It will be remembered that before the Reformation the Catholic monasteries took the leading part in educating the children of the country (SS45, 60).  The destruction of the monasteries by Henry VIII (S352) put a stop to their work; but after Henry’s death, his son, Edward VI, established many Protestant schools (SS364, 365), while tohers were founded by men who had grown suddenly rich through getting possession of monastic lands.  These new schools did good work, and are still doing it; but they seldom reached the children of the poor.  Later on, many wealthy persons founded Charity Schools to help the class who could not afford to pay anything for their tuition.  The pupils who lived in these institutions (of which a number still exist) were generally obliged to wear a dress which, by its peculiarity of cut and color, always reminded them that they were “objects of public or private benevolence.”  Furthermore, while the boys in these institutions were often encouraged to go on and enter Grammar Schools, the girls were informed that a very little learning would be all that they would ever need in the humble station in life to which Providence had seen fit to call them.

Meanwhile, the Church of England, and other religious denominations, both Catholic and Protestant, established many common schools (1781- 1811) for the benefit of the poor.  The cost of carrying them on was usually met by private contributions.  All of these schools gave some form of denominational religious instruction.  As the population increased many more schools were required.  At length Parliament began (1833) to grant money to help the different religious societies in maintaining their systems of instruction.  When able, the parents of the children were also called on to pay a small sum weekly.  In 1870 the Liberal Government took hold of the education question with great vigor.  It provided that in all cases where the existing Church of England or other denominational schools were not able to accomodate the children of a given district, School Boards should be established to open new schools, which, if necessary, should be maintained entirely at the public expense.  In these “Board Schools,” as they were called, no denominational religious instruction whatever could be given.

This very important act “placed a school within the reach of every child,” but, except in very poor districts, these schools were not made free schools; in fact, free schools, in the American sense, cannot be said to exist in Great Britain.  Later on (1880) compulsory attendance was required, and subsequent acts of Parliament (1902, 1904) transferred the management of these schools from the School Boards to the Town and County Councils.[1] Again, these new measures make it practicable for a boy or girl, who has done well in the primary course, to secure assistance which will open opportunities for obtaining a higher education.  Thus, as a recent writer declares, “There is now a path leading from the workman’s home even to the University."[2]