Baldwin Boys' High School

Baldwin Boys' High School
Address
Hosur Road
India India
Bangalore, Karnataka
Information
Type Private School; boarding
Motto Reverentia Jehovae est Caput Sapientiae (Latin)
Established 1880
Founder John Baldwin
Authority Board of Governors
Faculty Approx. 120
Gender Boys
Houses

Richard, Oldham, Buttrick, Toussaint, Pfeiffer, Weston, Andersen

                            
Color(s) Red and blue         
Mascot Lion and Eagle
Nickname Baldwins
Publication The Baldwinian
Affiliation Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ICSE) and Indian School Certificate Examination (ISC)
Former pupils Old Baldwinian
School Song Cayuga Waters
Website http://www.baldwinboyshighschool.org/

Baldwin Boys' High School (or BBHS) often informally referred to simply as Baldwins, is an English boys' independent boarding school founded in 1800, is an all boys residential school. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious[1] school in Bangalore, India.

"Integretas et Veritas", meaning Righteousness and Truth, are the watchwords of the institution. The school's motto is "Reverentia Jehovae est Caput Sapientiae" - "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. 9:10).

Baldwin Boys High School is ranked as a top education provider in the country, consistently ranked as the best in school education.[1]

The school has heritage buildings such as Oldham Building and Lincoln Hall.

History

Baldwin Boys' High School was established in 1885, by a grant of money from John Baldwin, Ohio, USA, and was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Before 1880, the school was known as the Episcopal Methodist School and accepted boys and girls. In the late 1920s the school was managed by a Board of Governors, of which the Resident Bishop of the Bangalore Area, the then Bishop B.T. Badley, D.D. was Chairman.

The institution receives government Grant-in-Aid and is annually inspected and reported on by the Government Inspector of Schools. It prepares pupils for the Government and Cambridge Local Examinations. The school is located in Bangalore city.

Baldwin Boys’ High School is named after its benefactor, a philanthropist, John Baldwin of Berea, Ohio, USA. The name Baldwin descends from a royal lineage and is of German extraction meaning ’Bold Winner’.

Among the prominent personalities in the school's history are Bishop and Mrs. Williams F. Oldham, Rev. John Edward Robinson, Rev. Ira A. Richards, Rev. T. R. Toussaint, Rev. J. B Buthrick,Mr. C. N. Weston and Mr. Pfeiffer.

In 1882 Mr John Baldwin, 83, presented the school with three thousand dollars to acquire land and buildings. The rented property was purchased and renovated as a dormitory for boys for Rs. 5,500. It was named Hollister House. So encouraged was Rev. Richards that he asked the South India Conference for another Rs. 6,600 to purchase the adjoining building and hire two new teachers.

Bishop and Mrs. William F. Oldham, a surveyor, started a school in their home at 4, Alexandra Street. The aim was to provide schooling for English speaking Methodist children. When the Oldhams left India for Theological studies in the USA, the school was transferred to the vestry of the Richmond Town Methodist Church and placed under the Pastor, Rev. John Edward Robinson, elected Missionary Bishop in 1904.

In 1880, The Methodist Episcopal School was formally opened in February on land rented along Hosur Road (part of the present campus). The Principal, Rev. Marion B. Kirk from East Ohio Conference served in all capacities at the school as house-holder, administrator, teacher, gamester and musician. After six months, Rev. Kirk was transferred to Kolar’s Orphanage and Mission.

Rev. Ira A. Richards served as Principal from August 1880 to 1885. The strength of the school was 81 pupils and six teachers in 1881. Bishop and Mrs. William F. Oldham, a surveyor, started a school in their home at 4, Alexandra Street. The aim was to provide schooling for English speaking Methodist children. When the Oldhams left India for Theological studies in the USA, the school was transferred to the vestry of the Richmond Town Methodist Church and placed under the Pastor, Rev. John Edward Robinson, elected Missionary Bishop in 1904.

In 1880, The Methodist Episcopal School was formally opened in February on land rented along Hosur Road (part of the present campus). The Principal, Rev. Marion B. Kirk from East Ohio Conference served in all capacities at the school as house-holder, administrator, teacher, gamester and musician. After just six months, Rev. Kirk was transferred to Kolar’s Orphanage and Mission.

Rev. Ira A. Richards served as Principal from August 1880 to 1885. The strength of the school was 81 pupils and six teachers in 1881.

Layout

The school had several heritage buildings on its campus many of which have made way for modern concrete structures with improved facilities. There are two main academic buildings: one for the primary school and one for the high school section. The Pfeiffer Memorial Playground is used for football, hockey and cricket tournaments. The Weston Swimming Pool is attached to it. The school has a small field for basketball and roller-skating. It also has the Lincoln Hall as the school auditorium.

Academics

The board which governs ISC (Indian School Certificate) and ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) is CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination) which has its Head Office in New Delhi.

The school, administered along the lines of Junior, Middle and Senior School, works through three school terms, each ending with examinations. Students of Class X appear for the ICSE by the beginning of March. Students of Class XII take the ISC. The ISC examination is an equivalent to the Pre-University examination conducted by the state boards of education.

Subjects taught in Baldwins at the ICSE level include English, an Indian and foreign language, History, Civics, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and a choice between Commercial Applications, Computer Applications and Physical Education. All students learn English. A choice between Science and Environmental Science is offered.

School life

In the 1920s all boarders attended morning and evening prayers daily, and Sunday Divine Service, morning and evening, as well as Sunday School; also a Young people's meeting was held once during the week.

The school sought to foster the physical development of boys. To this end gymnastics, cricket, football, hockey and tennis were supported. Later boxing was added. A Sports Day was held annually to encourage athletics. A Unit of the Auxiliary Force, India, was maintained, in which the older boys enrolled. A Troop of Boy Scouts also existed, also a Cub Pack for the younger boys.

The studies from the 1920s were languages like Latin, Urdu, English and French by special arrangement. Subjects like Mathematics, Sciences Arts Drawing - Freehand, Model and Memory. The progress of pupils was tested by weekly and quarterly examinations. A report showing the results of these examinations together with a statement as to the conduct, applications, and progress of the pupils was forwarded to the parents or guardians at the end of every month and quarter.

The school had a House system and separate parts of the domitories were for each House.

The present

The school provides hostel facilities for a limited number of students. The junior and the senior dorm are housed in different buildings. With the increasing number of international students and students from the northeast of the country, the facilities have been upgraded.

Clubs and co-curricular activities

Houses

The school follows a house system, a system commonly used in public schools. The seven houses are named after previous principals or people who have played a part in the formation of the school. Each house is represented by a color which matches the first letter of the house.

Oldham was the founder of the school and Richard the third principal. Mr. Weston, the principal during the inter-war years was instrumental in pulling the school out of financial straits and saving it from dissolution. His memory was preserved in Weston House and in Weston Day, an annual sports holiday devoted to competitions in swimming and athletic pursuits. Pfeiffer House was named after an American contributor who helped turn around the schools fortune during Mr. Weston's tenure.

Sports

The school was one of the first to provide swimming facilities in Bangalore in 1900. There is an annual Intra school Swimming Competition on Weston Day.

The Pfeiffer Memorial Playground is used for football, hockey and cricket tournaments. The Weston Swimming Pool is attached to it. The school has a small field for basketball.

An inter-school football tournament for schools of old Bangalore. The trophy awarded at the end of the tournament is called The Baldwin Shield.

Hockey is a stronghold of the school. The junior team has won the Annual Hockey Tournament conducted by St. Joseph's Boys' High School, Bangalore several times.

Cultural activities

Odyssey, an inter school literary and cultural fest started in the 1990s, provides the students opportunities to exhibit their talents and spirit of competition. Due to protests by parents this event had to meet an end leaving the students of the city disappointed. Though held again in 2005 it failed to reignite the enthusiasm of the 1990s.

Alumni Association

The Old Baldwin Association(OBA) (www.baldwin-alumni.org) organizes alumni events. There is a program where older members can volunteer mentor younger members. The OBA celebrates Andersen Day to foster camaraderie amongst all its students. The president of the OBA is Mr.Shakeel Abdul Rehman.

Early educators at Baldwins'

Notable alumni

School song

The song was written by a former student in the 1920s. The melody is taken from a song of the time, Annie Lisle, a melancholy ballad of a heroine with tuberculosis, written by Boston musician H. S. Thompson in the late 1850s. Although Cornell is believed to be the first school to have used the melody for its alma mater, it has since been copied by high schools and universities around the world, including Indiana University, University of Missouri, University of Georgia, University of North Carolina, The American University in Beirut and Baldwin Boys High School, many of which contain lyrics similar to the Cornell lyrics. http://music.cornell.edu/alma-mater/ Click on the play button > Listen to the Cornell Alma Mater

Shout "All Hail" for Baldwin High school
shout it loud and long;
our beloved alma mater
come and join her song

CHORUS-

Lift her banner, bear it onward;
Righteousness and truth
are the watchwords of the conflict,
valiant be, ye youth.

Come and wear her colours royal,
Wear the red and blue,
Strong in purpose, firm and loyal
to her cause be true.

Lift her banner, bear it onward;
Righteousness and truth
are the watchwords of the conflict,
valiant be, ye youth.

Whereso'er her sons shall struggle
they shall win renown
utterly her foes they'll vanquish,
and will cast them down.

Lift her banner, bear it onward;
Righteousness and truth
are the watchwords of the conflict,
valiant be, ye youth.

Lo! for her the day is dawning,
back the shadows roll,
and prophetic angels standing,
show her glorious goal.

Lift her banner, bear it onward;
Righteousness and truth
are the watchwords of the conflict,
valiant be, ye youth.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Baldwin Boys High School

External links

Coordinates: 12°57′46″N 77°36′21″E / 12.9628°N 77.6059°E / 12.9628; 77.6059

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