Arthur Goodhart ‘Poggea’ Pite (1896-1938) was headmaster of Weymouth College, and a pupil of F. M. Alexander.
Life
Arthur Goodhart Pite served in the RAF during World War I and later gained a First Class in Modern History Tripos at Cambridge. He married Muriel Tasker, Irene Tasker’s sister. Two of their children attended the Little School briefly in 1932.[1]
Although Pite had no experience of teaching and had never been a headmaster before, he was elected to be headmaster of Weymouth College in 1927. He successfully developed the College, expanded the school’s buildings, brought in many reforms, and was universally liked for his individual and respectful treatment of teachers and pupils. He is very likely responsible for bringing the Alexander Technique to the College, employing Gurney MacInness (who had trained with Alexander 1931–34.). Pite left Weymouth in 1937 when he became headmaster of Cheltenham College. He died suddenly the following year, while giving a dinner speech.[2] [3]
Writings
Pite was an active member of the Student Christian Movement and wrote a piece on the Alexander Technique in their newsletter, The Student Movement.[4] He was a co-signatory to a publicity letter in 1930 which supported F. M. Alexander in his decision to start a training course for teachers.[5]
Gurney MacInness wrote three reports on his experience of teaching the Technique at Weymouth College.[6]
See also Irene Tasker, Gurney MacInness.
