Sport and Social Control

1. Sport and Social Control The Public School Influence

2. The Clarendon Commission Report • Clarendon Commission was the OFSTED of the nineteenth century. • The report looked into the management of a number of different schools and colleges. • The commission reported on nine schools, which became known as the Clarendon Schools. They were? • The report stated that public school education built character in pupils. • the commission recognised the value of organised games in character building.

3. Clarendon Schools • Eaton • Harrow • Rugby • Shrewsbury • Winchester • Charterhouse • Westminster • St Paul’s • Merchant Taylor

4. The emphasis was placed on the ability to take knocks and show courage rather than development of sporting skills. • The commissioners saw cricket and football fields as places where valuable social and manly qualities were developed. For this reason they saw little value in gymnastics and military drills.

5. Athleticism • “Athleticism is fanatical devotion to sport which produces team spirit and group loyalty. It is also character building and promotes self discipline.”

6. Values Linked to Athleticism • Physical Benefits: • Health (exercise/fresh air) • An invigorating, competitive experience reflecting society. • Toughen up (be stronger) • Break from study, ie to correct temptation to over study (be an all-rounder) • Promoting vigour (pleasure in physical endeavour)

7. Values Continued: • Temperament Benefits: • Teamwork • Conforming (play the game as you would play to life’s rules) • Leadership • Respect • Play to one’s best; win well and lose with dignity • High moral integrity • Social Cohesion (harmony from a team) • Halo effect (sports star as someone to aspire to)

8. The Values that Influenced the Development of Athleticism • The society of the late nineteenth century had very strong moral and religious beliefs. These gave rise to a set of sport-related values concerned with: • Bravery and manliness • Winning gracefully/by fair means – keeping to the rules, losing with honour. • Putting the good of the team before oneself.

9. Development of Athleticism continued: • As a development from this, sport therefore began to be encourage as a form of physical religion, often called “muscular Christianity”. Sport was played as a celebration of God. A link between manliness and godliness was therefore made. • Headmasters of public schools recognised that games could prepare their boys for adult life.

10. Physical Health Activity Move form studying Toughen up an indulgent society Moral Social cohesion Respect for authority Development of leadership Response to leadership Physical and Moral Benefits

11. The Influence of Athleticism • Development of middle class sport: • Middle class built schools based on those of the gentry. • Enthusiasm for sport was carried into adulthood. • Important role in developing leadership and organisational qualities in pupils. • Mixing between the middle class and the gentry occurred at university.

12. The Spread of Athleticism • Factories – industrialist’s sons spread athleticism spread athleticism to the workforce as the benefits of sport became more apparent. • Church – the values of the church were seen to be upheld in sport. Clerics spread it to their communities, church groups or the YMCA. Led to teams of parishioners. • Army – As the British Empire grew, sport was taken all over the world.

13. Athleticism continued: • Universities – Old boys and girls went to universities from public schools and expanded the number of clubs, established governing bodies and codified sport. • Schools – teachers encouraged athleticism within schools.