The National Society (Church of England and Church in Wales) for the Promotion of Education, often just referred to as the National Society, and since 2016 also as The Church of England Education Office (CEEO) is significant in the history of education in England and Wales. It promotes church schools and Christian education in line with the

established church A state religion (also called religious state or official religion) is a religion or creed officially endorsed by a sovereign state. A state with an official religion (also known as confessional state), while not secular, is not necessarily a t ...

. Historically it was in strong competition with the nonconformist organization British and Foreign School Society. Both promoted the

monitorial system The Monitorial System, also known as Madras System or Lancasterian System, was an education method that took hold during the early 19th century, because of Spanish, French, and English colonial education that was imposed into the areas of expansion. ...

, whereby a few paid teachers worked with senior students who in turn taught the junior students. The National Society was strongly supported by the Anglican clergy, Oxford and Cambridge universities, and the established church. The nonconformist Protestants were in strong opposition.

History

It was founded on 16 October 1811 as the ''"National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church in England and Wales"''. The Church of England, as the established religion, set out as the aim of the new organisation that "the National Religion should be made the foundation of National Education, and should be the first and chief thing taught to the poor, according to the excellent Liturgy and Catechism provided by our Church." One of the principal founders was Joshua Watson. The formation and early operation of the National Society was the origin of the liberal education policy founded in the 1830s.Akira Iwashita, "Politics, state and Church: forming the National Society 1805–c. 1818." ''History of Education'' 47.1 (2018): 1-17. Historically, schools founded by the National Society were called

National Schools In Ireland, a national school () is a type of primary school that is financed directly by the state, but typically administered jointly by the state, a patron body, and local representatives. In national schools, most major policies, such as the ...

, as opposed to the

non-denominational A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination. Overview The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism, Baháʼí Fait ...

"British schools" founded by the British and Foreign School Society. Following the success of the

Sunday school A Sunday school is an educational institution, usually (but not always) Christian in character. Other religions including Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism have also organised Sunday schools in their temples and mosques, particularly in the West. Su ...

movement, the

of education was developed almost simultaneously by

Dr Andrew Bell Andrew Bell (27 March 1753 – 27 January 1832) was a Scottish Episcopalian priest and educationalist who pioneered the Madras System of Education (also known as "mutual instruction" or the "monitorial system") in schools and was the founder of ...

and Joseph Lancaster. Dr Bell was a clergyman in the Church of England and conducted an experiment with a monitorial school in Madras which he described in ''An Experiment in Education'' in 1797. Using this system and in opposition to the nondenominational Lancastrian Society, the Church of England set up the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church. This monitorial system would dominate popular education for 50 years.

Present day

According to the society's website, "Five thousand Church of England and Church in Wales schools, educating almost a million children and young people, are the heirs of that proud tradition."

References

External links

National Society website

The archives of the Society are held at the Church of England Record Centre
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Society (Church Of England And Church In Wales) For The Promotion Of Education Education in England Education in Wales Church of England societies and organisations Religious organizations established in 1811 1811 establishments in England Religious education in the United Kingdom

History

Present day

References

Further reading

External links