National Education League
Encyclopedia
The National Education League was a political movement in England and Wales
which promoted elementary education for all children, free from religious control.
The National Education League, founded 1869, developed from the Birmingham Education League, co-founded in 1867 by George Dixon
, a Birmingham Member of Parliament
(MP) and past mayor, Joseph Chamberlain
, a nonconformist and future mayor of Birmingham
, and Jesse Collings, to include branches from all over England and Wales. Dixon was chairman of the League's council. Chamberlain became chairman of the executive committee. Collings was the honorary secretary. Other leading founding members (all in Birmingham) were R. W. Dale
, A. Follett Osler
, J. H. Chamberlain, and George Dawson
. Twenty founding members subscribed £14,000. The first general meeting was in October 1869, by which time William Dronfield
of Sheffield was acting as Secretary. It resolved that a bill should be prepared to present to Parliament
at the next session.
The League was opposed by the National Educational Union of Manchester
, consisting of Conservatives
and Anglicans.
Dixon and Chamberlain were campaigners for the provision of non-sectarian education free of influence by the churches. The Anglicans and Catholic
Churches were in control of most of the existing voluntary schools, and controlled the religious education of those who attended. The Liberals and Dissenters wanted compulsory education without religious doctrine. In the end the Elementary Education Act 1870
, which created school boards
, was a compromise filling in the gaps of the voluntary system. The League continued campaigning for eight years for adoption of their original requirements.
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
which promoted elementary education for all children, free from religious control.
The National Education League, founded 1869, developed from the Birmingham Education League, co-founded in 1867 by George Dixon
George Dixon (MP)
George Dixon was English Liberal politician who was active in local government in Birmingham and sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1867 and 1898. He was a major proponent of education for all children.-Life:...
, a Birmingham Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) and past mayor, Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain was an influential British politician and statesman. Unlike most major politicians of the time, he was a self-made businessman and had not attended Oxford or Cambridge University....
, a nonconformist and future mayor of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and Jesse Collings, to include branches from all over England and Wales. Dixon was chairman of the League's council. Chamberlain became chairman of the executive committee. Collings was the honorary secretary. Other leading founding members (all in Birmingham) were R. W. Dale
Robert William Dale
Robert William Dale was an English Congregationalist church leader.-Life:Dale was born in London and educated at Spring Hill College, Birmingham, for the Congregational ministry...
, A. Follett Osler
A. Follett Osler
Abraham Follett Osler , known as A. Follett Osler, was a pioneer in the measurement of meteorological and chronological data in Birmingham, England.-Early life:...
, J. H. Chamberlain, and George Dawson
George Dawson (preacher)
George Dawson was an English nonconformist minister.-Ministry:He was born in London and educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and the University of Glasgow....
. Twenty founding members subscribed £14,000. The first general meeting was in October 1869, by which time William Dronfield
William Dronfield
William Dronfield was a British trade unionist.Born in Sheffield, Dronfield became a compositor. In 1849, he was a founder member of the Provincial Typographical Association, and from 1852 to 1855 served as its President....
of Sheffield was acting as Secretary. It resolved that a bill should be prepared to present to Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
at the next session.
The League was opposed by the National Educational Union of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, consisting of Conservatives
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and Anglicans.
Dixon and Chamberlain were campaigners for the provision of non-sectarian education free of influence by the churches. The Anglicans and Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Churches were in control of most of the existing voluntary schools, and controlled the religious education of those who attended. The Liberals and Dissenters wanted compulsory education without religious doctrine. In the end the Elementary Education Act 1870
Elementary Education Act 1870
The Elementary Education Act 1870, commonly known as Forster's Education Act, set the framework for schooling of all children between ages 5 and 12 in England and Wales...
, which created school boards
School board (England & Wales)
School boards were public bodies in England and Wales between 1870 and 1902, which established and administered elementary schools.School boards were created in boroughs and parishes under the Elementary Education Act 1870 following campaigning by George Dixon, Joseph Chamberlain and the National...
, was a compromise filling in the gaps of the voluntary system. The League continued campaigning for eight years for adoption of their original requirements.
Objectives of the league
Each of the League's documents included their objectives:See also
- Joseph Chamberlain
- George DixonGeorge Dixon (MP)George Dixon was English Liberal politician who was active in local government in Birmingham and sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1867 and 1898. He was a major proponent of education for all children.-Life:...
- Elementary Education Act 1870Elementary Education Act 1870The Elementary Education Act 1870, commonly known as Forster's Education Act, set the framework for schooling of all children between ages 5 and 12 in England and Wales...
Sources
- Educational Documents, England and Wales 1816 to the present day, J Stuart MacLure, 1965, 1979, ISBN 0-416-72810-3
370.942 - Education in Britain 1750-1914, W B Stephens, 1998, ISBN 0-333-60512-8
- Nine Famous Birmingham Men, edited J. H. Muirhead, Cornish Brothers Ltd., Birmingham, 1909, Article on George Dixon by George H. Kenrick.
- Collected reports and publications of the National Education League, Birmingham Central Library, A370.8, z1103222