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| A Short History of St. John's Diocesan School |
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 Our school is one of the oldest educational institutions of Calcutta for women. The school was founded in 1894 by the Clewer Sisters of the convent of John the Baptist. In the 111th year of our existence we are aware of the glorious past, which we have inherited. The school was first started by Ms. Angelina Margaret Hoare, a missionary from Kent, England in 1876. In her diary she had written - "The Diocesan School was started with 16 girls, 12 in Upper classes and 4 in the Lower and a boarding house…..". Now our roll strength is 3500. 99% of these students come from lower middle class families of West Bengal.
When Ms. Angelina Hoare died in 1892 aged 48, the then Bishop of Calcutta, Bishop Johnson, said thus in her praise at her funeral -
"……. Be assured, all of you that her devoted life has not been lost upon the public of Calcutta. The work she has done can never be altogether lost sight of. Not to mention the seed she has sown in the hearts of her beloved children in the Diocesan School of Calcutta and other schools in Sundarbans which will bear fruit in generations of come ….." And now we are certainly enjoying the fruits of her hard work and labour of love.
Our founder set to work in a characteristic way, asking various native clergymen and pandits to meet at her house to advise her upon the plans best fitted to provide efficient training without in any way anglicising the girls or introducing expensive habits, either in dress or in person. She wrote in one of the letters to her brother in England : "…. My idea of the future of our Diocesan School is that it should be an institution not confined to any particular society or an elite group….". This is our tradition which was maintained by the Clewer Sisters of the Community of St. John the Baptist till 1944, who were given the reigns of administration in 1894, and later accepted by Miss Charulata Das, the first Indian principal of this school, who herself was a student of this school and college. And we at the Diocesan still believe in this tradition and follow it as the essence of our education and existence. The aim of this school is to draw out and train character, to teach the girls reality and self-sacrifice and to open to all, the door to self-development and independence of thought and to learn to use their freedom rightly.
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We hope that our children may stand among those who are open-minded, public-spirited and self-sacrificing. We encourage our children to think for themselves. The children are taught in a beautiful atmosphere so that they learn to respect all religions and at least appreciate the moral beauty of all religions.
Our school has contributed its mite to the cause of women's education for more than a century. Galaxies of luminaries in various disciplines of life originated from this great institution. It has contributed almost extravagantly to the cultural lives of middle class Bengali homes. During the time when the school was run by St. John's sisters, the reputation of the school was at its zenith for the sisters worked with utmost devotion, untiring efforts and profound wisdom. Sister Hilda Francis, the last English Principal of this school, was awarded "Kaiser-e-Hind" for her contribution to women's education. The administration of the school then came into the able hands of Miss. Charulata Das in 1944. |
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