What is childhood, and is it to be endured
or enjoyed ?
Researchers Dr Reesa Sorin and Dr
Greta Galloway of James Cook University (Australia) have proposed
with ten possible answers.
" Our original interest in concepts of childhood stemmed
from quite different areas of research, mine in education and Greta's
in
Social Work and Community Welfare," Dr Sorin said.
" We felt it would be useful for professionals
in both those fields, as well as parents in general, if we could
explore the different ways
we conceptualise childhood, and how those ideas influence policy and
practice."
The ten constructs of childhood as developed by the two researchers
are: the child as innocent; the child as evil; the child as a miniature
adult; the child as adult in training; the noble/saviour child; the
commodified child; the snowballing child; the out-of-control child;
the child as victim; the agentic child.
" The image of the evil child emerged in prehistoric and
early Christian times when children were perceived as evil because
they were
evidence of their parents' intimacy," Dr Sorin said.
" This could justify infanticide, where children seen as less
than perfect were drowned, exposed to the elements or starved.
_ We might think those ideas are long gone, but the idea of
the child as evil underlies many of our school behaviour policies."
When children are seen as miniature adults, childhood is not seen
as a distinct phase of life.
" Again, we might think we've come a long way since the Industrial
Revolution, when children worked long hours in mines and factories," Dr
Sorin said.
" But this concept underlies
those programs in which children are expected to sit at their desks,
'like big boys and girls',
rather
than learning through a play- based curriculum."
The snowballing child is the child who has the upper hand in the adult-child
relationship, often using temper tantrums to get his or her own way.
" This is the child who has everything, but still wants more," Dr
Sorin said. " Teachers may resort to bribery, offering stickers
or other rewards in exchange for more pro-social behaviour, but a snowballing
child will see that as another win."
Dr Sorin said out-of-control children resorted to violence or destructive
behaviour to get their way.
" These children have no place in the 'sanitised' environment
of the classroom as they will not submit, and so are held as a counter-example
to the good, innocent children.
_ Abandoned by the system, these
children often end up in special classes, or expelled from school
altogether. They may turn to crime
or other self- destructive behaviour like eating disorders or addictions," she
said.
Thanks to the Harry Potter series we are all familiar with another
model of childhood, the noble, saviour child.
" This is not just a good child," Dr Sorin said. "This
is a child with the capacity to take on adult responsibility, to the
extent of saving others from terrible fates.
_ In real life, children who look after their parents, for example
if the adults are disabled or abusing drugs or alcohol, are examples
of the saviour child."
Sadly, the child as victim goes largely unrecognised. While their
images often appear in media coverage of war and other tragedies, their
plight is often forgotten as people go about their daily lives. They,
and often the adults in their world, lack any power to change their
circumstances.
Finally, there is the agentic child; the child who is an active agent
in his or her learning and development.
In this construct, childhood is considered an important time of life:
a time when children can make sense of their world through active interaction
with it and with both the children and the adults in it.
" Agentic children are capable and competent. They are seen
as active, curious and self-motivated learners, and their voices
are given
serious consideration."
Dr Sorin said by recognising the ten constructs of childhood, careful
consideration could be given to policy and practice in regard to young
children.
" It is hoped that we will view children as active agents,
thereby recognising their right to construct and co-construct their
own lives."
News
is included on this website to inform visitors about current health
issues, but not to endorse
any particular view
or activity. The views stated in the article above are not necessarily
those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released
by James Cook University (Australia) on 20 April
2006. For further information, please visit their website
using the
link below.
|
