Concept of childhood Essay

peril their will be eons begin this great go bad before they brook run alone, before they dope let out plain, or perhaps speak at alone make him do as he is bid, if you strike him ten seasons running to effect it Break his will straightaway and his soul will live, and he will probably bless you to all eternity. (Wesley, quoted in Reader,Foley p. 28) It was non until the 18th century Western culture began to turn back a new view of boorhood. Philosopher Rousseau in his largely influential handwriting Emile published in 1972 wanted to protect the innocence of the churl, believing it was the childs right to be a child.His writings seemed to suggest the foremost realization of the concept of puerility being a special time of life. Rousseau was a large influence of literature of this time as children begun to get the hang art and literature, and ceased to become souls in shoot of salvation but childhood became synonymous with innocence. This idea existed in opposition t o the older belief that children were instinctively sinful because of the Judeo Christian belief of original sin and continues to be seen in both literature of 19th and 20th century.In more upstart times social construction has been defined by another system postmodernism. An important part of the postmodernism supposition is the idea of cover. Within postmodernism treat is hitn to mean a whole set of interconnected ideas that work together in a self contained way, ideas that are held together by a particular ideology or view of the world The margin discourse is also used to specify a particular take on some phenomenon. The two imagesthe image of the innocent and wholesome child and the image of the wicked and sinful child keep be seen as being based upon two diametrical discourses of childhood. (Children in social club p29) Although the two discourses within the postmodernism turn out two very different views on children and how they should be treated, they both share a common concept of touch on about children. This is a shared belief that adults do in situation have a responsibility towards children. However, they do not agree on what the actions of the adults are but do agree on action.Theses two different discourses are defined as the discourse of welfare and the discourse of control. The discourse of welfare being based on the romantisization of childhood and the assumptions that children are entitle to a good child hood and are innocent and need protection from the adult world. The discourse of control is based on the theory of original sin and children should be controlled and disciplined. The two discourses in turn have influenced policy and practice towards children.The discourse of welfare informs the Childrens Act 1989, which allows discussion where a child is seen to be at the risk of harm and the discourse of control informs education policy imposing compulsory education and set regulation of the material being taught. Although the majority of time the two discourses keep co exist well alongside each other conflicts can arise. Even though each discourse has its own set of master key bodies they can sometimes find the two competing discourses confusing and stressful and can leave employees sometimes failing.This in turn is highlighted by the media and leaves the Government nether immense pressure to tighten their policy and procedures leaving it even harder for workers within health and social care Even today childhood is not seen as a universal stage of human life. Variations over time and culture are dramatic. Historians such as Aries and Rousseau had a threatening impact on Western society and their beliefs on childhood and how children should be perceived and treated. This in turn has shaped the policies and practices for those working with children and their families.