more self sufficient in staff, drawing more and more from Past Students and Bowles Scholars, so did the composition of its management become more indigenous. The first break through in this area came when the late Dr. Jack Armstrong, a past student, was nominated as a member of the Governing Body and subsequently became the Chairman for a period. At present Archdeacon Kenneth Forrester is School Chaplain and Chairman of the Board of Management. ACTING PRINCIPAL: Back in 1959 The Tobago Benevolent Association i.e. a group of Tobagonians living in New York offered a University Scholarship to a graduate of Bishop's High School. This was awarded to Evuna Elliott now Mrs. St. Clair. After qualifying she returned to Bishop's High School and was Vice Principal at the time of Mr. Blackett's departure. From April 1974 to September 1975 Mrs. St. Clair acted as Principal. Cool and unassuming but painstaking and efficient she maintained a high level of organization and discipline. In 1975 Ivor Archie placed 7th among the Top Ten in the G.C.E. Ordinary Examination; and because of the creditable performance of the students at Advanced Level four Bowles Scholarships were awarded to the school. 5TH PRINCIPAL In September 1975 Bishop's High School celebrated its Golden Jubilee and the Guest of Honour was the first Principal Mr. R. S. Jordan. Mr. Cecil Caruth M.A. (Math) assumed duties as Principal on 8th September 1975; so the school started its third quarter century with its first Tobagonian Principal. Mr. Caruth immediately undertook the task of building on the sound administrative structure left by his predecessor Mr. E.C. R. Blackett. He motivated the staff, students and parents by: (a) Involving parents in a wide range of school activity programmes, thus the P.T.A. was strengthened. (b) Engendering a competitive spirit within and outside the walls of the school by exposing the students to inter-school debates and several other competitions. (c) In the interest of winning National Scholarships successfully arranging for several students to attend for a term St. Mary's College, Queen's Royal College and Hill View College. These efforts were rewarded in 1991 when Alison Armstrong was runner up in Languages in the National Scholarship. (d) Encouraging and making arrangements for teachers to mark C.X.C. scripts. At one time Bishop's High School had the highest ratio of C.X.C. Examiners in Trinidad and Tobago. Teachers were thus exposed to marking and evaluating Examination Scripts. A Few Highlights: 1976 Edward Wong placed among the Top Ten in the "O'Level Examination. Bishop's High School placed first in the technological class in the Science Exhibition held at the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.). In Athletics twenty-eight (28) medals were won by Bishop's High School and four (4) records set in the National Championships. In Music Garth James emerged Champion Junior Soloist for Trinidad and Tobago. Three students won Bowles Scholarships to University. 1977 In the nation-wide Science Exhibition, Bishop's High School gained 1st, 2nd, and 5th prizes in various categories. 1978 National Athletic Championships - Bishop's High School won five (5) Gold, three (3) Silver and seven (7) Bronze medals. 1979 First in Handicraft Exhibition 4H Club placed 1st in Cookery and Needlework. Bishop's High School won Silver and Bronze medals in National Sports Meeting. Angela John placed 1st in Dress Designing and Modelling. 1980 Cadet Unit won the Efficiency Shield for Trinidad and Tobago with No. 1 Platoon taking 1st place and No.2 Platoon 2nd place. Like his predecessor, after years of dedicated service, Mr. Caruth left in 1994 to take up his appointment as School Supervisor III in the Ministry of Education. 6th PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Gwyneth Armstrong G.T.C.L, P.G.C.E. (London) has the distinction of being the first Past Student/Principal. Soon after her joining the staff in 1969 a Music Programme was established. Instrumental Teaching was introduced. 1) Recorders 2) Steel pan 3) Combination of (a) Recorders and Steel pan (b) Recorders, Steel pan, Woodwinds, Brass. Mrs. Armstrong was Acting Principal from September 1992 to April 1993 and Principal from May 1994 to February 2000. During her period in office she had to cope with rapid changes:- (1) Student Population Increase from 500-750. Three Classes per year (formerly two) except - Lower and Upper Sixth. (2) Curriculum Expansion (3) Increase in Teaching Staff (from 24 - 44) (4) Physical Facilities expanded in keeping with the above (5) Science Block - Special Rooms. For her it all seemed to be a labour of love and supported by some hard-working members of staff the school was blessed with very good results. Ordinary Level C.X.C. Examination: Full Passes - Average 88% All Subject Areas - Above National Average Advanced Level Cambridge: Full Passes 57% in 1994 - 75% in 1999 National Scholarships: 1996 Keisha Sandy - Modern Studies Candia James - Languages 1997 Ronnie Sebro - Science 1998 Lesley Gray - Languages U.W.I. (Open) Amryl Arthur - Languages Resel Melville - Languages 2000 Thecla Henry won another National Scholarship. 7th PRINCIPAL: When Mrs. Armstrong retired in February 2000 she was succeeded by another Past Student, Mrs. Claudette Allard, B.A. Dip. Ed. In her quiet way she seemed determined to move on to even greater heights. The Staff and Students seem to have been just as determined for Bishop's High School not only ended the 20th century doing well, but also started the 21st century with a blazing trail. 2001 HIGHLIGHTS: Josanne Lucas was for the second consecutive year chosen as the Trinidad and Tobago representative at the Junior CARIFTA Games in Nassau, Bahamas. At the National Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships Josanne was the Under 20 Champion and Victrix Ludorum. Crystal Skeete was the Under 17 Champion. In Athletics at the National Championships Bishop's High School gained seven (7) Gold, five (5) Silver and six (6) Bronze individual medals. In Football, Denzil Turpin, both as Under 16 and Under 19 Player was awarded Player Of The Year At The Zonal Level. Three (3) students of Bishop's High School were members of the Under 15 Cricket Team, which toured England in August 2001. In Tennis Bishop's High School placed 2nd in the Inter- School Zonal Championships. In Netball the Under 15 and Under 17 teams won the AMOCO Junior and Senior Knock Out tournaments at the Zonal Level. In the Tobago Drama Festival Bishop's High School took 1st place. In the C.X.C Examinations there were 100% passes in Geography, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business and Food and Nutrition. There was a pass rate of above 90% in Spanish, Technical Drawing, Information Technology, English Language and Agricultural Science and above 80% in several other subjects. In the Advanced Level Examinations there was a pass rate of 100% in Spanish, Mathematics and Computing and above 90% in Chemistry, Biology, History and General Paper. Passes in Physics, Geography and English Literature ranged between 86 and 87%. Christopher Williams, Praveen Kumar, Kerron Fletcher and Richard Gift were awarded Additional National Scholarships. Roslyn Alfred also had outstanding results with four (4) Grade A's and one (1) Grade B. To crown all this, the Tobago House of Assembly offered ten scholarships tenable at the University of the West Indies, to the ten Tobago students who performed best in the 2001 Cambridge Advanced Level Examinations. All ten of these scholarships were taken by students of Bishop's High School. 2002 HIGHLIGHTS In sports twenty-six (26) Bishop's Athletes qualified for the National Secondary Track and Field Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad. The total individual medals gained were three (3) Gold, seven (7) Silver and four (4) Bronze. Students excelled at both O'Level and A' Level Examinations in 2002. At the O'Level Examinations there were 100% passes in Food and Nutrition and in Electronics; a range of 92-97% in Principles of Business, Spanish, Agricultural Science, Principles of Accounts, Geography, English A and French, and 80-89% in English B, Technical Drawing, Information Technology, Mathematics, Biology and Music. Kristy-Jo Sebro placed 1st in the entire Caribbean in Technical and Vocational subjects and received among other prizes a scholarship to pursue a degree at the University of the West Indies. Lawrence Sandy and Candace Chang tied for first place in Trinidad and Tobago in Agricultural Science and Binta Carrington placed first in Trinidad and Tobago in Music. At Advanced Level there were 100% passes in English, Further Math, French, Computing and General Paper. Ryan Allard received four (4) A's at the Advanced Level Examination and was awarded a Further National Scholarship for his outstanding performance. Mrs. Allard's term, as Principal of Bishop's High School was a short one, for in October 2002 she moved on to the post of School Supervisor III in the Department of Education. ACTING PRINCIPAL Mr. Finbar A. Sebro B. Sc., Dip. Ed. another Past Student of Bishop's High School succeeded Mrs. Allard as Acting Principal. We feel confident that under his leadership Bishop's High School will continue to blaze a trail in this country. 2003 In Cricket, Rod Sheppard represented Trinidad and Tobago in the regional Under 15 Cricket Tournament held in St. Vincent. Kristy-Jo Sebro copped the second prize in the Prime Minister's National Inventors/Innovators Competition with his design of the Eddy Current Disc Brake, a revolutionary system to improving braking capabilities of modern day vehicles. Based on Advanced Level results three (3) National Scholarships were won by Josia Henry, Reinaldo Gift and Jannike Frank. SUMMARY For the past fifty odd years Past Students of Bishop's High School have held top positions in the Civil Service and in many other fields in this country. But it is not only in Trinidad and Tobago that Bishop's High School has been making its presence felt. Many of its sons and daughters are making worthwhile contributions to life in foreign countries. STAFF: During the first thirty years of its existence Bishop's High School relied heavily on Barbados for its teachers; then in the 1960's and 1970's several members of staff came from England, Canada, the United States of America, and the Caribbean. At present all the teachers are from Trinidad and Tobago. But from as early as the 1930's scores of Past Students have served as members of staff. Some of these served for short periods and moved on; but others have given years of outstanding and dedicated service to the school. Among the latter are: Mrs. Flora Jordan (nee Ross) - Deceased Miss Badroul Armstrong (Deceased) Mrs. Cynthia Thomas (nee Robinson) Mrs. Moulda Archie (nee Beache) Mrs. Miriam Baptiste Mrs. Evuna St. Clair Miss Pearl Solomon (Deceased) Mrs. Marva Henry (Deceased) Mrs. Oscilla James Mrs. Claudette Allard (nee Mills) Mr. Noel Sosa Mrs. Angela Sosa (nee Walters) Miss Yvette Arnold Mr. Winston Dillon Mr. Finbar Sebro Mrs. Gwyneth Armstrong (nee Edwards) Mr. Hugh Donaldson Mrs. Claire Alexander (nee Brathwaite) Miss Belinda Dillon Mrs. Agnes Murray Thomas Mrs. Valerie Richardson Miss Erna Austin Mrs. Bernadette Phillips Mrs. Marslyn Jack (nee Melville) Mr. Lawrence Stewart Mr. Handel Dillon Canon Claude Berkley Mrs. Suzette Stewart (nee James)