3.All over the world mentioning of English education suggests a picture of the"public schools",and it suggests in particular the names of certain very famous institutions-Eton,Oxford and Cambridge; but people do not always realize what place these institutions occupy in the whole educational system.Oxford and Cambridge are universities each having about 12,000students out of a total of over 250,000students at all British universities.Eton is a public school,and the best known of the public schools,which,in spite of their name,are not really public at all,but independent and private secondary schools taking boys from the age of thirteen to eighteen years.The public schools in reality form a very small part of the whole system of secondary education; only about one out of forty English boys go to a public school,and one out of 1,500goes to Eton.
Apart from the so-called public schools there is a complete system of state primary and secondary education,which resembles in its general form the state education in most other countries.All children must,by law,receive full-time education between the ages of five and sixteen.Any child may attend,without paying fees,a school provided by the public authorities,and the great majority attend such schools.They may continue,still without paying fees,until they are eighteen.In presenting an overall picture of English education it would be reasonable to concentrate on the state system alone and refer briefly to the public schools.However,although the public schools are not important numerically,they have been England's most peculiar and characteristic contribution to educational methods,and they have an immense influence on the whole of English educational practice and on the English social structure.For a hundred years most men in leading positions in banking,insurance,high finance,some industries,the army,the church and conservative politics have been educated at public schools.
(Note:Answer the question or complete the statements in no more than 12words.)
81.British public schools are not as their names suggests because they arein reality independent and private (actually).
82.The public schools are not important in certain senses becauseonly a small number of children are studying there.
83.Why must all British children between the age of five and sixteen attend a school?Because it is required by law.
84.Why do people easily think of public schools when British education is mentioned?Because they have great influence on English education and society..