English Grammar Schools in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth #260559

The history of English secondary education in the sixteenth century reveals two movements, one of destruction, the other of reconstruction. The former movement reached its climax in the destruction of the monasteries,' guilds, and chantries,' since with these there perished a very large number of the institutions of English secondary education. But before this climax had been reached, the latter movement had exhibited itself in the foundation of such schools as St. Paul's and the City Grammar School of Bristol.' While the former movement was spending itself, the latter continued to grow. Close upon the destruction of the monasteries and their schools followed the refoundation of the cathedrals and the cathedral schools by Henry VIII.,5 while simultaneously with the destruction of the guld and chantry schools occurred the foundation of increasing nunbers of independent schools.