Graves, Arnold Felix

Arnold Felix Graves (1847-1930)

Arnold Felix Graves, educationalist, was born in Dublin in 1847. He graduated from the University of Dublin with a first class honours degree in mathematics in 1868 and was called to the Irish Bar in 1872.

Graves was instrumental in setting up a technical school in Kevin Street in Dublin, which opened in 1887. He worked to ensure the success of this school and to set up others. Ringsend Technical School opened in 1893 and technical schools were also set up in Galway and Limerick.

In 1893 Graves formed the Technical Education Association of Ireland, which pushed for the Technical Instruction Act of 1899 to establish a system of schools under local authorities. By 1902 every local authority had adopted the Act and this was the foundation on which the 1930 Vocational Education Act was established.

Graves' submissions for practical education to the Belmore Commission (1898) were adopted by the National Board and this led to a new code, syllabus and regulations for National schools. He died in 1930.