Person Duane, William Michael (1915-1997) Draft 1915-1997 Micahel Duane (1915-1997), teacher, headmaster and lecturer, was best known for his 'progressive' educational views, his belief in inclusivity and a multi-racial approach, his encouragement of informal relationships between staff and pupils and his opposition to corporal punishment. He was born in Ireland and moved to England when he was ten years old. He was educated at grammar school and then at Queen Mary College, London, from where he graduated in 1938 with a degree in English Language and Literature. From 1938 to 1939 he trained as a teacher at the Institute of Education, University of London, and then took up a teaching post at Dame Alice Owens School, Islington to which he returned for a short spell in 1946 after a period of military service during the Second World War (1940-1946). Duane lectured at the Institute of Education for a year from (1947-1948) and was then appointed to headships at two Hertfordshire schools: firstly (Sep-Dec 1948) at Beaumont Boys' School, St Albans and then (1948-1951) at Howe Dell Secondary School, Hatfield, a new school which opened in 1949. Duane's headship of Howe Dell was marked by controversy, difficult relations with the County Council, the School governors and an unfavourable report by Her Majesty's Inspectors. The School was closed in December 1951. From 1951 to 1959 Duane was Head Master of Alderman Woodrow Secondary Boys' School, Lowestoft where the situation was less problematic. It was in 1959 that he took the headship of Risinghill School in Islington, a post which was to make Duane a famous figure. Risinghill opened in 1960 after the amalgamation of four pre-existing schools and under Duane's headship became the subject of much public and media attention and controversy focused on his non-authoritarian approach. There were difficulties with the London County Council and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools, Risinghill was closed in 1965 and Duane became a peripatetic lecturer at various London colleges of education. He wrote and lectured widely on the topic of education. In 1995, for example, he published The Terrace: An Educational Experiment in a State School (London: Freedom Press, 1995) about a joint scheme established by Royston Lambert, Head of Dartington School and Sir Alec Clegg, Director of Education for the West Riding of Yorkshire to provide non-school education for fifteen-year olds after the raising of the school leaving age in 1972-1973. He died in January 1997. Head Master GB/366/360 Personal Deposited/Personal/Duane 28/04/2000 Hjralmp 19/06/2008 Mkklibyz Duane; Michael (1915-1997); Head Master Duane Michael GB471 Born: Dublin, Ireland; London from 1920. International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 English f73c20d8-3215-4321-b2d8-68ea84d76267