Christian Schiller
Encyclopedia
Louis Christian Schiller MC
(born New Barnet
, London
, 20 September 1895, died 11 February 1976, Kenton
, London), known as Christian Schiller, was HM Inspector of Schools in the United Kingdom
and a promoter of progressive ideas in primary education.
, Holt
, from 1909 to 1914. He became head boy there, excelled at sprinting and won a mathematics scholarship to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
. His education was interrupted by World War I
, after which he took up his place at Cambridge University and briefly read Mathematics
there from 1919 to 1920. He later studied for a Teachers Diploma at the London Day Training College
(1923–1924).
broke out and he volunteered for the army. He was commissioned into the Lincolnshire Regiment and spent most of the war on active service. He took part in the Battle of Mons
, and in 1917 after being wounded in action received the Military Cross
.
. He joined a committee of the Mathematical Association
concerned with the teaching of Geometry
. In 1924, after taking his Teacher's Diploma, he was appointed an Assistant Inspector of Schools by the Board of Education
and began his career in its Whitehall
offices.
In 1925, he moved to Liverpool
, where he rose to become District Inspector of Schools. From 1937 to 1946 he worked in Worcestershire
. In 1946, following the Education Act 1944
, he was appointed as the Ministry of Education
's first Staff Inspector for Primary Education, based in London. He ran courses for primary teachers, often with Robin Tanner
, and promoted progressive ideals and practice.
In 1955 he retired from the Ministry and took up a post as senior lecturer at the Institute of Education
to teach a course in primary education. This continued from 1956 to 1963, and his students included Leonard Marsh, Arthur Razzell and John Coe. After his formal retirement in 1963, Schiller continued to lecture and advise on education and also acted as an external examiner.
He sat on the Plowden Committee at Goldsmiths' College and in the early 1970s influenced its new Postgraduate Primary Course.
, London
), who was educated at Godolphin and Latymer School
, the Royal Holloway College, University of London
, and the London Day Training College
for a Teachers' Diploma (1923–1924), where she met Schiller. She taught English and French, but on her marriage gave up teaching. They had three daughters, Gerda, Meryl and Lyris, and one son, Russell.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(born New Barnet
New Barnet
New Barnet is an area within the London Borough of Barnet. It is a largely residential North London suburb, close to the M25, A1 and M1.-History:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 20 September 1895, died 11 February 1976, Kenton
Kenton
-Notable people:* Actress Michele Austin, best known as PC Yvonne Hemmingway in ITV's The Bill, attended Claremont High School in Kenton* Cricketer Denis Compton lived in Kenton* TV exercise instructor Mr Motivator lived in Kenton...
, London), known as Christian Schiller, was HM Inspector of Schools in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and a promoter of progressive ideas in primary education.
Education
Schiller was educated at Tyttenhanger Lodge Preparatory School near St. Albans and then at Gresham's SchoolGresham's School
Gresham’s School is an independent coeducational boarding school in Holt in North Norfolk, England, a member of the HMC.The school was founded in 1555 by Sir John Gresham as a free grammar school for forty boys, following King Henry VIII's dissolution of the Augustinian priory at Beeston Regis...
, Holt
Holt, Norfolk
Holt is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The town is north of the city of Norwich, west of Cromer and east of King's Lynn. The town is on the route of the A148 King's Lynn to Cromer road. The nearest railway station is in the town of Sheringham where access to the...
, from 1909 to 1914. He became head boy there, excelled at sprinting and won a mathematics scholarship to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
. His education was interrupted by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, after which he took up his place at Cambridge University and briefly read Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
there from 1919 to 1920. He later studied for a Teachers Diploma at the London Day Training College
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
(1923–1924).
War service
Before Schiller's intended arrival at Cambridge, World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out and he volunteered for the army. He was commissioned into the Lincolnshire Regiment and spent most of the war on active service. He took part in the Battle of Mons
Battle of Mons
The Battle of Mons was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War. It was a subsidiary action of the Battle of the Frontiers, in which the Allies clashed with Germany on the French borders. At Mons, the British army attempted to hold the line of the...
, and in 1917 after being wounded in action received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
.
Career
Leaving Cambidge without a degree, between 1920 and 1923 Schiller taught Maths at the progressive Rendcomb School, a secondary school in GloucestershireGloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. He joined a committee of the Mathematical Association
Mathematical Association
The Mathematical Association is a professional society concerned with mathematics education in the UK.-History:It was founded in 1871 as the Association for the Improvement of Geometrical Teaching and renamed to the Mathematical Association in 1897. It was the first teachers' subject organisation...
concerned with the teaching of Geometry
Geometry
Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....
. In 1924, after taking his Teacher's Diploma, he was appointed an Assistant Inspector of Schools by the Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
and began his career in its Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
offices.
In 1925, he moved to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, where he rose to become District Inspector of Schools. From 1937 to 1946 he worked in Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
. In 1946, following the Education Act 1944
Education Act 1944
The Education Act 1944 changed the education system for secondary schools in England and Wales. This Act, commonly named after the Conservative politician R.A...
, he was appointed as the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (United Kingdom)
The administration of education policy in the United Kingdom began in the 19th century. Official mandation of education began with the Elementary Education Act 1870 for England and Wales, and the Education Act 1872 for Scotland...
's first Staff Inspector for Primary Education, based in London. He ran courses for primary teachers, often with Robin Tanner
Robin Tanner
Robin Tanner was an English artist, etcher and printmaker. He followed in the visionary tradition of Samuel Palmer and English neo-romanticism. He lived in London, at Kington Langley, in Wiltshire, and Bath.-Biography:...
, and promoted progressive ideals and practice.
In 1955 he retired from the Ministry and took up a post as senior lecturer at the Institute of Education
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
to teach a course in primary education. This continued from 1956 to 1963, and his students included Leonard Marsh, Arthur Razzell and John Coe. After his formal retirement in 1963, Schiller continued to lecture and advise on education and also acted as an external examiner.
He sat on the Plowden Committee at Goldsmiths' College and in the early 1970s influenced its new Postgraduate Primary Course.
Publications
Schiller published many articles on education. He also planned a book, but it was unfinished at his death.Family
On 19 August 1925, Schiller married Lyndall Handover (born 18 April 1900, ActonActon, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
), who was educated at Godolphin and Latymer School
Godolphin and Latymer School
The Godolphin and Latymer School is an independent school for 700 girls aged eleven to eighteen in London. Ms Margaret Rudland was the head mistress of the school for over 20 years before being succeeded by Ms Ruth Mercer.-History:...
, the Royal Holloway College, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and the London Day Training College
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
for a Teachers' Diploma (1923–1924), where she met Schiller. She taught English and French, but on her marriage gave up teaching. They had three daughters, Gerda, Meryl and Lyris, and one son, Russell.