British schools during World War II and the educational reconstruction

Hausarbeit , 2010 , 16 Seiten , Note: 1,0

Anglistik - Kultur und Landeskunde

It might count as a fact that facing the terrors of the Second World War, the British population must have been quite indifferent to mathematic formulas and a correct spelling. Naturally, one is tempted to conclude that for the duration of the war all schools were closed but the whole opposite was true. Schools were evacuated over and over again and despite bombed out classrooms, a short supply of teachers and material, lessons were continued both to maintain the illusion of normal life and to demonstrate resistance to Nazi- Germany.

It will be thus interesting to examine the educational, social and personal problems children were exposed to during the chaos of evacuation and to investigate how school life changed under the difficulties of World War II. Furthermore, it will be important to ask how the experience of war and evacuation shaped the hopes and expectations of British people for post-wartimes.

Responding to these questions there will be given evidence for the assumption that the experience of evacuation and schooling during the war had not only a traumatic effect on most children, but has also contributed to raise public awareness of the shortcomings of the socially divisive educational system and thereby served as a catalyst for the educational reforms of the 1940s that culminated in the 1944 Education Act.

The first part of this paper portrays the three major phases of evacuation and describes how the problems that occurred with the billeting of the evacuees at their host families' homes contributed to the growing awareness of social differences.

The second paragraph will deal with the realities of schooling during the War. A particular emphasis will be put on the problems that accrue from the shortages of school buildings, school personnel and instructional material. It will be equally important to investigate how these deficiencies changed school life in respect to the curriculum, the role of teachers and children's outlook on schooling. In the third part of the paper, I will go on to explain how the results of the educational reforms and discussions in the 1940s reflect the experience of war and evacuation. After having presented the main ideas of the Spens and Norwood Report, particular emphasis will be put on the 1944 Education Act and its revolutionary character at the time, followed by an overview of the most important criticisms of the Act. Finally, there will be a conclusion to point out the most important results of the paper.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Evacuation and its impact
  • The Three Phases of Evacuation
  • Transport and Billeting Problems
• Realities of schooling during the War or the disruption of education
  • The shortage of school buildings
  • The shortage of staff
  • The shortage of instructional material
• Rebuilding of the education system
  • Contesting the Curriculum - The Spens and Norwood Report
  • For equal educational opportunity - The 1944 Education Act
  • Critics to the 1944 Education Act

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to examine the educational, social, and personal challenges faced by children during the evacuation process and the subsequent impact on their lives. It explores how the experience of war and evacuation shaped the hopes and expectations of British people for the post-war era. The paper argues that the experience of evacuation and schooling during the war had a profound impact on children, raising public awareness of the shortcomings of the educational system and serving as a catalyst for educational reforms in the 1940s culminating in the 1944 Education Act.

• The impact of evacuation on children's lives and the challenges they faced.
• The disruption of education during the war and the challenges faced by schools.
• The role of the 1944 Education Act in addressing the shortcomings of the educational system.
• The social and cultural contrasts between evacuated children and their host families.
• The impact of the war on public awareness of social inequalities and the need for reform.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first part of this paper outlines the three major phases of evacuation, highlighting the transport and billeting problems faced by evacuated children. The chapter emphasizes the social and cultural contrasts between evacuated children and their host families, drawing attention to the disparities in living conditions and social standards. It explores how the experiences of evacuation and billeting contributed to a growing awareness of social inequalities.

The second chapter delves into the realities of schooling during the war, focusing on the shortage of school buildings, staff, and instructional materials. The chapter analyzes how these shortages impacted school life, including curriculum changes, the role of teachers, and children's perceptions of education.

The third chapter examines the educational reforms and discussions of the 1940s, highlighting the influence of the wartime experience on the development of the 1944 Education Act. The chapter presents the main ideas of the Spens and Norwood Report and discusses the revolutionary character of the 1944 Education Act at the time. It concludes by outlining key criticisms of the Act.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper explores the themes of evacuation, schooling, social inequalities, educational reform, and the impact of war on British society. It draws attention to the significance of the 1944 Education Act and its role in addressing the shortcomings of the educational system. Key concepts include wartime experiences, social disparities, and the influence of public awareness on policy changes.

• Hochschule: Universität Potsdam (Anglistik)
• Veranstaltung: Britain during World War II
• Note: 1,0
• Autor: Francesca Cavaliere (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2010
• Seiten: 16
• Katalognummer: V320046
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668199668
• ISBN (Buch): 9783668199675
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: british, world