Volunteer Opportunities - Extend your horizons and gain new skills while helping our work to grow

Keep up to date with the Archive and Study Centre News Blog

SURVEY

of People, Places, and Organizations involved in progressive education and therapeutic community-related approaches to living and working

KENNETH C. BARNES

(17 September 1903 - 29 May 1998)

Teacher and Educationalist

Kenneth Charles Barnes was educated at elementary schools, Emanuel School, and King's College, London. From 1925 to 1930 he taught science in grammar schools. In 1930 he was appointed Head of the Science Department at Bedales School, Petersfield, Hampshire. Ten years later in 1940 he left Bedales and, together with his wife, Frances (who died after retirement in 1969), founded Wennington School in Wetherby near the Lancashire/Yorkshire border. Wennington was a co-educational boarding school, and Kenneth Barnes was Headmaster from its inception to 1968. Wennington became an egalitarian school which took children from a full cross-section of society.

Kenneth Barnes was the author of several books including A Vast Bundle of Opportunities and Sex, Friendship and Marriage. He is best known for He and She (Penguin) which reflects his pioneer work in sex education and sold steadily for more than 20 years. He was regularly involved in BBC radio debates over a period of 25 years. This largely began in 1960 with his delivery of the Advent broadcasts as a Quaker. His other broadcasts included the Sixth Form Religion and Philosophy series: 'Lift Up Your Hearts', and a discussion with Professor Carstairs and Mary Stocks on 'Sexual Morality'. He also made several television appearances, particularly in 'Meeting Point'.

He was a life-long member of the Society of Friends and travelled widely, mainly in the service of the Society. In 1970-71, with his second wife, Eleanor, he covered 50,000 miles visiting Quaker communities, investigating social and educational conditions, in most of the African countries, North America, India and Australasia.

He studied physical science and psychology at university and was an enthusiastic amateur artist and craftsman. He enjoyed painting, photography, acting and producing, fell-walking and sailing.

Kenneth Barnes has a daughter, a son and six grandchildren.

Kenneth's 80th birthday was celebrated with an exhibition of 120 of his paintings.

©

RETURN TO SURVEY MAIN PAGE

RETURN TO: SURVEY: KENNETH C. BARNES HOME PAGE

Association of Therapeutic Communities	PLANNED ENVIRONMENT THERAPY TRUST	Charterhouse Group
Therapeutic Community Open Forum		RadioTC International
The WebSearch the Site

This page authored by: Teresa Wilmshurst