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

[whyiwonderwhy]

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.

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.

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

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

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

its part ot victorian history, get over yourself

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”?

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

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.

right back at you, my lovely

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

For what?

Mainstream news has shown the Pope’s body in various locations for days on end now. Does that upset you, or is it maybe the child aspect of it?

FWIW, there’s a culture somewhere that puts dead people in poses as if they’re living - fully dressed and sitting in a chair, playing the piano etc. The family will pose for photos, sit beside them. They always have sunglasses on because I suppose that’s a dead giveaway (so to speak!). I find that really unsettling.

Yes i see that but the subject was the industrial revolution - so the only way to engage the class is to show them photos of dead children and nothing else?! Really?!! Not about the actual amazing inventions of the industrial revolution? i mean showing photos of children working down mines would at least be on topic!

@whyiwonderwhy you must be new here? questioning a teacher! 😱😆

How rude. Educate yourself on other cultures, it's not disturbing at all having an open casket. I'd find it slightly odd, but 13 and 14 yo have probably seen much more disturbing things in all honesty.

Wait till they see the graphic car crash aftermath photos we got shown as a deterrent against getting involved in vehicle crime.

If it were primary school, I'd perhaps find it a little concerning, but this is Year 9. I don't see the issue. There are far worse things that the teacher could have shown them.

Disease spreads quickly in highly populated urban areas, and disease often resulted in death. Due to the Industrial Revolution, people flocked to cities, and this was one of the consequences. The Victorians as a result developed very elaborate mourning customs.

It was a notable social change that was certainly shaped by the Industrial Revolution.

This is really coming between you and your sleep, op?!

They’re 13/14, not 5. I think you are over reacting and your kids are likely to have seen far worse elsewhere.

I thought you were going to say gory pictures of a horrible accident, or something like that.

I think you are being quite pearl-clutchy.

Were any of them at all upset by it?

Whilst I don't think it's disturbing either as it's completely normal in my Irish culture, I don't think we get to dictate what other people find disturbing.

And how is it rude to find it so?

It doesn't upset me at all, and the victorian photos of dead children don't upset me either. But the victorian photos are exactly as you describe - sitting them dressed as though alive - like a row of children with the dead child at the end propped up as though alive. Or two children hugging their dead mother but the mother is sat up with eyes open as though alive. So that is what I meant by slightly disturbing.

But as I said in the OP it was the "but why show these photos in that lesson" ie the wtf element to it which i very disturbing.

It just seems so weird to me to do that. It was the context. The photos were completely out of context

Yes, this is true, but there are a lot more relevant and useful things to spend time on.

Depends on what aspect of the Industrial Revolution, surely? I doubt this is the only lesson they’ll have on the wider topic.

Victorian death customs are a part of social history, and certainly an attention grabber. I wouldn’t be surprised if the teacher saw higher levels of engagement in this lesson tbh.

You could ask the teacher why.