'Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child'

A carte-de-visite showing a young boy being examined on his lessons by a stern looking man with a book in one hand and a birch rod in the other. But the boy has help! A woman seated behind the man is feeding him the correct answers on a slate. A caption printed in the lower margin gives the image its title.

Photographed by Michael Burr of Birmingham.

Entered at Stationers' Hall [part of the copyright process] on 1 September 1864. The form lodged that day gives the title and the following description of the photograph: 'Schoolmaster, birch in one hand and book in the other, little boy before him, lady with slate behind. Copyright owner of work: Michael Burr, 26 Ladywood Lane, Birmingham.'

I'd read the image a little differently. I thought the boy was being examined by his father and that the woman feeding him the answers was his mother.