Welsh Journals

The evolution from the Welsh Intermediate Education Act of 1889, of a public educational system is shown as a story of accommodation between national and local policies and aspirations illustrated through the interplay of colourful individuals and apparently democratic organisations. A potentially sterile study is brought to life by the skilful mix of characters, policies, incidents and personal reminiscences to illustrate the manner by which a system has been created to allow all within the County to have access to the fruits of education. The strains between Whitehall, County and District in the development and implementation of policy; the different views and aspirations of Labour, Conservative and Liberal perceptions of educational need; the ever present financial controls, and the frequently changing views of the most effective methods of learning and teaching all combine in this account of educational provision in a non-centralised political system. The characters within the story are given their full weight-and what heavyweights some of them were. The "jousts" between Councillor Forestier-Walker (Rogerstone) and Alderman Raffan (Newbridge) in the early decades of this century show them to be doughty warriors for their causes. The intellectual strength and honesty of Phil Abraham (Nantyglo) shine through his recorded activities. The professional competence of Charles Gittins, the doggedness in pursuit of his aims shown by C. C. Panes and the overall brilliance of Archie Lush are recorded with admiration and affection. It is the quality, vision and social commitment of these and many other characters that give this study its attraction showing the independence of spirit and strength of character that individuals required to achieve perceived ends. As this book, to a large extent is written from within the educational system, it allows the reader to glimpse the battles and political dancing of the participants, the political deals that were necessary to achieve progress and the tensions and animosities between councillors and others. All are there for the perceptive reader in this lively, human and stylish account of a subject which is clearly dear to the author's heart. As a case-study of the development of a local educational system it epitomises the dispersed, locally coloured school college and continuing education provision which has evolved in the United Kingdom in the twentieth century. With the present politically inspired educational changes taking place there arises the possibility that Trevor Morgan's book is a celebration of an educational system which developed and flourished only to be replaced by a centralised system of public education in the twenty first century. MIH