What is Dickens' view of education in Hard Times and how does he communicate it?

From looking at the first chapter of Dickens’ novel, Hard Times, it can be seen that the author holds a negative view on the system of education used at the time.
Thomas Gradgrind, the schoolteacher, abruptly introduces the chapter with a monologue, the nature of which reveals him to be devoid of imagination. This is reflected in the constant repetition of his belief that, “Facts alone are wanted in life.” This opinion is also aired at the end of the chapter, representing Gradgrind’s unchanging nature.
Dickens persuades the reader to dislike Gradgrind, as he dislikes what he represents, by using a number of methods. When Gradgrind rudely refers to educated children as “reasoning animals” this further enforces the reader’s immediate dislike for him. The statement also serves to show the lack of individuality that he strives to attain in his classroom as he renders the children to a state free from characteristics. This...