ABSTRACT
Originally planning to study for the bar after he completed his degree at Cambridge, Oscar Browning instead returned to Eton College in 1860 as an assistant master. Teaching at Eton had an obvious draw for him as the ancient college had always been attended by the sons of aristocrats and peerage. Coincidentally upon his return rumblings amongst parents and governmental leaders were beginning to be heard about public school education, and Eton was at the forefront of the parliamentary inquiry. Browning himself provided evidence to the committee. The Clarendon Report, as it was commonly known after Lord Clarendon who chaired the committee, investigated issues about the ancient foundations. The inquiry into the elite schools indicated that perhaps England was willing finally to re-evaluate its tradition-bound education.
