Influence of public schools Flashcards
Impact of ‘Cult’ of Athleticism on Sport
- The development of character through sport is referred to as the ‘cult of athleticism.’ Athleticism required a combination of physical endeavour (trying hard) and moral integrity (showing good sportsmanship)
- It encouraged effort over winning
- It encouraged playing with fair play and sportsmanship so sport became less violent
- It meant that large amounts of time in school were devoted to playing which led to higher skill levels and introduction of tactics, and also the development of leagues
- It also encouraged the development of codified sport - rules and NGB’s
Promotion and organisation of sport
- Thomas Arnold encouraged sports by developing a house system which influenced the formation of competitive teams as it encouraged interhouse sport, which led to the development of regular fixtures
- Thomas Arnold encouraged sport by introducing prefects and as their role they would organise and lead sport
- Public schools started developing facilities because they had the money andx space to develop specialist facilities
- Public schools introduced coaching because they could afford to bring in specialist people to coach the teams
- The development of kit and equipment because they could afford to
- Spread and export of games through the formation of Old Boys Networks
- Development of rules (codification) e.g in 1845 pupils at Rugby school wrote down the rules of football at their school. This also led to the formation of NGB’s.
Old Boy’s Network
- The ex-public school boys were known as the ‘Old Boy’s Network’
- After boys had finished public school they went off to take on a variety of jobs and roles
- This led to the spread of sport across the country, as well as the export of sport and the games ethic across the world
Spread and export of sport
- Army: Ex-public school boys became Army officers and taught sports to natives when they went on tours around the world
- Industry: Factory owners started industries in new British colonies and set up factory teams for workers to play in
- Teachers: Ex-public school boys became teachers and travelled to teach abroad, teaching their sports in the school where they worked along with the idea of athleticism
- Clubs: Ex-public school boys set up their own clubs when they moved after finishing university
- Church: Ex-public school boys became priests and ministers in the clergy and joined missionaries, travelling abroad, setting up church teams
- ## University: Oxbridge became a ‘melting pot’ - students arrived with different versions of their games; one set of rules was needed. Led to the formation of NGB’s - 1863 the FA was created
Characteristics developed from playing sport
- Teamwork: working effectively with others in the house/ schools to achieve a common goal
- Leadership: As the captain of the team
- Sportsmanship: playing fairly by the rules
- Courageous: Having the guts to face the opposition
- Loyalty: devotion to a team or house
- Respect: accepting officials’ decisions
- Physical endeavour: trying your hardest at all times
Sport helps establish social control in public schools
- Social control means establishing and enforcing a standard of behaviour to maintain order
- Thomas Arnold realised that sport could influence pupil behaviour positively by: Stopping the boys from getting up to unwanted activities e.g drinking and gambling. Getting rid of aggression and frustration in an organised way. Developing discipline.
Promotion of ethics
1800’s
- Public school headmasters were not in favour of sport
- Bullying and exploitation of younger boys was common
1850’s
- Thomas Arnold became headmaster at Rugby School and introduced sport there.
- Sport then became an important part of education at all public schools
What are public schools?
- Been around for a long time, Eton founded in 1440
- Other public schools include Rugby and Harrow
- Set up for children of upper classes (Upper and middle classes attended from 1800’s)
- Boarding schools: students stayed there
- Had lots of money from tuition fees and this means they had very good facilities
- Organised into house systems
- Were all boys schools
Prefect fagging system
Older boys exploited younger boys and used them as servants, The younger boys often experienced brutality and bullying.
Broken time payments
-Working men were compensated for missing work in order to play sport
- Small payments made to good performers who took time off work to play in sports teams or had to miss work for matches
- This began in football when the factory owners made these payments to players in the factory teams
- It was to compensate them for the loss of earnings - they didn’t get paid if they weren’t at work and the wages were poor and men simply couldn’t afford to have their wages cut
- It was these payments that were the beginning of professionalism. As clubs began to pay the best players it meant players from lower classes could earn a living through playing football.
Amateurs
A person who does not get paid to play, they play for the love of sport. Upper classes were typically amateurs because they didn’t believe in getting paid for sport.
Muscular christianity
Muscular christianity is links sport to being a good christian gentleman
Professionals
A person who is paid a salary for playing sport, it is their job. Professionals were always lower class.
