Introduction
As the 1860s progressed, calls grew for a Government shake-up of the education system. But in February 1868, John Bright MP, one of the country’s leading Liberals, told his Birmingham constituents that local communities would handle the three Rs without any help from fancy theories, if Government policy hadn’t made daily living into such a desperate scramble to survive.
I HAVE always argued that the ignorance of the people is the most deplorable feature in our national character. I have argued that if food could be cheaper, and trade more free, and industry more regular, and wages higher, the result would be to raise the mental condition of our population.* I believe it has been raised, and is being raised, and one of the signs that it has been raised is that it asks to be raised still higher.*
We who have had some little education ourselves, — though I am sorry to say I have nearly forgotten all I ever had, — we, in endeavouring to extend the means of education for the people, should go on with what I would rather call a steady wisdom than with such a precipitate and feverish action as may raise great difficulties in our path.*
I hope it will be as much as possible local, and not unduly sustained by either Government control or Government grants. I am sure that the good which the people will receive will be greatly enhanced in value by the self-respect created and the energy developed among the people if they are allowed to a large extent to do the work themselves.*
* Bright blamed the cosy relationship between Government and big business for leaving working men with no time or money to invest in education. Big business was afraid of foreign and domestic competition, and Government supplied the taxes and regulations which kept rivals out of the market, enabling employers to keep prices high, wages low, hours long, and workers tugging their forelocks. Bright and his friend the late Richard Cobden MP (1804-1865) had campaigned tirelessly against this cronyism for more than twenty years.
* That working men could now think of clamouring for schools and colleges was, in Bright’s opinion, a result of economic reforms going back to The Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, which he and Richard Cobden had masterminded. The Corn Laws had been a supreme example of cronyism, and their fall brought many working families in British cities back from the brink of starvation.
* “Nothing has become clearer to me during this investigation” wrote Joshua Fitch, assessing the rather depressing state of Yorkshire schools for the Newcastle Commission in 1868, “than the fact that any sweeping or Procrustean measure will do great injustice... Nothing could be more fatal to true educational progress than any public measure designed to make all schools conform to one type”. Procrustes was a giant in The Six Labours of Theseus who, to ensure that all visitors perfectly fitted his guest-bed, chopped down tall men to make them shorter, and stretched out short men to make them taller.
* See also William Gladstone on A Spirit of Self-Reliance.
Précis
In February 1868, Liberal MP for Birmingham John Bright told voters that he put little faith in State education policy. Most people, he said, attend to education themselves if they can afford to do so, and it is better for everyone that way. The Government should leave education to local communities, and concentrate on raising our standard of living. (59 / 60 words)
In February 1868, Liberal MP for Birmingham John Bright told voters that he put little faith in State education policy. Most people, he said, attend to education themselves if they can afford to do so, and it is better for everyone that way. The Government should leave education to local communities, and concentrate on raising our standard of living.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, besides, just, otherwise, since, unless, whereas.
About the Author
John Bright (1811-1889) was a Victorian statesman who with his close friend Richard Cobden led the campaign to repeal the Corn Laws (1846) and make the UK into a nation committed to international free trade. Born in Rochdale, Bright was employed in his father’s mill making carpets until, two years after the death of his young wife Elizabeth, he entered the Commons as MP for Durham. Later he represented Birmingham, and served in William Gladstone’s cabinet as President of the Board of Trade (1868-1871) and as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1873-1874, 1880-1882). He campaigned vigorously against foreign military interventions (including the Crimean War) and slavery, and in favour of Indian independence and religious liberty. He married Margaret Leatham in 1847.
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Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Energy. National. Themselves.
2 Cheap. Local. Steady.
3 If. Respect. They.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
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