London International College
Encyclopedia
The International College in London
was an early attempt at international education
, operating from 1867 to 1889. It enrolled secondary-school
students from a number of countries in a program aimed at fostering internationalist
sentiments in its pupils. Its official name was the London College of the International Education Society, and it was also known as the Spring Grove School, from its location in the Spring Grove area of Isleworth
, London.
The International Education Society was organized in 1863, primarily by Liberal
politician and industrialist Richard Cobden
, who hoped international education could help eliminate war and promote free trade (an idea that had been discussed by a number of like-minded individuals at the 1855 Paris Exposition
). The College's buildings were completed in 1866, and it officially opened in 1867, with classicist Leonhard Schmitz
as the first headmaster. It engaged in a number of other educational experiments besides the focus on internationalism: it eliminated corporal punishment
, and instituted an unusually science-focused curriculum, developed with noted scientists Thomas Henry Huxley and John Tyndall
on its board of directors.
The College operated until 1889, when its premises were sold to Borough Road College. The ornately decorated main building survives and is noted in architectural guides.
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...
was an early attempt at international education
International education
International education can mean many different things and its definition is debated. Some have defined two general meanings according to its involvement of students...
, operating from 1867 to 1889. It enrolled secondary-school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
students from a number of countries in a program aimed at fostering internationalist
Internationalism (politics)
Internationalism is a political movement which advocates a greater economic and political cooperation among nations for the theoretical benefit of all...
sentiments in its pupils. Its official name was the London College of the International Education Society, and it was also known as the Spring Grove School, from its location in the Spring Grove area of Isleworth
Isleworth
Isleworth is a small town of Saxon origin sited within the London Borough of Hounslow in west London, England. It lies immediately east of the town of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane. Isleworth's original area of settlement, alongside the Thames, is known as...
, London.
The International Education Society was organized in 1863, primarily by Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician and industrialist Richard Cobden
Richard Cobden
Richard Cobden was a British manufacturer and Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with John Bright in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League as well as with the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty...
, who hoped international education could help eliminate war and promote free trade (an idea that had been discussed by a number of like-minded individuals at the 1855 Paris Exposition
Exposition Universelle (1855)
The Exposition Universelle of 1855 was an International Exhibition held on the Champs-Elysées in Paris from May 15 to November 15, 1855. Its full official title was the Exposition Universelle des produits de l'Agriculture, de l'Industrie et des Beaux-Arts de Paris 1855.The exposition was a major...
). The College's buildings were completed in 1866, and it officially opened in 1867, with classicist Leonhard Schmitz
Leonhard Schmitz
Leonhard Schmitz was a German-born classical scholar and educator active mainly in the United Kingdom.Schmitz was born in Eupen and attended gymnasium in Aachen. He lost his right arm in an accident at the age of 10, but nonetheless excelled academically...
as the first headmaster. It engaged in a number of other educational experiments besides the focus on internationalism: it eliminated corporal punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
, and instituted an unusually science-focused curriculum, developed with noted scientists Thomas Henry Huxley and John Tyndall
John Tyndall
John Tyndall FRS was a prominent Irish 19th century physicist. His initial scientific fame arose in the 1850s from his study of diamagnetism. Later he studied thermal radiation, and produced a number of discoveries about processes in the atmosphere...
on its board of directors.
The College operated until 1889, when its premises were sold to Borough Road College. The ornately decorated main building survives and is noted in architectural guides.