Pioneering special needs teacher gets a blue plaque
GUERNSEY’S 15th blue plaque was unveiled yesterday, commemorating the life and work of Jessie de Garis, who pioneered the teaching of children with special educational needs in the island.
Former teachers Yvonne Hodder and Pauline Garthwaite had campaigned for Miss de Garis’ name to be remembered and at a special ceremony to unveil the plaque, Mrs Hodder spoke about the teacher’s life, which saw her being appointed in 1948 as the head teacher of Floraville School for Handicapped Children in Vauvert.
At that time there were just five pupils, but the school later moved to Valnord and paved the way for schools like Le Murier and Le Rondin today.
The plaque ensured that Miss de Garis’ work would not be forgotten and was a testament to her passion and her vision.
Mrs Hodder said it had taken about 18 months for the plaque application to be approved. The plaques are made in the UK and while the States pays for them to be erected, it is up to the nominators to pay for them, she added.
Head of heritage services Helen Glencross said that this was the 15th blue plaque to be unveiled, with two more were on the way later this year.
The unveiling itself was carried out by Bailiff Sir Richard McMahon, who was joined by students from Le Rondin.
He said that among the criteria for someone to be given a plaque was that they must have been dead for at least 20 years, or born more than 100 years ago.
‘It does enable us to recognise those people who were either born here or who have lived here a significant period of their lives, and done something significant, to be recognised in our community.’
With just over half of the blue plaques in Town, it has meant that walking tours could be given of them all to tell people about the importance of these individuals to the Bailiwick community, he said.
Among those attending the ceremony was Miss de Garis’ only surviving relative in Guernsey – her cousin Brenda Mayor, who said she remembered her well.
‘She was a very kind woman,’ she said, 'and very clever.
‘She would have been thrilled to bits by all this because she worked very hard.’
Le Rondin deputy head teacher Christine de Kock said she had been unaware of Miss de Garis’ contribution to SEN in Guernsey until learning of the blue plaque campaign.
‘To think how she pioneered the school with five children and of where we are now, with Le Rondin and Le Murier, Guernsey children are very, very fortunate.
‘If it was not for Jessie de Garis we wouldn’t be here today.’
She said the children she had brought with her had been excited to find out what Miss de Garis had done. One of them had described Floraville as ‘the first Le Rondin’.
