Search

An essay is presented on the role of upper-class alumni of public schools, or elite private schools, in Great Britain's participation in World War I and on how that role has been characterized in British academic and popular culture, as of 2013. The author takes issue with the frequent depiction of uncaring and incompetent upper-class officers as responsible for the deaths of lower-class soldiers. Works cited include "The Old Lie: The Great War and the Public School Ethos" by Peter Parker.

Offers observations on admissions reforms at Bristol University and others throughout Great Britain. Description of the private school experience compared with the state school experience; Standards for admission; Criticism that private schools merely teach students to write essays well enough to meet admissions requirements at schools such as Bristol.

In this article the author discusses higher education in Great Britain. The piece was written in advance of government funding cuts to universities. Also examined are a number of other subjects including alternatives to the traditional 3 year degree, endowed public schools in Great Britain, and the social aspects of school.

In this article the author discusses events described in "The Old Boys' Network," by John Rae, the long serving headmaster of Westminster, a private school in London, England. In the book Rae describes a number of mutually beneficial bargains he struck with universities and politicians in the course of his career. The author takes this as evidence of a partial British network of power and influence among elites.

The article presents an excerpt of an article reprinted from the May 23, 1942 issue of "The New Statesman and Nation." The article argues that there are too many public schools in England and that only the best of them should be kept open and nourished. He notes that there are advantages to day schools, although their graduates sometimes feel inferior. The national education system should relate its students' education to their surroundings.