Rowland Hill, a talented teacher and a true innovator in education, was distinguished not only by his pedagogical work but also by his significant contributions to social development. He completely transformed the postal system, including the first-ever introduction of postage stamps. Find out more at birmingham1.one.
The Making of an Educator
Rowland Hill was born in 1795 in a small town in Worcestershire. His father, Thomas Wright Hill, came from a family of small-scale merchants. During his studies in Birmingham, young Thomas came under the influence of Joseph Priestley—a minister, educator, scientist, public figure, and member of the “Lunar Society.” The elder Hill was friends with Priestley, and young Rowland formed his worldview by listening to sermons and stories about new philosophical and political movements. In 1803, after many failed attempts to start his own business, Thomas Hill founded the Hill Top school, where he tried to introduce positive changes into the education system.
As a child, Rowland was an obedient and intelligent boy who loved art and showed a talent for drawing, once even winning a national prize for a landscape painting. In 1807, at the age of 12, Rowland began his teaching career at the school where his father was the director. He taught English and later astronomy. To help support his family, the young man repaired scientific instruments, and at age 15, Rowland went to work at the Assay Office, stamping hallmarks on jewelry. However, his greatest interests remained teaching and the education system as a whole.
A School of His Own
In 1818, Rowland’s family moved to Edgbaston, a middle-class suburb of Birmingham. In 1819, his father helped him establish the new Hazelwood School. Rowland personally designed every aspect of the educational institution, from the curriculum to the infrastructure. The institution was ahead of its time with its modern features and innovative teaching methods. The school had a science laboratory, a swimming pool, a stage for performances, a library, a museum, a craft workshop, gas lighting, and central heating. Lessons were conducted in a friendly atmosphere, and students were encouraged to participate in discussions. Hazelwood quickly became popular in Birmingham, and parents were eager to enroll their children there.
Educational Reform
Rowland successfully implemented new approaches in the learning process and believed that all public schools in Great Britain should benefit from his experience. In 1822, he wrote “Public Education,” in which he expressed his ideas and practical results. Among his main theses were: making natural sciences mandatory subjects, abolishing corporal punishment, dedicating one day a week to sports, and introducing student self-government. He argued that the school curriculum should be dominated by Enlightenment ideas, such as rationalism and free thought, and that theological disciplines should be removed, as people professed different religions and were members of various denominations. The learning process should take into account each student’s abilities. By graduation, a student should have acquired enough knowledge to continue self-education and become “useful to society and happy.” Kindness and morality, not intimidation and discipline, should prevail in education. Hazelwood truly served as an exceptional model for raising the level of knowledge among the middle class.
It is worth noting that Rowland became a follower of Jeremy Bentham’s new philosophical-ethical theory of utilitarianism, according to which the moral value of a behavior or act is determined by its utility. Hill strove to make his endeavors inherently useful, whether for an individual or for society.
After the publication of a work describing the unique features of the Hazelwood School, an associate of Robespierre, Marc-Antoine Jullien, visited and wrote an article about it in a French journal. Following its publication, the school gained international fame, attracting boys from various countries. In 1827, Jeremy Bentham himself visited Hazelwood. The philosopher was so impressed by the unusual institution that he helped the school relocate from the outskirts of Birmingham to London. The talented educator realized he could do no more to advance the field of education. His pedagogical work no longer satisfied him, and Rowland began to look for a new profession, though he did not stop teaching immediately.
Reforming the Postal System
One day, Rowland witnessed a touching scene. A postman brought a letter to a young woman. She examined the envelope but refused to accept it because the postal fees were too high for her. Rowland wanted to intervene, but the girl did not appreciate it. Hill was persistent and decided to find out why the sender had not paid for the letter, knowing the recipient could not afford it. It turned out the letter was from her beloved, and the young couple had devised a clever trick to pass information. Using special marks on the envelope, the young man let her know that he was well and loved his fiancée.
Rowland was deeply affected by this event and wanted to solve the problem at a higher level. When he began to investigate the postal service, he discovered that the entire system was poorly managed, wasteful, and slow, with most people unable to afford the service. Rowland began reading and analyzing books and documents on postal affairs. In 1837, he wrote the pamphlet “Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability,” in which he laid out his arguments. The main points were: parents want to hear from their children, emigrants want to stay connected to their homeland, business people need to know where best to sell their products, and workers need to be able to find better-paying jobs. To meet these societal needs, a comprehensive reform of the postal service was essential. The work was sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and was not intended for publication, but word of the pamphlet spread informally.
Hill presented his proposals to the House of Lords but was met with strong criticism that his ideas were impractical. Bankers and businessmen disagreed and formed a Mercantile Committee to implement Hill’s program. Finally, in 1839, Rowland was tasked with beginning the reform. The main goals were to introduce a uniform postal rate regardless of distance, implement a prepayment system, and abolish the franking privileges that were often abused. Initially, the uniform rate was 4 pence; a month later, it was reduced to 1 penny. In the first four months after the change, the volume of correspondence increased by over 100%. In 1840, Parliament approved Hill’s proposals, and he was offered a position in the postal department. Payment for postage could still be made upon sending or receiving. To encourage prepayment, illustrated lettersheets worth 1-2 pence were issued. However, consumers disliked the designs. Hill quickly abandoned them and proposed paying for a postage stamp that could be easily affixed to a sheet of paper. In May 1840, the first postage stamps were issued, featuring an image of the young Queen Victoria on a black background for one penny. They became known as the “Penny Black.”
The postmark was difficult to see on the dark color, so they were soon replaced by the “Penny Red.” In 1843, postage stamps were adopted in Switzerland, in 1845 in the United States, and subsequently throughout the world. In 1856, Rowland Hill proposed dividing London into different districts to speed up sorting, which led to the creation of the first postal codes. This system was later introduced in other cities and countries.
Legacy and Honors
Rowland’s teaching methods are still considered relevant today, and his image can be seen on numerous postage stamps from countries around the world. For his exceptional reforms for society, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and received its prestigious Albert Medal. In Great Britain, three monuments have been erected in honor of Rowland Hill: in his birthplace, in London, and in Birmingham.