The Positivist World Citizen: F. S. Marvin and F. J. Gould in the League of Nations Union, 1919–1939

Abstract

This chapter examines the educational activities of two Positivists, F. J. Gould and the Oxford-educated Inspector of Schools, F. S. Marvin, within the League of Nations Union (LNU) between 1919 and 1939. This was a period when, wanting to avoid a repeat of the horrors of the First World War, both Christians and secularists focused on educating citizens of the world. Wright considers Marvin’s and Gould’s promotion of their Positivist-flavoured versions of world citizenship within this major pressure group, Marvin through his suggestions for internationalist history teaching, and Gould through his League lessons and his periodical for pupils, League News. Through the LNU’s influential channels their proposals reached many teachers and pupils. But Marvin and Gould were a minority within a predominantly Christian organisation.