Models, toys, and Beddoes' struggle for educational reform, 1790-1800

Hugh Torrens*, Joseph Wachelder

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

Abstract

Beddoes always managed, through his many commitments and enthusiasms, to raise high expectations but, too often, as Roy Porter put it, he “suffered from trying to do too much too fast.”2 But his underlying philanthropy was never in doubt. This is abundantly true of his long-forgotten educational plans, which involved the promotion and then the manufacture of what were then known as “rational toys” (i.e. toys for use by the general public and for the educational advancement of their children).3
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Enlightenment of Thomas Beddoes: Science, Medicine, and Reform
EditorsTrevor Levere, Larry Stewart, Hugh Torrens, Joseph Wachelder
Place of PublicationLondon and New York
PublisherRoutledge/Taylor & Francis Group
Chapter5
Pages206-237
Number of pages32
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-315-41193-4
ISBN (Print)978-1-4724-8829-9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Nov 2016

Publication series

SeriesScience, Technology and Culture, 1700 - 1945

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