Dickens As an Educator

Hughes, James L. (James Laughlin), 1846-1935Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 673K words
Chapters: 68

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Dickens As an Educator by James L. HughesAuthor: Hughes, James L. (James Laughlin), 1846-1935,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Aug 31, 2011

Editor's review

Written by James L. Hughes, this book examines the educational ideas and depictions of childhood in Dickens's works; it is a free e-book from Project Gutenberg. Its value lies in drawing out and commenting on the schools, teachers, childhood traumas, and educational ideals that recur in Dickens's novels, offering an educational lens on Dickens's social criticism. The prose reflects the argumentative style of early twentieth-century educational treatises, with clear positions and examples drawn largely from Dickens's works. It suits readers of Dickens studies, the history of educational thought, or Victorian social background as supplementary reading, and teachers as extended reference when reading Dickens's novels. Read it alongside the originals, note the author's evaluative stance and period context, and do not treat it as a modern work of pedagogy.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary readers studying Dickens and the theme of education
Teachers and students interested in the history of educational thought and views of childhood
Book-club members who want to extend discussion after reading Dickens's novels
Readers interested in Victorian social criticism

Not a good fit for

Readers who have not read Dickens and need an introductory guide
Parents and teachers seeking modern teaching methods and practical strategies
Casual readers who prefer light stories and dislike theoretical discussion

Reading tips

Familiarize yourself with David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and other works first; the examples are easier to understand afterward.
Excerpt the author's views by educational theme and check them against the original plots one by one.
Place the book's assessments back in the early twentieth-century educational context and identify their period limitations.
For book clubs, choose the chapter on school descriptions for a thematic discussion.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can I read this book without having read Dickens?

Yes, but understanding will suffer. Many examples come from characters and school scenes in Dickens's novels; without an impression of the originals, you may retain only abstract conclusions. It is best to read one or two major works first, then see how the author draws his conclusions.

Is this a modern work of pedagogy?

No. It was written in the early twentieth century and is an educational commentary using literature as material; both its argumentative style and its concerns bear the marks of its time. Read it as a historical text, not a modern guide to educational science.

What are the book's main topics?

According to the available information, the book approaches Dickens as an educator and comments on the educational ideas, the circumstances of children, and the school descriptions reflected in his works. Consult the original for specific chapters, and note how the author extracts educational arguments from the novels.

Is it suitable for teachers?

It works as extended literary reading. Teachers can use its discussion of schools and childhood to reflect on educational issues, but should not expect specific teaching methods. Read it alongside Dickens's originals and avoid treating the author's commentary as the only conclusion.

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About the author

Hughes, James L. (James Laughlin), 1846-1935 Author · Canadian · 1846–1935

James L. Hughes (1846–1935) was a Canadian educator who served for many years as superintendent of education in Toronto, leaving his mark on local educational administration and the promotion of teaching ideas. He wrote prolifically, and the two works held here both approach literary figures from an educational angle: Dickens As an Educator draws on the experiences of children and schooling in Dickens's novels to discuss teaching methods and humane concern, while The Real Robert Burns examines the life and character of the Scottish poet. Both books show a writer skilled at using literature to set out educational thought, in a plain, public-facing style that combines commentary with a gently instructive purpose. Public information is limited, so details of his life and the full range of his writings remain to be verified; yet from the surviving works it is clear that his central concern was always how education shapes people, and how literature may serve that end.