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Louis Christian Schiller (1895-1976), a former HMI and and important promoter of progressive ideals and child-centred teaching in primary education, was born on 20th September 1895 in New Barnet, London. He attended Tyttenhanger Lodge Preparatory School, near St. Albans as a boarder (1907-1909) and then moved to Greshams School, Holt, Norfolk (1909-1914) where he became head boy, a sprinting champion of the school and won a mathematics scholarship to attend Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University. Before Schiller went up to Cambridge, World War One broke out and he volunteered and was commissioned in the Lincolnshire Regiment. He fought at Mons and had a long spell at the front. He was wounded in action in 1917 and was awarded the Military Cross. After the war he went Cambridge and studied for his Maths degree (1919-1920).
Schiller went on to teach Maths at Rendcomb School in Gloucestershire (1920-1923) a progressive secondary school run by one of his former teachers, Mr. J. H. Simpson. During this time he also carried out original work in the teaching of Geometry and was invited to join the Committee of the Mathematical Association dealing with the teaching of Geometry in Preparatory Schools and contributed to their report. He took on voluntary, part time teaching and gained experience of handicraft work and of teaching in elementary and central schools. Schiller attended the London Day Training College (1923-1924) and studied for his Teachers Diploma under Dr. T. Percy Nunn who became a very influential figure in Schiller's life. He passed with distinction. It was at this time that Schiller met his future wife who was also studying for her Teachers' Diploma. Schiller was appointed as an Assistant Inspector by the Board of Education in 1924 and spent some time in the office of the Board in Whitehall gaining administrative experience. In August 1925 he moved to Liverpool where he eventually became District Inspector. On 19 August 1925 Christian Schiller married Lyndall Handover and whilst in Liverpool their three daughters, Gerda, Meryl and Lyris were born. In 1937 Schiller was transferred to Worcestershire where the family remained until 1946 and it was during this period that the Schillers' son Russell was born. HMI organised national refresher courses for teachers and Schiller was involved in running residential courses for teachers at this time. In 1946 Schiller was appointed as the first Staff Inspector for Primary Education, following the reorganisation brought about by the 1944 Education Act. This brought him back to London and the family moved to Hadley Wood, near Barnet. Schiller spent time pursuing his interest in the primary teaching of maths and his enthusiasm for art and movement in education grew. He continued to run courses for teachers, often with the collaboration of Robin Tanner, who became a good friend, where he promoted progressive ideals and practice. Whilst at the Ministry of Education Schiller was called upon to recommend someone to run a new course for Primary Heads at the University of London Institute of Education. Schiller said he was interested himself and in 1955 he retired from the Ministry and took up the post of senior lecturer. The one year course ran between 1956 and 1963 and many of those who attended it would go on to become influential figures in the field of primary education themselves, such as Leonard Marsh, John Coe, Connie Rosen and Arthur Razzell. Schiller left the Institute of Education in 1963 but remained actively involved in education lecturing, advising, visiting schools and acting as an external examiner and assessor. He was an influential figure in the establishment and development of Goldsmiths' College's Postgraduate Primary Course and Plowden Course. At Goldsmiths College he also sat on the Plowden Committee. Schiller continued to work right up until his death on 11 February 1976 at his home in Kenton, London. Schiller had several articles published and worked on a book about numbers (which was never completed), but it was through his lectures and his involvement in courses for teachers that Schiller reached his audience and made an impact.
Lyndall Schiller, wife of Christian Schiller, was born on 18 April 1900 in Acton, London to Fredrick and Ada Handover. She was educated at Godolphin and Latymer School and went on to read English at Royal Holloway College, University of London, where she graduated with a first. She attended the London Day Training College (1923-1924) to study for her Teachers' Diploma and it was here that she met Christian Schiller. She taught English and French at Twickenham [and later at Clitheroe]. As was usual for most women at the time, on her marriage Lyndall gave up teaching. She married Christian Schiller on 19 August 1925.