The meeting mentioned in Miss Buss’ letter was held, early in 1866, at the house of Miss Garrett (Mrs. Garrett-Anderson), and was attended by several of the Assistant-Commissioners, and by other persons interested in the new movements. Matters relating to the Schools Inquiry—still in progress—were discussed, as well as the question of education in general.
A valuable series of papers on general educational points, by able writers, was issued by the association, and various technical questions were fully discussed; but the larger movements, such as the Local Examinations, and the proposed Woman’s College at Hitchin, occupy a very prominent place in the report which dwells on what is the true basis of any useful association—
“Apart from any tangible results, it has been felt that the recognition of a common bond—the kindling of zeal and courage, by the contact of congenial minds—the cheering consciousness of sympathy in working together for a great end, amply justify the existence of such an association.”
The School-Mistresses’ Association continued its work until the increase of the new Endowed Schools made a division of its members into three distinct classes, head-mistresses, assistant-mistresses, and private governesses. The two first formed themselves into distinct associations, while the third was absorbed by the Teachers’ Guild, which also drew in the amateurs.
Having fostered and protected this threefold fruitage up to the period of ripening, the parent association then fell apart, its work being done.
The Teachers’ Guild was originated by Miss Buss, at a meeting held on February 7, 1883, at the North London Collegiate School for Girls. On May 16 it was formally inaugurated at a meeting of the School-Mistresses’ Association, and it was then taken up warmly by the Head-mistresses’ Association.
Of the rise of the Assistant-mistresses’ Association, Miss E. P. Hughes writes, referring to the help given by Miss Buss—
“In 1884, at a little meeting in my room at Newnham, it was decided to start the Assistant-mistresses’ Association, the initiative being left to Mrs. Corrie Grant, Miss Eves, and myself. I wrote to Miss Buss and to several other leaders in education. Miss Buss’ answer was the first we received, and I distinctly remember the impression it produced. She sympathized keenly with the desire for union, seeing at once the possible danger of antagonism to other associations, but also seeing the way to avoid this danger. Without her sympathy and advice I do not think the association would have been started just then.”[[13]]
[13]. That Miss Buss’ interest did not relax is shown by the resolution passed by the Assistant-mistresses’ Association after the news of her death: “A great loss has fallen on the profession, a loss we should call irreparable did we not know that no devoted service dies, but lives and bears fruit in many wonderful and unexpected ways. A great worker has been called to her rest, and we who remain seem little as compared with her who is gone. As teachers we must all feel how much we have lost, while to some the loss is dearer and more personal.”
Miss Buss and Miss Beale may claim to have started the Head-mistresses’ Association, with the help of Miss H. M. Jones and a few others, who met at Myra Lodge in the Christmas vacation of 1873, to formulate its constitution.