Historical Issues in PE 19 th Century Public Schools

Athleticism in 19 Century Public Schools  An English Public School – an endowed place of education of old standing to which the sons of gentlemen resort in considerable numbers and where they reside from eight or nine to eighteen years of age.

Public Schools  Endowed – regular income  Boarding  Fee paying  Spartan – living standards were poor and young children were treated violently by teachers and prefects.

 Non local – high status schools attracted pupils from wide radius.

 Controlled by trustees – not owned privately.

 Boys and gentlemen – elitist system.

Types of Public Schools  Clarendon Schools – 9 exclusive boy’s schools.

 Ladies Academies – finishing schools for daughters of the gentry.

 Proprietary colleges – middle class copies of the gentry schools, examples, Cheltenham College and Malvern College.

 Denominated Schools – Cathedral schools to educate sons and daughters of the clergy, examples include, York, Worcester and Canterbury.

 Endowed Grammar Schools – free grammar schools, examples include, King Edwards Birmingham.

Stage One: Schoolboys and Popular Recreation.

 The transfer from popular recreation to the public school.

 Activities such as – mob games, court games, cricket and blood sports.

 Characteristics – violent, rural, local, ritual and uncoded.

 Public Schools – boy culture, institutionalised.

Problems and Key Features.

 Drinking and gambling.

 Behaviour in town and other schools.

 Boys brought games into schools and were responsible for organising games and rules.

 Facilities available determined the development of the game, for example, the Quad at Charterhouse and the Close at Rugby School.

Stage 2 – Arnoldian influence and the role of Christian gentleman.

 Godliness and manliness.

 Educational Reform and Sixth form culture.

 Expansion and house system  Specific sports – sports days, football, cricket, tennis, bathing, rowing, gym and limited field sports and bullying.

 Regular competition.

 Written Codes.

 Special Facilities.

 Headmasters encouragement.

Stage 3 – Athleticism and the Corinthian Spirit.

 Physical endeavour  Moral integrity  Gentry and middle class mix  Girls  The church  Compulsory activities – gym/drill, swimming, athletics, cricket, football, rackets, football, rowing, martial combats and field sports.

 Full staff involvement, public school championships, time space and expertise.

Social Control through Physical Activity in the Public Schools.

 The most significant feature was the belief that school sport was not only a vehicle for for personal development, but the essence of education itself, representing a model lifestyle.

 It consisted of a fundamental link being made between manliness and godliness in what has been called muscular Christianity – an educational experience involving physical endeavour and moral integrity.