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Article: Dickens of a good idea; As the Birmingham and Midland Institute celebrates 150 years Chris Upton looks back at the brave new education establishment, backed by Charles Dickens and Prince Albert.(Features)
- Article from:
- The Birmingham Post (England)
- Article date:
- July 17, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Chris Upton
I f you have ever been at the first meeting of a new society or project you will know that ambition and blue sky thinking often (always) fly in the face of hard-nosed reality. Imagine then being at a meeting in Birmingham in 1852, a gathering to establish a new educational institute for the town.
There are brave and noble words flying about: education for the working classes, new opportunities and skills, an open university.
Then up stands someone and suggests that the best way to raise the profile of the project is for Charles ...