John Ernest Adamson

Sir John Ernest Adamson CMG (11 January 1867 – 25 April 1950) was an English educationalist. He was director of education in Transvaal, modern day South Africa from 1905 to 1924 and played an important role in developing that territory's education system.

Adamson was born in Yorkshire. He received an ordinary schooling for the time and trained as a teacher. As a young man he worked at teacher training colleges and pursued university level education. In 1902 he moved to the newly-created Colony of Transvaal to run a teacher training college.

During Adamson's period of responsibility for education in Transvaal he was considered understanding of the section of the population which was of Dutch descent, a group which had an uneasy relationship with Britain, and worked to integrate them into the school system. He made less effort to accommodate indigenous people and his views about their education were conflicted. He established compulsory education for white children in 1916. Adamson also held various academic posts and received two honours.

Biography John Ernest Adamson was born on 11 January 1867 in Westgate Common, Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. His parents were Tom Adamson, an engine fitter, and his wife Eliza née Stokoe. He received his early education at St Michael's elementary school in his hometown. From 1889 to 1891 Adamson trained as a teacher at St Mark's College in Chelsea and was employed in the college's staff.

In 1902 Adamson moved to the Colony of Transvaal. He would play a major role in developing the education system of Transvaal in the period after the Second Boer War. On the recommendation of Michael Sadlier he was appointed head of the Normal College in Pretoria which would provide teachers for the new territory. From 1905 to 1924 he served as Director of Education for Transvaal working under various governments.