Sara Atwood Explains How Educators Can Learn From John Ruskin's Ideals

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At the annual University of Roehampton Ruskin Lecture 14th May

This year’s annual University of Roehampton Ruskin Lecture at Whitelands College will be given by author Sara Atwood, a specialist in the renowned Victorian critic and philanthropist John Ruskin’s educational work.

Ruskin’s methodology was anchored by his understanding of education as an ethical, transformative, communal process. It set out a vision for the future which drew its strength from essential, enduring wisdom.

It was this vision that Ruskin hoped to share with the teacher trainees at Whitelands. He was a great supporter of the College, and the University’s archives now hold a number of artefacts which he presented. The University also awards a poetry prize named in his honour each year. The Ruskin Lecture, on 14 May is free and open to the public, and anyone with an interest in his work is welcome to attend.

Considering his ideas in light of the challenges of modern education, Sara Atwood will explore how Ruskin might help society rediscover the foundational elements of education. That is, those things we all need to know regardless of time, place, economic or social status and which are of greater value than the acquisition of facts and figures. Her talk is entitled ‘An enourmous difference between knowledge and education: What John Ruskin can teach us’.

A member of the Guild of St George, Ms Atwood’s book, Ruskin’s Educational Ideals (Ashgate 2011), is a study of Ruskin’s educational principles and practice. Her work appears frequently in the Ruskin Review and Bulletin. She acted as guest editor for a special issue on Ruskin of Nineteenth-Century Prose (Autumn 2011).

The Ruskin Lecture is open to all and is due to take place in the Gilbert Scott lecture theatre at the University of Roehampton’s Whitelands College, on Thursday 14 May, tickets are free but places are limited, so please book quickly.

May 9, 2015