A Friend's Perspective
"She had the power to awaken and stimulate the mind, to keep it alert as well as close to reality and to win us over to her own teaching eagerness. She was not only fully acquainted with scientific, political and economic facts, but had a bag full of fun and anecdotes. She was an actress as well as stage manager and once a year produced the most ambitious plays." (Contributions sent to Bee Horton from Eugénie Dubois, for a book about Isabel Fry)
Isabel’s lifelong friendship with Eugénie Dubois began at The Farmhouse School where Eugénie taught French. The warmth of their friendship is present throughout the above document, where Dubois recounts her memories of the school and about Isabel. The impact that Isabel had on friends, colleagues and pupils who were able to appreciate her alternative pedagogy and vision, is clear in Eugénie's writing.
Her teaching centred round this main idea = not to be a parasite but to aim to bring your contribution to the world. Social responsibility was her greatest concern. How could she teach it more adequately, more efficiently than with a farm? What could be more pleasant as well as valuable to children than to have animals to be responsible for, real farm products to sell, real accounts to keep? Through all the subjects she taught she urged towards a useful life.