1.1.3
Education & Work
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Education and Work in 20th century England
Opportunities children had in education were not equal. Russell uses his play to comment on the injustices of the education system.
Education Act 1944
- Following the Education Act of 1944, the secondary school system in England was reformed so that children either went to a ‘grammar school’ or a ‘secondary modern’ school.
- Which school a child would go to was decided on the results of an exam at the end of primary school.
Grammar schools
- The students with scores in the top 20% would typically go to grammar school, where they would study a very traditional and academically challenging curriculum which was designed to prepare them for university.
Secondary modern schools
- The other 80% of students went to ‘secondary modern’ schools.
- These schools taught a curriculum which was less focused on preparing students for university, and more focused on preparing them to enter the world of administrative, practical or manual work.
- Mickey and Linda go to a secondary modern school.
Private schools
- Edward goes to neither a grammar school nor a secondary modern, and is instead one of the 7% of children who goes to private school.
- This means that his parents would pay a considerable amount of money so that he could be educated at a school with other children from similarly wealthy backgrounds.
Inequality
- While many people supported grammar school system because it was supposed to give equal opportunities to all students, regardless of their backgrounds, the reality was that more money was given to the grammar schools.
- This meant that the secondary moderns were often badly equipped and, in some cases, failed to provide students with a good education.
Injustice of the education system
- It is important to recognise that Russell uses the characters of Mickey and Edward to highlight what he considers to be the injustice of the education system.
- Simply because his parents are wealthy, Edward gets to go to a school which is able to adequately prepare him for university and a good career after he graduates.
- Meanwhile, Mickey and Linda have to go to a school that is not able to adequately prepare them for the world of work, therefore putting them at a disadvantage.
1Context & Author
2Plot
2.1Act One
2.1.1Overview: Introduction to Mrs Johnstone & Lyons2.1.2Analysis: Introduction to Mrs. Johnston and Lyons2.1.3Overview: The Birth of Mickey & Edward2.1.4Analysis: The Birth of Mickey & Edward2.1.5Overview: Mickey Playing at Home2.1.6Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds2.1.7Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds2.1.8Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 22.1.9Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 22.1.10End of Topic Test - Act One2.1.11End of Topic Test - Act One 2
2.2Act Two
2.2.1Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers2.2.2Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers2.2.3Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 22.2.4Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 22.2.5Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 32.2.6Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 32.2.7Overview: Mickey & Edward as Adults2.2.8Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Adults2.2.9End of Topic Test - Act Two2.2.10End of Topic Test - Act Two 2
3Characters
3.3Linda
3.4Mrs Johnstone
3.6Mr Lyons
3.7Sammy
3.8The Narrator
3.10End of Topic Sessions
4Themes
4.1Parents & Children
4.2Growing Up
4.3Friendship & Brotherhood
4.4Fate & Superstition
4.5Nature vs. Nurture
5Literary Techniques
5.1Structure
5.2Tragedy
5.3Dramatic Irony
5.4Imagery
5.5Character & Voice
5.6Music & Lyrics
Jump to other topics
1Context & Author
2Plot
2.1Act One
2.1.1Overview: Introduction to Mrs Johnstone & Lyons2.1.2Analysis: Introduction to Mrs. Johnston and Lyons2.1.3Overview: The Birth of Mickey & Edward2.1.4Analysis: The Birth of Mickey & Edward2.1.5Overview: Mickey Playing at Home2.1.6Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds2.1.7Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds2.1.8Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 22.1.9Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 22.1.10End of Topic Test - Act One2.1.11End of Topic Test - Act One 2
2.2Act Two
2.2.1Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers2.2.2Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers2.2.3Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 22.2.4Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 22.2.5Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 32.2.6Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 32.2.7Overview: Mickey & Edward as Adults2.2.8Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Adults2.2.9End of Topic Test - Act Two2.2.10End of Topic Test - Act Two 2
3Characters
3.3Linda
3.4Mrs Johnstone
3.6Mr Lyons
3.7Sammy
3.8The Narrator
3.10End of Topic Sessions
4Themes
4.1Parents & Children
4.2Growing Up
4.3Friendship & Brotherhood
4.4Fate & Superstition
4.5Nature vs. Nurture
5Literary Techniques
5.1Structure
5.2Tragedy
5.3Dramatic Irony
5.4Imagery
5.5Character & Voice
5.6Music & Lyrics
Practice questions on Education & Work
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- 1Secondary modern schools:True / false
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