...How does Dickens show his dislike for the education system in Hard Times? In Hard Times, Charles dickens is the Omniscient Narrator. This means he hears and see’s everything. He portrays the education system as an unfair, factual lifestyle where only fact is considered right. Dickens story is set in the industrial revolution (1854). The Lancastrian System. Dickens feels that teachers in the education system are draining the life out of children and making them 100% Factual like robots, he describres the children as ‘Automotrons’ to show how robotic and lifeless they are. Dickens shows the children as vulnerable. “Murder the innocents” this means he murder is cowardly. The use of strong connotations He uses biblical references to show sarcasm, the thing needful is ‘FACT’. Dickens uses names such as ‘Gradgrind’ and ‘M’Choakumchild’ to represent hatred towards the education system. The name Gradgrind connotates oppresion, anger, production noise (grind). M’Choakumchild also connotates anger, Strangulation, death. Mr Gradgrind is high up in the local council, he comes into the classroom uninvited and teaches the lesson, Dickens uses this to reprisent how bad the education system was. Everypoint he makes is to critisise the system. The pupils in the class are very unfairly treated, brainwashed to talk factual without opinion. Bitzer - a shy, quiet, light haired, possesed, pale and factual boy. The quote “ if he were cut, he would bleed white” supports this. Bitzer is treated...
Words: 295 - Pages: 2
...In “The One Thing Needful” chapter of Hard Times, Dickens presents the type of educational system existing in Coke-town. He demonstrates this through the curriculum of the school which is to “Stick to Facts” (Hard Times 47) for the reason that “Facts alone are wanted in life” (Hard Times 47) and anything with no factual element is of a disadvantage to them and must be rooted out. Zubair describes Mr. Gradgrind’s school as a very rigid and rigorous system where flexibility is not welcomed because flexibility allows imagination and Mr. Gradgrind is against it (2392). This inflexible character is seen through one of the speaker’s voice as “dry and dictatorial” (Hard Times 47). The above adjectives perfectly describe the educational system in Coke-town...
Words: 1561 - Pages: 7
...Hard Times |Theme Analysis | | | | | | | |[pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] | | | |Head versus Heart | |Hard Times shows the inadequacy of an approach to life that emphasizes only the human intellect at | |the expense of the imagination and the heart. The character who most embodies the false approach is | |Thomas Gradgrind. Gradgrind worships facts and figures and prides himself on being very practical. He| |thinks that the only things valuable in life are those that can be objectively measured. He believes | |that human behavior can be shaped for the better by the rational application of practical knowledge. | |Gradgrind refuses to accept the validity of "fancy" or imagination; only practical things matter, and| |he puts his faith in abstract theories rather than direct observation of how real people behave, and | |what their real needs...
Words: 1053 - Pages: 5
...Wednesday 24th march 2010 Essay Of ‘Hard times’ By Charles dickens In the novel Hard Times Dickens writes about a utilitarian education system. Dickens dislikes this form of education through his use of language and his characters. The title ’Hard Times’ shows us that dickens view of the utilitarian education system. “The one thing needful” and “Murdering the innocent” His dislike for this system is also shown through the novels characters names. ‘Mr Gradgrind’ and ‘Mr M’Choakumchild’. These names portray the system as it is choking the child and gradually grinding the children from their imagination. The chapter names ‘the one thing needful’’ we learn that that all Gradgrind cares about are facts so dickens title suggests that all facts are the only thing needed. While the title ‘murdering the innocent’ tells us that dickens feels the education system is killing the children minds and their childhoods and in turn being replaced by facts. I think dickens invented these names because emphasize his dislike for the utilitarian education system. The name 'Mr. Gradgrind' make the reader think of two words, gradually and grinding. It makes the reader think that 'Mr. Gradgrind' gradually grinds the childhoods out of the children. Further more the name 'Mr. M’Choakumchild' makes the reader automatically thinks the name is for choking the child. Dickens is again emphasizing his dislike for the education system, saying it is choking the child. The name also portrays him as a man...
Words: 332 - Pages: 2
...Hard Times: the Education System How does Dickens present the education system in hard Times? Words: | Submitted: Thu Mar 24 2005 ... Not even a sense of fancy and imagination. They were educated to get the basics of life because they were going to be pushed into the outside world at a very young age of 12 and above or even below. At the end of the day, the education was worthless because most of the children died in the workhouse. Dickens used Hard Times to criticise the society for failing so many of its children. Dickens argues against a mode of factory style, grad-grinding production that exterminates the fun out of life. He believes that education should not be a thing of going through volumes of head-breaking questions and being put through an immense variety of paces. Hard Times not only suggests that fancy is as important as fact, but it continually calls into question the difference between fact and fancy. Dickens suggests that what constitutes so-called fact is a matter... How does Dickens present his views on education in ‘hard times’? Words: | Submitted: Mon Jun 06 2005. He is shown as lifeless and colorless, 'the boy was so light-eyed and light-haired that the self-same rays appeared to draw out of him what little color he ever possessed.' This gives the effect that he has been drained of life and everything else but facts. When asked, Blitzer describes a Horse as a 'Quadruped' and 'graminivorous' and gives endless facts about the animal...
Words: 354 - Pages: 2
...State. I just finished fifth grade and was in the first month of my sixth grade when my family was forced to leave my home country, Myanmar. Even when learning in my first language, I always have to work hard to get good grades. The unfair education system - neglect the poor and care for rich students only has further restricted my learning. Back in my country, rich students always know questions ahead of the test date by paying a lot of money to the teachers. Even torpid students who barely study are top in school because their parents were wealthy while smart and hard working students always end up in the middle half simply because they are poor. After taking tests, students receive nothing but a report card with their grades. Even if we think...
Words: 913 - Pages: 4
...COMPUTER EDUCATION YEAR 11 2014 Technology and Employment Skills Training Ministry of Education, Fiji. 28th November 2013 Year 11 Computer Education 1 Preface This text book has been written to cater for the new Year 11 Computer Education syllabus trialed in Fiji secondary school for the year 2014. It is a new text book and the first of its kind to be written locally. It is hoped that this book will be useful in implementing the syllabus but it should be understood that it is not the syllabus. The syllabus is the framework for the teacher to follow while this text book is a resource for the student. Therefore departure to other resource materials for more information will be acceptable. The text book is not the perfect piece of work as it has been prepared in a very short time, therefore suggestions for amendments will be welcomed. It is anticipated that this book will minimize the amount of time for teachers in lesson preparation and more time will be devoted to actual classroom teaching and learning. There may be a variety of opinion about the content of the topics, but for the beginner it is the best which gives the time and opportunity to become familiar with the basics before pursuing further into the field of study in greater detail at the upper secondary level Ministry of Education, Suva. Fiji Islands 28th November 2013. Year 11 Computer Education 2 Acknowledgement This textbook for year 11 Computer Education has been produced by the Computer...
Words: 20027 - Pages: 81
...Do you know what online education is? Online education is one of the ways to learn several subjects. We can take a lecture or submit our assignments through the Internet. Therefore, people can learn what they want to learn. However, this new way to educate students is not activated in all countries because in some countries, they have enough colleges or educational system, the online education should be a part of educational system in all colleges for three reasons: cost, environmental and flexibility. First, online education can give a good impact in educational cost. Some people have enough money to go to college and online education is not necessary for them. However, when we think about the poor people with some problems, we can understand that online education should be a part of educational system. For example, many students stop studying in colleges because of the money. To help those students solve their money troubles, if all colleges use the online education, we don’t need to pay for textbooks, facilities or transportation and so on. Therefore, the online education cost us less than go to college. That will help the poor keeping studying. Also, it will be useful for people with enough money because they can save money. Second, online education can offer us good environment to keep studying. However, if online education became a part of educational system, people using it cannot join in some activities at college. In that activities outside some lectures are important...
Words: 551 - Pages: 3
...explanations of the role of the education system in society. As a theory which places heavy emphasis on the analysis of institutions and their relationship with society, especially with regards to the functions of institutions, Functionalists place a significant amount of focus on the education system. Functionalists believe that education has 3 basic roles. The first being socialistion, the second being to teach skills required by a modern industrial society and the third being to role allocate. However, this perspective is not always accepted, it’s macro theory approach is often seen as too wide bearing to be applied to the study of the education system as well as critics which dispute the functions of the education system as portrayed by functionalists. Nevertheless, its macro theory approach puts the education system in context and is therefore a theory which is notable when discussing the role of the education system. Firstly, it cannot be ignored that one of the main principles of the theory is that society is based upon consensus, - agreement between norms and values. As an institution of secondary socialisation, Functionalist theorists see the education system as one of the main institutions which help to achieve value consensus within society, allowing society to operate in a smooth manner. Durkheim suggested that the education system is an institution which helps to create a “collective consciousness”, uniting society into one body, with the system creating “social beings”...
Words: 1573 - Pages: 7
...The Measurement of Education Through Testing A lot of people have trouble deciphering what it actually means to be educated people because of the difficulty of finding a precise and accurate measuring tool to this cognitive ability. The closest measuring tool we have in our modern day era is the use of standardized exams and grade point averaging to try to figure out just how educated and learned the students in today’s world are. Measuring education in this modern school system is mainly based on end of the year final exams and standardized measuring numbers such as grade point averages and SAT scores. Although these exams and numbers do give a roughly good measurement of a certain student’s education level, it doesn’t necessarily mean that said student is as smart as those scores, which is the true wanted result to measure of these tests. These tests do require a certain level of cognitive ability, but there are other situations that can be factored in to take away the validity of these tests to a certain degree. For example, if a student studies solely for the SAT since the beginning of their high school career, they will most likely post a score that puts them well into the high upper percentile of the nation. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he/she is the same percentile in cognitive ability in the nation. Not that there is any wrong doing in studying for the SAT for that lengthy period of time, but it shouldn’t such a solid truth type of test to measure how smart...
Words: 1428 - Pages: 6
...have a hard time finding a job after being released. The system makes it harder for them. Some felons go in at a young age, most times so early that they do not even achieve a high school education. Felons are unable to vote causing the system to remain against them. Prisons are placed far away from society. After being released ex-felons usually return to high crime rate areas. Most ex-felons have a hard time moving on with their lives, after being released from jail because they have multiple factors working against them. “Men and women who have served extensive prison sentences…are not only left with little or no social support but also clearly marked by the criminal justice system as potentially threatening repeat offenders". (Moore 783) What Moore is saying in this quote is that the justice system marks these ex-felons as a criminal for life, making it hard for them to find employment. The system is designed to offer no help to these...
Words: 1126 - Pages: 5
...This bill I am presenting to you today was sponsored by Senior Senator of Louisiana, David Vitter. Bill S.60 wants to take away the education of the children of illegal immigrants. Stating right from the summary “prohibit unlawful aliens from being eligible for any postsecondary education benefit unless every citizen and national of this country is eligible to receive that benefit in no less of an amount, duration, or scope.” This bill should not be passed. Of course, the concern is understandable. This time of the century, the height for seeking equality has skyrocketed. However, using the “equality” card in these type of situations is not fair at all. What ways would a regular citizen be unable to attend postsecondary education? The most popular reason is because of money. Yet, the prices continue to go up every year. If a family of illegal immigrants can afford these ridiculously high tuitions fees for their children, or their children are working hard and getting good enough grades on their own accord then they definitely should be able to attend the school they wish to go to. Most unauthorized immigrants have a hard time finding jobs as most companies require paperwork with proof of residency. To think most of these immigrants can afford to send a child to college or university easily is almost ridiculous. So most of these children work hard at school and excel in their studies to get the scholarships they deserve. To take that all away because students lawfully living on...
Words: 696 - Pages: 3
...the Higher Education Institutions: The Case of Sharjah University in UAE Dr Abdel Moneim M. B. AHMED Bashar I. HAMDOON By WP-0102062007 1 The challenges and obstacles of TQM Implementation in the Higher Education Institutions: The Case of Sharjah University in UAE By Dr Ahmed and Hamdoon e-TQM College Working Paper Series WP- 0102062007 The Challenges and obstacles of TQM Implementation in the Higher Education Institutions: The Case of Sharjah University in UAE Dr Abdel Moneim M. B. Ahmed Bashar I. Hamdoon By WP-0102062007 The working paper series are produced by the e-TQM College and are to be circulated for discussion purposes only. Their contents should be considered preliminary. The papers are expected to be published in due course, in a revised form and should not be quoted without the author’s permission. E-TQM College working paper series is available through www.etqm.ae/qme 2 The challenges and obstacles of TQM Implementation in the Higher Education Institutions: The Case of Sharjah University in UAE By Dr Ahmed and Hamdoon e-TQM College Working Paper Series WP- 0102062007 The Challenges and obstacles of TQM Implementation in the Higher Education Institutions: The Case of Sharjah University in UAE Dr Abdel Moneim M. B. AHMED Director of Graduate Studies e-TQM College P.O. Box 71400, Dubai, UAE E-mail: A.Ahmed@etqm.ae Bashar I. HAMDOON University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE ABSTRACT The importance of the higher education for the development...
Words: 11971 - Pages: 48
...would be learning and be truly educated. Without anxiety or fear of a backlash from grades, intellectual excitement becomes the focus in education. 4) Time is better utilized for learning, as time is not wasted on discussing evaluation. 5) Students need not worry about what the teacher wants, but rather can concentrate on their own thoughts and enriching their own knowledge. Students take themselves and their thoughts seriously, increasing self confidence and self respect. 6) Students do not need to compete among themselves, and hence self-worth is not measured according to the curve but according to their own learning. Evaluation In support of the author’s position: 1) Grades can prevent ‘real’ learning, as students can just regurgitate what the teacher wants without truly comprehending or critically thinking through. Noble notes that ‘the elimination of grades at a stroke shifts academic attention from evaluation to education, where it belongs’. Hence, education can return to a focus on continual intellectual investigation, rather than focus on an end point (grade and employment). Students may then be encouraged to learn beyond the prescribed set of notes or textbooks, and hence may read beyond the syllabus. [Singapore as example? Changes in school syllabuses] 2) Grading can lead to unhealthy competition, and education should be about...
Words: 858 - Pages: 4
...How does dickens show his dislike for the education system in 'Hard Times'? In the novel Hard Times Dickens writes about a utilitarian education system. Dickens dislikes this form of education through his use of language and his characters. The title shows us that dickens view of the utilitarian education system. “The one thing needful” and “Murdering the innocent” His dislike for this system is also shown through the novels characters names. ‘Mr Gradgrind’ and ‘Mr M’Choakumchild’. These names portray the system as it is choking the child and gradually grinding the children from their imagination. The chapter names ‘the one thing needful’’ we learn that that all Gradgrind cares about are facts so dickens title suggests that all facts are the only thing needed. While the title ‘murdering the innocent’ tells us that dickens feels the education system is killing the children minds and their childhoods and in turn being replaced by facts. I think dickens invented these names because emphasize his dislike for the utilitarian education system. The name 'Mr. Gradgrind' make the reader think of two words, gradually and grinding. It makes the reader think that 'Mr. Gradgrind' gradually grinds the childhoods out of the children. Further more the name 'Mr. M’Choakumchild' makes the reader automatically interpret the name for choking the child. Dickens is again emphasizing his dislike for the education system, saying it is choking the child. The name also portrays him as a man...
Words: 718 - Pages: 3
