A school at Mylapore that takes in the poor

The Hindu

29-04-2025

In 1886, a group of missionaries from Scotland established a school at Mylapore to educate the poor girls in the neighbourhood. Five women — Laura Jackson, Teale, Ruth Gordon, Schebhert, and Joe Walford — came together to establish a residential school to educate the girls of Mylapore. They were looking for a suitable place. The premises where the school stands now was known as Sullivan's Gardens, the residence of Benjamin Sullivan who lived there in the 1780s. He has been credited with being the 'originator' of Madras post office attorney-general, who later became a judge.
In 1840, the Madras Diocese of the Society for Propagating Gospel in Foreign Parts acquired the property. The women's dream materialised when Sullivan's Gardens on Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai came to their rescue in 1886. The school derived its name from St. Ebba, the daughter of the King of Northumbria. A plaque at the school entrance gives details of St. Ebba. She lived in 7 A.D. and became a Scottish saint.
In 1903, the school was upgraded as a high school with patronage from children of Telugu origin flocking to it. In 1913, a new building came up, serving as a hostel for students and teachers. Soon after, St. Ebba's began admitting boys in the primary section. The practice continues even today.
During the Second World War, the school was taken over for billeting the troops, and it was shifted to Namakkal. The school later returned to its premises and began to be administered by Indian women, according to an article in the school's 125th anniversary souvenir. In 1974, the management of the school came under the Madras Archbishop. In 1978, the school was upgraded as a higher secondary school. The motto of the school remains, 'Walk as children of light'.
In 2007, the management set up a matriculation school on the premises. The heritage building where the school first began functioning has been converted into a college for education. In 2011, the school authorities brought together a group of alumnae, who also instituted scholarships and proficiency prizes, and donated generously for the construction of classrooms, say school officials.
'Until the COVID-19 pandemic, the school's strength was around 1,000. But, in the past four years, it has been falling,' says Shanti Christian, the school's correspondent. The aided school offers noon-meal scheme but after the government began supplying breakfast, students have preferred government schools, she says. The government scheme of admission to professional courses through preferential reservation for government school students has also impacted the admission.
The school authorities have been trying hard to canvas in the neighbourhood areas. At present, the school strength is 550. The correspondent says the school has developed two smart classrooms. The authorities have applied to the School Education Department for permission to extend the co-education stream up to Class VIII. 'Our playground is the envy of schools in the city,' adds Principal Ramila Hepsi.
The playground has given the girls an edge over those of other schools at sporting events. The school has teams for hockey, football, and handball. Some girls have shown promise in athletics. One student won a bronze in a national boxing championship. Students are also taught kung fu and silambam.