Born to Teach
Mr. Nelson Glanville MacFarlane Major, B.E.M., J.P.,
was born at Burrow's Harbour, Long Island, Bahamas, 71 years ago. At
the age of six he entered school at Buckley's (Deadman's Cay).
He was very precocious and, being blessed with such able teachers as
Garnet Gibson, J.L. Thompson, C.I. Gibson and Anthony Smith, was made
a monitor at the age of eleven, passed the pupil teacher's exam at the
age of sixteen, entered the Teacher-Training School at the age of eighteen,
was successful and subsequently was appointed Head teadcher of the school at
Rum Cay.
This was a very rare acheivement in those days.
However, to make doubly sure that he could manage the task, he was required
to write the Head Teacher's Exam two months after his appointment to headship.
This he did, and the result was that he not only passed the test, but took
first place among the examinees, even though th others had been teaching for
many years as Heads. N.G.M. was on his way!
INAGUA 1923
He had a very successful year at Rum Cay and was transferred in 1923 to Inagua
to succeed Mr. C.I. Gibson who had falled very ill. Here he appointed Mr.
T.G. Glover, now a retired headmaster as a monitor - a fact which Mr.
Glover always relates with some pride. Mr. Stanley Alexander recalls those
days with fond memory. In 1925 Mr. major resigned from teaching, but was very
happy to learn that the Board was pleased with his work and had chalked
him up as being the leader of the young teachers.
He then entered into business, first in Nassau for five years, and then
for eleven years at Long Island. All this time he felt constantly the call of
the classroom, and, consequently, was never at ease. Nothing seemed to
be able to fill that void, and so, in 1940 when Mr. A.R. Braynen (now Sir Alvin)
contacted him, he had no difficult task to persuade Mr. Major to return
to a vocation for which he was born.
It seemed somewhat of a coincidence that Mr. C.I. Gibson, who was the
Headmaster at Deadman's Cay, would die just at this juncture, thus creating
a vacancy for his favourite pupil, Mr. Major. Mr. Timothy Gibson, a close friend
of Mr. major from his teen days, later expressed that "C.I. Gibson threww
his cloak on N.G.M.'s shoulder". In fact, C.I. remarked to N.G.M. that
he was the easiest child to learn of the thousands he taught. This was
on the last occasion that he saw him.
DEADMAN'S CAY 1941
In 1941 Mr. Major took over the headship of the school at Deadman's Cay.
After making a creful assessment of his environment, he at once invited the
co-operation of both school and community in starting a school garden to produce
the necessary food items tequired to face the gigantic task that lay ahead. There
was a friendly rivalry among the schools in those days; there was the
competitive exam for scholarships to Government High School; there were the
Agriculture Fairs and the General Fairs. In all of these contests during the 1940's
Mr. Major took the lead with his school.
In 1946 the school report by the then Inspector, T.A. Thompson, read:
"The school at Deadman's Cay is the leading school in the Out Islands and is equal
to any of the Senior Schools in New Providence."
HONOURED BY QUEEN
In recognition of his outstanding good work Mr. Major was awarded the
British Empire Medal (B.E.M.) by Her Majesty the Queen in the Queen's
Honours 1952.
In 1952 he was appointed Supervisory Head Teacher of the schools in Long
Island, a post he held for eight years. In 1960, he was appointed District Inspector of
the schools in the South Eastern Islands - Long Island, Ragged Island, Rum Cay,
Acklins, Crooked Island, Mayaguana and Inagua. This work involved much
travel by foot, by boat, by vehicle or by animal. He took his work
seriously. He initiated periodical teachers' conferences, where training,
practical helps and inter-reaction were carried out. Teachers by and large
appreciated Mr. Major's work.
Mr. Major was always proud of his students. Their achievements in academic studies,
as evidenced by successes in examinations, their achievements in the
Music Festivals as shown by the trophies captured, and their performances
in the wider world of work, all gave him much satisfaction and pride.
The pupils whom Mr. Major taught learned to be industrious, thoughtful
and respectful.
A friend to all, Mr. Major has been throughout his career, approachable
by young and old. He loves Long Island and has devoted his life to its
educational, economic and social development. He has unstintingly given
of his time and talents in service to the local Boards of Works and of
Health. He also served as Acting Commissioner on several occasions and has
been a Justice of the Peace for many years.
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