The British love of sport is legendary. In this lively and stimulating book Derek Birley looks at the part it played in shaping British society. The book traces the development of sporting conventions from medieval chivalry to modern notions of sportsmanship and fair play. Particular sports from hunting and the tournament to ball-games and athletics are shown against the social background of the emerging nation. The first laws of favourite pastimes such as horse-racing, cricket and boxing were devised by the privileged for gambling purposes, but were enthusiastically followed by the lower orders for pleasure and profit. Amongst the topics explored are the changing fortunes and fashions in field sports, 'gentlemen and players' in cricket, the public school games cult, purity in amateur rowing, the urban middle-class discovery of lawn tennis and golf, and the 'north-south divide' in football. These social issues are cross-threads in the theme of sport's influence on national identity, patriotism and imperialism in the making of Britain. Remarkable in its scope and in its linking of sport to the changing social political scene, this is a splendidly readable history. -- .

First published in 1972, this book explores the nature of the British education service up until the early 1970s, looking at its complex administration and financial and legislative constraints. Derek Birley, an experienced educational administrator himself, explores radical methods of approach to the planning of the education service. Moreover, he considers such basic problems as the difficulties of planning in our sort of society and the relevance of business methods to educational planning. He proposes and outlines new techniques of programming, budgeting, and policy-making which would be suited to the complicated structure of the educational system. Birley's study and the ideas he puts forward will be of interest to people at all levels of the education service.

First published in 1970, this book tackles the topic of education and its structure and administration processes at the time of the early 1970s. This book broke new ground at the time, giving insight into an unfamiliar world, as Birley examines the system from nursery class to Polytechnic. Birley gives the angle of those who tried to make it work and discusses the actual problems they faced, analysing principles and practice in way previously unattempted. The education officer is seen in relation to his committee, to the community, and to the teaching profession. He is seen confronted by conflicting demands - of local needs and national policy, of democracy and forward planning, of educational philosophy and economic necessity.

This book, first published in 1971, provides an account of educational and social services, their functions, and how they relate to each other. It discusses their problems and makes constructive and original proposals for their future development. Taking the child and its needs as their central theme, the authors go beyond superficial organisational matters to consider fundamental issues that profoundly affect the future of the nation's children. This title will be of interest to students of sociology and education.

This book, first published in 1971, provides an account of educational and social services, their functions, and how they relate to each other. It discusses their problems and makes constructive and original proposals for their future development. Taking the child and its needs as their central theme, the authors go beyond superficial organisational matters to consider fundamental issues that profoundly affect the future of the nation's children. This title will be of interest to students of sociology and education.