Public Schools: The Promotion and Organisation of Sports and Games. Mr. P. Leighton Socio-Cultural Issues Sport and Culture.

Today’s Session… Quickly Review last session on ETHNIC SPORTS- What are some of their characteristics? Understand the changes that came about in the Nineteenth Century- particularly in Queen Victoria’s reign. Understand the importance of the ‘House System’ and how sports were involved. Begin to look at Amateurism and Professionalism.

Starter Activity… Put together the “Jigsaw” pieces that describe the activity: Cheese rolling… Answers Local: Only really done on Coopers Hill, Gloucestershire. Traditional: Has survived since the test of time Occasional: Done every year- every spring bank Holiday Tourism: Draws massive crowds and spectators along with industry and revenue for the local towns and pubs. Relatively Isolated: Done on the same hill in Gloucestershire, has not become mainstream and overtaken by media. Rowdy: the nature of the activity draws rowdy behaviour as well as drinking and celebrations afterwards.

The Nineteenth Century… Britain shifted from a rural to an urban society- gradually became more civilized. For us as socio-cultural observers however some of the main changes were… Public baths were built to counteract the devastation of cholera A reduction in working hours- meaning more free time for the working class RSPCA Formation- a total ban on blood sports such as dog fighting.

Continued… Improved transport and communication- i.e. railways… Q. How was this important in a sporting context? Improved literacy… Q. How was this important in a sporting context?

Public Schools Large numbers of middle and upper classes attended the elite public schools such as Eton, Rugby and Harrow boarding schools. These institutions were used to educated and also prepare the pupils for leadership roles in society. Question: why were they called public schools?

So what was so good about Eaton/Rugby boarding schools? Specialist facilities Academic “Assistant Masters” Professional coaches Boarding Schools= More Free time. Vast grounds= expansion could occur. All this allowed the young boys of the 1880’s to excel in sport.

What games did they play? Association football Rugby (before the split) Eton Wall game Eton/Rugby Fives Cricket

How were these sports organised? “House” games captains would organise a lot of the sport. Teams were posted and pupils were encouraged to take part. Also these sports allowed teachers time off- society at the time was unruly and this was reflected in its youth. Fixtures then became more commonplace between schools- also a reflection of society.

The after effects of the house system… Pupils were educated and took their love of sport to universities- and then into their adult lives. In the 19 th Century ( ) Britain embarked on developing a grand empire- of which is governed many sovereign states around the world. Christianity and its values were spread- along with the British ways of life- who do you think went abroad to manage these states?

So where did the ex-public schoolboys go? The rainforests of Africa. The islands of the Pacific. The plains of India. The prairies of Canada. What are some of the sports they took with them?

In addition to this… Not all ex-public schoolboys went abroad- they became vicars, industrialists, teachers and simply parents. The values they held allowed them to help create loyal, brave and co-operative Christian gentlemen. They also helped set up some of the NGB’s which are still active today...

They are… The Football Association (FA) The Rugby Football Union (RFU) The Amateur Athletics Association (AAA)

In conclusion then… What were some of the key things that occurred in the 19 th Century? Why was the invention of good public transport so important to spectators? What was so good about the public school system? What did the public schoolboys take with them as well as religion and education?