Education Living Fossil "textual

The English public school is something very English in its character and development. It is the result of a long evolutionary development. This development, remarkable in itself, is characterized by a remarkable continuity. Institutions have been gradually modified through the centuries and adapted to meet changing needs and conditions, hence their favorable designation "the living fosils of education". The public schools, which originated in the 14th cenntury, have thus continued, changed, added greatly to their number, and grown into the modern age with grandness and strength. Today, maintaining their position of excellence and independence, they exist alongside with an important and powerful state system of education. They have an old and proud tradition of distinction behind them, which is closely interwoven with that of England itself.With their educational objectives of nurturing clergymen in ancient times, Christian gentlemen in modern times and scholarly gentlemen in contemporary times, the public schools always perform an "elitist education"; first giving priority to the character-orientated classical education, then to the academic-competence-oriented modern education, they always provide a good education to their clients and are regarded as 'the model of English secondary schools'. As a result, the public schools have produced great batches of elite for the English society, and are thus known as 'the cradle of elite'. With an established position the public schools have exercised a great influence on English secondary education in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the great success of the students from the public schools in GCE and GCSE examinations and their number of places in famous universities like Oxford and Cambridge are still unattainable for students elsewhere. However, the public schools are independent schools serving the aristocracy, and charge, for the most part, high fees; they are thus exclusive and selective. Consequently, they have existed between condemnation and praise since their birth. In a word, the gradual evolutioanary development, distinctive model of schooling and various social problems of the public schools all deserve our study and can be used for reference, in some way, in the educational practice of our country.Adopting the methods of documentation, comprehensive analysis, case study and comparison, this dissertation makes a thorough study of the English public schools in five chapters. Chapter 1 tracks down the evolutionary development of public schools. Chapter 2 probes into the modern schooling model of public schools. Chapter 3 makes a case study of Eton College. Chapter 4 analyses the cultural factors contributing to the public school phenomenon. Chapter 5 investigates the social context of such schools.The conclusion part makes a brief discussion about 8 questions concerning the theme of this dissertation.