A spelling bee word, from Dickens' "Hard Times" A portrait of the kind of teacher I'm glad
we do not have today. I hope.
"THOMAS GRADGRIND, sir. A man of realities. A man of facts
and calculations. A man who proceeds upon the principle
that two and two are four, and nothing over, and who is
not to be talked into allowing for anything over. Thomas
Gradgrind, sir-peremptorily Thomas-Thomas Gradgrind. With
a rule and a pair of scales, and the multiplication table
always in his pocket, sir, ready to weigh and measure any
parcel of human nature, and tell you exactly what it comes
to. It is a mere question of figures, a case of simple
arithmetic. You might hope to get some other nonsensical
belief into the head of George Gradgrind, or Augustus
Gradgrind, or John Gradgrind, or Joseph Gradgrind (all
supposititious, non-existent persons), but into the head of
Thomas Gradgrind-no, sir !"