THE TREASURY GRANTS, 1833-1839.

This article reports that the story of how the state first involved itself in English primary education has long been a familiar part of the historical canon. It is informed that in 1833, the first reformed Parliament met. Flushed with the spirit of reform, the Radicals came forward with an agenda of measures to implement. One such measure was national education. Henry Brougham, a politician, had gained the reputation, since 1816, of being the most vigorous supporter of national education in the Commons. Although educationists took his accession to office in November 1830 as a sign that the Reform Ministry planned some measure in this area, it failed to bring any forward. The issue, however, was early on the agenda of the reformed Parliament of 1833. It is also reported that Brougham, as a minister, did not introduce the education bill which was expected of him, a bill similar to his measure of 1820. His own education committee had shown then that although voluntary contributions provided for considerable schooling, they were insufficient to supply all the required schools.