Learning disabilities in Britain 1780-1880 : perceptions and practice
This thesis aims to elucidate perceptions and practices in relation to learning disabilities in different contexts over a period of a hundred years, between 1780 and 1880. Previous studies have concentrated on institutional and professional contexts, on informed medical opinion for example, or on focused studies of local practices. Here a wider range of opinion and practice is sought. The Introduction includes a discussion of nomenclature, and explains why 'intellectual impairment' is used rather than the familiar term 'learning disability'. Part I of the thesis explores perceptions of, and responses to, intellectual impairment held by different people in various contexts, while Part II employs biographical methods to examine the life histories of a number of intellectually impaired people in their familial setting. Part I starts with the views of professionals - educationists,doctors (who were at the forefront of the well documented emergence of idiot education in the 1840s) and also charity workers. Concentrating on previously neglected issues, the thesis shows that educational theory and practice offered nothing to families with an intellectually impaired child, and medical dominance had negligible competition.
Dickinson, Hilary
HM Sociology ; LA History of education ; LF Individual institutions (Europe)
Learning disabilities in Britain 1780-1880 : perceptions and practice. This thesis aims to elucidate perceptions and practices in relation to learning disabilities in different contexts over a period of a hundred years, between 1780 and 1880. Previous studies have concentrated on institutional and professional contexts, on informed medical opinion for example, or on focused studies of local practices. Here a wider range of opinion and practice is sought. The Introduction includes a discussion of nomenclature, and explains why 'intellectual impairment' is used rather than the familiar term 'learning disability'. Part I of the thesis explores perceptions of, and responses to, intellectual impairment held by different people in various contexts, while Part II employs biographical methods to examine the life histories of a number of intellectually impaired people in their familial setting. Part I starts with the views of professionals - educationists,doctors (who were at the forefront of the well documented emergence of idiot education in the 1840s) and also charity workers. Concentrating on previously neglected issues, the thesis shows that educational theory and practice offered nothing to families with an intellectually impaired child, and medical dominance had negligible competition.
learning disability britain perception practice aim_elucidate perception practice relation learn disability different contexts period previous_study concentrate institutional professional context inform medical opinion example focus study local practice wider_range opinion practice seek introduction include_discussion nomenclature explain intellectual impairment use rather familiar term learning disability part_explore perception response intellectual impairment hold_different people various context part employ biographical method examine life_history number intellectually impaired people familial setting part start view professional doctor forefront well documented emergence education also charity worker concentrating previously_neglect issue show educational_theory practice offer nothing family intellectually impaired child medical dominance competition