Head Wants Working Class Boys At Eton

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 9

Head Wants Working Class Boys At Eton

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, April 27. The headmaster of Eton, Mr Robert Birley, speaking at Manchester, suggested that boys from working-class homes should be admitted at the public expense to Britain’s public schools. If 10 per cent: of the boys at these schools were paid for, it would cost about £1 million. "At present we have too many boys from the same background.” said Mr Birley. "They are out of touch with the life of the average man. Only one boy in the senior 'class at Eton.’ for instance, was able to write a lucid essay on the welfare State. He came from a workingclass home and was at Eton at the State's expense.

“The time has come when people should think seriously about these schools and the way in which they fit into the social pattern,” he said. “We must not let public schools become too far out of alignment with the social 'development of the country, j Boys from different backigrounds, not necessarily the ;most brilliant . Scholars and not noted good mixers, should have a chance to enter and revitalise this cloistered and (exclusive world.” he said.

“Although public schools want these new types of boys, they don't need them. Waiting

'lists are longer than ever before. But only 6000 boys go to this kind of school every (year out of 300,000 of the same age.” said Mr Birley.“If, however, the Government agreed to let others besides the ‘top people’ benefit,

the problem would be one of selection. Under a scholarship system, 600 of the ablest boys in the country would be drawn away from local grammar schools—and nothing could be worse for the grammar schools. "We teach boys to live with other people and the boys should be chosen for whom a boarding education is really desirable though they needn't necessarily come from broken homes,” he said.