Caitlin's paper

For the end of the year party the kids were asked to tell us the most important thing they learned. I was impressed with what Caitlin had to say and wanted to post it. She will likely be embarrassed but oh well.

Tonight my topic will be Victorianism. I will be focusing on the virtues and vices of the Victorians. Three of the main values of the Victorians were work, family and faith. The Victorians were workaholics. They could accomplish in one day what we could in a week. Their doing this complies with the word of God when it says in Exodus 34:21 “You shall work six days but on the seventh day you shall rest even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest”. And in 2 Thessalonians “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work then he is not to eat either”. The Victorians, however, did not idealize workaholicism they knew and believed that family was important, and spending time with them was important. That is why they created the weekend, so that the family could be together. Chores and allowances were also instituted so that the children helped too. Instead of having big bedrooms where family members spent most of their time, like today, the Victorians had only beds built into the walls meaning that family members spent most of their time together in the “family room”. The Victorians also had amazing faith, and traditions, as well. One important one being feminism. Women become very accomplished and started to demand their rights. Loosing site of their created purpose, that of helper, they tried to through off headship. This idea comes into conflict with what the Bible says. Titus 2:5 sums it up “Be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to your own husband, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. The Victorian era was all the best aspects of Christendom mixed up with all the worst aspects of modernity. Following Dr. Grants advice, we need to look back on the Victorians, who have shaped what we are today and learn from their wrongs so that we may set the course for the next generations.