Nurture more important than nature
Property of their parents or institutions
Viewed throughout history
Must be protected from the bad things in the world
Inherent goodness is contaminated by civilisation/ corrupted society
Assume that children will provide for them in the future
Froebel- Kindergarten: garden of children
Misbehaviour was seen as a sign of inherent sin
Children represent future wealth or potential
Children are like growing plants
Corporal punishment used when necessary to establish obedience
As creators of children, parents have a rights to them and their labours
Children were expected to act and carry responsibility like adults
This view presupposes no innate genetic code or inborn traits
Empty vessel- need to be filled
Reference to Froebel
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Misbehaviour was taken as proof of the devil’s influences- “beating the devil out” of the child was a acceptable solution
Children are dressed and behave like adults
Teachers and parents acting as gardeners
John Locke’s belief that children born as “tabula rasa”.
Widely accepted in the 14-18 Century