Public schools in post industrial Britain

Question 1

What are public schools

Answer 1

Fee paying schools initially only accessible to upper class (then middle post 1800s)

Question 2

What are the key features of public schools pre 1850

Answer 2

Tough, spartan (basic), prefect system, boarding, fagging, all boys, strong religious values

Question 3

What were the main aims of public schools

Answer 3

Educate future leaders of society, develop leadership skills, promote behaviour of a benefitting gentleman, to respect social order

Question 4

What was the influence of public schools on the promotion and organisation of sports and games

Answer 4

Sport was important part of education, sixth form prefects gained leadership experience and became key roles in formation of NGB’s of sport

Question 5

What parts of sport were introduced in public schools

Answer 5

House matches, kit, officials, rules were codified, games elite emerged, employed coaches

Question 6

How did public schools formalise rules

Answer 6

Boys came to PS with regional rules and agreed on school specific rules for competitions

Question 7

How did public schools agree on rules

Answer 7

Boys finished school and created ‘melting pot’ for rules at uni

Question 8

How did public schools spread rules

Answer 8

Old boys left Oxbridge and became:

Politicians - took their sport when running colonies abroad

Part of church - spread sport to form teams (Aston Villa, Saints)

Part of armed forces - spread sport across British Empire (cricket in India)

Factory owners / businessmen - created their own teams (West Ham)

Question 9

What is the influence of public schools on promotion of ethics through sport

Answer 9

DR Thomas Arnold - headmaster rugby school promoted regulated and healthy sport, also set sixth form prefects as organisers of inter house sport, also stated muscular christianity

PS emphasised high morals with no monetary prize

Question 10

What is the cult of athleticism

Answer 10

Physical endeavour with moral integrity

Question 11

What are the stages of the cult of athleticism

Answer 11

Stage 1 (pre 1800)
Stage 2 (1800-1850)
Stage 3 (1850-1900)

Question 12

What was stage 1 (pre 1800) of the cult of athleticism

Answer 12

No organised sports, cruel treatment (fagging), basic form of rugby/football, rules varied between schools

Question 13

What was stage 2 (1800-1850) of the cult of athleticism

Answer 13

Dr Thomas Arnold reformed fagging and promoted muscular christianity, team games encouraged

Question 14

What was stage 3 (1850-1900) of the cult of athleticism

Answer 14

Rules formalised, school fixtures, facilities, NGB’s founded e.g FA - 1863