英國初等教育在十九世紀的轉變 － 以樞密院教育小組為探討中心1800－1870

Abstract

The primary education in nineteen-century Britain has been transformed from the free and private education to that of the state control. The establishment of the Committee of Privy Council on Education in 1839 was considered as the beginning of the state and government to get involved in elementary education. The establishment of the Committee of Privy Council on Education was a turning point in the history of education in England. The public education in England was largely organized by the church and charities, especially the evangelist Church of England. The contents they taught were mainly religious text. However, following the development of Industrial Revolution, both technique and knowledge of people were thought more important than before, and that’s the reason why the secular education also expanded quickly. In order to strengthen the power of the nation, it is necessary to educate more British people in Britain. The Committee of Privy Council on Education was the first step to reach the target. It was also the first government institution to deal with education matters and pave the way for the passage of the Elementary Education Act in 1870. During this period, the Committee of Privy Council on Education gradually moved forward to building school-houses, training teachers, measuring the quality of teachers, setting school inspector system and expanding secular education. Simultaneously, the religious education was decline. The successful involvement of elementary education by British government was a peaceful and rational process. It was not only characterized the democratic feature of Britain but also moving towards the trend of compulsory national education.