Funny coincidence, since Dickens is mentioned by Thom here. I just happen to be about 1/4 way thru Dickens' "Hard Times," which is excruciatingly about education of the young. Don't know if Dickens had the "Prussian academy model" in mind, but key characters are "Mr. Gradgrind" proprietor of the hellish school of stringent realism, and h…
Funny coincidence, since Dickens is mentioned by Thom here. I just happen to be about 1/4 way thru Dickens' "Hard Times," which is excruciatingly about education of the young. Don't know if Dickens had the "Prussian academy model" in mind, but key characters are "Mr. Gradgrind" proprietor of the hellish school of stringent realism, and his star teacher, "Mr. McChoakumchild."
(Subtlety didn't sell serials, apparently.) In the context of this whole discussion, I am somewhat oppressed by the hoary, interminable perpetuity of the struggle we are talking about. I am not sure it is irrelevant to reflect back on the forever war to subjugate and discredit women. Riane Eisler's "The Chalice and the Blade" just popped into my mind. I don't imagine Dickens as a conscious feminist, but so far it looks like the key disruptive plot-mover in "Hard Times" is a girl.
I thought I had sent an answer to you. But I'm just seeing a notice that my reply didn't get posted. I think it may be lost but will see if I can locate it later. I'm not sure I will be able to reproduce it. My apologies.
Funny coincidence, since Dickens is mentioned by Thom here. I just happen to be about 1/4 way thru Dickens' "Hard Times," which is excruciatingly about education of the young. Don't know if Dickens had the "Prussian academy model" in mind, but key characters are "Mr. Gradgrind" proprietor of the hellish school of stringent realism, and his star teacher, "Mr. McChoakumchild."
(Subtlety didn't sell serials, apparently.) In the context of this whole discussion, I am somewhat oppressed by the hoary, interminable perpetuity of the struggle we are talking about. I am not sure it is irrelevant to reflect back on the forever war to subjugate and discredit women. Riane Eisler's "The Chalice and the Blade" just popped into my mind. I don't imagine Dickens as a conscious feminist, but so far it looks like the key disruptive plot-mover in "Hard Times" is a girl.
I thought I had sent an answer to you. But I'm just seeing a notice that my reply didn't get posted. I think it may be lost but will see if I can locate it later. I'm not sure I will be able to reproduce it. My apologies.