La Martiniere Girls School

La Martiniere for Girls is situated at 14, Rawdon Street (Sarojini Naidu Sarani) Calcutta. It has extensive grounds, tennis and basket ball courts and a children’s park. It is equipped with many modern amenities such as an auditorium, laboratories, a well-appointed library, an infirmary and a swimming pool. The class rooms are large and airy. Some pupils live on the campus. The aim of the School is to give the girls an all-round education, to develop their individuality to the fullest, not in isolation but in and through society. As earlier stated, both boys and girls occupied the main building of the Boys’ School until 1840. Then, on Christmas Eve 1840, Mr. James Parker’s residence was purchased for Rs.75,000 and the Girls School began its separate existence, affiliating to the University of Calcutta in 1857. Girls were furnished with six suits annually, each consisting of a frock, petticoat, shift of calico with three tuckers of muslin. A cotton shawl, was issued every two years, a woollen dress every cold season. The weekly diet was fixed for the whole year and included mutton roast, kid

curry, roast beef, roast fowl, bread, rice, dhal, vegetables, fruit and rice pudding. It was strictly laid down that the greatest care be taken "from the first to render frequency of punishment unnecessary, by employing prevention’s of fault, and by assiduously inculcating the principles from which good conduct springs." Corporal punishment was banned in the case of girls after they had reached their eleventh year. In 1897 a devastating earthquake rocked Calcutta and damaged buildings at both schools (Boys’ and Girls’). The south portico of the Girls’ school partly collapsed.

As late as the 1890s, girls were educated primarily to be married off and were vastly outnumbered by the boys. The Boys’ School has throughout its career prided itself in its ability to turn out a ‘complete individual, talented not merely in studies, but also in games and other spheres of activity. But interestingly, the Girls’ School, too, pursued the same objective with considerable success. The girls performed well in the sciences, which led a Chief Guest, at the 1895 Founder’s Day celebrations to caution against ‘meddling in manly or incongruous things’. Music, was studied seriously and dancing classes were held regularly-well into the 1960s. Girls often displayed their dancing talents on Sports Day.

The Girls’ played a major role in collecting donations for child victims of the War and raised Rs. 674 for Belgian children through a concert. The Girl Guide Movement began around 1917 and received a big fillip when Lady Baden Powell visited the School in 1921. But responding to social change, by the late 1960s, the imbalance between the sexes had been corrected and every avenue or opportunity for education was open to both boys and girls. The central pivot on which the School system has revolved through the years has been the desire of keeping abreast of the times without sacrificing tradition. A good example of this philosophy in practice is the way the numbers and composition of its students have evolved through the years. The School has always thought it wiser to educate a small number well rather than a large number indifferently. Today the school has extensive grounds, Tenniquoit and Basketball courts and a Children’s park. It is equipped with many modern amenities such as an auditorium, laboratories, a well-appointed library, an infirmary and a swimming pool. The class rooms are large and airy. Some pupils live on the campus. The aim of the School is to give the girls an all-round education.

The School course comprises a ten - year Secondary course and a two-year pre-degree course at the end of which there is a Public examination: The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education and the Indian School Certificate examinations respectively. The curriculum includes English Language, English Literature, History, Civics, Geography, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Indian Languages, Economics, Commerce, Accounts, Home Science, Art, Modern Governments, Singing, Physical Training and Moral Science.

Co-curricular activities include games, swimming, arts and crafts, elocution, dramatics, debating, music, languages, excursions, quizzes-involving participation outside as well. The school has always maintained a high standard of academic excellence and is a credit to the vision of the Founder and the efforts of many generations of teachers and students who have passed through its portals.