Gathering up the Dreams:The making of the 1944 Education Act

in eight quotations

Sir Michael Barber

Department of Education

London

18 November 2014

michaelbarber9

1

R.A. Butler

“ I should not object if you could introducea note of patriotism to the schools . . . tell

the children that Wolfe won Quebec.”

Churchill to ButlerJuly 1941

12

“So, stiff with cold and hungryfrom a fast of more than 12 hours,

I addressed the meeting.”

52Ronald Gould

President of NUT 1940

3

“ I find that some of my colleagues . . . have beenconsidering whether we should not . . . be bendingour minds to a study of the educational problems

which will arrive when the war is over.”

Maurice HolmesPermanent Secretary

November 1940 34

“Churchill began aggressivelyby claiming that the cat did more

for the war effort than I did.”

5

4R.A. ButlerMarch 1943

“I should start by congratulating the President of the Board of Education

on . . . this comprehensive measure which gathers up the dreams of all

educational reformists.”

5Sir Geoffrey Shakespeare

19 January 1944

6

5

“If this were the last vote I ever gave in my life,

I would give it in favourof this amendment.”

Nancy Astor28 March 1944

7

6

Quoted by Butlerin January 1944

Blessings BlessingsB

s

in

s

B

sn

s

i

s

i

s

8

B

sn

si

“Ye fearful saints fresh courage takeThe clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall breakIn blessings on your head.”

7

The 1944 Education Act

. Secondary education for all

. Grammar schools and secondary moderns

. Settlement with the churches

. A national system, locally administered

. Curriculum left to the teachers

. 11-plus, O-Levels and A-Levels determine

9

progression and content

Flaws in the Act

. Independent schools

. School leaving age

. Technical schools

. Assumptions about intelligence

. Inputs alone

10

8

“Pray accept my congratulations.

You have . . . won a lasting place in the

history of British education.”

8

Churchill to Butler

July 1944

11

michaelbarber9