Burden , Charles Henry , 1869-1957 , headmaster

Charles Henry Burden (1869-1957) was the first headmaster of Hyde Technical School from 1902 to 1912. He had served previously for five years in York and prior to that in Cheshire. In 1912 he became headmaster of Beverley Grammar School, Yorkshire, until his retirement in 1935. During this period he was Mayor of Beverley three times. He received two bachelor's degrees (in Arts and Science) and a certificate of education from the University of London. Between December 1906 and April 1907, Burden toured various schools in Canada and the USA as part of the Mosely Commission. His mission was 'to ascertain their methods of teaching and to make note of the resources available'. Alfred Mosely (1855-1917), formerly a businessman in South Africa, was concerned with the growing economic power of the United States and convinced that the reason for this advance could be found in their schooling and its abundant resources. With the help of the Ministry of Education, he set up a commission of enquiry which published a report in 1903. He organised another education commission in 1906.