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Original poster

Teacher showing photos to kids of victorian dead children - slightly disturbing

585 replies

whyiwonderwhy · 25/04/2025 23:51

I am finding this so disturbing I can't sleep! However I might be being oversensitive, who knows. It is the "but - WHY?" bit which is bothering me most.

The lesson was about the industrial revolution, and the subject of photography came up, 2 of the earliest photos were shown to the class (13-14yo) and then....I wish I could say the teacher showed photos of some of the extraordinary engineering inventions of the day, or of busy streets, or China, or something wonderful and extraordinary...but no, the teacher showed 10 photos of dead children and talked about how the Victorians would photograph dead children as though they were still alive, with the rest of the family, in a commemorative way. I have seen some in the past (I didn't learn about it at school however) and they are moving and tragic and disturbing. Nothing else, just these photos.

Just wondering...why? why would the teacher do this? Any ideas?

This teacher has form by the way. A lot of it. But this has for some reason blindsided me.

OP posts:
OoooopsUpsideYourHead · 26/04/2025 00:03

This teacher has form by the way. A lot of it.

For what?

Original poster
whyiwonderwhy · 26/04/2025 00:02

mmsnet · 26/04/2025 00:00

its part ot victorian history, get over yourself

right back at you, my lovely

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 26/04/2025 00:01

They showed this on horrible histories so it’s not so bad to be shown at school.

photography was very expensive back then and childhood mortality was high. Very often the only photograph of someone would be after they passed. It was a way of mourning. History shows us how times have changed.

5foot5 · 26/04/2025 00:01

Not particularly shocked about the photos, but wondering what the has to do with the Industrial Revolution. Or why you expected it to cover China. Unless you thought the lesson should take in the Opium Wars or something

sprigatito · 26/04/2025 00:01

Were your children actually upset by it? Mine certainly wouldn’t have been at that age. It’s a bit edgy, yes, but secondary school teachers often find (through experience) that children are more robust than some of their parents may think, and they respond well to unusual, sometimes challenging material.

What do you mean when you say this teacher “has form”?

mmsnet · 26/04/2025 00:00

its part ot victorian history, get over yourself

Pyjamatimenow · 26/04/2025 00:00

Is this y9? Notoriously difficult to engage if so. Teacher was probably a bit desperate. Not a hill I would die on.

pikkumyy77 · 25/04/2025 23:59

People still have open casket funerals. Victorian death photography is not very disturbing compared to that.

MsPug · 25/04/2025 23:58

Form for showing pics of dead children?

I mean I wouldn't put one on my mantelpiece but the victorians did. I wouldnt want to do a lot of the things they did, but its the past and we dont live there any more. I like the fact children are shown how times change.

more context needed really

InterIgnis · 25/04/2025 23:57

Ah! Victorian death photography! I was around that age when I first learned about it, and it was indeed at school. I found it interesting, not disturbing. Death was much more present in day to day life in that time, and wasn’t shied away from in the same way it is today. There were aspects of morbid theatre to the Victorian traditions.

Changing cultural traditions around death are a fascinating subject imo.

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