Compare and contrast Mr. Creakle's school (Salem House) to Dr. Strong's school. What makes Dr. Strong's school more successful? Use quotations to support your response.
The contrast between the two schools is another one of Dickens’s social commentaries. The success or failure of each school depends mostly on the basic philosophies and moral attitudes of the headmasters. Mr. Creakle creates an environment of fear and has a general evil demeanor. The first few descriptions of Salem house depict this. David’s first encounter with Mr. Creakle at Salem house is a beating. Mr. Creakle beat everyone all the time. “Half the establishment was writhing and crying, before the day’s work had begun; and how much of it had writhed and cried before the day’s work was over”(82). This was not some act of love to instill discipline in the boys Mr. Creakle was simply evil and enjoyed this evil act. “He had a delight in cutting at the boys, which was like the satisfaction of a craving appetite” (83). Not only was he evil, but he promoted evil in his pupils. The other students felt obligated to laugh at the pain of others. “Mr. Creakle cuts a joke before he beats him, and we laugh at it,- miserable little dogs, we laugh, with out visages a white as ashes, and our hearts sinking into our boots. It was this evil atmosphere and the physical and mental beatings that the children received at Salem house that caused the students to have broken spirits which is why the school wasn’t successful. At Canterbury Dr. Strong promoted quite a different ideal. His school was filled with gentlemen. David notices this when the head boy shows him around the school the first time. “He looked like a young clergyman in his white cravat, but he was very affable and good-humored; he showed me the place, presented me to the masters, in a gentlemanly was that would have put me at ease, if anything could” (210). Dr. Strong is also described as “the gentlest of men” (212). This is why his school is successful. This is Dickens’s version of the good being rewarded and the wicked punished.
I think that the major differences in Mr. Creakle’s and Dr. Strong’s school is that they are set to two different mindsets. On one side is a feeling of wanting and belong, while the other one is of fear and loathing. Mr. Creakle uses fear to teach the students and so that they will behave in a manner that he approves. As the new semester begins, he remarks, “'Now, boys, this is a new half. Take care what you're about, in this new half. Come fresh up to the lessons, I advise you, for I come fresh up to the punishment. (82)” He threatens the boys so that they will obey. Dr. Strong, right away when Trotwood, as they call him in this portion, arrives at his school, refers to David as 'A new boy, young gentlemen,' (210). A feeling of belonging makes it easier to learn at school. Being comfortable in your surroundings makes things easier.
The only comparison I could come up with between the two is that in both of them there is a teacher that treats students with respect. At Creakle’s school, Mr. Mell seems to like David and Traddles, and actually treats them favorably. We can tell when he is leaving that there was an attachment between the characters. As he leaves, he, “laid his hand upon [David’s] shoulder,” (93) and Creakle finds Traddles, “in tears.” (93) These reactions show emotion attachment between the characters. In Strong’s school, Strong shows respect for all his students and treats them favorably. Copperfield describes the doctor as, “the kindes of men, with a simple faith in him that might have touched the stone hearts of the very urns upon the wall.” (222) Strong, like Mell, is a kind teacher who gets along with people and is admired by David. It is much easier to contrast the two schools. The most obvious contrast is in the strictness of the rules. Strong’s school is lenient and puts faith the in the boys. David talks about having, “noble games out of hours and plenty of liberty.” (222) At Creakles school, students are constantly being beaten for doing anything that displeases Creakle. Strong’s school is more successful, I believe, partly because of this liberty, but also because of the types of students at the school. Strong gives the children liberty to think and enjoy themselves, which makes them less disliking of Strong and more willing to learn. Along these lines, the quality and type of student at Strong’s is generally superior to the student Creakle’s. Whereas Strong’s students such as David are, “well spoken of in town and rarely did any disgrace, by [their] manner or appearance, to the reputation of Doctor Strong and Doctor Strong’s boys,” (222) Creakle’s school is full of people like Steerforth, who we later find out are manipulative and controlling. The students’ desire to please Strong, I believe is rooted in the freedom he gives them. This trusting attitude helps mold superior students and makes Strong’s school better than Creakle’s.
Creakle was a mean old man. He was weak and tried to hide that by abusing the students. Dr. Strong was nice and had a stronger character. Strong has more depth to him. He is kinder to his students and doesn’t need to be forceful to get the respect from them. Creakle says he will punish the boys if they fail their lessons. Traddles receives beatings at Creakle’s school because of his weight. “Poor Traddles! In a tight sky-blue suit that made his arms and legs like German sausages, or roly-poly puddings, he was the merriest and most miserable of all the boys. He was always being caned - I think he was caned every day that half-year, except one holiday Monday when he was only ruler'd on both hands.” Creakle also fires Mr. Mell when he finds out he is poor. It seems that Mr. Creakle is afraid of showing any sign of weakness. Dr. Strong is sympathetic to the poor and gives favors to Annie’s poor, lower class mother. He is also very kind to Mr. Dick, who most people would think is crazy. Also David catches us in his studies and rises to the top of his class. Dr. Strongs school is more successful because he is kinder to his students and gains their respect without using threats.
The two schools are obviously set to contradict one another. Mr. Creakle's school was a school where Mr. Creakle ruled absolutely, using fear, punishment, and intimidation to keep the students in check. "Mr. Creakle entered after breakfast, and stood in the doorway looking round upon us like a giant in a story-book surveying his captives." This depiction shows how ruthless and cruel Mr. Creakle is, and why Salem House does not flourish as a proper school should.
Dr. Strong's school is the opposite of Salem House (Dickens loves his parallels). David describes its superiority in the following: "Doctor Strong's was an excellent school; as different from Mr. Creakle's as good is from evil. It was very gravely and decorously ordered, and on a sound system; with an appeal, in everything, to the honour and good faith of the boys, and an avowed intention to rely on their possession of those qualities unless they proved themselves unworthy of it, which worked wonders. We all felt that we had a part in the management of the place, and in sustaining its character and dignity. Hence, we soon became warmly attached to it - I am sure I did for one, and I never knew, in all my time, of any other boy being otherwise - and learnt with a good will, desiring to do it credit. We had noble games out of hours, and plenty of liberty; but even then, as I remember, we were well spoken of in the town, and rarely did any disgrace, by our appearance or manner, to the reputation of Doctor Strong and Doctor Strong's boys." This is why Dr. Strong's school was more successful.
If there is anything that spells literary brilliance it is the use of foils throughout a novel. In David Copperfield, the Salem House and Dr. Strong’s school foil each other. First of all, David is sent to Salem House with Mr. Murdstone’s little note of David being a “biter” attached to him. The Salem House focuses on fear and intimidation (David’s initial reaction to Mr. Creakle was that David was “very much frightened, and said, I hoped so, if he pleased. I felt, all this while, as if my ear were blazing; he pinched it so hard” (76).). Beatings are rampant. Violence is the best teacher according to Mr. Creakle, who is the main intimidator of the entire Salem House. He believes that demeaning a student physically will make them fall in line and become a good student. Dr. Strong, on the other hand, believes in believing in his students and treating them as men. This results in a flurry of gentlemanly students, who learn from Dr. Strong, whom David describes as “the gentlest of men” (212). Dr. Strong’s approach is much more successful because he treats everyone like human beings and allows for the students to develop into brilliant young men and scholars.
"Mr. Creakle's face was fiery, and his eyes were small...at this peculiarity striking me as his chief one." (75-77) Creakle and his Salem House are portrayed as terrifying experiences in David's life. I, personally, find it hard to learn if I'm soiling myself from fear, but maybe that's just me. Constant beatings, being insulted and cut down infront of everyone leads to poor concentration and study habits. On the other hand, Dr. Strong's school is a shining model of academic excellence. At Canterbury the school was geared towards some high quality learning, first off, the students weren't scared and they seemed to be put into an atmosphere where learning was easier and fellowship encouraged.
♥The difference between Mr. Creakle’s school and Dr. Strong’s school is simple. Mr. Creakle treats his students with rage and abuse, and the students learn nothing. Dr. Strong treats his students with love and kindness, and the students learn a lot, especially David. A huge difference between the school systems can be seen in the way that David is introduced at both schools. Mr Creakle greets David with a “'So!...This the young gentleman whose teeth are to be filed! Turn him round,'” and he proceeds to put a sign on his back that tells everyone he is a biter and a bad kid (Chapter 6). The Doctor introduced him as “'A new boy, young gentlemen…Trotwood Copperfield.'” (Chapter 16). After his introduction, David notes that he feels a feeling that is strange to him, and that feeling that he is feeling is that he is comfortable in Dr. Strong’s school. The obvious conclusion to Dr. Strong’s school being more successful is that children will learn in an environment at which they are at ease, and respect between student and teachers is necessary for systems to work.
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The contrast between the two schools is another one of Dickens’s social commentaries. The success or failure of each school depends mostly on the basic philosophies and moral attitudes of the headmasters. Mr. Creakle creates an environment of fear and has a general evil demeanor. The first few descriptions of Salem house depict this. David’s first encounter with Mr. Creakle at Salem house is a beating. Mr. Creakle beat everyone all the time. “Half the establishment was writhing and crying, before the day’s work had begun; and how much of it had writhed and cried before the day’s work was over”(82). This was not some act of love to instill discipline in the boys Mr. Creakle was simply evil and enjoyed this evil act. “He had a delight in cutting at the boys, which was like the satisfaction of a craving appetite” (83). Not only was he evil, but he promoted evil in his pupils. The other students felt obligated to laugh at the pain of others. “Mr. Creakle cuts a joke before he beats him, and we laugh at it,- miserable little dogs, we laugh, with out visages a white as ashes, and our hearts sinking into our boots. It was this evil atmosphere and the physical and mental beatings that the children received at Salem house that caused the students to have broken spirits which is why the school wasn’t successful. At Canterbury Dr. Strong promoted quite a different ideal. His school was filled with gentlemen. David notices this when the head boy shows him around the school the first time. “He looked like a young clergyman in his white cravat, but he was very affable and good-humored; he showed me the place, presented me to the masters, in a gentlemanly was that would have put me at ease, if anything could” (210). Dr. Strong is also described as “the gentlest of men” (212). This is why his school is successful. This is Dickens’s version of the good being rewarded and the wicked punished.
I think that the major differences in Mr. Creakle’s and Dr. Strong’s school is that they are set to two different mindsets. On one side is a feeling of wanting and belong, while the other one is of fear and loathing. Mr. Creakle uses fear to teach the students and so that they will behave in a manner that he approves. As the new semester begins, he remarks, “'Now, boys, this is a new half. Take care what you're about, in this new half. Come fresh up to the lessons, I advise you, for I come fresh up to the punishment. (82)” He threatens the boys so that they will obey. Dr. Strong, right away when Trotwood, as they call him in this portion, arrives at his school, refers to David as 'A new boy, young gentlemen,' (210). A feeling of belonging makes it easier to learn at school. Being comfortable in your surroundings makes things easier.
The only comparison I could come up with between the two is that in both of them there is a teacher that treats students with respect. At Creakle’s school, Mr. Mell seems to like David and Traddles, and actually treats them favorably. We can tell when he is leaving that there was an attachment between the characters. As he leaves, he, “laid his hand upon [David’s] shoulder,” (93) and Creakle finds Traddles, “in tears.” (93) These reactions show emotion attachment between the characters. In Strong’s school, Strong shows respect for all his students and treats them favorably. Copperfield describes the doctor as, “the kindes of men, with a simple faith in him that might have touched the stone hearts of the very urns upon the wall.” (222) Strong, like Mell, is a kind teacher who gets along with people and is admired by David. It is much easier to contrast the two schools. The most obvious contrast is in the strictness of the rules. Strong’s school is lenient and puts faith the in the boys. David talks about having, “noble games out of hours and plenty of liberty.” (222) At Creakles school, students are constantly being beaten for doing anything that displeases Creakle. Strong’s school is more successful, I believe, partly because of this liberty, but also because of the types of students at the school. Strong gives the children liberty to think and enjoy themselves, which makes them less disliking of Strong and more willing to learn. Along these lines, the quality and type of student at Strong’s is generally superior to the student Creakle’s. Whereas Strong’s students such as David are, “well spoken of in town and rarely did any disgrace, by [their] manner or appearance, to the reputation of Doctor Strong and Doctor Strong’s boys,” (222) Creakle’s school is full of people like Steerforth, who we later find out are manipulative and controlling. The students’ desire to please Strong, I believe is rooted in the freedom he gives them. This trusting attitude helps mold superior students and makes Strong’s school better than Creakle’s.
Creakle was a mean old man. He was weak and tried to hide that by abusing the students. Dr. Strong was nice and had a stronger character. Strong has more depth to him. He is kinder to his students and doesn’t need to be forceful to get the respect from them. Creakle says he will punish the boys if they fail their lessons. Traddles receives beatings at Creakle’s school because of his weight. “Poor Traddles! In a tight sky-blue suit that made his arms and legs like German sausages, or roly-poly puddings, he was the merriest and most miserable of all the boys. He was always being caned - I think he was caned every day that half-year, except one holiday Monday when he was only ruler'd on both hands.” Creakle also fires Mr. Mell when he finds out he is poor. It seems that Mr. Creakle is afraid of showing any sign of weakness. Dr. Strong is sympathetic to the poor and gives favors to Annie’s poor, lower class mother. He is also very kind to Mr. Dick, who most people would think is crazy. Also David catches us in his studies and rises to the top of his class. Dr. Strongs school is more successful because he is kinder to his students and gains their respect without using threats.
The two schools are obviously set to contradict one another. Mr. Creakle's school was a school where Mr. Creakle ruled absolutely, using fear, punishment, and intimidation to keep the students in check. "Mr. Creakle entered after breakfast, and stood in the doorway looking round upon us like a giant in a story-book surveying his captives." This depiction shows how ruthless and cruel Mr. Creakle is, and why Salem House does not flourish as a proper school should.
Dr. Strong's school is the opposite of Salem House (Dickens loves his parallels). David describes its superiority in the following:
"Doctor Strong's was an excellent school; as different from Mr. Creakle's as good is from evil. It was very gravely and decorously ordered, and on a sound system; with an appeal, in everything, to the honour and good faith of the boys, and an avowed intention to rely on their possession of those qualities unless they proved themselves unworthy of it, which worked wonders. We all felt that we had a part in the management of the place, and in sustaining its character and dignity. Hence, we soon became warmly attached to it - I am sure I did for one, and I never knew, in all my time, of any other boy being otherwise - and learnt with a good will, desiring to do it credit. We had noble games out of hours, and plenty of liberty; but even then, as I remember, we were well spoken of in the town, and rarely did any disgrace, by our appearance or manner, to the reputation of Doctor Strong and Doctor Strong's boys."
This is why Dr. Strong's school was more successful.
If there is anything that spells literary brilliance it is the use of foils throughout a novel. In David Copperfield, the Salem House and Dr. Strong’s school foil each other. First of all, David is sent to Salem House with Mr. Murdstone’s little note of David being a “biter” attached to him. The Salem House focuses on fear and intimidation (David’s initial reaction to Mr. Creakle was that David was “very much frightened, and said, I hoped so, if he pleased. I felt, all this while, as if my ear were blazing; he pinched it so hard” (76).). Beatings are rampant. Violence is the best teacher according to Mr. Creakle, who is the main intimidator of the entire Salem House. He believes that demeaning a student physically will make them fall in line and become a good student. Dr. Strong, on the other hand, believes in believing in his students and treating them as men. This results in a flurry of gentlemanly students, who learn from Dr. Strong, whom David describes as “the gentlest of men” (212). Dr. Strong’s approach is much more successful because he treats everyone like human beings and allows for the students to develop into brilliant young men and scholars.
"Mr. Creakle's face was fiery, and his eyes were small...at this peculiarity striking me as his chief one." (75-77) Creakle and his Salem House are portrayed as terrifying experiences in David's life. I, personally, find it hard to learn if I'm soiling myself from fear, but maybe that's just me. Constant beatings, being insulted and cut down infront of everyone leads to poor concentration and study habits. On the other hand, Dr. Strong's school is a shining model of academic excellence. At Canterbury the school was geared towards some high quality learning, first off, the students weren't scared and they seemed to be put into an atmosphere where learning was easier and fellowship encouraged.
♥The difference between Mr. Creakle’s school and Dr. Strong’s school is simple. Mr. Creakle treats his students with rage and abuse, and the students learn nothing. Dr. Strong treats his students with love and kindness, and the students learn a lot, especially David. A huge difference between the school systems can be seen in the way that David is introduced at both schools. Mr Creakle greets David with a “'So!...This the young gentleman whose teeth are to be filed! Turn him round,'” and he proceeds to put a sign on his back that tells everyone he is a biter and a bad kid (Chapter 6). The Doctor introduced him as “'A new boy, young gentlemen…Trotwood Copperfield.'” (Chapter 16). After his introduction, David notes that he feels a feeling that is strange to him, and that feeling that he is feeling is that he is comfortable in Dr. Strong’s school. The obvious conclusion to Dr. Strong’s school being more successful is that children will learn in an environment at which they are at ease, and respect between student and teachers is necessary for systems to work.
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