I think... (THE LIBRARY message #4550)

I think...

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Posted by Barbara on March 02, 1998 at 23:17:38:

In response to Schools, written by Cheryl on March 02, 1998 at 22:47:20

] Just how widespread were these boarding school horrors of which Tomalin speaks, and why did parents allow their children to be treated in such a way that their physical and emotional health was in peril?

that at the time, children were not really considered as "people", or, if they were, it was not recognized that their needs were any different than those of adults.

A few years ago, I took a children's literature course, and it was interesting that before Victorian times, children were more or less "non-entities" in society. There were no children's books to speak of before the publication of Alice in Wonderland, other than very didactic, moralistic primers etc. There were no special types of clothing for children. They dressed--and were expected to act--like miniature adults.

Any other thoughts on this?

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