Introduction: Victorian Pedagogy—Then and Now

Abstract

Thud, clomp, clack, creak. Although the students are not speaking, the sound of their footsteps on the wooden floor disturb the enforced quiet of the Victorian classroom (Fig. 1). As they file in, the students pass the very stern Miss Perkins, who is inspecting the pupils’ appearances through glasses positioned midway down her nose. Miss Perkins herself, dressed in a full-length skirt and a high-necked blouse, stands next to the chalkboard, on which she has written the morning’s lesson. Two students point to the dunce cap sitting on a stool by the chalkboard, causing more students to laugh. Miss Perkins hits the ground with her pointer to scold them, which only makes it harder for the students to contain their laughter.