‘I can truly say I am almost distracted’: Parents and the pressures of home education in the late 19th Century

On 17 September we were treated to an intriguing and timely talk on home schooling in the UK in the 19th Century: ‘I can truly say I am almost distracted’: Parents and the pressures of home education in the late 19th Century.

Jackson Fellow and History tutor Professor Christina de Bellaigue discussed Charlotte Mason, whose pioneering ethos was that the child ‘is a person and we must educate that whole person, not just the mind’. It was interesting to hear the emphasis on the importance of nature, something that is still prevalent today with the resurgence of forest schools. Also important, and I’m sure reassuring to hear, was that parents struggled to meet the demands of home schooling around their social responsibilities and work. You can watch Christina’s talk below or by clicking on this link.