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Alfred Lawrence Walcott ca1859-1919 The "Booker T. Washington" of Jamaica.
'Manchester gave him birth 50 years ago next October, though his father was a native of St James and his mother of Trelawny.' Jamaica Times, April 24, 1909 |
A. L. Walcott was the long-time and much respected principal of West Branch School, which was associated with All Saints Church, near the Kingston Public Hospital. He was for many years an Anglican catechist, but always turned down suggestions that he should become a candidate for ordination. He felt he could best serve the church as a teacher.
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Daily Gleaner, Oct 17, 1901
Mr. A. L. Walcott. A CHARACTER SKETCH [The following is an extract from a sketch of the career of Mr. A. L. Walcott (twice president of the Jamaica Union of Teachers) in the October Journal of Education] “Any one passing down West Street, twenty years ago, would hardly notice the little mission school on his left and the ugly looking little square building which stood facing the gate some distance in the teacher’s house. The clamour of quarrelling men and women, the noise of rude urchins, the dirtiness of the street, a dead fowl here, and a dead dog there, and the dinginess of the houses formed, rather, the object of sober thought for your would-be moralist who little thought that the little school was destined to be the means of changing the whole neighbourhood. Were he to visit now the former scene of his musings he would find a fine church consecrated to All the Saints, with a fine organ, a good congregation, and a regular officiating priest. In the place of one school he would find three departments each bigger than its parent, and instead of one certificated teacher, several who have their parchment. At first his complaint might have been that there was too much room, now it is that there is too little. “The little insignificant West Branch school of twenty years ago has become, if not the foremost, one of the foremost schools in the Island. Who has been at the helm? Who has steered the ship through rough winds and over billowy seas? That captain is the subject of this sketch. Born in Manchester in 1859, Mr. Walcott has nobly kept up the traditions of that parish. He was trained at the Government Training College, which was the college at that time. The fact that Mr. Walcott was, though for a brief period, an assistant tutor in the college shows that he had won the esteem and confidence of the college authorities. After teaching at Myersfield in Westmoreland and subsequently in St. Ann, he took charge of West Branch School, Kingston, in July,1882, then a low third class school with a very poor attendance -- a school that one with less faith in his powers would have shrunk from. This school within two years gained first class marks and has since going up, up, up, and now has over 70 marks. It must be remarked that these marks are not mentioned as a measure of Mr. Walcott’s work. To see that work one must visit West Branch School for himself, must see hundreds of boys and girls busy at work, must observe the effects of the teaching on the children’s conduct and character, and must follow them as they go forth to fight the battle of life. |
Jamaica Times, April 24, 1909
Early education
Young Walcott like many another Jamaica youth who has risen gloried in hard work from early in life, and very soon the spirit of enterprise and the desire to succeed manifested itself. It was not always his teachers that rendered his early training of such marked importance. Some of these men were as a fact poorly equipped educationally. But it was in the boy to rise, and he did so despite disadvantages. His progress was rapid and he was soon at the top of his class and primus of his school. One of these teachers was Mr. Peter Allen of Whitby in Manchester, who Mr. Walcott says seems to have been one of the best of his day, and of whom he cherishes grateful memories. On the removal of this gentleman from the school, young Walcott's parents placed him under Mr. J. Scholefield, an Englishman, who then held the position of Catechist and schoolmaster of the St. Andrew's station, Albert Town, Trelawny. Mr. Scholefield was succeeded by Mr. C. C. Douce now Anglican Minister [Black priest, ordained March 1881] at Highgate, who recognizing his pupil's intelligence and aptitude for teaching directed his energies towards preparing him for the teaching profession.
In College
Mr. Walcott entered the Government Training College then at Stoney Hill, as a student in January, 1875. His College contemporaries were Hugh John McKay, G. A. Ashby, late Wesleyan Minister, Herbert F. Miller, Geo. Swaby, Samuel Matthias Johnson. The Rev. Ed. Pierce was Superintendent and H. M. Cox Esq., Tutor.
On the removal of the Training College to Spanish Town in the Summer of July, 1876 Mr. Walcott was brought under the influence of the late Bishop C. F. Douet M. A. and of T. P. Cox Esq. Superintendent and Tutor respectively of the College. Here also he gained the favour of his teachers. Confidence in his ability as a teacher, and in his general good conduct was shown in his frequent employment while still a student to fill the place of the Headmaster of the Model School whenever that official was ill, or absent from duty.
EARLY CAREER
In The Field
His first appointment after a successful three years' course was to the headmastership of Meylersfield Trust School, Westmoreland, under the management of C. P. Bovell Esq., Attorney for Paradise Pen. This was in February 1878. Here he had quite uphill work. The School house and Teacher's residence were erected in a locality unfavourable to the maintenance of good health, owing to the presence of lagoons and marshes. The School was but newly erected, and none but the children of the peasantry of the Estates, and those of East Indian immigrants could at this early stage attend. The Highest Standard was only the Third Book. Second standard was unrepresented. The remaining children are placed in Junior or First Standard. Still, in July in the same year School made 30 marks at the Government Inspection, and 46 marks second class in April of the following year. The Rev. P. Williams of Bethel Town was the examiner. The young teacher left to fill the post of Assistant Master, Government Training College, Spanish Town, to which he was appointed in September 1879. Some students at this time were S. A. Bowen, (Portland), W. H. Plant, (Titchfield), R. A. DaCosta, (Bermuda), A. I. Hopwood, (late Headmaster Hope Industrial School), J. N. Swaby, (Rector St. Andrew's, Albert Town), Archdeacon Swaby (Bocas del Toro).
In 1881 Mr. Walcott was appointed to the Mission Station, St. James, Gibraltar, St. Ann. In addition to his duties as Catechist, he conducted the Day School, and gave occasional help at St. Thomas' Church, Stewart Town. The Mission that was dwindling received fresh vigour and the school, a struggling third class of 30 marks, advanced to 52 marks in a single year. Every thing gave promise of a successful future when Archbishop Nuttall directed that a change should be made to West Branch School, Kingston. There he has been ever since August 1882.
Early education
Young Walcott like many another Jamaica youth who has risen gloried in hard work from early in life, and very soon the spirit of enterprise and the desire to succeed manifested itself. It was not always his teachers that rendered his early training of such marked importance. Some of these men were as a fact poorly equipped educationally. But it was in the boy to rise, and he did so despite disadvantages. His progress was rapid and he was soon at the top of his class and primus of his school. One of these teachers was Mr. Peter Allen of Whitby in Manchester, who Mr. Walcott says seems to have been one of the best of his day, and of whom he cherishes grateful memories. On the removal of this gentleman from the school, young Walcott's parents placed him under Mr. J. Scholefield, an Englishman, who then held the position of Catechist and schoolmaster of the St. Andrew's station, Albert Town, Trelawny. Mr. Scholefield was succeeded by Mr. C. C. Douce now Anglican Minister [Black priest, ordained March 1881] at Highgate, who recognizing his pupil's intelligence and aptitude for teaching directed his energies towards preparing him for the teaching profession.
In College
Mr. Walcott entered the Government Training College then at Stoney Hill, as a student in January, 1875. His College contemporaries were Hugh John McKay, G. A. Ashby, late Wesleyan Minister, Herbert F. Miller, Geo. Swaby, Samuel Matthias Johnson. The Rev. Ed. Pierce was Superintendent and H. M. Cox Esq., Tutor.
On the removal of the Training College to Spanish Town in the Summer of July, 1876 Mr. Walcott was brought under the influence of the late Bishop C. F. Douet M. A. and of T. P. Cox Esq. Superintendent and Tutor respectively of the College. Here also he gained the favour of his teachers. Confidence in his ability as a teacher, and in his general good conduct was shown in his frequent employment while still a student to fill the place of the Headmaster of the Model School whenever that official was ill, or absent from duty.
EARLY CAREER
In The Field
His first appointment after a successful three years' course was to the headmastership of Meylersfield Trust School, Westmoreland, under the management of C. P. Bovell Esq., Attorney for Paradise Pen. This was in February 1878. Here he had quite uphill work. The School house and Teacher's residence were erected in a locality unfavourable to the maintenance of good health, owing to the presence of lagoons and marshes. The School was but newly erected, and none but the children of the peasantry of the Estates, and those of East Indian immigrants could at this early stage attend. The Highest Standard was only the Third Book. Second standard was unrepresented. The remaining children are placed in Junior or First Standard. Still, in July in the same year School made 30 marks at the Government Inspection, and 46 marks second class in April of the following year. The Rev. P. Williams of Bethel Town was the examiner. The young teacher left to fill the post of Assistant Master, Government Training College, Spanish Town, to which he was appointed in September 1879. Some students at this time were S. A. Bowen, (Portland), W. H. Plant, (Titchfield), R. A. DaCosta, (Bermuda), A. I. Hopwood, (late Headmaster Hope Industrial School), J. N. Swaby, (Rector St. Andrew's, Albert Town), Archdeacon Swaby (Bocas del Toro).
In 1881 Mr. Walcott was appointed to the Mission Station, St. James, Gibraltar, St. Ann. In addition to his duties as Catechist, he conducted the Day School, and gave occasional help at St. Thomas' Church, Stewart Town. The Mission that was dwindling received fresh vigour and the school, a struggling third class of 30 marks, advanced to 52 marks in a single year. Every thing gave promise of a successful future when Archbishop Nuttall directed that a change should be made to West Branch School, Kingston. There he has been ever since August 1882.
At West Branch School
FROM 34 TO 500 -- But West Branch of those days was a poor third class school of 30 marks and 34 children in average attendance. Today it stands at 77 marks, with between 600 and 700 pupils on books and an average of over 500. the original buildings in which the school was formerly kept, have become too small for the attendance, additional accommodations have had to be provided, which are even now to limited for the number of pupils that seek instruction at this centre.
The number of those trained at West Branch go up into the thousands including pupils from Panama, Port Limon, Central America; even now many of the pupils in school come from outside the City of Kingston. His old pupils have given recruits to nearly every profession. These men and women are ever loud in the praises of their old teacher. Among teachers trained by Mr. Walcott, are Mr S. M. Gordon of Mandeville, Mr G. L. Harry, P. Munroe, an[d] J. T. Munroe, General Secretary J. U. T.
Mr. Walcott believes in the education of our girls as he is anything but oblivious to the uplifting influences of womanhood. Among the most successful trained by him may be noted Miss L. E. Black (now Mrs Walcott) Miss L. M. Ludford, Nurse, Mrs L. Payne, Port Antonio, the late Miss Tucker, Miss A. Chaves (now Mrs B. C. Lumsden) Miss E. Delgado (now Mrs W. Lumsden) Miss M. Green (now Mrs J. A. S. Linton.) The three last have married ministers of the gospel.
To our Island Civil Service he has given Messrs M. Aarons Court's offices, Kingston; E. Wilson, Surveyor General's office; J. A. Lawrence, Courts' office, Port Maria; G. A. Smith, late of Registrar General's office, Spanish Town H. A. Morle (deacons.) Other Pupils have been successful not only in winning scholarships for secondary schools, but in passing the Cambridge Local examinations. A late winner of the Jamaica scholarships, Master Valentine, now residing in Edinburgh won a scholarship at Wolmer's from West Branch school.
FROM 34 TO 500 -- But West Branch of those days was a poor third class school of 30 marks and 34 children in average attendance. Today it stands at 77 marks, with between 600 and 700 pupils on books and an average of over 500. the original buildings in which the school was formerly kept, have become too small for the attendance, additional accommodations have had to be provided, which are even now to limited for the number of pupils that seek instruction at this centre.
The number of those trained at West Branch go up into the thousands including pupils from Panama, Port Limon, Central America; even now many of the pupils in school come from outside the City of Kingston. His old pupils have given recruits to nearly every profession. These men and women are ever loud in the praises of their old teacher. Among teachers trained by Mr. Walcott, are Mr S. M. Gordon of Mandeville, Mr G. L. Harry, P. Munroe, an[d] J. T. Munroe, General Secretary J. U. T.
Mr. Walcott believes in the education of our girls as he is anything but oblivious to the uplifting influences of womanhood. Among the most successful trained by him may be noted Miss L. E. Black (now Mrs Walcott) Miss L. M. Ludford, Nurse, Mrs L. Payne, Port Antonio, the late Miss Tucker, Miss A. Chaves (now Mrs B. C. Lumsden) Miss E. Delgado (now Mrs W. Lumsden) Miss M. Green (now Mrs J. A. S. Linton.) The three last have married ministers of the gospel.
To our Island Civil Service he has given Messrs M. Aarons Court's offices, Kingston; E. Wilson, Surveyor General's office; J. A. Lawrence, Courts' office, Port Maria; G. A. Smith, late of Registrar General's office, Spanish Town H. A. Morle (deacons.) Other Pupils have been successful not only in winning scholarships for secondary schools, but in passing the Cambridge Local examinations. A late winner of the Jamaica scholarships, Master Valentine, now residing in Edinburgh won a scholarship at Wolmer's from West Branch school.
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Daily Gleaner, January 7, 1913
WEST BRANCH SCHOOL The Rector of All Saints' writes in the current number of the "Church Monthly Magazine": "The pulling down of the day school removes an old landmark in West Kingston. Nobody pretends that the old building was ornamental -- it was loved for other reasons and sightliness. Thousands of men and women have been schooled at West Branch, and they remember the dear, stuffy old place with affection. One of these days we must get Teacher Walcott to write his West Branch reminiscences. He has spent 30 years about the old place. He tells us it was originally a disused cholera hospital. The Church acquired it, killed out all the germs (if germs were known in those days), and transformed it into a small school. A struggling work was carried on for many years, and then, under the direction of our present Archbishop (who was incumbent of St. George's at the time) an enlargement was effected and the combined work of mission and school greatly developed. Mr. Walcott was called to take up the work of Teacher and Catechist, and under his energetic control both branches of work prospered so greatly that eventually the present Church was founded. The foregoing is, of course, only the barest outline, and when we can catch Teacher Walcott in a reminiscent mood we will get him to tell the whole story. Such a story should be well worthy of a place in the romance of Missions." |
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Walcott was a founding member of the Jamaica Union of Teachers, and its President in 1900. Governor Blake appointed him to the Board of Education - the first elementary school teacher to serve as a member on that Board.
At his death in 1919 he was remembered as a modest man, who had given his all to his beloved vocation - teaching.
At his death in 1919 he was remembered as a modest man, who had given his all to his beloved vocation - teaching.
