Project Freda is inspired by the life of Gillian Clissold’s mother, Freda Gunn. Freda was born in Britain in 1924 to a working-class family, some of whom worked as servants for British nobles. After leaving school at 14, Freda initially worked as a seamstress. World War II opened new opportunities. Her “war work” included assembling radar units. After World War II, she became an elementary school teacher specializing in the open classroom technique (related to the Montessori model).
After marrying physicist J.B. (Iain) Gunn in 1950, Freda moved to the United States in 1959. She continued to work as a school teacher and helped familiarize American teachers with the open classroom approach. Freda raised three daughters.
Her consistent compassion and care for others, particularly those experiencing social injustice, earned her the nickname “Freda the Just” from her husband’s Aunt. She would always give up “her share” for someone she thought needed it more, whether it was a child in the community or a homeless person on the street. Freda died from cancer in 1975.