Unit name | Children in Society I: An introduction |
---|---|
Unit code | SOWK10001 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Jo Staines |
Open unit status | Open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This is a first year mandatory unit on the BSc Childhood Studies programmes, which is open to students from across the university who may have an interest in history, psychology, social policy, or childhood. Drawing on multiple disciplines, including history, sociology, psychology and social policy, this unit examines how the concept of childhood has evolved over the past 400 years, from Puritanical ideas of children as bearers of original sin, to Romantic notions of childhood innocence, and to current views of children as rights-holders. Using an ecological framework, the experiences of children are explored, analysing the impact of religion, science, philosophy, politics, employment, educational pedagogy, and philanthropy on their lives and how these influences are mediated by the child’s social position, gender and ethnicity. The unit considers how and why constructions of childhood have changed during this period exploring children’s position with the family, their involvement in the labour market, the provision of education, health care and leisure for children, and the work of child philanthropists and ‘child savers’. A wide range of resources including official documents, local and national statistics, diaries, novels, artwork, child care manuals, and oral histories will be used to compare different representations and experiences of childhood. Students are supported to develop their research and essay-writing skills through formative and summative assignments, including conducting and analysing an oral history interview.
The unit aims to consider:
After successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to demonstrate:
An understanding of the appropriate use of historical and other sources to investigate childhood.
After successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to demonstrate:
Lectures and classes. Study of primary sources. Group work and presentations of assigned topics including own primary research.
Formative assessment is by:
(a) a seminar presentation of a small group project which has been jointly researched, and
(b) an essay of not more than 2,000 words
Summative assessment is by 3,000 word essay