Tony O'Connor (teacher)
Tony O'Connor (born 1921 or 1922) was a Jamaican teacher. His 1967 appointment as a headteacher in Smethwick England—he was the first black person to hold such a post—caused a racist backlash.
Tony O'Connor | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1921 or 1922 Jamaica |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | School teacher, head teacher (1967–1983) |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
Early life edit
O'Connor was born in Jamaica in 1921 or 1922[a].[2] He joined the RAF in 1943, during World War II, achieving the rank of flight sergeant and moving to the United Kingdom.[2][3][4]
Career edit
After the war, O'Connor took a teaching diploma at the University of Birmingham, then worked as a teacher, serving at two schools in Smethwick, including three years as deputy head at Albion School.[3] He specialised in the Nuffield method of teaching mathematics, and trained other teachers in its use.[3]
In September 1967, he was appointed head teacher at Bearwood Road Junior and Infants School[b] in Smethwick,[2][4] a town which had recently experienced racial tensions.[5][6] He is widely held to have been the first black person to be a head teacher in the United Kingdom.[2][4][7] He was reported as saying that he did not care if he was the "first, second, third or 250th West Indian headmaster".[2] In December 1967, days after his appointment became public, racist slogans, 2 feet 6 inches (0.76 metres) high, and swastikas were painted on the walls of the school, and threats were made against him.[2][4][8]
Personal life edit
At the time of his Bearwood appointment, O'Connor was living at Hall Green, Birmingham.[3] His wife Marjorie was also a teacher.[3] They had two daughters.[3] Because of the racist threats directed at him, their daughters had to stay with relatives.[4]
He retired in 1983.[2]
Legacy edit
A quote by O'Connor featured in a calligraphic artwork by the artist Linett Kamala, which was included in her 2018-2019 "Excellence – A Celebration of Pioneering Headteachers" exhibition at the University of Roehampton, commemorating black head teachers.[9]
Among O'Connor's pupils at Smethwick was Doreen Foster, subsequently director of Warwick Arts Centre.[10]
Papers relating to O'Connor's headmastership are held by Sandwell Archives.
Notes edit
- ^ One source says 1918.[1]
- ^ Now Bearwood Primary School; some sources refer to it as such; Bearwood is the southern part of Smethwick, in Sandwell, West Midlands, but in 1967 was part of the County Borough of Warley, in Worcestershire.
References edit
- ^ "Black History Month Virtual Discussion Panel". RAF Museum. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Campaign launched to chart life of 'first black headmaster'". Express and Star. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Just My Job - Britain's First Coloured Headmaster". Birmingham Evening Mail.
- ^ a b c d e "England's pioneering black head teachers". BBC News. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ Arnot, Chris (3 March 1993). "Malcolm X in the Black Country: Chris Arnot revisits Smethwick, where the Black Power leader claimed coloured people were being treated "like the Jews under Hitler"". The Independent. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ Jeffries, Stuart (15 October 2014). "Britain's most racist election: the story of Smethwick, 50 years on". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- ^ "Beyond Windrush: Britain's first black headmaster". Windrush70. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Race Slogans on School Walls". The Times. No. 57116. 5 December 1967. p. 2.
- ^ Kamala, Linett. "Latest News". Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Interview with Doreen Foster". Times Higher Education. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2020.