Thomas Arnold

Thomas Philips, RA, artist

B. Holl, engraver

Source: Frontispiece, Stanley's biography of Arnold

“What Arnold did for public schools was to alter and expand, to a degree which amounted to a revolution, the aims and objects which these institutions set before themselves. Before his time the avowed object of the public schools was to impart learning; system and discipline were subservient to this end. . . . Arnold took a much broader view of the objects of education; while deeply impressed with the importance of learning, he realized that it was only a part of education, and that the great end and aim of education was the formation of character. . . . The ideal which he set before himself was to train boys to become not merely scholars but Christian gentlemen.” — Bradby, 55

References

Bradby, H. C. Rugby. The Great Public Schools Series. London: George Bell and Sons, 1900.

Stanley, Arthur Penrhyn. The Life and Correspondence of Thomas Arnold, D.D., Late Head-master of Rugby School, and Regius Professor of Modern History in the University of Oxford. 4th ed. 2 vols. London: B. Fellowes, 1845.

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Last modified 5 September 2015